We made it back to Dar es Salaam! We arrived safely on October 2^nd and have been settling in after over four months in the States. Our time in Columbus was wonderful and rich in so many ways. And we are grateful to once again be in Tanzania.

SO much happens in four week’s time, but here are just a few interesting happenings over the recent days and weeks:

• We had a laughable (and not unordinary) welcome back to Tanzania, when our taxi broke down on the way home from the airport!
• Our second day back we enjoyed a sweet welcome home dinner with some great friends.
• Elliott learned how to ride his bicycle with no training wheels. Woohoo!

• Aidan turned double digits and the celebration went on for days.

• Aidan and Elliott finally resumed school after nearly five months of summer break only to be on a 1.5 week mid-term break, after just four days of school.
• Plans and preparations are moving right along with VBI, Maji Salama and Wamama Kahawa.

• We have had our toilet, car, shower, various plumbing, and a number of other things repaired since our return.

• It has been fantastic reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.
• A few of these old friends love telling me (Lyndi) how fat I got while away, dramatically holding their arms out wide. One, in particular, said it over and over and couldn’t stop staring at me and cracking up. My sense of humor and security remains intact. :]
• Morning traffic = sometimes just getting out of the driveway takes 20 minutes! (Which leaves time for snapping photos)

• Doug has gotten back to his early morning running routine and saw a random naked man exercising vigorously on the beach last week.
• We added a Jack Russell Terrier to our pack, his name is “Buddy”.

• We also added a German Shepherd to our pack, her name is “Jua” (‘the sun’ in Kiswahili).

• We are now starting doggie boarding… just kidding, but it sure feels like it sometimes!

Finally, the nation of Tanzania will hold elections this Sunday, October 31^st. Please pray for justice and peace to reign.

The ‘concluding prayer of the church’ in the Divine Hours this morning perfectly articulates our prayer for Tanzania during these elections:

“Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”