I've got it!
I actually gave up after two more trips to the Police station and asked a Tanzanian SIL employee to help out. He took my papers to the appropriate offices and I got my license yesterday.
Yay! I am an official Tanzanian driver.
...and I almost did the whole thing myself....almost.
:)
Thursday, November 27
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sadly, Tanzania does not recognize Thanksgiving as a national holiday so I have spent the bulk of this Thanksgiving day working.
Here's a brief recap of what I've done today.
I got up at 5:30 (I know!) and spent about 35 minutes on the roof, just watching the sunrise, praying and listening to music.
I went to school around 7:00 and began the day writing reports for every primary grade for ICT. Not as difficult as it sounds, believe me!
I then had a meeting with the two 12th grade girls who will be helping with yearbook come spring - well, come January. We are holding a yearbook theme contest (any ideas?!?) for the whole school and may 'influence' the nominations just a bit. :)
I also finished some last minute organization of the sports day for my secondary service learning class (see below).
At 8:30 I had my two 5th grade ESL students. We are reading the book "Holes." Really good.
9:30-10:00 was first break. On Mondays and Tuesdays, because of the way my schedule works out, I take lunch with Secondary school from 11-11:30. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I follow the primary schedule and have two 30 minute breaks from 9:30-10:00 and 12:00-12:30.
During break I proofread a newsletter for Delicia, one of my roommates. Check out her blog here: Because He Said Go - Delicia in Tanzania
After first break I took my third grade ESL student and we worked on spelling and vocabulary, the writing process and managed to finish a card he's making for his mother.
I then ran up to the computer lab where Kindergarten met me for an hour of ICT. We would usually do a simple typing program but HOPAC has recently had problems with our server and the kids' programs aren't quite back up to working order yet. So we played games and watched videos on interesting subjects using Encarta. Fun times!
I then ran back to my office to prepare for a visit from 160 kids from a local primary school. Thankfully only 80 actually came but they were late, so we only had about 30 minutes with them instead of the hour we were expecting. Our 6th-8th grade students prepared games and activities for the students. They were amazing! So organized and prepared. I was very impressed. Because of the time constraint all of the local school children weren't able to go to every station but I think they still had a good time. It had rained a little today which meant it was very, very humid and we were all sweating - a lot - but it was still fun.
Then, the most exciting thing! Just as I was typing this blog (it's after school now) my housemate Juli came in with a package for me!!
Thank you Morgan, Nick, Karis and Niko!!!!!!!!
I *love* that there's a book and 'Heroes' and spaghetti sauce packets and M&Ms and pictures and paintings and mail and a note from Karis. I even like that it was padded with newspaper from the LA Times. :) What a fabulous Thanksgiving present!
Thank you so much!
:)
Here's a brief recap of what I've done today.
I got up at 5:30 (I know!) and spent about 35 minutes on the roof, just watching the sunrise, praying and listening to music.
I went to school around 7:00 and began the day writing reports for every primary grade for ICT. Not as difficult as it sounds, believe me!
I then had a meeting with the two 12th grade girls who will be helping with yearbook come spring - well, come January. We are holding a yearbook theme contest (any ideas?!?) for the whole school and may 'influence' the nominations just a bit. :)
I also finished some last minute organization of the sports day for my secondary service learning class (see below).
At 8:30 I had my two 5th grade ESL students. We are reading the book "Holes." Really good.
9:30-10:00 was first break. On Mondays and Tuesdays, because of the way my schedule works out, I take lunch with Secondary school from 11-11:30. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I follow the primary schedule and have two 30 minute breaks from 9:30-10:00 and 12:00-12:30.
During break I proofread a newsletter for Delicia, one of my roommates. Check out her blog here: Because He Said Go - Delicia in Tanzania
After first break I took my third grade ESL student and we worked on spelling and vocabulary, the writing process and managed to finish a card he's making for his mother.
I then ran up to the computer lab where Kindergarten met me for an hour of ICT. We would usually do a simple typing program but HOPAC has recently had problems with our server and the kids' programs aren't quite back up to working order yet. So we played games and watched videos on interesting subjects using Encarta. Fun times!
I then ran back to my office to prepare for a visit from 160 kids from a local primary school. Thankfully only 80 actually came but they were late, so we only had about 30 minutes with them instead of the hour we were expecting. Our 6th-8th grade students prepared games and activities for the students. They were amazing! So organized and prepared. I was very impressed. Because of the time constraint all of the local school children weren't able to go to every station but I think they still had a good time. It had rained a little today which meant it was very, very humid and we were all sweating - a lot - but it was still fun.
Then, the most exciting thing! Just as I was typing this blog (it's after school now) my housemate Juli came in with a package for me!!
Thank you Morgan, Nick, Karis and Niko!!!!!!!!
I *love* that there's a book and 'Heroes' and spaghetti sauce packets and M&Ms and pictures and paintings and mail and a note from Karis. I even like that it was padded with newspaper from the LA Times. :) What a fabulous Thanksgiving present!
Thank you so much!
:)
Wednesday, November 12
Package!
My wonderful friend, Emily sent me a package which arrived today!
Thanks, Emily, you made my day! :)
Thanks, Emily, you made my day! :)
:)
Monday, November 10
The down side of driving in Tanzania
About 11:00 Friday night, I was sitting at my desk in my room when I heard a loud scream of screeching brakes then a horrible crash. Since our wall is down outside my window, and the street is about 25-30 feet away, I was thinking a car was coming into my house! I was not far off.
I went outside and from my front yard saw the car. It was upside down sitting on the pile of rubble that was our wall. Remember that our property slopes down from the road to the back wall so the car was sitting high. Had it been just two or three feet closer to the slope, it would’ve rolled down into our compound hitting our houses.
Immediately after any car crash a huge crowd of people gather. I’m not sure where they all come from. Were they just sitting around? Walking by? There aren’t any other houses across the road. But there were about 40 men already at the upside down car.
Edwin, a Tanzanian teacher who lives on the compound, his wife and eldest son were also outside. From them I learned that apparently the woman driver had swerved to miss a bicyclist, lost control and slammed into a sign (small billboard type) on the side of the road and flipped her car (Incidentally, the car is exactly like mine: Toyota Rav4). She was unhurt inside and while the crowd of people pressed in closer, seeing as how she was physically safe, she was trying to secure some of her valuables.
As I have been told and just witnessed, in this culture, while many bystanders have come out of pure interest or to offer help, there are also many who come to see if anything can be stolen. Edwin confirmed this.
