Home Once Again!

Boabab Tree, they are amazing!

Elephants we woke up to the first morning by the tents!

This is our bon-voyage

friends:

Some time has passed since my last post. Returning from Zanzibar and then packing to come home took quite alot time. Lesli and I returned last Thursday night after a 30 hour trip home. It took 3 days to recuperate. It was so good seeing Bill, I msised him! Next time, he will go with us. Here are some of my best pictures. Africa was wonderful, and we are so thankful for Peter, Mary and little Hope. We love you!

Thisi s a celebration jump! Even the Massai got into it!

After our spice tour, the workers made us hats and purses from banana leaves. We're modeling them!

The church that sits on top of the slave trading auction that was abolished with the help of Dr. Livingstone.

Bye Zanzabar!

Picture on left is church built on top of Slavery Auction.


I only have a few minutes before my battery runs out. We'll be to Mary's later this evening. There is no adapter at this lodge. What a beautiful place. We went snorkeling yesterday, my very first tme and certainly not the last. Starfish, sea urchins, a school of fish, coral all over. It was a very old Zanzabar boat which made it even more fun. We climbed on top and watch the sun set. We only were able to stay in the water for 20 minutes or so because of stinging jellyfish, so small we couldn't see them.





Georgia gave me my special notes last night. What a very sweet surprise. I was very blessed. Thank you so much. Very blessed. Food poisoning Friday. How terrible it was.





When we entered Stone Town Wednesday night, we went to our very archaic hotel, very different, but that was part of the wonderful adventure that we will never forget. No seats on the toilet, no towels, no speaking English or liking English, ha. We took our luggage up to the rooms after a VERY long day of traveling. Our guide was with us, thank the LORD, because it was a bunch of allyways, dark, rocky. Everyone agreed to go the special fish market on the beach, not realizing that the walk (for me, the oldest, ha), was around 2 miles through the maze of allys and small roads. Got to the fish market, and it was so cool, BUT the food was not good. Finally got back to room and slept good. Guide met us in the morning, took us to stone town. When we went into the church that sits on top of the slave trading arena, I couldn't quit weeping. I'm so thankful the Lord intervened in that terrible atrocity.





We then went to the spice farm, so fun. Saw alot of trees where the spices come from, tasted many new fruits, my favorite is custard apple. I bought two to bring back to Bill, but they are too ripe now. We watched on the of the workers climb a coconut tree singing. That was my next favorite, green coconuts, the juice, and the fruit which is so different before it's ripe. I ate three, which I think was my downfall!





Met Mary and Peter afer that and came to our lodge on the ocean. It's like a piece of paradise, I love saying Hallelujah to the Massai's that guard. Islam is around 95% here, but I've found some Christians. We love them, I've never seen such beautiful ocean water, the sand is like walking on memory foam, so soft. Many beautiful shells. I will try to post some pictures. Georgia, Leslie and the rest of the team are on their way home to Mary's via ferry, and bus. I'm flying with Peter and Mary because of God's blessing, thank you Lord. I'm still a little weak from the food poisoning, Everyone made my birthday so special yesterday. The chef here made a cake, cake's aren't something they make often, he spelled my name with watermelon strips, so sweet, last night we ate down the beach at at another place, and they sang to me. Very sweet.





Funny story, yesterday we were in the little shop and thought I would get a little henna. Hopefully I can get it off before coming home!

Zanzabar!

Wireless, Yay! Can't wait to talk with Bill tonight, Tonight is morning there.



I had never heard of Zanzibar until we decided to come on this trip. Mary and Peter made it a part of our itenerary, because the more people, the cheaper the rates for more of an experience, and what an experience it has been, starting with the 10 hour Tanzanian bus trip on Wednesday, which means completely non-American, non-American bathroom facilities, but as nice as it can be for Tanzania. Mary personally experienced the cheapest a few years ago to Zanzibar and it was terrifying, It started early in the morning, around 7, paved roads which was very good, from Moshi and we arrived in Dar Salome around 3:30. Dar Sa Lome (sp?) is the capital of Tanzania. Very, very large city. I was surprised to see a more cars, more businessmen. A taxi was waiting for us because our bus was late (we were on a schedule for Zanzabar), to get us to the ferry. Much, much stopped traffic, there was a stop light or so. We were scheduled and had tickets for the ferry at 4:30, the last one for the night, and could not miss it. The last 10 minutes, we ran from the taxi to the ferry just before the gate closed. The Lord was definitely with us. Mary and Peter came the next day, Thursday. After the ferry ride, which was nice because of the wind and the ocean blowing and a change of scenery from the 10 hour bus ride, we arrived in Stonetown. Our guide met us off the boat, Halelujah! I need to post the rest of the adventure later, don't know if I can charge my battery and need to save for Skype. Much love, Cheryl

Zanzibar!

