September 23, 2013
We arrived in
Dar and stayed at the
KB hotel that first night and then left the next morning for Mafinga. Edgar (head
master of Madisi School) was just absolutely amazing helping us to find
our bus at the bus stop. I have never seen so many people, cars, buses and
luggage in my life. We have all decided that we would still be standing there
at the bus stop if Edgar was not there to help us find the right one and verify
that our luggage made it on. The bus ride was long but we were entertained by
Tanzanian "soap operas" basically playing on the TV. Alex (another
missionary teacher from the U.S.) and I found them to be very
entertaining. Once we arrived in Mafinga 9 hours later we went to get our luggage
out of the back of the bus and the bus almost drove off with my big green bag.
That would have been interesting but Edgar made sure the bus driver did not
leave until we found it. (it helps that he can communicate well with the
people). We stayed the night in Mafinga at a little hotel and then went to the
market the next day to practice bartering. I did pretty well. Edgar said that
for a Mzungu (white person) I was given very good prices.
Left that afternoon for Madisi, about an hour and half drive through some of the most beautiful country and mountains I have ever seen. There is no way to describe how beautiful it was. So green and lush contrasted with the orange color of the roads and homes along the way.
We arrived and met Janelle. She has been a missionary here for 4 years and has been our trainer. She is a wonderful person. Every morning we have been meeting at her house and have a quiet time at her home, then we go to another building near the school to do our training. Training consisted of bible study, case studies, situations, culture, VSI(Village Schools International) expectations and history, language learning and learning how to teach Pre-Form English. There is just the four of us. Alex, Lindsey, me and Janelle.
The first night we met our host students! I have been spending the last two weeks with my new friend Zilpa. She is 14 and in Form 1 at Madisi Secondary School. We went to the market first thing to buy some food and then walked to her house in a village on the opposite hill from Madisi. The village is called Fyogo. About one and half miles to school and the same on the way back. Definitely got my exercise these past two weeks going up and down the ginormous hills! Now I have Tanzanian muscles! Her home was very basic and her family is one of the wealthiest students that attends Madisi. I was so blessed to have such an amazing host family. The mama and baba (mom and dad) were unbelievably hospitable, but then again that is the culture here. According to them I am now family. The language barrier was very difficult at first before the relationships were formed. But after spending two weeks in their home, learning to cook ugali, beans, rice, chipati, chai and others in their kitchen, helping with chores and eating food with them... we are now very close friends. 80% of communication is non-verbal and this was put into practice these past two weeks. I also was immersed in the culture so my Swahili has improved very much since I arrived two weeks ago.
I went to church with my family on Saturdays. They are a SDA (Seventh Day Adventist) family. Hearing them sing to Jesus with just their voices... never have I heard such a beautiful sound to the Lord. Sharing in the common bond of Christ helped me to relate with the people. I was able to have great conversations with many people who came to the house to talk with me. Being able to talk about my faith with them was incredible.
A couple of funny stories...
So the hills here are very steep... needless to say I have slipped and fallen on my bum several times while attempting to go down. It has been pretty hilarious..Zilpa is always entertained, and so am I.
While walking to school today we passed many primary students quickly running in the opposite direction to their school (This happened most days). As we passed one girl I noticed that she had something in her arm that resembled a football. As we got closer to her I realized that...NOPE... she was running with a bucket in one hand, and a live chicken in the other, carrying it like a football. The biggest smile on her face as she was running, too. So cute!
There are many other stories but I am very tired right now and needing to get some things done before leaving in the morning. It is almost midnight here and we are leaving tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. for Mbeya (our first stop on the way to our new villages). I still have some packing to do. I cannot wait for this next step. But, I am also sad to leave Madisi. As soon as I start to feel comfortable here and make friends... God says it's time to go. I see it as an amazing challenge of faith. All three new missionary teachers are going to the Rukwa region of Tanzania. This area is where the VST schools have the lowest enrollment total and lowest percentages of girls enrolled. The goal of the organization is to enroll as many girls as possible in the schools. So that is why we are going to these schools... to enroll girls in school. The more girls in school, the less girls that will be married and having children at very young ages. Not only are we teachers, we are being sent to the villages to go out and bring kids to school.
Drum roll please.... I am going to Kazovu! This is the school farthest away from any other school. It is right on Lake Tanginika. Apparently, it is right on the beach with crystal clear waters. It is only accessible by boat as well. The school has less than 100 students total enrolled. I pray that this year there will be so many more, and that girls will come. I pray that God will use me to reach out to these people. I pray most of all that God's love will be shown. My journey to get there will be long... but worth it. It is so nice to know where I am going. I have already begun to pray for the school by name. I already love the people, the students and this country.
Alex will be at Ninga and Lindsey will be at Sichowe (both in Rukwa region).
I miss you all very deeply, but you are all in my prayers. I don't know how the internet connection will be when I arrive in my village. Due to computer problems (i have a mac not a pc which is apparently is fine, but makes things a little more complicated). Things will work out fine but might take a little while to get things up and running.
Know that I am well, happy and falling more in love with Jesus every single day. God is opening my eyes to new things every moment. There have already been times of excitement, joy, frustration, sadness, uncertainty and many more... but God's glory was shown through all of them. The assurance of His Presence with me has been undeniable. Our Lord is strong, and is always with us. His Spirit is alive and active... take time to experience His love, it is all around you.
