Saved by the Seal

I've enjoyed so many parts of reconnecting with people and re-entering the Pacific Northwest... beauty, laughter, food, taking a day at a time. Every now and then, though, it gets to be a bit much. I get tired and miss Tanzania and loose perspective of God's goodness. On one such day, I was walking along Elliot Bay in Seattle, praying and wishing I could snap back into enjoying-things-mode. I stopped on the beach and my prayer was answered in an unexpected, enchanting way. This seal was taking a nap. When I woke him up he wiggled his flipper at me. Then he sucked on sand (to get a drink?!). After awhile he shoved himself along the sand and out into the bay. Somehow that unique sight in nature gave me back my perspective. I felt special and free. And I started enjoying the day at hand.

Back in the US of A

 I've been asked a few times recently, "Where in the world are you, Sarah?" And it's a valid question, because I've been quite a few different places since I left Musoma in July! However, for the last month the answer has been: the United States of America. And that's where I'll be for the foreseeable future (though I can't see very far into the future!).

God's worked lots of good in this last month. There's been rest. I have a nice cozy colorful room in my brother's house. Friends have come to visit me and vice versa. I got to have Thanksgiving and a hike with my family. Fall colors were spectacular, my first in 6 years! I have a potential church and met a potential friend there.

Over the next months I'll continue resting and reconnecting. I'll visit supporting churches and partners of my work with Wycliffe. I'll help with one or two children's programs at the Wycliffe center in Orlando and attend a week long workshop about art and missions.

 After that, the future is foggy. It might be time for me to resign from Wycliffe, unless God gives me passion for a new assignment by the end of March. I definitely feel the disequilibrium of loss and the unknown, but I'm excited to see God's good plans as I walk the path ahead and the fog clears!

Sukkot Serendipity

I serendipitously scheduled my trip to Israel during three major holidays: Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Even more serendipitous, Ronit and I scheduled our Sea to Sea hike during Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles). So we slept in a sukka by default, looking through a crack in the ceiling to at least one star, just as tradition prescribes. It reminds you that God is the One who truly takes care of you and keeps you safe.

Also, I've been reading a book, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, which examines how Jesus fulfilled the holidays. God started Sukkot to remind His people of how He cared for them in their desert days. But I didn't know that the feast ends with a water libation ceremony and prayers and praise anticipating the coming rains. That's the day that Jesus stood up in John 7:37-38 and declared that "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." He was talking about sending His Spirit to fill and pour from us, just as the people were looking for God to send physical rain. I hadn't realized that Jesus timed this declaration so poetically!

Housework & Holy Places

I've been in Israel for the last three weeks with an interesting mix of activities. Main focus: working at a guesthouse in the Jerusalem Hills. I joined my friend, Ronit, who has been working here for a couple months. So that's watering flowers, changing beds, washing laundry, sweeping, etc. I've enjoyed the mundane tasks as a break from my normal teaching work, which takes a lot more creativity and leadership. It gives my mind some time for rest and more prayer than usual. It's also been beautiful to start each day with worship and prayer together at the guesthouse.

Then, on a couple afternoons off, Ronit's shown me around Jerusalem. The second time we went in was epic. We walked into the Jewish quarter via a staircase up to the Zion Gate. Ronit ordered us shwarma sandwiches then led me around a corner. The view that met my eyes included the hill where Jesus ascended to heaven, the Dome of the Rock, the Wailing Wall, rooftops of Jerusalem dwellers, a flock of doves glinting in the sun, lots of cats, and more! I tried to capture it all in my drawing:) I've been surprised that something about being in this place does make Jesus seem a little more tangible. I'm looking forward to seeing more, now that we're done working at the guesthouse.

Christian Artists

This month I had the opportunity, as part of my travels and exploring art in missions, to attend a Christian artists conference in Siegburg, Germany. We gathered at a beautifully remodeled monastery. It was a thrill to be with other Christians who also love to communicate through art.

During the days there were lectures and workshops. One of my favorite experiences was a workshop with musicians, singers, dancers, and visual artists, pictured on the bottom right. We read and discussed the message and emotions of Psalm 107, then "prayed" the Psalm without words, improvising in our various art forms. It was a powerful experience of what the Psalm describes: praise, darkness, crying out to God, and joy in His answer. It was also powerful to learn about collaborating with other artists.

