Wednesday-

We made it to Kibidula about 1pm and just in time for a delicious lunch from Jason’s wife, Antoinette.

All of us were up at 4am this morning but most of the group admitted that none of us slept very well. I was awakened at 1:30am with another spectacular electrical storm that just lit the sky up. Huge, bright flashes of light every couple seconds that just made great display!

Everyone jumped up right at 4am we started hauling out luggage which the men loaded onto the back of the truck in the dark. I couldn’t believe that they got every piece on there. Everyone used our beloved cho for the last time, we prayed, and then we hit the road by 5am. Teresa, Angie, Bella, Leila, Memere, and I all rode in the truck because we motion sick people can’t ride the bus if we can help it.

The other 12 members of our group walked out the road and we waited at the end for them. We only had to wait about 20 minutes for the bus and it came roaring along and we flagged it down. We saw the other part of our group safely on the bus and it tore down the road then we took off in the truck.

I must tell you that the road is very rough, rocky, and its dirt! You can’t go very fast on it (well to be safe) plus take into consideration the other lumber vehicles and bicycles. Finally after 2 ½ hours of rough travel we reached the pavement at Njombe and we were so excited to see some kind of civilization again! We drove up the hill and found the bus that was dropping off passengers and taking some on to make sure our group was okay. They were all there but looked a little distressed. They were all crammed at the back of the bus and Mat stuck his head out and said the bus was really smelly. The word was that it was a 71 passenger bus but that there were about 110 people crammed on standing in the isles too. Later on Jon told me that I would have been sick for sure because he had fought it some part of the way out. I can sure sympathize with him; I really hate to get sick from traveling.

Come to find out the Lord was really watching over that bus because it had pulled into Njombe and was just parked on the side of the road and the front tire blew. That would have been horrible coming down that rough dirt mountain road.

Thank You God for keeping them all safe!

The truck load of the women went and fueled up and then we were on our way to Makembako which is where you turn for Kibidula. Memere asked us if we would want to shop at the market for a while and let the bus catch up. We all said yes; it was the biggest market we have been in yet and we found a couple things. We actually shopped for 1 ½ hours before hitting the road again for the last hour leg of the journey to Kibidula. We all had the feeling that the bus had long since gone past us and now we had to catch up because it is a very long drive from the highway back to Kibidula. We made the cut off in good time and no one was there so we figured that they had started walking. Turns out Chris, Steve, Mat, and Hannah all decided to follow the road while Vanessa said she knew a short cut and led everyone else on a “long cut”. That first group looked pretty tired and was glad to jump up on the edge of the truck and grasp onto the luggage. Quite a distance further we caught up with my family and Steve and they were also very happy to get a ride. That vehicle was definitely a sight to behold; we already had luggage piled up past the top of the cab and now we had 12 people hanging off the back driving down the road. Meanwhile in the cab we become very crowded taking in all the carryon bus bags. I was wondering if I would be able to open my door when we got there. We were laughing the whole way in and there was one big bump that bounced Jonah completely off the truck but he held onto the ropes and was running behind the truck and was able to jump back on before she stopped. Memere was already driving fairly slowly because of the load in back so that no one would get hurt, but we sure had fun. All the kids kept yelling faster, faster; they said they hadn’t had this much fun in a while!

We pulled into Jason’s house and Antoinette had a wonderful meal prepared for us. She made us chapattis, rice, pinto beans (they were good) greens, lettuce (second time we’ve had it), tomatoes, and carrots. She also had some cookies that she had baked and they were also good and the kids ate them right up. Our biggest thrill of the meal was that there were plates, forks, and napkins. Out in Mago we had no napkins or paper towels and only bowls and spoons.

Marci and family-

I hadn’t been in the house very long when a package was deposited on my lap and my eyes lit up. Immediately my children and husband flocked around me and that drew the excitement of all the others. My good friends had sent us a care package of goodies and cards! We are so excited to get something from home, especially right before Thanksgiving, it really means a lot. Thank you so much to the Dauncey family for their kindness and it couldn’t have been received at a better time.

Noah and Nathan: thanks for the cards that you made me. I am being careful when I work and I am very glad to be able to do other things now. Thanks for the treats and I will see you when I get home. Mat

Megan: thanks for the horse card megan and the stickers, we miss you too and we are going to see you when we come home. Thank you for the candy. Love Hannah and Bella

We are now set up in the guest house by ourselves. We won’t know what to do without the other 12 people of the group to live with. We have a bathroom and beds to sleep on (Yeah), even though the shower is only cold water, we really don’t care. This is like paradise to us after where we have been staying for the past several weeks. The guest house has an occupant that we will share with, her name is Irma but she is gone all day. We stayed here one night with Dave and Kristen on our way out and Irma had come in after dark when we were all in bed.

There are many nectarine trees out around the house and they are ripe. They are only the size of plums but they sure tasted good; it reminds me of home.

We were already introduced to the nasty horse on the premises that belongs to Anita and Thomas’ family. The horse pins its ears and comes at you and tries to bite I stood my ground so it decided to turn like it would kick me and of course I stepped back 2 steps. Oh how I wish I had a stick about then to pop it on the rump. There was a mean little donkey right next to the horse but the little girl Helena said they can be nice sometimes. My question was “how do you take care of them, if you can’t get near them”? Then I had Brianna, Helena, and Hannah all ran up to me and say “Bella’s waiting for you in the girl’s dorm bathroom”. I was wondering what she was doing there in the first place and Hannah informed me there was a problem of the “trots” taking place. So we all arrived at the bathroom, but no Bella only a pair of panties lying on the floor of the cho style bathroom. So I retrieved them and went in search of my daughter and found her back at the guest house; she then got to take a shower. I just thought it was funny that she left her panties and took off. Well she did have an accident and that was pretty understandable to want to abandon them. Now all the kids are out running all over Kibidula having a good time playing. Anita is making our beds right now; she is such a nice lady and we had a nice visit with her earlier.

We are looking forward to a nice dinner, showers and a nice bed tonight. We have a nice view from the upstairs loft to wake up to. Take care to all our friends and loved ones and don’t eat to much for Thanksgiving!

This is how our truckload looked upon arrival at Kibidula! That is how everyone clung on over the bumpy road.