'5000' degrees in Kazovu!

December 12th, 2013

The year is coming to a close! It really does not feel like December to me because it is 5000 degrees in Kazovu, Tanzania. Never in my life have I sweat in the winter months. New experiences every day! Many days I have had to go to swim in the lake just to escape the heat, but don’t forget sunscreen!!! Every time I get sunburn I have to explain why my skin reacts so badly to the sun. This is such a foreign concept for those who never have to worry about sunburn.

I am writing you today from the spot under the mango tree where we can connect to the internet. The weather is actually cooler today because we had rain this morning. I am thankful for that. But, still wearing a t-shirt and feeling comfortable. I am thinking about those at home who cannot leave their homes without their coats and snow boots.

Form 1 and Form 3 students have 9 exams to take this week! WOW! And I had to type all of them! Two weeks ago my headmaster brought to me a stack of white papers with exams written on them. 18 exams all multiple pages long and they needed to be typed, formatted and sent to Mzee (Steve Vinton) the next day. Hokay! Thanks for the short notice! So I spent over 16 hours in front of the computer typing. It was quite exhausting but since I am the fastest person to type, it was the only way to finish the task. The only exams I had trouble writing were the Kiswahili exams written by Mwalimu Kibona. As much as I am learning the language, I am not fluent, so trying to type in a language I don’t know can prove to have its challenges. Kibona had to edit my work to make sure I typed actual words.

The Thanksgiving holiday was absolutely unforgettable here. I did not expect to have such an amazing celebration of an American holiday in Africa. I woke up in the morning feeling sad because it was the first Thanksgiving I spent away from my family. But, I knew that if I spent the whole day thinking about home, I would have a terrible day. Instead, I decided to find a way to celebrate African style. My Pre-Forms love surprises, so instead of giving them exercises I told them we were going to celebrate. I sent the girls out to collect firewood and pots for cooking, and the boys out to buy flour for ugali, fish and tomatoes. When they returned with the supplies we made a big fire and cooked the largest pot of ugali I had ever seen. Seriously, this pot was 3 feet in diameter and it was full! We all sat around the pot and ate our fill, just like I’m sure you all did on that day. Definitely missed the turkey, but couldn’t complain because I was stuffed! Then, we all went down to the lake together to swim. I raced some students who said they were faster than me… I was definitely faster! But, we had a blast. The students enjoy standing on my shoulders as I go under the water and then go flying through the air as I push off from the ground. We also like to play tag in the water and let me tell you, it’s a work out! We laughed and sang songs as we walked back to school. One of the students and I traded shoes and so he walked in shoes that were way too big for him and I walked in shoes way too small for me. As I went through this day, all I could think was, “Wow, God you are so faithful and giving.” It was impossible to not give thanks to God on that day. What a wonderful day of celebration with the most amazing group of students I could have ever asked for. Even though they can drive me crazy sometimes, I love them with all my heart and I know that God loves them too.

I have already told my parents this but, a few weeks ago I was given a gift by the students. I was walking to school to play Go-go (the game with the sand and the Fanta bottle) with the girls and some students called me over to them. They had the most adorable little puppy in their hands. They said, “Miss Emi, come and see, a dog!” Of course I went over to see! When I picked him up they told me he was mine. Huh? You’re giving me a puppy?!? I thought they were kidding at first but they told me it was a gift. So, I have a dog! His name is Mixon. Now Kazovu is really starting to feel like home. I have a pet. He is a little troublesome and definitely an African dog, but he is adorable. The only issue is that I really do live in a ‘barn’. The number of chickens in our home has increased. We now have, not exaggerating, 40 chickens roaming around and living in our house. And now there is a dog and we also have a cat. The chickens are there so we can eat them, the cat is there so he can eat the rats, and the dog is there to chase all of them! Yesterday, I found Mixon in the room where the chickens sleep and he had two little chicken feet hanging out of his mouth… oh, Mixon… What have you done!?! Madaam is going to be so mad! Turns out the baby chicken had died from something else and so Mixon didn’t actually kill it. Phew! But, it’s still really gross.

My Pre-Forms have been troublesome lately, mostly because they are children and it happens! They take all the energy I have every day! I think they are also ready to have a break, just like me. To be completely honest, I am becoming tired. Like most of the other teachers we are looking forward to the approaching holiday break. It is a constant prayer in my head for strength. Strength to pour as much as I can into these kids because I know some of them will not return to Kazovu Secondary School in January. This is for many reasons, but mostly because they don’t live in this village and came to learn English from an American. I have been told by the VST leaders this is very common. I can’t imagine this school without them, but I know that God has a bigger plan and maybe going to another school is the best thing for them. I have to trust God.

