Greetings Friends and Family! I hope this message finds you all happy and well.
I am writing to you at almost my 1 month mark here at Kazovu and close to 2
months total here in Tanzania.
The past two and a half weeks have gone well. I continue to have new experiences and learn more and more about the world around me.
In order to help myself remember what happens on a daily basis, I make sure to write down a word or phrase on my calendar every day that reminds me of what happened. So from that list I will try and keep you all informed on what has been going on. But it is difficult to write about everything because so much is happening all the time! The school’s computer that I use is almost always out of battery and because our electricity is not working we are unable to charge it.
The past two and a half weeks have gone well. I continue to have new experiences and learn more and more about the world around me.
In order to help myself remember what happens on a daily basis, I make sure to write down a word or phrase on my calendar every day that reminds me of what happened. So from that list I will try and keep you all informed on what has been going on. But it is difficult to write about everything because so much is happening all the time! The school’s computer that I use is almost always out of battery and because our electricity is not working we are unable to charge it.
Also, in order to connect to the internet the modem must have money on it, and
many times it does not. This requires going to the village in order to buy a
voucher. I will try and send a message every two weeks if possible, but then
again you never know.
I continue to teach Pre-Form every day and I am starting to understand more about how the teaching system works. I teach in the mornings from 8ish to about 10:30am. Then tea and then back to teach again from 11-12:30ish. The times are not set in stone whatsoever. But that is close to what happens most days. The other teachers are supposed to come and teach as well but because there are now only 5 teachers here including me, it makes it difficult for other teachers to spend time in Pre-Form. I totally understand and I really enjoy teaching Pre-Form so it is no trouble to me.
There are now 19 students in Pre-Form, it continues to grow! We still would like to see more students come to school. From the list we received from Mzee (Steve Vinton), our school is still very low in numbers, but not as low as some others. Madisi has close to 80 Pre-Forms, others have similar. These schools make ours look depressing. But compared to the other schools in the Rukwa region, we are doing pretty well. Sichowe has 12, Ninga has 7, and others have zero. It is very sad to hear these numbers, but also each one is a celebration. If only one student comes, then that is one child saved. All Glory to God.
Jovinus left on Sunday the 6th. The next few days were spent teaching during the day and then swimming in the lake during the evening with many of the girl students. On the 7th I went with Markrina (The head girl at Kazovu, who also is at the house all the time helping us cook) and also with Suzi. She is in the room now and wanted to say hello. So, “Hello!” from Suzi. Both of them are in Form 3. We swam and they sang songs. Then they had me sing some songs for them. We bonded over the Justin Bieber song “Baby” and I thought it was hilarious they knew the words. Lots of laughter! The next evening I was planning on just going to the lake by myself to swim for exercise and wash my hair but as I was passing the school some girls shouted, “Madame! Are you going to swim?” I said, “Yes! Will you come with me?” So that night I helped teach Leticia, Salome, Janemale and Rehema to swim. We had so much fun and the girls loved it. I showed them the butterfly stroke and it was so hilarious to watch them try to do it. Even more hilarious to watch the other small children in the water a little ways down shore trying to do it too!
On the 9th Winfrida left Kazovu. I did not know she was leaving and did not know why. Apparently she was sick so she was going to the doctors in Kirando. We thought that she was going to be gone for a couple days. She didn’t return for two weeks! She just came back on the 22nd. I am not sure what she was doing that whole time because she was not that sick I’m pretty sure. People disappear a lot here I have heard. Most of the teachers who have taught here in previous will one day say, “I am going to Kirando to buy some things.” And then they never come back. Later they will call Chris and say, “I am not coming back to Kazovu.” This leaves the school one more teacher short. The school only has five teachers. Baraka is teaching Biology, Chemistry and Physics for Forms 1, 2 and 3! It is impossible to do so! Winfrida only teaches one subject for Form 1. As you can see the balance is a little askew. Godfrey (Director of VST) said that in December when we meet in Madisi he will ask us what our schools need. I already know the answer to that question. This school needs teachers!