After about 15 minutes of checking to see that the bicyclist was unharmed (he or she was), the crowd decided to flip the car; I’m assuming with the woman’s permission and at her request, although Dan, Edwin’s son, said that even if she had told them not to, there was nothing she could’ve done to stop them. Edwin was concerned that once the car was flipped, there would be a free-for-all for any unsecured valuables inside and within reach. Nevertheless, the men rocked the car until they flipped it back on 4 wheels. Amazingly, the windscreen was unbroken, the frame was not bent and after unsuccessfully attempting to start the car, about 20 men helped push it to a more lighted area across the street. And by street I’m talking about a two lane ‘country road.’
There is only a half-moon tonight and no street lamps so it is very dark. I say this because while the men were pushing the car back into the street there was another loud scream of brakes as another car speeding down the road narrowly avoided hitting the crowd of people and the first car! Slow down people!! About a week ago, there was a demonstration in Kunduchi, the small town about a mile up the road. A man and children had been hit and killed by a speeding daladala (minibus). The people were protesting and demanding speed bumps be installed on that specific section of road. Again, slow down people!!
Thankfully it seems that the only damage was to property. Sometimes I just do not understand why these things are happening. This is the third or fourth accident that has happened just outside our wall – well, where our wall was. Most are at night and involve a car and a non-car (motorcyclist, bicyclist, pedestrian). Several times we have barely avoided getting hit as we make the right hand turn into our property – cars behind decide to pass on the right side even though we’re clearly slowing down to turn. (For those in America, think turning left with someone passing on the left side even though your turn signal is on.)
Although I joke about driving here as being an adventure or relate it to bumper cars at Disney (where you can do anything but ‘do not strike the car ahead of you’), it is dangerous. Roads in Tanzania are not for cars. A road is for everyone. The paved road is the path for cars, lorrys (big trucks), pedestrians including school children, daladalas which are constantly pulling off to the side and ‘merging’ back into traffic, tuk-tuks (three wheeled enclosed motorcycle type vehicles), motorcyclists, bicyclists, and often even animals. You look forwards and backwards as you do in the States but also look left and right to see who might be coming at you from the side or trying to merge onto the street or passing someone else and using your driving lane to do it.
So how do I do it? I drive much slower than I do in America. I never go on ‘auto pilot.’ I never assume I know how other drivers will react. I actually go with the assumption that they will do something I’m not prepared for. (I’m usually right about that.) I’m always looking to see where I can swerve to. I’m always ready to slam on the brakes.
And I pray, knowing “There are no ‘if’s’ in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety.”
:)
I went outside and from my front yard saw the car. It was upside down sitting on the pile of rubble that was our wall. Remember that our property slopes down from the road to the back wall so the car was sitting high. Had it been just two or three feet closer to the slope, it would’ve rolled down into our compound hitting our houses.
Immediately after any car crash a huge crowd of people gather. I’m not sure where they all come from. Were they just sitting around? Walking by? There aren’t any other houses across the road. But there were about 40 men already at the upside down car.
Edwin, a Tanzanian teacher who lives on the compound, his wife and eldest son were also outside. From them I learned that apparently the woman driver had swerved to miss a bicyclist, lost control and slammed into a sign (small billboard type) on the side of the road and flipped her car (Incidentally, the car is exactly like mine: Toyota Rav4). She was unhurt inside and while the crowd of people pressed in closer, seeing as how she was physically safe, she was trying to secure some of her valuables.
As I have been told and just witnessed, in this culture, while many bystanders have come out of pure interest or to offer help, there are also many who come to see if anything can be stolen. Edwin confirmed this.
After about 15 minutes of checking to see that the bicyclist was unharmed (he or she was), the crowd decided to flip the car; I’m assuming with the woman’s permission and at her request, although Dan, Edwin’s son, said that even if she had told them not to, there was nothing she could’ve done to stop them. Edwin was concerned that once the car was flipped, there would be a free-for-all for any unsecured valuables inside and within reach. Nevertheless, the men rocked the car until they flipped it back on 4 wheels. Amazingly, the windscreen was unbroken, the frame was not bent and after unsuccessfully attempting to start the car, about 20 men helped push it to a more lighted area across the street. And by street I’m talking about a two lane ‘country road.’
There is only a half-moon tonight and no street lamps so it is very dark. I say this because while the men were pushing the car back into the street there was another loud scream of brakes as another car speeding down the road narrowly avoided hitting the crowd of people and the first car! Slow down people!! About a week ago, there was a demonstration in Kunduchi, the small town about a mile up the road. A man and children had been hit and killed by a speeding daladala (minibus). The people were protesting and demanding speed bumps be installed on that specific section of road. Again, slow down people!!
Thankfully it seems that the only damage was to property. Sometimes I just do not understand why these things are happening. This is the third or fourth accident that has happened just outside our wall – well, where our wall was. Most are at night and involve a car and a non-car (motorcyclist, bicyclist, pedestrian). Several times we have barely avoided getting hit as we make the right hand turn into our property – cars behind decide to pass on the right side even though we’re clearly slowing down to turn. (For those in America, think turning left with someone passing on the left side even though your turn signal is on.)
Although I joke about driving here as being an adventure or relate it to bumper cars at Disney (where you can do anything but ‘do not strike the car ahead of you’), it is dangerous. Roads in Tanzania are not for cars. A road is for everyone. The paved road is the path for cars, lorrys (big trucks), pedestrians including school children, daladalas which are constantly pulling off to the side and ‘merging’ back into traffic, tuk-tuks (three wheeled enclosed motorcycle type vehicles), motorcyclists, bicyclists, and often even animals. You look forwards and backwards as you do in the States but also look left and right to see who might be coming at you from the side or trying to merge onto the street or passing someone else and using your driving lane to do it.
So how do I do it? I drive much slower than I do in America. I never go on ‘auto pilot.’ I never assume I know how other drivers will react. I actually go with the assumption that they will do something I’m not prepared for. (I’m usually right about that.) I’m always looking to see where I can swerve to. I’m always ready to slam on the brakes.
And I pray, knowing “There are no ‘if’s’ in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety.”
:)
Thursday, November 6
The rain came down and the floods came up...
Yesterday morning about 3:30-4:00am I woke to the sound of a huge resounding BOOOOOM lasting at least 15 seconds and the feel of our house shaking. I was thinking "something crashed, something fell on our house, I am actually going to die! What is going on??" and then curled up in a ball in the middle of my bed.
Then the lightening and rain started. And by rain I mean torrential, hurricane rain. Pouring buckets, raining cats and dogs, drenching rain. And the thunder and lightening continued. Every time I was just drifting off to sleep another thunderclap would startle me awake. My fan stopped which meant the power was out (which in a catch-22 way happens when it rains and when there isn't enough rain). I eventually went back to sleep and woke about 5:30 when I decided I just couldn't be in bed anymore.
