Monday

Monday I awoke and enjoyed a light breakfast before heading into town with Byron to his BUV Tanxania shop where they are working to build robust transport vehicles to empower rural Tanzanians & Kenyans with their rent to own program. Check out a video of one of these bad boys in action.

Arriving back into town on a boda boda (motorcycle taxi who I paid generously for getting me there in one piece). I did some gift shopping before heading back to the Wild Hope house to finally see Peter & Tammy Russell and the twins who had been away for the week so far. Love those guys.

The kids and I enjoyed an hour or so at the Impala hotel pool before Sianna headed out to a dentist appointment while Leighton and I headed to Nane Nane to visit our friend Daniel and Jodie who runs Global Cycle Solutions. GCS is an MIT Grant startup that works to manufacturer and distribute efficient products to generate income and power for rural residents. Check out this bicycle powered blender in action.

Back at he house we packed up and headed to the Wild Hope land, stopping at Philemon, Margaret and Anna's farm just around the corner from the plot. I was excited to see and hear that the twin catchment system me and a friend had helped put in was working well and provided enough for two 500 litre tanks, catching rain from the metal roof in the wet seasons and storing it for the dry ones.

Peter, Tammy and the kids and I enjoyed a great dinner in the awesome outdoor kitchen and I was blown away at the amount of progress & building that has been done on the land over the last three years since we have been gone. Leighton and I stayed in an open air tent and I awoke refreshed and excited for the incredibly beautiful day ahead.

Note: despite the seemingly hectic schedule I never felt rushed and never heard, but able to enjoy each moment, situation and relationship as it came, trusting I would have time to do everything that needed my attention, and I did.

Sunday

Sunday morning Erick came over and we spent nearly 3 hours in an incredibly deep conversation surpassing all business and just talking through the issues of life. I was surprised to hear that he had not only read but understood and was implementing many of the principles and Jim Collins best selling business book "Good to Great". He was also enjoying, challenged & encouraged by Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Life" which brought so many of the intangible Christian principles into practical focus.

He did admit that he was having trouble fully understanding Henry Ford's "My Life and Work" (yeah, so did I…) But he enjoyed what he was able to get out of it.

After that we headed to an Internet café in town to meet with Thomas and discuss the update of the website in progress. At 3 PM I headed to a bus stand to head to Kisongk to meet Lisa and Heather Borden who were shopping for Heathers back to school trip at RVA.

On the way to the bus stop I ran into Gertruda's grandmother and was excited to hear that she was doing well and enjoyed having to Gertruda back to visit during the breaks. In addition Vanessa was almost four was also doing well.

From Kisongo, Lisa, Heather and I headed up to their house on a 1,000 acre coffee plantation for the night. I didn't even take pictures since it wouldn't do it justice. But here's one of us having tea on the porch before dinner.

 

I had an incredible time catching up and reliving some of the last few years of life talking with the Borden's and enjoyed hearing Heathers incredible piano playing. Their family is quite incredible and a sweet blessing when I think of all the people I am privileged to know.