Visiting Salome's House

Good Afternoon Rafikis,
I know that it is only 5:36 am back home on a Saturday morning but we are almost into mid-afternoon here in Tanzania.  We were back to cold showers last night  at Mwangaza.  So much for getting ourselves very clean.  However the trade off is that we do not have bugs in our shower.  I learned the Tanzanian word for spider today.  It is Bui Bui.  So I am going around telling everyone Hapana Bui Bui - no spiders.  Loyishe was working at Mwangaza today.  This was very good as we were able to sing hymns from the Tenzi Rohoni this morning with him.  He loves directing us and we love to hear him sing.  Steph found a bug bite on her hand this morning.  Good thing for malaria preventative here as it looks like a mosquito bite.  We also met Mr. Kavishe's youngest son Simon this morning.  He is in level 5 ( much like 5th grade).  I gave him the book "Gilbert the Great" and I enjoyed listening to him read.  It was a walking day for us as we traveled to Salome's house through the jungle and by the shamba's (farms).  Andrew was worried about my knees so he tried to take us through mostly level land.  It is very hard to describe our experience.  Think again, trails through  a national park with obstacles in your path.  We laugh a lot when Andrew comes to a fork in the road and has to think which way to take the Americans.  We also came across a hedge hog in the middle of the road today.  The hedge hog and the squirrel from yesterday have been happy moments for Stephanie.  We did sing " The lion sleeps tonight" as we walked through the banana fields.  Hopefully our singing keeps all the Pakas away from us.  We were greeted at Salome's house by her husband David and her two children Anneth and Arnold.  They have grown up so much in the five years since we first began to come to Tanzania.  Arnold is now 17 and Anneth is 12.  We brought them books, a recorder, stickers, and Alexa had a crank radio/flashlight for them.  David and Andrew were fascinated by this.  I guess it is universal - Men love gadgets.
Salome had a feast prepared for us of Mashed potatoes, spaghetti, minced meat, chips, cucumbers, green beans,  and watermelon.  Finally a green vegetable that was not cooked spinach.  It was heaven sent for us.  Salome also presented to Stephanie a massai blanket and to each of us  a beautiful traditional dress with scarf.  What we give in return does not compare to what she has given to us.  Mostly her friendship - she remains an inspiration to me.  I gave her a prayer card today with St. Francis of Assisi prayer on it as she truly lives this life with the work that she does at Mwangaza. One of Salome's neighbors is Boniface.  We met him on our first visit to Mwangaza.  He was a night guard with Kennedy.  He is now married with a 2 year old son.  I was so happy to see his child and to also give Boniface books for him.  I reminded Boniface that he needed to teach his son to read English like we taught him under the stars at Mwangaza.    One thing that I forgot to mention last night is that Kennedy is considering becoming a Christian.  He has been tribal with two wives up to this point.  I asked his brother what happens if he becomes Christian with two wives.  This is not our belief.  I found out that  his first wife would remain his wife but his second wife would be taken care of but would not be considered a wife anymore ~ ala  Sister Wives.  This is an example of an adaptation to convert more Tribal men to the gospel.  I presented Kennedy with a prayer card this morning to use when he goes for baptism.  We wait for Joseph and he is currently on a bus on his way here from University.  This will be a good night for us.  Hopefully we have hot water tonight!  Kwaheri