Upon arrival, one of the first responsibilities was to get our mission's car repaired and road-worthy.
Last year, our car began to have terrible trouble. The engine was missing, even stalling on the road from time to time. The "professional" garage in Arusha fixed it time and time again; yet, time and time again we brought it back to them because the problem was not solved.
When Offringas and I left the country last spring, the car was still in the shop. After more than 6 weeks, the garage called our missionary friends to come and pick up the car. It was not fixed, and they didn't charge us.
So when we arrived last week, we wondered if we were just going to have to find a cheap buyer for our junker car. Missionary friends suggested a humble neighborhood mechanic who works with simple tools in the dirt outside in a bare lot. I must admit, this conversation brought to me visions of a poor African poking around the engine with a long stick. Boy, was I wrong! These mechanics did what a fully-equipped “city” garage could not (or would not) do in 6 weeks last year!
Our Suzuki was fixed cheaply and easily. We found an honest mechanic who did a fantastic job!
