It's been 4 months since I left Tanzania. Some days it feels like it was just yesterday that I was landing in that country. Other days it feels like the whole 2 months was some kind of distant dream. In a lot of ways, I still am a little bit in awe that it even happened. I cherish every memory and still struggle not to tear up when thinking about it too long.
A lot has happened over the last 4 monthes, I've graduated from College, moved back to Franklin, TN, moved out of my parents house, started two new jobs, and basically become thrown back into the swing of "U.S. real world."
As I reflect over the trip, the ways that it changed my life are endless to explain to any one person. However, as I look over the pictures, what brings me to tears every time is the amount of JOY that I see in the pictures. I realize everytime I look at the pictures of me with my students, with the children of William's village, or touring Kenya and the Rift Valley, I am looking at someone who is completely satisfied. The girl I see in those pictures knows that she is EXACTLY where she is supposed to be. She's dirty, sweaty, uncomfortable, homesick, and yet so happy and joyful and content in a way that she has never been any other time in her life. If one were to look at her physical condition, they would see that she's lost weight due to sickness or the new diet and she probably looks a little tired because of the bags under her eyes. Yet, anyone can see, she's never been so FULL.
How ironic.
How interesting that this girl is so unhappy and yet her eyes beam with Joy that could only reflect the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now the question is, where is that girl now?
Can I honestly say that I am fully content where I am? I'm definitely physically more comfortable. I can eat whatever I want without fear of parasite. I can sleep without a mosquito net and without fear of Malaria. I sleep in air conditioning. I can drive 5 minutes to the closest Starbucks and grab an incredible cup of coffee that costs more than my friends in TZ make in a week. I can pick up the phone and call any loved one that I desire to. Im in a job that I enjoy where I am doing ministry with people just like I was doing over in TZ.
So why don't the pictures of me these days reflect that joy?
Perhaps, that level of JOY is a choice.
In Tanzania, I woke up every morning knowing that I had limited time in that place to love the SNOT out of every person around me and reflect Christ to them. I woke up with purpose in every step and dreams in my heart.
Is there any reason why it shouldn't be the same way in the United States?
Absolutely not.
Choose JOY today.
Choose to BE where you are and really BE there.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
How I spent my Easter
Happy Easter everyone!
I hope it was absolutely fabulous for everyone. Mine was a little strange. Our spring break started on the 15th, so I've been in Kenya for the last week. It was an amazing time of hiking, relaxing, shopping, and just really seeing how beautiful this part of the world is. The mountains continue to take my breath away and Mt. Kilimanjaro is just a gorgeous as all the pictures portray it to be. I'll be posting pictures on my facebook account soon. :)
Therefore, my Easter was spent waking up at 6 am and taking the 8-9 hour African bus trip home. At first I was really disappointed. This was my first Easter in Africa and I really just wanted to celebrate it with the Kenyans or the Tanzanians. However, I would be celebrating it on a bus ride that some could compare to a mild 9 hour roller coaster ride due to the speed and ridiculousness of the driving here by western standards.
Bummer right?
It ended up being such a blessing of a day. Long, but a blessing. About 6 hours of the ride was spent driving through some of those gorgeous mountains in Tanzania and I had my ipod in. I basically spent my Easter morning listening to worship music and being amazed and blown away by His creation. Somehow, on that bus, I was able to really enter into a place of worship. It sometimes felt like everytime we rounded a corner, I had one more beautiful bit of scenery to stare at and marvel at. Our God is the Creator and He is a GOOD one.
Once we got home, the reality set in and it became clear that vacation was OVER. There was internet to be bought. Groceries to be purchased. Laundry to be done. etc. In America all of this could be done within a couple hours. It's a little more challenging here. Therefore, we, as roommates, divided and conquered. I went grocery shopping.
Once I got to the grocery store, I bought what I needed and was about to catch a bajaj home. However, I noticed about 9-11 kids sitting outside next to a garbage can. They were all looking one direction.....towards a tv store where a tv was showing a cartoon through the store window. They were literally all crowded around on the sidewalk, next to the trashcan, watching a cartoon with no sound, in another langugage, but they didn't care. I don't know why, but the sight gripped me. How many American kids would do this? Not many I know. These kids clearly had no where else to be but right there. There wasn't any sign of any parents either.
Then I heard God say a funny thing,"They need popcorn for a movie." I responded with a laugh, "God? Popcorn? Did I hear you right?!?" He insisted. So I went back into the grocery store and bought a huge thing of popcorn. I came outside, sat down with the kids, shared some popcorn, and started watching the cartoon with them. At first they were REALLY confused. Who was this white woman sitting next to a trash can with them eating/ sharing popcorn!? I knew they'd be confused so I just started greeting them and introducing myself. After about 20 minutes, I had 2 kids in my lap and most of popcorn was gone.
In that moment, there was literally no where else I wanted to be than sitting there in front of that window with those children. Their smiles at me made me feel like I could float home and I totally did. I bet my bajaj driver thought I was insane with the big grin I had the whole way home.
Isn't that what we are supposed to do as Christians? Do the weird thing so that LOVE is shown. Sure they were confused, but by the end of that 30-35 minutes of sitting with them, they knew I cared about them and wanted them to be fed and content. It was REALLY strange for a WHITE woman to sit with these AFRICAN children next to trash and enjoy herself...but isn't that what Christ did at Easter? Didn't he also come down to the trash from heaven and enjoy the company of children and love them?
Anyways, it just meant a lot to me. It may not to anyone else.
It may not have been the Easter I was expecting in Tanzania, but it still meant the WORLD to me.
He is Risen!
He is Risen INDEED!
I hope it was absolutely fabulous for everyone. Mine was a little strange. Our spring break started on the 15th, so I've been in Kenya for the last week. It was an amazing time of hiking, relaxing, shopping, and just really seeing how beautiful this part of the world is. The mountains continue to take my breath away and Mt. Kilimanjaro is just a gorgeous as all the pictures portray it to be. I'll be posting pictures on my facebook account soon. :)
Therefore, my Easter was spent waking up at 6 am and taking the 8-9 hour African bus trip home. At first I was really disappointed. This was my first Easter in Africa and I really just wanted to celebrate it with the Kenyans or the Tanzanians. However, I would be celebrating it on a bus ride that some could compare to a mild 9 hour roller coaster ride due to the speed and ridiculousness of the driving here by western standards.
Bummer right?
It ended up being such a blessing of a day. Long, but a blessing. About 6 hours of the ride was spent driving through some of those gorgeous mountains in Tanzania and I had my ipod in. I basically spent my Easter morning listening to worship music and being amazed and blown away by His creation. Somehow, on that bus, I was able to really enter into a place of worship. It sometimes felt like everytime we rounded a corner, I had one more beautiful bit of scenery to stare at and marvel at. Our God is the Creator and He is a GOOD one.
Once we got home, the reality set in and it became clear that vacation was OVER. There was internet to be bought. Groceries to be purchased. Laundry to be done. etc. In America all of this could be done within a couple hours. It's a little more challenging here. Therefore, we, as roommates, divided and conquered. I went grocery shopping.
Once I got to the grocery store, I bought what I needed and was about to catch a bajaj home. However, I noticed about 9-11 kids sitting outside next to a garbage can. They were all looking one direction.....towards a tv store where a tv was showing a cartoon through the store window. They were literally all crowded around on the sidewalk, next to the trashcan, watching a cartoon with no sound, in another langugage, but they didn't care. I don't know why, but the sight gripped me. How many American kids would do this? Not many I know. These kids clearly had no where else to be but right there. There wasn't any sign of any parents either.
