Tanzania: Amsterdam to Moshi, 7/2/2009

Although I was grateful for my nice big first class airplane seat (that I did not pay for, Yay God!), 2-1/2 hours was a shorter doze than I hoped for, but the gentle clink of breakfast china rouses me. Soon we land in Amsterdam, with another 3 hours to wait before the next plane.

At the gate, I'm excited to see some purple wristbands -- these are the people I'll be spending the next two weeks with. I introduce myself, and Addy gives me a big hug -- what a welcoming heart.

The next flight is uneventful, the best kind, and we arrive safely at the Kilimanjaro airport, where the GMA team is waiting for us.

Another 1-1/2 hour delay while everyone clears customs -- apparently some of the people who are carrying donations are stopped-- and finally we get on the bus and get to the hotel.

We drop off our luggage and go for a late dinner. The food is better than I expect, with a nice cream of carrot soup, spiced with ginger.

I go back to my room where I finally meet my roommate. My room is lovely, also better than I expected, but after being exhausted all day during the travel, I'm suddenly wakeful even though it has been about 45 hours since I've been in a bed, I try taking a melantonin tab to reset my body clock, and finally I drop off.

I came a day early to allow for jetlag, so the first day is just preparation and down time. I enjoy breakfast -- scrambled eggs and fruit. Once again I am pleasantly surprised, although by the end of the trip this identical breakfast is seeming a bit less interesting. I ask the advance team if the fruit is safe to eat (since the rule in 3rd world countries is to eat only food that is hot, or that you washed and peeled yourself). They confidently reassure me that it is fine. Later on I find that Lee already had amoeba and parasites, and Leila had parasites, and my roommate is sick with something diagnosed. The reassurances sound a little hollow with that news.

After breakfast we take the bus to the other hotel, where we get a pre-orientation and hear an overview of deliverance by Tom. This is really helpful, since deliverance is a big part of the ministry here, and he is very experienced, and is able to give us some good tips which came in very handy! The demons I've encountered in the U.S. are more subtle -- still destructive, but it's simply not that common to see people convulsing under demonic activity, which was rampant in Tanzania.

Then back to the hotel, and off to town to exchange money and go to lunch. We go to Deli chez, an Indian, Chinese, Japanese restaurant, where I order the chicken in a ginger sauce. It takes a peculiarly long time for the food to come, but we remind ourselves to be patient -- This is Africa.

The water dispensary is closed, so we go back to the hotel. I hang out in Laurie's room, because my roommate is sick, and I want to leave her in peace and quiet.

At dinner, I'm pleased to find that they have passion-fruit soda. Yum. Too bad we can't get that at home, although I don't know why -- I'm exasperated to find that it is bottled by Coca Cola.