just 200 short miles across Lake Victoria... but if you didn't know better, you'd think that we stepped into a totally different world!Where it was lush and green in Uganda, it is a little browner and dustier in northern Tanzania where we're at now... where it was cooler and humid in Uganda, it is hotter and drier in Tanzania... where English was spoken with regularity in Uganda, Swahili is the official language of Tanzania and few people even know English... where Kampala was more urban and compact, Mwanza and its 
surrounding area is more spread out and rural in nature... where Christianity predominated in Uganda, Tanzania is an equal mix of Christian, Muslim, and indigenous religions (i.e., witchcraft and voodoo)... I will say, though, that there are some pretty spectacular views of Lake Victoria from Mwanza... and this week should be a totally different kind of adventure for me!
surrounding area is more spread out and rural in nature... where Christianity predominated in Uganda, Tanzania is an equal mix of Christian, Muslim, and indigenous religions (i.e., witchcraft and voodoo)... I will say, though, that there are some pretty spectacular views of Lake Victoria from Mwanza... and this week should be a totally different kind of adventure for me!Once we arrived at the airport and struggled our way through customs (a story for a different day...), we were met by Margaret, who is the CRWRC (Christian Reformed World Relief Committee) representative for Tanzania... She will serve as our host and interpretor for this part of the trip -- she is originally from Kenya, but has spent about 18 years in Tanzania and is fluent in Swahili. After we had checked into the La Kairo Hotel here in Mwanza, we ate lunch with Margaret at the restaurant at the hotel and discussed our schedule for the next couple of days. 
Check out what I got... Fried Tilapia -- and they fry the whole fish! Thankfully, I've had no stomach-related issues since arriving in Africa! The next couple of days will probably be the test, though, as we'll be visiting more rural areas where cleanliness is not as foremost on their minds...
Check out what I got... Fried Tilapia -- and they fry the whole fish! Thankfully, I've had no stomach-related issues since arriving in Africa! The next couple of days will probably be the test, though, as we'll be visiting more rural areas where cleanliness is not as foremost on their minds...After the late lunch, Margaret then gave us a tour of the city... Wow! Besides the differences in the physical environment, the thing that struck me was the diversity of the people -- many different types of dress, including modern Western attire, colorful authentic African outfits, traditional Muslim clothing and Maasai warrior dress...
We have meetings scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday with two separate business as mission groups here in the area -- tomorrow with WADOKI here in Mwanza (actually, across the street from the hotel) and Wednesday with SISA in Sengerema, which is across an arm of Lake Victoria. Lou from Partners Worldwide flies in tomorrow morning and then will join us later in the day. Our schedule for tomorrow includes tours of some of the member businesses and meetings with members and the board of the group. Not sure at this point, what our schedule will hold for Wednesday.I pray that the Lord will be present for each of our meetings here in Mwanza and that we will have discernment and clarity in our direction relating to these two groups!
I pray also for Teresa and Rachel, as they continue to hold down the fort in Evansville, while the two men in the family are enjoying their world travels! I pray for strength and stamina and courage for each... I love you both and I can't wait to get home on Friday!
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