Then I heard God say a funny thing,"They need popcorn for a movie." I responded with a laugh, "God? Popcorn? Did I hear you right?!?" He insisted. So I went back into the grocery store and bought a huge thing of popcorn. I came outside, sat down with the kids, shared some popcorn, and started watching the cartoon with them. At first they were REALLY confused. Who was this white woman sitting next to a trash can with them eating/ sharing popcorn!? I knew they'd be confused so I just started greeting them and introducing myself. After about 20 minutes, I had 2 kids in my lap and most of popcorn was gone.
In that moment, there was literally no where else I wanted to be than sitting there in front of that window with those children. Their smiles at me made me feel like I could float home and I totally did. I bet my bajaj driver thought I was insane with the big grin I had the whole way home.
Isn't that what we are supposed to do as Christians? Do the weird thing so that LOVE is shown. Sure they were confused, but by the end of that 30-35 minutes of sitting with them, they knew I cared about them and wanted them to be fed and content. It was REALLY strange for a WHITE woman to sit with these AFRICAN children next to trash and enjoy herself...but isn't that what Christ did at Easter? Didn't he also come down to the trash from heaven and enjoy the company of children and love them?
Anyways, it just meant a lot to me. It may not to anyone else.
It may not have been the Easter I was expecting in Tanzania, but it still meant the WORLD to me.
He is Risen!
He is Risen INDEED!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE HAVE A NEW BABY GIRL IN DAR!!!
I asked many of you to be praying for my friends William and Stella. Stella has lost several children either by miscarriage or very soon after birth. The HOPAC community has been praying and begging the Lord to give this precious couple a child.
Ladies and gentleman, please meet the miracle baby at this blog address:
http://www.gilandamy.blogspot.com/
When we received the news that this little angel had been born, it was an emotional moment. I felt like crying tears of joy and then jumping around a lot.
For those of you who don't know. William is the same William that I wrote about in my blog about "An Eventful Saturday." What an amazing man of God! Through this whole process he has been faithful and joyful and a blessing to us all.
Tomorrow morning, we will be celebrating at Mbezi Chapel (a Swahili church)!!!!!
PRAISE THE LORD! HE GIVES GOOD THINGS TO HIS CHILDREN!!!!!
Ladies and gentleman, please meet the miracle baby at this blog address:
http://www.gilandamy.blogspot.com/
When we received the news that this little angel had been born, it was an emotional moment. I felt like crying tears of joy and then jumping around a lot.
For those of you who don't know. William is the same William that I wrote about in my blog about "An Eventful Saturday." What an amazing man of God! Through this whole process he has been faithful and joyful and a blessing to us all.
Tomorrow morning, we will be celebrating at Mbezi Chapel (a Swahili church)!!!!!
PRAISE THE LORD! HE GIVES GOOD THINGS TO HIS CHILDREN!!!!!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
It just doesn't seem fair....
This has been my biggest struggle while being here. I've seen poverty before in other countries but being here as long as I am and being surrounded by it as much as I am has really brought a new light and new intensity to it. I find myself looking around and then looking up at the Lord and saying, "God, it just doesn't seem fair that I get to live the way I do in the States and your children here have to live the way they do..."
So to allow you to enter into my thoughts of wrestling, I thought I'd write them here:
1) It doesn't seem fair that in America, I get to be picky about my food because I have so many options, while I've seen kids here pick their meals from the garbage on the side of the road.
2) It doesn't seem fair that I get to pick out a new cute outfit maybe once every couple monthes and own about 50 articles of clothing, while children here may own 2-3 articles of clothing.
3)It doesn't seem fair that I have 15 pairs of shoes and the children here have none.
4)It doesn't seem fair that I have spent time in the States whining over making $7.50 an hour serving coffee, while the waitresses here are lucky to make 2-3 dollars A DAY.
5) It doesn't seem fair that rain in the states is an inconvenience, and rain here means that food will grow and we'll have electricity.
6) It doesn't seem fair that in america, we have the right to voice our opinion peacefully, and here it seems that the government is too corrupt to listen.
7) It doesn't seem fair that kids in America whine and whine and whine about getting the toys they want, while kids here are content to play in the garbage heaps and build toys out of garbage.
8) It doesn't seem fair that I forget to bless my food sometimes in the States, and the people here will pray over their water and beg God to protect them from the diseases that could be in it!
9) It doesn't seem fair that people here get sick constantly from stuff that could be prevented SO SO easily with just some cleaner water or vitamins.
I once heard someone say," But you are in Africa, its just like that...it'll always be that way and it's just unfortunate."
I just wanna know why it's ok for kids in Africa to live this way when they are just as valuable as any American child.
Would Jesus shrug it off as often as we do?
It just doesn't seem fair....
Lord, please help me understand!!!
So to allow you to enter into my thoughts of wrestling, I thought I'd write them here:
1) It doesn't seem fair that in America, I get to be picky about my food because I have so many options, while I've seen kids here pick their meals from the garbage on the side of the road.
2) It doesn't seem fair that I get to pick out a new cute outfit maybe once every couple monthes and own about 50 articles of clothing, while children here may own 2-3 articles of clothing.
3)It doesn't seem fair that I have 15 pairs of shoes and the children here have none.
4)It doesn't seem fair that I have spent time in the States whining over making $7.50 an hour serving coffee, while the waitresses here are lucky to make 2-3 dollars A DAY.
5) It doesn't seem fair that rain in the states is an inconvenience, and rain here means that food will grow and we'll have electricity.
6) It doesn't seem fair that in america, we have the right to voice our opinion peacefully, and here it seems that the government is too corrupt to listen.
7) It doesn't seem fair that kids in America whine and whine and whine about getting the toys they want, while kids here are content to play in the garbage heaps and build toys out of garbage.
8) It doesn't seem fair that I forget to bless my food sometimes in the States, and the people here will pray over their water and beg God to protect them from the diseases that could be in it!
9) It doesn't seem fair that people here get sick constantly from stuff that could be prevented SO SO easily with just some cleaner water or vitamins.
I once heard someone say," But you are in Africa, its just like that...it'll always be that way and it's just unfortunate."
I just wanna know why it's ok for kids in Africa to live this way when they are just as valuable as any American child.
Would Jesus shrug it off as often as we do?
It just doesn't seem fair....
Lord, please help me understand!!!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
A Little Education on Bajaj's in Tanzania by Me (your favorite international student teacher)
When I first got here, I was amazed by all the traffic. Dar is a city that has a population that officials aren't even sure of. Whenever I ask how many live in Dar, I have heard numbers that range from 3 million to 5 million. No one is quite sure. What I do know is that if there are 3 million people, the roads aren't prepared for them. All roads are two laned roads. You can imagine the rush hour traffic with that many people trying to get home on two lane roads. It's during those traffic jams that you are able to thank God for knowing how to be a white person who can get a bajaj. :) I have recently become one such person. It's helpful to get a bajaj for the simple and only slightly scary fact that traffic laws don't apply to bajaj drivers. Therefore, if you hit a traffic jam in a bajaj, it's not a problem!!! You just drive around it. If that means driving off road for a bit and weaving in and out of other cars that are at a standstill, so be it. A 2 hour traffic jam can easily become a 45 minute bumpy ride. :)
However, I've been here for almost a month now and I just recently gained the skills and confidence to get my own bajaj. Why is it so hard? There's just a lot of stuff you have to know! Therefore, in case any of you ever come to Tanzania, I am going to give you the step-by-step instruction of getting a bajaj with, of course, a little Amanda flair along the way. ;) By the end of this blog, you'll be an expert.
