We've Arrived to Iambi Hospital!

I've decided that there are 4 words that I hope to never hear again from our African driver as dusk is beginning to settle in:  "Bob, we are lost!"  What should have been a 6 hour drive from Arusha to Nkumbi Village where Iambi Hospital is located took us 9 hours ... and you haven't experienced bumpy roads before until you've experienced this drive!  The scenery -- the landscape, the trees, the animals, the people -- was absolutely beautiful.  Although photos won't do it justice, I've included a few of my favorites from the drive.

these young men are taking part in a Masai male right of passage

they leave their family and have to survive on the countryside away from home for 3+ months

after this right of passage they may wear red

we certainly passed more livestock on the road than we did cars

a Masai boma home alongside the road

the road washed out road that we drove right through

our fearless driver Bashiri

a look back at the rift wall that we drove up

this sweet girl giggled and giggled the whole time I took her photo

stopping to visit with these kids was the highlight of getting lost

Upon arrival to Iambi we were greeted very warmly by Dr. Julius, the new Acting Medical Director of the hospital.  "Karibu, karibu, karibu," he said repeatedly in Swahili.  This means, "You're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome."  The staff had a wonderful dinner prepared and waiting for us up at the hospital guest house and then Dr. Julius and the head nurse, Matron, joined us for dinner.  All in all it was a great day.  

We're going to work our best to send a video greeting to the annual meeting tomorrow morning ... so we hope to see all of our Zumbro friends tomorrow at 9:15am in the Sanctuary (how's that for a shameless plug from over 12,000 miles away?). 

Peace,

pastor lisa