Three Weeks In

It’s been a busy week. The push to get the first family house completed is well and truly on. We’re getting lots done, although progress can be the usual African slow at times. We had an interesting day on Tuesday. We had a visit from the Tanzanian Immigration office. They wanted to see what was happening at Mavuno so that they could process the various work permits and visas. They were supposed to arrive at noon, but they arrived at 4:30pm in typical African style. The visit went well, which was such an answer to prayer, and they were happy with everything they saw. As a result we managed to pick up all but one of the visas on Thursday. (The remaining visa needs to be sent to Dar Es Salaam, but there shouldn’t be any problems). Tanzanians are hospitable people and as such it is important to honour and show respect to anyone that visits your house, especially officials. So, a meal was prepared for the officials, including meat as a fully vegetarian meal would be considered dishonourable. We were planning on eating together, but as they were so late arriving, we had already eaten. The officials turned up in a 4x4 and came in leaving two guys in the car. As part of offering hospitality, the two men in the vehicle outside were offered some ‘sodas’, while they waited. They looked at each other and declined. They were asked again as it was very hot, and they said that they’d share a bottle between them. We only found out later that these two guys in the 4x4 were actually illegal immigrants that were picked up on the way to Mavuno! No wonder they were unsure how to respond to the offer of a drink!

Despite the tough week, we’ve had a very relaxing day today. We had a lie in till 8am (that’s pretty good with Esther!), had breakfast, and then took a walk to the beach before lunch. Relaxed in the afternoon, and Lucy made a lovely meal in the evening. It’s been a quiet day, especially as the Helsbys have been away visiting friends today.

Hitesh – I’ve had a tough (physical) week his week. I’ve spent most of the week outside in the blistering sun. Apart from the pipe laying and digging trenches, four of us spent a day wrestling with a 3” PVC pipe that will be a new water main to the new houses. The pipe is pretty rigid, and we laid 400m of it! It was a very physical day, but we got lots done. The pipe was black in colour and got so hot that we had to use gloves to handle the pipe. I spent Friday and Saturday wiring the solar panels to the new family house, and thank God it worked first time without any problems! I thankfully didn’t get electrocuted, and nothing blew up, plus all the sockets and lights work. We’re desperately trying to get the house finished by next Friday so that the first orphans can move in. It will be quite a momentous day, especially for the Helsbys and Tanners. They’ve been working on the project for 5+ years and to finally see the first orphans live on site will be massive. I start tomorrow (Monday) doing tiling. Kitchen worktops here are cast in concrete and then tiled. You can get the chipboard laminate ones that we have at home, but they just don’t last. Not entirely sure what the Africans do that destroys them so quickly, but if it’s concrete, it will last!

Here's a picture of some of the drainage I laid


The Tanzanians are very big on their greetings and building relationships. When you meet your fellow workers, you must ask them (in Swahili) how their journey was, how’s their day going, how are their family etc. We’ve picked up many of the phrases and can start a conversation. However, when you ask the question, the answer is always Nzuri! Nzuri means good or OK. So even if you’ve had a terrible morning, or a terrible day, you must always answer that it was good! Really can’t figure this one out, though it does mean that you know how to answer most of the questions asked! I think there is a way of saying after, “but it didn’t work out etc…”. However my Swahili hasn’t got that far! I think it’s to do with the fact that Africans don’t like to disappoint. They want to say yes, or give some form of positive answer. For instance, if you need a ride into town on your friend’s pick up, he will immediately say “yes”. But it’s only after you’ve talked to him some more that you realise he’s already taking 10 other people, and that the answer is actually no! It’s all about the relationship!

Lucy – This last week has been good. We visited Mwanza on Thursday. This is the 2nd biggest town in Tanzania and is about an hours drive away. Somebody from Mavuno tends to go there at least once a week as this is where everything (pipes, fittings, food!) is bought. As well as popping to a few fantastic shops full of pipe fitting, bolts, valves and fan-belts (which I probably found more exciting than I should have done!), we went to the market…which was great! I’ve been before and it is so much fun, particularly with Esther in tow. Virtually every stand you go to the local women talk to you in Swahili and then give Esther a bit of food. In that one visit she was given half a passion fruit, some doughnut, a banana, a very small local fish known as Talipia, and a carrot! Not bad going. The people in the market are a lot of fun and so generous and warm. Even with my virtually non-existent Swahili, it’s still really good to be able laugh and smile with them! We also went to visit a German missionary’s house and had a bible study with 3 other missionaries from the area. Was really good to meet them and get to know them a bit.

Picture 1 from the market


Picture 2 from the market


I have also had a little project to work on myself this week. I have been reading up on and trying to build a solar oven. The theory behind them is incredibly simply, amazingly money-saving and very efficient. I am trying to come up with a design that not only works, but can also be built from all local materials for very little cost. So far is costing less than £4! I trialled it today and got water in a pot to reach 90C. Will keep working on it to try and get the water to boil. The aim is to try and persuade some of the locals to use them to try and save them money.

Today has been great. It’s been really nice to just spend some time as a family and do very little! Walking to and from the beach was lovely – we saw monkeys, a fish eagle, some gorgeous butterfly’s and some very cool birds (no idea what kind, sorry, not a twitcher!)… was a very good way to spend Valentine’s day!

Esther – I has had a good day today with Mummy and Daddy. We went to the beach and I played in the sand. But on the way home I was soo tired from having lots of fun that I fell asleep as Daddy was carrying me home.

Mummy and Daddy gave me some chocolate, and here's a picture of me afterwards!




Here's a video clip of us at the "beach" last week. The water is Lake Victoria.