Maybe. HAHA!
Step 1: Picking a bajaj driver to approach for business: There isn't really an age limit on drivers. So sometimes I walk up to a bajaj driver and think, "No wonder you drive so crazy. What are you? 12?!" Therefore, pick an OLDER driver. Older typically equals more experience and more logical sense to not drive crazier than necessary. If you make a mistake and approach a driver, they open their mouth and you realize during the conversation that your driver's voice has not changed.... it's time to find another driver. Be polite but get away from that little kid quickly.
Step 2: GREET the bajaj driver: This culture is all about greeting. Greeting everyone. Everyone is a friend or a family member. Respect is paid to older people by the younger and its just a big deal here. Therefore, when you meet your bajaj driver that you think you wanna do business with... it's totally normal to start the business transaction with... "hi, how is your day going? How is business?" and so on. You bascially do this to become friends with bajaj driver a bit. Know why? Because a happy bajaj driver is gonna be an ounce safer than an annoyed and angry bajaj driver. ;)
Step 3: Tell the bajaj driver where you want to go: Say the name of the location and ask if he knows where it is. If he can't make eye contact with you and looks uncertain. He doesn't know where it is. You can ask him after he darts his eyes, "do you know where it is?" and he is going to say, "yes" whether he does or not. What he's actually thinking is, "No, but I could probably figure it out.... eventually...after stopping and asking 2-5 strangers and making this trip twice as long for you. I'm in no hurry. I've gotta do this all day."
However, if he makes eye contact, repeats the place, he probably is familar with where to go. (A smile is an added bonus of assurance. If you get a smile and eye contact.... you've got a winner.)
Step 4: Ask how much he's gonna charge you for the ride? You have to have a price in mind that is normal and reasonable to begin with... otherwise, he's going to try and charge you twice as much. He's not trying to be rude. He's not trying to rob you. He assumes that since you are white... you have the money, and you shouldn't mind paying him that money. He'll say a price. It's probably too high. Tell him your price. He'll say it's too low... and then let just let the bargaining begin. If you ask for a price and returns it with a shrug, and asks YOU to set the price, this may be another sign that he doesn't know exactly where it is that you are headed.
Step 5: Agree on a price. Get in. Hold onto your stuff and prepare for bumpy ride, and DON'T backseat drive.
See? Now you are a professional! O and by the way, it's all in Swahili!
Yeah, that may take another blog to teach you.
O well... I tried!!! ;)
At least, now you can understand what I go through to get around in Dar.
However, I've been here for almost a month now and I just recently gained the skills and confidence to get my own bajaj. Why is it so hard? There's just a lot of stuff you have to know! Therefore, in case any of you ever come to Tanzania, I am going to give you the step-by-step instruction of getting a bajaj with, of course, a little Amanda flair along the way. ;) By the end of this blog, you'll be an expert.
Maybe. HAHA!
Step 1: Picking a bajaj driver to approach for business: There isn't really an age limit on drivers. So sometimes I walk up to a bajaj driver and think, "No wonder you drive so crazy. What are you? 12?!" Therefore, pick an OLDER driver. Older typically equals more experience and more logical sense to not drive crazier than necessary. If you make a mistake and approach a driver, they open their mouth and you realize during the conversation that your driver's voice has not changed.... it's time to find another driver. Be polite but get away from that little kid quickly.
Step 2: GREET the bajaj driver: This culture is all about greeting. Greeting everyone. Everyone is a friend or a family member. Respect is paid to older people by the younger and its just a big deal here. Therefore, when you meet your bajaj driver that you think you wanna do business with... it's totally normal to start the business transaction with... "hi, how is your day going? How is business?" and so on. You bascially do this to become friends with bajaj driver a bit. Know why? Because a happy bajaj driver is gonna be an ounce safer than an annoyed and angry bajaj driver. ;)
Step 3: Tell the bajaj driver where you want to go: Say the name of the location and ask if he knows where it is. If he can't make eye contact with you and looks uncertain. He doesn't know where it is. You can ask him after he darts his eyes, "do you know where it is?" and he is going to say, "yes" whether he does or not. What he's actually thinking is, "No, but I could probably figure it out.... eventually...after stopping and asking 2-5 strangers and making this trip twice as long for you. I'm in no hurry. I've gotta do this all day."
However, if he makes eye contact, repeats the place, he probably is familar with where to go. (A smile is an added bonus of assurance. If you get a smile and eye contact.... you've got a winner.)
Step 4: Ask how much he's gonna charge you for the ride? You have to have a price in mind that is normal and reasonable to begin with... otherwise, he's going to try and charge you twice as much. He's not trying to be rude. He's not trying to rob you. He assumes that since you are white... you have the money, and you shouldn't mind paying him that money. He'll say a price. It's probably too high. Tell him your price. He'll say it's too low... and then let just let the bargaining begin. If you ask for a price and returns it with a shrug, and asks YOU to set the price, this may be another sign that he doesn't know exactly where it is that you are headed.
Step 5: Agree on a price. Get in. Hold onto your stuff and prepare for bumpy ride, and DON'T backseat drive.
See? Now you are a professional! O and by the way, it's all in Swahili!
Yeah, that may take another blog to teach you.
O well... I tried!!! ;)
At least, now you can understand what I go through to get around in Dar.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
What I actually miss....
I've been in Africa now for about 3 and a half weeks. It blows my mind that in one week... I will have been here for a month! Where is the time going?!?! A month in Africa symbolizes that my time here is half over and honestly, I'm not ready for it to be. I really like it here. Don't worry, mom, dad, and Zac, I WILL probably be ready to come home then. Maybe. lol.
The most common thing you hear after people get home from mission trips is,"You really realize what's actually important when you go to 3rd world country." Its almost the stereotypical line that is said at those church meetings where the people get up and share about their experience. After the 5th person gets up and says, "Wow, I realized that I didn't need my tv or ipod to be happy..." I start to wonder how long these people will feel this way. How long will it take before that individual in the states begins to feel like being seperated from their cell phone would destroy them? In my observations and even in my own life, it doesn't take long. Why is that??? Are we really that spoiled and do we really have that short of a memory? Sad isn't it? When I think about this, I find myself amazed at how grace-filled God is. Haha! I know that if I were Him, I'd be thinking, "OK HOW MANY TRIPS OUTSIDE OF THE STATES DO YOU HAVE TO GO ON TO GET IT, AMANDA?! I AM ENOUGH!!!"
It really is interesting what I miss. When I left Jackson, TN and Franklin, TN, I looked around and thought I would miss...
1)Air Conditioning
2)Favorite Restaurants (BlueCoast Burrito, Sakura, etc.)
3)Downtown Franklin
4) TV
5) My family
6) All my friends
7) My nice clothes
Now....granted...there are moments when I really wish I could get dressed up in a nice outfit, curl my hair, and go out for some sushi with my friends. However, late at night, after a long day in Africa, I find that the list of things I actually miss is much different.
