Starting out for the villages

Monday has arrived and today we start out for the villages.  Last year's pattern of staying in the village for three days proved very successful in that we were able to teach and train people more effectively than with a "hit and run" one day visit and back to base with the attendant 2 or 3 hour journey each way.

Sunday"s Ordination Service was a marathon 5 1/2 hours long.  Let no-one in the Western church ever complain about 1 1/2 hours again!  :-)  It did not seem too long, because there were so many interesting things going on - a family of about 15 people came to give thanks for the mother's safe return to them after a stomach operation; a baptism of a woman from the other major faith; the ordination of 12 men; the presentation of gifts to each one, accompanied by song and dance from each of their parishes; a huge dance and song celebration; a communion celebration for about 300 people or more.

Today we go to the deanery of Itolwa and in three day's time we go to Chemba for 4 days, then we go to Dodoma and there will be 2 confirmation services one one day, 1 the next and 2 the final day before we fly home.

So just in case we get no internet or electricity before we get to Dodoma, pray for us and God bless you!