May
2, 2014
Another
month has come and gone! April went by very fast for me because the first week
and a half was spent with my American friends. The last few weeks flew by
because of Easter break and fun shenanigans in the village.
I
was invited by many of my students to go to church with them on Easter Sunday.
It was really nice of them to want me to come with them! I have been to every
church in Kazovu village. I have been to Catholic, Moravian,
Seventh Day Adventist, and Pentecostal. On a regular basis I attend one of the
Pentecostal churches with my headmaster, Kapange and his wife Lucy. I like to
make sure I have a female friend to sit next to, preferably one that speaks
some English, so she can help me know what the appropriate procedures are for
the service. The men and women sit on opposite sides of the church. This is why
having a female friend is important. But now that I am familiar with the church
culture I am okay flying solo. I feel very comfortable on Sundays with Lucy,
who doesn’t speak any English. All of our communication is in Swahili. She is
teaching me so much on a daily basis just from having simple conversations. I
am thankful for the knowledge I have of Swahili because it is a lot less
awkward living in the same house. She is a wonderful gal and I am really happy she
and Kapange had come to Kazovu. Anyway, I had already promised Lucy I would go
with her on Sunday to Easter service, so I thanked my students and told them I
was headed for the Pentecostal church the next day. Little did I know we were
headed much farther away than just the other side of Kazovu…
Easter
morning I awoke to a frantic house! Everyone was awake and moving much earlier
than usual for a Sunday morning. Usually we don’t leave for church until 9:50a.m.,
getting out of bed at about 8:30a.m. I looked at my watch and thought, “Huh…I
wonder why everyone is awake so early?” When I came out of my room Kapange
informed me we were headed to church in the next village north, Bumanda. Oh!
Okay…“When do we need to leave?” Kapange said, “9:00.” Ha! I had 20 minutes to
take a bath, get ready, and scarf down some breakfast. But I made it and I wore
one of my bright green African outfits and a new pair of shoes I had bought in
Kirando a few days before.
The
walk to Bumanda was about 45 minutes. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted
by many of the elders and several of our students. Bumanda is the home village
of two of my Form 1 students, Pascal and Yohana. They were especially excited
to see me in their village and going to church with them. The Pentecostal
churches from most of the villages on the coast from Kirando all the way up to Kirongwe
were a part of this service (Katete, Isaba, Kazovu, Bumanda, Utinta and
Kirongwe). Needless to say, it was a big celebration with about 150 to 200
people. I was asked to introduce myself to the whole crowd. This was a little
nerve wracking because of the number of people, but I have practiced my
introduction so many times in all the other churches that it just rolled off my
tongue! The service was so fun! Choirs from every village sang and danced and everyone
would join in with the dancing fun; women taking their khangas and twirling
them in the air as they danced around the choir members as they sang. It was
quite the show! I even joined in the dancing while at my seat, which caught the
attention of well… everyone! As the only white person for hundreds of miles
it’s not hard to miss when she dances. They clapped when I started to dance! It
was really funny. The pastor delivered what I found out later to be a great
sermon about the Resurrection. (He talked so fast I only caught parts of his
sermon). Five hours later the service was over and all of the teachers in
attendance at the service were invited to a special lunch. It was really
amazing of them to do this for us! We enjoyed some rice and beans and light
conversation before we headed back to Kazovu. We made our rounds of goodbyes
and thanks to all the elders of Bumanda. This was the most interesting,
different, and exciting Easter I have ever had…and it was kind of nice to be
away from the whole Easter Bunny American traditions (not that I think chocolate
is bad - actually sounds amazing right now - but Easter in Tanzania is about Jesus
and nothing else. It was refreshing.
School
has been going really well. I have finally figured out a system for Form 2
English. I was so frustrated for a long time with this class because it seemed
like nothing was working. Then by accident we had a debate in class with the
motion of, “Kazovu is better than Kirando.” My purpose at first was to have
them practice using comparatives, but it turned into a full-fledged debate!
They loved it! It was the first time I saw them enjoy speaking English. Seeing
my kids who have never said a word stand up and participate blew me away! Yes!