1) My family
2)My Boyfriend
3) 5-8 good friends that I've done so much life with
4) ok.. and Starbucks would be nice.. ;)
I don't miss the pace of life in America. I don't miss driving a car. I don't miss hot showers or constant cell phone service. I honestly don't even miss the college scene at Union. I don't miss the pressure to look perfect or act perfect. I'm perfectly fine without those things. However, the only times I have found myself in tears have been when I think about things like.... missing Alyssa's prom night, missing Angela's 8th grade dance, talking to Zac, getting coffee (see there's that coffee!!!) with my girls, praying with my friends, and dreaming under the stars with my friends and sisters. The things you end up missing end up being things that cannot be bought. They end up revealing your heart more than ever. Ok fine, the fact that I miss Starbucks may not say anything AMAZING about my heart, but I'm imperfect. ;)
Just a thought that I thought I would share.
The most common thing you hear after people get home from mission trips is,"You really realize what's actually important when you go to 3rd world country." Its almost the stereotypical line that is said at those church meetings where the people get up and share about their experience. After the 5th person gets up and says, "Wow, I realized that I didn't need my tv or ipod to be happy..." I start to wonder how long these people will feel this way. How long will it take before that individual in the states begins to feel like being seperated from their cell phone would destroy them? In my observations and even in my own life, it doesn't take long. Why is that??? Are we really that spoiled and do we really have that short of a memory? Sad isn't it? When I think about this, I find myself amazed at how grace-filled God is. Haha! I know that if I were Him, I'd be thinking, "OK HOW MANY TRIPS OUTSIDE OF THE STATES DO YOU HAVE TO GO ON TO GET IT, AMANDA?! I AM ENOUGH!!!"
It really is interesting what I miss. When I left Jackson, TN and Franklin, TN, I looked around and thought I would miss...
1)Air Conditioning
2)Favorite Restaurants (BlueCoast Burrito, Sakura, etc.)
3)Downtown Franklin
4) TV
5) My family
6) All my friends
7) My nice clothes
Now....granted...there are moments when I really wish I could get dressed up in a nice outfit, curl my hair, and go out for some sushi with my friends. However, late at night, after a long day in Africa, I find that the list of things I actually miss is much different.
1) My family
2)My Boyfriend
3) 5-8 good friends that I've done so much life with
4) ok.. and Starbucks would be nice.. ;)
I don't miss the pace of life in America. I don't miss driving a car. I don't miss hot showers or constant cell phone service. I honestly don't even miss the college scene at Union. I don't miss the pressure to look perfect or act perfect. I'm perfectly fine without those things. However, the only times I have found myself in tears have been when I think about things like.... missing Alyssa's prom night, missing Angela's 8th grade dance, talking to Zac, getting coffee (see there's that coffee!!!) with my girls, praying with my friends, and dreaming under the stars with my friends and sisters. The things you end up missing end up being things that cannot be bought. They end up revealing your heart more than ever. Ok fine, the fact that I miss Starbucks may not say anything AMAZING about my heart, but I'm imperfect. ;)
Just a thought that I thought I would share.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
An Eventful Saturday
Back home, I don't like getting up early on a Saturday. Saturdays are the days for sleeping in, resting, and getting necessary work done in the States.
But I'm not in the States am i? So I decided to get up at about 8:30 (GROSS) on this past Saturday (yesterday) and go with some friends to "William's Village." First, allow me to give some background so that you understand why I was waking up this particular morning.
William is a janitor at our school. In fact, the first time I met William, he was getting a dead rat out of my room and helping me get the smell out of my classroom. That particular incident, he helped with a smile and a laugh and told me that he was just happy to serve at HOPAC. I was amazed right off the bat by his JOY and his SINCERITY and his SERVANT HEART. Later, I overheard some girls talking about William and I found out that outside of the school gate, he is actually Pastor William. A Pastor who is that much of a servant that he would spend his weekdays clearing out dead rats and doing other tedious jobs in the heat? That's the kind of church leader that I was curious about!! What a heart!
A few days later, I went out for pizza with Laura and Erin and Pastor William came up again. As it turns out, Pastor William has a ministry in his village on Saturday mornings for kids to come and hear bible stories, play games, and just hang out. I have been looking for a ministry to get involved in while I'm here and this sounded like a cool opportunity so I asked Laura and Erin if I could go with them on Saturday morning.
So Laura, Erin, Dave, Marie, our Bajaj drivers, and Marie's houseworker all set out to go to the village at about 9:30. The ride was long, BUMPY, and dusty, but I didn't mind one bit because I was just so excited. Erin and I were riding with Pastori (our favorite Bajaj driver) and he had World Cup music playing so we were thoroughly entertained. Once we entered the village, the children came running to my bajaj with arms extended ready to find out my name and ready to greet us. They were so excited about what the morning had in store. All of their clothes were dirty and tattered. Most the their clothes didn't fit them, either too big or too small. A few were sick. I felt the Lord remind me of what He must have seen when the sick and needy came to Him for hope.
William was there to greet us and let us into a small building where they could sit on benches and listen to our Bible story. Marie taught them about David and Goliath. I think most Americans have probably at least HEARD of this story, but these kids were completely blown away by the story and the possibility that a small boy had defeated a giant with rocks and with the help of a powerful God. We told them to "trust God when you are scared." Then, we gave them a coloring sheet, played some fun relay games outside, and took some pictures together.
Throughout the whole story, I had kids playing with my hair, examining my cartilage piercings ("MBILI????" " TWO????? "hahah it made me laugh), and holding my hand. I so desperately wanted to scoop them up and ask them a million questions about their lives and tell them how great I think they are and how great God thinks they are. However, these children only speak swahili and so I was limited so my small vocabulary, smiles, hugs, and my funny faces. I just kept begging the Lord that His love for them would somehow come across through me.
During the coloring sheets, I walked around and complimented the beauty of each coloring sheet. I've lied to a lot of little kids about how breath-taking their art is, but with these particular coloring sheets, I truly meant each compliment. On top of each coloring sheet, we wrote "Trust in the Lord" in Swahili.
During games, I found myself surrounded my kids. I found myself laughing and smiling the entire time as I watched them just have FUN. There's something powerful about watching these kids play. I think it's because the joy is so genuine. For that short hour of play time, they can forget about the poverty and the illness and the hard parts of life and just be a child. To watch them experience that freedom was freeing for me. Honestly, I don't know how else to explain it.
On the way home, William rode in my bajaj and asked me how long I would be in Tanzania, if I was going to come back to his village, and if I liked it here. I told him I would definitely come back. Once our short conversation was over, I found myself thinking, "ok, how on EARTH can I try and put into words all the experiences and emotions that went into this morning?"
I came to the conclusion that I could try but no matter what I wrote down, I wouldn't be content with and I'd have to accept that.
No child should have to live like that.
I'm inspired by their smiles.
But I'm not in the States am i? So I decided to get up at about 8:30 (GROSS) on this past Saturday (yesterday) and go with some friends to "William's Village." First, allow me to give some background so that you understand why I was waking up this particular morning.
William is a janitor at our school. In fact, the first time I met William, he was getting a dead rat out of my room and helping me get the smell out of my classroom. That particular incident, he helped with a smile and a laugh and told me that he was just happy to serve at HOPAC. I was amazed right off the bat by his JOY and his SINCERITY and his SERVANT HEART. Later, I overheard some girls talking about William and I found out that outside of the school gate, he is actually Pastor William. A Pastor who is that much of a servant that he would spend his weekdays clearing out dead rats and doing other tedious jobs in the heat? That's the kind of church leader that I was curious about!! What a heart!
