Gloria

Just a short note to say why I love kids so much. One of my dear little friends here is named Gloria. She is absolutely precious. She always has a smile on her face, and she laughs so easily. Gloria is crippled on her right side. She can move her leg and arm, but it does result in a limp, and she leans to the side. She and I have formed a relationship these past two weeks. Do you want to know why she brings me so much joy? This little girl, that is handicapped on one side, when she sees me… she yells my name in her African accented voice and runs to me! She runs to embrace me. Nothing can replace that feeling. That is true love. She makes me feel like I am the luckiest person. A few days ago we danced the hokey pokey together. That is also another memory I will have forever.

Yesterday, my highlight of the day was chasing about 10 kids in a field for an hour. Such a basic thing, but they could do it all day. It was so much fun. J

SUNDAY

Walking in my Sunday best through the streets of Africa… sweaty, hot, but enjoying every minute. It took about 20 minutes to walk to church. Today was my first service at an African church. We got to lead the worship. That was quite interesting considering I cannot speak Swahili…. Or dance. Needless to say it was unforgettable. The other interesting thing was that we had to perform a skit. How did we have to prepare for this? All of one hour. Did we choose an easy drama? Of course not! Where is the fun in that? I taught the drama “Everything” to my small group team. (There are about 20 of us) And each of them wanted a part, haha it was so challenging. Despite the fact that I had one hour to teach them, only a handful had ever heard the song, and the giant language barrier, we did it! lol It was a lot of fun. So, our mode of transportation on the way home was crazy. We were riding on the bed of Munishi’s truck, he is a staff leader here, but it was just a couple of us sitting in the back. No, where is the adventure in that?! There were about 18 of us standing/sitting in the back holding on to whatever we could for dear life. The roads here are nothing like the roads at home. Here in Tanzania it is extremely bumpy! Huge holes everywhere. We made it back alive.

After lunch some of us watched a movie, which was a nice taste of home. Then, Christina and I went for a walk around the local village area. Here are the reasons I knew I was in Africa: My feet were caked with dust, a gorgeous mountain was our scenery, dozens of kids were yelling, “Mzungu! Mzungu! Why are you so white?”, a herd of goats ran out in front of us to drink water, the constant sound of cows mooing, chickens running everywhere, villagers walking their donkeys that were carrying buckets of water down the streets, and the fact that my friend is from Switzerland. Yup, life is good.

 

 

A Day in the LIfe

Here is what a typical week looks like for me:

So, breakfast is served at 7:00 every morning. We have tea and three slices of bread. J Then from 7:30 to 8:30 is quiet time where you just spend time alone with God. Next from 8:30 to 10:00 is either worship or intercession which varies daily. From 10:00 until 11:00 we have lecture, which has been so much fun! I love being challenged. It is a lot of debate and theology so far, which has been really good because it is stretching my understanding and forcing me to express my ideas. But, not only express my theory but also provide supporting Scriptures. Each week the topic varies. This week it is “God’s Redemption: Sin and the Cross”. Our speaker is from Kenya. Then from 11:00 to 11:30 is Tea time. I am going to say when I come back to America I am going to miss my tea and Mandasi’s. I am probably butchering that spelling. Haha That is a sweet tasting bread that we eat with the tea. Next from 11:30 to 1:00 is another lecture/class. Next is lunch! Oh lunch, haha we have our good days and bad days together. The food is so different here. At 2:00 until 3:00 we have free time. I usually play with the kids, talk to friends, help in the kitchen, or spend time with other YWAMers here. From 3:00 until 5:00 is work duty. Our jobs could be sorting rice/beans, sweeping the pavements, carrying water to the bathrooms, working in the kitchen, cleaning the bathrooms, mopping… etc. but believe me, even cleaning the bathroom is completely different here. So is mopping. haha I am learning so much. Then from 5:00 to 6:00 is free time. Today I played volleyball which was so great! Even though I understood nothing they were saying I had a wonderful time. 6:00 is dinner and then on Mondays and Wednesdays we have lectures at 7:30 until 9:00. But on Tuesdays we are free during that time and on Thursdays we have a study time. Then Fridays from 7:30 to 9:00 is fun night. We play kinda getting to know you games for now, but I’m sure that will change with the weeks to come.  The rest of the day is free. But believe it or not I have been going to bed at like 9:00 or 9:30! It is crazy for me. Weekends we have free! So, that would be like washing clothes, going to town, shopping, going to eat tasty foods. J different things like that. On Sundays we of course go to church. One week you go to the church of your choice, but the next week you go with your small group to a church and we minister to them. Oh yes, things are very different here.

I am definitely enjoying myself here. Please ask me questions and tell me what to write about!!!! What do you want to read about?

Talk to you soon!

Week One Complete

Every day I am surrounded by my African children. There is no way to describe the feeling I have when I see one of my babies run up to me calling my name in their sweet accent and embrace me with a giant hug. I love them. :) I will try to post pictures of them soon. The love to play with the most basic things. The race waterbottles down the sidewalk, use the lid of a tin can to pretend like its a steeringwheel, play with tennisballs, and can use pretty much anything to make a game with it. But its fun to interact with them. You don't need that much English to play with children. They just need to see your love.

