Who Satisfies You with Good

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
Who forgives all your iniquity,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you 
        with steadfast love and mercy,
Who satisfies you with good so that 
        your youth is renewed like the eagles.
Psalm 103:2-5

I like how the psalmist has to talk to his soul, to remind it to bless the Lord. It's very human to forget His goodness. I've been enjoying language school very much, my teachers and classmates and the leafy environment. Yet, there have been struggles: getting sick from too much oil in food, a few day without the right teacher, a shower that won't drain, bug bites, worrying that I'm not bold enough in Swahili use or my faith, loneliness... But I need to remind my soul that these things pale in comparison to iniquities forgiven, diseases healed, a life redeemed from the pit, the steadfast love and mercy of my Creator... and good (sometimes in the form of guavas and bran muffins, when one's stomach misses such things) that renews my youth.

Cooking in Language School

Last week we had a special day (siku maalum) in language school. We learned how to cook (kupika) traditional Tanzanian food. First (kwanza), we make spiced milk tea and coconut donuts. I got to pound the spices (viungo) with the mortar and pestle... I smelled really good (nilinukia nzuri sana) after that!
We then made many foods with vegetables (mboga), meat (nyama), potatoes (viazi), cornflour (sembe), rice (wali), and LOTS OF OIL (MAFUTA MENGI SANA)!
It was a feast (sherehe). We enjoyed it (tulifaidi)!

Up, Up and Away!

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands.

                                   Isaiah 55:12

After a lovely, full two months in the USA I have returned to Tanzania. The time in the states was full of blessings: friends, churches, family, travels (including a 40 mile circuit of Mt. Hood!), berries, sweatshirt weather, and more. My flight back was peaceful, a good time to reflect and brush up on Swahili. (I lost my computer bag once, but it was thankfully recovered!) Now I am in Dar, visiting my old students and housemates.... and hopefully the beach:) Tomorrow it's time to take a bus ride to Iringa, where I'll begin language study on Monday!