Cute

That's what they are... cute. Also, fun, intelligent, introspective, growing, kind, entertaining...

These are the kids I've been teaching this semester. And the semester is over, as of Friday.

It's been good. I'm glad it's time for a break. I look forward to next semester.

That's it. (Not that I'm usually verbose, but today is short and sweet because I'm tired out!)

Pascaria's Angels

Today we had some lovely guests: Pascaria, her sister, niece, and 5 assorted kids. It was a Christmasy celebration, with gifts, reading of Luke in the Kwaya language, traditional food (pilau, a spiced rice dish, and soda pop), and games. And, Ronit and I got to introduce them all to ice cream and Frisbee for the first time ever!

For gifts, we gave this angel collage I made and some other things; they brought us matching kangas (they are like sarongs, but they have a Swahili proverb. Ours say "TUVUMILIANE TUSIKOSANE KWA JAMBO DOGO," which means "We shouldn't sin against each other over small issues.") You can see me wearing it in the Frisbee photo.

It was a really nice day.

And soon I'll continue celebrating Christmas, but in my childhood culture! Airplane, here I come!

Joy to Musoma

My housemate, 7 new friends, and I got into a Land Cruiser last Wednesday and covertly cruised around Musoma, spreading Christmas cheer. We stopped at a missionary family's house, jumped out, lured them to their gates with melodic song, sang a little more, gave some cookies, then jumped back in the vehicle for another go. Times 9.

My favorite stop was number 2. These boys were surprised in their baths*. The younger brother was completely comfortable with an audience of carolers. The older brother stayed in his crouch for all our songs.

Overall, it was good to sing and re-sing the carols, meditating on the wonder and grace of Christ: "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

*Disclaimer: I do not take pictures of kids in baths. Their father offered and I couldn't refuse the hilarity of the situation being recorded:)

Turkey Turkey Turkey

There are enough missionaries from the USA in Musoma to have two Thanksgiving dinners. The first group met yesterday and ate this handsome bird.

It was lovely to gather on a family's porch in the afternoon breeze, sharing food made from scratch and good conversation. Lots of conversation was about family traditions back home! I think mid-bite photos are a Thanksgiving tradition in my family, so this action shot made me smile.

Tomorrow the second group will meet (the group that was working yesterday!). And, yes, yours truly will be there too... I think the only Musoman to attend to Thanksgiving dinners in one week. A record. But those who know me will not be surprised.

Dried Fish and Acceptance

No, it's not a culinary ad. It's not waxing poetical on TZ cuisine, nor disdain. (We all have our own opinions on dried sardines!)

It's about acceptance. Our neighbor Makwasa, when he visited and told Ronit and me about his need, offered us "dagaa," dried sardines. Our first thought was, "No, we don't like to eat them..." But Makwasa was so excited about them, how they were good food, fried in peanut oil.

So we accepted. And we prepared them. And we ate them. We don't love them much, but it was good to remember, as Makwasa said, "It is better to give than receive, so you bless me when you accept." And we were blessed by the giving.

A Need

Ronit and I got to know our neighbor, Makwasa, and his family better when they had us over for dinner a couple months ago. Makwasa is the dad. He and his wife, Mama Deborah, have four kids. They are Seventh Day Adventists, welcoming, a nice family.

It's good to have the friendly relationship. We've brought them cookies; they've given us sugar cane...

A big cultural difference between Tanzania and the USA is that money is a normal part of relationships. It's not weird or shameful to ask for money. If someone has money and friends or family members have needs, it's normal to give loans and/or gifts on a regular basis.

For me, coming from the USA, this is strange, because I think money should not be a factor in a friendship. But I want to understand and be a part of this culture. This is also challenging, because Jesus said, "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." (Matthew 5:42) This sounds pretty clear, but I struggle to just do it unequivocally, partly because I am asked all the time.

And Makwasa just asked Ronit and me for help, but he actually asked if we would ask our friends, because he has a big need. He had a life-threatening stomach issue and went to India this year for surgery. (He even showed us his endoscopic photos!) Now, the end of the school year, he is coming up $1,300 short on school fees. I want to honor his request and share this need. If you feel led, I can give more information. He needs to know by Thanksgiving weekend.

