Pasaka Adventure 2012!

 Having some days off from school a friend and I decided we would take advantage of the time to see some sites!  It still amazes me that God has brought me here to live in this place.  The vast things to see here blow my mind but the emotions filled with some of those sites can be consuming.

Our first section of our journey was to drive to Mwanza which can take three to four hours.  Driving along between the Serengeti and Lake Victoria makes for beautiful sites during the first leg of our trip.

The second portion of our venture was to catch

the ferry that leaves at 9pm.  It was an eventful experience being a full load for the holiday weekend.  So, we were way below in the bottom in the seating area which makes for a difficult night of sleep.  However, the sites of the stars on the water was breathtaking!  It was so exciting to travel across the big Lake Victoria!  I loved being on the water and the sound of the horn of the ferry got me all excited!  We arrived in Bukoba  at sunrise.  The hills that overlook the lake made for some additional beautiful sites.  We cleaned up, rested, and ventured to the market.  Bukoba is a major banana growing area.  The hills are green  

 and I enjoyed the cute little town.  We enjoyed working on our Swahili within the market.  It can be quite the experience to venture in and out the avenues of Tanzania.

We ended our day with a magnificent rising of the moon!  The pastel sky over the water with the moon's reflection across the lake made for a worshipful evening.

"Mwenyezi Mungu asifiwe siku kwa siku!

Yeye hutubebea mizigo yetu; yeye ndiye 

Mungu wa wokovu wetu."  Zaburi 68:19

"Praise the Lord, who carries our burdens day after day; he is the God who saves us." Psalm 68:19

The next day we caught a bus that left at 6am and headed to Kampala Uganda.  The rains have arrived in Uganda.  The vegetation is green and thick.  I pray those rains visit us in Tanzania.  We were on the road for about six hours till we saw the sites of Kampala.  Crossing the border was smooth but the larger capital cities of Africa can be very overwhelming.  So many people, filled with dirty conditions, and not always the safest places to be.  There is a lot of ground to trek and it is hard to find our way.  But, through the sea of dala-dalas we found the one we needed to Jinja Uganda.


Jinja Uganda brought the sites of Lake Victoria from the

Ugandan side.  The other exciting part of these new sites brought the view of the source of Nile!  I was very excited to see the source of the Nile.  The Nile funnels into Lake Victoria.  We stayed where we could see the lake filled with many worshipful sites.  

Easter Morning we walked and found a lovely gathering of Ugandan believers.  The service began with a leader praying out loud for a solid hour as people arrived for the service.  There is no way I can try to paint the picture of worship in an African Church.  The drums set the rhythm and there was a GREAT celebration!  I will just tell you that we have a lot to learn about what dancing on those streets of gold might look like!  On many occasions I was brought to tears by the expression of love and worship to Jesus for enabling us to have a relationship with a loving God.       

This woman caught my sites as she prepared for worship.  The worship hymn "See, What a Morning" written by the Getty's is my favorite song to sing especially at Easter.  This was a special moment for me because on holidays one can wish to be home.  But, when I saw this woman that song came to my mind.  I sang this song in my mind as I watched her praise her God.  "See, what a morning glorious bright with the dawning of hope in Jerusalem.  Folded the grave clothes to filled with light as the angels announce Christ is Risen!"

This little one with still unbalanced little legs left his momma's side and mad his way to the front of the church.  He clapped, waved his little hands in the air, and danced to the beat of the drum in worship!  Touched my heart as adults moved to the side so this little one could make his way through the crowd to the front to celebrate that Christ has Risen!













This little guy in his oversized suite soon became my friend during the service.  His face is just precious.  He worshiped with me dancing and clapping his chubby little hands.  At hour four of the service still going strong he fell asleep on my lap.  I love these moments of snuggling with "my" kids within this land.  But, oh how it was HOT!  The service was a joy to be a part of! This little guy in his oversized suite soon became my friend during the service.  His face is just precious.  He worshiped with me dancing and clapping his chubby little hands.  At hour four of the service still going strong he fell asleep on my lap.  I love these moments of snuggling with "my" kids within this land.  But, oh how it was HOT!  The service was a joy to be a part of!

The afternoon was spent within this boat on the source of the Nile.  From childhood some of my fondest memories water.  I just love being on the water let alone now being able to say that I have now been on the Nile River!  The birds are beautiful and colorful.  The Nile is wide and looks like many lakes of the States.  

This is Miss Wendy on the Nile River!

 Our return on the ferry was a bit more enjoyable since we were able to reserve a sleeping room.  We arrived back in Mwanza at sunrise.  Again, beautiful sites at the end of our venture.  The day was beautiful and made for an enjoyable drive back to school.  We were welcomed back by our friends and back to the books!

Prayer Points~

• This is my last week of school.  Pray as I close up my time here and prepare for the venture home.  
• My intern has held down the fort very well and I am very proud!  School is going well and they are preparing for break.  Pray as the families return home for their three week break.  Pray also for my intern Amy.  I am grateful for her ministry with us and pray as she prepares to return to the States.  There are many emotions transitioning back to home culture and closing her time here in Tanzania.  
• I think most of you probably have heard by now that there are many transitions happening on our team.  We are thrilled to welcome Mike and Joann Noel who will lead in areas of discipleship.  I have not met them yet so I will look forward officially meeting them when I return.  Also, the Carters will be closing their time in Tanzania.  They are a very special family to me and it will be hard to say goodbye but I know God has great things in store for them in this next season.  Savannah graduates from high school and will be entering college in Ohio this Fall.  I will be returning to some transitions!  Some will be enjoyable and some will be hard.