among the nations . . .

My Amazing Cat

2011-01-27T21:00:00.000+03:00

He loves me, yeah, yeah, yeah...

This morning one of my students said to me "Miss Harrison, your cat was at the compound this morning!" Sure she must be mistaken, I replied "No, that's a cat that just looks like mine."

But when her brothers both told me the same thing, adding that they saw the cat's blue collar, I got a little worried. See, right now, I'm house-sitting for a week so I've not been at home to check that my cat's ok. My housemates have been feeding him but I suppose it's just not the same-no cuddles, no sleeping on the bed, no neck scratching... :)

He must miss me cuz he walked all the way back to the compound where I used to live. I assume he was looking for me! How did he do that?! He'd only taken the trip one time, in the opposite direction and inside a car!

That's pretty impressive!

Family Fun in the Mountains

2010-07-22T04:11:00.000+03:00

Summer fun at Mt Baldy!

My aunt Sherry

cousin-in-law Nick and little Niko

Morgan and Karis coming down the mountain

Karis enjoying getting her hair wet and flinging back her head!

Niko throwing rocks

Up and down the mountain

Summer Schedule

2010-07-09T21:54:00.000+03:00

Not a very exciting post here but I thought you might be interested to know my summer travelings:

June 20
   leave Dar es Salaam

June 21
   arrive Tampa, Florida
   drive to Fort Myers to stay with my sister, Liz and her husband, Rhett
   (help out with a summer arts camp along with my mom and our other two sisters)

July 2
   drive to Bushnell, Florida to stay with parents

July 5
   Barbeque with family!

July 6-8
   travel to Yulee, Florida and Evans, Georiga to visit cousins!

July 9 (today)
   ...remind myself I need to buy a camera so I can take pictures of all these events!!!!
   in Bushnell, Florida
   get-together for supporters and friends

July 14
   fly to Rancho Cucamonga, California

July (....)
   travel to northern California to visit friends (?)

July 26
   return to Bushnell, Florida to finish buying and packing

August 1
   fly to London, England to stay with Debbie, Naomi and Jess (with possible visits to other friends)

August 14
   fly to Dar es Salaam

August 15
   return to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

... if I'm in your area, give me a call or email! I'd love to reconnect with you!

:)

June

2010-06-29T07:59:00.005+03:00

Delicia, me, Naomi: housemates

June is a hard month at HOPAC. Although the end of the school year usually brings joy to teachers and students alike, in a missionary community, it also brings the season of good-byes.

As a teacher, about the third to last week of school, I'm saying "Come on, end-of-the-year." But by the time the last week of school rolls around, I'm saying "What? Already? Can't we have just a little more time together?"

This year is no exception, especially as there are many leaving HOPAC and Dar for good: families who have been the pillars of our community, prayer warriors, HOPAC leaders, small group girls, friends at church, a housemate. (Naomi, below)

It's hard to have so many good-byes at the same time and to be leaving Dar myself for two months, knowing I'll be returning to a somewhat different community. At the same time, I am thankful for so many friends who will still be in Dar, at HOPAC, at church. And as one friend said, "I am ready to open my heart again" to new friends.

I find myself longing for the day when there will be no more good-byes, no more transitions. I am comforted by the knowledge that my citizenship is in Heaven and I entertain the thought that in Heaven, all of my 'groups' will get to meet all of my other 'groups' in one joyful, never-ending, Jesus-hosted reunion.

But still, June is hard.

Smiles

2010-02-15T15:14:00.004+03:00

Mary and Felecia

Judah and Mary

Mary and Anen, twins

Mary, Ethan, Felecia

Anna, Lois Graham (we have two Lois Gs), Precious

Jane (after several attempts to catch her smile!)

Ji Myeong

(Mary was around a lot during picture-taking time!)

Pigs & Hens

2010-02-11T14:31:00.005+03:00

HOPAC is currently in the middle of both Swine Flu and Chicken Pox outbreaks. Last week grade 2 was closed because almost half the class was out with swine flu and Chicken Pox has worked its way through almost everyone in Grade 3.

This week Grade 1 has their first case of Chicken Pox and their first testing for Swine Flu. I'll keep you posted...

(What is it with these animal diseases?)

Superbowl Monday

2010-02-08T13:53:00.005+03:00

That's right. Since we're 8 hours ahead of EST, the Superbowl airs here at 2:30 am! And for the first time in several years, I got to see it!! Now some missionaries here are doing the smart thing and recording the game to watch it this evening. However, this calls for avoiding all news, friends, Facebook, blogs, etc. for the day...

