Fannon, Martin & Sue - Tanzania
back to Fannon home pageJune 2007 Prayer Update - written
25 Jun 2007
We are a bit early this month as this will be our last update written
from Tanzania. We thought that we had better write while we have a spare
hour or so between packing and saying our goodbyes. Everything is going
smoothly so far. The house is beginning to look very empty as the
furniture that we have sold is collected. The rest of the furniture will
stay in the house for Eileen and Michael who we think will arrive during
the first week of July. They will be very fortunate to be able to move
straight in to a house, which can be lived in. Many people find that
they have to go out and buy even the basics the day they arrive.
The Tanzanians say “goodbye” very well. Last weekend we invited the
staff of the DMVTC to a special meal at a hotel in Musoma. It was an
emotional time for us all but it gave us the chance to say thank you on
a more informal setting. We have got very close to Theobard and Margaret
and will miss them both. Yesterday we said goodbye at St John’s
cathedral. As part of the service we had the opportunity to share with
the rest of the congregation our thanks to God for all he has done for
us while we have been in Mara. Today we will be having lunch with
everybody who works for the Diocese of Mara. This is when we will say
our formal thank you and farewell. Tomorrow is the final farewell
celebration when the staff and students of the DMVTC say goodbye to us.
After a lot of thought we have decided to give our speeches in English.
Leaving is stress full enough without the added strain of struggling to
put our emotions into Kiswahili. It is our regret that we never became
fluent as we were teaching in English and had little opportunity to
practice.
By Tuesday evening we will be emotionally exhausted and will need
Wednesday to recover, to finish packing and to close up the house before
we travel to Nairobi on Thursday. We fly on Friday night and will arrive
at Heathrow early Saturday morning.
Whilst we naturally feel sad to leave Musoma we are also sure that we
are doing the right thing. The college is well established and we are
happy that with God’s help, Nyabasi, Margaret and Theobard will build on
the foundations that we have left. We are sure that now is time for
Tanzanians to take over.
The future for us is less certain. Initially we will be working for
Crosslinks and visiting our supporting churches. After that, we don’t
yet know what God has got planned for us.
We give thanks for·
- our few days break at Serengeti Bush Camp.
- the peace we feel about leaving Musoma at this time.
- God’s faithfulness in the ups and downs of the last seven years.
- our time in Musoma, for lessons learned and for friends made.
Please pray for
- the smooth running of our various farewell events.
- the Nyabasi, Margaret and Theobard as they take over.
- Michael and Eileen as they complete their preparations for coming to Musoma.
- us as we return to start a new chapter in our lives.
Sue and Martin