A few days later, I went out for pizza with Laura and Erin and Pastor William came up again. As it turns out, Pastor William has a ministry in his village on Saturday mornings for kids to come and hear bible stories, play games, and just hang out. I have been looking for a ministry to get involved in while I'm here and this sounded like a cool opportunity so I asked Laura and Erin if I could go with them on Saturday morning.
So Laura, Erin, Dave, Marie, our Bajaj drivers, and Marie's houseworker all set out to go to the village at about 9:30. The ride was long, BUMPY, and dusty, but I didn't mind one bit because I was just so excited. Erin and I were riding with Pastori (our favorite Bajaj driver) and he had World Cup music playing so we were thoroughly entertained. Once we entered the village, the children came running to my bajaj with arms extended ready to find out my name and ready to greet us. They were so excited about what the morning had in store. All of their clothes were dirty and tattered. Most the their clothes didn't fit them, either too big or too small. A few were sick. I felt the Lord remind me of what He must have seen when the sick and needy came to Him for hope.
William was there to greet us and let us into a small building where they could sit on benches and listen to our Bible story. Marie taught them about David and Goliath. I think most Americans have probably at least HEARD of this story, but these kids were completely blown away by the story and the possibility that a small boy had defeated a giant with rocks and with the help of a powerful God. We told them to "trust God when you are scared." Then, we gave them a coloring sheet, played some fun relay games outside, and took some pictures together.
Throughout the whole story, I had kids playing with my hair, examining my cartilage piercings ("MBILI????" " TWO????? "hahah it made me laugh), and holding my hand. I so desperately wanted to scoop them up and ask them a million questions about their lives and tell them how great I think they are and how great God thinks they are. However, these children only speak swahili and so I was limited so my small vocabulary, smiles, hugs, and my funny faces. I just kept begging the Lord that His love for them would somehow come across through me.
During the coloring sheets, I walked around and complimented the beauty of each coloring sheet. I've lied to a lot of little kids about how breath-taking their art is, but with these particular coloring sheets, I truly meant each compliment. On top of each coloring sheet, we wrote "Trust in the Lord" in Swahili.
During games, I found myself surrounded my kids. I found myself laughing and smiling the entire time as I watched them just have FUN. There's something powerful about watching these kids play. I think it's because the joy is so genuine. For that short hour of play time, they can forget about the poverty and the illness and the hard parts of life and just be a child. To watch them experience that freedom was freeing for me. Honestly, I don't know how else to explain it.
On the way home, William rode in my bajaj and asked me how long I would be in Tanzania, if I was going to come back to his village, and if I liked it here. I told him I would definitely come back. Once our short conversation was over, I found myself thinking, "ok, how on EARTH can I try and put into words all the experiences and emotions that went into this morning?"
I came to the conclusion that I could try but no matter what I wrote down, I wouldn't be content with and I'd have to accept that.
No child should have to live like that.
I'm inspired by their smiles.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Karama
Being here in Tanzania has allowed me to become exposed to so many incredible different ministries. In fact, most of the parents of the students I teach have ministries that they work with while we are teaching their kids. In fact, part of the ministry of HOPAC is the fact that it provides a good education for the MK's so that the parents don't have to worry about homeschooling their kids. Instea, the parents can throw themselves full force into service for the Lord in ministering to Tanzanians. I love it.
As a result, I get to hear about all kinds of cool ministries, through my students. For example, one of my students' parents just started a coffee shop business. They are using this business to share the Gospel by providing jobs for their workers and simply just being Christ to their customers. The coffee is INCREDIBLE too. :) Always a plus.
Another one of my students is named Ephiphany Larmey. Her parents are in charge of Young Life Africa. They do a lot of traveling but essentially they empower National believers to start young life youth groups all over Africa. I have been to dinner with them and truly find them to be incredible ambassadors for Christ. Dyan and Steve Larmey, when I met them, truly encouraged me and reflected Christ to me in a genuine way. :) They are also in charge of the Young Life group at HOPAC. Their 4 kids are pretty fantastic also.
However, I think the most unique and interesting ministry that I've seen so far is called Karama. I found out about it through Dyan Larmey and my friend Erin Steinhoff. Erin teaches art at HOPAC and has been helping me adjust to all this new culture stuff. Next year she will be working full time for Karama and her passion for it is contagious.
Basically, Karama works to empower artisans in Tanzania to sell their products all over the world. By doing this, they are providing incomes to families in Tanzania that might not have sold their products otherwise. Products like jewelry, scarves, bags, ornaments, etc. are some of the things they sell and they are still growing! I can't wait to see how God blesses the ministry and artisans in the future. He's already done so much in it.
For more information visit http://www.karamagifts.com/ . The website has more information on their products and the people in Tanzania who make them! :) Very exciting!
God is on the move in Tanzania. I'm just glad I get to see it all! :)
As a result, I get to hear about all kinds of cool ministries, through my students. For example, one of my students' parents just started a coffee shop business. They are using this business to share the Gospel by providing jobs for their workers and simply just being Christ to their customers. The coffee is INCREDIBLE too. :) Always a plus.
Another one of my students is named Ephiphany Larmey. Her parents are in charge of Young Life Africa. They do a lot of traveling but essentially they empower National believers to start young life youth groups all over Africa. I have been to dinner with them and truly find them to be incredible ambassadors for Christ. Dyan and Steve Larmey, when I met them, truly encouraged me and reflected Christ to me in a genuine way. :) They are also in charge of the Young Life group at HOPAC. Their 4 kids are pretty fantastic also.
However, I think the most unique and interesting ministry that I've seen so far is called Karama. I found out about it through Dyan Larmey and my friend Erin Steinhoff. Erin teaches art at HOPAC and has been helping me adjust to all this new culture stuff. Next year she will be working full time for Karama and her passion for it is contagious.
Basically, Karama works to empower artisans in Tanzania to sell their products all over the world. By doing this, they are providing incomes to families in Tanzania that might not have sold their products otherwise. Products like jewelry, scarves, bags, ornaments, etc. are some of the things they sell and they are still growing! I can't wait to see how God blesses the ministry and artisans in the future. He's already done so much in it.
For more information visit http://www.karamagifts.com/ . The website has more information on their products and the people in Tanzania who make them! :) Very exciting!
God is on the move in Tanzania. I'm just glad I get to see it all! :)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Dear Blank Please Blank by Me
My favorite website right now is http://www.dearblankpleaseblank.com/ It's a good way to just procrastinate and take time off to just laugh with my roommates here. Feeling inspired by it, I wanted to write some of my own.... some serious and purely sarcastic, but I think it'll get some of you to laugh.
Dear Man who helped me cross the street,
Thank you SO SO MUCH! You literally might have saved my life. How did you know I was scared to do it by myself? That intersection is really dangerous!!!
Sincerely,
American-Girl-Who Doesn't-hide-Emotions-Well
Dear Man who is selling TV series on DVD for only 2 American Dollars,
I'd like to inform you that there is not a 10th season of 24. We were not that lucky.
Sincerely,
Sad American Fan who is kinda disgusted that you'd actually try to sell that
Dear Woman with adorable twins,
Thank you for greeting me every morning. It really makes my day. :)
Sincerely,
Me
Dear 4th grader,
Is it weird that your personality reminds me of my boyfriend in the states?
