did you know..

...that the word safari simply means "journey" in Kiswahili!? ...

Well, what a journey we've had this last fortnight... l-o-n-g hours on Tanzanian 'roads' driving over a 1,000 miles (which is nothing to many of us on good roads) to collect, deliver, meet and enjoy ..... we saw many sights, some fabulous and awe-inspiring giving us ample reason to worship our wonderful Creator, other sights sadly dreadful..... so without further a-do here are some pictures, mostly taken from a vehicle

This is Amanda on the left. Often through a haze of dust we followed the Meders family with their belongings in our mini-bus, to relocate them to Mbeya

...no pleasant service station to stop at on our long journey so we did break overnight at the fabo Kisolanza Farm - for a late afternoon tea, just before sunset.... and even a bath tub to unwind in (will spare you from the photos, haha)

Once we reached the Mbeya region the traffic increased considerably

The Meders will be working for Mbalizi Evangelistic Centre - we stayed in their "guest hotel" where we took the opportunity to sit outside to work in the fresh air (chilly: needed jeans, socks and fleeces-such a novelty) with such beautiful surroundings for a few days, meeting with our Wycliffe/SIL partners/pilot seeing the airport and ministry work...

The surroundings were rich in colour, so beautiful...Dodoma is flat, a semi arid desert, so we really enjoyed Gods Creation around us ...hills and trees and greenery; we took a 24 hour "coffee break" at a fabulous coffee lodge amongst some fragrant pine trees nearby (almost reminded us of Sweden!) to discuss some facts, figures and future plans

Soon it was time to collect Amanda from the airport with a 9 hour drive (en-route back) to our "safari": a birthday treat - a month early, for a day at Mikumi game park ...... we'll save you any commentary as we share a few photos

I'd like to say we stayed at this lodge... our overnight stay was, er, rather more basic... but a coffee-stop here with fabulous views was a treat, those sadly not captured with my mini i-pad

So that was our past fortnights' adventures... our drive back was somewhat marred as we passed at least 10 dreadful road traffic accidents where we learned many had perished, thankful to be back 'home' safe and sound.....last few photos of views en route:

Now back in Dodoma the next task is to see these many MAF properties marketed and wisely sold; a few MAF and visiting aircraft continue to be maintained by a small, faithful crew enabling some of the vital medical/evangelistic safari flights. Amanda will join a couple of those into the bush to see first hand how vital MAF planes are in facilitating medical help and sharing of the Gospel in isolated places;she is currently spending days with Andrea and Safina Street Kids at their drop-in centre, foster home, dump and meal centre, deworming today I believe, visiting some local clinics whilst attempting to write her dissertation evenings/in between times!

Have a good week; next blog might be more words and less piccies!
God bless you and TTFN
Jez & Carina xx