Kurasini Orphanage

I spent the day with my friend Jen at Kurasini Orphanage, the orphanage on the other side of the city that I try to go to periodically.  Instead of just going to play with the kids like we normally do, we decided to start teaching the kids some lessons that will serve their greatest needs (while still loving on them and playing with them of course).  We decided to start doing some basic health lessons with the kids as well as some Bible lessons.  Today, we taught them the importance of washing their hands (and bathing) and demonstrated how to do so (and left some bars of soap at the orphanage for them).

Jen and one of our eager examples, Baraka, washing his hands :)

We also did a small lesson on why we celebrate Christmas, what its real meaning is.  We talked about how God used a star to point the Magi to Jesus and how He uses many methods still to tell us about His son Jesus.  We had them draw and decorate a star as a reminder that God wants us to know Him.

 Yesu ni Mungu = Jesus is Lord

SUCH a simple lesson, and they so loved every second of it.  These kids just can't get enough love and attention from us while we are there.... they are literally starved for it.  Please keep these precious kids in your prayers.  And pray for the other 147 million orphans around the world.  (Yes, 147 million.)  "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." James 1:27

Press Conference with the Presidents!

Last week I had the *awesome* privilege of going to a press conference here in Dar for President Bush and TZ president Kikwete.  The event was for World AIDS Day, put on by the ONE campaign, and Obama and Bono did a simultaneous press conference in DC.  A "friend of a friend of mine" was in town, working for the conference, and emailed me at the last minute saying he could get me a seat reserved for it (and my schedule was all of a sudden clear....) so I got to go! :)

Here's a pic during the event...

Each president spoke for about 5 minutes, speaking of their previous work and future goals to work to end the spread of AIDS .... the goal set by the ONE campaign is to have an AIDS-free generation starting by 2015 (which can be done.... check out the ONE website, www.ONE.org).  Bush has done a lot for the fight against AIDS in Africa (as have the women in his family done a lot in Africa... and are continuing to...), and he ended his speech by quoting "To whom much is given, much is required", referring to America's responsibility to act to end the suffering of so many here.  I could not agree more.

After the conference everyone rushed down to where the presidents were leaving... Bush and his family (all of whom were there- Laura, Jenna & husband, Barbara) had already been driven away but Kikwete was leaving as I got down there.  He was shaking hands with a few people (all important heads-of-departments, like the head of the Peace Corps, head of USAID, head of the Clinton Health Fund, etc etc) and he actually spotted me (taking this picture below, haha) about 5-10 feet away from him and came over toward me to shake my hand (assuming, I'm sure, that I'm some important head of a department... haha).  Was pretty cool.... :)

President Kikwete

Praying for the end of the destructive effects of HIV/AIDS ....

Mabinti: Rebuilding Lives for Women with Fistula

I just added a blog post to our Karama blog, so go there to read about the day Dyan and I spent yesterday with some of the artisans at Mabinti.  Mabinti is one of our partner artisan groups that produces some of the beautiful products we sell at Karama.... Mabinti works with women recovering from the debilitating condition fistula. Go read Jane and Rose's stories and learn some more about fistula.  {and how Jane will soon be on CNN or BBC!}

www.karamagifts.com/blog

Happiness, one of the artisans at Mabinti :-)

Ending Extreme Poverty

Please watch this video and let yourself be challenged.

We CAN end extreme poverty.

Looking at the past.... What previous generations thought was impossible has been done.  Look at the slave trade/womens rights/civil rights in America.

We are more globally connected to the rest of the world than we have ever been before and really have no excuse not to do what we can to end extreme poverty.  It CAN be done.

Please watch... Be encouraged.... Be challenged.... And help ACT to make this possible.

Ending Extreme Poverty

Karama!

As I've started back up here with my new role, I wanted to share some of the excitement and vision for this coming year.  As most of you know, I am back in Tanzania working full-time on staff with the (incredible!) organization Karama.  Over the course of the past year here teaching (which was wonderful in so many ways and definitely the role God called me to here last year), God led me to Karama and to a more long-term role with them. He is graciously using the gifts, visions, and desires He has placed within me to help assist the lives of many here.... the beautiful yet marginalized individuals on this continent.... and I couldn't be more honored for this privilege and the position He has given me.

Karama was started about 4-5 years ago to support marginalized individuals in Africa by giving them sustainable work, with fair wages, which in turn gives them lasting DIGNITY.  We do this by purchasing *beautiful* hand-crafted products from them {jewelry/scarves/bags/home goods} and selling them in the States.  Many of the artisans we support are disabled or HIV+, and the others are otherwise marginalized in society and would likely be reduced to a life of poverty and begging if it weren't for the provision provided by the employment we help give them.  We partner with many other established organizations (other non-profits who work with local marginalized people to give them sustainable work)- by purchasing & selling products from them (and in turn increasing the impact they are making in the lives of these artisans)- as well as supporting other disadvantaged artisans we have developed relationships with (by selling their beautiful items and training them in their skills in the process so that they are set up for more long-term success and sustainable employment).  There is MUCH that we do- too much to contain in one small blog post- so please check out our website for more on what we do and more on the artisans that we support (and to see some of the beautiful products that we carry) :-)  www.karamagifts.com  Proceeds from our sales also go to Young Life Africa's ministries to send kids in Africa to camp (where they have the best week of their lives!), to grow Young Life's ministry here and the eternal impact that they are making on this continent.

I am actually the first person to be on staff with Karama (and still cannot believe the honor & privilege God has entrusted me with through this role!), as it has been all volunteer-led up until this point.  Dyan Larmey (the founder) started Karama as a small vision and dream ("on the side" of her many other roles & callings here) to support disadvantaged Africans, and over the past few years it has grown to the point where it is now, where we need actual *staff* to keep running and growing things! (cue in *me*)

My year will consist of a lot of designing, relationship-building, encouraging, exhorting, loving, planning, organizing, ordering, working long days & long nights, traveling, dreaming, and following. (Following the Holy Spirit as He leads us where He intends for us to go).  I will be helping to design new products which will be marketable in the States, helping to then market those products in the states, helping to organize and run our systems so that we can function efficiently and then have much room to GROW, helping to develop our relationships further with the artisans we support, and acting as a voice to people in the West to "defend the cause of the poor and needy" (Jer. 22:16.... a verse God just keeps bringing me back to....).  There is SO much opportunity and potential ahead of me and all of us associated with Karama.... to GROW and GROW....  and to thus grow the impact we are making in the lives of the disadvantaged here.  I deeply covet your prayers as I move forward and go where God is calling me to go (and all of us at Karama).  I truly could not do this work without the prayers of others!  (please never underestimate the *huge* and *eternal* impact prayer makes!!)

Some of the beautiful women we support.... These women make our paper bead necklaces in Uganda (beads which are each hand-made by individually rolling recycled scraps of paper.... turning otherwise discarded pieces into something of value & beauty.... one of our favorite purposes at Karama :-))

 

The Karama Mamas :)

(on a trip here to Tanzania from the States last year)

Dyan Larmey (Founder) is on the right and Jill Morley (soon to be Executive Director) is in the pink.

Each of the other ladies (Heather, Jane, Susan, Kim) is hugely important to Karama and helps make it what it is (by investing *huge* hours on a volunteer basis!)

SO thankful for these incredible women and SO humbled to be part of what God is doing through Karama!

********

Stay tuned for more stories about Karama and the beautiful people we support.

And check out our Karama Blog in the meantime! http://www.karamagifts.com/blog/

Pics!

Haven't posted any pics in a while so here's a little pictorial update.... :)

 (and internet is MUCH better this year so I'll be able to post more often and more pics....!!)

my hands-down favorite part of Tanzania: children smiling, waving, running in the streets everywhere..... Nothing in the world beats it.

Reuniting with my Bajaj driver friends here was pretty awesome.... The Bajaj world and its drivers: def. one of my fave aspects of life in Dar :)  Love these guys
[this pic was taken at the end of last year, after Laura and I had distributed some devotionals in Swahili to ones we'd made friends with]

{**special shout-out to the other blonde in Africa**}

[Laura isn't here this year :( she's making a difference in the lives of kids who majorly need her in Orange County]

 LG, I miss you like craaaaaaazy!!  Life in TZ is not the same without you!!! 

LOVE YOU!!

Just selling some fully furnished fish tanks....

 transportation in Dar

the new dog in my life, Fluffy :) he's the pet of the new (wonderful!) family that I'm living with here, the Lotterings.... I love this dog!!

 

Dyan Larmey & Me... Words cannot express how much I love this woman and how thankful I am for her!!  Excited to help change the world and the reality of many Africans with her through our work with Karama!

 I was blessed to be able to go camping on the outskirts of Selous Game Reserve this past week with the Larmeys & Lotterings.... a wonderful re-introduction back to life in Africa and a great opportunity to pray, reflect, plan, and vision-cast for this coming year.  

Saw hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes... and lots of the glory of God through His incredible creation.  What an Awesome God.

Listening

As I am back and trying to transition back from life in Dallas to life in Tanzania (too many extreme contrasts to even try to list!), God has been sweetly speaking to me and reminding me of many truths.  Truths which are often easier to grasp here- easier to see and to believe... probably because they often feel so much more necessary to cling to here. 


"We must go through many HARDSHIPS to enter the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22


Paul and Barnabas spoke these words to the churches in Galatia after being persecuted and abused there.  Paul was stoned and drug out of the city, presumed to be dead.  This passage in Acts describes them as being "filled with JOY and the Holy Spirit" (Acts 13:52).  It wasn't in living for themselves or in protecting themselves that they found joy or the filling of the Spirit; it was in enduring hardship and pouring out their lives for the sake of Christ.  THAT is when they were filled with joy and the Spirit. 

As I transition back to my life here in Tanzania, I am once again confronted with all that I must give up and deny in order to fulfill the calling that is on my life here.  Honestly, some of what feels 'hardest' for me to give up right now is hard to admit.  One of the biggest things?  Having pretty, straight, manageable hair.  (ugh, this humidity!!)  I'm sure that sounds petty- and believe me there are many more hardships here that would sound a lot more "honorable" (the incessant & uncomfortable heat, the power outages, running out of water, missing my friends and family....), but right now this is frankly one of the hardest things for me to let go of.  But it's one of the things that I must.  When we follow Him, we must be willing to let go of ANYthing and everything to follow Him.  Big or small... honorable or petty... nothing is worth holding onto when it comes in the way of following Him.


"If anyone would come after me, he must DENY himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." Mark 8:34-35

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much..."  Matthew 19:29


Though it may seem more real for me here in Tanzania to "leave behind houses or brothers or mother" for the sake of Christ... to "lose my life"... it is a calling on all of us.  And when we fail to do so, we are not only forsaking Him, but we are deceiving ourselves. We are clinging to our lives, where we will NEVER find life.  Not true life.  Not the abundant life He offers.  It is in dying to ourselves, sacrificing our lives, spending ourselves on behalf of others, where we find true life.  Never when we cling to our lives or to what we think will make us happy.  It is in giving that we receive.  In pouring ourselves out that we are poured into.  In sacrificing that we are satisfied.


"If you *spend yourselves* in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.  The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs... You will be like a well-watered garden... you will be called Repairer... Restorer." Isaiah 58:10-12


Pouring myself out?  Sacrificing my desires?  Giving instead of receiving?  The ways of His kingdom are so contrary to how we naturally think and believe.  Yet they are TRUTH.  And in following them, we find lasting satisfaction. 

Jesus came to live as a servant.  Nothing about His life was spent to make Himself "happy".  He poured out His life... Offered Himself as a continual sacrifice... Endured incredible hardships.  And when I experience hardship for His Name and for His sake, I come face to face with HIM.  I come to know Him more.  I come to experience Him more.  I feel His presence more.  (1 Peter 4:12-14) .... And He fills my longing soul.


Thank you, Lord, for reminding me of these truths.  Thank you for calling me here.  And for all that you have entrusted me with.... which is MUCH.  May I use the time, resources, responsibilities, relationships, and influence you have put in my life in ways that honor and glorify You.  To whom much is given, much is required.... May I live this life worthy of your calling. Thank you for reminding me of these seemingly 'contrary' truths of your Kingdom.  In them I find Life, and in them I find YOU.

Back in Dar!

Hello, Blog!  It has been a while.  I meant to update over the summer but that didn't exactly happen.... Hope some of you still read this!  I just got back in Dar today (yesterday? messed up with the jetlag...) and it is good to be back.  I had a wonderful 3 months in Dallas (and traveling all over!) for the summer and am SO thankful for that time.  It did make it a little hard to leave.... I'd just been there long enough for it to feel like "home" again so it was hard saying my good-byes, but I figure I can't complain that I have 2 wonderful places I can now call home full of so many loved ones! 

I am really looking forward to the new role I will have this year and to the potential before me to create lasting change for so many people here through Karama (more of an update on Karama and my new role to come).  And I am so incredibly thankful for my faithful and generous friends and supporters in the States who have made it possible for me to come back here.... I truly could not be here and do this work without you!!  You are a part of this, too!

I'll write more soon.... And plan on blogging more this year.... but wanted to at least give the update that I'm back!  Excited for the year and all that is in store.... It will be different in a lot of ways than last year and I am excited to see those changes pan out and to see what God does from here.  I do miss my friends and family in the States so you can pray for my transition time back here.... But I also foresee a lot more Skype this year than I did last year so plan on that, friends! :)

The verses God gave me for this coming year: 

**Delight yourself in the Lord** and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your ways to him, trust in Him, and He will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn and **the justice of your cause** like the noonday sun. ~Psalm 37:4-5 

What good words.  Thank you, God. :)  I can't wait to delight more in HIM this year and to see His justice done through the work I am a part of!

Another Devotional

Here is another devotional I wrote in the same series back in March.  Thought I would post it here now, too, while I was posting the other one...  This one is on Matthew 23:13-36 and the Pharisees' hypocritical attitudes (and our sometimes frighteningly similar qualities):


Join the Journey Devo. March 29

Devotional

So, I haven't exactly done my job of keeping up with my blog this summer while I'm home.... :-/  But I wanted to link a devotional I wrote for my church's devotional series (which is going through the Gospels this year).... It is on Luke Ch. 7 (v. 18-35) and John the Baptist's doubts while imprisoned (and the doubts that we carry)...  Hope you enjoy!

Join the Journey Devo. Aug. 1

Update on Esther

Just a quick update on Esther and on God's faithfulness....

Literally within 5 minutes of posting that last blog post, a good friend of mine in Dar called me saying that she saw my blog post and was in need of a new houseworker because hers had moved.  So without missing a beat or a day of employment, Esther was/is now employed in a situation that could not be more of a blessing!!  I am SO incredibly thankful for God's faithfulness (and for my friend who saw the need and responded in her typical always-finding-a-way-to-be-a-blessing manner :)) ...  Esther now has continued work, is starting English and cooking classes under my friend's leading (which will give her lifelong skills that will continue to make her employable), and is in a family situation which I *know* will be a MAJOR blessing to her.  Thank you all for your prayers and for caring about sweet Esther!! :)

Esther

One of the greatest blessings and greatest ways I believe God has used me this year (along with my TZ bestie Laura) is in the life of our houseworker Esther.  Esther is a beautiful, hard-working, God-loving woman who cleans our house 3 days a week.  [If you're thinking life here sounds pretty easy that we have a regular houseworker, please know the most important factors in the situation: 1. This allows for employment in a land where work is very hard to come by and the majority of the population is living below the extreme poverty line, 2. This gives us the opportunity to have a relationship with and make the difference in the life or lives of Tanzanian individuals, and 3. Living here can be really hard at times and the extra help really is helpful!  We're a lot more adjusted now and could live without a houseworker (though we wouldn't want to b/c of the relationships it allows us to have) but at the beginning of the year... learning how to boil & filter all of our water, thoroughly clean veggies, cook everything from scratch, wash clothes by hand when power's out, etc. etc. ... was a little too much to learn off the bat on our own without the help of our wonderful househelper(s).]  We do also have another househelper, Jacki, who comes and helps us out on Saturdays.  We really don't "need" the extra help from her, but she is a beloved friend and Tanzanian neighbor who was in need of more work so we decided to have her help us one extra day a week.  The cost to pay these women is so low (due to Tanzanian standards of living and reasonable wages here) that it barely affects us to have a little extra help, while it goes a long way to provide for these women and their families.

So.... Esther.  Quite frankly, there were some problems in her previous work situation and how she was being seen and treated. I will not go into details, but there were.  Nothing huge or abusive, but oppression in its most subtle and sneaky forms.  Oppression and dishonor were rearing their ugly heads, and I could not overlook it.  God wouldn't let me overlook it.... He continued to place her on my heart, day after day, and bring to my Spirit the truths in His word about her... about the poor, about the needy, about the oppressed.... about the very reason He brought me here to Africa.  Jeremiah 22:16 says "'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.  Is THAT not what it means to know Me?' declares the Lord."  God very clearly and very strongly put Esther on both Laura's and my hearts (have I mentioned how incredibly thankful I am for Laura?!) and ended up using us to *defend the cause* of her, a poor and needy woman in Tanzania.  He used us to fight for her honor and her dignity and to assure that she was being treated with dignity, respect, and honor and being paid fair wages.

Over the course of the year, as Laura and I have striven to treat her with dignity, to show her the value we place on her life and on her service, her demeanor has changed greatly.  She now sings while she works in our home, she beams from ear to ear when she sees us, and she glows with a bright smile that comes only from a joy deep within.  Sadly, these traits did not characterize her work at the beginning of the year.  They were far from characteristic of her demeanor.  But through God's love and service being poured out through Laura and me into her life, He has worked healing and blessing and love over her.

This past weekend, Laura and I went to visit Esther in her home.  We felt that this was important, in order to show her that we truly "see" her.  That we see her home, her daily life, who she is and what her life is made of.  That we care enough to *know* these things.

So Saturday afternoon, after she finished working at our house, we traveled with her by daladala (super-cramped/most-people-standing-up bus) to her home.  We traveled the long 45min-1hr daladala ride (most of it standing) to her neighborhood, and then walked the long road down to her home (10-15 min. walk).  The hour-long commute she makes to and from work everyday in order to make daily wages that would only buy us a meal at a fast-food restaurant.

As we walked down this long road, so many emotions were welling-up inside me that I just wanted to walk off on my own and *bawl*.  To let the tears just come rushing forth.  The hard work that this woman gives everyday (she also works for another family a couple days a week).  The long and arduous commute that she undertakes daily.  The little impoverished-corner of the world that she lives in.  All to make enough money for her daily rice and beans.  Walking down that road and knowing with most probability that none of her previous employers have done this.... have seen where she lived and have thus "seen her"... To know in that moment how much that must have meant to her.... It was almost too much to bear.

Once we arrived at her home, we were greeted by playful children running around, neighbors living in community, each (family) living in their own "room" in these attached concrete-block homes.  Esther's home: a one-bedroom room, which is probably 7'x7' in size, with no bathroom and no kitchen.  A bed in the corner and a little "dining table" (i.e. a low coffee table with some small wooden stools around it) on the other side.  She had 3 small woven baskets hanging on the walls as decoration, and so few material possessions to her name that I could count them on my 2 hands.  A Bible on her dining table (2 Bibles actually, one given to her by our wonderful former housemate Marie).  A Bible verse hung on the wall (the verse was Hebrews 13:2 "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Oh the beautiful irony and symbolism here.... I know God was smiling down....).  She had placed nicely embroidered fabric over her table and stools and draped it across the pile of stuff in her corner (clothes, pots & pans) to make it look "nicer"... fabric which was clearly only brought out for the most special of occasions and likely even borrowed from a friend.

As we sat in her small home, seeing where and how she has lived for the past 10 years, we spoke with her in our very minimal and broken Swahili.  We pulled out our Swahili dictionary and looked up words we needed.... we surely butchered our grammar.... but we did our best, God helped filled in the rest, and we were able to have a beautiful time of conversation and relationship.  Laura complimented one of the baskets hanging on her wall, and you know what Esther did in that moment?  She took 2 of them down and gave them to us as gifts.  Oh, the tears are coming now as I write this.  2 of the 3 decorative items that she owned, she took down and GAVE to us.  To us blonde city-girls who live in a big home, with so much jewelry that she can't even dust around it.... and she gave us 2 of the very-few possessions to her name.

We prayed with and over her before we left, and in that moment I know that God worked in even greater ways than He already has this year.  We prayed that she would find continued employment as Laura and I both move on this next year and will not need her, that she will find employers who honor her and treat her with respect and dignity.  That He will bless her in her inmost being with the spiritual riches of Love, Joy, Peace.  That He will provide for her *every* need.  Please continue to pray these things with me.

There were many tears, many smiles, much laughter, and much love on this day.

Oh, I will not soon forget this day.

And even now, as I look back on this situation, I am so humbled to the core at the reality of what God has done here.  A beautiful woman that He loves, living in an impoverished slum area in the middle of impoverished Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  In the middle of Africa.  This woman living in a one-room home, living hand-to-mouth, with so few possessions to her name.  Day after day, year after year, working hard and loving God as she returns to her home at the end of each day in this tiny poverty-stricken corner of the world.  And My good Lord looked down and cared so much about her that He chose to take 2 blonde city-girls living in 2 of the biggest and most materialistic cities in the world- Dallas and Los Angeles- to pick them up and transplant them here to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, so that He could use them to bless and change the life of this one woman that He loves.... neglected and forgotten, oppressed.... He transplanted us into her little corner of the world because of the value He places on her and on her life and the great love that He has for her.  That He would choose ME.  I am so humbled.

As Hagar proclaimed, "You are the God who sees me... I have now seen the One who sees me." (Genesis 16:13)  Oh, our God is one who SEES us.  How awesome is He.

Esther's Home

Me, Esther, & Laura

****

"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so *all went well*.  Is THAT not what it means to know me?' declares the Lord." -Jeremiah 22:16

Endurance

Finishing a great weekend and a great few weeks here.... As this year is {very sadly} beginning to come to a close, it has been really, really awesome to see lately some of the fruits of efforts made over the course of the year.  How God has worked and how He has blessed and grown relationships and ministry opportunities here.  At the beginning of the year and through the first several months here, things were HARD.  I really can't overstate that.... I don't feel like I spoke much about that on this blog b/c I didn't want to dwell on the hardships or complain, but in reality things were very difficult, very often.  Transitions in *every*single*area* of life (any one that you can imagine, name it).  Going through crazy intense hot season with power outages almost every single day for 2-3 months straight (meaning no a/c, fans, refrigeration, or oven).  I won't take the time to list all the hardships, but just know that God taught me a lot about what it means to suffer for His name... that being His disciple isn't and shouldn't be *easy*... that I am to lay down MY self for the sake of others.

And through the hardships, it was so often difficult to see the point in enduring... the light at the end... the fact that fruit WOULD come.  I just had to keep going where God called me, doing what He asked of me, clinging to Him for strength and hope and for dear life.  I knew that there really was no other option.  That He had called me here and that the only option (at least, the only one that I wanted to take) was to follow.  To go.  To do.  To give.  To serve.  To endure.  Even when it was HARD.  I am not and certainly was not flawless in these areas.  I complained.  I moaned.  I questioned Him.  I questioned others.  But in the end, more or less, clinging to Him, I somehow managed to endure.  To get involved in the areas where He wanted me to, to lay down MY self so that He could use me in the lives of others.... Whether or not every step along the way was pretty or perfect.

And now that time has passed, I can see some of the fruits of where He has called me and where He is using me.  To name a few:  My relationships with my students at Hopac (oh, how I love those kids!).  My role as an art teacher, bringing out the innate creativity within each of my students.  My Saturdays volunteering at a local village ("William's Village") helping to run Bible lessons/crafts/games days with the kids.  Spending time at a local orphanage and showing those children that they are *loved*.  Investing in the lives of the 2 ladies who help with cleaning and other duties around our house and helping to give them a sense of dignity and worth.  WyldLife with the Hopac 6th-8th graders and my relationships with those kids- pointing them to Jesus.  Studying Swahili and finally being able to carry on basic conversations with the local people and children.  Taking advantage of the simplicity of life here and reading through about half of the Bible this year (never have I read so much in such depth in such a short period of time).  Making friends with the local Bajaji-drivers, the duka (shop) owners, the "regulars" that hang around our street.  My involvement with Karama (which I am going to be on staff with full-time next year! more to come on this soon!) and bringing dignity and sustainable income into the lives of African artisans.  My Service Learning group with Hopac students where we serve in local schools doing arts & crafts activities with them, bringing joy & creativity into these children's lives.  Helping to get a previously non-existent Art department up and running at Hopac.  And these are all just the *start* of ministries that will be continued next year.

Yes, God has done a LOT and worked a lot in and through me this year.  It's been so hard to adequately blog over the course of the year as there has always been SO much going on and SO much to process.  One of my hopes & goals for this summer (which I'll be spending at home, then coming back here in mid-August) is to blog more about my experiences here over the course of this year.  I think I will be able to more adequately reflect on the experiences I've had once I step away from them all.  (I also think that will be one of the only ways for me to emotionally & therapeutically get through the difficult transition & culture shock of being back in America!)

Again, My time here and my actions here have not always been pretty or perfect.  I've messed up, complained, fallen down (haha, literally- many times on this terrain in Africa while I've been running!).  But HE has picked me up through all of it.  HE has continued to lead me.  HE has continued to bless me and to use me.  HE has been my strength when I have been nothing but weakness.

I look back at the 2 marathons I've run.... and neither of them were "pretty" all the way through.  They were ANYTHING but that.  My times weren't what I wanted them to be, mistakes happened, unexpected issues arose, PAIN ensued.... That first marathon I ran was by far the hardest- and easily ugliest- accomplishment I've ever attempted.  But as I DID endure through those ugly, difficult, painful (injury-inducing!) 26.2 miles, I was able to cross the finish line and know that I had accomplished the purpose I set out for.  It didn't always look the way I'd hoped it would look and my results at the end were not all that I'd hoped they would be, but the endurance paid off and I was able to reap the benefits that come with that amazing finish-line "victory".

And though that marathon victory was simply a personal one, I can so easily relate it to the endurance of this year.  My experiences have not always been pretty.  I have made mistakes and unexpected issues have arisen.  Things have been difficult and painful.  They have felt like they were injury-inducing at times.  But in the end, God has accomplished His purposes in the midst of it all.  And now that I am standing in that open, spacious place on the other side, I am filled with SUCH JOY as I see and feel and experience the blessings of the fruit that has been reaped from what has been sown.

I am currently reading through the book of Acts and this past week I came across the verse, "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 13:52)  That verse has come back to me again and again this week, as the Lord has filled me with SUCH joy in the areas and ministries He's called me into.  And His Spirit has continually filled me as I walk into the places He has for me.  What more could I ask for?  If this is the result of following hard after Him, of suffering for His name, of enduring through the hardships He calls me to.... I want more of it.  "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces ENDURANCE.  And let *endurance* have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

Endurance having its perfect result.  "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."  Sounds like a pretty perfect result to me.

 {with the kids at Kurasini Orphanage.... JOY}

Barefoot Running

So, this isn't really Africa-related (well, kind of) but just want to make a post to endorse barefoot-style running.  I switched over slowly this year and am never going back!  After suffering a very bad running injury last year (stress fracture in hip/femur bone.... took 6 months to heal and almost didn't heal), I transitioned over slowly after reading up on the benefits and philosophy behind it.  I totally believe that it's the way our bodies were created to run .... it's how we would naturally run if we were "barefoot" and distributes body weight with each step much more effectively so that injuries are much less common.

Check out these articles that first got me thinking about it:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html

and

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/technology/4314401


I don't actually run with no shoes on- I run in Nike Free's, which have very little support (basically none now that I've run in them all year) but the difference is that in them I land on the forefront of my foot instead of striking with my heel first.  Again, the short of it is that the front part of the foot is much larger and can take and distribute weight with each pound much more efficiently than the small point of the heel (which running shoes basically force your feet into doing).  [and this summer I'll prob. buy a shoe that is even flatter with less support than the Nike Frees.]


Since it's a completely different form of running, your body uses totally different muscles/etc. so you HAVE to transition over to it very slowly; otherwise you'll incur injuries in the process (most likely in your feet).  I have spent all year transitioning and started with very short runs but am now up to long runs and actually ran the Kili Half this way in February. 

I know there is a lot of debate on the issue and definitely read up on it and do your necessary research, but I highly endorse it.  I'm not going back.  And I believe my injury-free/pain-free runs will continue to prove it.  This is the way tribes in Africa and South America run hundreds of miles on end without injuries and have done so for centuries and the way I believe God created our bodies to run.

Also check out:

www.barefootrunner.com

www.barefootrunning.org


Happy Running! :)


**When I run, I feel God's pleasure.**  -Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire

Karama Website!

The Karama website is officially up! 

Check it out for beautiful products that you can purchase to support beautiful woman [by giving them dignity and sustainable, fair wages through meaningful work].  Proceeds also go to send kids in Africa to Young Life camp.

Check it out!

www.karamagifts.com

Reflections on Teaching

So today was the first day of good-byes for me.  There is still quite of bit of time until the end of the school year (June 17th is the last day), but today was the last day that grade 10-12 students have classes before their "Study Leave" before/during their exams.  It started to hit me that the year is coming to a close and made me start to reflect on the year as a whole.

In coming out here, I really had no idea what was in store for my year with my students.  I knew that God had called me to Africa.  I knew that the Art teaching position was a great fit for my talents & abilities.  But I had no idea how much He would bless me through this role and specifically through these upper-level Art students.  I taught elementary school right out of college, but I'd never taught secondary students before, and I had never before taught Art.  I knew I was "capable" and that God would equip me to the place where He had called me, but I didn't know how much of a challenge it would be at times and how much of a blessing it would be in the end as a result.

I have been able to witness the birth and growth and evolution of dozens of artists this year, and most specifically, these 16 G10-12 students.  These students have grown & flourished in ways that way exceeded my expectations at the start.  They have persevered through incredibly intense curriculum & exam requirements with diligence and excellence, and they have come out as emerging artists on the other side.  I have been able to meditate and dwell on the beauty and complexities of art with these students and literally live in an evolving Art gallery day by day!  I have engaged in great conversations with them, each of which revealed a little more to me of God's creative spirit and the creativity He has instilled in each one of us.

I have had many moments this year when I am simply blown away by the fact that God has given us ART.  And He has given it to us for our ENJOYMENT as much as for anything else.  What a great God we serve.  The more I grow in my creative talents and the more I dwell on these facets of creativity and art that He has instilled in us His children, the more I am left speechless at how good He is.  He didn't have to give us art.  He didn't have to give us the enjoyment of the creative processes.  He didn't have to create a world that is full of beauty and rich in color.  But He DID.  He chose to, and He said that it is GOOD. 

My students have revealed to me more and more of His character this year.  They have glorified Him as they have expressed their creative talents, revealing His image that they have been created in.  And I have been left amazed and speechless.  These students have allowed me to know God more deeply through this and to thus love Him more fully for who He is.  And for that I am eternally grateful.

I still have several weeks of classes with my grade 6-9 students, and I will still be seeing my G10-12 students around campus, but today was the beginning of the end in many ways.  Please pray that in these final weeks I will be an *encouragement* to my students (every single one of them!) and that I will point them more and more to God, just as they have done for me.

 

 one of my G10 student's pieces

"One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.  They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.  They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.  They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness." ~Psalm 145:4-7

I'm here!

Oh, I cannot believe how long it has been since I've posted!  Where do I start???  SO much has happened in the past few months.... So much that I haven't had time to blog.  I was without a computer for about a month (my hard drive died, just got it replaced last week) so that made it extra difficult to post here.... and our internet server at school was also down so I literally had no access to internet for weeks. 

Here are the major highlights of the past couple months... and later I'll come back and elaborate more on some of them:


-The Karama trip (that I mentioned in my previous post) was INCREDIBLE.  Again, a link to the Karama blog where you can read up on it more:  https://www.karamagifts.com/blog/   (we traveled to Zanzibar, Arusha, and Maasai land and worked with producer groups for Karama.... Really amazing times and definitely answered prayers for the trip!!)

-I spent a week at a local orphanage with 10 of my students during our Service Emphasis Week.... an unforgettable experience.  Still thinking all the time of those little ones who are in such poor living conditions.... :( 

-My Art students have finished 1 of 2 of their MAJOR Art Exam components (we use the Cambridge Curriculum from Cambridge in the UK- somewhat similar to the AP system in America but seems to be even more intense).... it has been major crunch time for them in their exams over these past couple of months (as well as for me as their teacher) and they have produced some INCREDIBLE work!!  I am such a proud teacher! :)

-William and Stella had a healthy baby girl!!!  This was truly nothing but the result of answered prayers.  God is SO faithful.  You can find updates about them on Amy's blog here: http://gilandamy.blogspot.com/2011/04/weeping-may-remain-for-night-but.html and here: http://gilandamy.blogspot.com/2011/04/god-is-gracious.html

-Laura and I went to EGYPT for our Spring Break!!  WOW, what an incredible experience and trip that was.  We had an (unexpected) layover in Yemen on the way there (during the height of revolution in their country)... and LOTS and lots of adventures.  I will definitely post more on this soon.

Lots of love from Tanzania.... just wanted to pop in, and I'll fill in more details here soon!

xoxo

Karama Trip!

I'm starting what I know will be an unforgettable trip.... 5 women are in town from the states, 5 uniquely talented women who have invested their lives in Karama and who are here to dream, inspire, design, encourage, and empower.  To grow our Karama mission and vision.... to encourage and empower Karama artisans.... to further Karama's future.  We're going to Zanzibar tomorrow to meet with a couple producer groups then to Arusha on Wednesday to meet with some more.  It's going to be a BIG week.... full of HOPE and LIFE and VISION.  I'm so excited to see what's in store.

Follow us this week on our blog that we'll be updating daily:  https://www.karamagifts.com/blog/

And please pray for our trip!  Here are the specific prayer requests we covet:

-that God will provide true vision for Karama

-that God would reveal each of our roles...and how specifically our gifts can be used to further Karama (The Karama Mamas that will be included on this trip are Kim Allen, Jill Morley, Heather Fruit, Susan Peterson, Jane Stephens, Dyan Larmey, and me)

-that relationships will be formed and strengthened across continents

-that we are able to serve our artisans of Africa by providing them employment through fair wages (while supporting the amazing ministry of Young Life Africa)

-that Karama Mamas will be united in heart, mind, and soul

-that we might be able to develop Karama's products in a way that will make them more marketable 

-that we are able to explore the best means possible in making the world aware of the story behind Karama & its products

 

 

(and stay tuned to find out my big future plans with Karama.....! :))

Kilimanjaro Half Marathon, Bagamoyo, & William's Village

It's so hard to blog.....

So hard to take the time to articulately describe my experiences over here with the emotion and passion that they often deserve.  So today I'm going to cheat and take you to a couple of my good friends' blogs who are very talented writers and who have articulately and passionately described some of my recent experiences here (with pictures!).

This weekend I ran the Kilimanjaro Half Marathon in Moshi, Tanzania.  It was pretty awesome, to say the least.... I ran it with a few fellow teachers, and my friend Heather blogged about it in words that are almost identical to my own experience (even down to the songs).... so just read her post and pretend like it's me saying it all, ok? ;)

Heather's Blog: Kili Half

[**especially these sentences:  "Then I started to get excited. It struck me that I was in AFRICA, and I was going to do the one thing that I loved most in the world."  ... and ...  "I was once again overwhelmed by the goodness of God in giving me a day of health, friends to run with, and the ability to run with joy.  How kind of Him to give good gifts like this that are only for enjoyment, challenge, and well-being."  My thoughts and experiences EXACTLY...! :)]


***** 


Before her post about the Kili Half, she blogged about the trip to Bagamoyo that she, Laura, and I took a couple weeks ago.  Bagamoyo is a historic town here with a lot of slave history, just up the coast from us.  Read her (short) post on it as well (and please notice her "blondes really do have more fun comment" about Laura and me on the pikipiki..... Haha). ;)

Heather's Blog: Bagamoyo


*****


Laura just wrote a beautiful blog post about her experiences at William's Village.... Read it for another glimpse into our time there (and our Saturday with them on Valentine's Day) and a sweet little story about her "favorite" little boy. :)

Laura's Blog: William's Village



[p.s. Heather and Laura are both English teachers here so they're both awesome writers .... sorry for the plagiarism, girls!] ;)

Recent Dar explosions

Another thing I haven't mentioned on here yet is the bombs that went off in Dar last week.  Here are some links to articles on it (though these aren't fully updated):

BBC Article

CNN Article


I still don't fully understand the story, nor do I know if anyone does, but some bombs exploded last week (Wed. night) at the military base here which is near the airport downtown (20 km from my house).  The explosions were apparently accidental.... I heard it may have been caused from the changes in temperature where they were stored because of all the power outages we've had lately (we've had horrible power problems this year; much worse than normal), but I'm not sure if that was the issue or not.  Several bombs went off over the course of a couple hours.  At least 30 people died, and there were hundreds of other injuries, many very serious.  Although I live 20 km from the site, the bombs could be heard in my area (most thought it was thunder) and many in my area felt the tremors shake their house.

The IT guy at our school, Victor, lives 750 meters from the military base and had bombs land in his front yard, meters away from his house.  There were full bombs that had not yet gone off that landed in his yard, as well as some bomb shells.  I just ran into him on campus and talked to him about it, and he showed me pictures on his phone of the bombs.  SO crazy.  The police/military came and removed the bombs the next morning (a couple hours after they were reported I think).  Apparently many bombs were found all over the city the next day; they were released during the explosion and landed in several places without going off.  Thankfully he and his family are fine, but several of his neighbors died or were seriously injured (2 died the following day of strokes).  He said the walls in his house have cracks in them now, though, from the explosions and that many things in his house were broken.

A cleaning lady at our school was also severely affected- her brother's legs were blown off during the blasts.  Children were orphaned, thousands of people were displaced, many now homeless, there are children still separated from their parents.... the list goes on.  My roommate Laura and I gave blood this weekend at a hospital downtown because there was/is a severe shortage of blood in the country (i.e. there was none at all in reserve when the explosions happened).  Please keep this city and all those affected in your prayers.

a view of the explosions from a distance

And here, BBC showing the story through pictures:

Pictures

Young Life Africa Rocks!

For the past 3 weeks, dozens of Young Life leaders have been in town from all over the continent (13 African countries, as well as some from Palestine) for training .... the SALT leaders (Senior African Leadership Team) were here for the first week [the leaders of the leaders, best of the best, *rock-stars*] and the Rika Tano group has been here for these past 2 weeks [more best-of-the-best (though there are still so many more best-of-the-best back in their home countries... YL leaders are all super awesome!), the up-and-coming strong leaders who have been going through intensive training here to go further the already-enormous impact they're making in their countries].... I've been incredibly blessed to be able to spend many evenings with them at the Young Life Training Center, and they are memories I will not soon forget!  Definitely one of my most cherished experiences here in Africa so far, and that is saying a LOT!  Oh, how blessed this time has been..... Here are some highlights:

*Hours-long nights of praise and worship in multiple African languages and styles... African drums and instruments going... African dance all night long, praising God with heart, mind, soul, and body... Such JOY!

[will insert picture soon]  :)

*Late-night Glow-in-the-dark soccer on the beach!  The leaders formed 2 teams: EKUT (East Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, & Tanzania) vs. the other countries (forgot their creative name).... they all wore glow-in-the-dark sticks around their necks, arms, and legs.... So much fun to watch! (and esp. cool for them since most of them had never seen a glow-in-the-dark stick before)

one team lined up

one of the players (thought I don't remember who b/c it's so dark) :)

*Witnessing the start of ministry in some of the most hostile countries in the world (don't even know if I should mention their names so I won't)....  Over these past few weeks, I have been able to watch as leaders were trained to go back to these (their home) countries to start brand-new Young Life ministry.... What an incredible thing to witness.  Please pray for these brand-new ministries and that the Lord blesses and multiplies them *GREATLY*.

*Reuniting with cherished friendships from Liberia and Zimbabwe (from my previous trips there).... Such joy..... How I love these leaders!  (from Liberia: James Davis & Baccus, and from Zim: Nkosi, Patson, Pierre, Sharon, & Bekhi)  What a blessing to have them here in "my" home!

*Making MANY new friendships, new memories, new laughter.... SO thankful.

*Making friends in Palestine (that I hope to be able to visit sometime soon!).... one who is from Bethlehem (yes, real-life Bethlehem).  I now have friends in the Holy Land that I can go visit.... pretty cool. :)

*Witnessing the awesome-ness of the Africans.... I mean, really.  Not only do these leaders love God with all that they are and sacrificially and passionately love the children in their lives, but they are just plain COOL.  Hilarious, SO fun, incredibly loving and generous..... and dang, can they dance!  I mean, WOW, do they know how to hold a beat.... I don't know why God wired it into their gene structure to be able to *move* so well, but He DID.  And it is so fun to witness and be a part of!  (and Katy, you better believe that my inner Belle is loving this African lifestyle of rhythm and dance! ;))

*Praying over these incredible leaders and their ministries.... the sacrifices they have already made in their service are incredible (some of them come from brutally war-torn countries- i.e. Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone- and have experienced horrific things that we can't even imagine).  Having the privilege to pray over them as they go out to make such eternal impacts is an incredible honor.  Never underestimate the power of prayer.... We truly cannot fathom what is done in the spiritual realm through our prayers,  and what is *kept* from being done by our lack of prayers.  So please keep your prayer-muscles strong!  And your knees bent.  I have learned so much from my African brothers & sisters on the power of prayer.

So please continue your prayers and know that the Spirit of the Lord is moving here in Africa and it is full of LIFE, joy, peace, love, truth, and goodness. 

Jesus: "I came that they may have LIFE, and have it ABUNDANTLY." (John 10:10)  How true that is!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A new command I give you:  LOVE one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By THIS everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)  

Love NEVER fails.  (1 Cor. 13:8)

Happy Valentine's Day from Tanzania! :)

William's Village

Meet Amina, about 3 years old and just the most precious, cuddly thing you can imagine.  I mean, how can you not fall in love with a tiny Tanzanian girl wearing a pink frilly skirt and a lacey tank top?

 

This week at William's Village we read a children's story about 3 trees to the kids.  It's a wonderful story (beautifully illustrated) about 3 trees who have big dreams for their life, dreams which they think are dashed until God ends up using them for even *greater* purposes in their lives.  One ends up becoming the manger that Jesus is born in, one becomes the boat Jesus walks on the water to, and one becomes the cross that He is crucified on.  A beautiful message that God's plans are greater than we might imagine.  We had the children draw what they dream of for their life- what they want to be when they grow up or dream of for their future.  (I drew trees on big sheets of paper that they drew inside of and colored, and we wrote "God has a good plan for you, Jer. 29:11" on it in Swahili.)

What an awesome opportunity to give these children the chance to DREAM.  To *encourage* their dreaming and their hoping.  It could be so easy to see these children's futures as void of hope or void of promise- children in this remote African village whose families struggle to survive each day and who are afforded little or no "opportunities" as we see opportunity in the West.  But that is not what God sees.  That is not what He plans.  He tells us that His plans are for our GOOD, to give us a FUTURE and a HOPE (Jeremiah 29:11) .... and that He will even give us more than we could ever hope for or imagine. (Ephesians 4:20).

These children dream of becoming pilots, nurses, teachers, drivers, policemen, and doctors. 

Lord, please continue to grow the dreams of these children.  Continue to give them HOPE for their future.  And then reveal Yourself to them in ways that they never thought possible... in ways that are greater than they ever even hoped for or imagined.  Please pray this prayer with me for these precious children.

More Fun Facts

Some more fun facts on life here:

Lately the government has gone around the city (and apparently the country; I heard it was the same in Arusha) and "X"ed out any sign or billboard that violates some law or code or something.... I don't know what the requirements are supposed to be, but literally 99.9% of the signs and billboards in the city now have a big red X painted over them.  Signs for restaurants, for stores, for advertisements.... basically anything that is not attached to a building itself. A very random thing for the government to all of a sudden be enforcing.... Pretty sure there are plenty of other problems they can be dealing with.  Also pretty sure that a city full of billboards with huge red X's painted over them looks worse than a city full of signs that "don't comply with code".

The handicap parking sign in front of a local bar here :)  No drinking and driving, what?!

This is the size of a head of lettuce here.  Little tiny balls of iceberg lettuce.... pretty much all that's available for salads.  (and each leaf in turn needs to be soaked in dish-soap or bleach to adequately clean it.... makes for a lot of work to have salad).  Oh, how I miss spinach salads....

This is a gecko with a huge cockroach in its mouth.  This was on the wall of a restaurant I was eating in (yes, one of the "nice" restaurants here, you can imagine what's in the kitchen...) When I saw it on the wall I had to get a picture; it was pretty unbelievable.  The gecko just stopped and stared at me when I pulled out my camera and took the pic, all while the roach was squirming in its mouth.  Grossss.....

Arriving Here

This was my first view of Tanzania from the airplane when I flew back here after Christmas.  This was only my second time to fly into Tanzania, and the first time I flew in I had never before been to Tanzania (I'd been to other African countries before this summer but never Tanzania).  Returning this time brought tears to my eyes.  Looking down at this land that is full of so many riches- riches in spirit and riches in joy, while at the same time full of such poverty- real suffering caused by real poverty.... I couldn't help but cry with tears of gladness as I returned back home to where God has called me.  Looking down and knowing that this land, this country, these people- these were my people, my land, my country....  This is where God has called me.  I felt such honor and such privilege in knowing that He has chosen to call me HERE.  To such a beautiful country and such a beautiful people.  People whom Jesus was referring to when He said:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 5:3

and:

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor." -1 Samuel 2:8


Seeing it from a birds-eye view seemed to bring the "bigger picture" into greater clarity.  Thank you, Lord.  So much.  Thank you for calling me HERE.

And I couldn't help but have a heart swelled with pride as I went through THIS line at the airport. :-)

Updates

I woke up this morning with a very distinct and unusual "cozy" feeling.... like, "This is Home."  (partly prob. just b/c I'd slept really well- which is a major blessing! sleep has been getting better and better for me here- and I really just wanted to stay in bed longer, ha)  But it was a great feeling.... After having to come back here from being in the States and "re-adjust" again, it was great to have that feeling of "home" again here.

School has been going GREAT this semester .... I'm very much "into the swing of things" with the curriculum, my students, my classes.... and it's making teaching very enjoyable!  I feel like 1st semester was spent mainly learning how to teach art, learning my students, learning my curriculum, etc. etc. and this semester things are just flowing a lot more naturally and it is making it very enjoyable.  Our school uses a British curriculum from Cambridge so my Grade 10-12 students have to go through very intense exam requirements (they have to produce a LOT of artwork) that they are currently in the process of.  It took me a while to figure out the requirements/expectations/etc. but now that we've (myself and the students) kind of "arrived" there, it's really a blessing to watch my students grow and flourish in their artwork.  I look forward to continuing to push them this semester and to see the beautiful work that they produce!  It's also been a real blessing being able to enjoy the *Art* aspect of my job a little more lately.... I've been digging deeper in my studies of it as I'm having to push my students more and have even been able to spend some time producing artwork myself.

My camera broke when I was home so I had to leave it at Best Buy to be repaired (it was thankfully still under warranty!), and I'm having it brought back here soon (with my roommate Kate, who unfortunately has still been at home in Ohio from Christmas-time b/c she contracted pneumonia when she was home :(  she's on the mend and hopefully coming back here soon....).  Anyway, once my camera is back I'll be able to update here with more pictures.  I spent the day before Christmas break volunteering at an orphanage (our school donated Christmas gifts to them and a few of us teachers delivered them and played with the children for the day).... it was such a blessing- I can't wait to post pics here!  Last week I also went back to William's Village to volunteer with the children and will do so again tomorrow morning.... again, such a wonderful time.  (William is the head cleaner at our school that I've talked about here.... his wife Stella is still doing fine with her pregnancy; please continue to keep her in your prayers, though).

Here's a picture (taken on my iphone; at least I still have that!) of a couple of the precious children I fell in love with last Saturday:

I can't wait to go squeeze those little babies again tomorrow morning! :)

Tonight is also WYLdLife (Young Life's middle school ministry at our school).... Will be lots of fun hanging out with my middle school students and furthering my relationships with them!  Young Life really knows how to have fun with kids and show them the LOVE that Christ has for them.... I'm so thankful to be part of their ministry here!

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!  Just wanted to add some quick updates here on life... Hoping you are all having a very blessed week! :-)

Dar Fun Facts

I realize I should update more with the fun facts of daily living here. Things have gotten so 'normal' to me that they hardly seem noteworthy anymore, but lately (esp. since being back in the US and seeing things "new" again) I've noticed many photo opp.'s that I should have documented and posted. So, I'm determined to update more with tidbits on life in Africa! For now, meet the mosquito zapper:


Looks like a tennis racket, but it actually electrocutes mosquitoes by zapping them dead when you strike them. It makes a snap/crackle/pop sound when it hits one and can be pretty fun. Also makes you feel pretty victorious over those sneaky things. Just one of the highlights of daily life here. :-)

Comfort

Mambo! So, I'm back in Dar: home sweet home. The above picture does a pretty good job describing my time at home in Dallas. Cheese is crazy expensive here and thus very rare, so being able to eat to my heart's content in cheese was by far one of the best things about being home. Really, it's all I wanted to do my first day home. :) So when I saw this billboard on I-35, I had to pull over for a pic.

My time at home was great.... it was really wonderful spending time with friends and family and very nice to relax some. I was able to spend good quality time with most of the people I wanted to, which I'm so thankful for, though it all still seemed too rushed since I was home for such a short period. Very thankful for the time I did have, though. I'm starting to realize now how weird it is (and hard) having your heart in two places. When I was in the States, I missed so many things about life in Africa- the simplicity, the friendliness of strangers, the time to be still and reflect... and now that I'm back here, I miss my friends and family more than I did before, since I was just able to spend such great time with them, and I miss a lot of the 'ease of living' in America. In a way, I feel like I'm having to go through the "transition phase" again now b/c I'm having to re-adjust to a lot of the hardships here that I'd gotten used to before I went back home.

And, speaking of those hardships.... my biggest take-away from my time in the States was on the *comfort* there. Life in America is very, very COMFORTABLE. Life in Africa is very, very UN-comfortable. In case you're envying the exotic places I get to visit and the daily adventures my life here holds (which yes, are all wonderful), please realize that daily living here is HARD. And it's not just "hard".... it's *uncomfortable*. It doesn't 'feel' good. It *feels* uncomfortable. Every day.

I was surprised by how much the comfort of things in America shocked me (since I've lived with them for 30 years). Every room is set to the temperature of one's choosing. Soft, cushy furniture abounds in any and every building you enter. Infinite choices of food and drink abound everywhere. Cars ride along smoothly on nicely paved roads. And the power is ALWAYS on. Oh yeah- hot water, too. And if any of these things aren't there- for even a moment- one has every 'right' to be angry or in a bad mood... because things 'should' always be this easy.... right?

Here in Africa- and in the majority of the world- having even one of those things listed above, if even just for a moment, is reason to jump for joy and praise heaven. Room temperatures are NOT set to one's choosing.... Here in Dar I sweat ALL day EVERY day, and so does EVERY other person in this city. All year long. It is crazy hot and humid and A/C here is very rare if not nonexistent (and the A/C here consists of window boxes in certain rooms, not the central cooling that homes in the states have). Power goes out for hours on end or days on end, several times a week (meaning no a/c OR fans)- with no prior warning. (although the power company actually let out a "power rationing" schedule last month.... which they stopped following and power outages have since been totally random). The customer is NOT always right here. Inconveniences abound EVERYwhere. My bathroom doesn't have any hot water. (though I'm not complaining b/c 90% of the time I only want a cold shower in this heat) There are a *very* small handful of places in this entire city with comfortable furniture that can be "lounged" in... and my roommate and I travel about an hour each weekend to get to the one coffee shop that does, just so that we can 'sit there' for a while. Food is cooked from scratched or you eat peanuts and popcorn bought on the side of the road (hence my lunch every day ;)). And these are descriptions of my life here, which is much easier and more 'comfortable' than the majority of Tanzanians (who don't have electricity or running water.... much less the ability to purchase a cappuccino).

I'm all for comfort- like I said, Laura and I go an hour across town most weekends just to sit in the one comfy A/C'ed coffee shop in the entire city. But what got to me in America is the sense of entitlement for these comforts. The expectation for them all. The fact that most people would complain so much if any one of these eases of life was taken from them even briefly. And on top of that, most people's goal is to work hard enough to retire so that their life can be even MORE comfortable. I'm not saying it's wrong to have or enjoy many of these comforts, but if they're expected and "can't be lived without".... it handicaps life from being lived to its fullest after a point.

Yes, life is hard here. Uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable, very often. But that doesn't mean life isn't GOOD. It is hard, but it is GOOD. Life is simple here. Relationships are experienced and enjoyed. Strangers strike up conversation with each other and enjoy life together. Food and wages are worked hard for, truly "earned", and simple things are never taken for granted. Opportunities to do things- including for others- aren't often turned down because they're 'uncomfortable'. Life doesn't always "feel" good here- in fact, it very rarely does- but in the end, that doesn't mean it isn't good.

So, today: don't be scared of a little discomfort (or even a lot).  When we go to such extreme lengths to keep all our comforts up (which most Americans do, knowingly or unknowingly), we surely miss MANY opportunities to serve and to love and to give and to be the hands and feet of Christ. Jesus was described as a "man of many sorrows".... He was "well acquainted with grief".... He owned only the clothes on his back.... He had "nowhere to lay his head". None of those descriptions of His life sound 'comfortable' to me. In fact, they sound pretty uncomfortable. Going to try to remember that here when I'm internally complaining about the heat or the pollution or the slow internet or the crazy traffic or the.... fill in the blank. ;)