I opted to watch it live with Roger, Paul, Kevin and Benji! Live being time-delayed by the network and by the satellite company who, if the game seems slow to them, occasionally skips parts of the game. Thankfully we had none of that. They even played the half-time show (no commercials, though!) although the sound was off the entire time - off by about 10 seconds!

But I got to watch football!! (On a comfortable couch with people who care about it. That's gotta be a part of Heaven...) And the Saints won! Yay! (Didn't care too much about that but I chose them so I stuck with my choice and it paid off.)

Thanks Roger and Laurie!

and now, for your listening pleasure...

2010-02-05T07:08:00.005+03:00

the Ocean in Dar podcast

That's right ladies and gentlemen, you can now listen to my pastor, Steve Kuert and sometimes visiting pastor, Roger Kuykendall!

After several months of confusion and miscommunication, I finally figured out the easiest way to publish these sermons - and it only took about an hour (and most of that was Internet speed.)

God is good!

A Bagamoyo Retreat

2010-01-22T13:17:00.006+03:00

My housemate, Naomi, and I decided we needed a break from Dar. So last weekend we drove up to Bagamoyo. Bagamoyo is a sleepy town about an hour drive from the north side of Dar where we live. It's a nice drive through several villages - no traffic; fruit and vegetable dukas (stalls) along the side of the road; and, since we've recently had rain, the grass and trees are beautiful and green!

We went to Travellers Lodge for lunch and then found a shady spot under a coconut palm to read and relax. Such a nice afternoon!

a local fisherman cleaning his catch on the beach

Tanzania children playing in the Indian Ocean

Max

2010-01-15T15:31:00.006+03:00

Meet Max.

Max is our class tortoise.

His full name is Max Alex Poko.

Don't ask me why.

A few months ago, he wondered into the yard of another teacher and managed to avoid being eaten by two dogs...so we decided he's probably sturdy enough for 23 6-year olds!

Around the middle of December he managed to escape/was released from his outside box. We just figured he'd had enough. We looked for him for about a week and even prayed he'd be safe.

Then last week a secondary student came by in the middle of the day with Max! The students were thrilled! He'd somehow managed to cross a small ditch and wonder over to the secondary block without being eaten by crows, snakes, or mongooses. (Thought: Do mongooses eat turtles? And yes, it's mongooses not mongeese. I looked it up.)

Right now he's making laps around the classroom. (I let him wander at night.) He's been around at least 10 times and just keeps going. I was wondering if he only went clockwise but he just turned around and is going counter clockwise. His favorite place is under the book bin at the back of the room.

Don't worry, we let him outside as much as possible! During every break we have 'Turtle Time' and students keep an eye on him...he tends to wonder off...

Stuff!!

2010-01-11T13:27:00.003+03:00

Thank you KLM! My bags arrived with little hassle early Sunday morning. I got a text at 1:30 after the flight came in.

They've had quite a trip! They followed me to London then returned to Amsterdam, separately, then were supposed to go back to London before coming to Dar via Kenya but I think they actually just went from Amsterdam down here to Dar.

Oh well! They're here!!

Which means... Pictures!

Samuel ...and his artwork

Showing God loving us from the overflow of His love in relationship with Jesus

(deep stuff for Grade 1 but they get it!)

Dhashrrad

Allison

Baggage, baggage wherefore art thou baggage?

2010-01-06T08:47:00.002+03:00

Hopefully you're on your way!

My bags did not make my connection with me from Amsterdam to London. :( KML was very helpful and are sending them my way...at least that's the plan.

Please pray that they get here!! My two little lost duffel bags stuffed with good things from America!

Things you just can't get in Dar

2010-01-01T06:07:00.004+03:00

or "Selections from my American shopping list"

jolly ranchers (x2) for small groups

chocolate chips

new clothes and shoes! (not secondhand!)

SD card

sauce packets

American candy (at the request of my students!)

construction paper

brown duct tape (so many colors!)

Action Packer (thank you , Target!)

treasure box toys from Oriental Trading Co.

bug spray (with DEET, please)

Pictures coming!

2010-01-01T06:05:00.001+03:00

as soon as I get back to Tanzania

...because I bought a memory card for my camera (misplaced the other one!)

class time

2009-11-06T14:27:00.004+03:00

Kevin and Allison 'working'

Helping Ji Myeong

Jacob, Judah and Lawrence

Joah and Tegegne

Ooh, peace and quiet! Enjoy it while it lasts!!