Friday the 11th was a happy day. When I came into the house for tea after teaching in the morning I stumbled upon 4 of the girls dancing to very loud music in the main room of my house. They were at first embarrassed, but then I started to join in! I think I am a better African dancer than American! The girls were very impressed. We danced for a while and then I went back to school. Came back after and we did the same thing again and hid from the male teachers when they would walk by. It was a day of laughter and joy that’s for sure!
Now Saturday the 12th… this was definitely a day for the books. Lately I have been going to church with Baraka on Saturdays. He is SDA. I have enjoyed going, even though I don’t understand much. The church is very small and very few people attend. But it has been nice spending church time with them. On this Saturday I did not go to church in the morning. I was so tired in the morning so I stayed home. During that time I listened to a sermon on my iPod, read my Bible and the book, The Circle Maker. When Baraka returned from church I asked him what they studied in church. I in turn told him what I was studying. He then said something that made my heart stop… “Emi, do you know what you will do? You will preach at evening service.” I quickly said, “Oh, ummm… why? I am not a preacher. What will I say? I don’t speak Swahili!” He assured me, “Don’t worry Miss Emi, you will do just fine. I will translate for you.” So I preached. Dad, are you proud? I don’t think that preaching skills are genetic, definitely did not do super well, but it was truth. I talked about what I was reading in The Circle Maker. The book was talking about the miracle of meat given to the Israelites when they were in the dessert. I started to think of other miracles from the Bible that were just crazy out there. Like Jericho, Peter walking on water, The Resurrection etc. I talked about those and how God is the God of the impossible (that was my title). Look at what God did for these people because they had a little faith. What can he do through us?
I continue to teach Pre-Form every day and I am starting to understand more about how the teaching system works. I teach in the mornings from 8ish to about 10:30am. Then tea and then back to teach again from 11-12:30ish. The times are not set in stone whatsoever. But that is close to what happens most days. The other teachers are supposed to come and teach as well but because there are now only 5 teachers here including me, it makes it difficult for other teachers to spend time in Pre-Form. I totally understand and I really enjoy teaching Pre-Form so it is no trouble to me.
There are now 19 students in Pre-Form, it continues to grow! We still would like to see more students come to school. From the list we received from Mzee (Steve Vinton), our school is still very low in numbers, but not as low as some others. Madisi has close to 80 Pre-Forms, others have similar. These schools make ours look depressing. But compared to the other schools in the Rukwa region, we are doing pretty well. Sichowe has 12, Ninga has 7, and others have zero. It is very sad to hear these numbers, but also each one is a celebration. If only one student comes, then that is one child saved. All Glory to God.
Jovinus left on Sunday the 6th. The next few days were spent teaching during the day and then swimming in the lake during the evening with many of the girl students. On the 7th I went with Markrina (The head girl at Kazovu, who also is at the house all the time helping us cook) and also with Suzi. She is in the room now and wanted to say hello. So, “Hello!” from Suzi. Both of them are in Form 3. We swam and they sang songs. Then they had me sing some songs for them. We bonded over the Justin Bieber song “Baby” and I thought it was hilarious they knew the words. Lots of laughter! The next evening I was planning on just going to the lake by myself to swim for exercise and wash my hair but as I was passing the school some girls shouted, “Madame! Are you going to swim?” I said, “Yes! Will you come with me?” So that night I helped teach Leticia, Salome, Janemale and Rehema to swim. We had so much fun and the girls loved it. I showed them the butterfly stroke and it was so hilarious to watch them try to do it. Even more hilarious to watch the other small children in the water a little ways down shore trying to do it too!