Well, I have survived one week here in Africa, and I have to say I have not been homesick once. haha everyday is full of so many different stories and new experiences. Let me just say this, every time you take a warm shower, praise the Lord. My shower is dipping my head in a paintbucket full of cold water. the first time I showered it literally took my breath away it was so cold. haha We have so much to be thankful for.

Well, my real classes start next week. So this should be interesting. I am trying to keep an open mind because with different cultures brings different beliefs. Pray for me!

Much Love to you all!

Shooting Stars

So, a few nights ago my friend and I (Christina) decided to lay out under the stars. So we got my ipod, and a blanket and snuggled together to keep warm. haha It was simply wonderful. We laid there enjoying God's creation and talked about our hopes and expectations while away on DTS. I had never seen a shooting star before. So, we prayed that God would create a shooting star to fall. A few minutes later there were two! I saw my first shooting star in Africa!! What a memory. :) Then, as we were talking more we thought it would be even better for the electricity to go out, so what did we do? We prayed! about fifteen minutes later, the electricity goes out for about 2 hours, so we just laid there gazing at the stars in complete darkness in awe of our Creator. God is so good!

Singing with Angels

Yesterday was such an amazing day. I want to tell you about such a beautiful experience!

My friends and I went into the main hall yesterday to sing and play the piano and the guitar. Five different countries were represented. Christina from Switzerland was playing the piano, Sara from Sweden played the guitar, Lois from the Netherlands along with Saskia from Germany and I were singing! It was so cool!!!!! Iwish I could have lived in that moment for so much longer. 5 different cultures, 5 different people all worshipping the same God!!! It was splendid. :) But this is the best part, Sara had a vision and she said that she saw angels singing with us! So amazing!

I am loving it here. :) just wanted to share that story! Write again soon :)

Africa!

Well, I am alive! Within the past 24 hours I would say I have slept a grand total of five. haha I am enjoying myself very much! I have already made many new friends. friends from, Switzerland, Sweeden, Camroon, Kenya, Korea, and of course Tanzania!!! This morning I woke up at 6:30 ( not to mention we got to the base around 4:00am) and experienced my first car ride in Arusha! Arusha is Tanzania's largest city and is very busy! We walked for half of the trip but the second mode of transportation was a dala dala. This is a bus/taxi and we pack ourselves in! It is usually built for 12-15 people but this morning I was riding with about 30 people. As they say here in tanzania "it is like banana" you have no room to move, you are squished into one place. We traveled to church which was outdoors, about a 30-45 minute trip. What was the neatest part of the church service? Seeing chickens walk around and hearing the bleating of the goats. this is Africa!

My school starts bright and early tomorrow at 6 am! And if you were wondering what African breakfast is here is your answer... three pieces of bread with tea. :) The place I am staying at is very nice, it is like our own community.

Children playing with tires, people selling articles, bumpy car rides, babies on mothers backs, people sleeping on the streets, different languages, trash being burned everywhere, gorgeous smiles, excellent accents, new friendships, and so many little babies!!!!

Please continue to pray for me and my team as we embark on our mission, and begin the task of learning so many new things!!!

Let me know if there is anything you would like to know. :)

Love you all!

Oh and PS word of the day: Mzungu= white person

Africa Bound!!

Last blog post from the US until next year! That is crazy to think about. Starting today I am on an impeccable journey. An adventure with Christ to discover who He is calling me to be, and to share His love with others. This mission is an intimidating and scary one, but I know without the smallest doubt that it will be very rewarding and worth all of the hardships I may encounter along the way.

When I was a child in first or second grade, teachers asked me, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" My answer would be, "A teacher, a track star in the Olympics, or a missionary." Well by process of elimination we can rule out the middle possibility. :) But, I can say that even to this day it is my dream to be a missionary and a teacher. My dream is coming true!!!!

Christ's ambassador, what a bold title. It is something that cannot be done without the help and determination of the Holy Spirit in me. wow.... it is just not becoming a reality. Tonight I will fall asleep dreaming of Africa, tomorrow night I will fall asleep and awaken to a beautiful day in Africa. What a remarkable awakening that will be.

I am not sure what to post before I leave my house to board the plane that will take me to another country, and place me on another level with God. So many things are racing through my mind. I guess I would like to ask each of you to keep me and my team in your prayers! If you are wondering for specific prayers, it would be: 1) peace for my family, 2) I will have a confidence to be bold in my faith and trust in God 3) I will experience the true definition of joy 4) also, that I will challenge myself to do something crazy each day! Something I have never done before.Whether it be physically, spiritually, or mentally. 5) Lastly I pray that I will take each day, and treasure it. I do not want to worry about what the future may hold when I come home; I want to be open and experience each day God blesses me with to the fullest!
So, those are my prayers for now. I am sure that through the course of the next 6 months those will change. I appreciate your prayers!

Well everyone, I am thrilled about the adventure awaiting me and I cannot wait to share it with you all!

Much love! I am Africa Bound!!!!!