The Faces of Africa through the Eyes of Three Sisters and a “Bebe”! (Part 1)

The plane lifts off rising slowly through the late afternoon clouds hovering over a chilly Minneapolis skyline. Two sisters and their mother hold hands and offer up a prayer to their Lord for a safe flight. Sitting in adjacent seats they begin to peruse the flight magazine to determine their choice of inflight movies and discuss how they will “wile away the time” on their 18 hours of flying before they touch down on the continent of Africa. Plans for this vacation to visit their other sister and her husband, who are missionaries with Chrisitian Missionary Fellowship, have been a long time “in the making”. A surreal feeling now courses through their veins as they each check and recheck their “to do” lists and realize they are actually on their way!
After a layover in Amsterdam their plane begins it’s descent into the Kilimanjaro airport around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, November 25th. Somewhere along the route they have lost a day, but who cares as they groggily gather belongings and head for the baggage claim praying all six bags arrived. Thankfully, the luggage is identified making its way around the designated carrousel and quickly they load it on a cart and head for the exit. Jane Ann, the youngest sister and Ron her husband are anxiously awaiting their appearance. The reunion is sweet and bags are loaded into a four-wheel drive Toyota Landcruiser for a 1 ½ hour drive to the outskirts of Arusha. It is during this trip that the two sisters begin to realize why a sturdy four-wheel drive vehicle is necessary in order to actually live in this country. The roads are, according to American standards, impassable, full of giant ruts and small boulders, (yes I DID say boulders), since the term rocks just doesn’t seem to fit! After a jarring ride the crew arrives at the CMF 8 acres, where Jane Ann and Ron live and work along with two other missionary families and several native African staff. The guest house is called a rondaval and proves to be a spacious, comfortable abode for the 10 day visit. Especially appreciated are the mosquito-netted beds!



Thanksgiving Day is spent touring the missionary compound, enjoying meals together, and a quick sight-seeing trip into Arusha where markets are explored and a shuka purchased. A shuka is the outside, colorful garment worn by the Maasai tribe.

Following are some photos of Jane Anns home and the Christian Missionary Fellowship compound where they live and work.