On the 9th Winfrida left Kazovu. I did not know she was leaving and did not know why. Apparently she was sick so she was going to the doctors in Kirando. We thought that she was going to be gone for a couple days. She didn’t return for two weeks! She just came back on the 22nd. I am not sure what she was doing that whole time because she was not that sick I’m pretty sure. People disappear a lot here I have heard. Most of the teachers who have taught here in previous will one day say, “I am going to Kirando to buy some things.” And then they never come back. Later they will call Chris and say, “I am not coming back to Kazovu.” This leaves the school one more teacher short. The school only has five teachers. Baraka is teaching Biology, Chemistry and Physics for Forms 1, 2 and 3! It is impossible to do so! Winfrida only teaches one subject for Form 1. As you can see the balance is a little askew. Godfrey (Director of VST) said that in December when we meet in Madisi he will ask us what our schools need. I already know the answer to that question. This school needs teachers!
Friday the 11th was a happy day. When I came into the house for tea after teaching in the morning I stumbled upon 4 of the girls dancing to very loud music in the main room of my house. They were at first embarrassed, but then I started to join in! I think I am a better African dancer than American! The girls were very impressed. We danced for a while and then I went back to school. Came back after and we did the same thing again and hid from the male teachers when they would walk by. It was a day of laughter and joy that’s for sure!
Now Saturday the 12th… this was definitely a day for the books. Lately I have been going to church with Baraka on Saturdays. He is SDA. I have enjoyed going, even though I don’t understand much. The church is very small and very few people attend. But it has been nice spending church time with them. On this Saturday I did not go to church in the morning. I was so tired in the morning so I stayed home. During that time I listened to a sermon on my iPod, read my Bible and the book, The Circle Maker. When Baraka returned from church I asked him what they studied in church. I in turn told him what I was studying. He then said something that made my heart stop… “Emi, do you know what you will do? You will preach at evening service.” I quickly said, “Oh, ummm… why? I am not a preacher. What will I say? I don’t speak Swahili!” He assured me, “Don’t worry Miss Emi, you will do just fine. I will translate for you.” So I preached. Dad, are you proud? I don’t think that preaching skills are genetic, definitely did not do super well, but it was truth. I talked about what I was reading in The Circle Maker. The book was talking about the miracle of meat given to the Israelites when they were in the dessert. I started to think of other miracles from the Bible that were just crazy out there. Like Jericho, Peter walking on water, The Resurrection etc. I talked about those and how God is the God of the impossible (that was my title). Look at what God did for these people because they had a little faith. What can he do through us?
After
finishing my talk I sat down. I was relieved it was over, but happy I did it!
The people sang songs and then Baraka leans over to me and says, “Ok, so now
you can go back and talk again.”… what?... Ummmm, what am I supposed to talk
about I just said everything I had prepared? I prayed that God would give me
something else to talk about, and quick! He led me to talk about divisions in
the church. So I preached about how Christians get so caught up in what
denomination people are a part of, oh, you are Baptist… uhhh. Oh, you are
Lutheran.. Oh, you are SDA? Why do we make war against each other? The devil is
so creative in attacking the church in this way. I looked at the people and
said, “I am American, I don’t speak your language, and I come from a Baptist
church. But you are all my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I love you.”
This message went well and it made my heart soar when I saw people coming into
the church as I was talking. They sat down on the benches and started to
listen. People who don’t come to church normally! Even children! God was
working in that moment, through my fear of preaching to glorify Him.
On that night, Chris brought a Disco to school. This was to celebrate the end of Form 2 National Exams. There were huge speakers that we setup in one of the classrooms and then the music began to play. Most of it was Swahili music, but that is okay because I really like it! I watched as the students danced their hearts out. I was amazed at how well some of the girls could move their hips and wondered how the boys could do some of the dance moves they were doing. It wasn’t long before the girls came over to me and pulled me into the middle of the dance floor. We danced for hours! Reminded me so much of a dance we would have in America. Just a bunch of people having fun! But African style! We didn’t stop until midnight! Safe to say I was exhausted, but so unbelievable happy.
