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!

The Children, They've Gone to Cubism

Can you identify them now?! As promised, the portraits from last week went Cubist today!

Who Am I?

Last week in art I told the kids about Henri Matisse and Fauvism (splashy, colorful art dubbed art of "wild beasts"). The inspiration for these portraits came from that segment of the lesson. If you know the kids in my class, try to figure out who is who! They pulled on their knowledge of proportion, but abandoned all trappings of natural color.

Now, stay tuned for next week, because these portraits are approaching metamorphosis! Just to give you an idea, after the Matisse information I told the class how Matisse and other artists influenced Picasso and Cubism (art that looks at a subject, breaks it into a million pieces, and puts it back together without traditional reason). WHAT is in store for these faces!??

She's Coming!!!

That's me. I'm coming to the States... in 44 days!

One step ahead... one step at a time... It's a big step, between teaching in sunny Musoma, surrounded by TZ-culture, to visiting darkening Washington, full of PNW-culture.

I'm looking forward to the visit very much, and intimidated at the same time. But that's the nature of life.

And God is with me.

For more information, see my recent newsletter.

Advertising Help?

Please share this if it makes you think of a possible match!

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 several 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 January 2016… or July 2017, 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.

Please pray that God would call the right person to this position.

Also, we now have an LVLC website to help share about our learning center.

Musing on a Painter's Palette

Sometimes I like the palette just as much as the actual painting... spontaneous mix of colors with lively strokes.

I wonder if God finds similar pleasure in watching the lives of His children in process. Maybe a seemingly random mess made on the side of the canvas of our lives is, to Him, a necessary and beautiful part of His work.

Maybe that's a way to think about trials. I've been struggling with unexplained sleepless nights, and the effects that follow: shaky hands, queasy stomach, melancholy thoughts, and clouded judgement. But I see He's worked beautiful things in what seems to me a very messy state: deeper understanding of Christ's grace and love, strengthened relationships as I reach out for help, less self reliance... Maybe this time period in my life is a palette, messy yet beautiful, and used to bring His beautiful painting towards completion.

Paper Me to Nairobi

It all started one day when I realized my housemate was going to Nairobi to pick up a family returning from 9 months away, and I had to WORK! (Disclaimer: I do like my work, it's just that a trip to Nairobi sounded really fun.) At first I tried to be adult about it: be happy for her, and focus on my work. But then I realized I didn't HAVE to be adult; I could have more fun than that. 

Earlier in the semester the kids at the learning center made "paper-selves" to mail to European countries, as part of their geography studies. So, I took the idea and sent myself to Nairobi. It was a great trip: First, I had forgotten to make my paper-me a passport, so Ronit smuggled me across the border. Then I helped her spot all the speed-bumps as she drove (something like 300 from here to Nairobi!). Of course we stopped for coffee. The view of the Rift Valley was beautiful as usual. And in Nairobi I got to go to Nakumat (the Walmart of Kenya... with an elephant mascot), eat out, and--best of all--get a big hug as I greeted our returning friends.

To find out want paper-Ronit did, check out her blog.

Maharague Malia

I got these at church, via a fun tradition churches do here...

Someone brings a physical offering, like beans or fabric or tomatoes. Then people in the church bid for it. After the first person bids you can offer a higher bid of your own, or you can just add money onto their bid so that they get it, but more money goes to the church. Sometimes people bring items for the church (like a cross for the wall) and people bid to buy it for the church.

This was my first time participating in the tradition; I was a little nervous because I wasn't quite sure how it worked, but now I understand more AND we got to enjoy eating these maharague malia (a type of bean, which, by the way, our house helper prepared in her family's style, with PEANUT BUTTER!).

Keeping up the Theme

Last week I had a student teach the other students about marsupials. This week a different student taught me something...

She learned to crochet from her grandmother (in the Netherlands) and her house-helper (in Tanzania... quite the multi-lingual child!). She's an avid artist, and enjoys figuring out how to make new crochet items. So, when I asked for a "how to" essay, crocheting was the choice.

