So today I spent the better portion of the day at Lake Tanganyika College working on the computer systems. The first thing up was the new Mac Mini server setup. Mac Mini’s work pretty well as Microsoft Remote Desktop Servers when setup and equipped with VMWare Fusion. The advantage to using them is that they are small, light weight and easy to carry in my backpack when traveling over here. I actually physically installed this new server on Tuesday. I now had the time to make sure it was fully functioning with all of the software they need teaching various applications like Microsoft Word & Excel.
Along with this setup, the existing Mac Mini server also needed some updating. Why two Mac Mini’s you ask? Backup! The unit I brought with me is a replacement for one that failed during the past year. I’m bringing that failed unit home to have repaired. So now they have two servers again for redundant usage. The existing unit had Windows Server on it with Microsoft Office 2003 . Office 2007 is the current Tanzania government standard for teaching the applications. I updated that server to Office 2007. And on the new server we have Office 2016 installed so they can be looking forward to the new teaching standards that will eventually be established.
After the server work was complete, I worked with Bon, the main LTC computer support person, to get the 10 new Dell-Wyse thin clients setup. To give you some background, 12 years ago when I first came to setup the colleges computer network, I installed 10 Wyse 1200 thin client PC’s. They were still using most of these units. That’s an amazing use life span for most computer equipment. The problem is that the old 1200 models are a bit slow now and they don’t work well with the newer wide screen monitors that are available these days. The new model is very fast and works very well with all of the newer equipment and monitors. Bon did most of the physical installation of the new clients and then we went to work setting up session logins for both the Office 2003 and Office 2016 Remote Desktop servers. All of these setups went well. I’m very pleased at how all of the server and client installations went today. Tomorrow, I’ll work with Bon on some other computer issues with me. And I want to train him on doing backups of the Mac Mini’s.
This evening before dinner, we went to visit “Good Shepherd” church along with another smaller church nearby. These were small gathering of just some of the choirs and church leaders. Bob, Cathy and I gave our greetings to the churches and learn a bit about how the churches were doing. The second church (who’s name I don’t remember right now) had only the foundation and walls done. They are looking to get a roof soon since the raining session is closing in on them. The cost for the materials is about $2500. I’m hoping I can do something when I get back to find folks who would help fund this modest roofing project. The diocese and the church community itself just don’t have the money right now to spend on the materials. Seriously, be thinking and praying about it. If you feel the Spirit leading you to donate, call or text me at (203)733-5085. I can’t help but think that it would not take many of us to drum up that amount of funds in quick order.
Until tomorrow,
Bill
Mungu ni mwema!
 Preparing for worship |
Today we spent much of our time at a confirmation service at a church that I can’t remember the name of at the moment. Guess I’ll fill that in later after I talk with Daudi, the diocesan secretary to refresh my memory. But the important thing was, we were there. I think this was a very interesting experience for Bob. Tanzania’s are very animated in their worship expressions and this time was no exception. First of all, everybody sings. I mean everybody. There is no sitting in the back row of the church mouthing the words or perhaps not even engaging in worship. And then there is the dancing. There is lots of dancing. I’ve noticed that it’s starts at an early age too. You see young one’s often swaying to the music and moving about as they see the older children and adults doing the same. It really is a lot of fun and a joy to join in with the congregation. In fact I even started a round of dancing after I had a chance to give a greeting to them. I got started and within an instance the floor was filled with people cheering and dancing before the Lord with all their hearts. I imagine this is somewhat like it was when David danced before the Lord in 2 Samuel 6:14.
 Confirmands |
Along with that, Bob got a chance to address the congregation and encourage the confirmands. Cathy and I had two chances to lead songs with the church. The first was “Halleluia, Your love makes me sing”. No problem with the word Halleluia. Just had to teach them the english words “your love makes me sing”. Later before the confirmations, we sang the song “Forever Reign”. The words to the bridge are normally “My heart will sing no other name, Jesus, Jesus”. We translated it to “My heart sings Jesus”, which in swahili is “Moyo wangu utaimba, Jesu, Jesu”. We did that so that the swahili syllables would line up with the melody. We taught the congregation bridge and then had them join in when it came up in the song. These were sweet times of worship together.
When we got home, we were pretty tired so after some refreshments we took a time of rest and got up at about 5 PM. I find that with the efforts and energy spent in worship, along with the heat of the day and bouncing ride back and forth over unpaved roads, I get wiped out. A couple of hours resting or as we say “chilling out” helps restore my energy.
 |
This evening we had dinner at Andrea Jung’s house. I’ve mentioned about her in past blog posts. Andrea is a missionary from Germany who works with the children’s ministries throughout the diocese. She is someone I admire greatly for her heart of love and service to the Lord.
It’s 10:30 PM now. I think I’ll hit the sack and see what blessings tomorrow brings. I’m schedule to go to the bible college to work on the computer systems and help update the server and thin client computers. Should be a good day. I’m looking forward to it.
Canon Bill