First Friday

Our first full day on the ground was rich enough to make the whole trip over here worthwhile and we have barely gotten started. Tonight at dinner I will ask the group whether it would have been worth all the time and travel to get here if we had to get back on the plane and fly home tomorrow.  I bet nearly everyone will say yes.

Everyone was right on time for breakfast (well, almost. Jerry forgot to set his watch ahead another hour from Amsterdam).  Only one late comer the first morning is a very positive sign for the leader of a group this size!

We began the day's adventure in busy Moshi Town.  A quest for a SIM card for my phone led down back streets and up a steep winding metal stairway to a dark little room where two young guys spent twenty minutes punching numbers into various cell phones until mine was activated. The group used this time to interact with the persistent but friendly street vendors selling hats, carvings, bracelets, etc.  Another good early sign for me was how well this group was doing with negotiating prices while enjoying the company of these street characters rather than feeling intimidated or put off somehow.

We climbed out of Moshi up into the hills where we had a lovely visit at Agape Lutheran Jr. Seminary.  It was Sister Mlay’s first day back as headmistress of the school after being away for two years competing an advanced degree. Sr. Mlay is the closest thing to a living saint that I have ever known and after spending the morning with her I bet you would hear the same from most in our group.

From there we made our way to the amazingly busy Mweka open market where we wandered through the narrow paths between every imaginable fruit and vegetable while the locals broke out in joyful laughter to see a large group of “mzungu” (white people) shopping in their local market.

A peaceful and delicious lunch followed on the beautiful lawn at the remote Midlands lodge which is hidden away back in the village.

                                        

After the market we took a long hike near Kotela Lutheran Parish on our way down through the picturesque forested village until we came to Kikoro Primary School.  Even though these elementary age students are on their holiday break, they all put their uniforms on and waited for hours at their school to greet us with singing and laughter.

Back up the rough road from the school we bounced our way to the top and pulled in to the homestead of Pastor Stephen Massawe. Here we got an intimate look at a traditional extended Chagga family home.  We were sorry to hear of the death of Stephen’s brother just a couple days ago.

Just behind Stephen’s home we walked to the historic Chagga caves.  These hand dug caves provided a safe haven for over 200 women and children 100 years ago during tribal wars.  Some of the young adventurers in our group braved a visit into the cold dark caves!

Then a quick stop by the Uchira stone quarry where women carry huge stones on their heads up steep goat paths while wearing flip-flops. It’s like the Tanzanian Cirque du Soleil!

The day ended with a great dinner at El Rancho, the restaurant with a Mexican name that serves only Indian and Italian food.  We even got our first glimpse of mighty Mt. Kilimanjaro as the light faded on an incredible first day.