One of the most common reactions I got when telling people I was moving to Africa last year was, "That experience will completely change your life!"
What I wanted to respond with (but usually refrained from doing so, since I knew my friends' intentions were sincere) was: "My life has ALREADY been changed by Africa. That's why I'm moving there!"
And that was true. My previous short-term trips to Africa HAD changed my life. They had opened up my eyes to the circumstances that the majority of the world lives in, and they left me completely unsatisfied living a comfortable, "cushy" life in America. They had grieved my spirit as I saw the hunger, the need, the orphans, the poverty.... the lack of clean water, health care, regular meals that these people in the majority world live with.
Yes, my life had been changed. And living in America where I had anything and everything (materially) that I could ever want was now totally unsatisfying to me. Repulsive, even. I wanted to boldly declare this to my friends whenever they idealistically remarked how much "Africa would change me". But I didn't. I knew I needed to keep my mouth shut and just come and see.
....
And now I have been here for almost 6 months. I am about to come home for 2 weeks for Christmas, and in looking ahead to this trip home, I see how much Africa HAS changed me. But it hasn't necessarily "given me a bigger heart for the poor" or "opened my eyes up to the poverty in the world." Yes, those are of utmost importance and I wish for everyone to be changed in those ways, but those were the ways I'd already been changed. That's why I moved here. Yes, I will continually be changing in my attitudes, actions, and service toward the poor- for the rest of my life- but the "big" eye openers in those regards had already happened for me.
As I look ahead to these 2 weeks I'll spend at home, though, in my anticipations of how I want to spend my time, I see how much I've changed in OTHER ways. In good ways. In ways that I wasn't expecting.
Before coming here, one of my favorite things to do was go to group dinners at Mi Cocina or big group events where I could see multitudes of friends at a time and carry on 2-3 sentence conversations with each one of them over the course of a night. Now the thoughts of those big group settings overwhelm me and feel so pointless. YES, I want to go to dinner at Mi Cocina. But I want to go with one friend or maybe two, and sit and have hours-long conversations where we talk and share and are real and open with each other. I don't have any desire to be at a large group event where the most I can speak with any given person is 2 or 3 sentences. What is the point of that?
I want to go to Drip Coffee for a delicious cappuccino, but I want to carry on conversations with the baristas and catch up on each others' lives. The same friendly baristas who I've always exchanged polite greetings with but who I'm always too tired on an early morning to say any more to than "I'm doing well. How are you?" Or just too busy and rushed to listen.
In looking ahead to this time, I realize that Africa has changed me greatly. It has made me more RELATIONAL. It has made me LIVE LIFE without an iphone that I'm constantly checking for texts or emails or Facebook notifications. Without the constant bombarding distractions from the media, the stores, the nagging feeling that I need to DO more and HAVE more and SHOP more. It has forced me to get away from this busy-ness and emptiness of life in America and genuinely ENGAGE with everyone I am in contact with. To be fully present and fully aware and thus fully LIVING.
I want my time at home to be full of these meaningful interactions and relationships. None of the emptiness and the shallow pursuits of life in America, and all of the richness of the relationships that I hold there.
No, this is not how I expected Africa to change me. But this is how it has. And I like it. It is good. I wish the Western world knew more of this secret of the joys and fulfillment that simplicity of life brings.... this secret that the majority of the world holds and that gives their life meaning.
I'll be curious to see what my reactions are and how I process things upon actually returning and spending time in America. But for now, this is what I foresee. And I like it.
***
and for the record, the other things I am REALLY looking forward to in America are:
watching a COWBOYS game!
yes, Mi Cocina! and especially in HP Village with all the Christmas lights up!!
COLD weather and Christmas lights and Christmas songs and Christmas movies and (*some of*) the Christmas shopping/store windows/etc. etc.
the Christmas Eve service at Fellowship!! (**the music**)
spending time with my DOG!
curling up on a comfortable SOFA (in a house with a temperature set to my choosing... can't even fathom that right now) and lying there and doing a little bit of nothing for a second (i.e. watching Elf or Love Actually)
sleeping in a BIG comfortable BED!!!
watching a film at Angelika or Magnolia (hopefully a foreign one)
eating Cake Batter frozen yogurt at Yogalicious
RUNNING AT WHITE ROCK!!!!!!!!!! in the cold weather!!! every day! all the way around the lake!!
eating SPINACH SALADS..... BIG ones, every day!!!
I leave in just 5 days.... Oh, I cannot WAIT!!!! :-D
Monday, December 13, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
William & Stella
(Apparently my new trend in blogging is to post several things at a time. I neglect it for weeks and then update all at once.... So, here's another one...)
For a couple months now it has been on my heart to blog about the amazing servant and man of God who cleans at our school, William. This was on my heart even before the new urgency to pray for his family; so now that there is an urgency, please hear their story...
William & Stella
William is a beacon of joy and light on this campus and a blessing to all who know him. He pastors a church in his small impoverished village outside of town (this is the village/church that I posted about volunteering at, here ). He serves his community faithfully and tirelessly, all while serving faithfully and tirelessly at our school each day. I was privileged to meet his beautiful wife Stella, see the very small 1-bedroom house they live in, and pray over his home and his family when we went to his village. They do not have any children and Stella has had a very tragic past concerning her pregnancies. She has had 2 miscarriages and lost 2 babies since 2008 (and could easily have lost her own life). From what I heard, after Stella gave birth last year (and lost the child a few minutes later), William was at school the next day serving faithfully with the same huge, joyful smile on his face that he wears every day. My heart grieves for their story.
Stella is now pregnant again and many of us are coming together to pray for them and financially assist them so that they can receive better medical care than they have received in the past. A friend here, Amy Medina, has organized assistance for them; I am so thankful for her willingness to listen to and follow God's prompting in helping this couple.
I've long wanted to write a heart-felt post about William and his story, but Amy has written a few great ones already, telling more details of their story and some about their previous pregnancies. So please read them here:
http://www.gilandamy.blogspot.com/
(Read the latest post as well as the previous 2 posts she links about their past pregnancies.)
As Amy states, it is tragic to see the pain this couple has gone through. Pain that it seems no one should have to bear. Yet it is common in Tanzania to have a story such as this. All too common, which makes the situation even more grievous. Please pray for William and Stella. Pray for the precious life inside of her right now. Pray that William and Stella come home from the hospital with a precious and HEALTHY baby in their arms in a few months. Please. Pray big. God answers the prayers of His people.
And pray for the countless other women in Tanzania and beyond who bear the same wounds of lost pregnancies and lost hope. Pray for HOPE. Pray for HEALTH. Pray for God's abundant comfort and His presence in the midst of their pain. And pray that WE the church would rise up and do our part in assisting His hurting children and working towards access to better health care in these majority parts of the world. (And then act!)
**Another related prayer request: "Mama Jane", the head housekeeper at the Young Life Training Center here, gave birth to a precious baby girl Monica about a month ago. Monica was born severely under-developed with severe birth defects (due to bad medical care that was received during her pregnancy). She was just recently released from the hospital and is now in the loving care of her family. She has little chance for long-term survival, though, due to her severely under-developed brain. Another all-too-common story here. Please pray also for baby Monica, Mama Jane, and their family. Thank you.
For a couple months now it has been on my heart to blog about the amazing servant and man of God who cleans at our school, William. This was on my heart even before the new urgency to pray for his family; so now that there is an urgency, please hear their story...
William & StellaWilliam is a beacon of joy and light on this campus and a blessing to all who know him. He pastors a church in his small impoverished village outside of town (this is the village/church that I posted about volunteering at, here ). He serves his community faithfully and tirelessly, all while serving faithfully and tirelessly at our school each day. I was privileged to meet his beautiful wife Stella, see the very small 1-bedroom house they live in, and pray over his home and his family when we went to his village. They do not have any children and Stella has had a very tragic past concerning her pregnancies. She has had 2 miscarriages and lost 2 babies since 2008 (and could easily have lost her own life). From what I heard, after Stella gave birth last year (and lost the child a few minutes later), William was at school the next day serving faithfully with the same huge, joyful smile on his face that he wears every day. My heart grieves for their story.
Stella is now pregnant again and many of us are coming together to pray for them and financially assist them so that they can receive better medical care than they have received in the past. A friend here, Amy Medina, has organized assistance for them; I am so thankful for her willingness to listen to and follow God's prompting in helping this couple.
I've long wanted to write a heart-felt post about William and his story, but Amy has written a few great ones already, telling more details of their story and some about their previous pregnancies. So please read them here:
http://www.gilandamy.blogspot.com/
(Read the latest post as well as the previous 2 posts she links about their past pregnancies.)
As Amy states, it is tragic to see the pain this couple has gone through. Pain that it seems no one should have to bear. Yet it is common in Tanzania to have a story such as this. All too common, which makes the situation even more grievous. Please pray for William and Stella. Pray for the precious life inside of her right now. Pray that William and Stella come home from the hospital with a precious and HEALTHY baby in their arms in a few months. Please. Pray big. God answers the prayers of His people.
And pray for the countless other women in Tanzania and beyond who bear the same wounds of lost pregnancies and lost hope. Pray for HOPE. Pray for HEALTH. Pray for God's abundant comfort and His presence in the midst of their pain. And pray that WE the church would rise up and do our part in assisting His hurting children and working towards access to better health care in these majority parts of the world. (And then act!)
**Another related prayer request: "Mama Jane", the head housekeeper at the Young Life Training Center here, gave birth to a precious baby girl Monica about a month ago. Monica was born severely under-developed with severe birth defects (due to bad medical care that was received during her pregnancy). She was just recently released from the hospital and is now in the loving care of her family. She has little chance for long-term survival, though, due to her severely under-developed brain. Another all-too-common story here. Please pray also for baby Monica, Mama Jane, and their family. Thank you.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Service Learning
One of my highlights of teaching at HOPAC has been the Service Learning emphasis, where a group of my students (grades 6-8) and I work with a local school and do art activities with them. For several weeks we've gone out to their school and brought simple arts & crafts activities for them to do (which they've LOVED) and these past couple of weeks we've had them come to our school where they've been able to paint. The school these students go to have nothing but the *very, very* bare minimum of supplies, so the opportunity even just to use crayons or colored pencils is an incredible one for them. Most if not all of them have never painted in their lives (and don't know when they'll be able to in the future) so it has been such a privilege giving these opportunities to these children.
The classes we've worked with have about 70+ students in them (in one small classroom); we split the class in half each week and only work with half a class at a time. Because of the number of students in the classes and the lack of teaching supplies or resources, most learning in these schools takes place by rote memorization so the opportunity for creativity is very limited. Because of this, the children had a very difficult time expressing themselves creatively when we first started working with them.
The first couple of weeks we came to the school, we brought construction paper, crayons, and colored pencils. We had them write/draw their name and then decorate it however they wished. It took quite a while for the students to even get started and was very difficult for them to "draw freely" as they weren't quite sure what to do with the creative space. By the end of these days, a few of the students were opening up and drawing freely while most of them were copying pictures that our students were drawing.