It was pitch black except for the bright flashes of lightening when I heard what sounded like a 5-car pile up on the street side of our house.
Another part of our wall had fallen down. And this one right outside my window. I could reach out and almost touch the debris. The water was flooding down the hill, across the road and into our yard. Flooding. It had pushed our wall over, knocking down trees on the way.
Delicia, whose bedroom is above mine, came downstairs and we just looked outside. Being from Florida, I've seen this destruction, this type of rain in the middle of a hurricane. But this was a thunderstorm and there was no wind. It was eerie.
I found out later that morning that the flood waters had knocked down our street side wall, flooded into our compound then, seeking a retreat, knocked down a part of our bottom/back wall also.
But we were still blessed and protected. We are safe. Our homes, our possessions are fine. Had the wall directly in front of my room fallen down, it probably would've knocked a tree into my window. Our house is not flooded. No rain even came in my windows.
:)
Then the lightening and rain started. And by rain I mean torrential, hurricane rain. Pouring buckets, raining cats and dogs, drenching rain. And the thunder and lightening continued. Every time I was just drifting off to sleep another thunderclap would startle me awake. My fan stopped which meant the power was out (which in a catch-22 way happens when it rains and when there isn't enough rain). I eventually went back to sleep and woke about 5:30 when I decided I just couldn't be in bed anymore.
It was pitch black except for the bright flashes of lightening when I heard what sounded like a 5-car pile up on the street side of our house.
Another part of our wall had fallen down. And this one right outside my window. I could reach out and almost touch the debris. The water was flooding down the hill, across the road and into our yard. Flooding. It had pushed our wall over, knocking down trees on the way.
Delicia, whose bedroom is above mine, came downstairs and we just looked outside. Being from Florida, I've seen this destruction, this type of rain in the middle of a hurricane. But this was a thunderstorm and there was no wind. It was eerie.
I found out later that morning that the flood waters had knocked down our street side wall, flooded into our compound then, seeking a retreat, knocked down a part of our bottom/back wall also.
But we were still blessed and protected. We are safe. Our homes, our possessions are fine. Had the wall directly in front of my room fallen down, it probably would've knocked a tree into my window. Our house is not flooded. No rain even came in my windows.
The pictures get lighter as they progress. The first ones were taken before dawn.
The view looking through my window.
Monday, November 3
the 80s
I'm 26.
I'm not old.
I've been telling myself this as we dressed up and decorated for the 80s because I've been getting questions and comments like "What are leg warmers? What is spandex? Who are the Smurfs? We don't know these songs. (Michael Jackson's Beat It and Queen's Another One Bites the Dust) Who's MC Hammer? What do I wear for the 80s?"
I am not old. Right?
Here's some pictures from the night. It was incredibly fun finding clothes in a land without thrift stores, dressing up and wearing tons of bright makeup.
I was in charge of decorating so I made posters, one for each year in the 80s. Did you know that CDs were first produced for commercial use in 1982 and outsold cassettes and records in 1988?
Enu, one of the girls in my small group doing 'the running man.'
She was good!
doing The Robot
a 'music video' for Another One Bites the Dust
They look the part, don't they!?!
:)
I'm not old.
I've been telling myself this as we dressed up and decorated for the 80s because I've been getting questions and comments like "What are leg warmers? What is spandex? Who are the Smurfs? We don't know these songs. (Michael Jackson's Beat It and Queen's Another One Bites the Dust) Who's MC Hammer? What do I wear for the 80s?"
I am not old. Right?
Here's some pictures from the night. It was incredibly fun finding clothes in a land without thrift stores, dressing up and wearing tons of bright makeup.
I was in charge of decorating so I made posters, one for each year in the 80s. Did you know that CDs were first produced for commercial use in 1982 and outsold cassettes and records in 1988?
Enu, one of the girls in my small group doing 'the running man.'She was good!
doing The Robot
a 'music video' for Another One Bites the Dust
They look the part, don't they!?!Sorry the pictures are so small; I stole them from Gil.
Thanks, Gil for the pictures! :)
To see more check out Gil and Amy's blog: gilandamy.blogspot.com
Thanks, Gil for the pictures! :)
To see more check out Gil and Amy's blog: gilandamy.blogspot.com
:)
Wednesday, October 29
Supervising the Rebuilding
One of our day guards, Amani, watching the workmen, doing his job.
The night the wall fell down, when it was open to the street,
all four guards were on duty. Just in case.
The night the wall fell down, when it was open to the street,
all four guards were on duty. Just in case.
Tuesday, October 28
So maybe not such a good day...
Well, after I posted yesterday I got a text that our compound wall had fallen down due to heavy rains!
I was thinking a few bricks
No, the entire street-side wall fell down!! It's like Jericho revisited.
:)
Pictures coming this afternoon...
I was thinking a few bricks
No, the entire street-side wall fell down!! It's like Jericho revisited.
:)
Pictures coming this afternoon...
Monday, October 27
It's a good day.
It's like Christmas in October! Our container finally cleared customs and we have supplies. Every year, HOPAC orders supplies from the UK that cannot be bought in Tanzania. Every year, we wait on the arrival of the container until the middle of Term 1. This year, the container was in Dar es Salaam, off the ship even before school started - but it just cleared customs last week.
Oh well! There are so many boxes of papers, books, supplies and other wonderful teaching things! And there were lockers for secondary school, noodles for the pool :) and other fun things. The container was unloaded in the Music room which is right next to my office so all day today I've watched boxes being unloaded and distributed around the school.
It's been a good day.
...for more than one reason actually. It's raining! Hasn't let up since about 7 this morning and it's now 2. Ahh...bliss.
:)
Oh well! There are so many boxes of papers, books, supplies and other wonderful teaching things! And there were lockers for secondary school, noodles for the pool :) and other fun things. The container was unloaded in the Music room which is right next to my office so all day today I've watched boxes being unloaded and distributed around the school.
It's been a good day.
...for more than one reason actually. It's raining! Hasn't let up since about 7 this morning and it's now 2. Ahh...bliss.
:)
Monday, October 13
Becca Joy & Julie Lynn (Eckabay and Yoolie/Woo-Woo)
A Birthday song for Becca and Julie
to the tune of "Oh I'm as Happy as a Big Sunflower"
or any other song from the Little House series
(as sung by Mom)
Oh, I love you Becca and I love you Julie
because you are my sistahs,
I am so happy that you're twenty-two
and I'm happy that you have your mistahs!
Oh, I wish I could be there in good ole' Bushnell
to dance and sing Happy Birthday,
I guess I'll just settle for this cool blog post
please ask Mom to sing what I say!
Oh, now Becca won't be a 'Harrison' for long
but that fills me with glee,
Not because I don't want her as a sis no more
but cuz those McCorkles are fine with me!
