Jambo!!!!:) This is actually Lila posting because I'm not able to log onto my account. There is so much I wish I could convey to ya'll, but there are so many sights, sounds and smells that just have to be experienced. Today we started out bright and early with a delicious nutella toast and cheese eggs breakfeast ,courtesy of Haley and Sabrina. After that we headed out into the city of Dar and did various things such as visiting HOPAC for their assembly (chapel), but I actually wanted to speak a little bit about one of my favorite things that we got to do today.

 After visiting HOPAC, we went to Changomoto Mbezi (a clinic for recovering drug addicts). It is run by a group of Spanish missionaries, headed up by Luis and his wife Sonja. They were so very kind to us and their mission there is amazing. Basically they help whatever drug addicts come to there gates. The drugs that are used are heroine, marijuana and Tanzinians version of moonshine (I forgot the name). These drugs are relatively cheap, especially the moonshine, and is shipped  from overseas. They (the missionaries) help the addicts to recover and then teach them crafts so that they can try to sustain themselves. One of the big things they do is woodwork. Both men and women are allowed, but there are much fewer women due to the fact that they have to keep up with their families and cannot get away. I loved the idea of micro financing and the fact that these missionaries have given their lives completely over to God. It is an amazing testimony of true faith in God and his plans.

I wanted to share the story of one of the missionaries especially. Her name is Ares. She is from Barcelona and she is 20 years old. While the girls and I were working with her and another lady today, she spoke to us in English and told us about her story and God's calling on her life. Her mother was addicted to drugs and went to the Changomoto in Spain ( This is a worldwide org.). She was cured and decided to give back and felt called especially to go to Tanzania. At this time Ares was 18 and planning on going to university and becoming a teacher. When she heard that she would have to go to Dar Es Salam with her mother and sister she was very upset, but she realized God was calling her so she obeyed him and went. She has been serving God at the clinic and helping teach children on certain days at night. I was touched by her obedience and faith in God. Please pray for her because there are very few people her age and she seems lonely in that respect.      

This is all I had to say for tonight, but it doesn't even begin to cover half of just this day. Please continue to pray that we will be open to what God has planned for us every day and to thank him for the precious little things. Asante sana (thank you very much) and God bless!:)

Day 1

I am going to write just a small entry because I am really looking forward to having the girls tell all of you about each day. Just to give you a taste of our day yesterday though, we headed to Madala Village first thing to visit William and his church. What an awesome experience. The girls got up in front of the church and sang two songs and then headed off with the children for sunday school. It was awesome to see them with about 15-20 kids in a small hut (because by this time it was pouring!). The bead bracelets were a hit as were the ziploc bags!

In the service, Mr. O'Neil, Mrs. Brigham and myself all got a chance to share in front of the church. It was fun. William preached from Nehemiah about having vision. Very appropriate.

Afterwards, we had a lunch of rice, beans and vegetables with the church. It was good to interact, especially with the kids.

After lunch we went shopping! The girls had a fun time as they learned to barter. I think Haleigh Swierski won the price of most focused in shopping but all the girls had a great time purchasing local pieces. I think by the end they were actually enjoying the bartering.

For dinner we headed to a beach . . . on the Indian Ocean! It was fun. The sand was great and view was awesome. We ate dinner right at a hotel there on the beach with Jim and Lisa . . . principal and wife of HOPAC. It was great . . . by about 8 o'clock though we were extremely tired so we headed off to the hostile and were all asleep by about 10.

Like I said, that is just a quick overview. Hopefully today one of the girls will have a chance to blog and give you more of a picture of what they are experiencing here.

We are off to Haven of Peace Academy and then Changamoto Embezi today!