On to Tanga, Tanzania

Saturday, September 10, 2011

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. (Psalm 121:2-5).

The Muslim influence in this area is hard to believe or explain, but it is everywhere. Yesterday on our way back from Samburu, we stopped at a booking office to book seats on a bus from Mombasa to Tanga. The men running the office were Muslim. In front of the office several stands were set up selling Islamic booklets and pamphlets in Arabic and Swahili. The people surrounding the stands and neighboring businesses were a mix of Africans and Middle

Easterners. Most of the people who joined us on the bus were also Muslims. There were few exceptions. It is an interesting thing, because it is apparent to us that they are Muslim and it is probably apparent to them that we are Christian, although no one ever asked us. There did seem to be an uncomfortableness, although nothing was ever said. It is a strange thing though and must be difficult for many people.

We were told that the bus ride to Tanga would be about 4 hours so we expected to be in by mid afternoon. We said goodbye to Charles and Andrew, and Ann, who had returned to see us off. Charles and Andrew would be driving back to Nairobi and should be in by this evening.

Getting on the ferry with a large crowd in Mombasa harbor.

Instead of a 4 hour trip it ended up being over 6 hours. We had to get out of the bus and get on a ferry to cross the channel dividing Mombasa from the mainland. It was quite the experience. Hundreds of people crowed on as we crossed the channel, surrounded by huge freighters and other boats in the harbor. When we got off we walked through a market which offered all kinds of local goods – especially fish of different kinds. The smell was enough to make me loose my breakfast, but I contained myself! After getting back on the bus we had a three hour ride to the border. We crossed into Tanzania without incident (other than that Mike had to pay a fee because he was not carrying his vaccination card). It was only the second time I have ever been asked about that card, but they caught him without it and had to pay the price. Better than having to get the shot here though!

The "under construction" roads to Tanga

After that it was another three hours over roads which were under construction from the border all the way to Tanga. It seems like we have a way of finding the roads that are under construction when we travel! When we finally arrived we were very glad to get out and get to our hotel!

We met with Pastor Gondwe to go over our schedule for the next few days and then sat down for an eagerly awaited supper. It wasn’t anything fancy, but really hit the spot. We have to get up and going very early in the morning tomorrow for travel to church so it is off to bed. The electricity keeps cutting out and that is a mixed blessing. When the electricity goes out, the ceiling fan which keeps me cool and the mosquitoes away stops, but so does the loud music from the concert right out my window. I guess I’d take the breeze and no mosquitoes over the quiet....

In His service,

Nathanael