Bye buy!

A warm (30C in the shade/43C in the sun)  hello to you and a goodbye to Pierre, our final MAF international staff member to leave Dodoma.... seen here outside the runway - we have a decidedly quiet compound!

 

Its empty here now having had a large  sale (picture below) of the contents of all the houses on both compound A, B and guestihouse!  It was buy buy buy for many local ex-MAF staff... not quite pandemonium!

 

 

 

 

 

Although we've not seen the colour of the money yet, all houses are sold in principle, along with the garage and radio Uzima, school bus with other vehicles in the process of finding new homes AND we are in the throws of fiiiiiinally securing the Tanzanian Civil Aviation agreement: Halelu-JAH!  This will finalise the handover of the hanger/assets to Heri and Central Aviation Services.

 

 

 

 

So what about us!?!  Well, we're sold already, sold out for Jesus we hope :o) 

 

Whilst back in the UK recently we met several lovely folk, one of whom is this wonderful chappie: Mr Stewart King, MAF's humble founder (with 90+years of godly wisdom under his belt!), who sensibly suggested that if we didn't "know" for sure where our next step should be then we wait until we are sure.....

 

With allllll the properties, agreements and many "etc's" having not yet fallen into place a couple of weeks ago we felt it right to formally agree to remain "in the interim" to see things through..and guess what?!  After SEVERAL months of waiting the very next day, with domino effect, one sale led to another and to another :o)   God willing we shall be moving north to MAF's operational base in Arusha at the end of January; praise the Lord we know we have somewhere to live there, too!  So for another 6 months or so we shall be sharing in more of  MAF Tanzania's crucial work, telling/showing more of where Kirstein, Jarrko and Steve fly, reaching those isolated communities up in "safari land"...rather than just telling you about who bought what, as exciting/nailbiting as it has been for us!

 

Meanwhile another thanks to Chris from MAF South Sudan who took these two piccies - of course we are still open to the possibility of moving there to Juba later next year:

 

 

 

These lads don't mind waiting in relentless heat, many having previously been trained as child soldiers, some lost limbs from tribal, civil war.  They are very happy to help out and eagerly await the arrival of one of MAF's food flights, helping to make a significant impact, with over a million malnourished bellies who survive disease, often rake-thin, tattered clothing but big smiles! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"March winds and April showers bring out the May flowers"....did you used to say that as a child too? Here in Dodoma with our short rains we have some glorious colours, the flame trees are known locally as Christmas trees, though they don't smell of pine!

 

 

 

 

 

  

...and not only flowers but much more useful is the fruit: here are Paul and Glory who look after the grounds on our compound, picking mango - by the ton!!!  Fresh mango and pineapple are our favourites (blend with passion fruit and water makes a refreshing drink!).  We had some friends from Safina Street Kids visit last week to pick loads - you should have seen them climb the trees, barefoot, speedy and confident! 

Time to say byeee then and thanks for sharing in some of our Advent Adventures. Our thanks to long time, supportive friends P and Richard for this super picture! (Maybe you'll have questions of your own)  We rather hope you're not getting swept up by pressure to rush 'n' buy yourselves.   

 

May God bless your Advent,

Jez and Carina xx