In the evenings there were performances by different attendees and slide shows of visual art. That was really fun too! Overall, I'm very thankful for the experience. And I'm praying for guidance as I continue to travel and explore art in missions, seeking what God has next for me.

Schäfersee

Today I went for a walk around a lake. It reminded me of Round Lake in Camas, Washington, USA... But it was Schäfersee here in Berlin, Germany. (Thanks to God for giving me a green space here too!)

If this rises the question, "What's Sarah doing in Germany?", do ask me for my last newsletter! However, the short answer is that I'm traveling a bit, visiting friends, with the goal of seeing what God has next for me. Specifically, I'm looking into how God can use my art in missions.

I'll be in Germany for all of August. Next week I'll go to the southwest, near the Rhine River, for a Christian artists conference. Otherwise I'll be in Berlin with my friends who do street ministry here. They use visual art and music in their ministry, so I'm excited to see, participate, and learn!

Ratios!

 Most of the math I taught this semester was concepts that I use everyday... telling time, measuring liquids, multiplying, adding... But sixth grade math was a different story! Algebraic equations, multiplying fractions, story problems with rate... and ratios. Those concepts are not often on my mind.

So, it was fun and heartening when, a few weeks after closing LVLC for the semester, I had a project that required everything I know about ratios, thanks to teaching my grade six students! I had to make posters that fit perfectly into a unique shape on the walls of a conference room (for our branch retreat in Dar es Salaam). All I had was a photo of the wall, graph paper, the measurements of my poster board, and my fresh understanding of ratios.

I put it all together, and this is what I got (x6 posters)!!

You Know You've Done Your Job When...

Wednesday I taught some of my students how to tie dye. Yesterday I got a WhatsApp photo of a gallivanting hippie. On the normal school day this student is respectful, focused, and calm... But when she puts on her tie dye... Oh dear. Earlier in the semester I got a photo of another student. She'd turned into a mermaid! Finally, a treasured gift, my hippie student drew this picture of the two of us. 💗 The drawing skills! The capturing of our appearances and personalities! The mermaid appreciation!! My work is complete.

Finishing Up

It's the end of the semester... and the end of the American school year. We don't take testing to quite the extreme one sees in the States these days, but we do like a little outside input on our teaching. The students do an online version of the California Achievement Test, which is widely used by home school families. And it's fun to say you're taking the CAT test! The kids were very focused, youngest and oldest pictured here, and did very well.

All the Way Home

Quite often I have an escort on the last leg of my walk home. The neighbor kids think it's fun to greet me, hold my hands, and follow me to my gate. They're cute, so usually that's fun. But sometimes it seems excessive because we don't really know each other, especially if they ask themselves in or tease our dogs.

So this day I decided on a consolation prize to keep my sense of humor: a photo of the parade! That's the challenge with cultural differences. When behaviors clash with one's sense of appropriate, you tell yourself that there are lots of ways to do things and yours isn't the "right" way and it's fun to try new things. And you laugh:)

Talking Toes

We're finishing up the semester, including our study of African geography. One interesting fact: some people groups in western Africa used toe puppets to free their hands to play instruments during story telling!

My oldest student took the teaching role for a toe puppet craft lesson last week. We walked through the lesson plan together: objectives, attention getter, directions, etc... Then she gathered and set up all the supplies, taught the lesson, and here you see the results!

Be Still

Sometimes, especially if I haven't slept well for awhile or if I have a cold, my thoughts can get dark and messy. I'm drawn to not only negative thoughts, but untrue thoughts. God's been teaching me to "be still and know that He is God." Ps. 46:10

Sometimes "be still" means I actually slow down, lie in a hammock, or sit and watch the sunset. Sometimes it means I push away thoughts that race around and overwhelm. And, with the Spirit's help, I "know that He is God"; I focus on true things about His character, or my place as His child in Christ, or just about how pretty He made the sky and things I'm thankful for. A dark day can turn bright and exciting. I'm so thankful for His teaching!

New

Today after work I went into town to do a few errands: printing photos, fruit shopping, etc. On my way from the market to the bank I spotted an alley, half in shade, quite welcome in the heat of the afternoon. And it was an alley I'd never walked through, despite the smallness of Musoma "downtown." I love that there are new places to experience, even after being here almost four years.

