Back in Kazovu!

January 19, 2014

I have been back in Kazovu for one week and it has been great to reunite with my friends and students.

I was blessed with the gift of traveling from Madisi to Kirando by car and not by bus. Alex, Lindsey and I were all very thankful because we left Madisi with twice as much of our stuff as we first came with. Most was supplies for our schools and also our Christmas gifts and extra clothes we had left at Janelle’s house in September. After wearing the same few outfits for 4 months, it is wonderful to have more options!

I traveled with Alex and Lindsey to Mbeya where we met up with Steve, Justin, Godfrey, Emanueli and other leaders of VST. We had lunch together and split up into different cars. I went with Steve, Justin, Emanueli and Sara in one car going to Sumbawanga. We didn’t leave until later in the evening, so we arrived in Sumbawanga at 2:00 a.m. We crashed at a guest house and the next day Justin, Ntula, Kapange (new headmaster) and I left for Kirando. We arrived late that night in Kirando and found a guest house. The next morning we went into the main part of the small town, ate some breakfast and went to the lake to find a boat. To my surprise I found my friends Madam Anne and Madam Winfrida standing there! I was so excited to see them I dropped my things and ran! We spent the day in Kirando together while Justin, Chriss and Kapange went back to Kazovu to go over some logistical things about changing headmasters. Anne and I caught a night boat to Kazovu later and that was an amazing “Wow, I’m in Africa” moment. The lake was calm and gorgeous as the water reflected the light of the moon. It was a very clear night and so we could see all of the mountains around us, including in Congo. SO AMAZING! We arrived at home and to my surprise I found our house a complete disaster! The chickens apparently went nuts through the whole house and found their huge bag of food, which had exploded all over the floor. All of the pots and pans in the kitchen were dirty and covered in ants and all of the door cover curtains had been removed (Chriss and Madam took them). Sooooo, needless to say, I had a lot of work to do the next day. My dog Mixon did not recognize me at first because it was dark when we arrived. From what I could see they somewhat tortured him because he was terrified of me. I shined my flashlight on my face so he could see me, and he went happy crazy. He was jumping all around and licking my face. I think he missed me just a little bit.

Now, let me back up a little bit and explain what happened with the headmaster situation. As some of you may know, there were some problems with the old headmaster. I won’t go into too much detail but it was definitely time for a switch and the whole VST leadership could see it. I was told in Madisi we would be getting a new headmaster right away when I returned to Kazovu. This is where Kapange comes in. He is actually Alex’s old headmaster from Ninga Secondary School. They were planning on moving him from Ninga for reasons that are not negative. Sometimes a change in perspective is good for a school. VST leadership sat both Alex and I down in the office building at Madisi and explained the plan. Alex was getting a former Madisi graduate who previously was a headmaster at another VST school and that I would be getting Alex’s headmaster, Kapange. From what Alex told me before I met him, I was impressed. He seemed like a great person and has a love for teaching. Also, it helps that he teaches science. Since Baraka left we haven’t had a science teacher. Long journeys really help you to get to know a person and we definitely had a long journey. I told Kapange all I knew about Kazovu and tried my best to answer his questions. He is a lot quieter than Chriss, but he has a big heart. Upon arriving at Kazovu we ran into a small problem. I live in the headmaster’s house and when a married couple was living here it was okay. Kapange is not married. While in Madisi I spotted the red flag right away. I asked Steve Vinton what to do and he said Anne would come to live with me and Kapange would live in the male teacher house. So, Anne and I now live together in the new and improved Female Teacher House. I am so happy with this new situation! Anne and I have become great friends and it is wonderful to have her as a housemate. She is also a great cook, so I reap the benefits of that as well. She has a radio in her room and listens to it all the time when she is home. We have many impromptu dance parties in the house and it is a blast.

Many of the students are just now returning to Kazovu, even though school opened on Monday. We had about half of our total students here last week. This past week has been one of those typical weeks when I have no idea what is going on. This happens a lot. The students have been cleaning the grounds of the schools every morning until about 10am. They chop at the long grasses with blades and dig out weeds from the dirt pathways to the classrooms. After they finish they are sent to the classroom to study. The teachers are not teaching because we have been getting the schedule prepared and our new Mkuu (headmaster) is learning about our school environment and, honestly, trying to fix many of the problems that were left. Since I didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing I found myself studying my Swahili Lesson Book I received from Janelle during the Christmas break. It is a really great book and easy to understand. It is for people who wish to teach themselves Swahili. It comes with exercises and everything! I am now on Lesson 12 and over half a notebook full of notes. I am really enjoying it and I am learning so much! I have done this most days and in the afternoons I spend time with my students when “school” is over. This week things will start to flow a little bit better and start to look more normal. I will be teaching Form 1 and 2 English. I will be teaching every day but only a couple hours per day instead of 7 hours a day as with Pre-Form.

