Dec 16

Ahh frustrations, just lost a whole 45 minutes worth of writing, so sorry everybody but you are going to get the condensed version.
Just went to church this morning. First time since I've been on Zanzibar I've been to a church and first time, since i've been in Tanzania that the services were in English. When I got there, one of the priests asked if I would give the first reading. So I thought, sure this'll be fun. Well I went to give the reading without bringing my bible with me thinking one would be up there like it usually is, except this is the Anglican church not the Catholic, so how should I know what usually is right? Well they didn't have one but one of the priests lent me his. Then I preceded to begin reading the wrong part of Malachi. Nice start eh? Well luckily there were only a few people anyway, and the end of where I started wrong flowed very nicely with the begining of the right start so I'm not sure how many people noticed anyway.
In anycase the church is beautiful and it would make any conservative Roman Catholics heart skip a beat with all its pomp and ornate architecture. For communiun people even went old school style and nelt on the first step up to the altar and the priest put the host on their tongue. Cool huh? The only thing missing was alittle guardrail.
Also the church itself is interesting in its history. Actually even a bit heeby-jeebyish. The site of the church is the site of the old slave market in the area (which THE Dr. Livingstone helped put an end to.) and the altar of the church is right on the spot where the old whipping block was for bad slaves. Now I can appreciate the thought behind wanting to consecrate such ground for better purposes while still not forgetting where it came from, and yet this church is one where I wouldn't go by myself walking around in its tunnels on midnight of any night.
As to this area of Tanzania, its beautiful but hot. So I sweat alot. But it is beautiful and I am consoled by the sandy beaches that I get to see, and the ocean breezes.
Lately I've mostly been anxious to get the house finished before school starts. Theres alot of work on it left to do, but thankfully I've almost finished painting. I've yet to do my bedroom or the veranda. (Although I did finish the guest bedroom which all future visitors should be happy to hear) And I will be glad when I'm done. I want things to be nice so I don't have to stress about it during the school year. Also been thinking lately about secondary projects more...what the school wants, needs etc. and what if I started, they could carry on without me when I leave. My predecessors all built something which is easily carried past their 2 years in the area, but I haven't as of yet noticed a group project that they started that has kept going after they left, and that is something I would like to take a stab at if I can.
In anycase, heres wishing everyone a Merry Christmas season, and happy new years! Also thank you to everyone who wrote letters/emails of any sort. I may not reply to them all but I really do like to read them and appreciate them!

Tanzanian words for the day

Mungu Akipenda (pronounced Moon-goo A-key-pen-da) --Means "If God Wishes" or "God Willing"

Daladalas - The name for buses in Tanzania which are cheap and take you everywhere around cities that you probably want to go...or most places at least. Very cheap but you pay for what you get. Daladala drivers are notoriously crazy, and on every dala, there is always room for 3 more people...literally. However, wonder of wonders, here on the islands, I've seen a dala refuse more people because it was full! It was neat, and it made my day.
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