Safari Njema. (Safe travels). For both me and for you, wherever the Lord may take you whether it be near or far.
Much love,
Emily (or as the Tanzanians call me, Emi) :)
p.s. I have a new address for my Rukwa village. Don't worry, the letters sent to the one in Mafinga will still get to me. But for future reference if people could send letters to this new one, it would probably be faster:
Emily Harpel
c/o Village Schools Tanzania
Box 143
Sumbawanga, Tanzania
Left that afternoon for Madisi, about an hour and half drive through some of the most beautiful country and mountains I have ever seen. There is no way to describe how beautiful it was. So green and lush contrasted with the orange color of the roads and homes along the way.
We arrived and met Janelle. She has been a missionary here for 4 years and has been our trainer. She is a wonderful person. Every morning we have been meeting at her house and have a quiet time at her home, then we go to another building near the school to do our training. Training consisted of bible study, case studies, situations, culture, VSI(Village Schools International) expectations and history, language learning and learning how to teach Pre-Form English. There is just the four of us. Alex, Lindsey, me and Janelle.
The first night we met our host students! I have been spending the last two weeks with my new friend Zilpa. She is 14 and in Form 1 at Madisi Secondary School. We went to the market first thing to buy some food and then walked to her house in a village on the opposite hill from Madisi. The village is called Fyogo. About one and half miles to school and the same on the way back. Definitely got my exercise these past two weeks going up and down the ginormous hills! Now I have Tanzanian muscles! Her home was very basic and her family is one of the wealthiest students that attends Madisi. I was so blessed to have such an amazing host family. The mama and baba (mom and dad) were unbelievably hospitable, but then again that is the culture here. According to them I am now family. The language barrier was very difficult at first before the relationships were formed. But after spending two weeks in their home, learning to cook ugali, beans, rice, chipati, chai and others in their kitchen, helping with chores and eating food with them... we are now very close friends. 80% of communication is non-verbal and this was put into practice these past two weeks. I also was immersed in the culture so my Swahili has improved very much since I arrived two weeks ago.
I went to church with my family on Saturdays. They are a SDA (Seventh Day Adventist) family. Hearing them sing to Jesus with just their voices... never have I heard such a beautiful sound to the Lord. Sharing in the common bond of Christ helped me to relate with the people. I was able to have great conversations with many people who came to the house to talk with me. Being able to talk about my faith with them was incredible.
A couple of funny stories...
So the hills here are very steep... needless to say I have slipped and fallen on my bum several times while attempting to go down. It has been pretty hilarious..Zilpa is always entertained, and so am I.
While walking to school today we passed many primary students quickly running in the opposite direction to their school (This happened most days). As we passed one girl I noticed that she had something in her arm that resembled a football. As we got closer to her I realized that...NOPE... she was running with a bucket in one hand, and a live chicken in the other, carrying it like a football. The biggest smile on her face as she was running, too. So cute!
There are many other stories but I am very tired right now and needing to get some things done before leaving in the morning. It is almost midnight here and we are leaving tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. for Mbeya (our first stop on the way to our new villages). I still have some packing to do. I cannot wait for this next step. But, I am also sad to leave Madisi. As soon as I start to feel comfortable here and make friends... God says it's time to go. I see it as an amazing challenge of faith. All three new missionary teachers are going to the Rukwa region of Tanzania. This area is where the VST schools have the lowest enrollment total and lowest percentages of girls enrolled. The goal of the organization is to enroll as many girls as possible in the schools. So that is why we are going to these schools... to enroll girls in school. The more girls in school, the less girls that will be married and having children at very young ages. Not only are we teachers, we are being sent to the villages to go out and bring kids to school.
Drum roll please.... I am going to Kazovu! This is the school farthest away from any other school. It is right on Lake Tanginika. Apparently, it is right on the beach with crystal clear waters. It is only accessible by boat as well. The school has less than 100 students total enrolled. I pray that this year there will be so many more, and that girls will come. I pray that God will use me to reach out to these people. I pray most of all that God's love will be shown. My journey to get there will be long... but worth it. It is so nice to know where I am going. I have already begun to pray for the school by name. I already love the people, the students and this country.
Alex will be at Ninga and Lindsey will be at Sichowe (both in Rukwa region).
I miss you all very deeply, but you are all in my prayers. I don't know how the internet connection will be when I arrive in my village. Due to computer problems (i have a mac not a pc which is apparently is fine, but makes things a little more complicated). Things will work out fine but might take a little while to get things up and running.
Know that I am well, happy and falling more in love with Jesus every single day. God is opening my eyes to new things every moment. There have already been times of excitement, joy, frustration, sadness, uncertainty and many more... but God's glory was shown through all of them. The assurance of His Presence with me has been undeniable. Our Lord is strong, and is always with us. His Spirit is alive and active... take time to experience His love, it is all around you.
Safari Njema. (Safe travels). For both me and for you, wherever the Lord may take you whether it be near or far.
Much love,
Emily (or as the Tanzanians call me, Emi) :)
p.s. I have a new address for my Rukwa village. Don't worry, the letters sent to the one in Mafinga will still get to me. But for future reference if people could send letters to this new one, it would probably be faster:
Emily Harpel
c/o Village Schools Tanzania
Box 143
Sumbawanga, Tanzania
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