It's quite the essay. I asked her to bring in supplies when I was checking the rough draft. I didn't allow her to give extra oral directions, wanting to see if the written directions communicated clearly. They did! Now, I'm not saying I produced a dainty doily. (Her directions assure me that is normal the first few tries.) But, the words on the page led me through the initial steps accurately.

You can see, in the first picture, how much focus the excersise required... and how interested my student was in seeing me try out her hobby!

Done with That Teaching Thing

Thanks to my co-teacher, Lyndy Henrickson, for taking this photo!

Why teach when you can have your students do it for you?! It's pretty fun to have an older student in the learning center. He takes science with the other students, so it seemed like this 6th grader needed an extra challenge. And he rose to the occasion; his first lesson was leading an experiment that illustrated why polar bears benefit from having black skin (yes, black, under the white fur!) by putting thermometers under black and white bags in the sun. He asked questions and gave directions... like a teacher. (I was just curious about the temperature... not teaching something.) He's taking care of Monday's lesson, introducing marsupials. I may be working myself out of a job.

Confessions of a Bus Spy

Bus rides in Tanzania are a little different than a Greyhound trip. This weekend I went down to visit Pascaria in the hospital. (Her surgery went well and she's healing up! More later.) I hopped on a bus called Peacemaker and settled in. Then I became a spy, sneaking photos right and left...

After an hour or so a preacher stood up for prayer and a sermon... a common occurrence. He exhorted us to remember God all the time, not just when we're in trouble. Then he prayed for us and our journey.

A while later we pulled over for new passengers, well we did that a lot actually. It's so nice, because vendors are always ready. You can buy beverages, snacks, washcloths (my personal favorite), phone credit, potatoes....

On my way home I got another Peacemaker, this one a bit more crowded. I wedged into a seat right by the driver, surrounded by excess luggage. One man was less lucky; he spent the first few hours trying to snooze on the wheel well!

Pray for Pascaria: Part III

Since my posts in June I’ve been involved in helping Pascaria (yes, the one I called fat a couple posts ago) get the medical attention needed. It’s just been so confusing and… indefinable, that I haven’t posted an update.

So many things kept going wrong... Surprising diagnoses were considered. (The symptoms weren't currently visible, so doctors thought 7 years of reoccurring pain might be psychological.) Multiple doctors were seen. Appointments were waited for, and missed, and waited for again. Money and a phone was stolen. Sister Suzana, our friend the nun, was helpful on multiple accounts. Lots of letters and phone calls happened (in Swahili).

And, prayer continued among many people (thank you!), until… Pascaria left this morning for surgery, which is to take place on Thursday! Praise for God's guidance in getting this far. Please pray for the surgery to go well, for Pascaria's complete healing, and for God to be glorified.

Draw Near

I'm enjoying a study of Hebrews with my friends in Musoma, TZ. We came to chapter 10 this week, which is a place of summing up and focusing on the major points. I wanted to review the previous chapters first, and ended up with these two drawings.

The first shows how Jesus is presented in the opening of Hebrews: The Son of God made human, higher than the angels.

The second shows how Jesus ushers us into God's presence. He obtained the promises that God had given to Adam & Eve, Abraham, Moses, David, and Israel... the promises to make them His people, in their hearts and not just by heritage, despite their sin.

And the promises are for us, so Hebrews exhorts:

Pay attention...

Consider Him...

Draw near...

Hold fast...

It's not always the easiest thing to do, because there are lies that draw me from fully believing that God loves and accepts me... Even when I'm confused, even when I don't want to help a friend, even when I don't see how I'm useful... But then He provides His word and friends to remind me that He's the faithful one... So I keep remembering to have faith in His faithfulness... and somehow my thoughts and the actions straighten out in that experience... That's what I hear in Hebrews.

I Called Her Fat... And She Smiled

I don't have a photo to prove it, but my friend Pascaria gained weight this week. She spent the week away, waiting for a doctor's appointment (which yielded positive things! ...If you've been praying for her, I'll have more to share in the next few weeks... it's a bit of a long story...). So, she didn't have to worry about kids and cooking and all her normal tasks. She's just a little plumper than when she left, which suits her well.

