Heri ya Krismasi!

 Christmas in Musoma... It was caroling with our director's family and friends, cookie decorating with my teaching friends, Skyping with family... and much more. I am thankful for a lively, lovely group of fellow Wycliffe missionaries. I am thankful to be a part of my family from afar. I am thankful for God's providence of two good night guards and other things to keep our house safe. I am thankful for God arranging the history of the world to show us our need for Christ and to bring Him into the world for us. I know, it's not Thanksgiving anymore, but I'm still thankful!

Beginning

I've been in school observing and having meetings this week. Here is one of my colleagues, with two of our students. I'll teach these two for science and art this term. We've decided I'll teach reading/writing/vocab/grammar/spelling for our first grader and our fifth grader in the morning, then science in the afternoon for all four. This plan will give me time to work on policy too. Art will be once a week. I plan to start with a unit on graphic design, so we can design a school logo!
It's exciting to have a better picture for the future!

Wish List

Note: A volunteer from my colleague's church has already offered to purchase the printer.

Advent Sing

This is a picture of the Musoma SIL advent gathering we had last night. We sang carols and read scripture that foretold Christ, and those that show how He fills the foretellings. We had cookies, cinnamon rolls (my contribution), and hot beverages. We watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. My favorite part was staying after with a smaller group to chat, laugh, and utube 80s music videos. You can see some of my new students here in the center of the room. I like this community, and look forward to becoming more a part of it.

Healing in His wings

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

A friend in Dar asked me to paint this mural. It's on a roadside wall, which borders the beach. She wanted the wings to communicate about freedom in Christ... We put it in this very public place since His freedom is available to all. We put it on an old, cement wall to show that God brings beauty out of the mundane. Already, as I was painting, the wings drew people (like this boy from next door) and conversation... about creation, cloud colors, denominations, religion, following Christ, artwork... (all in Swahili I must add!). It was a good project. I'm thankful for the opportunity, and for the message.

Iringa Slide Show

To the right you will see a slide show of all my Iringa photos. You will see pictures from language school, Tanzanian cooking, safari, the local elementary school, cultural events, and more!

Together Again

 I'm thankful that I got to be with my old house mates again for Thanksgiving Day. It feels good to be in Dar... even the humidity feels good:) It's a good rest in between language school and Musoma.

Hongera!

Well, this is me congratulating myself, as "hongera" means congratulations. The stacks of paper you see pictured are all the flashcards I've studied while here at language school for the past ten weeks. Most of those cards are now in the trash, a celebratory measure for the words I know! 
That's not all. I've studied loads of grammar, practiced conversation and story writing, started to read the Bible and the newspaper in Swahili, and taught six geography lessons to third graders. Beyond the academic realm, I got to go on my first real wildlife safari, met lots of neat people, lived at a beautiful campsite, and got back into my mango habit (after the summer away). 
This really isn't a self congratulations. It's a celebration and a thanks to God for the learning and blessings I've experienced here. And now there's one week to go. I plan to depart Saturday, spend two weeks in Dar... then on to MUSOMA!!

Dress in a Day

     Weekend before last, when I was on a homestay in a nearby village, I witnessed the making of a dress in a day. Actually, from measuring to ironing, it only took a few hours. The seamstress, pictured here, measured me, then laid the fabric I'd brought out on the floor. She used her measuring tape very little, relying on her eye. She folded the fabric in different ways, drew a few lines with chalk, then set about cutting. Next the sewing machine was rolled out and the dress came to life. She had me try it on once, adjusted a few things, then wallah! A dress in a day. The price? 8,000 Tanzanian shillings... or about $5.   