Over the next couple weeks, we brought supplies for the kids to make greeting cards. Construction paper, markers, cut-out shapes we'd prepared in advance, gluesticks, and stickers. During these days the students warmed up more quickly, and many were very freely drawing all sorts of pictures. Some were still copying pictures our kids drew, but they were much more comfortable with it and filled their pages up in every corner with pictures. They LOVED the stickers and could not get enough of them! Here are some pics from those days:
(there's my classroom, by the way!) :)
(our students playing a game with them after they painted)
The classes we've worked with have about 70+ students in them (in one small classroom); we split the class in half each week and only work with half a class at a time. Because of the number of students in the classes and the lack of teaching supplies or resources, most learning in these schools takes place by rote memorization so the opportunity for creativity is very limited. Because of this, the children had a very difficult time expressing themselves creatively when we first started working with them.
The first couple of weeks we came to the school, we brought construction paper, crayons, and colored pencils. We had them write/draw their name and then decorate it however they wished. It took quite a while for the students to even get started and was very difficult for them to "draw freely" as they weren't quite sure what to do with the creative space. By the end of these days, a few of the students were opening up and drawing freely while most of them were copying pictures that our students were drawing.
Over the next couple weeks, we brought supplies for the kids to make greeting cards. Construction paper, markers, cut-out shapes we'd prepared in advance, gluesticks, and stickers. During these days the students warmed up more quickly, and many were very freely drawing all sorts of pictures. Some were still copying pictures our kids drew, but they were much more comfortable with it and filled their pages up in every corner with pictures. They LOVED the stickers and could not get enough of them! Here are some pics from those days:
These past couple of weeks, the students have come to our school. This time we've had them paint (again, probably the first time in any of their lives to do so), and we gave them very little guidance... instead just telling them they could paint whatever they wished. They painted so freely and loved every second of it!! Their creativity came forth so quickly; it was beautiful to see. It has been such a blessing to watch them creatively open up over these past few months. To give these children the opportunity to express themselves creatively, and the space and encouragement to do so.... what a blessing it has been. Some of these students are clearly very artistically talented, so giving them one of their very first opportunities to express or realize that talent has been really wonderful.
Here are some pictures of them at our school:
(look at that portrait and that car; such talent!)
Here are some pictures of them at our school:
(look at that portrait and that car; such talent!)
(there's my classroom, by the way!) :)
(our students playing a game with them after they painted)Wednesday, November 24, 2010
another word on Thanksgiving
Yesterday in staff meeting at school, we focused on Thanksgiving by using our prayer time to simply give thanks to God. To thank Him for all of the specific blessings in our lives and the amazing ways He's acted and continues to act in our lives. As we did this, coming to Him SOLELY for the purpose of thanks, requests and supplications naturally came out in the process. For example, when we thanked Him for the mighty ways He's acted in our lives the past we asked Him to continue to work out His good plans and purposes for our lives. When we thanked Him for blessing our relationships here at HOPAC, we asked Him to continue to bless our relationships here.
And it brings me back to the verse I quoted in my last entry:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which *transcends all understanding*, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7
What if we changed our process, attitude, "method" of prayer? What if we came to Him each time with the PURPOSE of Thanksgiving..... and then out of that let our supplications flow? Would this not fulfill this verse and leave us with His peace which is promised to TRANSCEND UNDERSTANDING? What more could we want? Eternal, lasting peace that is promised to defy earthly comprehension... a peace that isn't even capable of being explained in earthly terms. It can be easy to leave that portion of the verse out- the "with thanksgiving" part.... but isn't that the key?
And it brings me back to the verse I quoted in my last entry:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which *transcends all understanding*, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7
What if we changed our process, attitude, "method" of prayer? What if we came to Him each time with the PURPOSE of Thanksgiving..... and then out of that let our supplications flow? Would this not fulfill this verse and leave us with His peace which is promised to TRANSCEND UNDERSTANDING? What more could we want? Eternal, lasting peace that is promised to defy earthly comprehension... a peace that isn't even capable of being explained in earthly terms. It can be easy to leave that portion of the verse out- the "with thanksgiving" part.... but isn't that the key?
Thanksgiving in TZ
Happy Thanksgiving!
Some thoughts on Thanksgiving here....
-I love that Thanksgiving still has the power to instill a feeling of gratitude and thanksgiving in my spirit all day long, even when I'm half a world away in a country that doesn't celebrate this American holiday.
-This is the first day I've ever had to work on Thanksgiving..... pretty crazy!
-It's 90+ degrees here with crazy humidity.... no chilly, Fall feelings here to ring in the day. :)
-Since I'm at an International School, there's a large population of American staff here and several American students so most students know it's "American Thanksgiving." I had my Home Room class (9th grade) this morning go around the room and tell one thing they are thankful for (though there aren't any Americans in the 9th grade class).... My favorite response: "I'm thankful that I'm black." :-) (she followed it up with "no racism there; I'm just glad that I am....") Ha, love it.
-Tonight I get to enjoy a huge and REAL Thanksgiving feast with my Young Life friends and family here at the Larmeys' house.... Complete with celery, cranberries, and a whole cooler full of other items brought by an American couple that's here for the week. The entire cooler came through Customs without a hitch.... Thank you, God! And thank you, Larmeys, for allowing me to have a "real" Thanksgiving here in Africa!! (The meal's also complete with a turkey raised by the German Boarding House here .... no easy trip to the supermarket for our turkey...)
Again, I love that today more than any other day just instills a feeling of Thanksgiving in me.... and a lasting Joy that comes from that. I'm thankful for SO much.... the many blessings I have in both America and in Africa and the MANY, many loved ones in my life. May I always remember to focus on what I'm thankful for, whether or not it's an "official holiday." (And especially so now in the 'hot season' here when power outages are becoming longer and more and more frequent!)
Happy Thanksgiving to all and Love from Africa!!
***
"In EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God, which *transcends all understanding*, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7
***
(p.s. on another note, I did move houses and it is WONDERFUL!!!!! Thank you for your prayers! I have actual peace and quiet and personal space and can SLEEP now!!!! I am INCREDIBLY thankful for that!! will update more on that later...)
Some thoughts on Thanksgiving here....
-I love that Thanksgiving still has the power to instill a feeling of gratitude and thanksgiving in my spirit all day long, even when I'm half a world away in a country that doesn't celebrate this American holiday.
-This is the first day I've ever had to work on Thanksgiving..... pretty crazy!
-It's 90+ degrees here with crazy humidity.... no chilly, Fall feelings here to ring in the day. :)
-Since I'm at an International School, there's a large population of American staff here and several American students so most students know it's "American Thanksgiving." I had my Home Room class (9th grade) this morning go around the room and tell one thing they are thankful for (though there aren't any Americans in the 9th grade class).... My favorite response: "I'm thankful that I'm black." :-) (she followed it up with "no racism there; I'm just glad that I am....") Ha, love it.
-Tonight I get to enjoy a huge and REAL Thanksgiving feast with my Young Life friends and family here at the Larmeys' house.... Complete with celery, cranberries, and a whole cooler full of other items brought by an American couple that's here for the week. The entire cooler came through Customs without a hitch.... Thank you, God! And thank you, Larmeys, for allowing me to have a "real" Thanksgiving here in Africa!! (The meal's also complete with a turkey raised by the German Boarding House here .... no easy trip to the supermarket for our turkey...)
Again, I love that today more than any other day just instills a feeling of Thanksgiving in me.... and a lasting Joy that comes from that. I'm thankful for SO much.... the many blessings I have in both America and in Africa and the MANY, many loved ones in my life. May I always remember to focus on what I'm thankful for, whether or not it's an "official holiday." (And especially so now in the 'hot season' here when power outages are becoming longer and more and more frequent!)
Happy Thanksgiving to all and Love from Africa!!
***
"In EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God, which *transcends all understanding*, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7
***
(p.s. on another note, I did move houses and it is WONDERFUL!!!!! Thank you for your prayers! I have actual peace and quiet and personal space and can SLEEP now!!!! I am INCREDIBLY thankful for that!! will update more on that later...)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Link to Karama
For some reason, the Karama link in my previous post wasn't working.... I just fixed it so that it is. Here it is again, though:
http://karamagifts.blogspot.com
Also, I'm coming home for Christmas in a month from tomorrow!! I'll be home for about 2 weeks.... So, so excited! :-)
http://karamagifts.blogspot.com
Also, I'm coming home for Christmas in a month from tomorrow!! I'll be home for about 2 weeks.... So, so excited! :-)
Monday, November 15, 2010
Karama
One of my roles here in Africa is with a wonderful organization called Karama. Karama gives jobs and dignity to women in Africa by employing them to create beautiful products which are then sold in the states. (Combining my passion for design, beauty, Africa, and fair trade....!) I just posted on Karama's blog, so instead of me going into more detail here, read my post:
www.karamagifts.blogspot.com
Karama's website is currently under construction, but a "temporary glimpse" can be seen here: www.karamagifts.com. A much new and improved site is coming soon, where you'll be able to see the true vision and order the beautiful products.... I'll let you know as soon as it comes up!
www.karamagifts.blogspot.com
Karama's website is currently under construction, but a "temporary glimpse" can be seen here: www.karamagifts.com. A much new and improved site is coming soon, where you'll be able to see the true vision and order the beautiful products.... I'll let you know as soon as it comes up!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Updates and Prayer Requests
I've been sick at home for the past 2 days with what is most likely strep throat. I'm very blessed to have 2 wonderful friends and colleagues here who are able to help me and who checked me out and got me on an antibiotic (no prescription necessary here :)). Lisa Martin, the school nurse, and Carolyn Simpson who teaches Science here and is also a doctor (both of whom are also amazing friends and people). I've spent the day watching Season 9 of Friends on my laptop (which has been an absolutely wonderful temporary break from life in Tanzania- thank you, Carrie, for the dvd's!!) and listening to the blaring loud campaign trucks drive by for the Presidential election which is this weekend (big pick-up trucks full of people and enormous loud speakers drive by about every hour blaring music and/or announcements at the volume of someone shouting at the top of their lungs into your ears..... seriously, you wouldn't think such a loud volume is possible when it's NOT 2 inches from your ear, but somehow with these loud speakers it is. The trucks have been driving around for weeks but the frequency has increased greatly over the past few days with the campaign coming up on Sunday.)
