Hi! This is a little about our trip to Tanzania. There are seven travelers. From left to right, standing: Ken and Birdie Olson, Sandy and Bob Sokolik; seated: Judy Wolfe, Nona Nelson and Esther Olson.

Birdie and I, Sandy and Bob are members of St. James ELC in Burnsville, Minnesota.
Judy is my maternal cousin and Nona and Esther, my mom, are good friends who belong to Zion Lutheran in Anoka.

We have been planning this trip for over six months.

Birdie and I are making our second trip. We are going on what I refer to as an "ambassadorial trip." Some will call it a mission trip. I guess we do too. In fact, we will be visiting St. James' companion congregation at Idunda in the mountains outside Iringa town, the city where we will be staying most of our time. The roads are barely trails to rural Idunda and perhaps only a dozen vehicles get there each year. In 2006, the roads were muddy and we did manage to get mired once requiring help to get out. We are following Michelle and Kennon Wales and Julie and Jenna Rogness and company who visited in July, and if I recall, managed to get stuck again. They told of kind Tanzanians who arrived on the scene and pushed them out. We will be there in the dry season so I am hopeful we won't get stuck!

We are visiting under the auspices of Bega Kwa Bega or in English, "Shoulder to Shoulder." Bega Kwa Bega (BKB) is the bridge organization between the St. Paul Area Synod (SPAS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT), Iringa Diocese (DIRA). About 350 visitors have traveled through BKB in 2008.

Here is our itinerary, details subject to change, at least in Iringa:

September 2008 Itinerary

1. M Labor Day in the US; us madly packing
   
2. Tu Leave Minneapolis: NW 42MSP/AMS 310P – 630A next day
3. W Arrive Dar es Salaam: KL 571AMS/DAR 1020A – 940P to FPCT
4. Th Iringa (by bus) and arrive at Iringa Lutheran Center (ILC), 6PM
5. F Rest and relax in Iringa
6. Sa To Idete School, then Idunda, overnight in Idunda
7. Su Worship in Idunda, visit dispensary; return to Iringa
8. M AM Tumaini University tour; Huruma orphanage
9. Tu Travel to Ruaha, Mwagusi Camp, afternoon Safari.
10. W Safari and overnight at Mwagusi
11. Th Morning safari.Back to Iringa.
12. F Illula Health Center tour
13. Sa Isimila Stone Age Park walking tour; Pommern School and Clinic
14. Su Worship in Iringa at Cathedral
15. M Cooking School, Naama Disabled person’s store and coffee shop
16. Tu In Iringa; pack for next morning departure
17. W To Dar; visit Dr. Mapapele at Ruaha Mbyuni ; stay at FPCT; dinner at Sea Cliff
18. Th AM flight to Zanzibar; stay at Mnarani Beach Resort.
19. F A day at the beach; dinner and overnight at Mnarani Beach Resort
20. Sa AM at MBR. PM flight to Kilimanjaro; stay at New Safari Lodge.
21. Su Worship at Monduli and MGLSS.Overnight at New Safari Lodge.
22. M AM devotions & tour at Selian Lutheran Hospital. Olchoki Primary School.
23. Tu Leave Arusha area: KL 569JRO/AMS 840P – 700A next day
24. W Arrive Home: KL 41AMS/MSP 1040 – 1245P

It's pretty packed. We are excited! We have daily devotions thanks to friends and family. We all will share the journaling duties. My hope is this will be devoted to stories and experiences more than travelogue. I invite comments and thoughts or questions!

Ken