Ulonge Elementary

I've started something new, something that adds challenge to my use of Swahili. I'm volunteering twice a week at a local elementary school, speaking only Swahili. I'm working with the third grade, which is 45 kids in one class. I'm pulling out groups of 6 or 7 for about 40 minutes. I'm still getting to know the needs, but some can't read at all, so we'll work on that. Others need work on reading comprehension. Somehow we'll fit in some games and artwork.
You might ask, "why are multiple kids in grade 3 unable to read?" The answer is found in the unfortunate state of current public education. Tanzania is dealing with an overflow of student population and a lack of teachers, especially well-trained teachers and teachers who do their job. Of the 8 times I entered grade 3 on my first day, only 1 time was there a teacher present in the room with them. The other times they were sitting and talking. There were however teachers in the office chatting. From my understanding this is not uncommon. I want to learn more about this issue. I'm sure there is no quick fix, nor one entity to blame. For now, I'm there to observe, and glad to give the kids more educational attention than usual. 

Every Blog Needs One

I've heard that you just need to put a puppy on something to sell it... the same must go for frogs? 
Actually, I consider these more like jail admitance photos, because this guy has been caught entering my room, unwelcomed, three times. The last time it was a red handed situation. Each time he's been kindly ushered out with a flip-flop... but did have to pay the price of a photo shoot. 
I wouldn't really mind, except his entrance means the entrance of more unwelcome guests is possible... I.E. I don't think he's much skinnier than a snake... 

Rythyms of Language School

My life in language school has definite routine. I like that, in contrast to all the travel and lack of schedule this summer (which I also liked). Each morning I read scripture and pray before breakfast. Classes stretch until lunch, with a tea break in between. After lunch come studying, excersise, clothes washing, and resting. Then dinner. I enjoy the communal meal times, chatting with others who are studying or passing through the campsite. The day ends with more studies, recreational reading, and bed. 
Wednesdays I mix it up by going into town to purchase fruit and use the internet. Saturday gets more rest, studying, and maybe a hike and/or international phone call. Sunday there's church and rest. Repeat. 
Actually, this week I'll add something to the schedule; I'm going to start volunteering at an elementary school twice a week instead of class. I'll be here three more weeks, then I graduate and make my way to Musoma... to start a new rythym of living!

Tamaduni Tussle

Tamaduni means cultures in Swahili. Today I found myself tussling with a part of Tanzanian culture. I've been told it's normal to first love everything about adventuring in a new culture. But, after months or years, people usually work through exasperation with the culture and hopefully come to a place of acceptance or understanding.
I was frustrated because, though the land is incredibly dry right now, farmers are burning to clear land for future crops. Today (not the first time) one of the burns got out of hand and swept over a large hill, endangering homes and lives. (The burnt portion in the picture is just a portion.) It came right down to the river, about 10 yards from our location. The wind was low, so it didn't jump to our dry trees. I was frustrated that the person who started the fire didn't use foresight. Also, that the guards at our camp made no preparations to evacuate or water down the thatch roofs, just in case. I thought about another area of life here that is liaise faire and doesn't seem to value life: transportation, with high speeds, unenforced laws, and lack of driver's education and seat belt/helmet use.
However, at the same time I thought of other sides to the issue. One, I often really like the liaise faire attitude; in the states regulations get TOO picky sometimes. Here, if you want to sell bananas on the side of the road, no problem. In fact, if you want to drive on the side of the road, no problem. (I've avoided a lot of traffic jams that way!) Two, when people feel in control, they forget that they ultimately aren't in control, that only God is. Tanzanians seem a lot quicker to say "God willing" ("Mungu akipenda") than Americans. Three, there is a lot of helpful infrastructure and medicine and education in the states that just isn't in Tanzania. People have to live with less control over their lives, so they might not think they can have an effect on their safety.
I'm sure I don't understand this issue completely. It's certainly multi-dimensional. Cultural differences can exasperate, stretch thinking, develop empathy, and of course, create adventure!

