Adventures for Wednesday, March 10,2010

  The day began for many of us with the now familiar call to worship sounding from the loudspeakers throughout the city. After our breakfast we had time to head to the internet cafe for contact with friends at home.

   Today was the first day that some of us parted company. Kit taught an EXCEL course for the staff at the Cathedral. Brian, Eric, and Gary drove to the Lutanglio School. This trip had been planned for all of us but the roads would not accommodate our bus. Before leaving they purchased 180 kilos of rice. The director of the school told Gary that if they were unable to make it the last 4 miles to the school, he would close the school and the children would walk in and carry the rice back. They are in need of food. Fortunately they did make it to the school, driving over a wooden bridge. This is remarkable because, in the construction of the bridge, they failed to nail down the boards. The school is located is a pristine mountainous area that brings up images of The Sound of Music. The school, however, is very basic and without electricity.

  The remainder of our group left on a journey to the Ilula Hospital. The road to Ilula was familiar. In fact, the combination of rows of corn, yellow sunflowers, and road construction could momentarily  transport one back to a summer drive in Wisconsin.

  During a traffic delay on the highway, several boys were stationed along the road with food and water to sell. When interest in buying their products was low, they  played soccer with a make-shift soccer ball created from plastic bags. The joy in their faces was beyond description when Greta tossed a new scooer ball out the wnidow of the bus. This process of tossing soccer balls out to childrena at play was repeated several times during the trip. At first I questioned  how one soccer ball could be such a source of celebration. At the end of the day my question changed to  Who is really having more fun??

  We were greated in Ilula by the hospital staff the the pastor from the church. Our visit began with morning tea served with eggs, chapati, and peanuts. Morning tea, served every day, is becoming a satisfying replacement for a latte at Starbucks.

  The hospital administrator told us that the hospital has recently become part of the national hospital system which has made it possible to provide free services to pregnant women and children. The hosptial provides all  services including surgery and dental care. The highlight of the tour for many of us was the visit to mothers who had deliverd babies that morning. We distributed baby gifts to a number of newborns.

 We boarded the bus again heading to the Image Secondary School.  Peter, our able driver, navigated us over roads that give new meaning to the term a drive in the country. Upon arriving at the school we were greated by throngs of students. They entertained us with song, dance, and  acrobatics. The headmaster told us the story of the development of the school. It opened in 2004 with 2 buildins. They now have several buildings on 150 acres of land and serve 800 students. They are rated in the top 10% in the district. While at the school we took photos of the students who are sponsored by Bethel members and distributed gifts to the students.

  Somewhat behind schedule (this has become a pattern) we boarded the bus for the drive back to Iringa.  We saw another  truck accident of the highway and were grateful for our safe journey back to the Lutheran Center.


  For pilgrims with less fortitude, this might have been ehough for one day. But at 8:00 p.m. we boarded the bus once again to have dinner with one of the families  from the Cathedral. In the fashion to which we have become accustomed, we were treated to a wonderful dinner. In the event that anyone reading this posting is concerned that we are not getting enough to eat in Africa, I will share the menu: rice with vegetables, fried potatoes, fried bananas, ugali, fried chicken, pork, beef sauce, cabbage, African pears, pumpkin leaves with peanut sauce, peas, cucumbers, mchicha, and sweet bananas.

  After dinner we boarded the bus for the last time for teh day and headed back to the Luther Center with smiles for a day well spent.      E. S.