thou shalt not covet another man's toilet.

This week has gone by surprisingly slow. We find ourselves adjusting to a new schedule complete with yummy food, awesome new missionary friends, Swahili in the mornings, beautiful scenery, lots of volleyball, and bugs. As the week went by, something would happen and I would think to myself that I wanted to write about it in my blog. But alas, my brain is rather full of new words that I’m learning do make sense once someone tells you what they mean. So, I’m rather positive that I won’t recall everything.

Our travels from Dar to Rivervalley Campsite turned into an all day affair. We taxied to the bus station, looked for our bus, climbed aboard, and then us girls went in search of a potty. What we found: a squatty potty that we had to pay for. Oh Africa… Once on the bus, we left ahead of schedule. And sat in traffic, a quite normal situation for one to find themselves in in Dar.

Once out of city, the almost nine-hours of scenery we enjoyed was immense. We started out tropical and ended up mountainous. Along the way we saw flat, lots of bow-bob (not sure how to spell that..) trees, and even traveled through Makumi National Park. I was praying I’d see at least one animal in our speedy drive through the park. You know God’s sense of humor, right? We saw Water Bulls. And….. Wildebeests. Impalas. Elephants. Zebras. And giraffes! They were all so great to see, but I was especially quite excited for the giraffes. It seems most people I meet love them as I do. I wonder what it is about them that makes us like them so very much… Are we simply fascinated that their necks are almost as tall as we are? Is it their seemingly gentle eyes and innocent spirit? Or that they’re unlike any other creature on the planet? I just love how our Jesus’ creativity in all things never ceases to stop.

I think God was preparing me to not have what I expected. And I’m certainly glad he did. I went from thinking I would have my own little cabin with a bathroom to sleeping in a covered tent. The first night. Then I had a decision to make. I felt like I was on that show on HGTV where the people have to decide which house they like best. House Hunters I think. Do you want the condo with the great view but small kitchen, or the downtown apartment with all your wishes that’s a bit far from your job. For me it was, do I take the banda in the woods far from the toilet, or the tented banda just a short and flat stroll from my new friends and the toilet? I chose the latter since living in a tent for four months didn’t appeal much to me. I love sleeping in a tent. For a week.   

My new home is becoming homier the more I live in it. I’ve even started putting pictures up which makes me love it even more. Avery and I call it the quarter-house and theirs next door, the half-house. Mine has one room and no toilet. Theirs has two bedrooms, an attic, and a toilet with a sink and shower. It is quite a small walk down the hill for me to my toilet and shower. And not only that, but the stone bathroom I use with a grass roof is a welcoming haven for bugs. One day when I went to use the other bathroom in the lower part of the campsite, I discovered a spider on the door. I promptly walked back out and used the other toilet in the bathroom.

My first night in my banda was complete with discovering that I live with a lizard. It scared me so bad at first. Then I remembered it was a good thing because he eats the bugs. And then I remembered he has to poop somewhere… My new roomie, Megan (starting last night) and I discovered he can escape through the many cracks in our door, so that’s a comfort. I am so happy he feels at home enough to come and go whenever he chooses.

I’ve had my share of homesickness since arriving here. And one morning, I had to remind myself, ‘thou shall not covet another man’s toilet.’ Being here will I imagine be a good lesson in being content with what I have. This is Africa after all. Just go with it!

Tuesday night found Garrett with Malaria. He was quite miserable, but able to do some schoolwork the next day before feeling icky again. It’s great to see how caring our new friends are here. They kept asking how Garrett was and such. Avery and I got more bonding time doing Kiswahili with our teacher.

This has been a most humbling and rather difficult week. Humbling due hugely to this new-to-me language called Kiswahili (in this language you always put a Ki before you say any language). Garrett and Avery and I study with our teacher with the great African name that I can’t remember. They had a bit of Rosetta Stone Kiswahili in Mozambique, plus they have these great kid minds. They pick things up (especially Garrett) like I pick up chocolate, and I’m stuck with my hand still in the air reaching for the chocolate. I’m fairly sure I don’t remember half of what we’ve been taught so far. But God is good, and I will continue to attempt to learn it.

I have been most pleasantly surprised to discover that homeschooling isn’t as hard as I feared. I quite enjoy it actually. And on Tuesday, our first official day, the kids helped me set the rules with the consequence of breaking them being their nose on the post, wall, or if really bad, the ground. I have excellent students. On Thursday, I found myself quietly thrilled to discover that Garrett enjoys reading Narnia. We read out loud together, taking turns. On that particular day, Garrett read first, and when Avery was almost done reading, he offered to read again. When I asked him if he liked to do it, his reply seemed quite positive that he did. I too enjoy reading aloud, but it was quite worth the small sacrifice to let him read again. To all you teachers out there, isn’t it wonderful to discover that your students actually enjoys something about school? J

Today, we traveled up the mountain to Iringa town with some of our friends who have a vehicle… Tricia and I both had lists, and were quite successful in finding our goods. It occurred to me today that when I shop here, I mostly just buy what I’m looking for. There’s not much impulsive buying for Naph anymore. it’s quite a comforting thought for me. And hey, if I do buy on impulse, it’s for a good cause, like buying gifts or Africa goodies for myself J

Town was quite nice, especially as we attempted to use the little Kiswahili we remembered. The people knew some English, and despite the fact we saw very few whities like us, I didn’t feel horribly out of place. I could have gone wild with all the beautiful and colorful fabrics we saw. But hey, I’m here for a few more months… There’s still time to go crazy!

I am thankful to be in the country once again. Surrounded by God’s abounding beauty, it changes perspective a bit. I really need to stop more and just remind him how wonderful of a creator he really is. How about you? J