peek-a-boo!

happy easter all!

our happy little group plus almost all of our kiswahili teachers.

hence the happy. or silly. or something like that!

two worlds collide.

Last week found me discontent and wishing for the things of home. It also found me remembering that this is where God has me and where he wants me for the time being. I know that Satan can use my discontented, focused on the future self to try and screw up God’s plans, and I DON’T WANT THAT! So, I’m trying to focus on the now. Dang it, it’s easier said than done!

Friday, after my blog posting, I went around town to do a little shopping. One of my stops landed me at what turned out to be the shop of a guy who’d sold me salt and pepper shakers and a painting last month near the street. This guy speaks great English, but is unfortunate kind of pushy. He’s the kind that if you want your price, you have to walk away. And as you walk away, he’ll give you the price you want! Well, after getting the price I wanted, he asked where I was going. “To shop,” I told him. “Are you going to the market?” He asked. “Yes.” I replied. “Well, can I accompany you?” “No!” “Why not?” “I like to be alone.” Mama, aren’t you proud of my reply? Must be the introvert in me ;)

Last Sunday we enjoyed sunrise on vodarock. I found myself missing home, family, and the scrumptious Easter breakfasts we used to feast upon after hikes up Spud for sunrise. Breakfast here was good nonetheless, and after a rest and taking my time getting ready, we hiked to the camp next door for an Easter service and lunch with the college kids and other wazungus. It was a pleasure to socialize with people my age. Life is so different when you live in the bush of Africa…

Tuesday found us at William’s funeral and it also found us hot from the sunshine. After the 2k walk that I took with some of the men here (call them my dads J), we stood through the service, and the slide show, and the toast, and finally got food way past our lunch time. The reception was much more like a wedding then a funeral. The food was amazing, and the alcohol abounded. Due to the fact that they didn’t serve dinner that night at camp, Andrew, Amethyst and I went to town and bought snacks. Upon return, I shared my snacks with the Morrison’s and then headed down to my banda.

I entered my banda to see a giant spider on the wall right by my bed. As I set my stuff down, I told myself that I was bigger than the spider. But, further inspection told me that this spider was bigger than my bravery. I called Tricia. “Can you please send someone?!” Garrett came to my rescue.  “That is a big one!” he said. “And it’s hairy. It looks like the bad kind. Maybe you should sleep on the other bed.” Ha! Thanks for the comfort. It took him some tries, and me making funny noises as I watched, but he finally smooshed it. He brushed it outside, and was going to leave it on my porch I think. “Can you please get it off my porch!?” I asked. “Oh, sure.” And he brushed it off into the semi-darkness.

If you put your thumbs and your pointer fingers together to make an ‘O’, that was about the size of this booger. Well, ok, that included his legs. His body was a fair bit smaller. Still, I had to turn on classical music, talk to God out loud, and read Psalm 18 to help calm myself down. And I almost slept in the other bed. Funny how nighttime and living by yourself can drive your creepy crawly/freak-out-ness to new levels. I memorized Psalm 18:3: “I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” That night, my enemies were spiders and my imagination!

We started Kiswahili Wednesday due to William’s service Tuesday and Monday off for Easter. This being the case, we also had Kiswahili on Saturday. What a wacky week. The good news? Saturday – Lord willing – we take a train to Zambia for our break! Please pray for safety in our travels, good timing, and that we’ll hopefully be able to see Victoria Falls!

Sunday, we had an all day cultural affair: we went to church at Kanisa la Biblia. Sunday School/Church started at nine. And got done around noon. When we arrived, they kindly gave us seats in the tiny building, me right up front. I must admit to feeling a bit awkward at first. Here we are, the only wazungus in the place, and they stick me right in the front row!

