That is just the way things are done here

That's just the way it's done around here. I have heard this statement several times since being in Africa. It usually has to do with paying bribes to get things done. It had been suggested to me to help fix a difficult situation. I didn't buy it, I have a God who can handle any situation, no mater how difficult. I can't go into details about this problem because it involves a number of other people, but we should know in about a month how God will handle things.
We did get another example of "that is just the way things are done around here". Debbie and I celebrated our 34th anniversary on the 14th. We decided to drive about 7 hours to Pangani and stay at a beach resort called Emayani, for the weekend. We left Arusha around 7:00 AM on Friday, needing to be in Pangani by 6:00 PM, at the latest to catch the ferry across the river to Emayani. I didn't push to hard as we had time and we wanted to site see as we drove through the countryside. The weather was great as we drove along and some of the contry side was spectacular. Large Sisal plantations interspersed with scrub brush and desert. We saw a few monkeys running across the road as well as dozens of cows, goats & sheep along the road. As we got nearer to the coast it got greener and we saw large amounts of citrus trees and palm trees. At every small town along the way there are speed bumps with speed zones and pedestrian crossings. As we were cruising along a nice straight stretch of highway I noticed several cars and trucks stopped along the roadway. As I slowed down a police officer stepped out and waved for me to stop. When I did, he came over to the car with a radar gun and said that I had been going 63 KPH in a 50 KPH zone. To be honest I am not sure how fast I was going I don't think I was traveling that fast, but I'm not sure. Anyway the officer showed me his book that showed the fine was 20,000 Tanzania shillings. He said I could pay the fine or if I wanted to give him a little "something" it could just go away. I told him that if I had indeed broken the law that I would pay the fine. He said to park the car and come over to his bench alongside the road,which I did. When I got there he had not even started filling out the paper work and receipt for the fine. He asked me about the Majitech sign on the door, because it has a cross worked into the logo. I explained to him about the company, what we did and that we were a Christian company and tried to live and do business by Biblical principles. He asked if I was a pastor, to which I replied no, but that we did have a pastor on staff. I then apologized that, if I had been speeding, that I was sorry because I did try to obey the law. He was shocked that I would apologize and then told me to go and be careful. Deb and I had a great weekend, and on Sunday we drove back to Arusha. Along a nice straight stretch (and I was watching my speed very closely this time) in the same spot as before there were several cars and trucks pulled over. this time however I drove slowly through and saw the driver of a bus handing the officer something and then keep going. So I guess that's the way things are done around here.

Don