I would like to introduce you to three of my lovely young girls from Pre-Form. They are now Form 1 students and for the past week they have been living at my house. They have a room at the school but because not all of the students have returned, they are the only girls here and are afraid to be at the school alone at night (I don’t blame them). I invited them to come and stay with me. They cook here and sleep out in the main room of the house on extra mattresses we have had in a spare room. Their names are Imelda, Godeliva and Victoria. They are all “sisters”, but in this culture everyone is a sister or brother, so I really don’t know the relation between them. All I know for sure is they are from the same village, Utinta, about 3 hours by boat north of Kazovu.

First is Imelda. Imelda is a tall and gorgeous young lady. She is a very good student and is not shy to try the English she has been learning. She also has an amazing sense of humor and makes me laugh so much! Today she was putting water into a pot to make rice and as she was walking outside she started to dance and water began to pour out of the pot. She said, “Ahla! (common expression) uh-oh, that is very bad.” And then we both started to burst out laughing. Imelda is a twin. Her twin brother is Michael and he was also in my Pre-Form class. Now, in Tanzania if you are a twin there are very specific names you receive. The first is given a name and the second is named Doto. Technically Imelda’s name is Doto, but in the classroom her name is Imelda.

Second is Godeliva. Godeliva, or ‘Gode’, is an absolutely beautiful and amazingly shy young lady. She is small but has the biggest smile you’ll ever see. She is not afraid to use it! Her whole being shouts genuine, honest, trustworthy and pure. She is also a very good student and studies very hard. She is a complete blessing to me and to all those who surround her. Not to mention, she loves my dog and is not afraid of him like most others. I know that she will do wonderful things in her life.

Finally, Victoria. Vicki, Vicki how beautiful and wonderful you are. Like Gode she is also shy but has a smile and a laugh that will light up the room. She is tall like Imelda and has unbelievably gorgeous eyes. Like her “sisters” she is a very good student and will often try out her English with me. She does something really adorable when she knows she made a mistake - her eyes get really big, her jaw drops to the floor and she quickly covers her mouth with her hand. Then she bursts out in cheerful laughter! I can’t help but smile.

All three of these girls have been such a blessing to me in the past week. I never expected to have the opportunity to have them live here with me for a week but I am so thankful. Madam Anne has been in Sumbawanga since Tuesday and so having them here gives me constant company and entertainment. We cook together and in the evenings I help them study by flashlight around our table/desk. Then we read a Bible verse together. As I am going to sleep every night I hear them in the other room praying in unison and breaking off into their own separate prayers. I can’t express the joy in the house during these times. I can feel the presence of God and all I can do is thank Him for capturing their hearts. I pray for them that they will always draw near to God and would go and change the world…because I know they can.

In His service,

Emily

Photos from Tanzania!

Kazovu Secondary School

Lake Tanganyika

Kazovu Village

Emily's students after exams

Kazovu Form 1 girls with Emily

Lindsey, Alex & Emily in their 'Fresh Dresses' on Holiday

Exams & Holidays

December 31, 2013

Wishing you all happy holidays from Madisi Secondary School, Tanzania! I arrived here with the other American teachers on the 20th. Let me tell you a little about what has been happening!

Pre-Form finished up really well! I designed and administered an exam for my students on the morning of the 16th (Monday). As the students finished, I quick graded their exams and gave them a little Christmas note I had written for all of them. I was so proud of them! They all passed and did very well on the exam. The smiles on their faces as I returned their exams melted my heart. They proceeded to run around with their papers lifted up in the air in celebration. It was such an amazing moment for them and it also showed me that everything that has happened in the past three months was completely worth it. The dead rat on the desk, my students’ crazy short attention spans, teaching every period of every day and feeling like the results are almost non-existent, it was all worth it because of what I saw in my students that Monday morning. God has done an incredible work in these students. It may look a little different than what you may imagine but I have seen with my own eyes that God has been glorified.