Anyway, as I've laid here (and I'm feeling much better already), I've realized this would be a good time to post some specific prayer requests:
1. My health in general. The fact that I didn't realize I was sick (and wouldn't otherwise have) until I had a 102 degree fever just shows the common state of my health here. I pretty much always feel sick due to the constant black exhaust in the air that I'm inhaling (from trash being burned on the sides of the roads everywhere; there are no landfills here) and the allergens in the dust that are everywhere and that make my sinuses go crazy every day. This combined with me getting very little sleep each night due to the incredibly loud street that our house is on and the fact that I still don't have a real space of my own (more of an explanation in a second) and sleeping without AC every night..... all combine to make me generally feel sick and tired on most days. Not to mention teaching 13 grades and 300 students. So I would love your prayers for my health and energy. (And malaria prayers can always be added in there, too.... I did my first do-it-yourself malaria test last night because of my symptoms- roomie Kate got to prick my finger.... it was thankfully negative, but malaria is always a constant possibility here)
2. My housing situation. It's a long story, but I'm moving from the current house I'm in to another one on the compound. The house I'm in started out with 4 of us teachers in it. My bedroom had never before been occupied because it is..... well, unlivable. And I've now proved that. The window the bed is on is right on top of a crazy-loud street (i.e. the campaign trucks I mentioned are just one tiny aspect of it) and nothing stops at night so it makes it impossible to sleep through the night- or even a solid hour- in this room. Not to mention the incredibly poor ventilation which makes it constantly hot and stuffy. So after trying for weeks to sleep in this room and realizing the impossibility of the task (and fyi, I'm an incredibly deep sleeper and can typically sleep through anything), I spent the first couple of months sleeping on a bunkbed in the hallway (which is our area set up for guests). I've spent the past month sleeping on a mattress in Kate's room while another teacher (Laura) moved out here from California and is sleeping in my old spot in the hallway. Anyway... Laura and I are going to be moving into another house with another teacher (Heather) very shortly. The major benefit is that we'll each have our own room and space (with AC in each bedroom!), and the house is much quieter than the one we're currently in because it's further away from the street (though "quiet" would definitely still be a big stretch). The downside is that the house is almost completely unfurnished and we're all new teachers so we somehow need to scrounge up cooking supplies, furniture, etc. etc. (there are some basic pieces of furniture in the house but not everything). It will be much better in the end but the process of actually moving and making a big unfurnished house in Tanzania livable is a huge task and not one that I'm looking forward to on top of my already very busy and tiring days.
3. My job. I love my job, and I love my students. And I love teaching Art. And I LOVE the opportunity and privilege of having an impact in 300 students' lives. But it is also very tiring. I'm basically do a 2-person full-time job teaching K-12. Next year there will be 2 of us, as there ideally would be this year, so that reveals a little of what my work load is like this year (as there's only one of me).
So I don't mean for this to be a negative blog post full of complaints. They just consist of a lot of the difficulties and stresses that daily life here entails. (and I didn't even mention the heat, crazy traffic (imagine LA's traffic but only one lane of it, throughout the entire city), sporadic electricity and internet, transportation, difficulty grocery shopping, having to cook everything from scratch, plumbing, ants in our kitchen at all times, etc. etc...) It is much harder than life in the states, in many ways. And it can be very frustrating, tiring, and stressful at times. But my life here is still much easier than the majority of Tanzanians' who live on a few dollars a day. And it is still much easier than the majority of people in the world. And though it can seem difficult at times, I also know that Jesus never called me to a comfortable life. He asked me to take up my cross and to follow Him. And "taking up a cross" isn't fun or easy. But in the end, it fulfills HIS purposes. It makes me die to MY self and thus lets HIS life live and shine and work through me. And in the end, this life is only temporary. It isn't meant to be easy or perfect. That's what the next life is for. It will be lasting. It will be eternal. It will be easy and perfect. And this one will seem like the blink of an eye.
On Wednesday in our staff meeting, a teacher remarked that a tree doesn't have to "try really hard" to produce fruit. If that tree is near the water source and near the light source, with its roots firmly planted, it WILL bear fruit. There is no effort required. And the same applies for us. "Blessed is the man who's.... delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law He meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3) When we stay close to our source of *light* and water (living water!), and keep our roots firmly planted in Him and His word, we WILL bear fruit. We won't need to "try really hard" at it. It will happen naturally. As I strive to stay close to my source of water and light, I appreciate your prayers and will pray that you do the same. Thank you!! :)
Anyway, as I've laid here (and I'm feeling much better already), I've realized this would be a good time to post some specific prayer requests:
1. My health in general. The fact that I didn't realize I was sick (and wouldn't otherwise have) until I had a 102 degree fever just shows the common state of my health here. I pretty much always feel sick due to the constant black exhaust in the air that I'm inhaling (from trash being burned on the sides of the roads everywhere; there are no landfills here) and the allergens in the dust that are everywhere and that make my sinuses go crazy every day. This combined with me getting very little sleep each night due to the incredibly loud street that our house is on and the fact that I still don't have a real space of my own (more of an explanation in a second) and sleeping without AC every night..... all combine to make me generally feel sick and tired on most days. Not to mention teaching 13 grades and 300 students. So I would love your prayers for my health and energy. (And malaria prayers can always be added in there, too.... I did my first do-it-yourself malaria test last night because of my symptoms- roomie Kate got to prick my finger.... it was thankfully negative, but malaria is always a constant possibility here)
2. My housing situation. It's a long story, but I'm moving from the current house I'm in to another one on the compound. The house I'm in started out with 4 of us teachers in it. My bedroom had never before been occupied because it is..... well, unlivable. And I've now proved that. The window the bed is on is right on top of a crazy-loud street (i.e. the campaign trucks I mentioned are just one tiny aspect of it) and nothing stops at night so it makes it impossible to sleep through the night- or even a solid hour- in this room. Not to mention the incredibly poor ventilation which makes it constantly hot and stuffy. So after trying for weeks to sleep in this room and realizing the impossibility of the task (and fyi, I'm an incredibly deep sleeper and can typically sleep through anything), I spent the first couple of months sleeping on a bunkbed in the hallway (which is our area set up for guests). I've spent the past month sleeping on a mattress in Kate's room while another teacher (Laura) moved out here from California and is sleeping in my old spot in the hallway. Anyway... Laura and I are going to be moving into another house with another teacher (Heather) very shortly. The major benefit is that we'll each have our own room and space (with AC in each bedroom!), and the house is much quieter than the one we're currently in because it's further away from the street (though "quiet" would definitely still be a big stretch). The downside is that the house is almost completely unfurnished and we're all new teachers so we somehow need to scrounge up cooking supplies, furniture, etc. etc. (there are some basic pieces of furniture in the house but not everything). It will be much better in the end but the process of actually moving and making a big unfurnished house in Tanzania livable is a huge task and not one that I'm looking forward to on top of my already very busy and tiring days.
3. My job. I love my job, and I love my students. And I love teaching Art. And I LOVE the opportunity and privilege of having an impact in 300 students' lives. But it is also very tiring. I'm basically do a 2-person full-time job teaching K-12. Next year there will be 2 of us, as there ideally would be this year, so that reveals a little of what my work load is like this year (as there's only one of me).
So I don't mean for this to be a negative blog post full of complaints. They just consist of a lot of the difficulties and stresses that daily life here entails. (and I didn't even mention the heat, crazy traffic (imagine LA's traffic but only one lane of it, throughout the entire city), sporadic electricity and internet, transportation, difficulty grocery shopping, having to cook everything from scratch, plumbing, ants in our kitchen at all times, etc. etc...) It is much harder than life in the states, in many ways. And it can be very frustrating, tiring, and stressful at times. But my life here is still much easier than the majority of Tanzanians' who live on a few dollars a day. And it is still much easier than the majority of people in the world. And though it can seem difficult at times, I also know that Jesus never called me to a comfortable life. He asked me to take up my cross and to follow Him. And "taking up a cross" isn't fun or easy. But in the end, it fulfills HIS purposes. It makes me die to MY self and thus lets HIS life live and shine and work through me. And in the end, this life is only temporary. It isn't meant to be easy or perfect. That's what the next life is for. It will be lasting. It will be eternal. It will be easy and perfect. And this one will seem like the blink of an eye.
On Wednesday in our staff meeting, a teacher remarked that a tree doesn't have to "try really hard" to produce fruit. If that tree is near the water source and near the light source, with its roots firmly planted, it WILL bear fruit. There is no effort required. And the same applies for us. "Blessed is the man who's.... delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law He meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3) When we stay close to our source of *light* and water (living water!), and keep our roots firmly planted in Him and His word, we WILL bear fruit. We won't need to "try really hard" at it. It will happen naturally. As I strive to stay close to my source of water and light, I appreciate your prayers and will pray that you do the same. Thank you!! :)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
My Jesus
This song came on in the car I was in yesterday, as we were driving through the crowded streets of Dar es Salaam. Through the masses of hurting, poor, sick, and 'the least of these' in this world.
Take a second to listen to the song:
Take a second to listen to the song:
What does our Jesus look like? Would we recognize Him if He came into our church this Sunday? Would we even allow Him in, much less worship and follow Him?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Dar Half-Marathon & 9K
Last Thursday I ran a 9K here... I was actually the 1st Female to finish and the 3rd overall, and I won a $100,000 tzs ($65 USD) gift certificate to a great restaurant here (Waterfront). It all seems pretty unbelievable to me, but it was a really cool and fun experience so it feels worthy of a blog post.
The main event was the Half-marathon, so all of the "real" racers were running that and there was therefore much less competition for the 9K. The 9K actually seemed like more of a race for the ex-pats, while the fast Africans ran the Half. Apparently there were 5 renowned long-distance runners competing in the Half, but I saw at least a couple dozen sprint across the finish line in what looked like an Olympic race. In American races, there are often one or two Africans who come to compete and sprint across the finish line with entire crowds gathered to watch.... Here these dozens sprinted across with barely any acknowledgment from the crowd, and I just stood star-struck with my mouth open amazed at their times and ability. Oh, how I love running. Watching these elite runners compete filled me with such a passion and enthusiasm for running that only those really great "runner's high" moments can otherwise give you.
Runners after the race
Here are some funny "TIA" ("This is Africa".... i.e. things that can/do only happen in Africa) moments and details about the race:
-At about 6:45 am, someone called on a loud speaker for the racers to head over to a field for the "race warm-up." I was very curious as to what this could be, so I made my way over to the field to witness as the facilitator led the crowd in step-aerobics style moves and some very basic stretches to the tune of the Mamma Mia soundtrack. It was absolutely hysterical and definitely a "TIA" race warm-up, but I have to admit that hearing the tunes of "Dancing Queen" and "Mamma Mia" did help invigorate me for the race. :)
The "warm-up"
-The Half was supposed to start at 7:00, and the 9K was supposed to start at 7:30. The Half started at 7:15, and the 9K started at 7:25.
-Both races started with a blow on a vuvuzuela (the horns that were blown constantly during the World Cup).
-Tanzania's former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi came to the race, walked the 9K, and presided over the Awards ceremony at the end. (I'm also convinced that he now has my trophy.... they gave him one for being the "oldest" to finish the 9K and didn't give one to the first female to finish (only to the first male).... thinking they "changed" their award selections at the last minute .... ;))
The former president, in the middle with the white hair
-About 7 of the fastest racers started the Half 10 minutes into it (i.e. they came up from behind and sped past me after our race had already started). These racers still finished at the front of the competition. (Apparently, there was also some discrepancy in tracking the race's route and a few racers cutting shortcuts.... I wouldn't be surprised if these were the ones who did).