Finally! Thanks be to God for this breakthrough! I had been praying for God to
help me get these kids excited about school and comfortable trying to speak
English…and here it was - debate! Now, every Monday after school the whole
school has Debate Club. Usually the contestants are Form 4 students because
they are the ones who know English the best, but every student is required to
attend. Now all of Form 2 knows how to conduct a debate. So, my new plan in
Form 2 is Tuesdays and Wednesdays we learn English structure and on Thursdays
we have debate. The students vote every week on what the motion will be and who
will be the chairman, time keeper, secretaries, etc. I am the official
observer. I write down the English mistakes I hear and after the debate we correct
the mistakes. I have also made it mandatory for all students to participate.
They all have to say something during the debate, whether it is a point for
either side or asking a question. I keep track of those who talk and those who
don’t. The students who don’t talk have to run around the whole school until I
think they have done enough (this is my form of punishment because I do not use
a stick like the other teachers). The first week I had 10 students run. The next
week there were 5 and this past week there were 3. They all know they need to
get in their talking before the time runs out or they will have to run…a lot! I
also added an extra twist to earning points in their debate. If they properly use
the English topics in their debate we are learning in class, they receive bonus
points. It is so funny to hear them use, for example, a comparative and then
shoot me a glance that says, “Miss Emi, did you hear that? Make sure you write
it down.” Thursdays are just so full of joy and fun for all of us in that class!
I have found myself in tears of joy laughing with my kids. I give all of the
credit and glory to God. He has broken down the wall that seemed impossible to
climb with this class and he has given me an amazing way to connect with this group
of kids.
Two
weeks ago I started a Memory Verse Program at Kazovu Secondary School. Sara, a permanent volunteer in the Rukwa region designed it and helped Alex,
Lindsey and me to get our hands on some copies so we could do it in our schools
as well. The MVP program is for students who want to do it. It is in no way
required, but highly encouraged. Each student receives a packet of verse cards,
one side in English and the other side in Swahili. The student may choose to
memorize the verse in whatever language they want. In order to finish the
program they must memorize 25 verses. Once completed, they will receive their
very own New Testament. I was so excited about starting this because I have not
had the opportunity to start a Bible class. I want to get the name of Jesus
spreading around the school grounds. I have helped begin chapel at our school
which is now every Friday (Awesome!).
The
MVP program could be such an amazing seed planter of God’s Word on these kids’
hearts. I made the announcement at morning assembly two weeks ago. To my
disappointment, only one student seemed interested. So I just kept praying for
God to bring 10 students to the program. By the end of the day I had 25
students! By the end of the next day I had 35! Never underestimate what God can do! Every day I have seen
kids walking around our school campus with the cards in hand, memorizing,
sharing with their friends and tracking me down in order to tell me the verses
they have learned. Even some of the other teachers are doing this program. One
day I walked out to the water tank in between the administrative building and
the classrooms and I saw a teacherr sitting on the side of the tank
memorizing verse cards and another teacher was doing the same thing next to the
offices. It brings so much joy to my heart to see all of these people desiring
to know God’s Word. I know these verses are planting seeds that one day God
will harvest.
At
this point the first one who signed up has finished the program. He is
a Form 2 student and one of my absolute best students! He is such a sweet boy
and works so hard in school. I can also see him growing in Christ more and more
every day. When he told me his 25th verse I asked him, “What have you learned from
all of these verses?” He replied, “I have learned that God is everything to me
and my life and I believe in Him.”…Wow.
Thank you
Lord, for what you are doing in this young man and for the amazing plan I know
you have for him and for giving me the opportunity to be here with him at this
time.
God
is doing some incredible things. It may seem small, but I know whatever God did
in Hotto’s heart was no little thing. What he is doing in the hearts of all the
other students is huge. I ask you to continue praying with me for this program.
The students have until June 3rd to finish and I have many kids half way through. Pray for God to be made known to them
through His Word and that they would bury it in their hearts so they would
forever know there is someone who is more powerful than any other. There is Someone
who knows what they are going through - their struggles and pain. He is the
only one who can take it away. There is someone who is waiting for them to run
into His arms. There is Someone who loves them so much that He gave his life in
order to save them.
Jesus. Oh
how he loves us. How he pursues us. How he is always patiently waiting for us
to come running to him no matter how many times we turn away.
He died
to save us. How can this be? I will never fully grasp the extravagance of the
gift of grace. I will never be able to pay back the debt I owe to Jesus Christ for
his sacrifice.
All I can
do is give my whole heart, and my whole life to serve Him.
Emily
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