Daily Devotional

2009-10-12T07:59:00.003+03:00

I recently found a daily devotional taken from the sermons and writings of Charles Spurgeon. I thought I'd share this morning's entry with you - I know it challenged me.

"Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens."—Lamentations 3:41.

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favours without constraining us to pray for them we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust. Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labour of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God's young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer girds the loins of God's warriors, and sends them forth to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. An earnest pleader cometh out of his closet, even as the sun ariseth from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians. Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do! We thank thee, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of thy marvellous lovingkindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day!

If you're interested in more, A Daily dose of Spurgeon posts a morning and evening devotional.

Working?

2009-09-24T11:23:00.002+03:00

...watch the two boys in the front get closer and closer... sometimes I think they just have to get up and out of their seats!!

Shule la lugha

2009-09-11T10:17:00.004+03:00

Over the summer I went to language school in Iringa to learn/relearn/improve Swahili. The school has partnered with Riverside Campsite: students live and eat at the campsite and the teachers come Monday-Friday mornings for classes. It’s a good system na sasa ninajua vitu vyote kuhusu kiswahili! (and now I know everything about Swahili) ;)

…if only I had to use it in Dar all the time, I’d be fluent in no time!

Me, Christie Harrison (I know!) and Kate at our ‘graduation’. Kate and I did a month of language school; Christie and her husband Brett did the full four months. Some kids of other language students made us laurel wreaths!

We climbed to the hop of a small mountain/large hill one afternoon. It was beautiful!

Fellow language schoolers: Christian and Jen (Denmark), Kate, Christie and myself. There were several ‘groups’ at Riverside: the Baptists, the Danes, the Geita people and ‘Kate and Carley’

Brett looking down at us from the highest point.

Happy 'New' Year!

2009-08-26T16:34:00.002+03:00

It's August and that means...school starts!

I am back in grade 1 with 22 students (24 on the roster but some will come later in the year), 16 boys and 8 girls. That's a lot of 6 year old boys in a confined space, let me tell you!

In the first three days, I've determined that

1. Six years olds can project their voices better than many public speakers.

2. I don't know any Korean. (I knew this before but it's not obvious every day until you have Korean/non-English speakers in your classroom!)

3. Children make me laugh.

4. I need to be at least in the process of going to bed by 9:00 to be rested and ready for a new day!

5. Kid's prayers are much more heartfelt than many adult's prayers.

6. Non sequiturs make up the bulk of most conversations in grade 1.

Masai Day!

2009-05-13T17:09:00.002+03:00

Friday, April 24 was a great day! We’ve been studying the Masai (or Maasai – I’ve seen it both ways) for the past few weeks and so that Friday we had “Masai Day!”.

We had a special Masai guest, Jeremiah. (Not exactly a Masai name but…) The students wrote questions to ask – everything from “how do your huts stay up when it rains?” to “what’s your favorite color?” to “how do you kill a lion?” (They surround it and sing to it.)

He showed the kids how to jump and we had a jumping ‘contest’ outside.

We ate ugali (a stiff porridge, a starch) with beans and vegetables and drank milk. (Well the kids did. As you know, I’m not a fan of milk here.)

We then watched a short video about the Masai produced by TearFund and divided into groups to spend a few minutes praying for the Masai people.

It was such a fun day! Pictures will come when I have time to wait on the Internet…

Cops and Robbers!!

2009-03-27T10:30:00.004+03:00

Grade 1 voted to be Cops and Robbers for free dress today!

Don't they look great!!

Robber Martha

Cop Ben

Robber Mia

Detective Celia

Robber Bo
(who was sneaking around the classroom hoarding his loot all morning!)

Ingrid as a cop

Cops Ethan, Mohamed and Johannah

Cop Mateo

Traffic woman Vanessa
(She looks exactly like the Traffic police!)

Robber Kristine
(I almost didn't recognize her when she came in this morning!)

Grade 1 Astronauts

2009-03-20T14:31:00.007+03:00

Today Grade 1 finished our Moon topic with a bang - we 'went' to the Moon.

This week we made helmets and oxygen tanks and today the kids brought 'space clothes' a/k/a long sleeves, white clothes, etc.

(Unfortunately our first two tries at getting the straps to hold on their oxygen tanks - tape and scissors - didn't work. And I only thought of using a hole puncher at the end of the day! Man! Learning for next time, I suppose.)

But the kids had fun. I played a video of Apollo 11 taking off (took about an hour to download from the Internet) and then we were on the moon. They were astronauts who had to write a mission report: what they saw, brought, did, etc.

They had lots of fun! Here are a few pictures...