One quick story about a particular day in Pre-Form; I split the class into 4 groups and they were required to answer the questions given to each group written on a piece of paper (the school had no chalk that day - improvising!). As they were finishing I allowed them to go outside for break. I stayed inside and was helping a student finish correcting his paper and then all of a sudden a dead rat plops on the desk. One of my students thought it would be hilarious to bring it to me and see what I would do. Now, I have become immune to rats so they don’t bother me. What bothered me was it began bleeding on the desk and most of all my student thought it was okay to bring it into class while I was teaching… yeah, not okay. At the time, I was angry about the situation but now looking back on it, it is really hilarious!

I have enjoyed getting to know the new teachers here. Especially Anne! She is wonderful and we have become good friends. Her English is not super good, but then again neither is my Swahili. I speak slowly with her and she speaks slowly with me. It works out. Yesterday I taught her and Kibona how to say the tongue twisters, “Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore” and “How much wood a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.” Let’s just say it was hilarious!!!! Now I will hear Anne practicing as she is walking here and there. So funny.

The mangoes are now gone and that makes me sad. I was basically living off of them for a few weeks. We were all eating about 10 every day! Sweetest fruit I have ever tasted in my life. Now they are gone, and I’m sad, but I think my body is happier now that I’m not eating so much fruit…

My journey will begin on the 18th of December to return to Madisi. Janelle has told me the updated information of traveling. Due to exams and the finishing of Pre-Form the day has been moved from the 14th to the 18th. Most likely I will travel with Chriss to Kirando and then to Sumbawanga. There I will meet with Godfrey (VST director) and the other American teachers and take a car back to Madisi. A car is much faster and easier than a bus, so I am thankful for that.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers!

P.S I received yesterday some letters from America. I looked at the postmark date and some of them were from October. The envelopes are no longer white (covered in dirt), so you know they tried hard to get here. Even though they are from 2 months ago I was so thankful to receive them! Thank you so very much to those of you who write!

I love you all,

Emily, or Miss Emi, or Miss Emilianna (you choose!)

In Awe of Jesus

November 20, 2013

Family and Friends,

Here in Kazovu, a remote village in Rukwa Tanzania, heath care is non-existent. It is very difficult for anyone to receive care for any type of sickness. There is a Duka la Dawa (shop of medicine) in the village that can provide basic medications but at high costs. So, most people who become ill never have the opportunity to receive care. Because of this, death is frequent among the young and old of Kazovu. At least once a week, we attend a funeral of someone who has passed or hear the cries of their loved ones while in our homes at the school. Even those who are able to make the journey to Kirando and go to the doctors, sometimes are not able to overcome the effects of malaria, typhoid and other dangerous diseases.

I will never forget the faces of the family that walked past us one day. A father was carrying his 8-year old son on his back. His son had died at the hospital in Kirando. How can I possibly bear to see this? It broke my heart and that image will forever be in my mind. But recently something happened that hit a little bit closer to home and I must share it with you because of its significance to me and also the amazing power of God that was poured out.

My friend Baraka became extremely ill about two weeks ago. It started out slow but then became a very serious issue. One day we were playing cards under the mango tree and everything was fine when he suddenly stopped playing and looked down at his lap and didn’t look up. I kept saying, “Baraka, Baraka, are you okay?” He slowly looked up at me and said nothing. But his eyes said everything. He was in need of help. When we arrived at his home, he collapsed on his bed.

The next few days he felt fine in the mornings but then at about 4:30pm every afternoon he would have the same symptoms; chills, then a high fever and he could not speak in full sentences (most certainly symptoms of malaria). One night, Jonathan, Kibona and I were all in Baraka’s room trying to help him take medicine. We had to lift him up and hold him there and attempt to get him to drink the medication. It was such a sad and scary moment, this full grown man we have to feed like a child. He would every so often make eye contact with me, and though he could say nothing I knew he was saying, “Help me please.” I immediately started to pray on my knees and asked God to bring a miracle to him.

After a while Jonathan began asking me questions about certain passages in the Bible. We ended up studying together for over an hour next to Baraka and I could feel the presence of God in that room.  I continued to pray over Baraka. The way Baraka had been breathing was short little gasps of air, like it was difficult for him to get oxygen. While I prayed over him the Spirit of God regulated his breathing. Even if he was still sick, for the rest of the night Baraka rested peacefully. How incredible is GOD?! He is powerful to help those who call upon His name.