The fun thing is, in Tanzania it's culturally a positive to gain weight; it shows you're doing well. So, if someone calls you fat it's just an observation, or a compliment. It took some cultural-mind-over-matter for me to do it, coming from a different culture, but I got up my nerve and told Pascaria that she'd gained weight. She smiled and told me how she'd enjoyed the rest that led to the fat.

Strange but True

When I was last in the States I casually said something about "my guard." Whatever I was actually saying was immediately forgotten in the surprise my listeners felt at my having a guard. A body guard?! No, I'm not that famous.

We have three guards for different shifts during the week. They take care of the dogs, watch the house/property, and take care of the yard. It's pretty common here, because of theft and to provide jobs in the community. It's become so second nature to me that I forgot to preface it in my conversation in the States.

Last week our guards asked to have a meeting. We were a bit nervous that there might be a problem. However, it turned out that they wanted to thank us for the work, for helping them when they're sick, and for giving raises and loans. We wanted to thank them for taking such care in their work and watching out for us and for teaching us about living in Musoma. Then we talked about training our dogs, which is quite another story (a comedy or a tragedy?!). We talked about plans that two of them are making to marry in the near future! We drank tea and laughed.

It's just fun to see how God has given these relationships for mutual blessing.

Good Walks

In Musoma we have many options for a good walk. Need something close by and don't mind a little mud? The rice paddies behind our house are just the ticket (top left). Up for something longer and want a good view of the lake? Matvilla Rock is the walk for you (top right, bottom left). In town for errands and just want a little green? We have a town park (bottom right). I'm thankful that God always gives me places with natural beauty near where I live.

Pray for Paskaria... Part II

Thank you to all who have been praying. It's update time, but not yet the end of the story.

Paskaria and her sister traveled 4 hours from home for the first time in their lives. They went to the hospital and learned about the wonderful world of Mzunguko (The Run Around). You go to one desk to register, another to initiate your payment card, another to put money on the card, another to pay, and another to print your receipt. Then you do it all again if you are really tired out and accidentally leave all your cards and papers in the taxi on the way to the guesthouse (a couple stories, about God's providence, here). Then you wait for the doctor, and wait for the tests, and go back to all the desks a few times in between.

During all this I was trying to help remotely, but they were getting discouraged and I was worried Pascaria would miss out on the care she needed.. So one friend kindly covered my classes and many others prayed as I went to help out.

I was glad I went because, being a little more pushy and task-oriented, I got Paskaria in to see the doctors Wednesday (instead of waiting for Friday). Then we were able to get all the preliminary tests done, so the results will be ready when she returns next Wednesday to finish up the evaluation, and surgery if the doctors decide that's the answer. (I think they are good doctors.) I also got Pascaria connected to Sister Suzana who runs accounting who will help with logistics in the future. Really, I was glad I went because it was so fun to see how the hospital works and to travel with my friend (LOTS of other stories here... but our dinner out photo will have to suffice)!!

And, of course, it was God who provided all these things and enabled me to help, and I think Paskaria knows that. We returned yesterday... And I think the second photos showed how we felt. Do pray for the next visit. This is the verse one friend is praying for Paskaria:

May you be strengthened with all power, 

according to his glorious might, 

for all endurance and patience with joy.

Colossians 1:11

Pray for Paskaria

My friend set out on a journey today. She's had a medical problem for 7 years... and she is going for treatment, hence the smile!

The hospital here is not equipped to help her, so she's traveling 4 hours by bus to Mwanza, south of here. It's taken a lot of God's providence to even get to this point; she needed a letter from a doctor and we needed to figure out all the ins and outs of going to/staying in a new town and paying for services.

But today's the day. She and her sister are on the bus now. (You always need someone with you at a Tanzanian hospital, because the nurses aren't in charge of all the services, like meals. Family is.)

Please pray for Paskaria. Pray she receives what she needs for her healing (most likely an operation), and that she looks to Christ for her confidence. Also pray for her family (6 kids and an elderly mom) while she's away, that they would be safe and also trust in Christ, as they are worried about the prospect of an operation.