Oh, now Julie is working at the library
and that's a mighty fine place to work,
especially for one of us Harrisons
with our noses always in a book!
(OK, give me some leeway with the rhyming here, people!)
Oh, I love you Julie and I love you Becca
and it's hard being miles away,
But I do thank God for you all the time,
and not just on your special day!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
to the tune of "Oh I'm as Happy as a Big Sunflower"
or any other song from the Little House series
(as sung by Mom)
Oh, I love you Becca and I love you Julie
because you are my sistahs,
I am so happy that you're twenty-two
and I'm happy that you have your mistahs!
Oh, I wish I could be there in good ole' Bushnell
to dance and sing Happy Birthday,
I guess I'll just settle for this cool blog post
please ask Mom to sing what I say!
Oh, now Becca won't be a 'Harrison' for long
but that fills me with glee,
Not because I don't want her as a sis no more
but cuz those McCorkles are fine with me!
Oh, now Julie is working at the library
and that's a mighty fine place to work,
especially for one of us Harrisons
with our noses always in a book!
(OK, give me some leeway with the rhyming here, people!)
Oh, I love you Julie and I love you Becca
and it's hard being miles away,
But I do thank God for you all the time,
and not just on your special day!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
inspired by the Birthday song presents of Helen
My Friend
My friend and housemate, Helen, left me these notes in my office a few weeks ago.
Isn't she great?!?!
:)
Isn't she great?!?!
:)
Monday, September 29
...3rd try
and no success. I went back Thursday afternoon and the books that were finished had not been replaced, yet. Next week...
Though I did get the policeman's cell phone number so I will call him this week to see when (not if!) they're coming in. I'm thinking positive...
:)
Though I did get the policeman's cell phone number so I will call him this week to see when (not if!) they're coming in. I'm thinking positive...
:)
Thursday, September 25
TZ license, Take 2
Yesterday, Wednesday, I went back to the police station...with my 4 passport photos in hand! Unfortunately, the documents they needed to process my license were 'finished' for the day.
More papers will come in today so I'm going back this afternoon... :)
But to tide you over, (because I know you're just on the edge of your seats wondering if and when I'll get my license, right?) here are some pictures!
My Vision Report
I can see! And it's stamped so it's official.
More papers will come in today so I'm going back this afternoon... :)
But to tide you over, (because I know you're just on the edge of your seats wondering if and when I'll get my license, right?) here are some pictures!
My Provisional License
It's a small book. The last page is stamped (double stamped, actually) with PROVISIONAL, just to be sure everyone knows. Apparently, there is no standard color for the cover. Mine is blue, but some are green or red.
It's a small book. The last page is stamped (double stamped, actually) with PROVISIONAL, just to be sure everyone knows. Apparently, there is no standard color for the cover. Mine is blue, but some are green or red.
My Vision ReportI can see! And it's stamped so it's official.
:)
Tuesday, September 23
TZ Driver's License
I am attempting to get my Tanzanian driver's license. Although I have an International Driving Permit, it needs to be renewed every year and since I'll be here longer, it makes sense to have a more permanent license.
So I'm trying to get my TZ license.
I have taken - and passed - an eye exam. Honestly, this was the thing I was most worried about! But I told the eye doctor I wear contacts and just read the smallest print I could. He signed and stamped a paper - everything here requires multiple stamps - and sent me on my way!
I turned in several passport sized photos, along with copies of my US driving license, paid for and recieved my Provisional Tanzanian Driving License. I only get a provisional because I'm an American and don't drive on the left side of the road.
>Side note about passport photos. You need them for everything here! I mailed 8 when
HOPAC first applied for my work permit, gave 4 more a few weeks ago, turned in several
for my provisional license, and was told yesterday that ... well, read on ...
Yesterday I went to the police station and spoke with the officers in charge of issuing licenses. I wasn't sure if I would need to take a driving test or if they would just give me a TZ license, since I have an International Permit.
>Side note about the permit: to get it, you just go into any AAA, show them your
US license, pay $15 and get your picture taken! Don't need to prove you can drive
on the left or anything!
At the police station yesterday, the officer seemed to be trying to discourage me from driving in Tanzania! He was saying, "It is too dangerous. The drivers here are crazy, more than crazy. Why do you want to drive in Tanzania? It is not safe. It is much worse than driving in America!" And this is the police!
I assured him that, yes, I do want to drive in Tanzania and have been driving here for two years. He seemed ok with that answer and actually didn't ask me to take the driving test. I guess I passed by having driven in Dar es Salaam before!
But then I needed passport photos. I had only brought one. What was I thinking?!?! I needed four. Another officer began explaining why I needed four but I got lost somewhere between official record and Tanzania Revenue Authority.
I just found out that they close at 3:30 so I will have to go in straight after school another day this week and try again...
:)
So I'm trying to get my TZ license.
I have taken - and passed - an eye exam. Honestly, this was the thing I was most worried about! But I told the eye doctor I wear contacts and just read the smallest print I could. He signed and stamped a paper - everything here requires multiple stamps - and sent me on my way!
I turned in several passport sized photos, along with copies of my US driving license, paid for and recieved my Provisional Tanzanian Driving License. I only get a provisional because I'm an American and don't drive on the left side of the road.
>Side note about passport photos. You need them for everything here! I mailed 8 when
HOPAC first applied for my work permit, gave 4 more a few weeks ago, turned in several
for my provisional license, and was told yesterday that ... well, read on ...
Yesterday I went to the police station and spoke with the officers in charge of issuing licenses. I wasn't sure if I would need to take a driving test or if they would just give me a TZ license, since I have an International Permit.
>Side note about the permit: to get it, you just go into any AAA, show them your
US license, pay $15 and get your picture taken! Don't need to prove you can drive
on the left or anything!
At the police station yesterday, the officer seemed to be trying to discourage me from driving in Tanzania! He was saying, "It is too dangerous. The drivers here are crazy, more than crazy. Why do you want to drive in Tanzania? It is not safe. It is much worse than driving in America!" And this is the police!
I assured him that, yes, I do want to drive in Tanzania and have been driving here for two years. He seemed ok with that answer and actually didn't ask me to take the driving test. I guess I passed by having driven in Dar es Salaam before!
But then I needed passport photos. I had only brought one. What was I thinking?!?! I needed four. Another officer began explaining why I needed four but I got lost somewhere between official record and Tanzania Revenue Authority.
I just found out that they close at 3:30 so I will have to go in straight after school another day this week and try again...
:)
Saturday, September 20
HOPAC Construction
HOPAC is growing!