Paper Bananas

Art yesterday was Matisse-style... I told the kids they had to draw with scissors; no pencils allowed. They were impressed with the challenge.

My demo was this paper drawing. It's the bananas growing on the tree in our yard... lovingly cared for by our guard Shoka. He's floating through the air, which brings in a little Chagall-style. I'm excited; we have 3 trumpets of bananas on the way!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Well, I know that Halloween just happened (but not in Tanzania), and Thanksgiving is still coming (for a few of us in Tanzania), but Christmas is more fun to decorate for... so that's what my house mate and I did Saturday night.

A creche from Israel, a black bear from Canada, a clay man and Elephant from Tanzania... the elephant sporting a hand made hiking backpack from America that looks like it's from India. I'm pleased and amused:)

And they are all there focusing on a baby... the Word made flesh, who was headed to a cross thirty-some years later, to die for the sins of all men. He offers us eternal life if we put our faith in Him. It's a faith that transforms. Even though I've been thinking about it for years, there is so much to truly know... so I'm glad we got started early.

Welcome to the Wild Side!

Who wouldn't want to teach these students along with these teachers?!

We at LVLC are looking and praying for a teacher to join us.

If you or someone you know might be interested, there is more information at teachers-in-service.org... or contact me!

Simbiti Makes Her Smile

Here's a lady from the Simbiti tribe, one of the languages the office is translating the Bible into here in Musoma. She's reading a booklet that teaches people how to read in their mother tongue. (Many people can read and speak Swahili, but only speak their mother tongue.) These booklets prepare people to read scripture in their mother tongues.

I love the smile. I also love that I got this photo from a post by one of our Tanzanian translators. Both the smile and the post show me that the translation work brings joy. That encourages me, as I support the work by teaching a group of kids!

May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace
in believing
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Seven Happy Birthday Blessings

1. Monday: Surprise birthday party at an LVLC family's home. I know it LOOKS like Christmas, but that's just because the kids enjoyed piling stuffed animals on my lap and gracing my head with a Santa hat. 
2. Breakfast: hot coffee and homemade carrot cake... fresh coconut, pineapple, dates, and all!!
3. Classroom: Sneakily decorated by a mom the night before... during a rain storm.
4. Phone calls: Mom took the morning shift and Dad the evening.
5. Presents: Jokes, a hand-drawn kangaroo rat, tea, fruit leather, and more!
6. Verse: "The old is gon, the noo has com." I think it's still phonetically OK, so I don't feel bad about my teaching. And I appreciate the reminder of spiritual rebirth from this 1st grader.
7. Dinner: A tasty, saucy pork dish at a nearby roadside cafe... maybe Ronit and I will become regulars and it will be like Cheers, where everyone knows our names.

Makuburini

Makuburi means grave in Swahili. My friend Pascaria invited me to come celebrate the making of her brother's grave. (He died in 1998, but the family was just last week able to make the sculpted cement grave cover.) I was at work during the making of the grave, but came afterward for the food part. Pascaria asked me to take photos of all the family cooking and eating. It was fun to have a job!

After a big meal of duck, rice, and soda we walked 15 minutes to the grave site for more photos. I'm pictured here with one of Pascaria's sisters and her niece, the daughter of the deceased. Thankfully, I remembered not to smile, my normal reaction to a camera, since these were somber pictures.

I appreciated being included and the opportunity to spend time with Pascaria's family.

Still Flapp'n

I was happy this week when my friend from Dar sent me this picture of the wings I painted on her wall last November. It's fun to know that they're still in use.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
2 CORINTHIANS 3:17

Helium Balloons of the Spirit

As in the last term, we start each day with  a devotional from Jesus Calling,  by Sarah Young. One morning this week we read this one, "Live in My light." (Yes, I know it's not the month of May.)

