Daladala

So, the daladala, I think I've mentioned before is pretty much a van that has 6-7 rows. They pack it as tight as they possibly can. More people = more money. It's basically the main mode of transportation here, cheaper than a taxi & safer than a pikipiki (motorbike) One ride is 400 tsh (20 cents) per person which can get you at least 20-30 mins down the road. We can take it from one side of our territory to the next without having to pay more. And we can take it from where we are in Nyegezi to Mwanza mjini (downtown)

So to get a ride is a hassle sometimes just because everyone is trying to get you to go into their daladala. It's like a game show. Especially if they see wazungu (foreigners) coming. They all gloat to each other that they have Wazungu on their daladala. So this one experience I had was with a daladala driver. Jill (one of my roommates) & I got to sit in the front with the driver, which is a rare occasion. As we were getting in the driver told the konda (they call the guy that rides in the back & collects the money) that we don't know Swahili. I looked at him & said we know Swahili. His mouth dropped open. Then of course he started talking about how he wanted a mchumba mzungu (white girlfriend) Everyone asks if you have a boyfriend. It's best if you just say you have a boyfriend or husband because then they will stop bothering you. So I said I have a boyfriend. He became quiet after that. So I used that opportunity to talk to him a bit more, asked him how long he had been driving. Just leading into conversation. Then I asked him why he thought wazungu can't speak Swahili. He said because normally you guys don't learn our language. So he started asking questions how long have I lived in TZ, where did I learn Swahili. So I told him I learned in America because there are many refugees who are sent there & he's like oh yeah & they don't know English. I said yes & we learn their language to teach them the Bible in their language. I told him I was a Jehovah's Witness & I asked have you ever spoken to them? He said never, I've seen them but never talked to them. So I gave him the Watchtower Who are Jehovah's Witnesses? I said this explains about our beliefs & answers questions you might have about our religion. He started reading it as he was driving. I told him if you read that when you are driving & we get into an accident it won't be good. He laughed & put the magazines on his dashboard & he's like okay I will read them later & then I can focus more. So we talked a bit more & the konda was just talking weird & making fun of our name I guess & the driver got stern & corrected him & said they are called Mashahidi wa Yehova. It's nice to have those who respect what you are doing. But it is amazing how many here have not heard or talked to Jehovah's Witnesses. This other terroritory out in Sweya we went to, I made a return visit of a young girl I placed a tract with. Well she wasn't home but her brother & sister were & they had never talked to Jehovah's Witnesses so I gave them magazines & another family in the same courtyard the mama told me her baba was a Jehovah's Witness downtown. I got the name of the area & his name. It would be nice to meet him. When you meet so many people who never talked to us shows just how much work needs to be done & increases the urgency of how much little time is left. But I always have confidence that Jehovah knows those who have the heart condition & no matter how big the territory is, he will draw them to us.