Kanisani (In Church)

I've started going to a local church, which is all in Swahili. It's one of the places where I feel uncomfortable snapping a picture, so I drew one instead. (I don't want to draw attention to myself and treat the service like a tourist event.) I drew my favorite part, the singing. Usually a lady sings a verse and the chorus, then we all sing the chorus a few times together. Sometimes there is a drum and/or dancing. At the end of the service we go out into the yard singing, shake hands around a circle, then finish the song facing each other in the circle.
I'm understanding parts of the speaking. If it's a sermon based out of scripture, I can follow that pretty well, because I have a context to work from. The other speaking, prayers, and announcements are hit and miss. I'm going partly to get the practice listening. To make sure I get deep Word and fellowship, I'm listening to downloaded English sermons, and thinking about starting a prayer group at camp.
I also want to make Tanzanian friends at church. This Sunday I walked back to camp with a lady my age who goes to the church and works at the camp as a cleaner. She shared part of her life story; Her husband left his faith and her for another woman and her child died at birth, all around the same time. She seemed resigned to the fact that life is hard, especially life as a Christian. She trusts in Christ for salvation and to open doors for her in the future... at least that's what I understand with my current Swahili abilities! I'm wondering what kind of friendship we have with such different life experiences. 
The church, as with many new experiences, is an adventure, exciting and confusing at the same time.

Different Languages

The heavens declare the glory of God; 
and the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day after day pours forth speach, 
and night after night reveals knowledge.
                                          Psalm 19:1,2

Last Saturday we (fellow Swahili students and I) broke from our studies to hike to a nearby display of God's handiwork. You can see us in the photo, exploring strange columns formed in the red sandy soil of the canyon. We thought the knowledge declared in these stones was pretty clear:). 
Happily, I'm not only reading the language of creation, but I'm also reading lots of Swahili. Today we read a pamphlet about assurance of salvation and dipped into current events via newspaper headlines. My understanding of the language is definitely deepening. 

Just to Prove I'm in Africa...

I know a lot of you must be skeptical about my whereabouts, as lions, elephants, and zebras aren't seen in many of my newsletters nor blog posts. Well, last weekend I went to Ruaha National Park to gather all the proof necessary. The park holds 20,000 acres of undulating hills and open flatland, divided by a meandering river, scattered with acacia trees and other bush. We (two new friends, from Germany and Turkey respectively) had a fabulous guide. He was able to find us virtually every African animal in the books: leopard, lions (one pride gnawing on a buffalo), cheetah, ostriches, warthogs, jackals, elephants, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, impalas, hornbills, pelicans, storks, and many other varieties of birds. I think that just leaves rhino, which is an endangered animal, and extinct in this park. Even our guide was amazed at all we saw, an awesome presentation of God's creativity, sense of humor, peace (except for the buffalo-gnawing part), and beauty.

Who Satisfies You with Good

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
Who forgives all your iniquity,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you 
        with steadfast love and mercy,
Who satisfies you with good so that 
        your youth is renewed like the eagles.
Psalm 103:2-5

I like how the psalmist has to talk to his soul, to remind it to bless the Lord. It's very human to forget His goodness. I've been enjoying language school very much, my teachers and classmates and the leafy environment. Yet, there have been struggles: getting sick from too much oil in food, a few day without the right teacher, a shower that won't drain, bug bites, worrying that I'm not bold enough in Swahili use or my faith, loneliness... But I need to remind my soul that these things pale in comparison to iniquities forgiven, diseases healed, a life redeemed from the pit, the steadfast love and mercy of my Creator... and good (sometimes in the form of guavas and bran muffins, when one's stomach misses such things) that renews my youth.

Cooking in Language School

Last week we had a special day (siku maalum) in language school. We learned how to cook (kupika) traditional Tanzanian food. First (kwanza), we make spiced milk tea and coconut donuts. I got to pound the spices (viungo) with the mortar and pestle... I smelled really good (nilinukia nzuri sana) after that!
We then made many foods with vegetables (mboga), meat (nyama), potatoes (viazi), cornflour (sembe), rice (wali), and LOTS OF OIL (MAFUTA MENGI SANA)!
It was a feast (sherehe). We enjoyed it (tulifaidi)!

Up, Up and Away!

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands.

