Never a Dull Moment

It seems that we have experienced a lot here in Busi in just two short months. It started with orientation, home stays and just adjusting to our own homes. We faced about a month and a half of sickness within our family alone, mostly affecting the girls; malaria, diarrhea, vomiting, ear infections, colds, bronchitis - It was really rough. Our team faced many challenges also as we have had many troubles with breakdowns of the vehicles, a team member being rushed to the hospital (possibly within hours of losing her life), supply runs, language learning, opposition from the religious leaders; The list definitely goes on!

We have also attended two (all day) graduation ceremonies with the Busi graduation still coming up in the next few weeks. We have made four or five emergency hospital runs, driving the locals an hour into Kondoa. Almost all of these have been women in labor facing complications, and sadly, one of these was to remove a baby that didn't survive. Among our team, there have been three funerals we have attended and also a few other deaths we have heard of. One being a little girl who died of tuberculosis which is not only a treatable disease but also the medicine is free from the hospital here in Busi.

The funeral we all attended as a team was for a shopkeeper's son; a young boy hit by a car while he was away at school. This shop is right near our house and Mat has been building a friendship with him when buying the things we need for daily living. He has always been a happy, outgoing and welcoming man.

When we found out what had happened Mat went with Peter to sit with the other men of the village to be with Hasan. No one said a word. They all just sat out on tarps, ate goat together and no one said a word. In Africa, just being together is what is important.

We later found out that Mat's presence there left a big impression on the people. They said, "We have known the Germans and the British, but these Americans are good people!" Even at the funeral the next day, among the masses that attended, Mat was told to sit right with Hasan, next to his brother. This was a great honor for Mat as literally almost everyone in Busi was there.

We have a lot to learn about the Rangi people. As I have heard each team member give their testimony of how God brought them to Busi, it has opened my eyes to how great God's love must be for the Rangi people.

(Below Thailie and Mat play phase ten by the light of a lantern.)