The kids heard the metaphor of shame, guilt, self-pity, etc... being rocks in a backpack weighing us down, then they immediately made a new metaphor: love, mercy, forgiveness, etc... must be helium balloons that lift us up when we trust in Christ's death for our forgiveness.

So I think we have a new modern-day parable. I'm sure Jesus would have spoken about helium balloons when he taught about freedom from sin, only in His time period no one would have understood!

House Tour

Welcome to my home. My housemate, Ronit, put this little video together. You'll even get to see me and our guard dogs, Zevi and Chui... though they aren't looking very ferocious. (The vehicle isn't ours; we were just borrowing it for a night.)

We're really thankful for our lovely home. It's cheerful and manageable to care for, a good price and convenient location. I'm really thankful for Ronit too, because sharing the house with her is a big part of it feeling like a home. God blesses abundantly.

Cat's Cradle and a Cat

I'm teaching a mini history unit on first peoples of North America and Australia (the two countries currently represented at LVLC). This week we learned about the Plains and Southwest Native Americans.

We learned about buffalo hunts and pueblos. The kids got to try shooting a bow and arrow, basket weaving, and playing Cat's Cradle, which Plains children played.

In art we focused on compositions that emphasize an important detail. This is sort of the LVLC mascot, Orio the Cat.

Hope Restored

In Dar my kids joined in my enjoyment of mermaids, quite often adorning a math paper or spelling test with one or two for my pleasure.

I had thought my new students found mermaids silly, so was heartened to see a few spontaneously arise in our last art class.

Parachichi Zangu

Parachichi Zangu = My Avacados.

They grow on my tree.
They are creamy.
And beautiful.
That's all.

Cooking with Pascaria

On Saturday my friend Pascaria came over to show my housemate and I how to cook a duck. She graciously brought one of the ducks that her family breeds and sells from their yard. She showed us how to pour boiling water over the duck and pluck its feathers, roast it a bit over the charcoal stove, then cut it up and cook it in its own (AMPLE) oil. The flavor was rich and bacony.

Back at LVLC!

 We finished our first week back at Lake Victoria Learning Center. Here I am with our entire student population... all three grades mixed together for history.

We're learning about first peoples of North America and Australia. The kids are showing off what they learned about Iroquois pictographs.

It's been a good week. I'm thankful for wisdom, smiling kids, fun subjects, and weekend rest.

Sink Monster

What do you do if your plumbing has air intake problems, making sonorous grumbles and growls, and your students are scared to wash their hands?

Well, you Google for the cutest, pinkest picture of a monster, print it out, and give it a speech bubble: "Hello! Welcome to my sink. Sorry if I burp loud. I don't mean to scare you." Then the kids actually bond with the sink (monster) instead of fear it... and their hands are clean.

The Princess and the Pea

This is mattress shopping, Musoma-style. I was borrowing a bed until recently, so just bought my own. Oh! The bliss! So many patterns! So many colors! Only, do you pick one for beauty or quality?!

Oh my... so sleepy... I'm in the middle of planning for the semester, which begins Monday, and my brain energy expenditure has been high. The new mattress calls to me...

I'M BAAAACK!

I forgot I have a blog for awhile. It was the traveling I suppose. I got to go visit one of my former housemates from Dar in NORTHERN IRELAND! It was green and lovely. I am thankful for the get-away and rest.

Now I'm back in Musoma. I have a new housemate, Ronit... and we spent our first two days together picking out colors and painting her new room. So fun. The colors are Clay Pot and Butterscotch. Names are important to the enjoyment of color. It was a good time to get to know each other too.

Tomorrow I will head to the classroom for the first time. I'm excited, but expecting to feel a bit overwhelmed. There's a lot to do!

Tanzanian 4th

Who would have thought that I would have an amazing 4th of July bash in Tanzania?

Red, white, and blue on all.
Watermelon-spitting contests.
Homemade fireworks.
Roasting hot dogs.
Apple pie.
Patriotic songs around the campfire.

I'm thankful for these fun and lovely people I'm getting to know in Musoma.

