Tanzania Partnership

One of the first things to know about a trip to Tanzania is that it takes a long time to get here. Once you're here, it still takes a long time to get from one place to another. That's just the way it goes. We traveled by air from MSP to Amsterdam, then to Dar es Salaam with a short stop at Kilimanjaro. (We arrive at Kilimanjaro after dark, and stay on the plane while some people get off and others get on the plane, so we've never seen Mount Kilimanjaro.) TSA advises international travelers to arrive at the airport three hours before their flight. Some 24 or more hours later, there we are in Dar. Our transit motel met us with a shuttle/ minivan. The next morning we took a small plane to Iringa. It seats 12 or so. The flight is 90 minutes, which is a nice improvement over the 12 hour drive cross country previous groups have taken. The downside is we miss seeing the countryside, which changes from the tropical feel around Dar, past sisal plantations, through Mikumi Na...

Counting down to departure on Monday afternoon, I asked the travelers to tell us a bit about themselves and what they look forward to on the journey.  Here's what they said. Tell us about yourself.  My name is Wendy Steger. I am a wife and mother of three children. Anna, who is traveling with me, is my youngest. I am one of the pastors at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. I have been at Shepherd of the Valley for 2.5 years, and ordained as pastor almost 1.5 years. My family and I were members at SOTV from 2002 to 2007, before we left to help launch Light of the World Lutheran in Farmington. What called you to this journey?   This kind of journey has been on my bucket list for a very long time. I remember Pastor Bonnie at SOTV preaching about her trip to Tanzania many years ago, and I have been wanting to go “someday” ever since then. When I had an opportunity to travel as a representative of SOTV staff, I was thrilled. What about this trip excit...