*****
As for my little "shining moment", I can not give more glory to God and almost laugh at His awesome ways. Just last year, many of you know that I had a really bad stress fracture in my hip from running and wasn't able to run for 6 months. The fracture wouldn't heal and God literally healed it in a miraculous way through prayer right before I left for Tanzania (short synopsis can be found here: http://fbcd.jointhejourney.com/log/62967). Now, just a few short months later, I am one of the first to cross the finish line of a race and handed an award for what seems to equate a million dollars here ($100,000 tzs... $65 US). God gave me the joy of running the entire race at the front of the crowd, being handed an award and having my picture taken as I was cheered across the finish line, and even experiencing the pains of finishing strong at the end to outrun another woman while I felt like my legs and lungs were about to give out. (I'm not used to that kind of competition in a race... I'm usually "competing against myself" :) so it was a cool and different experience to have to really compete at the end.)
During that last long stretch I prayed continuously for the Lord to give me the strength to "run and not grow weary" and to "mount up on eagles' wings" (Isaiah 40). For Him to give me the needed energy and endurance to finish the race strong that I may glorify His name... So, let me do just that. He healed me in a MIRACULOUS way last year through prayer and supplication and has blessed me not only with this health and strength but now with a Victory that only He could ordain. (i.e. by giving me a race with little competition in a country where the racing system is not very well-organzied.... ha! :)) He is so good, and His ways are good and true and right.... Always. Through the long, dark nights (my 6 painful months of not being able to exercise) as well as the shining moments. Trust in HIM, for He alone is worthy.
"Oh Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me." -Psalm 30:2
"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." -Psalm 40:1-3
The main event was the Half-marathon, so all of the "real" racers were running that and there was therefore much less competition for the 9K. The 9K actually seemed like more of a race for the ex-pats, while the fast Africans ran the Half. Apparently there were 5 renowned long-distance runners competing in the Half, but I saw at least a couple dozen sprint across the finish line in what looked like an Olympic race. In American races, there are often one or two Africans who come to compete and sprint across the finish line with entire crowds gathered to watch.... Here these dozens sprinted across with barely any acknowledgment from the crowd, and I just stood star-struck with my mouth open amazed at their times and ability. Oh, how I love running. Watching these elite runners compete filled me with such a passion and enthusiasm for running that only those really great "runner's high" moments can otherwise give you.
The finish line
Runners after the raceHere are some funny "TIA" ("This is Africa".... i.e. things that can/do only happen in Africa) moments and details about the race:
-At about 6:45 am, someone called on a loud speaker for the racers to head over to a field for the "race warm-up." I was very curious as to what this could be, so I made my way over to the field to witness as the facilitator led the crowd in step-aerobics style moves and some very basic stretches to the tune of the Mamma Mia soundtrack. It was absolutely hysterical and definitely a "TIA" race warm-up, but I have to admit that hearing the tunes of "Dancing Queen" and "Mamma Mia" did help invigorate me for the race. :)
The "warm-up"-Both races started with a blow on a vuvuzuela (the horns that were blown constantly during the World Cup).
-Tanzania's former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi came to the race, walked the 9K, and presided over the Awards ceremony at the end. (I'm also convinced that he now has my trophy.... they gave him one for being the "oldest" to finish the 9K and didn't give one to the first female to finish (only to the first male).... thinking they "changed" their award selections at the last minute .... ;))
The former president, in the middle with the white hair-About 7 of the fastest racers started the Half 10 minutes into it (i.e. they came up from behind and sped past me after our race had already started). These racers still finished at the front of the competition. (Apparently, there was also some discrepancy in tracking the race's route and a few racers cutting shortcuts.... I wouldn't be surprised if these were the ones who did).
*****
As for my little "shining moment", I can not give more glory to God and almost laugh at His awesome ways. Just last year, many of you know that I had a really bad stress fracture in my hip from running and wasn't able to run for 6 months. The fracture wouldn't heal and God literally healed it in a miraculous way through prayer right before I left for Tanzania (short synopsis can be found here: http://fbcd.jointhejourney.com/log/62967). Now, just a few short months later, I am one of the first to cross the finish line of a race and handed an award for what seems to equate a million dollars here ($100,000 tzs... $65 US). God gave me the joy of running the entire race at the front of the crowd, being handed an award and having my picture taken as I was cheered across the finish line, and even experiencing the pains of finishing strong at the end to outrun another woman while I felt like my legs and lungs were about to give out. (I'm not used to that kind of competition in a race... I'm usually "competing against myself" :) so it was a cool and different experience to have to really compete at the end.)
During that last long stretch I prayed continuously for the Lord to give me the strength to "run and not grow weary" and to "mount up on eagles' wings" (Isaiah 40). For Him to give me the needed energy and endurance to finish the race strong that I may glorify His name... So, let me do just that. He healed me in a MIRACULOUS way last year through prayer and supplication and has blessed me not only with this health and strength but now with a Victory that only He could ordain. (i.e. by giving me a race with little competition in a country where the racing system is not very well-organzied.... ha! :)) He is so good, and His ways are good and true and right.... Always. Through the long, dark nights (my 6 painful months of not being able to exercise) as well as the shining moments. Trust in HIM, for He alone is worthy.
"Oh Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me." -Psalm 30:2
"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." -Psalm 40:1-3
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Last Saturday
Last Saturday, my friends Marie and Heather and I went to a local village to volunteer at a church. One of the cleaning guys at our school volunteers with these children every week in his village; usually 50-80 children come, and he's the only adult who supervises and plays with them. We were excited for the opportunity to love on these kids so we went with some construction paper, crayons, and stickers and did what we could to show them God's love...
They LOVED the coloring and the stickers.
We read and talked about Noah's Ark and God's promise through the rainbow. With the help of some translation, we emphasized "Mungu ameahidi kuwa nasi daima!" (God always keeps His promises!) and that His promises are given to us in the Bible, the most important of which is His LOVE for us. And "Yesu anakupenda" = Jesus loves you.... the 2 most important words I've learned in Swahili so far!
Marie reading about Noah's Ark to them. It turns out that a majority of the kids are from Muslim families, but they come to this church each weekend because of the love and attention that they receive. So glad that they, too, get to hear about Christ's love!
When we came out of the church afterward, some of the kids had decorated our Bajaj driver's Bajaj with dog and cat stickers all around it.... Haha, he now has the best-looking and most decorated Bajaj in Dar. It was super cute that he actually loved the new additions and kept them all on. :) It's so great how far stickers can go in this place!! Even with adults! (stickers are a GREAT idea for care packages, by the way)
As we were leaving, one of the little boys started holding my hand as we walked through the village, and he took my hand up to his mouth and kissed it 3 different times.... So sweet. :)
*****
This afternoon I also went with some of our middle school students out to a local underprivileged school (for our "Service Learning" emphasis). We had a similar time coloring with them, and it just fills my heart with such joy seeing the joy that such a simple act brings to them! Our message today at the school was that they are unique and special creations of God, so we therefore had them draw and decorate their names to celebrate the unique creation that they are. More pics to come soon!
They LOVED the coloring and the stickers.
We read and talked about Noah's Ark and God's promise through the rainbow. With the help of some translation, we emphasized "Mungu ameahidi kuwa nasi daima!" (God always keeps His promises!) and that His promises are given to us in the Bible, the most important of which is His LOVE for us. And "Yesu anakupenda" = Jesus loves you.... the 2 most important words I've learned in Swahili so far!
Marie reading about Noah's Ark to them. It turns out that a majority of the kids are from Muslim families, but they come to this church each weekend because of the love and attention that they receive. So glad that they, too, get to hear about Christ's love!
When we came out of the church afterward, some of the kids had decorated our Bajaj driver's Bajaj with dog and cat stickers all around it.... Haha, he now has the best-looking and most decorated Bajaj in Dar. It was super cute that he actually loved the new additions and kept them all on. :) It's so great how far stickers can go in this place!! Even with adults! (stickers are a GREAT idea for care packages, by the way)As we were leaving, one of the little boys started holding my hand as we walked through the village, and he took my hand up to his mouth and kissed it 3 different times.... So sweet. :)
*****
This afternoon I also went with some of our middle school students out to a local underprivileged school (for our "Service Learning" emphasis). We had a similar time coloring with them, and it just fills my heart with such joy seeing the joy that such a simple act brings to them! Our message today at the school was that they are unique and special creations of God, so we therefore had them draw and decorate their names to celebrate the unique creation that they are. More pics to come soon!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Grieve
At the end of 2009 I came across an article that talked about having a theme "Word" for each new year. The premise is that you ask GOD what the word for your coming year is- not that you come up with one on your own. That you let HIM give it to you.... pray about it, seek Him on it, wait for it, seek confirmation on it.... Make sure that the word is from Him and that it is not something you choose or decide on your own. The author of this article had been doing this for years and the "word" would be a central theme to seek out, pray over, work on, strive towards during the year. A word to see what God does with, since it's been given by Him. This author had had words like "seek", "prayer", "trust", "rest".... overall pretty good/positive "themes" that the Lord had given him and that He had thus prayed over and seen God work through in great ways.
I knew when I read this that I wanted to do the same for my coming year. I was really excited at the prospect of God choosing a word for me and all the "warm fuzzies" that would come with it. So I sought to pray to Him to receive this word. And almost instantaneously the word came to me: Grieve. No, this couldn't be it. God couldn't be giving me such a negative, foreboding word. That's not like Him. Surely He has a warm, fuzzy word for me. So I asked Him again.... What is the word for my coming year, Lord? "Grieve." I knew it was what He had given me, though I didn't want it to be. I prayed about it for weeks to make double and triple sure that this was the word He was giving me (believe me, I was giving Him any and every chance I could to give me a different word!), but He just kept continuing to confirm it. I kept hearing the word "grieve" in conversations, and grieve is not typically a common word in my daily life! So, I had it. God's choice word for my year 2010: Grieve.
I didn't know what to expect but had many different fears as to what the year could hold. At the time I had no idea how God could use such a word in such a good way in my life. Grieve. He ended up using this word to bring me to my knees in the year 2010, grieving over the pains of this world which grieve Him.
The orphans who have no one to show them love. His children who go to bed hungry each night. The widows who are sick with no one to care for them. He showed me the importance of letting my heart be broken for what breaks His. And for *choosing* to do so, because it is a choice. I could choose to not think about these things. To keep going to dinner with my friends and shopping for the latest styles and turning my eyes and ears to the pain and suffering in this world. But He doesn't want me to do that. He doesn't want any of us to do that. He wants us to grieve for what grieves Him. To make a choice to do so. And once I did just that, He wouldn't let me forget. He used 2010- my year to "grieve"- to call me to Africa. And He did so by first giving me a word, which then made me choose to look, which then made my heart break, and which then wouldn't let me rest. So that when He did pull on my heart to move to Africa, I didn't try to escape the call. I knew that He wanted me to grieve for what grieves Him, and therefore I needed to care about what and whom He cares about.
I would have never thought this foreboding word "grieve" would mean that He was about to turn the course of my life around... and that He would call me to live in Africa through it.... or that He would give me such a rich life in return.