Illuminated Letters

These are from a recent art lesson. The kids studied Medieval Times in history this term, so I taught about calligraphy and illuminated texts. Then they chose their favorite verses to write with illuminated letters. You can see one of my students is from Germany!

Help Wanted!!

Lake Victoria Learning Center in Musoma, Tanzania is in urgent need of an elementary teacher to join their team. If you are a certified teacher with at least one year of experience, then this is a great opportunity to work in a unique multi-level, non-traditional setting which enables many missionary families to continue their work in Tanzania.  If God is calling you to this ministry, we’d love to explore the options with you. We would like to have you in country by July 2015 with a commitment of at least 18 months. Please contact Toby Mak in the Uganda-Tanzania Branch’s Human Resources Department at recruitment_utb@sil.org.

That's an official announcement, released by our team here in Musoma. We do need a teacher... partially so I can take a furlough in January 2016 without leaving LVLC high and dry. And notice that new logo, designed by my art students!!

Fresh Photos!!

Check out the slideshow, playing to the right, for fresh batch of photos... all taken since I arrived in Musoma!

For Me the Bell Rings

In Downton Abbey the employers rang bells so the employees would come. In my house, not quite an abbey, it's different. When I hear the bells ring I know that I'm to come to the door to see what my employee wants. It all started when I didn't quite hear the traditional "hodi" called by my guard when he had a question. Then he tried the bells (hung by the door for decoration) and I heard them and came right away. Ever since my body automatically gets up and goes to the door at a jingle. I feel a little like a genie in a bottle... maybe because the bells are Middle-Eastern style... maybe because I appear in an instant to see what he wishes.

And yes, it is a strange experience to be an employer in my own home. It's a necessity, security-wise. It's a luxury, yard-and-dog-care-wise. It's great for Swahili practice. And to top it off, it's good and fun to have a friendly connection with these good TZ guys.

Pizza Church!

It was a quiet Saturday morning when my phone buzzed in a text message: "Would you like to come to pizza church at 10 am tomorrow?" Who ever knew there was a pizza church in Musoma?!!

I did not, could not, refuse this mysterious invitation.

On Sunday my housemate and I arrived (at the home of our students) for pizza church. We started with some guitar-led singing. Then we acted out the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, as the father read it aloud. I got to be King Ahaz. We shared some "fresh bread," things that have recently impacted us in the Word.

Next was the pizza part. My student taught me how it's done... but I showed him a couple new tricks too... like cat pizzas and moon pizzas. Altogether a delicious experience.

New Friends

This is a time where I don't feel comfortable taking a picture... yet. So you get this sketch and word list. I'll explain.

I met a lady named Paskaria on my road. (Paskaria comes from "Pasaka," which means Easter... because she was born on Easter!) She is from Musoma. She said she wanted to be my friend. I smiled and said I like friends.

Even though it's a very busy road, we met again the next week. That day she invited me to her house, which is a culturally normal thing to do with people you don't really know... Whether or not it means they REALLY want you to come I haven't figured out yet:). So I said "Karibu" (welcome) to her too, as I turned off to my house.

Now she's stopped by my place a few times. I've served water or tea. Then last weekend I went to her house. She introduced me to her six kids, mother, two sisters, a niece, and two uncles... whew! They served me a yummy lunch of fish and sweet potatoes, along with a soda, which is a generous offering since they aren't well off. She also taught me five words in Kikwaya, her mother tounge... hence the word list.

Two interesting aspects of the visit: One, I used drawing to break the ice with the kids. They were really shy at first, but when I started drawing they got very excited, asking for bats and elephants and the such. One daughter drew me these fish! And two, money. Relationships in Tanzania include money. That's weird for a westerner... to have a friend ask for money or things. So I'll have to feel that part out prayerfully.

So we'll see... If the friendship continues well you'll get to see photos of PEOPLE instead of paper.

Kikabwa Jesus Film Premier!

Last Monday night attended the premier of the Jesus Film in the Kabwa language. Our team worked with Jesus Film to translate and record the dubbing. Then both organizations worked with a group from Christian Motorcycle Association (who zoomed up from South Africa!) to release it. Many Kabwa people responded to the gospel message shared at the end of the film; some showed up at the houses of Tanzanian translators the next morning asking what to do next! It's exciting to see the fruits God's producing in our team's labors.

