past...present....future

On July 15th, 2010 I boarded a plane bound for Tanzania.  I committed to journal every day for the next year; journaling creates a future record of God's past faithfulness.  Each night I sit on my bed under the security of my mosquito net and reflect on the events, emotions, and thoughts of the day.  

I empty my worries, frustrations, and concerns.  

                  I pick up hope, faith, and promise.

On March 30th I wrote on the final page of my journal.  Sometimes I feel that I just got here and other times I feel like I've been gone from home a long time.  

These children are no longer just pictures.  They have names.  They have stories.  Each of them has a unique laugh.  They sing, dance, pray, and cry in their own way.  

Each one is forever engraved on my heart and mind.

This journal contains accounts of:

• initial struggles of adjusting to life and creating a preschool class
• deep sorrow in seeing the homes of day students
• desire for Paul to share this experience and great joy as he served here for two weeks
• difficulty of starting the first, first grade class
• Bill and Ester's preparation and service here for a month
• thankfulness for God's plan to bring my amazing roommate, Jenna, for the exact same year
• awe of the opportunity to know these children and love them like Jesus
• news of Melissa serving here in June
• Ben, my brother, booking a ticket to attend training and possibly visit in June 

On March 31st I started a new journal.  What will I record on these pages? Where will I be when I write on the final page?  What will life be like?  Will I be teaching a class of my own?  Will my house be sold?  Who will enter life? Will I come back here one day?  for how long?

As I ponder the future I must continue to lay these questions and many others at the feet of Jesus.  He has plans and purpose.  With eyes fixed on him, I step forward knowing that I exist to bring him glory and honor.  I am engraved on his hands and my life belongs to him so I put down my pen, set my journal beside my bed, and close my eyes.  There's no safer place to rest than in his will.

words

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, 

"I believed, and so I spoke."

we also believe and so we speak.    2 Corinthians 4:13

Do I speak what I believe?  Are my words a result of my faith in Jesus?
Lately I've been reflecting on the power of words...how much they can accomplish, how much they can encourage, how much they can hurt and harm...

Words....

            love                                                             hate

               truth                                                             lies                                                                   

                   hope                                                          despair

                      encouragement                                           complaints

How many words do I speak in a day?  How many of them encourage and uplift others?    How many opportunities do I miss to speak  the truth, hope, and power of Jesus because my words are focused on myself?  
I know my answers and you know yours.
There are hurting people in this world who don't know Jesus.  
Consider your words carefully and steward each opportunity you have to speak.

Secondary School

In Tanzania,  after the equivalent of 10th grade you take a national exam.  Very few students pass this exam.  Jack, my teaching assistant, is one of the few.  Due to this, she was able to apply to go onto secondary school (11th-12th grades).  It's called Form 5 and Form 6.  On Wednesday the children and I said a tearful "goodbye."  She is a humble, graceful woman who loves the Lord. It's been a gift to teach with her.

Secondary school brings mixed emotions.  It's a wonderful opportunity for a small percentage of the population.  However, once you are at the school, you are not allowed to leave.  Visiting days occur four times a year.  Her meals will be ugali and beans, bananas and beans, and maize and beans.  Another challenge of secondary school is funding.  It's similar to college in America.  Tuition must be paid.

Jack spent Thursday and Friday purchasing the required items on the school's lengthy list.  This can be quite expensive for students who are already struggling financially. These items include plain black school shoes that lace, a trunk that locks, a bucket to shower with, pens, pencils, etc.

Melissa and I picked up Jack and Wema (another former Rafiki student) on Saturday afternoon to take them to school.  The first thing I noticed was that Jack's head was shaved. (another requirement of secondary school)  We traveled up the dirt roads of the mountain.  Jack told me that the public transport (daladala) stops at a certain point.  The other students arriving that day would have to hire two motorcycles to take them the rest of the way (one motorcycle to ride and the other to carry their trunk and suitcase).  

The campus was adorned with flowers around all the buildings.  We continued to registration.  The bags were searched and they had to show each required item.  Wema had to remove her socks because they had a black stripe around the top edge; white socks are the school uniform.  They were issued a tin sectioned plate and a tin cup to bring to the dining hall for all their meals.  

Melissa and I were the only Wazungu (white people) at the school.  After a brief tour, we hugged Jack and Wema, and returned to our village.  It was difficult to say goodbye.  Despite the difficulties and how circumstances appear to my human eye, God has prepared the way for his daughters to receive education together. He is Sovereign and will provide for their needs.

Please pray for all the secondary students who are transitioning.  

happiness

"Happiness never decreases by being shared"   - my dove promise 

This is a good quote to summarize Term 1 of 2011.  New friendships were made, we all learned more about Jesus, and grew in love for others. Share in a few moments of happiness with us as new students have joined our family.

My class with Aunt Ester and Jack in the back row and Elizabeth, my new assistant beside me.

Glory-ious green

Happy Birthday Mom!  To those of you who don't know my mom, her birthday is St. Patrick's day and to say she is festively decorated each year is an understatement.  Each year she pulls out the shamrock blankets, jewelry, dishes, bears, hats, etc.  This post is for her.   Glory and I are sporting our green and thinking of you!

"..all nations..."

 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.  Psalm 86:9

I often stand in awe of all the ways God cares for His people.  The body of Christ is much larger than our eyes can see or minds can comprehend.  Each week as you worship our Father, consider how many join you.  Sunday Lambo church held a celebration.  They recently added an office onto their sanctuary.  A choir from another congregation up the mountain came to join them.  A tent was set up to accommodate the large crowd.  Two of our day students live in the Lambo area.  Each time I've been to this church, I've hoped to see them there.  Today, they both came for the first time and quickly sat with us.  


There was great rejoicing, dancing, and singing as they praised God for making this addition possible.  The children are always ready to learn new dance moves from the choir.  During the service children were baptized and communion was taken.  As we were leaving the pastor quickly rushed out telling us they had prepared food and we needed to eat.  There were many smiles when the children realized they would drink soda as part of their lunch.  

missing teeth

When children in Tanzania lose a tooth, they throw it on the roof.  The tradition says a lizard brings them a new shiny one.