Hello from Zanibar! Bill, I can't get into my email to write you and there is no wireless for Skype. Just wanted to touch base with you. I love and miss you. Zanzibar is wonderful, Stone Town so unusual and very touching and now we're on the beautiful ocean. It's so clear, you can see to the bottom, you would love it. Miss you much again, MUCH love, Cheryl

Food

I was reading my comments and saw Bill's question about the food here. That's one thing that I had no idea about before we came. Meat is very scarce and expensive. When meat is used in a meal, it's almost always chicken or a kind of stew meat. I cooked dinner for the team last night, and had to go to a special meat store to buy beef, there was only three containers to choose from. I learned from cooking last night that African beef is very tough, even if cut in small strips. I love the food here, I'm not a big meat eater anyway, I think Ottie, our new friend that is here also, is suffering a bit, ha. He's very large and was a professional basketball player in the U.K.. There are many vegetables, they are in abundance right now. Many bananas, people sell vegetables all through the streets. Rice is a very staple dish here, cooked in coconut milk, so very good. Avocados are abundant, and everywhere. Very good. We went to a very ethnic restaurant in the heart of downtown. On our plates were rice and meat dish, cucumbers and tomatoes, a small portion of watered down ground meat side, and french fries cooked inside an omelet. That was a very real dining experience. There were chickens running around. One thing a person does NOT want to do in Africa, use the restroom unless it's an unusually nice place away from home. For dessert, they brought us an avocado pudding, I ate the whole thing, it had fruit at the bottom. Our table was filled with food, and was only 18 shillings for all six of us, which is around 15 dollars.

The Massai Tribe's food was rice and meat dish, an amazingly good hot slaw mix, cut cucumbers on a plate, and wonderful avocados. It's so humbling to have others share so much when we know it's such a sacrifice for them. They also had cokes for us, which was also a sacrifice. Very loving and giving. Pastor Issac, he's part of the Massai's but became a Christian in Mary's ministry and has now moved back to the tribe and is their pastor. Very sweet man. He was so happy to show us his hut, made of mud but felt almost like cement. A thatched roof. Two very small rooms, one on the right with a baby sheep, and the one on the left with a small table that we ate around. We loved the experience.

I stopped taking Malarone yesterday, a preventative for Malaria. It's the cool season, 72 for the highs, misquitos are at their lowest. It has side effects of mouth sores, which are worse than the disease it prevents. Malaria is so treatable here.

Double Perfection 7/7

The Lord is so good, today is 7/7, double perfection. Today is also Mary and Peter's 2nd anniversary. Georgia and Leslie made breakfast in bed for them this morning, decorated with balloons and candles. It was a very special treat to wake up to. Mary and Peter are Blessings to many people here in Africa. They have a heart of giving, a strength from the Lord, and much love in their hearts for others. We've known Mary for around 6 years, and I'm so glad to know Peter now.

Africa is a land of hardship and beauty. Islam is the ruling religion in this area, calls to prayer are announced all over, it's unnerving for me to hear it. I would say that lawlessnesss abounds outside our protected walls here, but there are also many people of God. It's almost an instant thing to recognize it in a person's face. The roads are very hazardous. It takes alot of ability to drive here, alot of practice with no speed limits, winding in and out of people walking in the streets, cars stopped, trucks barreling through. Driving at night is perilous. Peter has a special ability to do it, possibly because of growing up here with missionary parents. We will be on a bus tomorrow to Zanzabar. This is another special blessing for our team. We will tour Stone Town, they are known for their spices, and I will learn more about David Livingstone. Peter and Mary will meet us Thursday and we will return Sunday.

I am going to try to learn more about posting pictures on this. There are so many from the safari.