We are doing fine--no real excitement since our house fire. We both have 25 students in our seminary classes and Diane has begun teaching a course in Abnormal Psychology at the University. We have monkeys who play in our front yard and Diane is glad to report that we have seen no snakes......so far!
Elections have been completed in Tz. They elect a new president every 5 years and the president is limited to 2 terms. The office of president rotates between a Christian president and a Muslim president every 10 years.
The election drew a lot of excitement and energy. There were party flags on every street corner, giant billboard signs, outdoor political rallies that drew thousands, and trucks with loud speakers blaring their party slogans driving up and down the roads. We kept a low profile during election week for safety reasons.
By African standards the election turned out to be very peaceful. Many countries surrounding Tz. measure their election by the 100's killed, 1000's injured, and countless homes, autos and businesses burned. Not so for Tanzania.
Unfortunately most of our seminary and university students were not able to vote. The government required all students to register at their universities to vote (since that is where they would be residing at the time of voting). Then just before elections, the government delayed the start of classes until after elections. Since the students were at home (away from their universities) at the time for elections, they weren't registered to vote in their home district so they lost their right to vote. Interestingly one of the opposition parties consisted in a large part of this youthful population. (That party lost.)
The other unfortunate side effect to the elections was an increase in the physical attacks on the albino people. Many politicians who were running for office would use witchcraft in hopes of improving their chances for winning. Some of the believed-to-be most power witchcraft practices include the use of albino body parts. Consequently, many albinos (children as well as adults) are maimed and killed for their body parts to be used in these rituals. In the classes we teach, we have the opportunity to address such issues. The seminarians and pastors are on the front line in working with these beliefs in their villages. By educating the pastors/seminarians about mental illness, witchcraft, and superstitious practices, lives can be saved and changed in many ways. We give them knowledge and hope in helping their people deal with these destructive customs.
As we write this we realize that Thanksgiving is just a week away. We wish each of you a Blessed Thanksgiving. We are grateful for your interest and your prayers. We are deeply blessed--both here and at home---living in Tanzania makes us so much more aware of that.
Tim & Diane
Tanzania's new President Magufuli
Flags from opposing parties everywhere. . .
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