Chris went to Sumbawanga to turn in the exams and so it was just me in the house. Teacher Jonathon and Teacher Kibona were both in Kirando (they always go there on the weekends because their wives and children live there) so Baraka was alone in the other house. The next few days we spent together talking, cooking, playing cards, going to the village and swimming. On Sunday Baraka bought us sugar cane to eat. When we arrived at home I studied him as he ate it because it is a very interesting process. You have to use your teeth to tear the outer layer off and then bite off pieces, chew it and suck out the juice and then spit it out. Yeah, I struggled with all parts of the process. I don’t know how his teeth can bite through that first layer! I tried, but it was a sad attempt. I wanted to use a knife but he said, “No! I am training you to be an African girl. Use your teeth.” HA! I succeeded but it took me a long time. Once I had finished 3 sections, he had finished 8.
On Monday we did not have school so we went swimming. Baraka is afraid of water, deathly afraid. But, I convinced him to get in. Granted, he only came in up to his waist and then ran away but it was good. It was such a hot day so I enjoyed being in the water. Enjoyed it too much actually because we stayed at the beach for 3 hours, in the middle of the day, and we live in the center of the sun… SUNBURN! I started to notice it was getting bad before we left, uh oh. I come out of my room after changing and the faces of Baraka and Markrina dropped. “Oh Emi, what happened?” I said, “The sun hates me.” Now, I have had worse sunburn in my life. This one was really not THAT bad, but they have no idea what sunburn is. Baraka felt my face and said, “Oh no, your head is so hot.” I told them not to worry too much, that it will be fine in a couple of days. They were extremely worried. They asked me if there was anything they could do to fix it and I said that all I needed was time. They didn’t like that answer so they cooked porridge for me, convinced that it would make me better. It didn’t of course but I was touched by the thought.
On Tuesday, Jonathan and Kibona returned and so all four of us played cards. We had so much fun! I don’t know if everyone reading this has seen the YouTube videos of goats making sounds like humans, but I swear those goats are here in Kazovu. Every day we hear goats yelling like people! Baraka says, “Is that a human being?!?” HA! So because of the humor in this we said that every time you win a game of cards you have to cough like a goat. We now do this all the time to greet each other. “Kibona! COUGH…” Even the students have started to pick up on it.
That night (15th) the Pre-Form students had a football (soccer) match against Form 1. My students are so very small compared to the others so Baraka played with them to make the teams a little more even. It was so fun to watch them play. The game ended in a tie. I was distracted though because as the sun was going down I was drawn to the lake. The most unbelievable sunset I have ever seen. This place is really good for that. I just sat down in the middle of a path going to the lake and just stared at the beauty of the colors; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink. The most skilled painter or photographer could not capture the full beauty of that night, or any night here for that matter. I lost track of time and soon I hear Baraka calling my name, he thought I had gotten lost or eaten or something. No, no, no. I explained to him how much I love watching the sun go down and so he sat with me and watched for a while.
If you haven’t guessed already, Baraka is like my best friend! We have become so close that now we feel as if we are brother and sister. He can tell when something is wrong with me and I can tell when something is not right with him. I appreciate his company so much and thank God for the blessing he is to me. We laugh a lot and share the same feelings for ugali, which are not good. The days that we were cooking for ourselves you can be sure that we ate anything besides ugali and beans! I taught him the phrase, I am sick of _______. So now Baraka says to me, “Emi today I cannot eat beans, why? Because I am sick of beans!”
The week of the 14th-18th there was no school. I still do not really know why but I woke up every morning ready to teach and day after day someone would tell me that the students will not study today. It was frustrating to not know what was going on, but that happens a lot so I’m getting used to it. I’m not going to lie, having the week off was nice because I could rest but I am also starting to feel the pressure of getting through the Pre-Form course. We are currently just beginning Book 3. My goal is to get through Book 8. But there are only 6 weeks remaining. I know that God is in control, and I have to remind myself of that daily.
