The team traveling to Tanzania has arrived safely! Thanks be to God for that.

The team is made up of 13 people from three different congregations around the Southeast Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. From Trinity, Kathy and Dave Chatelaine, and Pastor Todd are traveling. Kathy also serves as the Assistant to the Bishop for Global Outreach, and is leading our trip.

Sunday morning, the group drove up to the Minneapolis Airport and met up in the lobby to get checked in for the flight. The flight left at 3:30pm and arrived in Amsterdam a little after 11:30pm (6:30am, Amsterdam time). We had a few hours to grab coffee, food and check out the airport before we hopped on the next flight to Kilimanjaro Airport, near Arusha, Tanzania. That was an 8 1/2 hour flight. We arrived in Tanzania around 8:30pm, (Tanzania time). There is 9 hours time zone difference between Tanzania and Owatonna.

We went through customs, got our bags and took about a 1 hour ride in a shuttle bus to our hotel, where we checked in, ate a little pizza and then headed to bed.

Tomorrow, after breakfast we’ll head to a bank to exchange our currency, then visit one of the synod’s ministry partners here in the area. Then we’ll do a little shopping and head towards the National Park. We’ll stay at a hotel near there and on Wednesday do a one-day safari (did someone say elephants?!?) before heading to Singida to begin spending time with our friends and ministry partners there.

The group is tired today, but there is energy and excitement for what we will see and do in this week. I’ve only seen Tanzania so far in the dark…driving to the hotel. So I can’t wait to see the beauty of this amazing place. Please keep our team in your prayers as we travel.

God’s peace,

Pastor Todd