For us time is just flying! It seems no time since we left Kijabe.
Mon 8th Sept was a bit hectic! As I told you Stepheb went to visit a
school for disabled children and then went off with Dick to view a couple
of sites. Back at the ranch I joined approx 20 ladies from the station
for lunch and fellowship - amazing how much we can talk! We called to say
bye to Elaine and Graham the Australian couple who had been so good to
Nicola and Gail and while we were there an American couple called to say
Hello. we had known Dee-dee when we worked at Kijabe so it was exciting
to catch up with them. Back at the Bransfords they were waiting for a
flight from Sudan to bring a missionary couple and a sick baby but we went
on to bed before they arrived - an exhausting day.
We left next morning after meeting those who had arrived on the flight!
What a busy household! God Bless you Dick. Millie, Josh and Philip - we
think of you often.
Trevor if you are reading this - Mollie is going really well and we are
getting more miles to the gallon since she was serviced - good job!
The journey to the Tanzanian border was uneventful. A pastor from a local
church came over and spoke to us when we were getting petrol - I think it
was Mollie that attracted his attention!
Next morning we crossed the border without any problem - changed days! We
were helped by the local bank manager who took us under his wing and made
it very easy for us. The only disappointing thing was that Mt
Kilimanjaro was shrouded in low cloud and we didn't see it. We had a good
night's rest before driving on to Morogoro. The countryside was beautiful
and we drove through many mountainous areas. There were fields of
pineapples in certain areas which stretched for miles.
At this point we met up with the Italians we had stayed with in Wadi Halfa
when we all had to wait for our vechicles - remember that!!- and we are
travelling together until they head to Zambia and we to Mozambique1
Friday 12th was another beautiful drive through a National Park and we saw
plenty of wildlife. Our stop for the night was in Iringa - a plateau town
which was quite cold!
13th we made it to a small town just before the border. Unfortunately the
internet cafe had no lines working so my plans to write this blog didn't
materialise.
Next morning the border crossing was fine. We battled a fierce head wind
which also made the lake very rough but the colour of the water was
striking. Our main problem (which still exists) is that due to widespread
power cuts we couldn't access money before coming up to Livinstonia!
Well... the Gorodi road for those of you who know it was the worst I've
ever experienced. Poor Stephen and Mollie! Several of the hairpin bends
were a real challenge for them both and we had to do three point turns at
several of them which I found terrifying! It was a very stressful climb.
Today it doesn't seem so bad but we are not going down it when we leave!
We met with Wongani and Robertson last night and then went around with
Robertson this morning. The hospital is very quiet just now and there in
no work for me to do here. The water pump which Stephen was to fix was
located on the plateau with several bits missing so there is no point in
him going to Zunga to fix what isn't there! So we may just move on
tomorrow after we visit Ballykajoni - we'll see.
So, as you can gather things have been fairly quiet on the road. With the
exception of Gorodi the worst has been huge potholes, but no harm has been
done.
I haven't been able to open our e-mails - this is satellite phone - and it
doesn't want to let me onto Yahoo!
Anyway we are safe and well - getting tired now but we crossed the 10,000
mark on 12th just after Morogoro so I suppose it's not surprising that we
are a bit tired!
Please do continue to pray for us - I know you are and we are encouraged.
Livinstonia has been a bit disappointing as there is so little to do, but
we have discovered that our plans are not always the ones that work out!
Love
S&H