                                   Isaiah 55:12

After a lovely, full two months in the USA I have returned to Tanzania. The time in the states was full of blessings: friends, churches, family, travels (including a 40 mile circuit of Mt. Hood!), berries, sweatshirt weather, and more. My flight back was peaceful, a good time to reflect and brush up on Swahili. (I lost my computer bag once, but it was thankfully recovered!) Now I am in Dar, visiting my old students and housemates.... and hopefully the beach:) Tomorrow it's time to take a bus ride to Iringa, where I'll begin language study on Monday!

Around the World in Sixty Days

I've continued to enjoy a very full summer. It's been good to visit churches, including the house church I was connected with in Seattle, pictured here. It was lovely to see my Tanzania house-mates in the States. Two are pictured above with the Brooklyn Bridge, NYC. It's been sweet to spend time with family. My mom and brother Michael and I are pictured on our Olympic Peninsula trip. I'm thankful for the love and support I've received in these three mentioned groups, which are just glimpsed in the pictures. I'm thankful for the opportunity to travel; it's made my break seem longer.

God willing, I will go back to the other side of the world on September 2, after 2 months in the USA. I need to cement my financial status before I can leave, and look forward to more trips and visiting in the meantime... Along with a bit of rest!

He Leads Me Beside Streams of Still Waters

Goodness, I left Tanzania, went to Kenya, stopped in Istanbul, arrived in Portland/Camas/Vancouver, visited friends and family, drove to Sunnyside, hiked a couple small mountains, spoke at churches, and am now vacationing at the beach... Lovely, lovely places and people. Yet, at one point in particular all the busyness and different-than-what-I'm-used-to-ness built up to where it didn't feel fun anymore... Then I found myself beside the stream at my parents' house, laying in the moss, reading a very light book (cats who solve murder mysteries). It wasn't ultra-spiritual, but it was a deep refreshment, and I'm thankful He provided it for me.

Goodbye. Hello.

From a house of crazy lovely friends to a group of crazy lovely family and friends! I left Dar (last day of school pictured here), and am now in the Pacific NW (hike up Table Mtn. with family and bro's friends pictured here). I am blessed to have "family" in many cities and even countries. The body of Christ is a theme I wrote about on one of my first blog posts, and I my thankfulness is renewed, as people receive me here with open arms and support me... and as friendships from Tanzania continue.

Reaching Out

At HOPAC Service Learning is highly valued. For older grades, this means weekly class trips into the community and/or on campus service. Primary gears up by developing an understanding of needs and doing smaller service projects.
My class, grade three, gets to focus on disabilities. We visited a craft shop where the workers are people with disabilities. We had Disability Day, where each child was assigned a disability to pretend experience for the day. They have also watched movies and had many in class discussions.
Last Friday we got to go to a hospital in Dar where children with disabilities receive treatment for free. My kids got to tour the facilities. They saw people with cleft palates, missing limbs, bone and face deformities, and more... very eye opening for some. Then my kids got to do a craft with the kids at the hospital, and share a snack of juice and cookies.
My students enjoyed the smiles of the kids getting to color, and were impressed with the talents they saw. They felt sorry for the kids and enjoyed seeing how the hospital helps.
I hope and pray this experience stays in their minds as they grow, especially because these kids at HOPAC have the means, educational and otherwise, to become powerful agents in Tanzania and abroad.

Bible Translation News Clip

This news clip talks about the progress in Bible translation happening in recent years. It shows the work and people enjoying the Word. Even though it's about Wycliffe work in general, I noticed many parts are from Africa, and at least some from Tanzania, as I recognized two of the translation consultants!

Your Race

"...Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith...."

Hebrews 12:1-2

This is my student and me after our school's 5K fun run. I haven't run a lot, but took it up for the 5K. My student was funny, because he would walk the race until he saw me closing in on him. Then he would sprint enough to make sure I didn't catch up. 

For me, I was thinking about how I didn't have to compete with other people, but only focus on the race marked out for ME... My goal was to run the whole thing, and finish faster than last year. Other people passed me and pushed on for other goals. I was thinking of the metaphor between races and life, and that God doesn't give us all the same race, the same challenges to meet and good works to do. It's been a struggle here, in a community of missionaries, not to compare my life with others in a destructive way. 