One of my frustrations has been my inability to understand Swahili. I can communicate very little with people. I can do short sentences and communicate well enough to buy food, get things I need, ask basic questions but without more knowledge my relationships with people just aren’t there. I was very frustrated by this, and I still am somewhat. God called me here to teach yes, but also to become friends with these people! Get to know them. Live with them. Develop strong relationships with them. Because through the relationships is where Jesus can be shared! It hurts me when my students try to tell me something and I do not understand what they mean. I have started to pray so hard that God would do some amazing work and help me with this language. I don’t know if I will ever be fluent in Swahili but in my time of greatest frustration I was encouraged by a note, a note that was left on the table for me by Markrina. I found it on Friday the 18th. It said,“Nakupenda we we Emi.” Which means, “I love you Emi.” Wow. My relationship with her has been mostly non-verbal and she writes this. This helped me to remember that sharing Jesus does not only mean communicating it verbally, but living it.
This week (21-25) we have had school every day but Thursday. The whole school went to the funeral of the founder of Kazovu School. I now fully understand and have witnessed what it means when people wail, women falling to the ground, screaming and crying, mourning the loss of this man. The students and teachers stayed outside for most of the time. The teachers were invited into the home of the village leaders. We shook hands with them and communicated our apologies for their loss. I did not think that they thought much of me since I did not say much due to lack of understanding in the language but later Chris told me that they loved me. They were so impressed to see me coming into their home and attending the funeral of this man. Again, God telling me it is okay to not be fluent in Swahili, at least not for now.
Tonight I will be making American food again because yesterday we ate ugali and beans. Both Baraka and I said afterwards, I am sick of this! So I promised him that I would cook tonight. I will go to swim later today. Chris wants another lesson!
All is going well here and I continue to grow and learn. Harder things come and go but God is still the same today, tomorrow and forever. I am happy that His Presence is always with me, even when I don’t notice.
On that night, Chris brought a Disco to school. This was to celebrate the end of Form 2 National Exams. There were huge speakers that we setup in one of the classrooms and then the music began to play. Most of it was Swahili music, but that is okay because I really like it! I watched as the students danced their hearts out. I was amazed at how well some of the girls could move their hips and wondered how the boys could do some of the dance moves they were doing. It wasn’t long before the girls came over to me and pulled me into the middle of the dance floor. We danced for hours! Reminded me so much of a dance we would have in America. Just a bunch of people having fun! But African style! We didn’t stop until midnight! Safe to say I was exhausted, but so unbelievable happy.
Chris went to Sumbawanga to turn in the exams and so it was just me in the house. Teacher Jonathon and Teacher Kibona were both in Kirando (they always go there on the weekends because their wives and children live there) so Baraka was alone in the other house. The next few days we spent together talking, cooking, playing cards, going to the village and swimming. On Sunday Baraka bought us sugar cane to eat. When we arrived at home I studied him as he ate it because it is a very interesting process. You have to use your teeth to tear the outer layer off and then bite off pieces, chew it and suck out the juice and then spit it out. Yeah, I struggled with all parts of the process. I don’t know how his teeth can bite through that first layer! I tried, but it was a sad attempt. I wanted to use a knife but he said, “No! I am training you to be an African girl. Use your teeth.” HA! I succeeded but it took me a long time. Once I had finished 3 sections, he had finished 8.
On Monday we did not have school so we went swimming. Baraka is afraid of water, deathly afraid. But, I convinced him to get in. Granted, he only came in up to his waist and then ran away but it was good. It was such a hot day so I enjoyed being in the water. Enjoyed it too much actually because we stayed at the beach for 3 hours, in the middle of the day, and we live in the center of the sun… SUNBURN! I started to notice it was getting bad before we left, uh oh. I come out of my room after changing and the faces of Baraka and Markrina dropped. “Oh Emi, what happened?” I said, “The sun hates me.” Now, I have had worse sunburn in my life. This one was really not THAT bad, but they have no idea what sunburn is. Baraka felt my face and said, “Oh no, your head is so hot.” I told them not to worry too much, that it will be fine in a couple of days. They were extremely worried. They asked me if there was anything they could do to fix it and I said that all I needed was time. They didn’t like that answer so they cooked porridge for me, convinced that it would make me better. It didn’t of course but I was touched by the thought.
