Dodoma

I thought I'd let you know how it's going...

I have been in Dodoma since yesterday afternoon, and I am staying at the house of a USPG missionary called Elizabeth, and her house keeper Esther. I feel quite settled there and have had a look round Dodoma today which is an interesting place as it's the "new capital" of Tanzania. The government have developed the town and although it's smaller than Dar Es Salaam, there is a lot of potential for growth here.

Well the rains have arrived early this year, which is fantastic news for the people of Tanzania, as it means that they have more hope for a successful harvest as well as continued power over the next year. Currently there is power rationing in place as they use hydro electricity and the dams are pretty much drying out, so the rain is needed to continue to provide energy.

I have met people who work for the Tanzanian Anglican church and they have been very welcoming. They are very enthusiastic about the recording project and music work. So far I have learnt 1 word of Swahili which I'm confident to use, which is "asante", meaning "thank you". Hopefully, it won't take too long to learn a few more useful words and phrases!

Thank God for the rain, that brings hope to many people here, also thank God that people here are really enthusiastic. Also, thank God for the continued communication with the supplier in Dar Es Salaam who can get some equipment for us. Contact with him will prove very useful indeed.

Please pray that the young people here will have time to do the recording, when there will be a lot of planting happening due to the rainfall and that things will go roughly to plan.

Thank you,

Emily

I have arrived!

After a very long journey, I arrived at Dar Es Salaam late last night (Tz time) - mid-evening in the UK. I have spent the day getting used to the heat, although apparently it's much more humid here than in Dodoma.
Prayer points:

Thank God for:
KLM waiving the excess baggage fee for me (resources and leads for equipment weighed it down)
Keeping me (and my equipment) safe on the journey
We met a shop keeper today, who can get good deals on recording equipment so we are looking at whether he can supply some of the equipment for us (exported in from UK, USA etc on very good rates)

Please pray for
A safe journey to Dodoma tomorrow morning
That I will feel a little more awake over the next few days
And also that I would feel settled once I am in Dodoma, and able to focus more on planning sessions and the job that I am here to do

Thanks,

Emily

Quote from Andrew's Latest Newsletter

I just thought I'd let you read what Andrew has written in his latest newsletter, with regards to my forthcoming visit.

"I am looking ahead to a new year with many opportunities to embrace and challenges to overcome. I am about to welcome my first guest from the UK, Emily who is a youth worker/music teacher from Manchester. I invited her to do some voluntary work with the youth here for a month. She is going to help us to fulfil a long standing ambition of Tanzania Anglican Youth Organisation (TAYO), to build a recording studio here in Dodoma. During her stay she will work with local youth choirs and music groups to record a CD, which she will then bring back to the UK to edit, copy and sell. The money raised will go towards building the recording studio here in Dodoma. This studio will play a significant role for us, serving the recording ambitions of so many church choirs, but also as an income generating activity for TAYO. At the moment we are severely hampered by our reliance on external donors for financing the youth organisation. If you are interested in buying a CD or receiving copies of the CD to sell in your local church then please let me know."

Exx

Prayer points as I prepare to go to Tanzania

Thank God for:
- the money received so far, which will cover my flights and living costs, plus the pledges for more money to come in to help
with equipment costs.
- the preparations made so far
- the help from Wigwam with regards to equipment
- for the opportunity to go to Tanzania for 5 weeks and share with young people there

Please pray for:
- the journey, that it would go smoothly
- health whilst I'm out there
- getting the equipment there in one piece, and safety/security over me going out there on my own with all this electronic
equipment. And also that the technology works properly when I need it to!!
- the audio I record will be saved accurately and I won't have any issues over losing work


Thank you!

Exx

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! It will chart the progress and prayer points of my visit to Tanzania


Right then, everything's coming together slowly with a week and a half to go! I'm both nervous and excited about this whole adventure and I've been gathering together all the kit I need to take.

Thank God for the generosity of so many people who have become interested in this project (especially from my home church St Andrews) and the way that He's guiding us and bringing everything and everyone together.

Please pray for safety and also for good deals on the equipment which will eventually be bought for the studio. We're currently waiting for a quote for some equipment so please pray that they would look favourably on the project.

Please also pray that the journey out there would be safe and that everything I take for the job would arrive there intact!

Thanks

Emily