The year's not over and I will seek to continue to grieve for what grieves Him- and to thus pray for and over those things- but I have learned so much about His heart and about His will already through this. I can't wait to see what word He gives me for 2011. Even if I'm not "excited" about it at first. :)
Some verses associated with grieving:
"Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." -James 4:9-10
"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure." -Eccl. 7:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." -Matthew 5:4
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." -Psalm 34:18
I knew when I read this that I wanted to do the same for my coming year. I was really excited at the prospect of God choosing a word for me and all the "warm fuzzies" that would come with it. So I sought to pray to Him to receive this word. And almost instantaneously the word came to me: Grieve. No, this couldn't be it. God couldn't be giving me such a negative, foreboding word. That's not like Him. Surely He has a warm, fuzzy word for me. So I asked Him again.... What is the word for my coming year, Lord? "Grieve." I knew it was what He had given me, though I didn't want it to be. I prayed about it for weeks to make double and triple sure that this was the word He was giving me (believe me, I was giving Him any and every chance I could to give me a different word!), but He just kept continuing to confirm it. I kept hearing the word "grieve" in conversations, and grieve is not typically a common word in my daily life! So, I had it. God's choice word for my year 2010: Grieve.
I didn't know what to expect but had many different fears as to what the year could hold. At the time I had no idea how God could use such a word in such a good way in my life. Grieve. He ended up using this word to bring me to my knees in the year 2010, grieving over the pains of this world which grieve Him.
The orphans who have no one to show them love. His children who go to bed hungry each night. The widows who are sick with no one to care for them. He showed me the importance of letting my heart be broken for what breaks His. And for *choosing* to do so, because it is a choice. I could choose to not think about these things. To keep going to dinner with my friends and shopping for the latest styles and turning my eyes and ears to the pain and suffering in this world. But He doesn't want me to do that. He doesn't want any of us to do that. He wants us to grieve for what grieves Him. To make a choice to do so. And once I did just that, He wouldn't let me forget. He used 2010- my year to "grieve"- to call me to Africa. And He did so by first giving me a word, which then made me choose to look, which then made my heart break, and which then wouldn't let me rest. So that when He did pull on my heart to move to Africa, I didn't try to escape the call. I knew that He wanted me to grieve for what grieves Him, and therefore I needed to care about what and whom He cares about.
I would have never thought this foreboding word "grieve" would mean that He was about to turn the course of my life around... and that He would call me to live in Africa through it.... or that He would give me such a rich life in return.
The year's not over and I will seek to continue to grieve for what grieves Him- and to thus pray for and over those things- but I have learned so much about His heart and about His will already through this. I can't wait to see what word He gives me for 2011. Even if I'm not "excited" about it at first. :)
Some verses associated with grieving:
"Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." -James 4:9-10
"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure." -Eccl. 7:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." -Matthew 5:4
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." -Psalm 34:18
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Some Ministry Updates
-I spent last Friday night with the high school leaders of Wyld Life at a Leaders' Retreat/Sleepover and am so excited for these relationships and the ministry that lie ahead this year!! (WyldLife is Young Life's middle school ministry, which I'll be helping out with this year at HOPAC). YL/WL have SUCH amazing ministries.... Relationships, FUN, Joy, Unconditional Love, Jesus, Laughter.... All of these exemplify YL's ministry and I am so thankful to be a part of it!!
-I'm volunteering at a local village church this Saturday morning.... one of the custodians at school spends a couple of hours every Saturday morning with the 75+ children at his church (all by himself!) so I'm going with my roommate Marie and another friend to volunteer with them this weekend... to play games/do crafts/etc (whatever ideas we can come up with). I'm really looking forward to it and would love your prayers for this time!
-Next week I'll be taking a group of middle school students from our school out to a local under-privileged school to do arts & crafts activities with the children.... We'll be doing this every Thursday afternoon (12:30-2:00pm)- going out to different schools- so I would love your continued prayers for these Thursday afternoons!
-In general, I'm just really loving teaching and I'm really loving my students.... I'm really, really enjoying getting to know them more and developing relationships with them. I love the opportunity to be at a Christian school where I can teach them the truths and love of Christ and the opportunity to speak it into 300+ students' lives! (that's the benefit of being the Art teacher and teaching the whole school :))
Your prayers for all of these areas of ministry are very much appreciated.... I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to be used in so many different ways and areas out here, and I believe "God does nothing but in answer to prayer" (John Wesley). So thank you! Love to you and God bless! :)
-I'm volunteering at a local village church this Saturday morning.... one of the custodians at school spends a couple of hours every Saturday morning with the 75+ children at his church (all by himself!) so I'm going with my roommate Marie and another friend to volunteer with them this weekend... to play games/do crafts/etc (whatever ideas we can come up with). I'm really looking forward to it and would love your prayers for this time!
-Next week I'll be taking a group of middle school students from our school out to a local under-privileged school to do arts & crafts activities with the children.... We'll be doing this every Thursday afternoon (12:30-2:00pm)- going out to different schools- so I would love your continued prayers for these Thursday afternoons!
-In general, I'm just really loving teaching and I'm really loving my students.... I'm really, really enjoying getting to know them more and developing relationships with them. I love the opportunity to be at a Christian school where I can teach them the truths and love of Christ and the opportunity to speak it into 300+ students' lives! (that's the benefit of being the Art teacher and teaching the whole school :))
Your prayers for all of these areas of ministry are very much appreciated.... I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to be used in so many different ways and areas out here, and I believe "God does nothing but in answer to prayer" (John Wesley). So thank you! Love to you and God bless! :)
I wish I could just take snapshots....
....and cut and paste excerpts from my life out here every day.... there are just too many great moments that I don't get the chance to record!
Tonight I made this statement for the 2nd time in my life (in all seriousness):
"I could go to Africa with nothing on my back but dry shampoo!"
The first time I said this was on the way to the airport with my family as I was leaving for Africa, and the second time was tonight around the dinner table... exclaiming to my roommates of the amazing benefits of this invention. (**if you don't know, "dry shampoo" is basically an aerosol spray that cleans your hair and works as a shampoo..... A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.) So we decided to come up with a devotional, skit, book.... something... it's in the works.... "What you need to be a Missionary in Africa: #1 Love Jesus. #2 Dry Shampoo." I'm onto something here, just need to figure out how to get the word out.... ;)
I started a Bible Study tonight with some wonderful women here... we're studying Beth Moore's study on Daniel, and I'm very excited for all that lies ahead in it! Tonight's message was on the EXCESS in our culture... I'm so thankful that there are at least a few people speaking out about this b/c I believe we are so blind to the disease of excess in our culture. Especially so in America. My soul feels like it's been letting out a long, continuous sigh of relief since it's been here- finally free from so many of the burdens and bondage that American excess brings with it- and oh, how good it feels! More *things* and more *stuff* and more *indulgence* do NOT make us happy.... and how deceived we are in thinking that it will! I have so much more to learn and so far to go, I know that... but I have to say that I'm thankful God's brought me so far away from the crazy-excess in America to learn it. (Yes, there's excess here too- we as humans find ways to over-indulge anywhere we are- but there just really aren't many, if any, places in the world with SUCH material excess as America...) The antidote to the disease? Psalm 16:8,11- "I have set the Lord continually before me.... YOU fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
One more fun fact on life here:
I bought an avocado yesterday that was literally the size of a bowling ball and that literally filled an entire *large* tupperware/salad bowl with guacamole. Amazing. Everyone says everything is bigger in Texas, but really: Everything is bigger in Africa. (and ok, so unfortunately that includes spiders, cockroaches, and rats....)
Tonight I made this statement for the 2nd time in my life (in all seriousness):
"I could go to Africa with nothing on my back but dry shampoo!"
The first time I said this was on the way to the airport with my family as I was leaving for Africa, and the second time was tonight around the dinner table... exclaiming to my roommates of the amazing benefits of this invention. (**if you don't know, "dry shampoo" is basically an aerosol spray that cleans your hair and works as a shampoo..... A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.) So we decided to come up with a devotional, skit, book.... something... it's in the works.... "What you need to be a Missionary in Africa: #1 Love Jesus. #2 Dry Shampoo." I'm onto something here, just need to figure out how to get the word out.... ;)
I started a Bible Study tonight with some wonderful women here... we're studying Beth Moore's study on Daniel, and I'm very excited for all that lies ahead in it! Tonight's message was on the EXCESS in our culture... I'm so thankful that there are at least a few people speaking out about this b/c I believe we are so blind to the disease of excess in our culture. Especially so in America. My soul feels like it's been letting out a long, continuous sigh of relief since it's been here- finally free from so many of the burdens and bondage that American excess brings with it- and oh, how good it feels! More *things* and more *stuff* and more *indulgence* do NOT make us happy.... and how deceived we are in thinking that it will! I have so much more to learn and so far to go, I know that... but I have to say that I'm thankful God's brought me so far away from the crazy-excess in America to learn it. (Yes, there's excess here too- we as humans find ways to over-indulge anywhere we are- but there just really aren't many, if any, places in the world with SUCH material excess as America...) The antidote to the disease? Psalm 16:8,11- "I have set the Lord continually before me.... YOU fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
One more fun fact on life here:
I bought an avocado yesterday that was literally the size of a bowling ball and that literally filled an entire *large* tupperware/salad bowl with guacamole. Amazing. Everyone says everything is bigger in Texas, but really: Everything is bigger in Africa. (and ok, so unfortunately that includes spiders, cockroaches, and rats....)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Lately...
Some of my 1st Grade students painting :)I don't really have anything specific to blog about but I'll update a little with some random happenings from the past few days....
I went for a run this evening and got several of these 2 most common responses from the local people: "Pole" ("Sorry"; it's literally translated "you poor little thing") and of course "Mzungu!" (basically "Hey, whitey!"). Tanzanians don't typically run for "pleasure" so their most common response when seeing someone jog is to say "Pole" or "Pole Sana" (I'm so very sorry).... as if they are so sorry for the utter pain I'm enduring by running for an extended period. It's quite amusing- and also kind of nice that they're concerned- but it does make me start to question.... "Why again am I running for fun??"
Also, today at school we found out that the school uniform colors will be changing.... from light blue to navy blue.... because the *country* has run out of light blue material. Ha! Only in Africa.
I've been painting with the primary grades in Art class these past couple of weeks, so I've been spreading newspapers out on the tables so that paint doesn't get on them. Yesterday, in 3rd grade, one of the students saw a picture of Jennifer Aniston on the cover of one and was convinced it was me.... the girl who's been helping me with the primary classes said he kept telling his friends "Look! It's the art teacher! It's her!" She said he was totally convinced and kept pointing and showing his friends.... Ha! It's not so bad being in a land with only a few Mzungu's.... I'll take getting mistaken for Jennifer Aniston anytime. :)
Last week, Young Life's Senior Africa Leadership Team (S.A.L.T.) was in town from 8 African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Ethiopia).... It was SUCH a wonderful week... I got to spend time with my beloved friends James Davis from Liberia and Patson and Pierre from Zimbabwe as well as make some new great friends with the others. This team is full of such joy and life that it's contagious.... many laughs were had and praises sung to our God.... in many different languages and with many African instruments. Unforgettable!