Currently, the new Administration Building is under construction. Now, construction in Tanzania is slightly different from what I'm used to seeing. So many more things are done using man-power rather than machine-power. For example, during the HOPAC orientation at the beginning of the year, we were all distracted by the construction workers outside... and not for the same reason one might be distracted by a construction worker in America... :)
They were putting down, 'pouring' cement for the between floors area - which I'm sure has a technical name but I don't know what that would be. Anyway, where we would have the cement truck pouring directly onto the area or through a series of tubes or pipes, these men were using buckets carried on their head to move the cement from the ground up a flight of stairs (wooden, not permanent stairs) and onto the roof where they poured it out, turned around and ran back down for their next load. I'm talking running with cement in buckets on heads here, people!
It was absolutely amazing to watch! You could tell who was really good at it. They were passing the other men as they ran, with buckets of cement on their head and maybe one hand holding on to it.
Some other new construction around campus:
Fun times!
:)
Currently, the new Administration Building is under construction. Now, construction in Tanzania is slightly different from what I'm used to seeing. So many more things are done using man-power rather than machine-power. For example, during the HOPAC orientation at the beginning of the year, we were all distracted by the construction workers outside... and not for the same reason one might be distracted by a construction worker in America... :)
They were putting down, 'pouring' cement for the between floors area - which I'm sure has a technical name but I don't know what that would be. Anyway, where we would have the cement truck pouring directly onto the area or through a series of tubes or pipes, these men were using buckets carried on their head to move the cement from the ground up a flight of stairs (wooden, not permanent stairs) and onto the roof where they poured it out, turned around and ran back down for their next load. I'm talking running with cement in buckets on heads here, people!
It was absolutely amazing to watch! You could tell who was really good at it. They were passing the other men as they ran, with buckets of cement on their head and maybe one hand holding on to it.
See, man-power, not machine.
Some other new construction around campus:
Picnic Bandas for students and teachers...
A new addition to the gardeners' workshop...
Starting blocks and seating at the pool!
Fun times!
:)
Tuesday, September 2
Addis in Dar
Saturday night we went out for Kate's Birthday. "We" is myself, my housemates Delicia and Juli, and 5 other girls who live in the same housing complex.
Juli and I
Juli and Delicia
Bryan, we did the pass the camera around the table thing. :)
We went to Addis in Dar, an Ethiopian restaurant here in Dar. It is always so much fun! Your food is served on a plate of njera. Njera (injera maybe?) is a spongy, flat, hole-y bread. You also get rolls of it that have a striking resemblance to Ace bandages... The meats and vegetables in their sauces are poured on the 'plate' and you eat with your hands. Fun and delicious!
I'd never actually seen all the colors!
This is after! We were so full we couldn't eat our entire plate.
It looks nicer in the dark...
:)
Juli and I
Juli and Delicia
Bryan, we did the pass the camera around the table thing. :)
I'd never actually seen all the colors! You eat outside and it's always dark when we get our food. We had 2 types of lentels, pumpkin, prawns (shrimp), beef and lamb.
The njera is cut into strips and then rolled. Can you tell they're spongy?
The njera is cut into strips and then rolled. Can you tell they're spongy?
This is after! We were so full we couldn't eat our entire plate.
It looks nicer in the dark...
:)
Thursday, August 28
Creepy Crawly
So about the fourth or fifth night I was in Tanzania, I was unpacking my clothes and found a centipede in my pants! (trousers for you Brits) I screamed and threw them into my bathroom not really knowing what I would do. How do you kill centipedes???
I ran up to Delicia's room and told her I needed help - moral support if nothing else! So we went downstairs and quickly tossed the pants into my shower thinking maybe I can drown it?!?!
It didn't work so well, even with the hot water. All that happened is the pants got wet, which made them too heavy for my improvised pole (a wire hangar). I was trying to open them up and make the centipede come into the light. It didn't want to and the pants were now too heavy for my hanger. So I got two brooms. Why two? I have no idea, seemed like the thing to do with two people. :)
I used one to open up the pants and kinda shook them until the centipede fell out. Then quickly threw the pants to the other side of the bathroom.
Problem! The centipede now had nowhere to hide so he started to go up the side of the shower - coming in my direction! Ahhhhh! If I ran away and lost him now in my bathroom I wouldn't be able to sleep or use the room until I found it again!
So I got the shower nozzle and sprayed it with hot water making him go to the middle of the shower. Then out of nowhere Delicia came in with her broom and started smacking and hitting it. Probably about 10-15 times until he was definitely not moving. Lots of shrieking and jumping at this point.
Oh at one point I threw a shoe at it... not sure what I was hoping that would do... :)
I still wasn't completely convinced it was dead so I put an old tupperware container over it and then put the shoe on top. Just in case it was a super strong centipede and could lift the container. You never know...
The next morning I carefully scooped it up, it was still dead, using stiff paper, and put it in a ziplock bag. I was going to take it for show and tell at orientation but then decided I'd wait until chai break so I just left the bag by the car. When I went down to get it, it was gone...
I did take a few pictures of the thing. So here it is.
I know it looks small but...
I was later told it probably wasn't poisonous but look how scary looking it is with the two spike things on it's tail and the thing can move! It's quick!!
I ran up to Delicia's room and told her I needed help - moral support if nothing else! So we went downstairs and quickly tossed the pants into my shower thinking maybe I can drown it?!?!
It didn't work so well, even with the hot water. All that happened is the pants got wet, which made them too heavy for my improvised pole (a wire hangar). I was trying to open them up and make the centipede come into the light. It didn't want to and the pants were now too heavy for my hanger. So I got two brooms. Why two? I have no idea, seemed like the thing to do with two people. :)
I used one to open up the pants and kinda shook them until the centipede fell out. Then quickly threw the pants to the other side of the bathroom.
Problem! The centipede now had nowhere to hide so he started to go up the side of the shower - coming in my direction! Ahhhhh! If I ran away and lost him now in my bathroom I wouldn't be able to sleep or use the room until I found it again!
So I got the shower nozzle and sprayed it with hot water making him go to the middle of the shower. Then out of nowhere Delicia came in with her broom and started smacking and hitting it. Probably about 10-15 times until he was definitely not moving. Lots of shrieking and jumping at this point.
Oh at one point I threw a shoe at it... not sure what I was hoping that would do... :)
I still wasn't completely convinced it was dead so I put an old tupperware container over it and then put the shoe on top. Just in case it was a super strong centipede and could lift the container. You never know...
The next morning I carefully scooped it up, it was still dead, using stiff paper, and put it in a ziplock bag. I was going to take it for show and tell at orientation but then decided I'd wait until chai break so I just left the bag by the car. When I went down to get it, it was gone...
I did take a few pictures of the thing. So here it is.
I know it looks small but...