Miss Sarah

I always say, "Why write your own blog post when you can use your students' writing instead?" If you've forgotten what I look like, or details about my personality, this should help. I am honored that Michaja chose me for her description of a friend, am blessed by her kindness, and really like my portrait (though she says this is more me as a kid, not my current adult state). Do pay attention to the active verbs... we've worked on avoiding passive verbs lately.

Pascaria Listens

A couple weeks ago my friend Pascaria stopped by. Ronit and I asked her in for tea. Ronit also had a gift for her: a listening device, similar to an mp3 player, that has The New Testament in Swahili and runs on solar power. We showed her how to use it, poured the tea, and put out the bread.

Then Pascaria listened. After awhile she said, "he preaches well." And a little later: "is he an Anglican?" We realized she didn't know that she was hearing Jesus' words; Since she doesn't read, Pascaria's only heard scripture in church, alongside liturgy and sermons, and didn't know the difference. The prayer was the Lord's Prayer, which is used in Anglican churches. We let her know she was listening to the Bible, to God's word, and she listened some more... and listened and listened and listened. She closed her eyes, nodded her head at points, smiled, repeated certain words... And we just watched her listen, for about an hour. The tea and bread went untouched.

It was beautiful to see how the Word entranced and kept Pascaria listening. We don't have her language, Kwaya, recorded yet, but Pascaria will love it when it comes. Her children are actually more fluent in Swahili, so this recording works well, as the whole family is sitting around the player some evenings, listening together.

Guess the Game

At first glance you may think one or two of my students are rock stars, posing on the playground. This is one of my favorite games to watch at break time: Freeze Pose. One kid turns their back as the rest strike a pose. Then each time the first kid turns around the others switch their position. The goal is that the watcher never sees you move; if she does you're out.

Free entertainment, that's what teaching is.

This Is How We Roll

How do I get around town? Well, generally I walk. But, the store with the ice cream (and a few other essentials) is a long walk away... too long for melting ice cream or heavy loads. So, I hail a piki piki (a motorcycle). 

There are hundreds zipping around town, so it's easy. It's cheap too. And it's fun... the wind blowing in your hair, the 360 degree view... Safety is a question, but it's hard to weigh that against practicality. (This is definitely an area where living here has changed my habits... I've slipped into TZ normal, which isn't terribly safety conscious. Though, I do try to be moderate... hence the helmet) 

And how do you ride a piki? Well, you can go single or double. My mom (left) chose single, riding side saddle with the man who loves his job. Ronit and I (right) sat straddle-style to make room for going mishkaki, which means two or more passengers but literally means "shish kabob." :)

I Saw the Sign

Not much to say, but I appreciate sign entertainment as I walk around town. Be it a spelling oddity or just fun pictures, there's always something new to see.

Beyond Deception... Light

I've been remembering things God has done and taught me lately. My Bible study group is going through Deuteronomy, which reminded me of the importance of remembering. God instructed Israel to remember His miracles, love, and laws. He gave them ceremonies, written records, traditions... all so they would remember.

So this image comes from a day, maybe 10 years ago, when I was really frustrated with all the things I thought God wanted me to do, and the things I thought He was condemning me for. In exasperation, I got in my car and drove to the beach one morning.

The whole beginning of the drive I told God all my frustrations, rejecting all the laws and condemnation I felt coming from Him. Part way to the coast, after all the pushing away, I felt peace.

Then I realized that I hadn't been yelling at God, I'd been yelling at who I thought was God... Satan, the father of lies, who disguises himself quite well... He had twisted good things in God's Word to make me think that God was a taskmaster condemning me. When I pushed those things away I had peace because I had rejected deception and returned to the Light, to Christ and the Truth that He loved me, had forgiven me all sins, and would enable me to do the good things He'd called me to.

Happenings at the Learning Center

Top: Scary faces? Funny faces? Anyway, the faces were one of the last clay projects the kids did in art. Next, we move back into 2D art, with mosaics. I loved seeing how their clay skills have grown.
Middle: Puppies are here! Thanks to two mama dogs on property, we often have a new batch of break time playmates. I enjoy watching the kids' joy.
Bottom: Modern history! We've studied empires, revolutions, trade, and more from 1500-1900 AD. Here, the kids sorted cards that show what themes were important during the 2 sections we've completed, and what's coming in the last section which starts with WWI. I've learned a lot and been impressed by how 9 and 11 year olds can process the complicated events.

