From Tabora

Thursday - Up at 3:30 a.m. to prepare for our drive into Belfast. We will catch a plane on to London. Luggage – OH MY!! Sixteen bags in storage somewhere in London to be picked up and transported to the airport. Checking in with 16 bags drew much attention from many onlookers. After the baggage was all checked we were able to relax and wait for departure time to Dar es Salaam.

Friday – Arrived safely in Dar with all bags and none had been tampered with. It seems so hot since we left Ireland and the temperature was -6 degrees C and here I'm sure it is in the 80s. Dar is on the Indian Ocean and I think the humidity must be 100 percent. Needless to say we feel drained but well. Forgot how the traffic is here so sometimes we just close our eyes. Tim has a driver, Juma, they always use him and he a very safe driver but it is the other guy you have to watch out for! :) We did a little shopping but Tim and Kim were suffering from the heat too so decided tomorrow was another day. They arranged for our excess baggage to be transported by truck on to Tanzania along with washer and mower they planned to purchase.

Saturday – Shopping again – Kim for a washing machine and items that she can't get in Tabora. Tim for a lawn mower. Successful shopping and eating. We are staying in the Heritage Hotel these two nights (very comfortable) and there is a Lebanese Restaurant next door and they serve breakfast for the hotel guest and served wonderful food. We just took all of our meals there since it was handy and didn't have to be out in the heat .

Sunday – Saturday and Monday flights were full so we had to travel on Sunday. Left for the airport 9 a.m. for flight to Tabora on Air Tanzania at 11:20 a.m. Arrived in Tabora at l:20 p.m. Were met at the airport by friends of Tim and Kim. This was a 2 engine plane and Tabora has a dirt runway. Tim and Kim went on to church Sunday afternoon but we stayed in. They are really taking good care of us and spoiling us!

Monday – After a great nights sleep and breakfast we all went into town to buy groceries and take care of business. Dr. Ruth loaned Tim a car for a few days to take care of everything. That is such a blessing since you have to go to a different place for each thing. Had a very pleasant surprise when we received the extra baggage that was in suitcases today! The company had a car going thru Tabora so they brought them in the car. All the trunks, washer and lawn mower will come later (hopefully this week).

Tim had to buy a load of water because of the shortage of water. We are hoping that the dry season is about over. Had a few sprinkles last night.

Am trying to send a picture of the home we stayed in during our visit to Ireland and also we have said so much about our luggage thought we better send a picture since “Seeing is Believing”!

Will try to send more pictures when we get internet here at the house next week!

Tuesday – After being gone for 10 months, there was much cleaning, repairing and legal matters for Tim and Kim to attend to. Cleaning the kitchen was a priority for Kim and Faye. Tim and Bill were busy replacing a faucet in the kitchen. A trip into town was necessary to purchase parts before the installation could begin.

After lunch we walked around the compound to see John's garden. He had planted a large plot of beans and peanuts. He also showed us his chickens. He has 100 laying hens producing about 90 eggs a day. The sale of eggs adds to his income.
Had good shower (rain) in the afternoon and another light one during the night. The electric went off shortly after 6 p.m. Without power there is nothing to do, so off to bed around 8:30 p.m. We were awakened a few minutes after 9 p.m. when the power was restored.

Last full day in Ireland

WEDNESDAY – JANUARY 19,2011

TODAY WAS A DAY OF TRAVEL AND SIGHT SEEING. WE BEGAN OUR JOURNEY AT 10:00
DUE TO THE HEAVY FOG. BRO. JOHN AND PAULINE PICKED US UP AND WE HEADED TO
THE MALL FOR A BRIEF STOP. JUST HAD TO SHOP ONE MORE TIME. FROM THERE WE
TRAVELED TO THE NORTH WHERE WE COULD SEE THE NORTH SEA AND SCOTLAND IN THE
DISTANCE. THE COUNTRYSIDE IS BEAUTIFUL AND THE GRASS IS SO GREEN. SAW
MANY SHEEP GRAZING. SEVERAL SMALL TOWNS OR VILLAGES WERE PASSED THROUGH AS
WE JOURNEYED. TRAVELING ALONG THE COAST LINE WAS A THRILLING RIDE WITH
NARROW ROADS AND UP AND DOWN HILLS. WE DID STOP AT ONE OF THE VILLAGES AT
THE SEA AND BOUGHT SOME SNACKS FOR LUNCH. THEN ON UP THE COAST LINE TO
BUSHMILLS. THERE WE TURNED SOUTH AND HEADED BACK TO THE TOWN OF BALLYMEADE
WHERE WE STOPPED FOR SUPPER. AFTER A DELICIOUS MEAL WE DROVE TO MATTHEW
AND JENNIFER'S HOME TO BEGIN THE TASK OF PACKING FOR OUR TRIP IN THE
MORNING.

OUR NEXT POST WILL BE FROM AFRICA.

Safe in Ireland and having a wonderful time!

We arrived in London safely about 7:30 a.m. Friday. We had 16 bags of
checked luggage which had to be stored while we made the trip to Ireland.
We arrived in Belfast, Ireland approximately 4 p.m. We were met at the
airport by Bro. John who drove us to his home. It took about an hour. A
delicious meal had been prepared for us there. We visited for a while and
were then driven to our hosts, Matthew and Jennifer's lovely home. Had
about 12 hours wonderful rest!

Saturday morning we were served hot coffee and tea. It was raining so we
spent the day in town just shopping and looking around. The evening had
been planned for a time of food and fellowship with believers from several
churches. We had a wonderful time and were received very warmly.

After another wonderful nights rest we are ready for the Lord's day!

Update - Leaving the USA in less than 20 hours!!!

Left Little Rock this morning about 8:30 and arrived in Dallas about 3 p.m.
Roads were all clear! Checked into the motel and are just relaxing. We
will go to the airport about 12:30 p.m. tomorrow. We hope to get our bags
checked in, have lunch and just hang out in the airport until we go through
security check and wait for boarding announcement. Our next post will be
from London or Ireland.

Update

Waiting for the snow to melt so we can get to Little Rock and from there we will travel to Dallas on Wednesday for an overnight stay.  We will fly out of Dallas at 4:55 p.m. on Thrusday. The snow has caused a slight change in plans however we are still scheduled to depart Thursday. We are taking a side trip to Ireland for 6 days on the way over.  We will be visiting with believers who are friends of Tim and Kim. Hopefully we will get to see some of the countryside.