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!
Monday, April 25, 2011
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.
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