I haven't completely figured it out, but I do know that the solution is looking to Jesus, and His work that supplies my righteousness and continues to work righteousness in me. It's not trying to find or make righteousness in myself, which is what I naturally tend to do.

Zambia Slideshow

See more photos from our Easter trip to Zambia in the slideshow, to the right.

The Power of a Word

Translating Luke

The Mbe translation team in Nigeria was translating Luke 2:7: “She [Mary] gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”

Taking translation to villages

For the word “manger," the translators immediately used the word “ókpáng.” “What’s an ókpáng?” asked their consultant. One of the translators drew a picture of a traditional cradle hung by ropes so that the newborn could be laid in it and swung comfortably. 

The consultant asked the translators to check the commentaries and notice that the word in the original text meant animal trough.

The next weekend they read the story of Jesus’ birth to many church groups and individuals people in Mbe villages. Often the translators had to explain the reason they had chosen to use " ɛ́dzábrí," instead of the familiar word  “ókpáng.” . As the Mbe people listened, they were visibly moved. 

Picturing the newborn Baby lying in the animals’ feeding basket, they recognized in a new way that Jesus was willing to do whatever it took to reach them. No word in Scripture is too unimportant to translate carefully and accurately. Even the word for a baby’s bed—accurately translated—can show people the lengths to which God will go to reach them, to reach us.

Summarized from a letter by Bob Creson, President/CEO Wycliffe USA

Nuru Center

 Nuru means light in Swahili. The Nuru Center supports people with disabilities, helping them learn and market crafts in Dar es Salaam. People with disabilities are often marginalized in Tanzania.

My kids got to visit the center on a field trip. They received a lesson in sign language, then the artisans taught them how to make paper beads and bookmarks made from cut banana leaves. It was a great experience for my kids, to show them that people with disabilities have much to give. They were impressed that people with disabilities should be treated well, as they are God's creation. Hopefully they will remember this day as some of them grow up to be leaders in Tanzania.

One of my students was especially endearing. He has learned English and Swahili in the past two years (after he came from Germany). He dove right into Sign Language, greeting and asking questions of his craft instructor!

Easter Messages Spoken Via the Zambezi Swing

During our Easter Break trip, two of my friends and I experienced 170 feet of gravity in the Zambezi Gorge. It was an exhilarating experience, which God used to remind me of a few things in HIS character. He used Kulu, the man who you will see helping me jump off the cliff in this video clip, to demonstrate these things. I pray I will remember and apply them as I finish my time at HOPAC and move into the next step.

1. Trust the speaker, who has earned the trust by what he has shown. His voice is sure, clear, strong, and under control.
2. Listen. Don’t dwell on it. Just obey. 3-2-1-step… then it’s exhilarating.
3. I think it would be harder to step if you had doubted and faltered the first time.
4. Yet He firmly and kindly assures and guides those who falter… lifts the chin, asks them to look in his eyes, and leads them through, nudges even.
5. He treats each one differently, as they need.
6. The first moments after the step are the scariest, and most exhilarating. Then it is joy. Joy to see the creation around you and to know you stepped.
7. But during those scary moments you can’t go back. You already stepped in faith. It is out of your hands and in the hands of what and who you have trusted. 

Mosi oa Tunya!!

Mosi oa Tunya is the original name for Victoria Falls. I got to take a train/bus trip with four friends to Livingstone, Zambia, right by the falls. God blessed us with so many lovely sights and fun surprises, like this bull elephant emerging from the water right by our vehicle! We got to try fried caterpillar, go on a bike safari, and jump 170 feet off the side of the gorge (on a "swing"). We celebrated Easter with the Word, communion, and singing, even dancing, on the shores of the Zambezi. Glorious. And now for the last term!

Finit!

About 10 pm last night, Emily and I put the last brushstrokes on the last two murals... And now they are finished! It was really fun, and I hope that God has more muraling planned for my future, but it's also really nice to be done! I've enjoyed working with the kids to design and execute these, and with Emily and all the people that helped us. Time for a Sabbath rest:)