Going to church in Africa is always a treat. Today Andrew and I had the opportunity to attend church with Tom and Mariam in one of four branches in Dar Es Salaam. The church is only in the three main cities of Tanzania, Mwansa, Arusha, and Dar making up a total of 5 branches.
Last night over dinner we spoke with Tom about his mission experience on South Africa and began talking about the different missions in Africa. Tanzania is in the Nairobi, Kenya Mission. While the Church in Tanzania is still quite small and new, Kenya has a very member population.
Just as church in Kigali (which is in the Kampala, Uganda mission that spreads from Ethiopia to Burundi) everyone greeted us “Karibu” welcome and shook our hands as we entered the building.
Tom and Mariam’s branch was actually quite large and the relief society alone had nearly 10 members. The order of church was relaid society, Sunday school, then sacrament, and in relief society they served “hot milk tea” and biscuits to all the members. The entire session was in Swahili, which Mariam and Tom attempted to translate for Andrew and I. What I love about church is that despite language barriers, you still learn through the spirit. All of our experiences with the church in Africa have been absolutely incredible and Andrew and I hope to come back an serve a mission here someday.
We met two of the four missionaries in Tanzania at church, one from Portland and one from the North of Kenya. After church, Tom and Mariam made a traditional meal of beef stew, Ugali, and Chinese vegetables. I had the opportunity to help Mariam make Te Ugali in the kitchen, which was quite the treat.
Later in the day Tom and Mariam invited the missionaries over for dinner of traditional chapati bread and beans. We had a great job chatting about their experiences in Tanzania and Kenya and experiencing local cuisine.
Andrew and I at church with Tom and Mariam at one of the four branches in Dar es Saalam, Tanzania. We love staying with Tom and Mariam, they have become our very close friends and we look forward to seeing them whenn they travel to the United States next year.
Traditional Swahili sunday lunch with coconut pea curry, fried tipalia, ugali (think mashed potatoes but with corn), and a green vegetable mix. Delicious! Mariam is oen of the best cooks that I know.
Look who we ran into! Every country we have vistited has led to an encounter with the missionaries. The elder to the left is from Kenya and the elder to the right is from Portland, Oregon.
Learning how to cook African Chapati, which are actually very different than chapati in India.
Chapati and beans for dinner with Tom, Maria, and the missionaries. Andrew and I want to serve a mission in Africa one day!
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