Jul
20
Written by:
Administrator Account
7/20/2008 6:06 PM
In July 2008 a team was privileged to venture into the heart of Tanzania to Haydom, a town in the central highlands. The road to get there was typical of the bush, unpaved, dusty, and at one point becoming to or three parallel trails. Up the escarpment we went, the road clinging to the ridgeline. And at the top, a rolling plateau with a vista, a tiny town, and people with the biggest hearts on Earth. Our eight tired and road weary souls found ourselves at the Hotel California. We checked our luggage in but we could never do anything but leave our hearts there.
We were there to give. Partnered with the local church leaders, we had brought willing hands and funds to finish a school roof. This we did in about a week. It was really a two day job. But the local craftsman, fundi in Ki-Swahili was not willing to work to at the pace of our fearless leader, Ron. Over the course of the week as we all got used to each other, work went more and smoothly. By then end of the week, one time strangers had become close friends.
We were blown away on our last evening. There was a church celebration. The fundi was now the master of ceremonies giving us gifts donated by the congregation and even personal gifts to us to show how much he had come to love and respect us. What could we do but weep with joy. We are the rich Americans who came to sacrifice our comforts and give our resources. But these truly humble men and women out gave us and stole our hearts away.
Below is the ALAG Missions Board helping Ron and Carol for this trip.
Tags: