Friday, August 22, 2008
Coming Home
I've been back in the states for almost 2 weeks and believe I'm finally adjusting into "normal" life again. The experience of joining God's work in Tanzania was so overwhelming and touched me so deeply that I had trouble getting my head back into things when I returned on Aug. 11.
I expected to be walking on air and ready to share about the trip with anyone who'd listen, but that wasn't the case. I had a magnificent time decompressing from the mission work by going on a 2-day safari and doing a bit of souvenir shopping. I thought that would be more than enough to prepare me for my arrival home. But it was not.
The trip was so deeply moving that I had a ton of mixed emotions to sort through my first week back. I was here in body, but my heart was still in Africa. I wanted to be here, since I missed my boys terribly, but I couldn't get my mind to refocus. So I prayed. I asked God to help me sort through all that He taught me and how He wanted me to be different as a result.
He did begin to clarify things by the second week and I am settling into my life that He lead so beautifully before I left for Africa. He reminded me that my place was here--my mission field is Danville, IN and He is requiring a greater intensity in my efforts to advance His kingdom. God clearly asked me to bring Africa to Danville and share my testimony in a way that will challenge others to live more fully for Him.
I will continue to listen...there is so much that is beginning to fall in place and other seeds that God is planting...I'll keep you posted on how things continue to play out for me.
For all those who encouraged me and prayed for me--I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Munguawabariki! (God bless you all)
I expected to be walking on air and ready to share about the trip with anyone who'd listen, but that wasn't the case. I had a magnificent time decompressing from the mission work by going on a 2-day safari and doing a bit of souvenir shopping. I thought that would be more than enough to prepare me for my arrival home. But it was not.
The trip was so deeply moving that I had a ton of mixed emotions to sort through my first week back. I was here in body, but my heart was still in Africa. I wanted to be here, since I missed my boys terribly, but I couldn't get my mind to refocus. So I prayed. I asked God to help me sort through all that He taught me and how He wanted me to be different as a result.
He did begin to clarify things by the second week and I am settling into my life that He lead so beautifully before I left for Africa. He reminded me that my place was here--my mission field is Danville, IN and He is requiring a greater intensity in my efforts to advance His kingdom. God clearly asked me to bring Africa to Danville and share my testimony in a way that will challenge others to live more fully for Him.
I will continue to listen...there is so much that is beginning to fall in place and other seeds that God is planting...I'll keep you posted on how things continue to play out for me.
For all those who encouraged me and prayed for me--I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Munguawabariki! (God bless you all)
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Our work is done...God is just beginning
Today was our last day of work. I was a hard day, but good. We finished all the desks we were assembling and then put mesh and wire on all the windows of the bathrooms to keep mosquitoes out. That was tough work. I did most of the mesh and then one of the guys came behind and did the chicken wire over top. I did well up until the last of 14 windows when I came down hard with the hammer and slammed into my finger. I almost jumped off the ladder in pain. But this too shall pass!
I continue to have the opportunity to deepen relationships with my team and teachers at the school. I had particularly special relationships with two—Jeremiah (who I said good-bye to on Saturday) and Kitomari (a math and science teacher in the primary school.) Kito and I talked quite a bit today at lunch. He was so inquisitive about the US—everything from politics to racial issues to freedom of religion. It was great conversation. Early in our relationship, I was able to share my testimony with him and we both talked about our faith. It was so awesome. I can’t describe the feeling of sharing my faith and worshiping with people half way around the world. It is truly indescribable! The world seems so small at times.
I’m looking forward to our time tomorrow as we have a celebration lunch with all the teachers and students. It will be our chance to say good-bye. Afterward, we will tour through the town of Babati where we have been staying for 1 ½ weeks. We drive through it all the time to get to the school, but have never gotten out to visit. It is the picture of devastation as young children and adults just wander the streets. The stores are so dilapidated and run down. It is surely a third world town.
Thursday and Friday we head on a safari and then shopping in Arusha on Saturday. Sunday we will attend a local church service and then unwind at our hotel before heading off to the airport later in the afternoon.
Each evening, I try to just pour my heart out in a blog without much review of what I’ve written. Sometimes I’m simply overwhelmed when I reflect on all the ways I’ve seen Jesus here in Tanzania. I can’t do justice to Him and how He has been moving in a short blog. But rest assured He is fully present in my life and growing in boldness and might. I am so excited to be His child and love how He chooses to work in my life. He is so good and so powerful, yet so incredibly intimate. Blessed be His name!!
May God bless you and keep you! See you soon.
I continue to have the opportunity to deepen relationships with my team and teachers at the school. I had particularly special relationships with two—Jeremiah (who I said good-bye to on Saturday) and Kitomari (a math and science teacher in the primary school.) Kito and I talked quite a bit today at lunch. He was so inquisitive about the US—everything from politics to racial issues to freedom of religion. It was great conversation. Early in our relationship, I was able to share my testimony with him and we both talked about our faith. It was so awesome. I can’t describe the feeling of sharing my faith and worshiping with people half way around the world. It is truly indescribable! The world seems so small at times.
I’m looking forward to our time tomorrow as we have a celebration lunch with all the teachers and students. It will be our chance to say good-bye. Afterward, we will tour through the town of Babati where we have been staying for 1 ½ weeks. We drive through it all the time to get to the school, but have never gotten out to visit. It is the picture of devastation as young children and adults just wander the streets. The stores are so dilapidated and run down. It is surely a third world town.
Thursday and Friday we head on a safari and then shopping in Arusha on Saturday. Sunday we will attend a local church service and then unwind at our hotel before heading off to the airport later in the afternoon.
Each evening, I try to just pour my heart out in a blog without much review of what I’ve written. Sometimes I’m simply overwhelmed when I reflect on all the ways I’ve seen Jesus here in Tanzania. I can’t do justice to Him and how He has been moving in a short blog. But rest assured He is fully present in my life and growing in boldness and might. I am so excited to be His child and love how He chooses to work in my life. He is so good and so powerful, yet so incredibly intimate. Blessed be His name!!
May God bless you and keep you! See you soon.
Monday, August 4, 2008
God is great and God is good--Every day!
It was a really nice day of work. We’ve accomplished so much in 6 days. And tomorrow is our last work day. We have a celebration lunch on Wednesday at the school, so everyone can say good-bye and then Thursday and Friday we head off on our safari. As hard as we work, though, I don’t feel a bit tired in the evenings. I’m actually rejuvenated at the end of the day. It is funny, but when you’re working for Jesus, it doesn’t seem like work at all.
I was so thrilled and thankful this morning. There has been something on my mind the last few days and I really prayed earnestly about it last night. God answered my prayer in a really powerful way first thing this morning. I thanked Him all day. It is simply so much fun to watch God work. It moves me to tears to see Him answer prayers, move in my life and explode in ways I never thought possible. This trip is continued confirmation that God has big things planned for me and as long as I continue to trust and obey, my faith will be rewarded. And hope in God never disappoints…Romans 5:5 tells us that “hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by Holy Spirit…”
Last night we had more wonderful discussions as we deepened relationships. We talked about how exciting it is to have God at the center of your life and living that way really eliminates bad days for the most part. It doesn’t mean difficulties don’t come your way, but knowing Who is in control and that He is working for your good regardless of what is happening at the moment keeps everything in perspective. We also talked about poverty and what the real definition of it is. As a Westerner, it’s easy to compare everyone to our way of living, but God created each child here in Babati for a purpose and loves them just the same as me. So why do I think very few clothes or living with several generations of family or walking all day for water is a bad thing…through our discussions I began to change my views just slightly…we blurred the lines, but we surely didn’t define them. We did come to one absolute—the most important thing above all else is spiritual nourishment, because even in the most desolate circumstances, God can protect, heal, comfort and change lives.
Yes, God is good and He is working in fabulous ways in my life whether here in Babati, Tanzania or in Danville, In. I am so thankful that He calls me His child and he continues to guide me, to teach me, to protect me and most importantly to draw me closer to Him.
Bwana Asifiwe! (Praise the Lord)
I was so thrilled and thankful this morning. There has been something on my mind the last few days and I really prayed earnestly about it last night. God answered my prayer in a really powerful way first thing this morning. I thanked Him all day. It is simply so much fun to watch God work. It moves me to tears to see Him answer prayers, move in my life and explode in ways I never thought possible. This trip is continued confirmation that God has big things planned for me and as long as I continue to trust and obey, my faith will be rewarded. And hope in God never disappoints…Romans 5:5 tells us that “hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by Holy Spirit…”
Last night we had more wonderful discussions as we deepened relationships. We talked about how exciting it is to have God at the center of your life and living that way really eliminates bad days for the most part. It doesn’t mean difficulties don’t come your way, but knowing Who is in control and that He is working for your good regardless of what is happening at the moment keeps everything in perspective. We also talked about poverty and what the real definition of it is. As a Westerner, it’s easy to compare everyone to our way of living, but God created each child here in Babati for a purpose and loves them just the same as me. So why do I think very few clothes or living with several generations of family or walking all day for water is a bad thing…through our discussions I began to change my views just slightly…we blurred the lines, but we surely didn’t define them. We did come to one absolute—the most important thing above all else is spiritual nourishment, because even in the most desolate circumstances, God can protect, heal, comfort and change lives.