Sincerely,
Is This A Good Thing?
Dear Bajaj driver,
Thank you for pointing out that I am a white person. I hadn't noticed lately surrounded by all these AFRICANS!
Sincerely,
A Mzungu (white person)
Dear Lightening,
I really thought that you were an electrical spark in my room so I spent way too long searching for the source only to discover that you were OUTSIDE my room.
Sincerely,
Stupid American
Dear Thunder,
Thanks for bringing rain and coolness but you kept me awake by shaking my room. Literally.
Sincerely,
Sleepy
Dear Roommates,
Thank you for putting up with all my stupid questions. I realize how dumb most of them sound to you.
Sincerely,
Thankful
Dear Cold,
I came to Africa in fear of Malaria, typhoid, nausea, diarrea, and other annonymous diseases. I brought just about every medication known to man to treat these strange illnesses. Yet, here I am with a common cold.
Sincerely,
Annoyed at the Irony
Hopefully, these made you laugh. If you didn't get the humor, I sincerely apologize.
Dear Man who helped me cross the street,
Thank you SO SO MUCH! You literally might have saved my life. How did you know I was scared to do it by myself? That intersection is really dangerous!!!
Sincerely,
American-Girl-Who Doesn't-hide-Emotions-Well
Dear Man who is selling TV series on DVD for only 2 American Dollars,
I'd like to inform you that there is not a 10th season of 24. We were not that lucky.
Sincerely,
Sad American Fan who is kinda disgusted that you'd actually try to sell that
Dear Woman with adorable twins,
Thank you for greeting me every morning. It really makes my day. :)
Sincerely,
Me
Dear 4th grader,
Is it weird that your personality reminds me of my boyfriend in the states?
Sincerely,
Is This A Good Thing?
Dear Bajaj driver,
Thank you for pointing out that I am a white person. I hadn't noticed lately surrounded by all these AFRICANS!
Sincerely,
A Mzungu (white person)
Dear Lightening,
I really thought that you were an electrical spark in my room so I spent way too long searching for the source only to discover that you were OUTSIDE my room.
Sincerely,
Stupid American
Dear Thunder,
Thanks for bringing rain and coolness but you kept me awake by shaking my room. Literally.
Sincerely,
Sleepy
Dear Roommates,
Thank you for putting up with all my stupid questions. I realize how dumb most of them sound to you.
Sincerely,
Thankful
Dear Cold,
I came to Africa in fear of Malaria, typhoid, nausea, diarrea, and other annonymous diseases. I brought just about every medication known to man to treat these strange illnesses. Yet, here I am with a common cold.
Sincerely,
Annoyed at the Irony
Hopefully, these made you laugh. If you didn't get the humor, I sincerely apologize.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Deviled Eggs
Ive been informed that my last post was too depressing so allow me to share a funny story. :)
After a long day at school, I came home to my house craving something to eat. My sandwich had run out in my stomach so I began searching through my kitchen to find something to eat. I discovered rather quickly that if I was going to eat something, I was going to probably have to get creative and cook something.
Just then, I turned and looked out my window and saw that the little Tanzanian lady across the street was selling eggs. Gosh! Deviled Eggs, which is one of my favorites to eat at home, suddenly sounded really good. How hard could it be?! All I had to do was boil some eggs! Right?! So I threw on my shoes and ran across the street to the lady. About halfway across the street, I remembered that the lady across the street only speaks Swahili.
Uh-Oh. This could get interesting.
After 10 minutes of hand gestures, broken swahili from me, broken english from her, and lots of laughter, I returned victorious to my house with half a dozen eggs. I was so excited that I ran to the kitchen and started pulling out the necessary pots and pans.
Then I remembered that I can't cook with the water from the tap here because it is extremely contaminated with disease. I would have to use water from our water filter jug. Not a problem right? That's what I thought too. However, I discovered that the water filter jug was empty. It takes about an hour to filter a new jug of tap water to make it clean enough to drink and cook with. I didn't have an hour. I was hungry. Therefore, like the spoiled American that I am, I ran back across the street and asked the lady for some bottled water for 1000 shillings (about 75 cents). She was confused because I had sad some word wrong, of course, so she gave me a HUGE jug of water and wanted 10,000 shillings for it (about 7-8 dollars). No time to argue, I was hungry! I gave her the money and returned to my kitchen.
I poured my water into the pot, placed my eggs in the pot, and then realized something.... my stove was gas operated and I had never started it by myself. Hmmm... how do you start a gas stove? I found some matches sitting next to the stove and figured that had something to do with it so I set to work for another 10 minutes trying to turn the stove on. I felt SERIOUSLY proud of myself for having gotten this far in the process.
My hungry stomach was not impressed at all.
So I boiled the eggs, pulled them out and removed the shells. Sliced them in half to get out the yolk and... uhoh, why is the yolk on the inside this white color? Shouldn't it be yellow? Is it only yellow in the states? Do Americans eat yellow yolk and Africans eat white? Why is it different? Am I going to get sick eating white yolk? If I get sick, I'll be miserable, miss school, and get behind in my student teaching so that's not an option! I know I let the eggs boil long enough! O the stress!! I called a roommate to ask them if I was going to get sick from eating the white yolk of boiled eggs in Africa. She laughed and told me I was being hilarious and I should survive just fine. What a relief.... lol.
Then, I went to the fridge and found mustard and "american" mayonnaise. Once again, I looked at these two products, wondered if they were edible, said a small prayer, and proceeded to make my snack.
FINALLY, after about an hour and a half later.... I ate my deviled eggs and committed to not try this again for awhile.
Just thought you'd like a small snapshot of an afternoon with Amanda in Africa. Always an adventure. lol.
After a long day at school, I came home to my house craving something to eat. My sandwich had run out in my stomach so I began searching through my kitchen to find something to eat. I discovered rather quickly that if I was going to eat something, I was going to probably have to get creative and cook something.
Just then, I turned and looked out my window and saw that the little Tanzanian lady across the street was selling eggs. Gosh! Deviled Eggs, which is one of my favorites to eat at home, suddenly sounded really good. How hard could it be?! All I had to do was boil some eggs! Right?! So I threw on my shoes and ran across the street to the lady. About halfway across the street, I remembered that the lady across the street only speaks Swahili.
Uh-Oh. This could get interesting.
After 10 minutes of hand gestures, broken swahili from me, broken english from her, and lots of laughter, I returned victorious to my house with half a dozen eggs. I was so excited that I ran to the kitchen and started pulling out the necessary pots and pans.
Then I remembered that I can't cook with the water from the tap here because it is extremely contaminated with disease. I would have to use water from our water filter jug. Not a problem right? That's what I thought too. However, I discovered that the water filter jug was empty. It takes about an hour to filter a new jug of tap water to make it clean enough to drink and cook with. I didn't have an hour. I was hungry. Therefore, like the spoiled American that I am, I ran back across the street and asked the lady for some bottled water for 1000 shillings (about 75 cents). She was confused because I had sad some word wrong, of course, so she gave me a HUGE jug of water and wanted 10,000 shillings for it (about 7-8 dollars). No time to argue, I was hungry! I gave her the money and returned to my kitchen.
