A Ring of Fire

This is looking out our front window at dusk one night last week. Could it be aliens? Ewoks? Johnny Cash? Puff the Magic Dragon? A governmental conspiracy? Harry Potter? Some lost members of the Olympic closing ceremony production team?


Most likely, it's farmers burning off land for planting. It's illegal, and sad, because the forests are beautiful up in the mountains. Also, burning is not the best thing they could do for the soil. But still, it happens. We're guessing at night so that no one could navigate the mountain roads and paths in the dark to find the culprits!

Swahili for fire is moto.

Us in recent days

Taking a quick photo break from hard work of training college students. Ultimate frisbee is incredibly fun on the beach, by the way. Isn't she super-cute, all pregnant and yet still stylish in her maternity fashion on the beach?!

(Thank you again to our family and friends who sent so much! We had a worry, and God used you guys to answer resoundingly... Do not worry!!)



Here's Joe Joe, now 18 weeks along.

Swahili word for the day: amini is to trust

Which came first?

Last week we stopped by our home in Morogoro for a day between travels. As we walked in the back door, we passed our washing machine (that sits on the porch and is currently covered by a tarp) and noticed an egg sitting on the washer. Odd. Maybe our night guard forgot to eat his snack? Or maybe a villager had brought us a gift? We thought about it, then pushed the egg into the back of our minds as we went through our chores.

About an hour later, standing in the kitchen we look out and see, not an egg on the washer, but a chicken! And then another hour passed and we saw not one, but two eggs! Michael assumed the eggs to be manna from heaven, obviously sent to provide our breakfast for our one morning home, but Joe Joe insisted that the eggs be left alone. Maybe when we get home next we'll have more eggs, or more chickens!

Swahili word for the day is mayai, which means eggs.