A Much-Needed Five Day Weekend pt. 1

This extended weekend due to a school break has been the best weekend yet in Tanzania! We had/have Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off this week along with the weekend, so it was the perfect time for FUN! We cooked up a storm, broke in the pool in our backyard, and then went on an amazing excursion with the Global Effect fam! It was so fantastic to be able to relax, build relationships, and explore! I've learned that pictures really do not capture the awe-inspiring beauty of this place, but I tried to capture a tiny bit of it!

I started my Saturday morning off with a trip to Memoria- a gigantic outdoor market where they sell used items from America! Cynthia and I went with some friends, and we were on the hunt for some kitchen towels! We found several, as well as some tee shirts with pictures of animals on them for a friend's project. The items here are CHEAP! Some of the shirts were 500 shillings...which is like $.30! As in 30 CENTS!
The only downer about Memoria on this particular morning was the fact that I got a sunburn on my neck/chest area...but not on my face...don't know how I managed that!

Then we went back home to cook! I offered to make a meal for some friends, also missionaries a part of Global Effect, who left for a furlough to California today. They are going back to have their baby boy!  So Cynthia and I made beef enchiladas, with homemade tortillas and homemade sauce, along with refried beans and peanut butter cookies. Everything turned out delicious!

Funny thing... after cooking our enchiladas, beans, cookies, and guac. for a midday snack, we ended up going out for "street meat" with some friends! (Don't worry, we enjoyed the fruits of our labor the next night ;)) We went to a "new" place (for us) called Naseebs! We sat on the sidewalk, bought our own ketchup from a shop up the road, and people watched as the sun set! It was lots of fun! Then we went back to their house to play Nerts- a fun and fast-paced card game!

 Sunday was INCREDIBLE. We began the day with our Global Effect team ministering at a village church called El Shaddai. It was a beautiful morning, filled with worship, speaking into the lives of the congregation, and an awesome sermon by Ryan and translated by Francis! I seriously loved it.

(This photo and the one above were taken by Amanda!)

 We then had lunch with the crew, and came back to the house. The pool finally got filled, the weather was finally warm enough, so we decided to "break in" the pool! It was COLD, but really fun! We invited some friends over to enjoy it with us! Here is Cynthia, with Madison and Mackenzie, who snuck underwater while I was taking the picture!

Sunday evening we prepared for our two-day excursion, and I made Monster Cookies! I swapped out chocolate chips and M&M's for Snickers bars! I just chopped them into little pieces and they were DELISH! Everyone enjoyed them the next day!

 Monday morning we headed out to TPC- a huge sugarcane farm outside Moshi. They rent out the owner's house as a Bed and Breakfast when the he is away. It is incredible, and was such a great retreat from daily life! All of the Global Effect missionaries caravan-ed out there, and spent the day together! The house has a HUGE yard with an awesome pool. We had so much fun swimming and spending time together!

This is the B&B where we stayed! It was really nice.

This is what you see looking out from the back porch. It is paradise!

 I love all the different plants and flowers mixed in with each other. It's a work of art!

 This was the pool area. It was beautiful, and perfect for our group! The temperature of the water was really good. We had lunch out here under the awning!

Here's a view of the backyard standing by the overhang by the pool. There was plenty of space for us to spread out, and have lots of fun!

I was going to include everything in this one post, but I figured it was getting long enough! Part two of my 5-Day Weekend will come tomorrow! That will include the evening of Monday and Tuesday! I am seriously so blessed to be part of an organization that values rest! It was such refreshing time, growing relationships and having a ball!

Much Love, Allie