Now that the Tanzania interview is up, I will be adding updates for the Waggoner's. Hope you enjoy the largely mother's perspective!

Dear Family and friends:

We stayed up packing all night before we were to leave. Our neighbors were expecting us for breakfast, so we showered and went. It was a delightful meal. Our driver for the airport was at our home by 8am. We left for the airport at 8:20. We did not have any small bills to get a cart for our luggage, but someone helped us anyway. Then a carry on was too big, so we stuffed things here and there. We got on without any problems. At the airport they took Hannahs hair supplies-no liquid on the plane!

Then we were off on United to Washington. Then on Ethiopian Air the rest of the flight. We stayed in Ethiopia over night. It is extremely poor. Sidewalks broken up, tin roofing sheets every where, and small shops selling misc. items to make a living. The sight to an American might bring a sigh of sorrow or a sigh of disgust, but these are some of the happiest people I have ever met. They laugh and smile. Brent said, “They rise above their surroundings, and do not have pity on themselves.” They are quite amazing. The Ethiopians have very delicate features and are light colored. The Tanzanians are stocky and very dark. We stayed in a suite in a hotel, and it was below the standard of motel 6, but for such a poor country I was quiet impressed. We ate supper and breakfast at the hotel. Then onto a bus were you stand up and hang on. Then we boarded the plane to go the Tanzania.

It was in Dar Esalam, Tanzania that we stayed Friday and Saturday. We stayed in our room the whole time. We ate white bread and more white bread, it was kind of a drag. We all got caught up on sleep. Then at 5am we left to go to Mafinga. We got there about 5pm. It was one of the longest rides of my life. At the bus stops people can get food cooked by the Afircans and go the bathroom. Hannah just cried and cried and said, “No mommy!” “It stinks in here!” So, I put a diaper on her, for I fully understood. You just place your feet over the designated place for your feet and hope you hit the hole. For an American it takes a little practice. HA! Ha! At the last stop I did not get off because Hannah was asleep. I will never do that again. By the time I got to Mafinga, our destination I jetted off the bus and into the bushes, my blatter was on the edge of bursting!!! Not fun. Then we finally met some Swiss people from Kibidula. They took us to their home for Spaghetti. “Spaghetti! Are we in Africa!?” It was O.K. they were doing their best. Brent told me, “just be thankful.” The next morning we met Yesini who`helps here at the home. He cut all the grass with a weed-whip/slasher. He is really a hard worker. I was able to help him a little by raking. Then we left to go see mama and baba Sanga. These are Brent’s African mom and dad. They are the most lovable people that I have met on this planet called earth. Yes, finally African food! We came home by 5pm and Hannah and I crashed on the bed. The time change and jet lag can really knock you out.

We were up by 3am ready to eat breakfast, so I fixed spaghetti for that is what one lady had given me. Yes, I cooked on a wood burning stove. It is actually quite easy, and it beats an open fire like the Africans use. We live in our Canadian friends home. We have a nice toilet-it flushes!!!! We have a nice soft bed to sleep on, so do not worry about us so far. We were working in the yard when our friends , the Moiseir family came to call on us. They were taking us to a lake. It was a nice lake, where we cooked out (Chili, greens, cornmeal, salad and last but not at all least POPCORN) and went canoeing. Hannah had a blast. They have a little Tanzanian boy who is 3 years old. His mother died at birth and they adopted him. We had a great time. Then they took us to the market. Now if ever you were going to write home about something it would be this. If it was your mom, NEVER! Sorrry mom I am writing to you also. To liter here is no crime. The rain has created deep ravines so you jump here and there and try to stay on your own 2 feet, for a clumsy American it is impossible to even begin looking graceful. HA ha! Then there is trash here and there. My poor little girl. I am always picking up trash in America, and when we get here she starts to do the same, and I have to tell her, “No, no honey!” There are wooden tables with sides holding fruit and vegetables. It is not a sight for sore eyes , but a sight to make your eyes sore. Then you have to take the food home and wash it down with soap and water-FUN. Then we finally get home and Oh home never looked so good. We finally were able to sleep the whole night.

This is the funnies from our little one: 1 ) A lot of people here do not wear shoes or only flip flops, so I tell Hannah as we are walking along with Mama and Baba Songa, put on your boots! She was bear footed and said, No mom I am in Africa now! 2) Hannah goes to the Moiseirs garden, pulls up a plant and tells their little Tanzanian boy to eat it, it will make his skin lighter. 3) We are in talking at mama Sangas and my child has 2 pans full of water, one a cooking pan and another and outside pan washing their dog with soap that was outside. Baba, just laughed and said, “Thank you thank you! Our dog needed that!” 4) Hannah asked is mama Sanga black? I said, yes. She said, “No mom she is brown!” They are actually brown, so I do not know why we call them black.

This is the 2^nd of April, a year has passed in only a week, so it seems. I wonder how old I will be when we get to come home. We worked in the garden and took the clothes off the line. We have stayed at home today and it has been nice.

Thanks for your love and prayers. Please pray that we will know how to help Hannah stop sucking her thumb. Pray that we will be a blessing here some how. We love and miss our friends in Colorado, and We love each family member. God bless you, Brent, Shari, and Hannah.