We couldn't believe the quality of the road. It is tremendous!
You may
recall what it was like when we began ministry in the rural Rift Valley area
(See posting on February 2, 2009).
The government has been promising a better highway through the region
(from Arusha to Singida) for years, and I think that everyone was starting to
give up hope. But, when we were in Tanzania last year, we began to see that the
highway was indeed underway! Well, they have now finished new construction on
the road system, and it is smooth travels! We couldn't believe our eyes--lines
on the roads, no potholes, and guardrails!
Of course, that brings some disadvantages for some of the villagers
along the way, as their formerly-quiet, rural lifestyle has now become
highway-side property...
...but the highway has also
brought the advantages of easier transport of harvested crops (like the
sugarcane these young men are balancing on their bikes) to the village and city
markets. Previously, the terrible roads made it near-impossible for them to
have a load half this size. Now they are pushing the limits of their bicycles
in other ways. I think that in the long run, the new highway will bring agricultural and industrial blessing to this area.
