humble thyself.

It occurred to me tonight. Since I’ve been a resident of Africa, I’ve spent almost every night in houses with barred windows. I’m not sure if, when I finally arrive at a house without bars, I’ll feel free or scared to death!

After days filled with packing and getting ready, we set off on our new adventure: Tanzania, our new home. We arrived in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday and are staying with some NTM friends until we head off next Sunday for Iringa and Rivervalley Campsite. Aka, camping in the African woods and studying up on some Swahili for four months!

Our friends here, the Ellis’s, live in a giant house with high ceilings and awesome moldings on some of them. And the showers… oh my. I’ll post a picture soon. When I saw the downstairs bathroom at first, I didn’t even think it had a shower in it. Then I saw the little dip in the tiles and the showerhead. “Is that the shower?” I asked stupidly. Yep, sure enough. I was excited. I love new shower experiences! Too bad this one has to include a squeegee after each shower…

When we flew into Dar, I felt better. I was finally home for a few months. Dang it’s hot, though! There are times when you’re constantly wet, and it’s not from that shower-curtain-less shower either. I have a new appreciation for fans, even when I sleep. J The city is big, and I love it. And the traffic… it’s something else! The city’s growing. Too bad the roads aren’t as much. It’s nice to just relax in the backseat while the taxi driver slams on his breaks.

Walking anywhere is an adventure… You wanna watch your step so you don’t step on anything too foreign, but you wanna watch out that you don’t run into anything too foreign either, which could cause a different sort of issue! J The Tanzanians are a beautiful and generally friendly sort of people and I love them already. I am sure to fall even more in love with them as I learn more of their culture and language.

After a couples days at Ellis’s, we hopped in a taxi and headed off to the international school that the kids might attend in August. Upon arrival, we got a ride to the guesthouse (and house where I stayed) before returning to school. Avery and I went to grade five and Tricia and Garrett went to grade seven. I loved going back to the fifth grade. Avery didn’t. Course, it makes a difference when you’re still IN grade five. It was so hot and I think I was getting dehydrated. I felt sick. So while waiting in the admin building for Tricia and Garrett (who instead played football with his new friends), I drank lots of water. After the tour and a yummy lunch, we eventually returned to the guesthouse.

Let me tell you, the house where I stayed, next to the guesthouse, was like a mansion on a hilltop. With a view of the sea and a cute little swimming pool that the kids and I took advantage of too. Silent Marco Polo is the way to go when the pool is small ;)

Sometimes you don’t realize you need alone time until you get it. And then you think, ‘This is so refreshing!’ I got to nap a bit in the afternoon in my room, and then spend some time with Avery blowing up one of the guesthouse tvs and locking us out of the guesthouse…

We really didn’t mean to. You see, Tricia and Garrett were away at youth group and Avery and I wanted to watch a movie. There were two tvs, one with cable, one with a dvd player. There were even dvds in the house to watch. So we struggled and I eventually got the extension cord for the tv/dvd plugged into our adapter and into the wall. Avery turned on the tv, and was turning the volume down as I left the room. All the sudden I hear a noise, and Avery says, ‘Naphtali, the tv’s on fire!’ I rush in to the smell and sight of smoke puffing out of the tv. Gaah! It was scary and I felt awful.

Talk about a humbling experience. I talked to the director and his wife Marilyn about it. I was staying in their house. They were so very kind and gracious about it. Thank goodness it was an old tv at least.

Avery and I watched a movie on Garrett’s computer, and I avoided the house most of the night. Then we went outside to stargaze… And I managed to get us locked out of the house. We briefly discussed trying to get in thru the bathroom window, but after asking one of the workers if they had a key, we had to humble ourselves and ask Marilyn for a key. She was so sweet about it. Man, God sure knows how to keep me humble in life…

Our time at the mansion on the hill top was relaxing and just what we needed. For the first time in weeks, I didn’t sleep under a mosquito net and I actually had air conditioning! The house was beautiful, and Marilyn was a wonderful host. She set out great breakfast goodies the next morning, and then we enjoyed our morning there. I attempted to finish my book, but alas, I visited with Marilyn and Rosemarie, one of the other houseguests.

I am so thankful God knows our needs and when we need them. The house where we stayed was like a home to me. It was beautifully decorated and filled with pictures. I was able to get some downtime and just enjoy the kids. Before, I was floundering a little. I just wanted to go home. I wanted to stay up late with mom and her cookies. Scratch dad’s back. Get a coffee and walk in downtown Tacoma. Wear my old, somewhat trendier clothes. Curl up with whatever movie I wanted and eat as much popcorn as I’d like. And drive my car. Somewhere. ANYWHERE.

It’s so nice to be in the center of God’s will. I wouldn’t choose to be anywhere but here. Africa is where God has me. Africa is where I shall be. I am thrilled to head off to language school in a week and call someplace home for a few months. Dear Lord, help us not fall on our faces in the dirt with this new language. And if we do, please dunk us in the river and clean us off. J