Daily life in Tanzania

   After going several days without internet connection, we are realizing how much we've come to depend on it for all off our communication. We often are without electricity since it is hydro-electricity and we are having an extended dry season.  The rains were suppose to come during all of October, but we have not yet had any.  So this dry country is now even dryer!  And as a result, the electricity is rationed.  The University has a generator that is used certain hours, but we are not able to connect with the internet when we have generated electricity--only when it's the "real" electricity.  I don't understand this, but there is alot that I don't understand!
  For example, I didn't understand that if you hang your clothes outside to dry, the mango flies lay their eggs in the moist clothes, and then when you wear them, the eggs hatch and the larvae burrow into your warm skin. FORTUNATELY, we've been hanging our clothes in the upstairs attic because it isn't as dusty as the outside---otherwise, I'm sure we would be harboring some happy little mango babies because I only recently found that out. Apparently, you can iron your clothes (if they've hung outside) and that kills the eggs!
   On another exciting note--we've started putting our lives at risk and are now using the infamous "dala dalas" for much of our transportation.  These are the "packed" (that is definitely an understatement) vans that transport bodies!  In America, we would consider 12 people to be a very full van, but on our first trip, Tim counted 27 people in the van.  Yesterday the one we rode into Arusha for church had 23 people in it!  Poor Tim. He is especially contorted and then whenever they go over a speed bump, he hits his head on the ceiling!  Not a pleasant experience, but it is the only available transportation we have if no one with a car is going in our direction. It's amazing though how they can cram so many bodies into a space that doesn't expand! (I don't advise you try this.)
   A few weeks ago, we attended the regional church choir competition.  This is a very big thing for the Lutheran churches here.  Twenty-eight churches participated in 4 categories:  women's choirs, mixed choirs, traditional choirs (this included Maasai choirs and also choirs from villages that sang and reinacted times from their early history), and the last category was choirs with electricity---this means that the choirs were accompanied by keyboards and electric guitars.  Of course, when the choirs with electricity performed, the electricity went out---so instantly, as if on cue, everyone (but us) turned on the flashlight on their cell phones to help out the band players read their music.  The choir never missed a beat.  Tim and I were still trying to figure out how to find the flashlight on our cell phones!  Actually, it's amazing that it seems that everyone here has cell phones  Apparently they sell them very cheaply to the Tanzanians and then sells minutes for just a few pennies.
   We have started having students over for chai (tea) and snacks (bananas, ginger cookies, and peanuts--I was told this is an appropriate Tanzanian snack).  They signed up to come 3 at a time. This way we get to know the students personally and it's really enjoyable.  Last week, 2 of the 3 girls who came were raised Muslim and at the age of 11 became Christian  They now are studying to be pastors and have a heart for the Muslims.  One girl's parents both died when she was 11 and she went to live with her older sister's in-laws who were Christian.  The other Muslim girl's father was not in the home anymore and one day her mother just announced that the whole family was going to be baptized and become Christian. She said she didn't want to change because all of her friends were Muslim.  It was very difficult for her then, but now she understands Christianity and loves Christ very much. She wants her Muslim friends to also understand some day, but says changing religions is very difficult and comes with great consequences.
   One last thing, our classes are going well. Last week in my class the topic was Erikson's Developmental Stages.  We were discussing them and how the stages apply to teaching people and working with members of the church when one male student asked, "Why do some women who are at one stage dress and act like they are at a younger stage?"  I guess that happens all over the world--I thought it was just in the USA!
  Hope all is going well for all of you.  We just found out today (Monday) that Ohio State won again!
Yipee!  Go Bucks!  Hope you enjoy the followig pictures---Tim & Diane