The next day we convinced Baraka to make the journey to Kirando in order to receive more care. He stayed there for four days and returned happy and healthy. God rescued him. No doubt about that.

The last few weeks have been problematic in regards to sickness for Kazovu Secondary School’s staff.  I was sick for a day (only a stomachache and some minor cold symptoms), a new teacher named Annie was sick once. It is true that the environment we live in is tough. In such a hot place with malaria mosquitoes everywhere it does not surprise me that sickness is common, but it is very frustrating. When the teachers are sick, the students don’t learn. Today for example, the only teachers who are not sick are me, Annie and Jonathan. The other four are at home sick. I pray every day that sickness would leave this place.

Now enough about sickness…

The rains have started!!! As of yesterday we have had extremely powerful rainstorms daily. Last night it was so loud it woke me up! I am thankful for the rain though, it makes the temperature here much less intense. I even wore a jacket yesterday! I know, crazy for November right? I am amazed every time I look at my calendar and remember that it is almost December. It really does not feel like it. How can it be November 20th and I get a sun burn at the same time? Definitely feels like the longest summer ever.

The students took a trip to Kipili this past weekend. They went by boat (about a 3 hour journey) in order to play football (soccer) with the students of that school. Because of the severity of the waves when it was time for them to return they ended up sleeping in Kipili and returning the next afternoon. While they were gone I enjoyed very much having some time to myself. Baraka and Annie were here too but I spent a lot of time alone to pray, think and just relax. It was much needed. In a place where being alone is seen as a negative thing, I was happy to have just a little.

The girls taught me a game yesterday at school. It involves a Fanta soda bottle, sand and a ball (made out of plastic bags). In the middle is an empty bottle surrounded by a pile of sand. Two people from one team stand in the middle and dodge the ball that is being thrown at them from the opposing team. If they get hit, they are out. If the other team allows the ball to pass behind them then the two players in the middle try and fill the bottle with sand as fast as they can. If it becomes full, then they empty it and start again. Whoever has the most filled bottles at the end of the game wins. I played with them and had an absolute blast! Getting some much needed exercise and also getting super dirty and laughing harder than I have in a long time. We had so much fun. We will probably play again today unless it rains this afternoon.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by some of the tough things here. But I still find so much joy and happiness in Jesus. Every day He reveals more of himself to me and I am able to experience His presence and peace.

A message that was particularly encouraging to me was the sermon by AJ Swoboda. He spoke at LifeCenter Church in Spokane two summers ago and I have it on my iPod. Last night I was listening to it and found that I connected with it in so many ways. If you would like to listen to it, it is on LifeCenter’s website. It is called “Deliverance from the Jail cell.” Now I am definitely not saying that I feel like I’m in jail, far from it. But the message does ask the question, “Who are you strapped to?”

God has definitely strapped me to Kazovu Secondary School and all the people in it. The message talks about hope and how hope is not found in our situations but in the fact that the tomb is still empty. There is so much power and truth in that statement. God has given us His Spirit as a helper in whatever situation or circumstance we find ourselves in, whether it is in a rural village in Africa, or in our homes or workplaces. God is faithful to those who are willing to crawl on the lap of Christ and say, “Abba, Father.”

After listening to this message I found great joy in ‘rocking out’ to the song “Beautiful One” by By the Tree. I experienced so much joy in the Lord as I worshipped Him and replayed the song over and over again.

I am so in awe of Jesus and His grace, peace, power, faithfulness and love. He knows me more than anyone and knows more about what I am going through than anyone else. I am so thankful to have Him as my helper in times of struggle and in times of peace.

As the holiday season approaches I feel many things. I am so sad to not be with family during this time of thankfulness and celebration. I can just imagine the food, fun and games that will be shared in the traditions of the holidays. But, I am also happy because I know that God has placed me exactly where He planned and that I am being used for a higher purpose.

So this Thanksgiving I am thankful for Kazovu. I am thankful for the students here that I have come to love and care for so much. I am thankful for the friendships that I have made. I am thankful for good health. I am thankful for ugali (for as much as I really can’t stand it, it keeps me strong and well fed). I am thankful for my home and a bed to sleep on. I am thankful for my family and friends for without them I would not be here. I am thankful to know that people are praying. But most of all, I am thankful for Jesus Christ. I am thankful that no matter what happens He will remain the same today, tomorrow and forever.

Love,

Emily