I poured my water into the pot, placed my eggs in the pot, and then realized something.... my stove was gas operated and I had never started it by myself. Hmmm... how do you start a gas stove? I found some matches sitting next to the stove and figured that had something to do with it so I set to work for another 10 minutes trying to turn the stove on. I felt SERIOUSLY proud of myself for having gotten this far in the process.
My hungry stomach was not impressed at all.
So I boiled the eggs, pulled them out and removed the shells. Sliced them in half to get out the yolk and... uhoh, why is the yolk on the inside this white color? Shouldn't it be yellow? Is it only yellow in the states? Do Americans eat yellow yolk and Africans eat white? Why is it different? Am I going to get sick eating white yolk? If I get sick, I'll be miserable, miss school, and get behind in my student teaching so that's not an option! I know I let the eggs boil long enough! O the stress!! I called a roommate to ask them if I was going to get sick from eating the white yolk of boiled eggs in Africa. She laughed and told me I was being hilarious and I should survive just fine. What a relief.... lol.
Then, I went to the fridge and found mustard and "american" mayonnaise. Once again, I looked at these two products, wondered if they were edible, said a small prayer, and proceeded to make my snack.
FINALLY, after about an hour and a half later.... I ate my deviled eggs and committed to not try this again for awhile.
Just thought you'd like a small snapshot of an afternoon with Amanda in Africa. Always an adventure. lol.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The kind of walk that wakes you up....
Every morning, I walk to the school that I teach in. It only takes about 10 minutes and it's quite an interesting walk filled with little fruit stands, Tanzanians in bajaj's trying to give you a ride, lots of traffic, and TONS of people. Walking is one of the main forms of transportation here and frankly, it's been these walks sometimes that have been the thing that wake me up in the morning and get my mind working for the day at school.
However, on Sunday night, I took a different walk.
My roommate, Jen, loves to take walks on the weekends to just rest her mind. She invited me to join her. When it came time to choose the route that we were going to walk, she asked me, "Would you like to see the neighborhood?" Quite frankly, I thought I had seen the neighborhood between grocery shopping and walking to school and buying credit for my cell phone/internet. However, I was curious to see what she meant so I agreed to go.
She led me down this little windy road behind our compound that I hadn't even noticed was there, and told me that we were just going to "walk around the block."
I've been searching for words to describe what I saw on this walk ever since it ended and honestly, I still haven't found them. It shouldn't have shocked me. I'm in Africa for heaven's sake! However, there's something very different about watching the images of poverty in Africa on film or in a documentary vs. walking through a impoverished neighborhood.
The smell of the neighborhood was of garbage because the people have no way to dispose their waste so they dump it in the street. The people look like they are probably wearing one of the only outfits they own. Many of the houses, I struggled to be able to tell whether they were the house or the chicken coop. Many of them were built with srap metal, cardboard, or whatever that family could find.
Even more amazing were the people...
I don't speak the language much. I only know a few greetings and basic phrases. However, that didn't stop almost every person in the village from greeting me with a huge smile with the phrase "Hujumbo!" (hello) or "Karibu sana!" (you are MOST welcome!) I even had one girl grab my hand and walk with me a few blocks.
As I listened to my roommate explain the surroundings and tell stories, I couldn't help but think one phrase over and over.
"Lord, it just doesn't seem fair!"
I did not pick my race. I did not pick to live in America. The children in my neighborhood in Tanzania did not pick to be African or in an impoverished lifestyle. So why did I get to live in a nice house in Franklin, TN with a closet full of clothes while these children live with their families in single rooms, one outfit, among the trash.
As I wrestled through the night on this, I felt the Lord tell me,
"You are blessed so that you may bless."
New Favorite song for Encouragement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9_caMq_iYc&feature=related
However, on Sunday night, I took a different walk.
My roommate, Jen, loves to take walks on the weekends to just rest her mind. She invited me to join her. When it came time to choose the route that we were going to walk, she asked me, "Would you like to see the neighborhood?" Quite frankly, I thought I had seen the neighborhood between grocery shopping and walking to school and buying credit for my cell phone/internet. However, I was curious to see what she meant so I agreed to go.
She led me down this little windy road behind our compound that I hadn't even noticed was there, and told me that we were just going to "walk around the block."
I've been searching for words to describe what I saw on this walk ever since it ended and honestly, I still haven't found them. It shouldn't have shocked me. I'm in Africa for heaven's sake! However, there's something very different about watching the images of poverty in Africa on film or in a documentary vs. walking through a impoverished neighborhood.
The smell of the neighborhood was of garbage because the people have no way to dispose their waste so they dump it in the street. The people look like they are probably wearing one of the only outfits they own. Many of the houses, I struggled to be able to tell whether they were the house or the chicken coop. Many of them were built with srap metal, cardboard, or whatever that family could find.
Even more amazing were the people...
I don't speak the language much. I only know a few greetings and basic phrases. However, that didn't stop almost every person in the village from greeting me with a huge smile with the phrase "Hujumbo!" (hello) or "Karibu sana!" (you are MOST welcome!) I even had one girl grab my hand and walk with me a few blocks.
As I listened to my roommate explain the surroundings and tell stories, I couldn't help but think one phrase over and over.
"Lord, it just doesn't seem fair!"
I did not pick my race. I did not pick to live in America. The children in my neighborhood in Tanzania did not pick to be African or in an impoverished lifestyle. So why did I get to live in a nice house in Franklin, TN with a closet full of clothes while these children live with their families in single rooms, one outfit, among the trash.
As I wrestled through the night on this, I felt the Lord tell me,
"You are blessed so that you may bless."
New Favorite song for Encouragement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9_caMq_iYc&feature=related
Saturday, March 12, 2011
so I'm in Tanzania!!!!!
This is my first post since I arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I realize I should have posted before now but I honestly wasn't sure what I was going to say until now.
When I got here, I'd love to tell you that my first thought was, "O! What a wonderful country!" or "O I am THRILLED THAT I AM HERE!!! EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!!!!" but that would be a huge lie. Therefore, I'm going to tell you that my first thoughts were closer to...
1) It's HOT here.
2)What have I gotten myself into?
and
3) I'm so confused.
Those don't seem to be exactly the best thoughts. I was told that when I enterd the country I would enter a honeymoon stage where I thought everything was wonderful and marvelous and I loved every single thing about the people and the culture and my living situation. I honestly have no idea what made those people tell me that b/c I feel like I did not have a honeymoon stage. Every where I turned, it felt like a slap in the face. Cold showers, dirty, bugs, poverty, different food, no Air conditioning, electricity half the time, and a mosquito net over my bed for protection from disease during the night.
Thank GOD for my roommates and praise the Lord that He is faithful. I feel myself slipping into a certain level of comfortability with everything and getting used to all the change. I know that I can only attribute this to my roommates guidance and patience AND the fact that I have had to COMPLETLY rely on the Lord during the last couple days to pull me through.
AND HE HAS!
Today, for the first time, I looked around and was feeling pretty good about the fact that I live in Africa for the next 2 monthes. The people are amazing. So sweet and generous and warm (no pun intended). The students are anxious and excited to work with me and I'm so glad of that. I'll write more about them and the school once I seriously start teaching later this week. :) The beaches and the view are glorious from my house and every morning I get the joy of watching the sunrise over the ocean from my room and I get to marvel at how great our God is. :) He is so great.