On Tuesday, Jonathan and Kibona returned and so all four of us played cards. We had so much fun! I don’t know if everyone reading this has seen the YouTube videos of goats making sounds like humans, but I swear those goats are here in Kazovu. Every day we hear goats yelling like people! Baraka says, “Is that a human being?!?” HA! So because of the humor in this we said that every time you win a game of cards you have to cough like a goat. We now do this all the time to greet each other. “Kibona! COUGH…” Even the students have started to pick up on it.
That night (15th) the Pre-Form students had a football (soccer) match against Form 1. My students are so very small compared to the others so Baraka played with them to make the teams a little more even. It was so fun to watch them play. The game ended in a tie. I was distracted though because as the sun was going down I was drawn to the lake. The most unbelievable sunset I have ever seen. This place is really good for that. I just sat down in the middle of a path going to the lake and just stared at the beauty of the colors; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink. The most skilled painter or photographer could not capture the full beauty of that night, or any night here for that matter. I lost track of time and soon I hear Baraka calling my name, he thought I had gotten lost or eaten or something. No, no, no. I explained to him how much I love watching the sun go down and so he sat with me and watched for a while.
If you haven’t guessed already, Baraka is like my best friend! We have become so close that now we feel as if we are brother and sister. He can tell when something is wrong with me and I can tell when something is not right with him. I appreciate his company so much and thank God for the blessing he is to me. We laugh a lot and share the same feelings for ugali, which are not good. The days that we were cooking for ourselves you can be sure that we ate anything besides ugali and beans! I taught him the phrase, I am sick of _______. So now Baraka says to me, “Emi today I cannot eat beans, why? Because I am sick of beans!”
The week of the 14th-18th there was no school. I still do not really know why but I woke up every morning ready to teach and day after day someone would tell me that the students will not study today. It was frustrating to not know what was going on, but that happens a lot so I’m getting used to it. I’m not going to lie, having the week off was nice because I could rest but I am also starting to feel the pressure of getting through the Pre-Form course. We are currently just beginning Book 3. My goal is to get through Book 8. But there are only 6 weeks remaining. I know that God is in control, and I have to remind myself of that daily.
One of my frustrations has been my inability to understand Swahili. I can communicate very little with people. I can do short sentences and communicate well enough to buy food, get things I need, ask basic questions but without more knowledge my relationships with people just aren’t there. I was very frustrated by this, and I still am somewhat. God called me here to teach yes, but also to become friends with these people! Get to know them. Live with them. Develop strong relationships with them. Because through the relationships is where Jesus can be shared! It hurts me when my students try to tell me something and I do not understand what they mean. I have started to pray so hard that God would do some amazing work and help me with this language. I don’t know if I will ever be fluent in Swahili but in my time of greatest frustration I was encouraged by a note, a note that was left on the table for me by Markrina. I found it on Friday the 18th. It said,“Nakupenda we we Emi.” Which means, “I love you Emi.” Wow. My relationship with her has been mostly non-verbal and she writes this. This helped me to remember that sharing Jesus does not only mean communicating it verbally, but living it.
This week (21-25) we have had school every day but Thursday. The whole school went to the funeral of the founder of Kazovu School. I now fully understand and have witnessed what it means when people wail, women falling to the ground, screaming and crying, mourning the loss of this man. The students and teachers stayed outside for most of the time. The teachers were invited into the home of the village leaders. We shook hands with them and communicated our apologies for their loss. I did not think that they thought much of me since I did not say much due to lack of understanding in the language but later Chris told me that they loved me. They were so impressed to see me coming into their home and attending the funeral of this man. Again, God telling me it is okay to not be fluent in Swahili, at least not for now.
Tonight I will be making American food again because yesterday we ate ugali and beans. Both Baraka and I said afterwards, I am sick of this! So I promised him that I would cook tonight. I will go to swim later today. Chris wants another lesson!
All is going well here and I continue to grow and learn. Harder things come and go but God is still the same today, tomorrow and forever. I am happy that His Presence is always with me, even when I don’t notice.