Why I like that music video...

I really liked that music video for a few reasons... and I think they all have to do with transition. I think I shared a similar graphic when I was in Dar... and now it's all happening again!!!

Changing to a new job, new people, new town, new cultural norms, and deeper language interaction is a lot. It's normal for people in any life change to go through this cycle of ups and downs. Lately I've felt more in the down part... The "who am I?" question.

Who am I when no one here really knows me yet? Who am I when I make friends with a person from a completely different culture and socio-economic bracket? Who am I when I'm writing policy to help a learning center keep families on the field? The answer, I know, is to first as, "Who is God?" then "Who does He say I am?" Even that feels difficult and foreign sometimes. So that's why I like the video... a visual/audio reminder of My Lighthouse, the beauty He creates, how He created us to be creative in worship, and how we get to do that together, in the Body... or the band.

Art. Nature. Truth. Unity... A Good Combination

Levity In the Classroom

Levity: the treatment of a serious matter with humor.

I have a little notebook; I started keeping it at my first job, after realizing that teaching is challenging and that I take myself too seriously. So I started writing down some of the funny things kids say: The free entertainment of a teacher. The notebook helps me balance my focus between the serious responsibility of my job, and the lighthearted, joyous, silly subjects of my job.

Here are some levity additions from teaching here at Lake Victoria Learning Center:

"Since I was thinking about Star Wars all evening, I won lots of battles in my dreams."

After reading a simple (yes/no) phonics workbook question: "Is a lobster ticklish under it's nostrils?" 
The student reflected, "I've never tickled a lobster... if I did it would bite me... unless I used a long stick... but it would have to be light enough so I could run away quickly... but not too light because it might bend too much..."

When asked why he and other students were lying curled up in the dirt, while other kids ran around them... 
"It's a new game. You pretend that you're a seed and somebody plants you. Then if you get watered by the plant monster you have to chase him." Is this an effect of my plant unit?!

"I told my mom I'll have a good attitude TODAY after school, because it's after art." What does that mean the other days of the week?!

An Update on Jita Jonah

A while back I posted about the progress in translating the book of Jonah into Jita, one of the 8 languages in process in our Musoma office. Now, Jita Jonah IS IN PRINT! Pictured here are the translators and the translation adviser, with freshly printed copies. After printing, the adviser delivered a copy to his neighbor who is an older Jita man. He immediately gathered his Jita friends together and they read the Bible together in Jita!

Ode to a Silly Joy

Is it a tennis racket with a galactic twist?!

No, for those of you who can't buy one from a friendly vendor while waiting in a traffic jam... this lovely device is a mosquito vanquisher; with a casual flourish of the arm multiple mosquitoes can meet death by electrocution.

It's so hard to time a swat of the hands perfectly to catch a mosquito, hence the joy of wielding one of these. ...Buzzing, itching, possible malaria or dengue fever... all evaded by one swipe!

Prayer Board

• Please help us not to get worried.
• Thank you for sending your Spirit.
• Thank you for school.
• Help Braden get better soon. x3
• Thank you for my dream.
• Thank you for the crickets.
• Please help the Ica people to get the Bible in their own language.

Join us in our morning prayers! I have the joy of leading a prayer time with the older kids each morning. As the kids come in they write down praises, thanks, and requests. Then we read a devotional from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Then we pray. It's a refreshing way to start the day. I love to hear the kids' prayers... especially how they pray about things big and small.

My Joys are Like the Everlasting Hills

When I am with God 

my fear is gone;

in the great quiet of God

my troubles are as 

pebbles on the road,

my joys are like

the everlasting hills.

Walter Rauschenbusch

Encouragement comes in many forms and places. I've needed encouragement lately; it's been half a year since I was last in a place I'm really comfortable and feel known by friends (WA State). Since then I've lived in two towns for 3 months each... I'm settling in this place, but I don't have strong heart connections with people yet, naturally. So, when worries arise or the enemy sends lies that make me feel condemned, I don't have as many places to go. There have been some lonely and dark days.