Worshiping with the SALT Team
With my friends Kate and Heather :)Sunday, September 5, 2010
Fundraising
Some of you have asked me about donating to my financial support while I'm here. Yes, I do need to raise support to cover my living expenses, and I would love for you to partner with me in my ministry by doing so! :) The school does give me a monthly stipend which goes quite a way to cover my expenses (since the cost of living here is so low), however I do need to raise additional support to cover my remaining expenses. I do not have an exact figure as to what I will need, but from what I've gathered living here this month, it seems like about a few hundred dollars a month will cover it (I'll update as I figure out more specifics the longer I'm here). Monthly expenses consist of groceries/food, transportation, phone, internet, electricity/gas, the guard at our living compound, and additional incidentals. I will also need to pay rent soon for the upcoming 6 months (rent is paid in full for 6 months at a time), which will be $1200 ($200/month). I would love your help in meeting these needs if you feel led to give. A crucial part of my ministry here is the "support system" I have at home, and this consists of your prayers (and friendship and emotional support! :)) as well as the financial means for me to be able to live here and serve the community I am in.
If you feel led to give, you can make tax-deductible donations through Young Life's website at www.younglife.org by going to the tab "Giving". The site will then give you step-by-step directions in order to set up an account and once you have done so, click "Give a Gift". The page will then give you the option to "Give to a Young Life Area Ministry"- click the "Search" button next to it and choose the option "Search by Area Number" and type in Account # "X450". My account will then come up (Steinhoff/Tanzania) and you can give directly to it. (Bank account withdrawals are preferable to credit card donations, as credit card donations will have a credit card fee that is taken out of the donation total.... but credit card donations are very welcome, too, if that is best for you! :)). You can choose the option of making a one-time or recurring (monthly or quarterly) donation.
If you have any questions about the above steps, please feel free to email me at esteinhoff@sbcglobal.net. I truly appreciate your support (in ALL aspects.... I really cannot thank you enough or express enough my need for and gratitude for your prayers, too!). As you support me through your prayers and financial donations, you are enabling me to serve the people of Tanzania in the various roles that God has placed me in here (teacher of future leaders in Africa, role model to youth, Christian witness, soon-to-be volunteer with orphans, soon-to-be developer of small businesses via Young Life's branch of "Karama", etc. etc. etc.!)
Please do not feel obligated to give because God loves a "cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). But if you are "cheerful" at the idea of supporting my ministry :) I would love your partnership and please know that I am committed to using the expenses wisely and with diligence, as I know that it is provision coming directly from the Lord. Also be assured that "It is more blessed to give than it is to receive" (Acts 20:35) and that as you become a part of this ministry, you will experience the blessings and rewards that come with it! (And oh, how I can testify to this truth by how blessed I've already been in giving away the "material comforts" of life in the US in order to "give" of my life here in Africa!)
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support.... again, please let me know if you have any questions at all, and I look forward to partnering with many of you as I move forward on this wonderful journey the Lord has me on! :-)
Love,
Erin
If you feel led to give, you can make tax-deductible donations through Young Life's website at www.younglife.org by going to the tab "Giving". The site will then give you step-by-step directions in order to set up an account and once you have done so, click "Give a Gift". The page will then give you the option to "Give to a Young Life Area Ministry"- click the "Search" button next to it and choose the option "Search by Area Number" and type in Account # "X450". My account will then come up (Steinhoff/Tanzania) and you can give directly to it. (Bank account withdrawals are preferable to credit card donations, as credit card donations will have a credit card fee that is taken out of the donation total.... but credit card donations are very welcome, too, if that is best for you! :)). You can choose the option of making a one-time or recurring (monthly or quarterly) donation.
If you have any questions about the above steps, please feel free to email me at esteinhoff@sbcglobal.net. I truly appreciate your support (in ALL aspects.... I really cannot thank you enough or express enough my need for and gratitude for your prayers, too!). As you support me through your prayers and financial donations, you are enabling me to serve the people of Tanzania in the various roles that God has placed me in here (teacher of future leaders in Africa, role model to youth, Christian witness, soon-to-be volunteer with orphans, soon-to-be developer of small businesses via Young Life's branch of "Karama", etc. etc. etc.!)
Please do not feel obligated to give because God loves a "cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). But if you are "cheerful" at the idea of supporting my ministry :) I would love your partnership and please know that I am committed to using the expenses wisely and with diligence, as I know that it is provision coming directly from the Lord. Also be assured that "It is more blessed to give than it is to receive" (Acts 20:35) and that as you become a part of this ministry, you will experience the blessings and rewards that come with it! (And oh, how I can testify to this truth by how blessed I've already been in giving away the "material comforts" of life in the US in order to "give" of my life here in Africa!)
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support.... again, please let me know if you have any questions at all, and I look forward to partnering with many of you as I move forward on this wonderful journey the Lord has me on! :-)
Love,
Erin
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Timely Words from Jeremiah
In my devotional this morning, I read Jeremiah 29. I've been studying the book of Jeremiah, and this chapter was so amazingly applicable to my life and my time here now. I'm sure most of you are familiar with verse 11: "For I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, plans to give you a future and a hope." This is a wonderful verse and is often used by Christians to encourage and uplift each other (and should be!). But seeing this verse in context gives it so much more meaning and makes it that much more powerful.
The Israelites have been rebelling against the Lord for generation upon generation. He had brought them to His promised land and blessed them incredibly there; yet when they got to this place of blessing, they turned completely from Him. Yes, they would still go to the temple on Sabbath days and perform the rituals and "acts" that were a part of their Judaism, but their hearts were far, far from Him. They worshiped other gods, participated in horrible and evil acts (including child sacrifice, Jer. 7:31), and were completely defying and ignoring the Lord. He sent prophet after prophet- for generation upon generation- to plead with them to turn back. That if they turned back in their HEARTS (which would therefore change their actions), He would bless them and forgive their sins. For years upon years, they ignored these prophets and continued in their ways.
God therefore knows that "tough love" is now necessary- the only way to reach them now is to treat them with discipline in order to get their attention and thus ultimately turn their hearts back to Him. (Oh, how patient He is! How many chances He had given them until He resorted to this!) His method of discipline is to take Judah and its people into captivity by Babylon, through Nebuchadnezzar. He sends Jeremiah to tell the Israelites (and surrounding nations) to submit to the captivity of Babylon- that their only hope for future blessing and restoration is to submit now so that they can be restored later. (And all the while false prophets abound, telling them the opposite- telling them "words they want to hear", which are not from the Lord.... thus reminding of us the importance in discerning the lessons we hear from our preachers and teachers). If they submit to Babylon, they will keep their lands and the Lord will bring them back and restore them and bless them there (after 70 years- one more of the thousands of amazing prophesies that have been fulfilled in the Bible). In the meantime, though, these are His words to them while they are in Babylon:
"Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." (Jer. 29:7)
This verse is so powerful to me now, and I hope that it can speak to you as well. The Lord has not sent me to Tanzania as a form of exile, but He HAS sent me to Tanzania. And I can thus know that if He has sent me here, He wants me to pray for and seek the GOOD of this land. And He wants the same of you.... where has He brought you? Whether it's Dallas, LA, Uganda, London..... God has brought you there "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). He has purpose in His plans and wants you to pray for and seek the good of that place. (But don't forget to pray for Africa and Tanzania, too! :))
After He tells the people to seek the welfare of Babylon while they are there, the Lord gives His promise that He will return the people to their homeland. Why?
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jer. 29:11)
Though their time in exile will be very hard, His plan for them is still GOOD. He still desires to give them a FUTURE and a HOPE. (Again, how lovingly patient and merciful He is!) He immediately follows verse 11 up with this:
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you... I will restore your fortunes... and I will bring you back." (Jer. 29:12-14)
When will they "find" Him and have their blessings restored? When they seek Him with ALL THEIR HEART. Will His purpose of bringing their hearts back to Him- after all those years of rebellion- have been fulfilled? Yes. Was His method of using discipline (like any loving father does) worth it? Yes, I would say that it definitely was.
Where has God called you? Is He perhaps even calling you to go to another foreign or strange land? Or is He maybe taking you through a period of discipline right now because you have been ignoring Him and He wants your full heart back? What does He speak to you through this chapter?
I will continue to seek the good of this land where He has sent me.... to pray for my fellow Tanzanians and to seek their welfare by serving them and their children. Thank you, Lord, for the honor and the privilege of sending me to such a wonderful country and such a wonderful people. Help me to be a blessing to them. (and please help me learn Swahili, too!) :)
The Israelites have been rebelling against the Lord for generation upon generation. He had brought them to His promised land and blessed them incredibly there; yet when they got to this place of blessing, they turned completely from Him. Yes, they would still go to the temple on Sabbath days and perform the rituals and "acts" that were a part of their Judaism, but their hearts were far, far from Him. They worshiped other gods, participated in horrible and evil acts (including child sacrifice, Jer. 7:31), and were completely defying and ignoring the Lord. He sent prophet after prophet- for generation upon generation- to plead with them to turn back. That if they turned back in their HEARTS (which would therefore change their actions), He would bless them and forgive their sins. For years upon years, they ignored these prophets and continued in their ways.
God therefore knows that "tough love" is now necessary- the only way to reach them now is to treat them with discipline in order to get their attention and thus ultimately turn their hearts back to Him. (Oh, how patient He is! How many chances He had given them until He resorted to this!) His method of discipline is to take Judah and its people into captivity by Babylon, through Nebuchadnezzar. He sends Jeremiah to tell the Israelites (and surrounding nations) to submit to the captivity of Babylon- that their only hope for future blessing and restoration is to submit now so that they can be restored later. (And all the while false prophets abound, telling them the opposite- telling them "words they want to hear", which are not from the Lord.... thus reminding of us the importance in discerning the lessons we hear from our preachers and teachers). If they submit to Babylon, they will keep their lands and the Lord will bring them back and restore them and bless them there (after 70 years- one more of the thousands of amazing prophesies that have been fulfilled in the Bible). In the meantime, though, these are His words to them while they are in Babylon:
"Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." (Jer. 29:7)
This verse is so powerful to me now, and I hope that it can speak to you as well. The Lord has not sent me to Tanzania as a form of exile, but He HAS sent me to Tanzania. And I can thus know that if He has sent me here, He wants me to pray for and seek the GOOD of this land. And He wants the same of you.... where has He brought you? Whether it's Dallas, LA, Uganda, London..... God has brought you there "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). He has purpose in His plans and wants you to pray for and seek the good of that place. (But don't forget to pray for Africa and Tanzania, too! :))
After He tells the people to seek the welfare of Babylon while they are there, the Lord gives His promise that He will return the people to their homeland. Why?
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jer. 29:11)
Though their time in exile will be very hard, His plan for them is still GOOD. He still desires to give them a FUTURE and a HOPE. (Again, how lovingly patient and merciful He is!) He immediately follows verse 11 up with this:
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you... I will restore your fortunes... and I will bring you back." (Jer. 29:12-14)
When will they "find" Him and have their blessings restored? When they seek Him with ALL THEIR HEART. Will His purpose of bringing their hearts back to Him- after all those years of rebellion- have been fulfilled? Yes. Was His method of using discipline (like any loving father does) worth it? Yes, I would say that it definitely was.
