June

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.

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.

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!

:)