I want to say that in these times I find all the comfort I need in God's Word and prayer... I feel like that's the "right way," the truly spiritual way. But, I think that God works in many ways. His Word does bring hope and truth that lightens my path, but sometimes it's hard to metabolize it on my own and sometimes praying by myself feels lonely.

Humorously, one of the lights of hope I saw this week was in a new friend's bathroom; she decorates with pretty cards and quotes. I copied the quote, which you see above, and later illustrated it. Drawing and coloring in connection to prayer and reflection has been another joy lately. And, I am most thankful for meaningful time with people here (unity in the Body of Christ): I was able to share some of my struggles and pray with a couple ladies at Bible study. One of them invited me to hang out soon. I went walking with two ladies the next day and over to one of their houses for ice cream and a movie the next day. God works in many ways.

Haiku @ 2:30 am

I was teaching about haiku the next day anyway, so I figured I'd write a few since I was up... The first shows why I was up... then there's one about our new shelf, one about the cool boulders on Lake Victoria, and one more... A poetic glimpse into my life of late.

Please don't bite me. Mister,                             Tall and full of nooks.       
you are not kind. I can't sleep.                           Now we have a place to put
My elbow itches.                                              all our bowls and plates.

Boulders like hundreds                                     Floating, restoring,
of ice cream scoops piled on                            oblivion of sleep is 
the edge of our lake.                                        where I want to be.

Zinza Celebration of Luke

Just a second, I thought of something even better. This is a video put together by our team leader and his wife. It shows the recent dedication of the gospel of Luke in the Zinza language which happened right before my arrival. It's a neat video. You'll see boxes of Luke carried in, the pastor speaking about the momentous event, and celebratory singing and dancing... Check out the missionaries trying out some new moves!

Beauty in a Basket

I'm a bit wiped-out right now, after a busy week... so maybe that's why I can't think of anything but a fruit basket to blog about. Or, maybe it's because simple blessings are a joy, be the day exhausting or energizing. Either way, I think a home needs a fruit basket to be complete... a dangling display of God's juicy sweet creations, within easy reach. It's almost like having a tree growing in one's kitchen, that bears three kinds of fruit, not to mention the garlic and onions.

Skyperific

On a dark and stormy night, with a 57 mph gale pummeling the windows of the beach cabin, my family was snuggled inside, garbed in flannel PJs and a rainbow of fuzzy socks. I, on the opposite side of the world, a bit chilled in 80 degree weather, received a call from that cozy cabin. We chatted, joked, and toured my house. Even our inanimate objects had a chance to chat (my giraffe and their sunflower are fast friends). Skype is a lovely thing.

Happy Valentine's Day!

On Valentine's Day I was on an unexpected adventure in Nairobi, Kenya. The adventure ended sweetly, with this bowl of Planet Yogurt and roses given to all customers at Nakumat (similar to Walmart) that day.
The adventure began when I arrived in Musoma. Sleep was a struggle from the start, due to mosquitoes and dogs. Then a few weeks ago I started feeling feverish and dizzy. It wasn't an awful illness, but it must have worn on me until one evening I felt tightness in the chest and palpitations.
The medical situation in Musoma is sparse and murky; there isn't much to have faith in as far as diagnosis or treatment. However, that evening I was surrounded with help from a nurse friend in Canada via Skype, her doctor friend in Dar via phone, and multiple friends in prayer via email and in person. God provides. I was less worried, but my symptoms continued. God provided again, in the person of a nurse here who made a prescription that got me back on a good sleeping schedule, a friend who covered my classes for me, and friends who prayed. Then I started feeling better.
I was urged to go to Nairobi for tests anyway, since my heart was involved in the symptoms. The doctor there was very thorough; I was amazed at how many tests could be run in a couple hours. He declared my heart healthy and said that tightness and palpitations are common when under physical or emotional stress. That was Valentine's day, an appropriate day for heart doctors... and a perfect day for frozen yogurt.