SAFARI NJEMA TO TUKUYU, MASOKO, KIBISI, MBEYA

Saturday morning we left at 6 AM for our safari to our tribal homeland-Tukuyu area.   Along the way, we saw seven truck accidents and two vehicle accidents.  

We stopped at the Mama Mkubwa Crown Lodgein  Makambako for breakfast of sausage and eggs with coffee or tea.  Also, we enjoyed some roasted bananas, a spicy meat hushpuppy (best way to describe it), and samosas.  

The first stop in the Tukuyu area was for bananas, the best in the world.   Then,  we headed to walk some property near Masoko (Mpeli’s father’s home area).   The dream is to have a working, income producing farm to support the work of DBL.   The property already has bananas, mangos, cashew, rice and cassava planted or growing wild.   We left our vehicle at a home of a friend.   They were so kind to us.  We tasted raw cocoa beans.  When we returned from our walk, they gave us rice, cocoa pods, and cassava.   The lady apologized because she did not have a chicken to give us to go with the rice.  Now, we had not met them before.  

As we began our walk we met the leader of the ten houses who was coming through the bush to go to a nearby town.   Mpeli and Neema know him.  He stopped his journey to town to walk with us.  He kept saying about me, “Oh, I wish that I could go back to school so I could know English to talk with this white man.”   We walked the area and them came to his house and met his family.   There we saw how they “grind” their wheat and rice.   Mpeli and Neema demonstrated this for us. 

Our next stop was in Kibisi to see and have a very late lunch with Harry Mwasanjala, our chief and friend—well he has adopted us into his family.   Being with Harry is always a great time.  This was very special because we introduced Kenny and Lynn to Harry and our family.   Our sister, Sara, the oldest of the Harry’s daughters (besides Bonnie) prepared dinner for us.  The best chicken stew over rice, fresh beans, and bananas.   I presented Harry with a long awaited suit.   He loved it.  

Then, we visited property and agreed to plant avocado trees and bananas on it to produce income for local ministry.   Also, a section of the river that borders the property will be cleaned.    The water was cold and clear coming out of the mountains.   Kenny and Lynn really liked the property.   We discovered wild blackberries on the property.   The air is cool with a nice breeze.   The family was so happy that the property is going to see some development. 

We left Kibisi at dark and headed for our hotel in Mbeya.  We also stay at the Beaco.  If you are ever in Mbeya it is a good place to stay.   It was along day but a great day.   Tomorrow, Sunday, we will be with James Mwaisumbe worshipping at the church that he has planted.  James is the father of Mpeli.