We arrived in Kilimanjaro early on Sunday morning, flying right over Mount Kilimanjaro on our way (it was an incredibly beautiful view). We got our visas without a problem but we faced a challenge with customs regarding our donated goods. They wanted to prevent us bringing items into the country that hadn’t been “fumigated” (code for a bribe) but we used some ingenuity, flattery and prayer! In the end, we managed to convince them that the gifts justified being brought in so we left the airport, piled into vans and we were driven to the Joshua Foundation in Arusha!
Arusha is a vibrant, bustling city, full of people, construction and bright colours. We were welcomed onto the Joshua Foundation by our hosts, Rod and Jan Kell, Alan and Lynda Stephenson and Emma and Joseph Phissoo. After a delicious lunch, we were inducted and settled into the safari tents where we will be staying for the next 10 days.
The Blueprint team was then taken on a tour of the base, including the Joshua School, before we headed to Alan and Lynda’s house for worship with all the other missionaries on the base. Afterwards, we all went into Arusha for dinner at the “cinema” (a cinema complex with restaurants – there are not many in Arusha) where we got to know some of the local culture and the team!
This is going to be a good week and we are looking forward to settling in, overcoming our jet-lag and seeing what God has in store!
God is good all the time
Go Thomas, Katie and team, may God continue to bless your mission!
Nick Garner