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.