Katelyn, Vanessa

Katelyn demonstrating how she would walk on the moon
oxygen tank on her back (notice the flag? She's from Texas!)

Neale with his helmet

Assembly!

2009-02-27T15:38:00.003+03:00

Grade 1 was responsible for Assembly today.

It was fun...and I'm glad it's over.

:)

Indigestion, much?

2009-02-10T16:49:00.000+03:00

I was 'the old lady who swallowed a fly' !!

:)

Can you guess???

2009-02-06T13:23:00.002+03:00

Who am I for book day???

Hint: look at my tummy!

Here they are...some of them

2009-01-22T11:54:00.004+03:00

Pictures! Yay!

Grade 1 children and my cat - you can figure out which is which... :)

:)

:) ...a Sheepish Post

2009-01-22T09:53:00.003+03:00

Hi. Are you still there?

:)

Much has happened since November! Christmas and New Year's were fun but different not being with family and old friends. My digital camera isn't working well so pictures will be coming after I can steal them from housemates. ;)

I've now been teaching grade 1 for 3 weeks and am feeling settled and comfortable in the classroom again. The kids are fun and fairly easy going and I have a helpful teaching assistant. Again..pictures forthcoming...

In other news, I have a cat! He was named Cat until last week when he was officially christened Mister Rodgers. This coming from his original name of Ginger Rodgers - when we thought he was a girl.

He's not.

We've also had many power problems. Yesterday our water was literally charged. Touching faucets or streams of water gave you quite a shock! And when we turned off our water pump, we lost all power! Hmm... not normal, I don't think...

But TANESCO (the only power company) and a fundi came and now it seems to be working! Yay!!

More coming...pictures coming...

Thanks for reading!

:)

License to Drive

2008-11-27T15:15:00.001+03:00

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.

:)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T14:38:00.003+03:00

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!

:)

Package!

2008-11-12T17:24:00.002+03:00

My wonderful friend, Emily sent me a package which arrived today!
Thanks, Emily, you made my day! :)

The down side of driving in Tanzania

2008-11-10T17:55:00.003+03:00

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.”

:)

The rain came down and the floods came up...

2008-11-06T08:11:00.007+03:00

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.

The pictures get lighter as they progress. The first ones were taken before dawn.

The view looking through my window.

the 80s

2008-11-03T07:42:00.012+03:00

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!?!

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

Supervising the Rebuilding

2008-10-29T11:29:00.002+03:00

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.

Rebuilding

2008-10-29T10:05:00.003+03:00

It begins with a temporary wall...
and then we wait to see what happens next!

:)

The Fallen Wall

2008-10-29T10:05:00.001+03:00

Really, what more needs to be said?

So maybe not such a good day...

2008-10-28T11:00:00.002+03:00

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...

It's a good day.

2008-10-27T13:04:00.003+03:00

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.

:)

Becca Joy & Julie Lynn (Eckabay and Yoolie/Woo-Woo)

2008-10-13T17:19:00.000+03:00

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!!!

inspired by the Birthday song presents of Helen

My Friend

2008-10-13T09:47:00.000+03:00

My friend and housemate, Helen, left me these notes in my office a few weeks ago.

Isn't she great?!?!

:)

...3rd try

2008-09-29T07:38:00.000+03:00

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...

:)

TZ license, Take 2

2008-09-25T10:02:00.000+03:00

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 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.

My Vision Report
I can see! And it's stamped so it's official.

TZ Driver's License

2008-09-23T08:06:00.000+03:00

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...

:)

HOPAC Construction

2008-09-20T14:01:00.000+03:00

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.

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!

:)

Addis in Dar

2008-09-02T11:45:00.000+03:00

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!

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?

This is after! We were so full we couldn't eat our entire plate.
It looks nicer in the dark...

Creepy Crawly

2008-08-28T15:40:00.000+03:00

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!!

A "stroll" around Mbduya Island

2008-08-28T14:14:00.000+03:00

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!

:)

First Day of School!

2008-08-25T15:10:00.000+03:00

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!

:)

Don't worry, I'm alive and well...

2008-08-19T10:04:00.000+03:00

... 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!"

:)

Lesson of the Day

2008-08-02T02:39:00.000+03:00

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

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.

Cheers!

2008-08-01T15:40:00.000+03:00

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...

Milk and Cookies?

2008-07-27T05:32:00.000+03:00

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!

Leavin' on a Jet Plane...

2008-07-21T18:13:00.001+03:00

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!!