And that's just in one spot on earth! Who knows what plans God has for the future?! There are people to meet, places to go, parts of His character to comprehend, good works to walk in... It's beyond imagination.

LVLC Around the World

Every semester is different. This is one of the more stretched-out ones!

My co-teacher is in the States on furlough. One family is in Israel, taught by my former housemate with instructions from me. Up until last Tuesday I was teaching six kids in the LVLC building in Musoma. But two are on their way to the Netherlands for furlough. Their mom will finish up instruction for the semester.

So after Easter we start back up with four in Musoma, and the rest spread around the world! All the goodbyes aren't my favorite, but I love living and hearing about the adventures.

Different Views

A couple weekends ago I spent Sunday afternoon with Pascaria and her family. It's so lovely to have a Tanzanian home that feels comfortable. We sat around, exchanging news. We snacked. I felt tired, so they pulled out a mat for me to rest on the floor.

Pascaria took my phone and had fun taking pictures. I took it back and took some photos from my low vantage point. I've spent a lot of time over the years here sitting in that room, often looking out he door to life in the neighborhood, so I made sure to take a photo of the door.

Again, it's a lovely relationship. It was an answer to prayer for a Tanzanian friend, and Pascaria's certainly a friend.

I'd appreciate prayer for her, as she continues to support a large family, that God would be her strength and provide her needs.

LVLC Mural #2

Week two of painting! Despite a small squall, the kids thoroughly enjoyed seeing their design come to life. We're nearly done with the water side. Next to come is the land side.

It's been a fun way to end this portion of the semester. One family is leaving during the Easter break for a furlough, so it's good to have their input (such as monster and mermaid input!) and presence for this indelible project.

LVLC Mural

It all starts with a blank wall and some ideas from the kids about what would make that wall more beautiful. Then there's some planning and gridding of the wall. Then drawing. Then PAINT! (And maybe a little tree-climbing in between jobs.) More to come...

Visitors & Safari!!

My brother and his girlfriend are here for a visit! I met them after their Kilimanjaro climb and we drove across Tanzania through three national parks: Tarangire, Ngorogoro, and Serengeti. It's so fun to share this home with them. And our safari was full of marvelous sites: elephants galore, napping leopards and hyenas, FOUR rhinos (rare sightings!), lounging lions, and more. One of my favorite experiences was eating lunch by a hippo pool, surrounded by bright yellow bird weavers (who wanted our food). The hippos snorted and yawned and floated as we enjoyed the very unique dining experience.

Multiplication!

It's been quite exciting in my first math level of the day lately. Addition and multiplication are old hat. But multiplication!!! That's the coolest thing. One day you're doing repeated addition: 5+5+5+5+5=25. And the next day you're doing pure multiplication: 4x5=20!!

It's a pleasure to see the excitement and learning.

Experience of a Wedding

Last week I wrote Anticipation of a Wedding, and here is the follow-up, in pictures! If you read carefully, you'll see all seven of my anticipations became experience!

Waiting with the choir for the wedding to start.
It started a little late, and went on for 10 hours: ceremony, photos-at-beach, and reception!

The groom meets the bride and lifts her veil to check if it's really her:)
I didn't know that was a custom!

The wedding party dances the bride and groom to the front of the church.
The key to TZian weddings, according to the MC later at the reception, is TARITIBU!,
which means slowly and methodically... So walk slowly, dance slowly, eat cake slowly.
Maybe it's to make the special day last and be strong in your memory.

Mr. Sakwa is definitely happy.

The pastor shares a message. My favorite part was when he told Sakwa that his wife should be as shiny as him;
if he has shiny shoes, make sure hers are shiny; if his hair is shiny, hers should be too!
Somewhere in the sermon is when I saw Mr. Sakwa wiping the tears from his eyes:)

It was good to share the celebration with our other former guard, Jeremiah.

Me and the wedding party.

Wedding photos at the beach! I wish I could show you driving here...
I drove in the wedding procession with the best of them: honking, weaving in-and-out... and I learned:
it's customary to leave your hazard lights on the whole time.

My favorite photo of bride and groom.

Mama of the bride and Mama of the groom. Mama Sakwa and I hung out together a lot,
since I was considered his "dada" (sister).

We danced gifts up to and around the bride and groom.
The reception was full: cake cutting, speeches, dinner (pilau and soda included!), etc...
It was just harder to get OK photos because of the light.