Yes, God is good and He is working in fabulous ways in my life whether here in Babati, Tanzania or in Danville, In. I am so thankful that He calls me His child and he continues to guide me, to teach me, to protect me and most importantly to draw me closer to Him.
Bwana Asifiwe! (Praise the Lord)
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Children, Canoes and Hippos
What an incredible way to spend a Sunday. We joined the children for their Sunday service this morning over at the school. Every where we go, we are so welcomed and appreciated. It is a wonderful feeling. We listened to the children’s choir sing and then the preacher spoke from Isaiah. He spoke almost exclusively in Swahili. Sometimes we get an interpreter and sometimes not. Today there was none, so I had to concentrate hard to pick up a few words. But I could still feel the Spirit. There is something so powerful about worshiping the same God half way around the world. At the end of the service, everyone forms a line and you shake hands down the line and then step to the end. After everyone does that, you will shake hands with everyone who attended service. It was a very nice touch.
We had a wonderful Indian lunch after coming home. It was catered by one of the teachers at the school. We eat so much and so many different things here. Yesterday, we had Antelope for dinner. It was fixed like roast beef. It was incredibly tender and simply delightful. For breakfast this morning, we had warthog ham. It, too, was delicious. I will say that I’ve had my fill of white rice. We have it every single day in one way or another, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoy all the meals.
This afternoon we had a wonderful, peaceful canoe ride across Lake Babati looking for hippopotamuses. The canoes were made from a dug out fig tree. I love being out on the water and it was great to be in the canoes and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. We did see 6 hippos—2 big ones and 4 babies. We had to stay at a distance, because they are dangerous in the wild. But the scenery was great. And we topped it off after we returned to shore with a traditional African dance. I joined in the dance and had a fun time.
When we arrived at the lake, there were a lot of families and a ton of kids down near the water washing clothes and hanging out. These are just local families and the devastation of the poverty never gets old with me. Seeing the kids in filthy rags, playing in mud and dirt is so hard on my heart. I believe God has sent me here partly to get my heart broken and bring the message back to my mission field, Danville, IN. How that plays out…well…I’ll have to wait on the Lord…
Well, we are getting ready to eat dinner. Kelli has made homemade pizzas tonight. What a treat. I can’t wait. I look forward to after dinner discussions as I deepen relationships, laugh and encourage one another.
How great is our God! I see Him, I feel Him, and I love Him with all my heart!!
We had a wonderful Indian lunch after coming home. It was catered by one of the teachers at the school. We eat so much and so many different things here. Yesterday, we had Antelope for dinner. It was fixed like roast beef. It was incredibly tender and simply delightful. For breakfast this morning, we had warthog ham. It, too, was delicious. I will say that I’ve had my fill of white rice. We have it every single day in one way or another, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoy all the meals.
This afternoon we had a wonderful, peaceful canoe ride across Lake Babati looking for hippopotamuses. The canoes were made from a dug out fig tree. I love being out on the water and it was great to be in the canoes and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. We did see 6 hippos—2 big ones and 4 babies. We had to stay at a distance, because they are dangerous in the wild. But the scenery was great. And we topped it off after we returned to shore with a traditional African dance. I joined in the dance and had a fun time.
When we arrived at the lake, there were a lot of families and a ton of kids down near the water washing clothes and hanging out. These are just local families and the devastation of the poverty never gets old with me. Seeing the kids in filthy rags, playing in mud and dirt is so hard on my heart. I believe God has sent me here partly to get my heart broken and bring the message back to my mission field, Danville, IN. How that plays out…well…I’ll have to wait on the Lord…
Well, we are getting ready to eat dinner. Kelli has made homemade pizzas tonight. What a treat. I can’t wait. I look forward to after dinner discussions as I deepen relationships, laugh and encourage one another.
How great is our God! I see Him, I feel Him, and I love Him with all my heart!!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Village
Today I had the opportunity to get more deeply immersed in the Tanzanian culture. We traveled about an hour to the village of Kiru for a Children of Promise meeting. This organization’s primary mission is to spiritually feed the poorest of the poor in the region. Through the sponsorship of people in the states, these kids get their education paid for, other supplies and the financial support they need to help make a difference in their lives and others.
