Dar es Salaam

No doubt there is a lack of communication here.  Moses had told us last night that he would pick us up today around noon and we would tour the city.  "Pick us up" translated means "we're going to ride in a car and tour the city".  He arrived on time, which is impressive.  We like prompt.  I didn't see a vehicle outside, so I asked him where the taxi was.  Taxi?  Oh, we will walk, can see much more that way.  Is that okay with you?  This was one of those "ah" moments.  Eddie looked at me and smiled.  Sure, I can walk.  No problem here.  He wanted to take us to the ocean!  The ocean?  And just how far is the ocean?  We walked, and walked, and walked, and finally I see water in the distance!!!  This is the Indian Ocean, folks.  How awesome is this?  Now I understand where the crawfish were coming from.  That was a head scratcher for me, mystery solved.  The ocean is beautiful.  There were people everywhere on the ocean side, in the water, under the trees, in the road....happy people.  Children were playing in the ocean water.  Not one bathing suit did we see.  As you can see from the picture, the dress is quite different from what we are used to seeing at our beaches.

Today is the end of the Muslim holiday, so the people were celebrating.  The stores were closed for business and the streets were filled with families and people gathered to enjoy their day of relaxation.  The road was bumper to bumper traffic.  As we walked, we passed people selling different things.  I have attached the picture of a man that had boiled peanuts.  My brother will enjoy seeing this.  Maybe it will prompt an interest for him in Panama City during peanut season.  I'll find out what the going rate is for a handful of peanuts.  Don't need a bag, just a handful.  Then there was man with a bicycle loaded with coconuts.  He would cut a hole in the top of it and wa-la coconut milk.  Next we passed a man walking around with a tray that had packs of cigarettes.  Interesting....All of this, and the most beautiful thing was that everyone was smiling, laughing, walking, and playing.   Buses would drive by, loaded cheek to cheek, windows down, arms waving at the white man and woman.  Taxi drivers would honk and gesture to us "want to ride with me?"   As we walked past one young man, he said "Mambo, Mama, Mama Mambo!!!"  He was reaching out his hand.  He was telling me "greetings Mama!" 

The children are precious.  They want to touch your hand.  It's very touching.  And they love to have their pictures made.  When you show them the picture of themselves, they just giggle and laugh.  It is obvious this is not something they are used to.

As we walked Eddie and Moses were able to discuss plans while we are here and visions they have for this ministry.  It was so wonderful to listen as these two men, so different in culture and color, yet so bonded in their spirits and hearts.  God is an awesome God isn't He?  We all are astonished that it has been six years that we have been working together. 

We are back at the hotel now.  Eddie is preparing his message for tomorrow....another wonderful day ahead, so be prepared.