Happy Birthday Gati!

One of my favorite walks takes me by the home of these kids and their parents. Sometimes kids along the road call out wazungu (basically it means white person) and/or ask for money. These kids are always a breath of fresh air because they are so friendly and polite, shaking hands and using the appropriate greeting, shikamoo

A while back the middle brother respectfully asked my housemate for a puto. We didn't know what that was, but pantomime showed that he wanted a balloon. Who could resist such a request?!

When my mom came to visit I asked her to bring some puto. As you can see, they were a hit. And, the timing was perfect because it turned out to be the oldest girl's birthday!

Need Coconut? ...Have a Goat?

Shredded coconut. Of course you don't just get that at the grocery store here. It's much more interesting. You buy a coconut at the market, then you smack it a good one... open coconut! Next you get out your goat to grind out the delicious filling. 

Yes, I said goat... that's a direct translation of the device pictured above, a sit-upon kitchen implement with a serrated  blade made specifically for grinding coconut. It's an "mbuzi" in Swahili, which is the word for goat... Looks sort of like a goat, right?

Mom-er-if-ic!

She's a foreign lady! She's an artist in residence! No, she's my mother!

My mom is visiting Musoma for the month, experiencing my house, work, and life here. She's trying out Swahili, eating local foods, and navigating the town solo.

...And yes, she is making me dinner tonight. That's just one of the ways she's been helping out. The kids LOVE to see her work with clay, our current focus in art. It's pretty special to have such an artist to observe and be inspired by.

Boggle Cup Challenge

At a recent missionary potluck I saw this cup... If you're familiar with the game Boggle you'll have an idea of how I strung words together from letters that my eye could connect. How many words can you find?!

Keeping in touch with family far away is important... and I love how we do it creatively (e.g. Skype tattoo or pretzel-making sessions). Latest breaking group activity: Boggle Cup Challenge (via email)!

Lindsay: I wonder what it means that the first word I saw was: brie.

Gabriel: Pie!

Olivia: glib, fief, miel for honey in french and if you read j's backwards. 

Mom (most thorough award): 24 “legitimate” words: brie, nib, tine, brief, tie, jet, pet, rift, fit, net, kin, bin, ken, pen, nifty (if it’s really a “y” and not a “v”), mine, brine, mite, fie, tin, ten, kit, rife, mine. 28 “exotic flow” or foreign words: pie, miel, glib, fief, grin, grim, lien, grief, time, wet, ire, glib, kiln, few, rip, pin, dine, lie, dim, mire, met, fire, lire, lift, met, tire, lei, drift, pine.

Then Olivia raised the ante to writing POEMS with the words!

Michael:

mine brie & miel tin,

dine time!

lift tine...

lift grief, lift ire!

grin, drift, lie... :)

pie.

Ronit (honorary family member), doing haiku:

Mine nifty pet tie

met few glib mite (drift lift rift)

ten pine, ken mine, brine

Sarah:

Ode to an Airplane Dessert

Mine pie, fire met...

dine I, in a jet.

Olivia:

The brie was brief and full of brine.  

Baked in a kiln with fire of pine,

we ate it off of a tin tine

we left our grim and our grief to dine!

 by the dim fire, Sarah played her lire

we felt our mire lift drift and tire.

Fie! rife broke out over the jet pen nib, what a fit! Mine mine mine!

the tie of kin fixed the rift

and it was time to dine dine dine

Window into the Literacy Department

Yes, there is a literal window... but figuratively, here's a look into the literacy department at our SIL office in Musoma. They literacy team has been printing four small books in the Simbiti and Ikoma languages, with upcoming plans for other languages. The small books contain short stories about counting, animals, from the Bible, et cetera. 

Small books are an accessible way for people to start reading in their mother tongue. As they gain fluency they will be able to read bigger books (like Scripture).