I've found an Internet cafe close to where I'm staying these first few days in Tanzania, so I can send at least one report!

We travelled 22 hours to get here. (That includes time spent waiting in airports and two flights and a bus ride from the Kilimanjaro airport to the Uruhu Lutheran Hotel in the city of Moshi.) I'm hoping that tomorrow morning, after a second night of good sleep, I'll be over most of the jet lag effects.

What a privilege it is to be here. That's what I'm thinking. What a stage in my sabbatical pilgrimage. I want to give emphasis to listening, being open, not judging, receiving. It's all a bit overwhelming, though, because EVERYTHING -- the people, the language, the scenery, the animals, the way of life -- everything is entirely unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Many of the people I've come into contact with do speak some English (and some are quite expert). I'm also amazed at how many signs of businesses are in English. It's a legacy of a former ruler, to encourage the use of English. Of course, Swahili is the primary language that everyone speaks. I know enough to say things like "hello" and "thank you."

The agenda of these days is to visit churches and schools and social ministry agencies doing the work of Christ in the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. I'm used to the American church, which has lots of money and little sense of mission. What I'm experiencing here is a church with no money, but which exists for mission.

Hopefully I'll be able to get back on this to send future messages while I'm here! Just wanted to let folks know that I got here and am doing well!