Another week gone by in October.

It went by fast, but it was a week of wonderful things. Things got done, friends were made, meetings were had and outcomes are coming. :) We have had 5 meetings this week with different people/couples but mostly about the new project that we want to be integrating into the church. Nick has the torch and the kiln is ready to be fired up for the first time!! Will post pics when its all together! :) This project has potential to be a great witness, please keep the shanga project a matter of prayer.
This weekend we wanted to spend some time together as a family so packed a lunch and we went up near mt meru. We drove about an hour up dusty dusty roads trying to find some place for a picnic.

We came to a forest which was beautiful, it was a governmental reserve with pine trees and eucolyptus trees everywhere. We tried to find a place kind of private but many people found us, the adults greeted us and they tried to shoo the kids away but they did not leave, about 10 kids just sat around and stared at us. Its hard to relax when your being watched and hard to eat when they are working carrying their bags of potatoes and kuni from the forest to the village. :(

The trees in the sky.

We are always looking for things to do with the kids on weekends that do not cost too much. Enjoying nature can be done anywhere but it didnt feel like we were in Africa, with a pine forest swaying to the music of the wind, it was a special find!

There were rasberry bushes growing all over the forest floor. It was so peacefull and sounded so amazing. The sound of the trees and the birds singing to eachother, it is the closest thing to a park in America, that we could get here. it was worth the drive. :)
When we got home the kids played in the sprinkler as the heat has set into Arusha, I dont know what they are laughing about but here they are with their giggly faces. Always laughing.

This last weekend we also had a family from Dar come up to Arusha where they met their girls who came from RVA. They stayed with us Friday and Saturday and left Sunday morning to Usa River. This was the girls first half term at rift and they seem to be enjoying it. It was really fun talking about rift with them and seeing both sides of the story... from the parents view and from the kids perspective. Its never easy having to send them away to boarding school, but what an act of faith, trusting that they are in the Lord's hands and what an unselfish love it is to let them go for their sake. It was fun having them around for a few days, the Anders are such a nice, fun family. We made enchaladas for dinner while they were here and the Ben Mac for Desert. :)

Us with Karen, Brian, Christa and Victoria.
Thanks for coming, hope you had a wonderful mid term together!