Mererani

Yesterday we went to church in Mererani. PC, the father of the household dad and I are staying at called it the wild west of Tanzania, and it really is. Its definitely the roughest town I have been at yet, kids all over the streets, gangs, and apparently lots of killings. It’s a mining town and 5-6 years ago it was a peaceful town, but then some South African companies bought up some mines and caused trouble so Im told. These mines are the only place in the world you can get the stone Tanzanite, so it’s a tight market.
The church we went to visit there was only small a few years ago, but it now has over 800 people who are their members. Dad spoke at their church and they enjoyed it so much they asked him back that evening, and I also played a song on an electric guitar there which was fun. I got to met a lot of the people there and some dudes who were both my age called Tumaini and Haneyst, who both have a heart for the young people there. It’s a rough town, and Haynest and his sister are orphans, while Tumaini’s father left his family at a young age, but they both have compassionate hearts to see the place changed for good. Pray for them, OK?
African roads are dodgy as, but we survived with the keen skills of PC, who actually used to be a cop in NZ. He showed us this notorious bridge which has people drive off it all the time, and the huge gashes in the protective barriers which are proof. The bridge is about 50-100 metres high!
Its been an interesting weekend to say the least, but to, Monday, I have an upset stomach, ugh….