I was later told it probably wasn't poisonous but look how scary looking it is with the two spike things on it's tail and the thing can move! It's quick!!
A "stroll" around Mbduya Island
A few weeks ago I went a whole group of people to 'the Island.' The island is Mbduya Island just off the coast of Tanzania. It's a national park and quite beautiful. You usually take a boat from one of the resorts along the coast. This was ours. Just about as simple a boat as you can get!
We then rented a Banda for the day. A banda is a wall-less, thatched roof structure - used everywhere in Tanzania. This is the view from ours...
Around 2:30, we decided to go for a walk around the Island. Now, I'm pretty sure I've done this before and it was a strenuous task, more of a stroll. So we started off on the beautiful white sand, 5 of us. 3 adults, and 2 teenagers.
It was beautiful! The sky is such a gorgeous blue and the plants such a vibrant green!
We came to a place where the tides have worn away the rock and caves are beginning to form...
We found this dried blowfish...
and what we could only think might be a eel skeleton ?
and then we kept on walking and walking...and walking. We made it to the other side of the island and could see the whitecaps far out at sea. So we kept walking and walking. Then we had to go around a bend, and another and by this time, the tide is starting to come in and we're walking in a little bit of water. No problem, just get through it to the sandy beach.
Doesn't it look like the end is just around the corner?
But Christa, one of the teenagers with us, did not bring her shoes. The first hint of a problem...
Then we went around another bend and this time, no sandy beach! The tide was coming in faster so we had to walk through the water. Christa, with no shoes, was very worried about sea urchins, and rightly so! At one point I started to give her my flip flops and promptly stepped directly onto a sea urchin. I had more than 10 spikes and holes in my foot! The last one just came out yesterday morning - almost three weeks later!
I also had my camera with me so I wrapped it up in my kanga (sarong) and held it above my head the whole time.
Our 'stroll' had turned into a trek.
We finally managed to make it to the next bend and I stopped to take this picture of where we'd come from...
Yeah, it really is as far away as it looks!
Moral of the story: Leave early and wear good shoes!
:)
We then rented a Banda for the day. A banda is a wall-less, thatched roof structure - used everywhere in Tanzania. This is the view from ours...
Around 2:30, we decided to go for a walk around the Island. Now, I'm pretty sure I've done this before and it was a strenuous task, more of a stroll. So we started off on the beautiful white sand, 5 of us. 3 adults, and 2 teenagers.
It was beautiful! The sky is such a gorgeous blue and the plants such a vibrant green!
We came to a place where the tides have worn away the rock and caves are beginning to form...
We found this dried blowfish...
and what we could only think might be a eel skeleton ?
and then we kept on walking and walking...and walking. We made it to the other side of the island and could see the whitecaps far out at sea. So we kept walking and walking. Then we had to go around a bend, and another and by this time, the tide is starting to come in and we're walking in a little bit of water. No problem, just get through it to the sandy beach.
Doesn't it look like the end is just around the corner?But Christa, one of the teenagers with us, did not bring her shoes. The first hint of a problem...
Then we went around another bend and this time, no sandy beach! The tide was coming in faster so we had to walk through the water. Christa, with no shoes, was very worried about sea urchins, and rightly so! At one point I started to give her my flip flops and promptly stepped directly onto a sea urchin. I had more than 10 spikes and holes in my foot! The last one just came out yesterday morning - almost three weeks later!
I also had my camera with me so I wrapped it up in my kanga (sarong) and held it above my head the whole time.
Our 'stroll' had turned into a trek.
We finally managed to make it to the next bend and I stopped to take this picture of where we'd come from...
Yeah, it really is as far away as it looks!
Moral of the story: Leave early and wear good shoes!
:)
Monday, August 25
First Day of School!
I love the first day of school! Every classroom is neat and tidy with new displays, teachers are ready and awaiting their students, some anxiously, and the students all come in clean uniforms with new bookbags and supplies. It's a fresh start for everyone and it's so much fun!
Today was a little different from what I was used to. I'm not a primary classroom teacher so I didn't need to be with a class at the beginning of school. Instead, I wandered around greeting parents and former students. It's so nice to see so many familiar faces and receive so many hugs from 2nd and 3rd graders. I also designed and completed a bulletin board, organized the schedule for the computer lab, met with a few grade 6 students, and ran a few other errands. You'd be surprised at how tired I feel...
Though it's exciting to meet all the new teachers, I do miss my former 'coworkers' ... love and miss you all and karibuni to visit!
:)
Today was a little different from what I was used to. I'm not a primary classroom teacher so I didn't need to be with a class at the beginning of school. Instead, I wandered around greeting parents and former students. It's so nice to see so many familiar faces and receive so many hugs from 2nd and 3rd graders. I also designed and completed a bulletin board, organized the schedule for the computer lab, met with a few grade 6 students, and ran a few other errands. You'd be surprised at how tired I feel...
Though it's exciting to meet all the new teachers, I do miss my former 'coworkers' ... love and miss you all and karibuni to visit!
:)
Tuesday, August 19
Don't worry, I'm alive and well...
... I've just been going non-stop since arriving in Dar 2 1/2 weeks ago!
I have many things running through my mind right now so this post will be a bit random...
Orientation: I've been doing orientation with my mission since arriving August 3rd so I'm now an expert on all things Tanzanian. Ok, maybe not an expert but I do know a lot. Ok, maybe I don't know a lot but I do understand the culture. Well, maybe not, but I do now know what it is that I don't know - which is a lot! hehe ...pictures coming...
HOPAC: I'm at school right now. Yesterday morning I took some pictures of the soccer camp that's happening on campus this week. Today HOPAC teachers and support staff went to Bagamoyo for a retreat/orientation/teambuilding time. It feels so good to work at a school where we pray for each student by name!
Housemates & House: This year I'll be living with Juli, grade 5 teacher, and Delicia, grade 4 teacher...pictures coming... I've been setting up a house which included buying fabric for curtains and having them made by a fundi. Fundi means 'expert' but that's not always exactly true. :) Anything goes wrong, you get a fundi who will come and fix it as best they can. This particular fundi is a tailor so he made me curtains! Total cost for 4 panels: 21,000 TSH = about $19. Seems very cheap, and it is, until you compare that to the average monthly salary, 40,000-70,000. Ooh, then I can hardly believe I've spent that much just on curtains. ... pictures coming!...
Driving: After being in the country for a whole 15 hours I had to/got to drive. :) Thankfully my amazing Tanzanian driving skills are still just as amazing...and I drove with two British girls so I asked them to just remind me every now and then, "Left side ,Carley. Left side!"
:)
I have many things running through my mind right now so this post will be a bit random...