The singing was lively and joyful. I don’t think one of the songs was anything less than upbeat, and in Avery’s opinion there was a lot of clapping. The pastor only spoke Kiswahili. My prayer was that I would be able to get something from the service, and God’s way of answering that was by having a nice young man, Kelvin (and also the pastor’s wife some), translate the sermon for us. So, we listened to one of my first bilingual sermons. Oh, and to all those Cougar fans out there reading this… There was this adorable little person in church wearing a vintage WSU sweat suit. I totally had to gawk a bit to make sure I was seeing right. It pretty much made my morning!

We ate lunch around two at the pastor’s house. His wife made a lovely meal of ugali, greens, and fish. DJ did an awesome job of speaking Kiswahili with the pastor. I continued with my Kiswahili stage fright.

On our walk to catch a ride that turned out to be a dala dala (mini bus), we walked down a dirt road. You know that one song that you hear on the radio about finding love in a hopeless place? I’m not sure who sings it, but it’s some chic. Well, there we were, seeing sights you’d expect to see in Africa like Tanzanians, lots of dirt, chickens, small houses and dukas… And that song is playing in the background! It was to me a hilarious mix of cultures.

 Once crammed in the mini-bus, we waited. You seem to do that a lot here. And I got to talk a tad – as in a greeting and not much more – with these two ladies who had adorable baby/toddlers. They thought it great that I could speak a few words of Kiswahili (muahaha, if they only knew that I could speak more than a few words… ;). I even got a high five from one of them! It wasn’t long before they started nursing their mtoto. African women, however, don’t see a need for such things as blankets or those neat little cover-ups you see some mamas in the states using to nurse. Nope, they just pull up or down their shirt and let their babies nurse. Talk about letting it all hang out!

Thanks Lord for…

*         Avery asking me if I was going to come visit them someday in the future. It’s nice to know that I’m wanted J

*         A compliment about my eyes that helped fill me love tank.

*         God’s little ways of cheering me up when I’m down.

*         Prayers of the righteous.

*         The chance for another stamp in my passport.

*         Days of sun.

*         The end of the rainy season coming.

*         April 14^th – 28 happy years for my mama and dad.

Wiki njaima! 

birthday girl!

reason number who knows what why i'm getting fat around the edges.

watching the video of the staff's version of happy birthday to avery.

and if the zipline breaks... you have a soft landing.

even horses have bad habbits.

our farm visit. you see everything here in africa!

this is a hyrax. super cute and obnoxious little creatures. it's like a guinea pig, a rodent, and a rabbit all had a baby together. sort of.... 

just a hop and a skip.

Only in Africa would you send an excited text saying that the toilet flushed. And since I’m in Africa, I sent that text, just this week. I think that there was a break in the pipes or something, and most if not all of camp was waterless. But, at around 12:15 in the morning on Wednesday after watching a movie with Amethyst, I sent her that text  after using the choo down the hill from their house. Oh, it’s the small and unexpected things in life that we get the biggest kick out of!

At least a couple nights I had a new roomie. Unfortunately my creativity failed me on this one, and I didn’t come up a name much beyond Mr. Frog, but the name was pretty appropriate nonetheless since he/she was a frog. The first night I noticed him was quite a hopping one. I also had a lively grasshopper hopping about. He was fine until he jumped into my hair. That was just too much! I eventually let him out, but it took some effort. I captured him under the bottom of a solar lantern, and eventually got him outside. I think his heart was still beating when I set him free, and if it was, I imagine it was beating quite wildly. I know mine would have been!

I have to confess: I’m rather afraid of hopping things like frogs and grasshoppers. I mean, if they’re just out doing their thing its fine, but I’m scared to pick them up. The idea of them jumping in my hands doesn’t bode well with me. So, while I tried to shoo Mr. Frog out, he was also scared of me, so he would hop to some unfortunate hiding place where I could no longer reach to shoo. I think he might have stayed the night inside that night. The next night or, he (or his buddy) showed himself again. After I went to Morrison’s house to potty, Tricia brought their little broom down with her and helped – ok pretty much did all the work – shoo Mr. Frog outside. She left and I immediately put a towel/shoes down to block the huge gap under my door. I turned my light out shortly after that, and I hadn’t laid in bed very long before I heard something. I shone my flashlight about, and the light landed on something. I looked around a bit more then got up to check. Sure enough, there was a frog, frozen in the light, scared for his life. I’m not sure if he was Mr. Frog, or the buddy, but regardless, I left him to hop around and went to bed. I didn’t wake up to a frog on my face in the morning, and I really haven’t seen him since. Maybe he decided I wasn’t the best roommate…