In a conversation with my cooperating teacher/ roommate, Delicia, she told me some very encouraging words, "Amanda, no one expects you to be 'super missionary woman!' How you are feeling is normal! Heck! I felt like you do just last week and I've been here 3 years!" I can't tell you the relief these words brought to my heart and how much better I have been since that conversation. :)
I've been getting information today about differnt places I can serve in the community other than at the school and I think that will really help to get my focus off of myself and my uncomfortableness and allow me to look around and see what the Lord sees and allow Him to do what He wants with me. :)
Prayer requests:
1) Pray that I adjust quickly to the heat and lack of electricity. It's tough on everyone but I think it's extra tough b/c I just came from 30 degree temperatures!
2) Pray that my observations this week go well and I'm able to build more relationships with the students as well as feel prepared to teach a classroom that has so many countries in it!!
3) Pray for opportunities to serve in the community alongside a ministry.
When I got here, I'd love to tell you that my first thought was, "O! What a wonderful country!" or "O I am THRILLED THAT I AM HERE!!! EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!!!!" but that would be a huge lie. Therefore, I'm going to tell you that my first thoughts were closer to...
1) It's HOT here.
2)What have I gotten myself into?
and
3) I'm so confused.
Those don't seem to be exactly the best thoughts. I was told that when I enterd the country I would enter a honeymoon stage where I thought everything was wonderful and marvelous and I loved every single thing about the people and the culture and my living situation. I honestly have no idea what made those people tell me that b/c I feel like I did not have a honeymoon stage. Every where I turned, it felt like a slap in the face. Cold showers, dirty, bugs, poverty, different food, no Air conditioning, electricity half the time, and a mosquito net over my bed for protection from disease during the night.
Thank GOD for my roommates and praise the Lord that He is faithful. I feel myself slipping into a certain level of comfortability with everything and getting used to all the change. I know that I can only attribute this to my roommates guidance and patience AND the fact that I have had to COMPLETLY rely on the Lord during the last couple days to pull me through.
AND HE HAS!
Today, for the first time, I looked around and was feeling pretty good about the fact that I live in Africa for the next 2 monthes. The people are amazing. So sweet and generous and warm (no pun intended). The students are anxious and excited to work with me and I'm so glad of that. I'll write more about them and the school once I seriously start teaching later this week. :) The beaches and the view are glorious from my house and every morning I get the joy of watching the sunrise over the ocean from my room and I get to marvel at how great our God is. :) He is so great.
In a conversation with my cooperating teacher/ roommate, Delicia, she told me some very encouraging words, "Amanda, no one expects you to be 'super missionary woman!' How you are feeling is normal! Heck! I felt like you do just last week and I've been here 3 years!" I can't tell you the relief these words brought to my heart and how much better I have been since that conversation. :)
I've been getting information today about differnt places I can serve in the community other than at the school and I think that will really help to get my focus off of myself and my uncomfortableness and allow me to look around and see what the Lord sees and allow Him to do what He wants with me. :)
Prayer requests:
1) Pray that I adjust quickly to the heat and lack of electricity. It's tough on everyone but I think it's extra tough b/c I just came from 30 degree temperatures!
2) Pray that my observations this week go well and I'm able to build more relationships with the students as well as feel prepared to teach a classroom that has so many countries in it!!
3) Pray for opportunities to serve in the community alongside a ministry.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Amsterdam
Well, for whatever reason, I wasn't able to sleep on the flight over the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, it's 7 am here in the Netherlands and my body is telling me that it's actually about 1 am. Not fun!
I've got about 3 hours til my next flight and I'm feeling pretty bored and tired...
BUT!!!!
I'm still SO excited! I'm almost there! SO CLOSE!!!! One more really long flight and I'm there!
I've got about 3 hours til my next flight and I'm feeling pretty bored and tired...
 |
| me: annoyed and tired and apparently bored because I felt the need to take this. hahaha. When you travel alone, you have to get creative with entertainment. |
BUT!!!!
I'm still SO excited! I'm almost there! SO CLOSE!!!! One more really long flight and I'm there!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
TIME TO GO!!!! 2 DAYS LEFT!
Only two days til I go so it's PACKING TIME!!! My least favorite time! It just takes so much organization and planning which gets so tedious *sigh* BUT it's necessary!
but I mean, seriously.... this gets a bit stressful. hahaha. That's a face that looks clearly confused right? :)
Luckily, I have my mom and little sister to help and it'll all get done before I leave on Monday!
TWO DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Luckily, I have my mom and little sister to help and it'll all get done before I leave on Monday!
TWO DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
3 weeks away.... a few random thoughts before the adventure starts
-Passport?....check!
-Malaria medicine?....check!
-Visa?... check!
-Financial support from amazing friends and family?....check!
-long skirts, cortizone cream, large luggage, head light, back-pack, nalgene bottle, digital camera, battery- powered fan?.... Working on it!!!!
-Prayer?..... CHECK CHECK AND CHECK
The time is drawing dangerously close for me to leave for TANZANIA!!!!!
I will be flying out of Nashville, TN on March 7th. My family and Zac will be taking me to the airport and sending me on my way on that Monday. Please pray for them all because I know that this journey for me is not just a faith walk for me but for them too!
"How are you doing with all this?"
I get that question ALL the time these days. Between student teaching in States, getting everything ready for my trip for Tanzania, saying good-bye to my friends, looking at getting jobs, figuring out plans for next year, and just daily life.... I'm overwhelmed. The Lord's presence has never felt more thick to me and He's been guiding my steps daily, but I that doesn't mean that my head isn't running at a crazy pace as I try to prepare myself emotionally, mentally, and spiritually for the next 3 monthes of my life.
Please pray that God would still my mind and that all would fall into place in the next 3 weeks. I know it will. He's carried me this far, these little details are surely no problem for Him!
My mom told me yesterday, "These are exciting days!" and I agree with her. My life is very exciting right now, but I'm praying that God would provide rest and peace in the craziness so that I may fully appreciate all that's happening around me.
He's just been so good.
Why am I so surprised that He is?
Lord, GROW MY FAITH!
-Malaria medicine?....check!
-Visa?... check!
-Financial support from amazing friends and family?....check!
-long skirts, cortizone cream, large luggage, head light, back-pack, nalgene bottle, digital camera, battery- powered fan?.... Working on it!!!!
-Prayer?..... CHECK CHECK AND CHECK
The time is drawing dangerously close for me to leave for TANZANIA!!!!!
I will be flying out of Nashville, TN on March 7th. My family and Zac will be taking me to the airport and sending me on my way on that Monday. Please pray for them all because I know that this journey for me is not just a faith walk for me but for them too!
"How are you doing with all this?"
I get that question ALL the time these days. Between student teaching in States, getting everything ready for my trip for Tanzania, saying good-bye to my friends, looking at getting jobs, figuring out plans for next year, and just daily life.... I'm overwhelmed. The Lord's presence has never felt more thick to me and He's been guiding my steps daily, but I that doesn't mean that my head isn't running at a crazy pace as I try to prepare myself emotionally, mentally, and spiritually for the next 3 monthes of my life.
Please pray that God would still my mind and that all would fall into place in the next 3 weeks. I know it will. He's carried me this far, these little details are surely no problem for Him!
My mom told me yesterday, "These are exciting days!" and I agree with her. My life is very exciting right now, but I'm praying that God would provide rest and peace in the craziness so that I may fully appreciate all that's happening around me.
He's just been so good.
Why am I so surprised that He is?
Lord, GROW MY FAITH!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)