We arrive in Tanzania

After 2 full days of travelling, we arrived in Dar es Salaam Sunday evening on the last flight of the day into Tanzania. As we waited patiently for our visa that would allow us to enter the country, our rumpled clothes and sagging shoulders told the story of our journey. We gave a prayer of thanks that we all arrived safely, along with our 18 bags of personal items and medical supplies. Barbara Robertson, a Washington state resident who works for the ELCA and has been in Tanzania for more than 7 years, spotted us as we talked with the customs agent to explain the contents of our bags. Once he understood the bags were filled with medicines and supplies that were to be a gift to the Tanzania people, he waved us through. We exchanged hugs, greetings and introductions with Barbara and piled our luggage into two Land Rovers for the short drive to the Catholic guest house, where we stayed last night.

After a quick breakfast, the team helped rearrange the bags in the two vehicles. The plan was for us to split up today: Barbara would take Doug, Adam, Cindy and Jordan to the ministry of health in Dar es Salaam to present medical credentials for the licensed team members and the rest of the team would go to Morogoro and get settled in to our rooms at the Lutheran Junior Seminary. We were prepared for the possibility that meeting with the Tanzania officials could take all day, but after just a few hours, the paperwork was completed, the fees were paid, and the other half of the team began their drive to Morogoro, where we would be reunited by dinner time.

Tomorrow morning we will move our medical supplies to the hospital, meet the staff and our interpreters, and learn how we can best serve and show the love of Christ. We have already talked with Robert Spitaleri, who worked with Asbury Methodist last month, so we know that patients have been told to come see us beginning Wednesday,