Eve of repatriation (Wed, Aug 15)

Refugees spend the night in these facilities the night before they travel to Burundi. On the right, you can see the edge of one of the shelters where they are fed. In the background are the structures in which they sleep.

These kids are very excited to have their picture taken (above)! Families are registering and having their belongings weighed before these items are packed on trucks (below, left). Each person is allowed to bring 50Kg (about 110 lbs) of items. The World Food Program provides 6 months of food rations intended to sustain the refugees once they return to Burundi (below, right). 2 months of food is distributed in Tanzania on the morning of repatriation. The rest is given to them at a station in Burundi.

A mother and her child on the eve of their return (above). Refugees and TCRS and UNHCR staff pack their belongings (left).

My house...

These pictures are from my house. The photo on the left was taken from my front porch, which you can see in the photo on the right.

I'm in Tanzania!!!

I'm in TANZANIA!!! Last Wednesday (August 8th) I flew into Dar es Salaam, and stayed in that city till Sunday (August 12th). While there, I visited TCRS headquarters and went to a goat-racing charity event (pictures below). Then, on Sunday I flew from Dar to Mwanza (town/city on the Southern shore of Lake Victoria) and rode in a TCRS SVU from Mwanza to Kibondo. I've been in the Kibondo office for most of the week, but did have had a chance to visit Kanembwa (one of the refugee camps) on Wednesday afternoon. Pictures from Kanembwa will be in my next post.

Overall, it has been a wonderful experience so far!! God has generously provided for me, and the people have been extremely kind and welcoming.

I hope you enjoy the photos!
And thank you all for your prayers!!!! Please pray that I'll learn Swahili quickly :-) God bless!

To the left is a picture of me just before we left home. I must say, I like the new hair cut! It's much easier to wash in during a cold shower ;-)

This was one of the first pictures I saw in Dar...isn't it wonderful?!

Dar es Salaam

This picture was taken from the second story balacony of the house where I stayed in Dar es Salaam. It was an inn of sorts run by the Passionist Community (a Catholic community). Maria, the woman who lives there and cooks for the guests, and the other guests were wonderful. Casey, there was a couple there from New Zeland!! I thought of you :-) Some of the guests were contemplating becoming priests...one such young man stole minutes from my cell phone! HAHA!!! Just goes to show that we're all succeptable to sin...we're all human ;-)

A picture from the Goat Races. On Saturday (August 11th), Odillo's family took me to a charity event that was a carnaval of sorts. The main fundraiser was a series of goat races that spectators would bet on. It was a lot of fun!

These pictures are of Odillo and his family. Odillo works for the logistics department at TCRS headquarters in Dar. He took excellent care of me while I was in the city. The picture directly above is is of Odillo's youngest son. The upper-right picture is of Odillo's family. To the left is a picture of me in front of the Indian Ocean. Odillo's wife said they would take me to visit some of the beaches next time I'm in Dar. Apparently the sand is very white (when it's dry), and the water exceptionally clear. There are fish, sea creatures, and coral reefs to see on snorkling and scuba-diving adventures.

On the drive from Mwanza to Kibondo

There are small huts under this tree...you can barely see them...sorry!

Cattle enclosed in a pen. Most of the animals I saw ranged freely and were sheparded by kids.

On the road there were many people walking and biking. From what I can tell, the vast majority of people walk or bike. Cars are rare.

On the way to Kibondo...they got the donkeys out of the way in time ;-D

House and Office

A view from the front door of my neighbor's house...I lived here during my first week in Kibondo. (Pics from my house are on my camera; I haven't been able to transfer them to my computer yet.)

My office at TCRS

The view of the TCRS compound from my office.

This is a picture of a toilet I used on the way to Kibondo. I put it here because the office toliets are of the same style. Isn't this great!? haha! (Aunt Peg--you know ;-)

Streets in Dar...these pics are out of order...

A side street in Dar. Notice that it is not paved.

A crowded street in Dar es Salaam. This is one of the main roads in the city. Though you can't see it here, people with carts make up part of the traffic.