As I finished up grading their papers I sent two of my students (Issa and Mussa) to the village to see if the boat was getting close to Kazovu. About 10 minutes later they ran back saying, “Teacher, Teacher the boat is coming!” OH NO! So, I finished my hugs and goodbyes with my students and fellow teachers, grabbed my stuff and walked to the boat. I was escorted by a few Form 3 students and they so nicely carried my bags for me. Escorting is a huge part of the culture here. If someone comes to visit you it is expected that when they leave you walk with them as least half way back to their home. I have visited some mamas in the village and they have walked me all the way back to my home on the other side of the village. This is just one of the reasons why I love the Tanzanian culture and proves just how kind and welcoming the people are here.

I traveled with my teacher friend Anne. By the time we were climbing on the boat it was about 11am, exactly when it starts to get really hot. The boat trip was about an hour and a half and it was the hottest day I have ever experienced! The boat doesn’t create that much wind because it moves very slowly so there wasn’t any escape from the heat. I was really close to jumping out into the water! But, we made it just fine and I was only sunburned on my back because I thought having my back burn was better than my face. It was not a big problem though. We spent the rest of that day and the next day in Kirando. We walked around buying some new shoes, eating amazing fresh fruits and resting under the coconut trees next to the boat dock. It was such a relaxing time and I was very blessed to share it with Anne. Most people were really confused that I knew how to have a conversation with them in Swahili. Not the typical Mzungu that comes to their village. We spent some time with Anne’s friends that were Army soldiers there (that was interesting…), visited their camp and everything! Lots of new experiences! We played cards with them until it got dark outside and I remember thinking to myself in this moment, “This is my life. I see my life here. These are some of my friends now. This is where I live.” Sounds like a simple thought, but it really took me for a loop. This is not just a trip to me. I live here for the time being and those I surround myself with everyday have become my closest companions. Not to say that I don’t think about the US and my amazing family and friends there, don’t worry you are all still very close and important to me. God has just given me the best gift of all, and that is His peace and He has never ceased to put people in my life here that make Tanzania feel like home, even if it is only temporary.

We took a bus to Sumbawanga on the morning of the 18th. The bus was very old looking and when it started to rain during the journey it rained inside the bus. That was pretty hilarious! Arriving in Sumbawanga we were greeted by Noeli. He is the Rukwa region representative for VST. Both Anne and I stayed at his house that night. His amazing wife made us dinner and it was so incredible! The first time I had eaten meat in a long time (besides fish of course). We went our separate ways the next morning. Anne headed back to Kazovu and I hopped on a bus to Mbeya. About one hour into the trip Alex and Lindsey got on the bus. The first time we had seen or spoken to each other since September. We were so excited to share stories with each other! We talked for the entire 7-hour bus ride and into the night at our guest house in Mbeya. We stayed at the same place as last time so we knew how to get there and where to go to eat dinner as well. It was quite the shock to all of us to experience a town like Mbeya. After spending the last few months in really remote villages, it was strange to see so many people, cars and shops. We all agreed that the best Christmas gift we received was the running hot shower at the guest house! Absolutely phenomenal! (Actually that gift was beaten out by the conversations that we were all able to have on the phone with our families on Christmas morning, but at the time the shower was amazing).

After the bus trip from Mbeya to Mafinga we were picked up and taken to a little restaurant where Godfrey (VST Director) was waiting for us. He bought us lunch and we talked about our schools and villages. He then put us in the care of a taxi driver that drove us to Madisi Secondary School (about a 1 and a half hour drive). When we arrived we were welcomed by our good friends Jovinus, Mr. and Mrs. Vinton, Janelle and Sara. So wonderful to see them again!

The next few days leading up to Christmas Day were filled with activities. Janelle had many projects for us to do, mostly involving crafts for Christmas. But, we also helped to organize the books in the school library and put them into the computer (following in my Mom’s footsteps). I was sick for the first couple of days. Had a pretty decent fever and headache so my crafts didn’t turn out the best, but I recovered fully by the 23rd! I was very thankful. On the 22nd about 20 people from VST travelled into Mafinga to go Christmas shopping. Alex, Lindsey, Jonathan (Vinton’s son) and I walked around together and bought gifts for our friends for Christmas. We bought Khangas for each other, fruit baskets for the leaders of VST and other little nifty gifties for our other friends here at Madisi. We had so much fun running around the market finding things, and we were even able to buy an ice cream cone! I had been craving ice cream for a long time and so it was definitely a treat. We also bought dresses, but not for the sake of looking good. Janelle had the idea that on Christmas Eve the girls would dress up in “Fresh Dress.” Basically that meant, go find a dress in town that is absolutely ridiculous and then wear it to the party. And boy did we find “Fresh Dresses.” My dress was bright orange, cheetah print sleeves and neckline with beads around it and a gold belt. Fabulous! It was hilarious to show up at the Vinton’s house Christmas Eve night and see their reactions as we strut our dresses around the house. Definitely one of my favorite nights here so far!

