shorty.

us ladies wearing the aprons avy designed and we had made in iringa. oh, and avy's yummy brownies!

we've had rain several times. it is GLORIOUS!

sophia showing me how to make chapati..

the big city.

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

We’re in the big city now. More places to shop, more people to see, more things to do. And yet, here we are, struck powerless half the time. Welcome to Dar es Salaam! Thank goodness the compound we live on has a generator. But alas, they mostly have it on at night, so during the day, we’re left to flush the toilet with water from a jug, wash dishes the very old fashion way, and unable to charge our electronics until nightfall. Idaho home, I’m coming to you, soon!

There was one day where we had power, but the outlets (downstairs at least) weren’t working. I casually made the comment that it would be nice if – during the day at least – we could have power to the outlets and no power to the lights. The power went out that night. And when it came back on, it was, you guessed it, to the outlets. Out of the mouths of prophets…

That same night we were fan-less and the air was muggy, warm, and as still as me when I sleep (my cousin once told her mom after she shared a bed with me, “Mom, I kept looking over and thinking, ‘is she dead?!’”). I couldn’t sleep for a long time, and I felt quite miserable. That was one of those nights where you lay in bed, think about your life, feel like you’re trapped in the place you’re living and cry. My mom tried calling me from Skype, but it didn’t work. I did get to hear her voice though, and it cheered me a little. I eventually fell asleep, sticky.

The next day was a sad one for me, but mostly only when I was feeling hot. There were a few things on my mind, things that didn’t help my sad case at all. That evening, when it cooled off and the power came back on, God blessed me with joy after the storm. I got to cook with Tricia and mash potatoes, the kids were being silly at dinner, and I was finally cool. I’m not sure what it is, but when I’m hot, it puts me in a most awful, ‘it’s the end of the world’ mood. Dear Lord, please never call me to a place that’s hot!

One day as Tricia and I took a bajaj – a three wheeled vehicle popular in India and cheaper here than a taxi – to go shopping a bit, we saw a white guy walking along the road with a backpack. Along the same road was a goat eating grass, a sight not unusual in Africa. The man noticed the goat, stopped, and smiled like it was an unusual sight for him. Tricia and I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe he was a tourist… T.I.A.!

Saturday we had great plans to visit White Sands Hotel and spend a relaxing day there, just us three girls. DJ and Garrett were off in Kenya, so why not? The day dawned, and we left almost on time at about 7:40. We were bound for the ATM, and then the hotel. I had a Skype date with my Mama at eight.

The ATM was farther than I realized, but that would have been ok. If it had worked. I tried two different ATMs right next door to each other. No go. Our bajaj driver took us to others. They were either closed or not working. Tricia then called the gal who lives on our compound and works for the owner. ATMs were down. All over the city. By this time, it was way past eight and we were LATE. My phone didn’t have enough credit to text my Mama, so I had to use Tricia’s and her credit was getting low too. We ended up having to temporarily use some money that DJ and Tricia had been saving. We finally arrived at the hotel around 8:45, paid to spend the day there, and then bought internet credit. I was thrilled to finally be there and be able to Skype. But fate would have it (God in this case!) that Mom’s Skype was being naughty and we couldn’t chat. By now I was almost in tears from all the silliness and frustration. So was Mom.

Tricia bought me phone credit at the hotel, so I could finally text my mama. That was a relief. I got on Facebook, and after more frustration for poor mama, we finally got to Facebook chat. And God knew best. She got to tell me all she wanted, unhindered (by ears that shouldn’t have heard if we’d skyped). As she told me news I didn’t want to hear about family issues and a change of plans concerning my return, I sat there in the little internet room that thankfully didn’t have many people in it, tears streaming down my face. Like my Aunt Kelli says, ‘tears come when they want, where they want.’ Truer words have hardly been spoken!

Despite all the unfortunate news, I was thankful for a Mama chat. She told me I needed to come home now J I’m coming so soon, Mama! After doing Facebook and internet things and getting some much needed away time, I wandered out to the pool and let Avery talk me into a cool dip in the pool while we waited for our lunch. I did have lots of fun, and giggled and made noises like a little kid does in a swimming pool. So much for being an adult!

When our food came, mine was a ham and cheese sandwich smothered in cheesy goodness, and I enjoyed every single bite of it. I relaxed the rest of the afternoon away lounging on a chair between the pool and the beach. I read a small chunk from my book – small due to the size of the book. It’s ‘Gone With the Wind’ – and worked on my tan. I even got a bit of color on my legs, wonder of wonders!

