On the Ground

For over a year now we have been a family in process. We've sort of felt like nomads as we tried to raise support and prepare our family for our move to Tanzania. Through fundraising, saying goodbye, transitioning out of jobs and homes, and trying educationally to prepare ourselves for a new culture and language, we've been all over the place. But, all of that work has culminated in our recent arrival in Tanzania. 3 days ago we touched down at Kilimanjaro International Airport to begin our new life in Tanzania.

We walked off the plane and across the runway to pick up our bags, hoping they had all arrived. We had packed 16 pieces of luggage (actually 19, but had an issue with the airline and could only get 16 on the plane). The moment we walked inside and headed towards the line for our Visa's, we were greeted by a man who handed us our resident papers. We had been in process of getting them, but hadn't procured them beforehand, so we were going to have to get travel Visa's until our permanent papers arrived. But, the other missionaries on the ground and the National Leader had gotten them that very morning and rushed them to the airport just in time for our arrival. So, now that we were officially residents of Tanzania, we went through the National Line of immigration and on to customs. We got all 16 of our bags and stood before the customs agent. At this point, any number of things could happen. Technically they could ask us to open all of our bags and charge us for the items we brought. And, because of circumstance and it being a developing country they really could have asked us to pay any amount they wanted. But, they didn't open a single bag, they allowed one of the missionaries on the ground to come into the airport and help us, and we left without paying anything to bring our personal items into the country. We loaded up the vehicles that had come to pick us up and headed to Arusha to spend the night. The next morning we drove the 2 1/2 hours south to our new home town of Babati. Along the way we stopped at a snake park to see all of the animals that will now haunt my dreams, and take a camel ride. Now we are settling in our temporary hut for the next several weeks before leaving for language school in June. After that we will return to Babati and begin the process of moving into our permanent residence. And then, maybe we'll stop feeling like nomads for a while. Thanks so much for the love and support, and we'll post lots of pictures real soon. For more consistent updates and lots of pictures, be sure to check out: Facebook.com/whoarethecomptons, you do not have to have a Facebook account to view our updates or pictures.