All the children being sponsored in this village, came together to exchange letters their sponsors had sent and allow those in charge of the program to touch base with them and their parents. The kids sang for us, we gave them blankets and then as we waited for lunch to be served. As we waited, 3 of us ladies gathered in large circle with many of the kids and sang songs with them. We would alternate between English and Swahili songs. They laughed and really seemed to enjoy the singing and interaction with us. They are so fascinated with white people. It was truly a joyous time.
I eat very well here and certainly will have put on a few pounds when I return. Breakfast and dinner is always at our missionary’s home (and it is fabulous), but lunch is always authentic Tanzanian food. It is good, but they eat the same thing almost everyday--rice, a stew to pour over the rice and a veggie of sorts. Today, they killed the goat shortly before we arrived as the hide was still hanging in the tree. And they don’t waste a thing when making the stew—the stomach, intestines, veins and all go in the stew. It takes a bit of getting used to, but that’s how they eat. Bananas are very prevalent here and we have them at almost every lunch. They are very small, but with pretty much the same texture as the ones in the states. I like the food, but sometimes I must tread with caution on certain dishes, because once you take it, it’s highly offensive not to eat it all.
After being in country for over a week, I still cannot get used to the grotesque poverty that exits here. The horrendous shacks that serve as homes, no running water, and small children (5-7 years old) carrying and caring for their younger siblings. The filth and what would appear as disgustingly unsanitary conditions are simply a way of life.
I can only do a small part to help, so I have decided to support a 4 year old boy from Kiru. I also plan to add to the standard support, so he can get a private Christian education at Aldersgate rather than a government education which is not so good here. As Mother Teresa often said, “We can’t do great things, but only small things with great love.” So helping one young boy by giving him a chance at hope with an education and by making God’s Word a part of his life will at least make a difference to him. I am so thankful that I have been blessed with the resources to help. Thanks be to God!
I will miss my rafiki (friend) Jeremiah. I had to say goodbye to him today. We talked a lot over the past week and I got to know him on a very personal level. He is a special man working hard to please God and follow the plan He has laid out for him. Kiru is Jeremiah’s village, so it was particularly special for me to visit and sponsor a child from there.
What an incredible blessing it has been thus far. I have not the words to describe. I miss my boys terribly, but stay focused completely on my time here. I don’t want to miss a single thing that God has waiting for me, because I’m preoccupied. And it is easy to be fully immersed. I feel at home here without a doubt.
Peace.
All the children being sponsored in this village, came together to exchange letters their sponsors had sent and allow those in charge of the program to touch base with them and their parents. The kids sang for us, we gave them blankets and then as we waited for lunch to be served. As we waited, 3 of us ladies gathered in large circle with many of the kids and sang songs with them. We would alternate between English and Swahili songs. They laughed and really seemed to enjoy the singing and interaction with us. They are so fascinated with white people. It was truly a joyous time.
I eat very well here and certainly will have put on a few pounds when I return. Breakfast and dinner is always at our missionary’s home (and it is fabulous), but lunch is always authentic Tanzanian food. It is good, but they eat the same thing almost everyday--rice, a stew to pour over the rice and a veggie of sorts. Today, they killed the goat shortly before we arrived as the hide was still hanging in the tree. And they don’t waste a thing when making the stew—the stomach, intestines, veins and all go in the stew. It takes a bit of getting used to, but that’s how they eat. Bananas are very prevalent here and we have them at almost every lunch. They are very small, but with pretty much the same texture as the ones in the states. I like the food, but sometimes I must tread with caution on certain dishes, because once you take it, it’s highly offensive not to eat it all.
After being in country for over a week, I still cannot get used to the grotesque poverty that exits here. The horrendous shacks that serve as homes, no running water, and small children (5-7 years old) carrying and caring for their younger siblings. The filth and what would appear as disgustingly unsanitary conditions are simply a way of life.
I can only do a small part to help, so I have decided to support a 4 year old boy from Kiru. I also plan to add to the standard support, so he can get a private Christian education at Aldersgate rather than a government education which is not so good here. As Mother Teresa often said, “We can’t do great things, but only small things with great love.” So helping one young boy by giving him a chance at hope with an education and by making God’s Word a part of his life will at least make a difference to him. I am so thankful that I have been blessed with the resources to help. Thanks be to God!
