Grateful
Today was a beautiful day here in Iringa, Tanzania.
We drove out about 45 minutes to the Isimila Stone Age Site, where we could see stone tools and learn a bit about the history of the Iringa area. Then we hiked around the site for a couple hours, taking in the amazing site of stone pillars rising from a dry river bed. Just wait until I get home and can post pictures -- amazing views.
It felt great to take a morning to just enjoy being outside, with great company, appreciating creation in all its beauty and vividness.
After lunch, we toured the Ilula Hospital, owned by the Iringa Diocese. Shepherd of the Valley members Randy and Kari Hurley and Lyn and Mollie MacLean have been involved in supporting and upgrading the facility for the past eleven years. Many changes have come to Ilula, and the new nursing school is the next thing that will be operational -- this fall or next.
I was grateful for the rest between days of meetings and visits, and grateful for the physical exertion between days of sitting and riding.
I'm very grateful for the company of this travel group. We're three generations, four returnees and nine newbies. There's an architect, a science teacher, a city water manager, a few retirees, a pastor, some who work in health and some in education, and three younger travelers who are having a great time playing with the kids from the primary school across the road from where we stay.
More than anything, I am grateful for the people we meet each day. Students who have completed their education and are launching careers in business, education, healthcare, the church. Students who are hoping to continue their education at colleges, universities, vocational schools. Iringa Diocese workers who are dedicated people persevering despite many daily challenges.
Babu Kiponda was walking along the side of the road the other day, as we headed toward the diocese offices. He continues to work with his colleages -- Anglican and Roman Catholic -- on translating the Old Testament into the Hehe tribal language.
At the orphanage, we heard that one of our sponsored students scored division one on his national exams -- the highest category -- and will continue to advanced levels, form five and six. This was a young man who first came to the center after social workers found him on the streets, vulnerable in many ways. How gratifying it is to know that SOTV has had something to do with providing him the opportunity to have a good, productive life.
More stories will have to wait... Tomorrow we go to Tungamalenga, and the group goes on to Ruaha National Park for a few days. Some of us will worship at Makifu this Sunday, others at Tungamalenga.
We'll be back in touch next week.
We drove out about 45 minutes to the Isimila Stone Age Site, where we could see stone tools and learn a bit about the history of the Iringa area. Then we hiked around the site for a couple hours, taking in the amazing site of stone pillars rising from a dry river bed. Just wait until I get home and can post pictures -- amazing views.
It felt great to take a morning to just enjoy being outside, with great company, appreciating creation in all its beauty and vividness.
After lunch, we toured the Ilula Hospital, owned by the Iringa Diocese. Shepherd of the Valley members Randy and Kari Hurley and Lyn and Mollie MacLean have been involved in supporting and upgrading the facility for the past eleven years. Many changes have come to Ilula, and the new nursing school is the next thing that will be operational -- this fall or next.
I was grateful for the rest between days of meetings and visits, and grateful for the physical exertion between days of sitting and riding.
I'm very grateful for the company of this travel group. We're three generations, four returnees and nine newbies. There's an architect, a science teacher, a city water manager, a few retirees, a pastor, some who work in health and some in education, and three younger travelers who are having a great time playing with the kids from the primary school across the road from where we stay.
More than anything, I am grateful for the people we meet each day. Students who have completed their education and are launching careers in business, education, healthcare, the church. Students who are hoping to continue their education at colleges, universities, vocational schools. Iringa Diocese workers who are dedicated people persevering despite many daily challenges.
Babu Kiponda was walking along the side of the road the other day, as we headed toward the diocese offices. He continues to work with his colleages -- Anglican and Roman Catholic -- on translating the Old Testament into the Hehe tribal language.
At the orphanage, we heard that one of our sponsored students scored division one on his national exams -- the highest category -- and will continue to advanced levels, form five and six. This was a young man who first came to the center after social workers found him on the streets, vulnerable in many ways. How gratifying it is to know that SOTV has had something to do with providing him the opportunity to have a good, productive life.
More stories will have to wait... Tomorrow we go to Tungamalenga, and the group goes on to Ruaha National Park for a few days. Some of us will worship at Makifu this Sunday, others at Tungamalenga.
We'll be back in touch next week.
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