Orientation: I've been doing orientation with my mission since arriving August 3rd so I'm now an expert on all things Tanzanian. Ok, maybe not an expert but I do know a lot. Ok, maybe I don't know a lot but I do understand the culture. Well, maybe not, but I do now know what it is that I don't know - which is a lot! hehe ...pictures coming...
HOPAC: I'm at school right now. Yesterday morning I took some pictures of the soccer camp that's happening on campus this week. Today HOPAC teachers and support staff went to Bagamoyo for a retreat/orientation/teambuilding time. It feels so good to work at a school where we pray for each student by name!
Housemates & House: This year I'll be living with Juli, grade 5 teacher, and Delicia, grade 4 teacher...pictures coming... I've been setting up a house which included buying fabric for curtains and having them made by a fundi. Fundi means 'expert' but that's not always exactly true. :) Anything goes wrong, you get a fundi who will come and fix it as best they can. This particular fundi is a tailor so he made me curtains! Total cost for 4 panels: 21,000 TSH = about $19. Seems very cheap, and it is, until you compare that to the average monthly salary, 40,000-70,000. Ooh, then I can hardly believe I've spent that much just on curtains. ... pictures coming!...
Driving: After being in the country for a whole 15 hours I had to/got to drive. :) Thankfully my amazing Tanzanian driving skills are still just as amazing...and I drove with two British girls so I asked them to just remind me every now and then, "Left side ,Carley. Left side!"
:)
Saturday, August 2
Lesson of the Day
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
As I mentioned, I am in England visiting friends. What I didn't know was that by stopping here, the charge for excess baggage for the next leg of my journey would be per kilogram not per piece. Translation: total charges for my one extra bag: $1,200 instead of the $100 I was expecting. :) This has caused me to completely repack and reevaluate what I will and will not be taking with me to Dar.
My initial reaction was not 1 Thes 5:18 - and that's the lesson. My motto while repacking has been: "God is all I need!" Not these shoes, or that basket or those books. And I couldn't pack God in my suitcase even if I wanted to!
I am so thankful that I am with friends who are helpful and loving. So thankful that I called today and didn't find out tomorrow at the airport as I was checking in. So thankful that I am in England where they speak English and I could call around and find out for myself. So thankful for Debbie, who I'm staying with, who is giving me a lighter bag to use. So thankful that I am not going to Tanzania for the first time. So thankful that I can leave things here with friends to possibly take at a later date. So thankful that I will probably even save money by not having to pay excess baggage charges! So thankful that my joy is not based on my circumstances!!
And as my dad reminded me, this didn't surprise God. Which is very comforting to know.
Friday, August 1
Cheers!
After 9 1/2 hours on two flights, I'm almost half-way to Tanzania!
I'm in England enjoying a few days with friends before embarking on the second half of my journey to Dar. Saturday night I board a plane for Johannesburg, South Africa - a 13 hour flight! Then, after a few hours layover, I'll be on my way to Dar es Salaam - only 4 1/2 hours for this one...it'll seem short! :)
I miss family and friends :( but I'm very excited that I'm actually, truly, finally on my way to Tanzania!
Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts...see you in Dar...
I'm in England enjoying a few days with friends before embarking on the second half of my journey to Dar. Saturday night I board a plane for Johannesburg, South Africa - a 13 hour flight! Then, after a few hours layover, I'll be on my way to Dar es Salaam - only 4 1/2 hours for this one...it'll seem short! :)
I miss family and friends :( but I'm very excited that I'm actually, truly, finally on my way to Tanzania!
Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts...see you in Dar...
Sunday, July 27
Milk and Cookies?
Continuing with the Frequently Asked Questions from my latest newsletter, here's another one...
What do you eat in Tanzania?
It's actually pretty close to what I'd eat in America with some slight alterations.
The fruits are tropical: apples and grapes are expensive and rare, cranberries and blueberries virtually nonexistent, but mangoes, pineapple, papaya, guava are cheap and plentiful. These I'd buy at our local fruit and vegetable duka. (Swahili for store/shop)
For meat, I'd usually eat chicken or ground beef, which is so lean there's almost no need to drain the grease! Large portions of meat are expensive and not commonly used in recipes. Although you can buy meat from a local butcher, it's not the safest since it probably hasn't been refrigerated. I'd get it from Shop-Rite, a South African grocery store chain, or another grocery store.
Pasta is readily available as are different varieties of rice. There is a great bakery which makes several types of loaves, rolls and flat breads.
Cooking is a little different, too. Gas ovens and stoves are the most common and almost nothing comes frozen or prepared. Everything is from scratch.
There are several wonderful restaurants in Dar also. Anghiti's, an Indian restaurant, is my favorite! Addis in Dar offers delicious Ethiopian food. Hot Box has great burgers...though I honestly couldn't tell you what was in or on them and we have a theory that their tastiness is a direct correlation to the amount of time you've been in Dar... The only American restaurant is Subway and it is remarkably like Subways in the US except they serve no pork products. There's also a great take-away 'fast food' Portuguese chicken place, Barcelos.
Of course, Tanzanian food is common and delicious, too.... more about that in another post...
Food I missed most: MILK!! Cold, creamy, delicious, need-to-be-refrigerated milk!
What do you eat in Tanzania?
It's actually pretty close to what I'd eat in America with some slight alterations.
The fruits are tropical: apples and grapes are expensive and rare, cranberries and blueberries virtually nonexistent, but mangoes, pineapple, papaya, guava are cheap and plentiful. These I'd buy at our local fruit and vegetable duka. (Swahili for store/shop)
For meat, I'd usually eat chicken or ground beef, which is so lean there's almost no need to drain the grease! Large portions of meat are expensive and not commonly used in recipes. Although you can buy meat from a local butcher, it's not the safest since it probably hasn't been refrigerated. I'd get it from Shop-Rite, a South African grocery store chain, or another grocery store.
Pasta is readily available as are different varieties of rice. There is a great bakery which makes several types of loaves, rolls and flat breads.
Cooking is a little different, too. Gas ovens and stoves are the most common and almost nothing comes frozen or prepared. Everything is from scratch.
There are several wonderful restaurants in Dar also. Anghiti's, an Indian restaurant, is my favorite! Addis in Dar offers delicious Ethiopian food. Hot Box has great burgers...though I honestly couldn't tell you what was in or on them and we have a theory that their tastiness is a direct correlation to the amount of time you've been in Dar... The only American restaurant is Subway and it is remarkably like Subways in the US except they serve no pork products. There's also a great take-away 'fast food' Portuguese chicken place, Barcelos.
Of course, Tanzanian food is common and delicious, too.... more about that in another post...
Food I missed most: MILK!! Cold, creamy, delicious, need-to-be-refrigerated milk!
