In the wild jungle

We recently took a trip out to an Ikizu village and had to ford a river in order to get there.  Also, we were recently without internet at home for twelve days.  These two troubles are surprisingly similar.

I find that people are either shocked by the fact we actually have internet at our home and that personal motor transport is an option where we're at, or they are appalled to find out how irregular and slow both of the above are.  Somehow the phrase "missionaries in Africa" makes some folks think of us living out in the bush, using kerosene lanterns for light, traveling by donkey cart, and eating only what we can grow in our garden or shoot with a bow and arrow.  Others are astounded to realize that our electricity, water, internet, and mobile phone network all go out regularly, sometimes for extended periods of time, and that we drive an 18-year-old vehicle and roads are in very poor repair.

It's a bit of a conundrum to whine about the lack of internet for nearly two weeks, because I know I should be happy that we have internet at all.  And when we take a trip to a village a bit of a distance from Musoma and whine that we had to take a bit of a risk and cross a river to get there, I'm reminded that the adventure concluded with us sitting high and dry in our own vehicle and hiring some young men to push us across.  So yes, both situations were challenging, but really, what should I expect from life in Sub-Saharan Africa, anyway?  Four lane highways and WiFi at rest stops along the way?

So, here I am, whining in hopes that you are in the group that will sympathize and feel like we're really roughing it out here, sacrificing our comfort and security for the Lord.  And if you're in the group that thinks I should be feeling thankful that we usually have quite a few conveniences and comforts at our disposal, well, what can I say, because to be quite honest, I'm in that group, too.  But I still wanted to whine!