Hearty hello there.... well here we are, final blog from Tanzania!
O lots has happened since we wrote last.....you might remember we were preparing to go to the international conference with 30 or so other MAF staff/programme managers in Thailand: strategy, discussion, prayer, fellowship and food - we'll not eat another Chinese meal without remembering the vast numbers of 'interesting' street traders in Bangkok!
...and they seem to cook any/everything, each night as darkness fell so the streets would come alive with sights, sounds and smells! Folk would plonk themselves down on plastic picnic chairs/tables and munch away: with so much heat and humidity I guess this must be the sensible way to (not) cook! Oooh but the litter! It was the kirb side mess in the morning that turned ones stomach!...not a stray cat, dog nor rat in sight!
Statues and temples a-plenty....
Next stop: Papua New Guinea which was amazing, particularly as I recalled asking the Lord back in 1982 whilst visiting Jerusalem and reading a significant book ("from Jerusalem to Irian Jaya") if I might one day go to Irian Jaya, only recently realising it is Papua!!
The local people are fascinating...mostly bare foot, very smiley and appearing friendly (despite reported as a nation with 100% domestic violence against women!) - couldn't get over most folk resembling hamsters with cheeks FULL of betelnut which they chew seemingly allllll the time, then spit the bright red contents of their mouth gaily about : ewwww :o(
The MAF work is brilliant as are the many staff who make up the Programme there; as for the terrain, well these photos speak for themselves - it's no wonder MAF aircraft are vital in reaching the isolated communities with their 850 different language groups!!!!.....
...and all their suspicions of one another. We heard stories to curl your toes (head-hunters, cannibalism...and current tribal warfare, some villages with residents who had all killed another villager... ) and testimonies to make you weep and rejoice! From mud-men to lavish headgear this nation is truly "the ends of the earth" and Jesus told His Disciples that when the Holy Spirit had come upon them they would preach the Gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth ..... so does this mean WE TOO are to go......
So if you're wondering where PNG is:
Did you know that PNG has 700 airstrips and only 680 km of tarmac'd road!? Air travel is necessary and MAF are involved in delivering essential supplies around the nation, along with transporting people in and medevac'ing others out..... Wycliffe Bible translators have their hands full and do a magnificent job!
MAF also works closely with CRMF, a Christian radio station that brings Good News to a nation that has grown exponentially since the discovery of gold, iron and much more, good and bad.
Here Jez is being shown one of the classes church pastors are offered: it's a super way to break down tribal as well as denominational barriers and trains them a little in some very basic technology, equipping them with the means to communicate in the trade language of Pidgin.
Most exciting for us was to see tiny wifi boxes that MAF planes are trial'ing: along with "buk Baibel" they take on board to the various isolated villages, people flock to receive the Word of God - they can download onto their phones. They might have little else by the way of essentials/possessions but all do seem to have mobile phones and receive the opportunity to listen to the Bible... Jesus films are shown too.
As you've guessed there are loads of piccies to share, below shows local housing ... that's a story in itself.... and we've not included any of the BEAUUUUUUTIFUL trees, flowering bushes, blooms galore-ious! With (incredible amounts of) rain and sunshine each and every day it's a veritable garden of Eden - even sticks popped into the ground to hold up fruit bushes for example, often take root, bud and grow!! A gardener's paradise!
Ariel view of Goroka (of coffee fame)
Mount Wilhelm stands at over 14,000 ft, drawing many intrepid climbers to attempt to scale it and is PNG's highest mountain, part of the Bismark range..... it was quite something to see the Bismark sea too - war time TV films memories came flooding back.
The clouds were phenomenal in PNG!
We had 24 peaceful hours up here on Mount Hagen to celebrate Jez's birthday and enJOY the scenery..... the lodge had loads of masks, tumbuans, statues, fetishes, and other nasties... but we enjoyed Gods Creation....and felt a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. We later discovered that our Oli was about to join the Chinook helicopters in aiding the Nepalese...
Here's our 10th departure (out of 13 flights round trip!)
When not too tired Jez used his time wisely... 50+ hours in the air, alone!.. plus waiting time in between, with a 10 hour time difference to GMT!
Our final leg of the journey was made bearable via a 23 hour layover with lovely family/YWAM friends in Hong Kong, also "out" from our home church in the UK ... brunch and high peak sight seeing!
Since our return we've got stuck into finishing up all the nitty gritty, including packing our world into cardboard boxes...again... our 7th time in 4 years (of 4 months stay or more).... and our hearts are jam packed with experiences myriad!
This weekend I finish my time here with the Programme Review where we all come together to reflect, rejoice and look to God for His future here .... then its a couple of days work in Dodoma/final goodbyes, and a weekend at Dar es Salaam coast before I zoom off to Sweden to lovely family and friends, leaving Jez for the month of handing over and joining me in Blighty forrrrrr (crescendo!) Asher and Louise's wedding !!!!
By then it'll be time for a UK blog.
Although Jez has another month of work here we send you love and final fond farewell greetings from this beautiful nation of Tanzania where we continue to ask for Gods blessing on her.. it.. them.. you :o)
Jez and Carina xx
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