What a day!

Wednesday.

A normal day turned into a series of new experiences.

The Visa Card was used at the local ATM, and went OK except No receipt and NO money. Since we leave in a couple of days we wanted to be sure our money hadn't just 'disappeared', and went into the CRDB head office in Mbeya.

We had to catch the dallah dallah, and got one at Soweto, no problems. Our packed vehicle got to the next stop, meandered along another couple of hundred metres, went past the market and pulled over. The conductor and driver hopped out and wandered over to another bus. We weren't sure what was happening, neither was anyone else. After about 5 minutes people started getting off. What was going on? Turns out he hadn't actually complete his last run to the far point at Uyoli, and had headed back into town, picking up passengers. The driver was thought he was going to get caught, so just stopped. I assume he was going out to Uyoli after we left. Who knows, but there were no angry customers, we all just got off and caught another dallah dallah.

OK, so we all pile in another vehicle, which has to make a stop at the petrol station just after we got on!

On the way home dallah dallah were scarce (unusual), and when the first ones arrived they were swamped. We got on the third one, but didn't really listen to the 'call'. When our packed dallahdallah (we only got up to 26 people in the battered 15 seat Toyota Hi Ace) got to Manjelwa I was standing up. I moved and sat in a vacated seat as many people, everyone else but me, were getting off. I had thought it strange that the bus did a U-turn at the bus stop. When the 'conductor', who had not spoken a word of English to this point, looked at me and said firmly (but politely) "My father, THIS is Manjelwa" I got the message - and got off.

We walked the rest of the way.

It didn't happen on Wednesday, but I finally got a good picture of maandasi being cooked in the food hall. The chappati lady makes them at about 5.30 pm each night, but got one of her helpers to work at the stove for my photo.

Easter in Review

Thursday:

We attended a 'conference' at the invite of one of the students. It was held in a local park, and the first hour or so was filled with singing, dancing, and a couple of choirs who performed with much energy. There was even
a 'mosh pit', where anything from five to fifty people danced while the choirs did their stuff.

The speaker was a guest from Arusha, and interacted very well with the crowd. The message as about Victory in Jesus Christ, but the crucifixion and resurrection barely got mentioned.

Great to be there - and to be taken home in a taxi over some very narrow and bumpy roads. We were not in a four-wheel drive, but I thought we needed one just for the suburbs.

Good Friday:

A visit to the Children's Prison. It is not far from Shukrani and can hold up to 50 children. When we visited there were only ten boys in the facility. We had been warned about the conditions we might find, but were pleasantly surprised.

The warden was great; we were encouraged by his attitude, and his desire to 'save the children'. We were grateful for permission to visit, and were able to take some basic food supplies to supplement the government rations, as well as some lollies (pipi) that were given to the children after their lunch time meal.

Saturday:

The price of a dallahdallah trip has dropped to only 250 Tshs (25 cents). It is something I have never even heard of in Australia. At home it seems that public transport prices only go one way - UP! There are lots of things we can learn from Tanzania - and this is one of them.

While enjoying a soda (there are no cafes as such for a cup of coffee) we observed a wedding party walking up the street to the Wining Faith church, and we 'dropped in' on the ceremony. Our weddings are sedate affairs, but there was much cheering and clapping as the couple exchanged vows. It was great to be there even for a short time.

Sunday:

Home made chocolate Easter Eggs - made with makeshift moulds. Still some work to be done to get them looking like an Easter eggs, but they tasted good!





Worship was at The Salvation Army - Forest. Just getting to DHQ was a trek, 0ver rough roads (standard fare for Mbeya really) and we arrived in time to see the troops marching to the meeting at about 10.15 a.m.




With a prelude of music and dancing we enjoyed the participation of various groups in the 3 and a half hour gathering. Most remained for lunch, and at around 3.30 pm a substantial party continued to an open air at a market not too far away.

I thought these new floral uniforms were great.

Monday:

A trip to "The Bridge of God" and "The Cooking Pot" - some amazing natural features.

On the way we saw a popular hairdressing salon - the place to be on Easter Monday.

We did walk over the Bridge of God, then had a picnic alongside the local soccer ground (not quite Wembley Stadium) before going to the Cooking Pot.

To get to there we had to go through the grounds of a prison (no pictures allowed, thank you)... must admit it didn't look like a prison, with many houses and kids around the place. Still, it was nice to pass through, and not stay.

It was worth the journey, and concluded a great Easter celebration.

Easter in Mbeya

Three crosses were erected in the garden outside the administration block - and a notice was posted on the office door. In contrast to the garish displays of Easter Eggs and the images that appear outside (and inside) churches these are the signs of Easter in Mbeya.

The shops display their goods, the market stalls are open, and life continues as per usual. There will be church services on Good Friday - and the Swahili services will go from about nine until well into the afternoon. The banks, the post office, government offices and most 'big' businesses will be shut. Sole traders or family businesses will continue as if it is just another day. For them it is, and they need to trade.

For us Easter is already different. The constant reminders and the commercial opportunities of Easter are missing. It is not much good trying to sell expensive and overpriced chocolates when the majority can only afford the basics. Chocolates are only sold in a few shops anyway, and even a small block of chocolate is 2500 Tshs. You can buy two good meals for that! Shop fronts are places where you display your goods, and shop windows are there to keep out the rain, the dust, the insects and the thieves.

On Good Friday we will see people in the streets, pretty much as other days. At home Good Friday (and Christmas) seems to be marked by an absence of people in the streets.

Here there is life! It seems busy during the daylight hours, but is certainly not frantic. People are always around, and there is always time to talk. People walk, and acknowledge others they meet on the way. People sit, and pass the time between trades in conversation.

Easter will be much like any other time - and the focus on the events of that first Easter will be left to us. We cannot rely on commercial reminders - they are not there. It is up to us to pause and reflect on the significance of those days in Jerusalem so long ago.

For me, it has been good to take my time over Easter, and to reflect on it without the distractions and demands that are normally associated with my remembrances of the central event on the Christian calendar.