Where has God called you? Is He perhaps even calling you to go to another foreign or strange land? Or is He maybe taking you through a period of discipline right now because you have been ignoring Him and He wants your full heart back? What does He speak to you through this chapter?
I will continue to seek the good of this land where He has sent me.... to pray for my fellow Tanzanians and to seek their welfare by serving them and their children. Thank you, Lord, for the honor and the privilege of sending me to such a wonderful country and such a wonderful people. Help me to be a blessing to them. (and please help me learn Swahili, too!) :)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
"Tanzanian Kids Say the Darndest Things"
I have to post this link.... instead of me writing about life in Tanzania today, please read it from someone else who did. This is HILARIOUS .... and so much funnier to me even because this is EXACTLY what happens (i.e. same mistaken pronouns) in Dar es Salaam, while the writer of this blog lives on the total other side of the country (like 20 hrs. of driving from here). This blog is a guy's who is a friend of some of my friends out here.... his blog is awesome and I'd actually randomly come across it last year in reading Africa stuff.... crazy small world.
Anyway, read this excerpt about what Tanzanian kids say to get a glimpse of my daily life here :)
http://jamesbrett.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/tanzanian-kids-say-the-darndest-things/
Anyway, read this excerpt about what Tanzanian kids say to get a glimpse of my daily life here :)
http://jamesbrett.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/tanzanian-kids-say-the-darndest-things/
Join the Journey Devotional
My church (Fellowship Dallas.... the one at Park Ln. and Central... best church in Dallas- you Dallasites need to check it out! :) www.fellowshipdallas.org) has a daily devotional series that you can sign up for and receive daily emails from. Members of the church write the devotionals, and each year they go through the Bible (or a specific part of it, like the New Testament). Anyway, today's devo. was written by me... so check it out! And sign up to receive the daily emails! :)
Here's the link:
http://fbcd.jointhejourney.com/log/62967
Here's the link:
http://fbcd.jointhejourney.com/log/62967
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Home
My first week in Tanzania was actually harder and full of a lot more transitions than I imagined it would be (I think I wasn't really expecting that since I'd already been in Africa and away from home for a month).... the new food was constantly upsetting my stomach, the heat was making me dehydrated/keeping me from sleeping at night/giving me constant headaches, the traffic outside my window was so loud (ugh, and still is! :)) that I could never seem to find rest, I was lonely in a new place where no one really "knew" me, I didn't even know the language of the people.... the new EVERYTHING just hit me and I started having all sorts of "Why did God have to call me to Africa where everything is so HARD?!" thoughts and "I miss my friends and family and dog! I belong in Dallas where I can watch the Cowboys and get Mexican food whenever I want it!" feelings. As I was trying to adjust to everything in my life being new, I needed- was craving, was yearning for- something familiar, something that wasn't foreign to me, something that didn't make me feel like a total fish out of water in a totally foreign and unknown land. I knew that God had called me here- and that He had just said "Go" (i.e. for an unknown/indefinite time period)- but in that first week as I was having such difficulty adjusting I couldn't help but question Him and wonder why He would bring me here to such a hard place when my life had been really pretty good in Dallas.
I cried out to Him, even whined. I wanted Him to come through "on His end" since I felt like I'd done my part in coming. :) .... And then He showed up. Of course. He had allowed me to need- to desire desperately, to cry out to Him- so that He could answer me.
That Sunday (day 8 in TZ for me) I went to church service (an international church) with my new Young Life friends here, and the moment we walked in and started singing songs of praise- people from Africa, America, England, from all over the world- praising Him together.... the Holy Spirit filled that place and filled my soul to the brim....! To overflowing! And I was HOME. The Lord reminded me that He is the Lord of ALL tribes, tongues, people, and nations (Rev. 5:9)..... He is the same yesterday, today, and FOREVER (Hebrews 13:8). While anything and everything can separate us from each other on this earth- and we can feel like total strangers and foreigners in unknown (or even familiar) places- His Holy Spirit never changes.... it unites people of all races, nations, and tongues.... and it brings us to HIM- right where we are- wherever we are.... and gives us a glimpse of Heaven on earth while we await our perfect future with Him forever.
One of the most profound experiences in my spiritual life was in college on a mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico. Witnessing the people and children there worship MY same God with the same love and passion (and so much more!) and in the same Spirit and truth as I did..... I knew that only the Holy Spirit of God could bring together people of such different backgrounds, cultures, and locations to worship Him in unity. No teaching, no traditions, no human "examples" can do this.... only the Spirit of God can bring together people of all tribes and nations to WORSHIP together. To worship with joy and life. To worship with passion and praise.
This same lesson that I learned in Mexico is what also brought me to a place where I can now be at Home in Tanzania. I've adjusted to a lot of the crazy ways of life here (like geckos on the wall and grocery shopping being an all-day scavenger hunt) but it was this moment in church- where His Spirit brought me together with the people in this country (and from all over the world)- that He reminded me that Home is where HE is- where His SPIRIT is- and where He has called me. When I am abiding in Him, He fills my cup to overflowing- in any country and in any circumstance. And He will never leave me or forsake me (Joshua 1:5). His Spirit lives in me (1 Cor. 6:19) and when I am abiding in Him, I never feel more at HOME.
p.s. Thank you for your prayers!! Day 1 and Week 1 at school have been wonderful!! The children are just wonderful, and I am so looking forward to the year ahead in which I can focus on art with them and be a witness of Christ to them! Thank you also for your prayers re: adjusting to the heat.... b/c oh my gosh, the heat is NOTHING to me now! Ha! It's so much hotter in Texas right now than it is in Tanzania and this TZ heat feels like nothing now.... I think the problem was just that I had come from "real" (as opposed to Tanzania's) winter in South Africa and Zimbabwe (where it really is cold!) so my body was used to cold for so long that the sudden heat shocked it and was hard to get used to at first. I'm still not really looking forward to "summer" here, but I know I'll be able to handle it b/c I'm used to Texas summers! And I've been adjusting to all those other crazy things I mentioned up above, too.... :) (and loving it! I love my Africa, just makes for some difficulties in transition when I came from the most opposite place in the WORLD- Dallas, TX) :) So, thank you again for your prayers!!
I cried out to Him, even whined. I wanted Him to come through "on His end" since I felt like I'd done my part in coming. :) .... And then He showed up. Of course. He had allowed me to need- to desire desperately, to cry out to Him- so that He could answer me.
That Sunday (day 8 in TZ for me) I went to church service (an international church) with my new Young Life friends here, and the moment we walked in and started singing songs of praise- people from Africa, America, England, from all over the world- praising Him together.... the Holy Spirit filled that place and filled my soul to the brim....! To overflowing! And I was HOME. The Lord reminded me that He is the Lord of ALL tribes, tongues, people, and nations (Rev. 5:9)..... He is the same yesterday, today, and FOREVER (Hebrews 13:8). While anything and everything can separate us from each other on this earth- and we can feel like total strangers and foreigners in unknown (or even familiar) places- His Holy Spirit never changes.... it unites people of all races, nations, and tongues.... and it brings us to HIM- right where we are- wherever we are.... and gives us a glimpse of Heaven on earth while we await our perfect future with Him forever.
One of the most profound experiences in my spiritual life was in college on a mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico. Witnessing the people and children there worship MY same God with the same love and passion (and so much more!) and in the same Spirit and truth as I did..... I knew that only the Holy Spirit of God could bring together people of such different backgrounds, cultures, and locations to worship Him in unity. No teaching, no traditions, no human "examples" can do this.... only the Spirit of God can bring together people of all tribes and nations to WORSHIP together. To worship with joy and life. To worship with passion and praise.
This same lesson that I learned in Mexico is what also brought me to a place where I can now be at Home in Tanzania. I've adjusted to a lot of the crazy ways of life here (like geckos on the wall and grocery shopping being an all-day scavenger hunt) but it was this moment in church- where His Spirit brought me together with the people in this country (and from all over the world)- that He reminded me that Home is where HE is- where His SPIRIT is- and where He has called me. When I am abiding in Him, He fills my cup to overflowing- in any country and in any circumstance. And He will never leave me or forsake me (Joshua 1:5). His Spirit lives in me (1 Cor. 6:19) and when I am abiding in Him, I never feel more at HOME.
p.s. Thank you for your prayers!! Day 1 and Week 1 at school have been wonderful!! The children are just wonderful, and I am so looking forward to the year ahead in which I can focus on art with them and be a witness of Christ to them! Thank you also for your prayers re: adjusting to the heat.... b/c oh my gosh, the heat is NOTHING to me now! Ha! It's so much hotter in Texas right now than it is in Tanzania and this TZ heat feels like nothing now.... I think the problem was just that I had come from "real" (as opposed to Tanzania's) winter in South Africa and Zimbabwe (where it really is cold!) so my body was used to cold for so long that the sudden heat shocked it and was hard to get used to at first. I'm still not really looking forward to "summer" here, but I know I'll be able to handle it b/c I'm used to Texas summers! And I've been adjusting to all those other crazy things I mentioned up above, too.... :) (and loving it! I love my Africa, just makes for some difficulties in transition when I came from the most opposite place in the WORLD- Dallas, TX) :) So, thank you again for your prayers!!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
School starts tomorrow!
School starts tomorrow, and I would love your prayers for this first day and first week of classes! I am starting out teaching 6th-12th grades and will hopefully be adding in the primary grades within a few weeks (it's a full load!). I would love your prayers for preparation, organization, my relationships with my students, my teaching skills, and the first week "first impressions" that are so crucial to the entire year. I feel prepared in some ways for the week yet also not really capable of feeling totally prepared until I actually meet my students and get a feel for how the year will be. I'm really looking forward to all of the opportunities, relationships, and experiences that await me and am very grateful for your prayers that can truly make this year a "success". Most importantly, I desire for my students to see Christ in me and that my life would serve as a witness to them in very real and lasting ways (and that they would see that God is and desires to be a part of EVERY aspect of our lives- including art!).
I was thinking recently about all of the "new" things in my life right now.... New culture, new language, new lifestyle (totally new way of life!), new city, new friends, new food.... and a new JOB on top of that makes for a LOT of transitions and of lot of things to be processing at all times. I pray that these transitions would not keep me from being the best teacher that I can be (through Christ's strength!) and would love your prayers for that as well!
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Cor. 12:9-10
I was thinking recently about all of the "new" things in my life right now.... New culture, new language, new lifestyle (totally new way of life!), new city, new friends, new food.... and a new JOB on top of that makes for a LOT of transitions and of lot of things to be processing at all times. I pray that these transitions would not keep me from being the best teacher that I can be (through Christ's strength!) and would love your prayers for that as well!
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Cor. 12:9-10
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Life here so far...
Ok, I'm finally going to try to update here... everything's been such a whirlwind with the transition and learning the city, etc. that it's hard to sit down and process/write about it all. This week I've been staying with some other Young Life people (a couple that also just moved here- Ben & Mary, and a couple that's been living here this year but is about to move back- Amy & Austin)... We've been staying at the Larmey's house (Steve, the YL Africa VP, & Dyan- they're out of town now, getting back next week), and Amy & Austin have been giving us a great orientation of the city and life here.