Monday, July 21
Leavin' on a Jet Plane...
I have a ticket to Tanzania! Yea!!
My flight leaves July 30 from Tampa. I'll fly to Washington, DC then on to London, England where I'll stay for two nights with friends. Then I fly to Johannesburg, South Africa and finally on to Tanzania arriving August 3. :)
Total in-air flight time: 24 hours 16 minutes
Total miles traveled: 11,606!!
:)
My flight leaves July 30 from Tampa. I'll fly to Washington, DC then on to London, England where I'll stay for two nights with friends. Then I fly to Johannesburg, South Africa and finally on to Tanzania arriving August 3. :)
Total in-air flight time: 24 hours 16 minutesTotal miles traveled: 11,606!!
:)
Saturday, July 12
Kwaheri California
Kwaheri: Swahili for 'goodbye' (qua-HAIR-ee)
While moving to Tanzania to do what I know God is calling me to do is beyond exciting, there are some parts of if that are hard. Leaving California is one of them. I've visited family here many, many times before, but leaving was easy because it wasn't my home. But it is now. I have a life here, a church, friends, work...as well as family. And that's made it harder to say 'goodbye.'
January before last (2007) when I first made the decision to move to California after returning from Tanzania, I began praying for 3 things: a church with a heart for missions, a Godly mentor, and a small group whose members were in the same stage of life as myself. I was pretty specific in my prayers and kinda told God exactly what I wanted! The incredible thing is that He answered all of my requests - and then some! He used my cousin to lead me to Community Baptist Church where I met Sandy (!!!!) and got connected to a small group. Even the specifics I prayed about those things were answered.
I was listening to Beth Moore the other day and she said something about prayer that has stuck with me and is worth repeating. She said, "Our Father delights in exalting, ambitious praying!" In other words, pray big, God-honoring prayers and get ready for what will happen!
Want another example of amazingly answered prayer? :)
I mailed my first Wycliffe invitation to partnership letter in March. And in 4 months, God has provided above and beyond what I was expecting in both monthly and one-time support. I don't know if you're aware but many missionaries spend a year or more developing partnerships and raising the needed funds. 4 months is the most amazing confirmation that I am going where I'm supposed to be going!
The cool thing? He used the answered prayers from a year and a half ago (church, mentor, small group) to help the next stage of my life begin. The people I have met at and through CBC and who are partnering with me as I go to Tanzania are incredible!
I'm praying that you would all know the wonderful blessing you have been to me this year. :)
While moving to Tanzania to do what I know God is calling me to do is beyond exciting, there are some parts of if that are hard. Leaving California is one of them. I've visited family here many, many times before, but leaving was easy because it wasn't my home. But it is now. I have a life here, a church, friends, work...as well as family. And that's made it harder to say 'goodbye.'
January before last (2007) when I first made the decision to move to California after returning from Tanzania, I began praying for 3 things: a church with a heart for missions, a Godly mentor, and a small group whose members were in the same stage of life as myself. I was pretty specific in my prayers and kinda told God exactly what I wanted! The incredible thing is that He answered all of my requests - and then some! He used my cousin to lead me to Community Baptist Church where I met Sandy (!!!!) and got connected to a small group. Even the specifics I prayed about those things were answered.
I was listening to Beth Moore the other day and she said something about prayer that has stuck with me and is worth repeating. She said, "Our Father delights in exalting, ambitious praying!" In other words, pray big, God-honoring prayers and get ready for what will happen!
Want another example of amazingly answered prayer? :)
I mailed my first Wycliffe invitation to partnership letter in March. And in 4 months, God has provided above and beyond what I was expecting in both monthly and one-time support. I don't know if you're aware but many missionaries spend a year or more developing partnerships and raising the needed funds. 4 months is the most amazing confirmation that I am going where I'm supposed to be going!
The cool thing? He used the answered prayers from a year and a half ago (church, mentor, small group) to help the next stage of my life begin. The people I have met at and through CBC and who are partnering with me as I go to Tanzania are incredible!
I'm praying that you would all know the wonderful blessing you have been to me this year. :)
Thursday, July 3
Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe...part Mbili (2)
My friend, Sandy, found this great clip on YouTube. It's a slightly different version than the one we sang - and much faster but still really fun to watch!
Enjoy! Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe
Enjoy! Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe
Tanzanian Dinner
The Tanzanian dinner at CBC went great!
Thanks to my wonderful small group, friends and family!! :)
Here are a few pictures of the evening...
Diane, Pat, Michael, Scott, Stacy and Riley set up, served and cleaned upalong with Man, Wumi and Bryan!
My CBC small group!
Michael, Riley, Carley, Stacy, Bryan, Diane, Wumi, Pat and Man!
...only missing Scott and Andrea...
I talk with my hands ...
...and use lots of expression apparently!The wonderful news is that I am at 97% of my monthly support quota! PTL!! Thank you for your prayers! I had asked for prayer to be at 100% by July and I am so thankful that I am very nearly there...and it's July! :)
Tuesday, July 1
Hakuna Mungu kama Wewe
Tomorrow I will be having a Tanzanian dinner at my church to share what I'll be doing in Tanzania and invite people to become partners. During one part, we'll be singing the Swahili song "Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe" and it's definitely worth sharing here. Enjoy! :)
Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe
There's no God like you
Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe
Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe
Hakuna na hatakuwepo
None and there will never be
Nimetembea kote, kote
I have walked here, there
Nimetafuta kote, kote
I have searched here, there
Nimezunguka kote, kote
I have turned around here, there
Hakuna na hatakuwepo
None and there will never be
Picture doesn't really go with the post, just think it's beautiful!!
This is Tanzania: Acacia trees and zebra on the savannah.
Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe
There's no God like you
Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe
Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe
Hakuna na hatakuwepo
None and there will never be
Nimetembea kote, kote
I have walked here, there
Nimetafuta kote, kote
I have searched here, there
Nimezunguka kote, kote
I have turned around here, there
Hakuna na hatakuwepo
None and there will never be
Picture doesn't really go with the post, just think it's beautiful!!This is Tanzania: Acacia trees and zebra on the savannah.
Friday, June 20
My 'office'
Since my departure date is getting closer and closer (yea!!) I thought you might be interested to see pics of where I'll be.
I'll start with HOPAC...
This is a baobab tree. It's huge.
The classroom just behind is Reception, where I taught for 2 years.
This is part of the campus. It used to be a coconut plantation so there are coconut palms everywhere! It's beautiful!
I'll start with HOPAC...
This is a baobab tree. It's huge.
The classroom just behind is Reception, where I taught for 2 years.
This is part of the campus. It used to be a coconut plantation so there are coconut palms everywhere! It's beautiful!More to come...
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