I will miss my rafiki (friend) Jeremiah. I had to say goodbye to him today. We talked a lot over the past week and I got to know him on a very personal level. He is a special man working hard to please God and follow the plan He has laid out for him. Kiru is Jeremiah’s village, so it was particularly special for me to visit and sponsor a child from there.
What an incredible blessing it has been thus far. I have not the words to describe. I miss my boys terribly, but stay focused completely on my time here. I don’t want to miss a single thing that God has waiting for me, because I’m preoccupied. And it is easy to be fully immersed. I feel at home here without a doubt.
Peace.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Preaching the Word
It is so hard to believe that I have been in Tanzania for 1 week. Each day is packed with lessons from God, blessings from the students and teachers and pure joy. I can’t wait each day to get started to see where Jesus shows up. I am being “transformed by the little glories of each day” as Amy Carmichael so often prayed. And the added bonus is that these wonderful daily glories are occurring on the continent of Africa, half a world away from where I call home. I am amazed at the goodness of the Lord. He shows up to teach, strengthen, guide and confound me in ways I never thought possible. Blessed be His name!
Today was another phenomenal day with Jesus. I suppose the word got out a bit after I taught bible class yesterday, so they asked me to preach at the Chapel service for the primary school students and teachers. I love sharing God’s Word more than anything else in the world. I had the opportunity to go through the salvation story with them, remind them they were a child of God and made in His image and then impress upon them that God’s Word is to be lived out by obeying Him and giving Him praise no matter the circumstances. I ended with them repeating the phrase, “Even when I’m having a bad day, God is still good.” It was without a doubt the highlight of my day. I am so blessed that God sees fit to use me in even the smallest way clear over here in Tanzania.
There continues to be great interaction with the children. They are so thrilled with a digital camera. I take there picture and then immediately show it to them. Few of them have mirrors, so they never get to see themselves. It is so much fun to let them gather around. They will line up just to see their picture. But the excitement is not limited to kids. There is this tiny shop on the school grounds that sells sodas and such. It seems to be the gathering place. I took a picture of 2 secondary school teachers from a distance and when they saw what I did they got so tickled and beckoned me over. They wanted more pictures and their faces just lit up with joy.
The evenings continue to be a wonderful ending to a great day. We eat wonderfully, blessed meals and then do devotions. Afterward, we continue to chat and deepen relationships. And then when 11pm comes, I am zonked. I sleep with a mosquito net around my bed to avoid bites and malaria and ear plugs to keep out all the sounds of dogs, chickens and other noises from the town. It works. I have been sleeping so soundly and awaken refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Tomorrow we are visiting a village an hour away and attending a church service. I’m so looking forward to being more fully immersed in the culture. It should be an exciting day. And it will be nice to have a day off of work.
Peace to all of you. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and your love.
Today was another phenomenal day with Jesus. I suppose the word got out a bit after I taught bible class yesterday, so they asked me to preach at the Chapel service for the primary school students and teachers. I love sharing God’s Word more than anything else in the world. I had the opportunity to go through the salvation story with them, remind them they were a child of God and made in His image and then impress upon them that God’s Word is to be lived out by obeying Him and giving Him praise no matter the circumstances. I ended with them repeating the phrase, “Even when I’m having a bad day, God is still good.” It was without a doubt the highlight of my day. I am so blessed that God sees fit to use me in even the smallest way clear over here in Tanzania.
There continues to be great interaction with the children. They are so thrilled with a digital camera. I take there picture and then immediately show it to them. Few of them have mirrors, so they never get to see themselves. It is so much fun to let them gather around. They will line up just to see their picture. But the excitement is not limited to kids. There is this tiny shop on the school grounds that sells sodas and such. It seems to be the gathering place. I took a picture of 2 secondary school teachers from a distance and when they saw what I did they got so tickled and beckoned me over. They wanted more pictures and their faces just lit up with joy.
The evenings continue to be a wonderful ending to a great day. We eat wonderfully, blessed meals and then do devotions. Afterward, we continue to chat and deepen relationships. And then when 11pm comes, I am zonked. I sleep with a mosquito net around my bed to avoid bites and malaria and ear plugs to keep out all the sounds of dogs, chickens and other noises from the town. It works. I have been sleeping so soundly and awaken refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Tomorrow we are visiting a village an hour away and attending a church service. I’m so looking forward to being more fully immersed in the culture. It should be an exciting day. And it will be nice to have a day off of work.
Peace to all of you. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and your love.
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