One and a Half Weeks

Well here we are a week and a half into our stay here in Arusha. It seems like we have been running every minute and not accomplishing a thing. We are still not into our permanent flat. The manager told us a week ago we could move in on Thursday. Thursday came and went and no word. We caught him today and he said we could move in anytime. ‘Course there is no latch or lock on the door and the previous renter still has all her stuff in the kitchen but oh well TIA (This Is Africa).

We have spent much of our time getting things for our flat and still do not have all we need (or want). We go shopping everyday for groceries and a few more household things. We went to two different old markets during the past week. That was a real experience. If it weren’t for the guides that always pick us up to help us we would still be in there. What a confusing place.

We have spent several days visiting members that have not been coming out. We go with Bro. Spear, the 1st Counselor in the Branch Presidency. How he knows where these people live is just amazing. We wind around these narrow little roads and he just says, “left side or right side”, that means turn left or turn right. Then we arrive at a home and he says stop here. There is never a place to park so we end up blocking the road half the time. One day we walked to a couple of homes. We really got our exercise that day. Their homes are very small (like one was about 8’ x 8’ with grandma, 5 children and 2 grandchildren). They are just doing the best they can. We were invited to one member’s home and they served us dinner. Sister Rydalch was REALLY nervous about that but she ate some anyway.

We attend Swahili class each Tuesday and Thursday. Our teacher is a fairly new member of the church, Bro. Amos. Then after Swahili class we attend English class which is taught by the Elders.

This last week we had one Elder transfer out and a new one come in. We took the outgoing to the bus stop at 5:30 AM then were supposed to pick up the incoming at 5:00 PM. But his bus did not get in until about 7:00 PM. It was dark by then and we are not supposed to be out when it’s dark and both taking and picking up ended up in the dark. There are no street lights here and we do not see that well in the dark. We almost hit a pile of dirt in the middle of the road going to the Elder’s flat. They don’t have markers or anything to tell you when they have blocked off the road for repairs. And as before, the diversion off the road was just driving in the gutter.

Today, June 11th, we went to the church for a Relief Society Activity. The Sisters got together and cooked a meal. They did it outside in a garage at the back of the meeting house as there is no stove in the meeting house. We had planned to be there at the church so Sister Rydalch could attend. But she did not want eat with them as we are a little nervous about eating food fixed by the members. So we ducked out and went into the meeting house to start cleaning. But the 2nd Counselor in the Branch Presidency was there and he came and invited us to join with everyone to eat. So we felt we should. It was very good and we are praying that we will not get sick from it.

The 2nd Counselor in the Branch Presidency (Bro. Elia) is Maasai. He had come into town with his wife (who is not a member) and young baby.

He is a really strong member of the church but his wife could not be baptized because she does not speak english. Now that the national language is Swahili and the english requirement is no longer in force he wants his wife and children to be baptized. The only problem is that they live way out in the bush and will have a hard time coming to church each Sunday. We are quite surprised that Bro. Elia makes it. But as we said he is really strong and has a great testimony.