10 Things I Miss From Tanzania

1. Geckos
2. The close knit community
3. Matvila Rock
4. Singing with Ronit, my housemate
5. A simpler pace of life
6. The kids at LVLC
7. Pineapple
8. Tank tops
9. Swahili
10. Unpredictable roadways

10 Things I Like About Being in the States

1. Family
2. Old friends
3. Mixed greens salad
4. City parks
5. Squirrels... chubby ones
6. SmartWool
7. Murals
8. Extra time to step back and reflect
9. Fairly predictable roadways
10. Psalm 23... especially the part about Him being with me

Wi-Fi in the Woods

I often get emails in Tanzania from my mom in the States at her Wilderness Wi-Fi in the Woods. She has to write really short emails in the winter because her fingers get too cold. When I imagine a hotspot I usually think of a coffee shop or other business, but no, this one is in the woods. It's at the top of my parents' mile-long driveway, in front of a log cabin owned by their closest neighbors.

Now, instead of receiving emails from the Wi-Fi in the Woods, I'm sending them! I'm even posting to Facebook and WhatsApping there! (Don't worry, I wear lots of layers and wool.)

That's just one of the many many changes that have happened in my live over the last week, since I've arrived in the USA.

Painting the Cross

I leave Tanzania for the States tomorrow! I've had lots of lists of things I wanted to do before I left... spending time with special people, passing off roles at work, trying to get rid of the bats in the attic, etc... Most things are done, and this is one of them!

My housemate, Ronit, and I go to a really nice little Anglican church a couple times each month. It's a simple cement building with a dirt floor. A wooden cross is the only adornment. It had "YESU KRISTO AMEFUFUKA" (Jesus Christ has risen) written on the wood in fading marker.
I thought it would be fun to bring color to the church and make the message more clear. So, I talked to our pastor, he talked to others, and they agreed.

Ronit and I stayed after church one day to paint. We had fun, and I hope the cross brings joy to people as they worship. :)

Thanksgiving x2

Happy Thanksgiving! This year I continued my tradition of attending BOTH Musoma missionary gatherings. (We split up because of numbers and celebration day preference.)

The first meal was fun because there were more Dutch, German, and Australian people than Americans! Also, we made a Thanksgiving tree by writing thanksgivings on paper leaves. I wrote I am thankful for the Body of Christ and Hope.

The second meal was fun because I arrived early to make gravy and we stayed after to share and sing thanksgivings, so it had the whole-day family feel that I love so much about the holiday.

I am thankful for the two years I've been in Musoma, for the love that God has shown me through these dear people and for the fun it is to live in this cross-cultural setting.

Pascaria: Thanksgiving

Thank you for praying for my friend Pascaria. As I shared in August, we were finally able to get her in for surgery. Now, three months later, she's been back twice for check ups and her wounds are healed! She says the pain she was struggling with before has not come back, and is thankful for God's help.

Praise Jehovah-Rophe!

Cha Kutumaini Sina

Our SIL office celebrated the Wycliffe Day of Prayer a week or so ago. We split up into groups and moved together through stations that focused on different parts of the Lord's Prayer. The stations drew us into sharing our testimonies, eating together, praying for unity and love in the office, and for Bible translation here and in the bigger world.

It was really good to do this in mixed groups of expats and Tanzanians, focusing on what we share in Christ.

At the end we wanted to take a group photo. We had to wait for a few people, so we were all standing in a group practicing our smiles. Before we gave up and the group fell apart, one person had the great idea to lead us in "Cha Kutumaini Sina" ("My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"), a well-loved hymn that most people know.

It was a joyous, unified ending to a great day of prayer. I'm thankful for the group I get to be a part of, and will miss them while I'm gone!