Ever since we’ve been in Dar, some poor soul in our household has been fighting a cold. Right now it’s Tricia. Thursday we were to go grocery shopping with Amy. But come Thursday morning, Tricia wasn’t feeling up to it, so it was up to me and Amy to go grocery shopping. It had been quite a time since I’d really been grocery shopping in a real supermarket store. I was a mess! There were so many choices, and I didn’t know the stores that well. God was good though. Amy is a pro at shopping and helped me loads. We had a grand time together and even lived it up: we shared a Bounty bar (like Mounds) and later, a delectable doughnut. When Avery and I were by the same bakery later, she pointed in the window and commented on how wonderful the doughnuts looked. I agreed that they did, and then wondered if I should fess up. I figured I should. Later!

While on our little shopping trip, we were on a time constraint because of our taxi driver. I had a great hope of going to Mr. Price, a place with most adorable clothes, to look for a dress to wear home. I was in and out in twenty minutes, and I had success. I bought one! And now Tricia will take it to Holland next week to maybe wear to a wedding she’s going to. Oh and her gone means… Avy and I are doing almost all the cooking. Yahoo! Look out kitchen!

I have about 19 days left, and the days are going fast. I love being here, but the more I think and talk about home foods, family, and all the little comforts of home, homesickness and desire for home ensues. And Mom’s ready for her daughter to come home, and I wish I could be there to help her and be with her. I am so thankful for God’s grace that helps me to be content here where I am and where he put me.

Weekly thanks….

*         For Malcolm Israel Olson – one of my very best friend’s new babies. Tessa, I’m coming soon to see you and your wonderful little one!

*         My Mama’s servant’s heart: she lead VBS again this year

*         That Dar isn’t as hot as it is in most other months

*         Lots of time to read my book

*         Time that power outages give you… like playing a game as a family when you might have been doing something electronic

*         Girl time with Amy

*         A new dress

*         Getting to go grocery shopping – something I do kind of enjoy, but have been mostly unable to do these last few months

*         Daily chances to serve others

*         Making chapatis with our house girl today

*         The kids making me laugh with their goofy antics

Ps – Mama, this is early, but…. HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the 28^th! Live it up and just imagine all the birthday gifts you’ll get when I get back. From Africa! J

the end. of something.

who can see the southern cross? :)

i think the big dipper is bigger in the southern hemisphere... and it's definitely too big to fit in one photo!

proof!

lea.

anette.

me. duh!

look, i have a toilet behind my house. too bad that didn't happen five months earlier!

the storm before the calm. hooray for packing!

my favorite tree.. the baobab.

four weeks.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11

Basi. Finished. Done. That’s what we are. With Kiswahili and official homeschooling. I spent this last week in a state of shock. Do you ever get to the end of something and find yourself in slight disbelief that you actually did it? That’s me. Who travels to Africa for six months, lives with missionaries, and gets to learn another language with them while tutoring their kids?

Now, two of the four of those things are done. And Tuesday was the four week mark until I fly across the sea to HOME! My feelings are mixed. They range from excitement to fear of culture shock and adjustment to I kinda need a job. The months are a slight blur. As usual, where does time fly away to? Well, one thing’s for sure: you only get that time once. It never comes back again. It remains alive only in one’s memories, pictures, and writings. And maybe a video or two J

We now find ourselves in a beautiful house just steps away from the Indian Ocean. I can shower, potty, and wash my hands all in the same room and its right next to my room. It’s really quite amazing!

Garrett and Avery both have colds, and my tummy’s been grouchy since Sunday, that day being the worst, complete with stomach cramps and almost losing my lunch. Avery and I are roomies now, and our first night here she took a Benadryl and woke me up with her coughing about three thirty. “I feel better now! … When is it morning?” Silly girl!

Dar is much more pleasant now than in January when we were here, but it’s still stiflingly muggy and I think I look almost constantly shiny in the face. Our eight hour drive from Iringa on Monday took us from the cool mountains of Iringa province to baobab forests and then on to different forest, unique beauty, Mikumi National Park and animals, and eventually to palm trees and city. And our driver only scared us a few times and we didn’t die, so life is OK.

Before one of our town days last week, Bob, one of camp’s drivers, told me: “If you find yourself alone in Africa, find a friend.” The way he put it just cracked me up. I then felt rather funny walking around town all alone. And the fact that I was a single white chic surrounded by Africans doesn’t help either.

I had ANOTHER spider incident. Same song, third verse, right? Well, not quite. This one was full of me saying naughty words because I was so freaked and talking out loud, mostly to myself and God.  It was after I’d made my usual potty run to the Morrison house. I sat on my bed, journaling. I saw something on my rug. It was a spider. A giant spider. Like the ones I’ve had to call someone else who isn’t me to kill. But this time, it was too late. So there I sat, on my bed, praying and wondering what to do. I had to kill it, somehow. But how was the imperative question. I was freaked. He made his move a bit, so I made mine, sweating. I moved swiftly off my bed and grabbed a shoe. He was frozen, on my floor. I was frozen too. Fear grabbed hold of me with a painful grasp and wouldn’t let go. He finally made another move, this time under Megan’s old bed. I reacted, but not in time. He got away.

