New Slideshow -->

This new slideshow features photos from Christmas at home and in class last term. Watch for the medieval sword-fighting queen!

Kenyan Cooking

 Today I got to go to my friend Virginia's house. She and her friend Alice taught me how to make mtori, or banana soup. We used plantain-like bananas, potatoes, green pepper, eggplant, cilantro, and a few other ingredients. She asked me to teach her how to make spaghetti... Some of you might think that funny, considering my lack of pasta and meat recipe knowledge!

Virginia told me that Kenyans never measure ingredients because that would be planning to have a certain number of people, not being welcoming to whatever friend might stop by. By the time Virginia and I were finished, two other friends of hers had showed up. Together with Virginia's kids, sister, and us, we feasted with eight people!

The Word for the least, the last and the lost

From The Joyful Shepherd by Cyncie Smith.

The number of languages with none of God’s Word dropped to 1,976 in October. Though much work remains, this number shows good progress.

The progress comes little by little. Also in October, six languages in NW Cameroon received God’s Word for the first time, a collaboration of mother-tongue and SIL translators, with two other organizations. Bob Creson, the president of Wycliffe Bible Translators shared the story.

He said the people in the Misaje language cluster can now read  the parable of “the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin. In both of these, Jesus illustrates the heart of the Father and the extent to which He will go for one person--God extending His grace and love to the least, the last and the lost.” What perfect first parables to hear.

Paul Kom, a mother-tongue translator, reflected, "Indeed, the world allows the more important issues of life to go unnoticed... If it were an important government official coming into the village, the whole village would be mobilized. But here comes the Word of God (Jesus Christ)… and He comes relatively in the midst of oblivion. But God is using ‘the foolish things of the world to shame the wise’ and ‘the weak things to shame the strong’ (1 Corinthians 1:27)."

Heri ya Krismasi!

 "Heri ya Krismasi" means Merry Christmas in Swahili. And I certainly had a merry Christmas. It was such a blessing to be with family and so many friends during the two weeks I was home. I got to visit three churches, go hiking and stay at the beach with my family, eat lots of good food, and just be with people I haven't been with for a year and a half. It was wonderful.

I returned to Dar es Salaam this morning at 3:30 am. I unpacked, went for a swim in the school pool, napped for 5 hours, and had dinner with  friends. Tomorrow I'll go into school to consider term 2, which begins Monday. It's a bit disorienting to be back, with such a change in climate, people, and activity, but I'm excited to see what God has planned.

The Lord is my strength;

He will make my feet

like deer's feet,

and He will make me walk

on my high hills.

Habukkuk 3:19

Color has Come!

I didn't remember to photograph the murals WITH kids working, because it's a bit of a three-ring-circus to have a dozen kids working with oil-based paints and turpentine. We are on our way!

I'll Be Home For Christmas

In two weeks I'll fly to Istanbul, then LA, then Portland, OR.
My mom and dad and brother Michael will meet me.
I'll have 2.5 weeks to enjoy visiting friends, family, churches, and the Pacific Northwest.
Here are some things I'm anticipating:

1. Cold: a change from Fahrenheit 80s to 40s. I'm excited to bundle up... a bit nervous too, to see how my body reacts.
2. Dark: a change from 12 to 9 hours of daylight.
3. Love: I'm so excited to hug and spend time-in-the-flesh with dear people. Already I feel loved by people wanting to plan time with me, and people purposing to preserve my health by keeping my plans sparse! (Thanks mom!)
4. Abundant Stores: I've heard shopping is a bit overwhelming when one goes back home... but I'm excited for the accessibility of unique tea and other special items.
5. Mountains: The ocean is glorious, but my eyes are used to seeing mountains, and haven't seen one since Kilimanjaro! Here I come Mt. Hood!
6. Rest: With report cards, Christmas musical, mural painting, and teaching, I've been busy... I'm looking forward to no work responsibilities and a bit of hibernation, bear style.
7. Celebration: I've been thinking of the marvel, that God, the creator of mountains and us, saw us in the cold and darkness of our sin and separation from him, and became a Man so that we can be with Him and have abundant life and eternal rest. I'm looking forward to celebrating at the churches I'll visit and with my family, including a mid-night mass at the Portland Grotto Christmas Eve.

MURALIFIC!!

Grade 2 Students finish drawing their design
for Grade 1 Mural, with help from a mom.

Plan for Grade 1 Mural

A few years ago, when I was in Bolivia, I was asked to paint Psalm 23 on the wall in the living area of Bolivian Youth Ministries. Since then, I've had the privilege to paint murals and facilitate kids painting murals in Sunnyside, WA. Now I have a group of students at HOPAC in Tanzania who have designed six murals, one for each primary classroom. We are at the stage where their designs are being drawn on the walls, with the stage they've all been waiting for coming soon... PAINT! It's exciting to see colors and ideas going up on the wall. I'm happy and intrigued to see that God has put all these murals in my path, and I wonder what may be in the future. And yes... each one does have a mermaid.