You Too Can Clash Like This!

I've wanted to mention clashing for a long time. It's been on my list of things to blog about all year. Originally the photo in my mind was of a beautiful Tanzanian woman garbed in a panoply of patterns and colors that flow behind her as she carries a basket of bananas down the dirt road. That photo has never been taken, however many opportunities I've seen. So, here am I, feeling liberated and joyful in the freedom of color and pattern that I have here in Tanzania.

Pretzels Around the World!

This is one of my favorite Saturday mornings ever. My mom, dad, brothers, two friends, and I spent two hours on Skype baking breakfast pretzels. What are breakfast pretzels? Imagine hot, soft pretzels, filled with apple bits and topped with cinnamon and sugar! My family was on our annual Fall beach trip, in a cabin we rent from friends. I was in my home in Tanzania. But, it felt like I was with them in the beach cabin  for the two hours, as we talked, synchronized recipes, and sculpted our pretzel art! God's blessing come in the most unique forms... spiral, infinity sign, smiley face, traditional, heart, and ring!

I'll Fly Away

We had a lovely first field trip this week. We went to the airport, thanks to the lovely Mission Aviation Fellowship pilots. They showed us around the terminal designated to small planes, including their office. Then the kids were full of excitement as we watched jets, planes, and helicopters land and take off. We paid special attention to the MAF plane in the sky, and when it landed got to tour it, each kid trying the controls. My favorite part was spending relaxed time with the kids on the bus (listening to them spontaneously break forth in song!) and outside at the airport.

Whatever Floats Your Boat

The question this week was, "What is the best design for a foil boat, that will hold the most weight?" It was really fun and relaxing to give the kids time to create their boats. Some went for looks, with boats sporting flowery sails. Others got ideas in books, adding toilet paper roll pontoons and Popsicle stick outriggers. Then, we got to test the boats. Excitement in the room was thick, with cheering, dancing, and really good observations about the features that actually did help boats float with weight. Bottom line: make the boat wide with high sides, or wrap six toilet paper rolls in foil.

Every Day Masai

One of the really cool things about Tanzania is the Masai. The Masai are a people group who have taken modernization in stride, moving with it but keeping their identity. It is very common to see Masai men walking around urban Dar es Salaam, speaking the Masai language on their cell phones and dressed in their traditional red and blue plaid or stripes. Most of the guards who work around my home are Masai; I love to see the group of 8 or so striding up the hill, colors flowing, braids and jewelry shining in the sun . Masai guards are popular, because they're known as a fierce people group.

Visualizing Grace

 I just finished transcribing notes I took in July, from a series of sermons on Grace. I am excited to review passages from Galatians and other books, and be reminded of how God supplies our salvation AND the ability to do works of love. I  feel that Jesus' words in John 15:3,4 apply to me right now: "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you." I feel like His Words of Grace have washed me this summer, because I see the fruits in the joy I feel with the kids and the grace I more readily extend to them via encouragement and patience.

Serious Business

What is the most popular type of transportation around HOPAC? Well, we still don't know... not at all due to a lack of effort. The kids went on their first "almost field trip" today; we went about five steps off campus. The objective was a merge of our Transportation topic with data handling for math. As shown in facial expressions, the kids were very diligent and excited about spotting cars, bajajis, buses, motorbikes, and more. The only thing was, we went out in two groups, with different findings. Consensus is that the first group saw the morning traffic jam, full of cars, and the second group saw the buses come out en force.