Now I was furiously nervous and scared. He finally ended up on the wall and crawled about. I decided to take a picture of him, hoping that would help him seem not as scary. It didn’t. But, at least I have evidence that he was actually there and big. I had my rain boot in hand hoping that I could kill him with a farther distance between the two of us. Then I tried switching back to my tennis shoe, thinking it might make me feel more secure. Nope. I didn’t make my move, I was too freaked out. He crawled behind one of my curtains. I shook the curtain, but he didn’t scamper out. I decided to journal and wait. Every little bit I’d look over to where I thought he might pop out.

At almost midnight, I finally gave in and went to bed, the spider still at large. I covered my head with my sheet. I couldn’t really breathe. I poked my head out of the sheet, and went to sleep. Except for waking in the night to potty, which was an ordeal because I was sure I was going to see him on the wall, I slept fine and didn’t get eaten by him. The kids and I went on a spider hunt the next day, but no luck. Maybe he was as scared of me as I was of him and fled the scene!

Our teacher for our last week of Kiswahili was Mai. Her baby became ill, so Wednesday we had class with DJ and Tricia, and Thursday we didn’t have class at all. Friday I feared we wouldn’t have class either, a sad and unfortunate way to finish up four months of language school. Mom and I were praying, and God in his goodness sent Mai for our last and final day. After that and chai break, the kiddos and I went to their house, ate chocolate that I’d bought, and celebrated the end of homeschool (and Kiswahili too I suppose!) with a movie.

Lea and Anette, the two Danish girls who came to Rivervalley for language school, are quite sweet and down to earth. They too freak out about creepy and crawly things and we had lots of fun movie nights and talks. They even showed me pictures from their Europe trip last year. Eek, can I please go already?!

A boy who was one of Mom’s former piano students who I also used to babysit and one of my best friend’s little sisters graduated from high school this year (I missed both of them - picture me now with a sad face). I’ve been graduated for four years. I guess that makes me a little bit old and a lot a bit grown up. The thing of it is I don’t feel old. I feel kind of young and maybe a bit insecure. Here I’m about to come home from six months abroad, and it’s almost like I’m starting all over. I actually kind of am. It’s a nice feeling actually, but scary. No job. Where to live. I’m supposed to be a big girl now, right? Ha! Good thing we can always be God’s children (*wink*).

My week’s thank you Lords….

      God’s protection even from the biggest spiders in my life

      That we didn’t die on our drive to Dar from Rivervalley

      Four months of survival for all five of us through Kiswahili and homeschool

      A comfy bed to sleep in, a toilet the door next to mine, and a roomie (even if she has woke me with her coughing the last two nights J)

      God’s beautiful beach just a stroll away

      A few more precious weeks to spend with my Morrison family

      Getting to see Mama and Dad and all my wonderful friends and family in a few weeks

Enjoy the last week of your spring my friends. Then onto a new season, new adventures, and probably a suntan or two. See you soon! J

fire. feet. and baobab fruit.

look, i bought the world! really it's just a globe that opens up and you can put stuff  in it, but still..

dragonfly.

ready or not..

my spud hill and moscow mountain.

the baobab fruit on the top is flavored, the one on the bottom, natural.

God = Good

“The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” Psalm 145:9

One week. Seven days. 168 hours. That’s all the time we have left at Rivervalley. I feel in a state of shock. The last four months are a bit of a blur to me. They were filled with Kiswahili, teaching, reading books, going for walks, enjoying God’s beauty, taking lots of pictures, and of course, eating. A lot! God has truly blessed us. One couldn’t ask for much better a place to study Kiswahili.

Up ‘til a couple days ago, I was honestly dreading going back to Dar es Salaam. It’s a huge city filled with traffic, people, and malaria. Mostly I dreaded it because I didn’t know where we’d live or what the living situation would look like. But, it’s just like God to give us better than we expect (and deserve!). Some of Amanda’s friends, also owners of Village Coffeeshop which I frequent at least once a week, knew of a house for rent – I think one of their parent’s own the house – and told DJ and Tricia about it. Two bedrooms and a loft, plus it’s in a compound with other houses. The Morrison’s have a heart for the Tanzanians and desire to be in a community close to them and a Tanzanian church. This house isn’t ideal for that but will do the trick while they search for one that is ideal. Oh, and did I mention, *cough* that it’s two blocks from the beach?! Yep, now you can probably understand my change of heart. My dread has turned to joy!

