The Joy of Cool Air

Dar es Salaam may be hot, sticky, suffocating, hot, humid, hot right now, but believe it or not, not all of Tanzania is like that.  Dar has the stereotypical tropical climate that you might think of when you think of Africa, but really, not all of Tanzania is this way, or all of Africa, for that matter.  We’ve said many times that we really wish HOPAC could relocate, because we would be out of here in an instant!

We got to spend the week after Christmas in one such place.  Lushoto is in the mountains, about 6000 feet (I think)–a six hour drive–so the climate is entirely different from Dar.  Gone are the palm trees and the humidity, in exchange for rolling green hills, waterfalls, and crisp, cool air.  Just what we needed. 

Muller’s Lodge is a converted 1930’s German boarding house from the days of colonization.  It’s wood and brick, surrounded by hydrangeas and daisies and eucalyptus trees, and has a fireplace in the living room.  Truly blissful.

We’ve been there a few times before, but this time was by far the best, because about 7 other HOPAC families and couples (and some singles!) came up as well…we practically took over the place!  There was always someone to talk to, always someone who wanted to play Settlers, and I hardly saw my children all week because they had so many friends to play with. 

We may have told you on our Home Assignment that we were really praying that God would deepen our friendships this term, and bring us new ones–especially families with little kids.  That is exactly what God has provided.  We are beyond blessed!

This was New Year’s Eve.  First the kids started dancing….

…with their glow bracelets.

Then the grown-ups just couldn’t resist the fun!

Until everyone had joined in!

We were all having a great time…

….until about 9:30, when Gil attempted to open a window to let in some air….the window broke, blood started spurting out of his arm, and the party abruptly ended!  Thankfully, a friend of ours is an RN, and she instantly took over.  They took him to a local Catholic hospital, and he had 3 internal stitches and 5 external ones…all by a surgeon with his pants on backwards.

It was an eventful New Year’s!