They've shown us where to shop for certain items.... A lot of daily items are purchased at the "dukas"- the little African markets/shop stalls that carry food, produce, toiletries, hardware, etc. There are a few bigger, more "normal" grocery stores and convenience stores where harder-to-find items are bought (i.e. cheese, cereal- which is about $10 a box!, specific toiletries, etc.). So they've been showing us the ins-and-outs of the city and where to go for what, which is super helpful!
Most transportation here consists of bicycle taxis (there's a seat on the back of the bike above the back wheel for the passenger), Bajaj's (a three-wheeled little covered car/buggy with a motorcycle engine- got to ride in one the other day!), and dala-dala's (buses/taxis- basically they're mini-vans crammed to capacity with people). We've been in a car this week but those will be my main forms of transportation for the year (though one of my roommates has a car- wahoo!)
AND.... yesterday I got to visit my school for the first time and see my house (and meet 2 of my 3 roommates).... my favorite part yet!! The school is absolutely wonderful- it's called Haven of Peace Academy and it is literally a haven! The school has a brand new admin building which is really nice (probably one of the nicest buildings in the country, seriously!) and the campus is just beautiful and peaceful and secluded.... it will be a great "haven" during the day away from the craziness of the rest of the city (not that they won't be crazy days with 300 students, though, of course ;)).
And my house is wonderful!! I have my own room and bathroom and the house has a roof deck that has a view of the Indian Ocean... amazing! We're moving in tomorrow and I can't WAIT to get settled in and unpack everything and finally make it HOME! Exciting new mini-design project for me. :)
Other than that, it's just typical Africa. People are in the streets everywhere at all times.... everyone is very friendly, though it's hard not being able to communicate with most people b/c of my *super* limited Swahili... goats and cows walk around in the streets with seemingly no owners (though they do always belong to someone)... dirt roads everywhere outside of the major city streets... and very humid with lots of mosquitoes.
The hardest thing so far is the humidity and the sun- it's "winter" here now but it's in the mid-to-high 80's with *crazy* humidity which makes it feel in the 90's. I'm used to the heat from Texas and am totally okay with it (I even like it some)... but I'm a little apprehensive as to how it will be when it's "summer" here and supposedly a lot hotter! Without A/C (I'll have it in my home during the summer but I think that's about it) it definitely takes its toll on you. Every day at midday I've taken a nap b/c the sun just drains the energy out of you, making you super tired! I'd love your prayers for adjustment to living in the heat with basically no A/C all day every day and also for continual transition time here and that the Lord forms solid, great relationships with my new friends here. I love it and am definitely here for a while- God called me here so this is my new home :) (and He didn't just call me here for a year, to clear up any confusion for those who still think this is just a "year-long adventure" for me) :-)
Thank y'all and I'll try to post some more exciting stories soon! :)
They've shown us where to shop for certain items.... A lot of daily items are purchased at the "dukas"- the little African markets/shop stalls that carry food, produce, toiletries, hardware, etc. There are a few bigger, more "normal" grocery stores and convenience stores where harder-to-find items are bought (i.e. cheese, cereal- which is about $10 a box!, specific toiletries, etc.). So they've been showing us the ins-and-outs of the city and where to go for what, which is super helpful!
Most transportation here consists of bicycle taxis (there's a seat on the back of the bike above the back wheel for the passenger), Bajaj's (a three-wheeled little covered car/buggy with a motorcycle engine- got to ride in one the other day!), and dala-dala's (buses/taxis- basically they're mini-vans crammed to capacity with people). We've been in a car this week but those will be my main forms of transportation for the year (though one of my roommates has a car- wahoo!)
AND.... yesterday I got to visit my school for the first time and see my house (and meet 2 of my 3 roommates).... my favorite part yet!! The school is absolutely wonderful- it's called Haven of Peace Academy and it is literally a haven! The school has a brand new admin building which is really nice (probably one of the nicest buildings in the country, seriously!) and the campus is just beautiful and peaceful and secluded.... it will be a great "haven" during the day away from the craziness of the rest of the city (not that they won't be crazy days with 300 students, though, of course ;)).
And my house is wonderful!! I have my own room and bathroom and the house has a roof deck that has a view of the Indian Ocean... amazing! We're moving in tomorrow and I can't WAIT to get settled in and unpack everything and finally make it HOME! Exciting new mini-design project for me. :)
Other than that, it's just typical Africa. People are in the streets everywhere at all times.... everyone is very friendly, though it's hard not being able to communicate with most people b/c of my *super* limited Swahili... goats and cows walk around in the streets with seemingly no owners (though they do always belong to someone)... dirt roads everywhere outside of the major city streets... and very humid with lots of mosquitoes.
The hardest thing so far is the humidity and the sun- it's "winter" here now but it's in the mid-to-high 80's with *crazy* humidity which makes it feel in the 90's. I'm used to the heat from Texas and am totally okay with it (I even like it some)... but I'm a little apprehensive as to how it will be when it's "summer" here and supposedly a lot hotter! Without A/C (I'll have it in my home during the summer but I think that's about it) it definitely takes its toll on you. Every day at midday I've taken a nap b/c the sun just drains the energy out of you, making you super tired! I'd love your prayers for adjustment to living in the heat with basically no A/C all day every day and also for continual transition time here and that the Lord forms solid, great relationships with my new friends here. I love it and am definitely here for a while- God called me here so this is my new home :) (and He didn't just call me here for a year, to clear up any confusion for those who still think this is just a "year-long adventure" for me) :-)
Thank y'all and I'll try to post some more exciting stories soon! :)
Monday, August 9, 2010
In Tanzania!
I'm here!! And loving it! I'm pretty tired after a long day- ready for bed, so just going to give some words now to give a picture of my life & experiences here so far .... (sorry for the repeats from Facebook!)
-Making lots of wonderful new friends
-Delicious Tanzanian dinner tonight with ugali, rice, beans, & cabbage
-African market shopping experiences today (wooden stalls & bargaining)
-Only able to speak about 10 words of Swahili (got lots to work on here...)
-A long run down a "street that has no name" (literally.... and it's a major road here too, ha!)
-Hot, humid, & mosquitoes!
-Overlooking the gorgeous Indian Ocean
-People & kids everywhere in the streets all over the city
-And... my favorite- HUGE smiles on kids in the street that just about kill me!! (No language barrier for that one) Words can't express....!
Feeling more and more at home with every experience. I love it. More updates to come soon!
-Making lots of wonderful new friends
-Delicious Tanzanian dinner tonight with ugali, rice, beans, & cabbage
-African market shopping experiences today (wooden stalls & bargaining)
-Only able to speak about 10 words of Swahili (got lots to work on here...)
-A long run down a "street that has no name" (literally.... and it's a major road here too, ha!)
-Hot, humid, & mosquitoes!
-Overlooking the gorgeous Indian Ocean
-People & kids everywhere in the streets all over the city
-And... my favorite- HUGE smiles on kids in the street that just about kill me!! (No language barrier for that one) Words can't express....!
Feeling more and more at home with every experience. I love it. More updates to come soon!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Tomorrow is the day!
So, tomorrow is the day I finally move to Tanzania! I'm leaving in the morning at 7:00am for the airport.... I'm excited, a little nervous, and definitely anxious to meet my new home and life! I'd love your prayers in this transitional time.... don't have any specific requests, just whatever's on your heart- I'll take it! :) Thank you, thank you!! Once I get settled over there, I'll update here with specifics about my new life there. :) And I'll share some stories from these past few weeks.
Love to all.... I'm very excited for this next step in the journey the Lord has me on and cannot wait to see where He takes it from here! :-)
Love to all.... I'm very excited for this next step in the journey the Lord has me on and cannot wait to see where He takes it from here! :-)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
In South Africa
Hey, everyone! Just a quick update to tell what I'm up to.... These couple of weeks are 'vacation' weeks for me (which is great!) until I head up to Tanzania on Sunday, August 8th (and I cannot wait to get there!!). I've been staying with my brother in Johannesburg since getting back from Zimbabwe last week, and my mom just flew out here on Saturday. The 3 of us went on safari on Sunday and came back yesterday (Tuesday)- we did 4 game drives and saw lots of animals, it was really cool! Hippos, Rhinos, Lions, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Impalas..... I'll tell a couple stories later but the coolest (and scariest!) was following a huge male lion for about 30 minutes within about 10 feet of it (and at times much closer) in our open-air vehicle. Supposedly it's totally safe and the lions don't care about the safari trucks but after several minutes it sure seemed like we were pushing our luck and that it might get annoyed by us! Luckily that never happened. :)
My mom and I are going to Capetown today for a week (Wed. to Wed.) and my brother's going to join us for the weekend. I'll try to update with more details and some pics soon. Johannesburg is cool- it's pretty much just a big city- has lots of good restaurants and shopping (and is very developed, doesn't feel very much like Africa!).... it's a great place to be but not really a tourist destination. I went to the Apartheid museum last week (which was good, very educational) and also on a tour of the township Soweto- townships are areas of town (with very, very intense poverty- like 'slums') where the black people were forcibly removed during apartheid (apartheid is segregation, to Americans who don't know the term). Soweto has the really bad slums but also some nicer parts and Nelson Mandela lived here (got to see his house), on the same block as Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who still lives there and got to see his house, too).
I'll try and post some pics soon and tell a little more about some of these things. Thanks again so much for your prayers!! I'm loving being in South Africa but am really anxious to get up to Tanzania, too! Can't wait to start my job and my life there.... :)
My mom and I are going to Capetown today for a week (Wed. to Wed.) and my brother's going to join us for the weekend. I'll try to update with more details and some pics soon. Johannesburg is cool- it's pretty much just a big city- has lots of good restaurants and shopping (and is very developed, doesn't feel very much like Africa!).... it's a great place to be but not really a tourist destination. I went to the Apartheid museum last week (which was good, very educational) and also on a tour of the township Soweto- townships are areas of town (with very, very intense poverty- like 'slums') where the black people were forcibly removed during apartheid (apartheid is segregation, to Americans who don't know the term). Soweto has the really bad slums but also some nicer parts and Nelson Mandela lived here (got to see his house), on the same block as Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who still lives there and got to see his house, too).
I'll try and post some pics soon and tell a little more about some of these things. Thanks again so much for your prayers!! I'm loving being in South Africa but am really anxious to get up to Tanzania, too! Can't wait to start my job and my life there.... :)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Pictures from Zimbabwe
Some pics that show some of our time in Zim (text describing the trip is in previous post).....
School kids that put on a performance for us
Some orphans at one of the feedings
Beautiful Zimbabwe
I got to go horseback riding one day... Those rock formations in the background are everywhere throughout the land...
Our daily drives through the land- felt like we were on a safari each time
Orphans happily leaving a feeding with balloons and blankets the Atlanta group brought for them
An orphan feeding
Orphans playing with balloons we brought (they LOVED them- had never seen balloons before)
Inside an elementary classroom
Beautiful school kids
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