:)

Kwaheri California

2008-07-12T21:18:00.000+03:00

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. :)

Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe...part Mbili (2)

2008-07-03T21:47:00.001+03:00

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

Tanzanian Dinner

2008-07-03T20:39:00.000+03:00

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 up
along 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! :)

Hakuna Mungu kama Wewe

2008-07-01T09:45:00.000+03:00

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.

My 'office'

2008-06-20T02:04:00.000+03:00

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!

More to come...

84%

2008-06-14T11:16:00.000+03:00

In the past week, I've seen my monthly support jump from 65 to 84%! That's incredible! Please keep praying for 100% by July! :)

PD Update & Newsletter

2008-06-09T01:14:00.000+03:00

Hard to believe, but in less than two months I'll be in Tanzania! :)

I am currently at about 65% of needed monthly support. Thank you to everyone who is supporting financially and in prayer. You are greatly appreciated! Please continue to pray that more people will be led to become partners and that I will be at 100% before August.

Please read and enjoy my May newsletter.
page 1

page 2

Creation

2008-05-07T22:28:00.000+03:00

I love the weather we're having right now. It's overcast and drizzly, which does *not* happen often out here in Rancho Cucamonga. :)

Yesterday, Karis and I drove up to Mt. Baldy to go hiking and climbing on the rocks. We drove through the clouds and then above them and found a place where a stream rushes down the mountain over huge boulders, weaving in and out of tall birch trees. It's such a amazing place.

I'm a "worship God through nature" kind of person. I love looking at His creation and thinking about Him. And though I'm more of an ocean girl than a mountain girl, I do enjoy being able to get away from the urban sprawl of Southern California by going up into the mountains. It's quiet, peaceful, calm. Beautiful!

Partners

2008-04-21T22:47:00.001+03:00

This past month, I have begun the process of raising monthly and one-time financial support. At times this seems a daunting task: partners who will support monthly for the next four years...it seems like a lot to ask.

But then thinking on it, I've realized that everyone is supported by others in some form. The teacher depends on the State, which gets its funds from taxes. The minister is supported by the tithes and offerings of the church members. The businessman is supported by the payments of clients. As a missionary, I just have a more direct connection to those who support the ministry and the 'service' provided goes to someone who has not 'paid' for it, but who needs it.

I've also realized (or reminded myself) that this is all for God. People give to His work, not mine. I'm the messenger, the go-er. The ministry is His and the support is to support and advance His Kingdom. It really is a partnership. You with me, me with you and us with God.

So, please pray with me that (1) I will keep my focus on Him and my heart in the right place and (2) that He will move hearts to become partners.

:)

Musings

2008-04-02T23:10:00.000+03:00

My friend, Amy, a missionary in Tanzania, has again written amazing things about missionary life, Christian life, and living with purpose.

Musings on Missionary Life

Check it out!!!!!!

Believing God

2008-04-02T22:38:00.000+03:00

I have just started the Beth Moore Bible study "Believing God" and I am sooo excited! It's about faith and believing God instead of just believing in God - hmm...interesting thought. How would we live if we honestly and completely believed the promises of God, believed what He says about Himself, about us, about the world?

She starts off with five Truths and asks us to review and meditate on these daily:
1. God is who He says He is.
2. He can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who He says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. His Word is alive and active in me.

Please pray with me as I go through this study...pray that my faith would grow!

the times they are a-changin'...

2008-03-14T00:18:00.008+03:00

Several missionary friends of mine currently living in Tanzania have very interesting blogs. To understand a little more what Dar es Salaam and HOPAC are like, check them out. Enjoy!

Gil and Amy Medina: everyone needs a lil' Grace in their lives
Emily Wiarda: A Journey of Hope

How different it is being a missionary today compared with earlier times! 150 years ago, Hudson Taylor traveled by boat for more than five months before arriving in China. 25 years ago, communication was by letters and the occasional overseas phone call. Today, right this minute, I could buy a ticket to be in Beijing tomorrow and I keep in contact with friends around the world via virtually instantaneous text messaging!

I wonder what's next . . . !!

It's official!

2008-02-14T08:14:00.002+03:00

I'm a member! I've been accepted by my missions agency!

Yea! :)

Tanzania: Part Mbili (2)

2008-02-04T10:45:00.001+03:00

Hi! I'm glad you found me. :)

I am thrilled to be in the process of returning to Tanzania. I've taken the past few months to really listen and pray about where God is leading me & what He wills for my life, and I feel led to return to Tanzania as a missionary teacher!

I'll be using this blog to keep you (friends, family and supporters) up to date as I prepare to leave for TZ in the fall.

Come back and have a look at how things are going! :)

And feel free to leave comments at will...