AFRICA SOUTHEAST AREA CONFERENCE - JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

We never expected that once we were assigned to Tanzania that we would ever have the opportunity to travel outside our mission area. Along with our calling in the Perpetual Education Fund, we were also asked to be the country coordinators for S/I (Seminaries and Institutes). That assignment gave us an opportunity to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa last week to attend the annual Africa Southeast Area S & I Couples Conference.  It was a great blessing to receive the needed training and inspiration to help us administer and understand the program here in Africa with greater insight and ability.

Sr. Missionary Couples from all over Southeast Africa

Powerful Instruction from Elder Kyungu, Pres Makasi and Brother Khumbulani 

An added bonus was getting together with Jeff Clayton, 
an old friend of Bruce's from high school, 
who is serving as the Africa Southeast Area Legal Counsel. 

 An extra added bonus was a visit to the Temple on our last day.

FIRST PEF RECIPIENT IN TANZANIA

After the final approval in January for PEF in the country of Tanzania, we were eager to submit our first loan applications.  The first approved student and loan was for Grace Bandiahi from the Ubungo Branch.  After approving the school and sending all their information to the Employment Resource Center area office in D.R.Congo, all the loan documents needed to be signed and sent to the area PEF office in Johannesburg, South Africa before the loan would be funded here in Tanzania. She will be attending St. Marys Teacher's College to become an early education teacher and is scheduled to graduate Nov of 2013. Grace is a returned missionary and currently serving as the District Young Women President.  

Grace Bandihai, First Tanzanian PEF Recipient!

A DAY AT MIKUMI WITH ANNA & GREG

 

We enjoyed a day at the Mikumi National Park and Animal Reserve, Southwest of Dar es Salaam. We were fortunate to find the park full of animals that day. What an exceptional experience to visit all these amazing creatures in the wild, and to do it with our dear Anna & Greg was remarkable!

Greg & Anna in a field of Giraffes

                                        The Giraffe is the national symbol of Tanzania. "Twiga" is Swahili for Giraffe.

Papa, Mama and Baby Warthogs

A face only a mother could love.

We saw many herds of Zebra.

They seem as interested in us as we were in them.

Here is a large Hippo Pond covered with water hyacinths. There are at least a dozen Hippos in there trying to stay cool.

Can you count 4 Hippos?

We were looking for Crocs around the Hippo Pond, then on the other side of the road Greg spotted one.  Can you find him...down and a little to the left of the middle? Great camouflage!

A little closer (we are safe in our car, by the way). Greg reminded us of the great talk "Spiritual Crocodiles" by Boyd K. Packer.

Up close and personal, thanks to the safety of a telephoto lens.

Small group of beautiful female Impalas

Elegant male Impala watching over his herd of females.

Mama and baby last to cross the road with a small herd of elephants right in front of us.

After they crossed we were following their movements and noticed Mama not approving of our attention.

When an elephant flares their ears at you and trumpets a warning roar, it's time to move on quickly.

She wasn't kidding.

And so we moved on quickly. Bye, bye Mama!

Cape Buffalo and Marabou Stork

Grabbing a bite after an extraordinary day enjoying Africa's natural beauties before we leave Mikumi.

A day together we will never forget! Thank you so much for coming, Anna and Greg!!

Anna and Greg Coming from America!

Welcome to Dar es Salaam!

Anna and Greg arriving Sat, Feb 25 9:45 pm

Anna & Greg next morning at Church with Whitney's friend Silvanus

After Church on Sunday, we left straight for Korogwe, about a 5 hour drive North of Dar where we met Greg's NGO group, 2seeds.We all stayed the night in Korogwe.  The next morning Greg headed off to a small village, Tabora, where he spent the next two days in a hut with no electricity or running water. Anna came back with us to Dar where she was able to Skype the children back home and get a good nights sleep.  Tuesday she was up and looking forward to music class. Greg returns on Wednesday and we head to Mikumi Game Park on Thursday. 
Time is flying by!
 

Greg ready to head up to Tabora for a real African adventure.

Anna at Chang'ombe Music Class

Anna helping Angela and Okanda