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.