Keeping Busy in Tanzania

friends at church

youth Sabbath school at Usa River SDA church...studying the lesson!

just got back from church with Anita and babies, Vanessa and God's-Light

Bebe Helen & Brooke

one of the coolest ladies ever! 

Brooke & Bebe's grandson, Cliff 

 We were walking around Usa River and saw this guy making bricks, so we thought we'd figure out how it's done. It's a lot of work! 

The brick making process.... step by step:

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finished product...

Bebe Helen and I saying farewell after a lovely stay at her place! 

We're having fun!

more visiting with friends

Brooke and Mama Musa walking to Claire's house

Brooklyn, Isabella, Selemani and Nancy!!! (Now Alfie and Layla)
It was so good to see them again all grown up and talking a mile-a-minute!

Layla!

Fruit Salad at Tanz-Hands!

David & Ashley
Ashley was a former volunteer who is also back for a visit with her husband! Thank you, Ali, for being a mutual friend! It was a pleasure to meet them.

Mt. Meru

Bathilda, Anita, Brook & I in the dala dala

Anita & Brooklyn on a piki piki

at TASS (Adventist boarding academy)

houses just outside the gate of TASS

Today we went swimming at a fancy hotel called Ngurdoto Lodge. The water was freezing..so we mostly just splashed around, but it was fun! Along with us is Mariah Church, daughter of Davona and Max, the directors of Cradle of Love.

Brooklyn's toes and Brooklyn's photography

Mandazi!

Usa River

dala dalas

 We bought bananas on the way home and when we were walking back to Cradle, this monkey came charging at us! We saw our lives flash before our eyes and threw a banana at him hoping he would take it and be happy....thankfully it worked!

Visiting Ksusha

When I was in Tanzania before, I met some wonderful volunteers at different orphanages/organizations. Ksusha was a volunteer and friend from Havillah orphanage. Now, she is living and working at Small Steps for Compassion and is a house Momma to 4 beautiful girls (3 of whom are from Cradle of Love! Happy, Maurine, Princess, and Dorcas). They are each so sweet with quite individual personalities. It's great to see them growing and thriving! Ksusha is also married now with an adorable son of her own named Alim. Their cat just had kittens so it was fun to hold the tiny newborns as well. 

Ksusha with the kittens

Baby Alim

Dorcas

Brooke and a kitten

Adorable kitten...barely walking yet

Brooklyn, Maurine, and kitten

Maurine being silly

The happy bunch!

Brooklyn and the gate

 One or two days after our quick visit, we met up with Ksusha and her husband for lunch in Arusha. There's the little family! 

Baby Alim really took a liking to Brooklyn and stared at her for most of the meal :)

Safari Njema

Today was safari day for us! It was a special treat because we hadn't really planned on doing a safari before coming to TZ, but I knew Brooklyn would love it. The idea just sat in the back of my mind and I prayed that if God wanted to provide an inexpensive safari, we would be very grateful ...and He did! Thanks to a good friend, we were blessed with a great opportunity, a super deal, and a fun day. Thank you so much, Brendon, for all you did!