This weekend, we had a nice visit with the Morrison’s colleagues from Dar who came for a visit. We even hiked and ziplined across the river to a farm where some of the kiddos got to ride horses. Last week was Avery, Tricia, and little Emily Ellis’s birthdays. So, for the girls’ birthdays they got to ride horses. And Tuesday, Avery had her first riding lesson at that same farm. It was a most beautiful place to be, full of green, and hominess, and great creatures like hyraxes and friendly dogs. They have this great big Belgian Shepherd named Dingo who’s fir you can simply sink your fingers in and who would do just about anything to get some lovin’. I won’t lie, I’m thrilled to give that lovin’, even if he does shed like crazy. J

Sunday morning, God’s goodness shined. I got a special phone call: My mom and very sleepy dad! We got to talk for over an hour, and as wonderful as it was, it simply wasn’t enough. I’m thankful that I’ll get weeks with them when I get back! I felt bad that I did most of the time. They sounded healthy aside from my dad’s sleepiness, which isn’t much of a health thing, just a need for sleep. J Thanks to mum and dad, and our DCBC pastor’s Skype, my morning was made!

HOPAC is an international Christian school in Dar. Just this week some single gals who teach there stayed the night at the campsite, and I got to play Hearts and Dutch Blitz with them. What a blessing to get some single gal time. Since my roomie left, that’s been lacking in my life. And it was funny too because just that day while on our prayer walk, Tricia prayed that God would maybe send other friends for the kids and I. I think it was around this time that I realized that girlfriend time is lacking in my life. It’s quite different than my life back in the States. And then God provided me a night of cards, girls, and then a movie with Amethyst while her hubby watched soccer. Way to go God!

I’m scared to say this for fear something will change, but miracle of miracles, I think I’m getting this Swahili thing. Pole pole of course (pole-a pole-a means slowly slowly). Don’t get me wrong, I can’t speak like a Tanzanian. I can’t speak much at all. But, I’m understanding the language more, and I feel more comfortable and less like AM I EVER GONNA GET THIS?!

I’ve enjoyed getting more reading time in, and have made it through several novels since being in Africa. Tricia loaned me The Shack which I’m reading right now. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a thought-provoking novel in my entire existence! It’s such a good reminder of God’s love and how as humans we complicate what God intended to be simple. If you wish to be challenged a bit, and haven’t read The Shack yet, read it!

The last chapter in Tricia and I’s Bible Study has really challenged us to acknowledge God’s presence more in life. When we wake up. Thank God for the food. Travel (even more important while living in Africa J). Dot dot dot. I’m still working on it, but it’s really quite amazing. I’ve been seeing it, and it’s awesome. God is never not there, but the unfortunate side of life is that we sometimes miss him in the business of our schedules. The life that God intended us to live for him sometimes gets sidetracked and way too distracted.

This week’s thank you’s… For fluffy dog fir. All the great friends we’re blessed with here. Progress. Silliness. Peppermint tea. New music. God’s continual provision and fulfilling of desires. The best parents on the planet. And changes for the better.

Have a wonderfully Happy Easter, friends! Amidst all the fuzzy bunnies, Cadbury eggs, and Easter baskets, be sure to stop and just thank Jesus for the ultimate sacrifice He made for every single one of us. How different our lives would be were it not for that painfully great moment so long ago…

PS- please pray. Will Phillips, who owns River Valley with his wife, passed away in the night. How interesting that he died on Good Friday… As far as we know, he was closed to the gospel up until his death. Pray for a miracle in the lives of his wife and daughter and for comfort. The funeral is on Tuesday.