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
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