Alex, Lindsey and I have all decided that being here at Madisi feels almost like America. Madisi is more developed than our schools and is located in a place with more resources for food. It definitely didn’t start out that way but it has grown into what it is today. So, because of this we have been given the privilege of eating really amazing “American” type foods. Fajitas, soups, cake, spaghetti, we even made pizza the other night! I feel very blessed! We made Christmas cookies with some of the kids here and brought many students in to help decorate them when they were finished. They loved it!

Christmas Day was wonderful! It started out with an amazing gift from Mr. Vinton. He gave us time on the phone to talk with our families back home. It was Christmas Eve for them, but Christmas morning for us and I could not have asked for a better present. I could just imagine my family standing around the counter in our house and it felt like for a moment that I was there with them. Hearing their voices started the day off with so much joy and it only continued as the day went on. We had all the Tanzanian leadership over for a present opening time, just like in America. Presents wrapped underneath the decorated Christmas tree, and people sitting all around it waiting to see what the next gift would be. I was blown away with the generosity of everyone. After the gifts, all of us girls went into the kitchen to start preparing the huge feast that would take place later on. That night we shared Christmas dinner with over 40 Tanzanians from Madisi and the village of Igoda. IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! It was so cool to serve them and share in that amazing celebration of Jesus’ birth.

After the crazy and fun activities of Christmas had come to an end we have been spending the last few days in much needed rest and relaxation. Watching movies on our laptops, reading, drinking hot chocolate as we share stories, listening to sermons, cooking together, playing games, dancing and taking naps! We are all really enjoying the time we have to just relax. It is a huge gift! We will be here until the 6th of January and that is when we will all begin our journey back to our villages. As much as I am really enjoying being here, I think often about Kazovu. I wonder how my friends there are doing? How are my students? Did they have a good holiday? And as much as I know it’s crazy to say this but, I miss the heat too! When I think about these things I realize that I have been so blessed. God placed me in the exact right place, with the right people and I love them! The bonds I have created there are real and deep and through that I can see God’s faithfulness. A verse in Jeremiah says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love and so I have continued my faithfulness to you.” God has been faithful, he has never ceased and it is all because he loves me. I don’t know about you, but I am brought to my knees with that truth. Even in the times that God feels so distant and you don’t feel His presence anymore. Know that He is closer than your breath, watching over you and continuing His faithfulness to you because He loves you more than you will ever know. Just look around you, God’s faithfulness and Holy Presence can be found even in the smallest aspects of your life. God has been showing and teaching me this. I sometimes think, wow I needed to go half way around the world to understand this truth of my Savior but I am so thankful.

God has given me an extreme sense of purpose here in Tanzania. I can’t say that I know exactly what that purpose is, but I can feel it. On Christmas my Mom asked me, “Do you feel good about where you are and being there for another 6 months?” The quick answer is YES! I feel great! I love my village, I love my students, I love my friends and to be honest I think I live in the most beautiful place on earth. But, a deeper reason is that I know that this purpose God has for me, whatever it may be, is not yet complete. I continuously pray that God will lead me in every step and direction so that every opportunity for reaching and loving the people is grasped. I don’t want any of it to slip away. Please join me in this prayer as the next part of my journey begins. Pray for continued courage to step out of my comfort zone, pray for my attitude and heart to resemble that of Christ, pray for the hearts and minds of my students that not only would they grow intellectually but spiritually as well, and pray that in everything God’s love would be shown and that God is glorified.

I don’t know what these next 6 months have in store, but I can rest in the assurance that God is in complete control and I know that amazing things will happen because of Him. I am excited to go back to Kazovu and see my friends, students and village that have become so very special to me!

1 Thessalonians 2:8

“Affectionately longing for you we were delighted to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

Merry Christmas (late) and a Happy New Year!

Krismass njema na mweka mpya!

Love,

Emily