This week I’ve moved on from House. It’s an entertaining show but not the most uplifting. My greener pastures now lie in Blue Bloods. If you’ve never seen it, now would be a good time to change that, especially if you like police dramas. And this one actually has family values! Thank you Hollywood, you did a decent job this time.

Wednesday I had great plans to meet up with Adder, Baba and Mama Mchungaji’s daughter. We were to go shoe shopping. And we did, sort of. But before I met up with her, I was attempting to buy salt and pepper shakers. One bottom fit too loose, the other too tight. There was a man who was fixing them for me. In the process, the poor soul managed to cut himself. Iringa has the highest AIDS transmission rate in Tanzania, so when I saw the blood and was holding one of the shakers, I got a bit freaked. Thankfully Adder was there by then and I could say I needed to leave.

She needed to go see her brother at a bank, so there I was, sitting there in the bank waiting for her and it dawns on me: “I have a cut on my thumb and I might have come in contact with that guy’s blood. What if I get AIDS?!” I felt like crying at the thought. It didn’t help that I was hot, we were supposed to be meeting Mai to pick up some things from the tailor, and we were going to be late. I hand-sanitized like crazy! And on the way home later with Andrew and Amethyst, they put my fears to rest by telling me that it takes a lot more than that to contract AIDS. Big phewf!!! Thanks friends!

After meeting Mai and getting the things Tricia, Avery, and I had had the tailor make, Adder and I went off searching for shoes and a jean jacket. After trying on a ton of used shoes – Lord protect me from foot fungus! – I found several pairs I liked. Unfortunately for me, Adder had left “for a few minutes” and told me to not go anywhere. Ha! 30 minutes went by, and Andrew and Amethyst were waiting for me at Iringa net. I texted Adder and she said she was coming. Another 30 minutes went by, some of which I filled with buying phone credit and looking for lipstick as a thank you for one of my teachers. I finally bartered for the shoes and then called Tricia. I was curious if it was ok to leave even though she hadn’t come back. It was, so I left and texted Adder. She ended up meeting me by Iringa net. She said something about car trouble. Hum… She seemed sad. I felt a bit bad. But, when a few minutes turn to an hour and one’s ride is waiting for them, what else is one to do? I’ll just say it like the French, “That’s life!”

We bid Dylan, the Petersons, and Andrew and Amethyst goodbye this week. I felt great sadness that they were leaving. We ate almost every meal together. We’d become a little almost family. But alas, I guess all good things must come to an end. At least that’s the case with this.

Wednesday night we had a lovely little campfire in the woods by Morrison’s banda. I enjoyed it more than I do some campfires. And I do love myself a good campfire. I especially love that smoky smell that permeates almost the whole of you. It reminds me of Kalaloch (only a couple months Eilers’ family! Can’t wait to see you all! J) We even ate s’mores and Amethyst brought her guitar. Such a special time. God’s blessed us with new friends, Lea and Annette, two girls from Denmark. They’re quite fun and I love having them around.

Saturday we hiked about five kilometers and rode horses at the Phillip’s farm. The girls were nervous, and I mostly just excited. My horse’s name was Dragonfly, and he was sweet and gentle. The day dawned gorgeous and stayed that way. I felt quite insecure once perched upon Dragonfly in the English saddle. But, my comfort level improved and we had a lovely little walk around the grounds, led by Valentino, one of their Tanzanian workers. We even strolled through the forest with the dusty green colored trees with twisty branches that looked sort of like hands aged from time and work, knobby and crooked. Out of the forest Annette wanted to trot with her horse, and mine wanted to follow suit. I protested loudly with screams and ‘whoa’s!’ but it was only after Valentino helped stop Dragonfly that he told me I needed to say ‘stand’. Oh! No wonder he wouldn’t stop.

We relaxed outside their house a bit and then made the long trek back through cornfields, sunflowers, fields, forest, and even a bridge. We managed to take the long way, and our legs almost fell off before we got back to camp. We were quite late for lunch, but since we were the only ones, they brought lunch out when we arrived. We downed much water, and sodas were in order too. A hot shower felt nice, and then I enjoyed relaxing with my Bible, Blue Bloods, and my journal. Today my inner thighs are reminding me that they have muscles.. Ouch!

Life never runs you dry of thank you’s, does it? Here goes!

*         For friends that give you perspective

*         One more week and then the kids will be free of homeschool. Mostly!

*         One last week to enjoy Iringa for possibly the last time in my life

*         Getting more done than you expect (that’s big when you’re on ‘Africa time’)

*         New shoes

*         A cute new top

*         God’s continual provision and continual surprises

Have a very happy month of June, friends! While you’re enjoying fragrant spring flowers, we’re experiencing cold nights, steaming cups of tea, and scarves. Relish in those lovely blossoms for me pretty please! J