TIA stands for "This is Africa" and if you have been here, you understand what it is all about. In America, when you agree to meet someone at 2pm, you will be there at 1:55pm- unless your my roommate or Ellen ;] Here, if the time to meet is 2, it may be 3, 4, 5 or 6 before the other person comes. To us, we would be furious for the time that person wasted. But for them, they completed everything they needed to do that day and are now with you and happy to meet. TIA. Our Australian friend, Darren, says "The only thing that is consistent, is inconsistency." For us as students, we have been experiencing this. My mother, for example, has probably been reading along with the syllabus I left her in the states, seeing what we are doing from day to day. Mom, most of that is probably wrong. It differs from day to day which teacher will be there. Dr. Yoder is, of course, every day, so Core 350 and African History are always possible. But if Mama Tesha shows up for swahili or Moses for Religion... it changes from day to day. TIA. In our first few days here class, which starts at 9am, normally didnt get going until 10 or 11. Ten minute breaks are more like 20 and lunches are well over an hour. TIA. Our Spring Break plans are different from what they were a few weeks ago, and we have moved our visit to the courts to March. Our trip to the EAC was unplanned and same with the coffee farm. T-I-A. In America, I would probably be freaking out about the lack of structure. Even when we walk down the streets I find that we're constantly passing Tanzanians walking.
Really, it's all paradoxical to the way they drive: swerving around each other, honking, chaos and crowding, no speed limits and hardly any restrictions or enforcement. But, despite the new driving techniques I've learned, I am also learning how to be more relaxed. All over the streets people just sit. Just sit. Though I understand that our different life styles allow them to just sit and keep me hustling and bustling, it still speaks to me about the time I do take to just be. Or lack of. Mostly, my time with the Lord. In the times that I have felt disconnected and far from home the most, God is reminding me, and I am trying to truly wrap my head around it, that He is here. God of me in America and Africa. I have alot to learn still. And my internet cafe time is running out, so I will cut off here. But, already I have struggled and been blessed and I have been here almost four weeks alone.
Next stop is Zanzibar. I am so excited to see the coast and have a new adventure.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Through My Eyes
It's been two weeks in Africa and already I have too much to talk about. The trip started a little rocky with my bag zipper breaking open 10 minutes before leaving for the airport. Rushing, I was the last one on the plane but made it, clearly. Two days later and eleven hours ahead of home, we reached our hotel in the city of Arusha. The adventures on the streets of Africa started that very day when myself and two others decided to try to find the store the rest of our group had left to. It wasn't until we were out on the street that it hit us- we were walking on the streets of a country thousands of mile from home, lacking communication and knowledge of direction and culture. WHAT were we doing. Being awesome, and possible stupid. Especially on these streets where two lanes easily become three and are shared with cars, motorbikes, bicycles, carts and people. We made friends with a young man named Brian, who really only wanted us to buy something, but he showed us to the mzungu (white person) store.
That word, mzungu, is a familiar one to us now. Mostly in play or to get our attention but sometimes it is called to us without the kindest intentions. The term is easy to laugh at, but some in our group have become a little tired of hearing it so often. I joked to a friend here that normally I am a darker one, but I've never felt so white. Here, anyone not African is mzungu. It's much different from what diversity we have in the states. But that is a piece of what makes them such strong people culturally.
We are seeing parts of culture on the streets and in each of our host homes. We are staying two to a home and each having different experiences. Some are seeing strong hierarchy in the family, others more relaxed. For some, the religion is key and for others not so much. Some have running water and are part of the 10% who have electricity, others have only been able to take bucket showers and use their flashlights at night. So, even in all the differences, this is the similarity I have noticed- each person here has their own stories and each persons' life differs from other, just as it is in America.
Let me tell about my family a bit and then about some fun activities we've done.
My family has a mother and father who both work. My Baba (dad) is well traveled because he used to work for World Vision and is now part of the East Africa Community (if you are interested in politics, policy and africa look this up.) Our mother is a journalist for the paper. Their little boy is a year and a half and one of the happiest babies I've known. Luckily, he loves us, where some of the others have experienced their host siblings being fearful of them. His sister is nine-years-old and learning english well. She loves to play with us. As most of the families have extended relatives living with them, we have three nieces, 17, 21 and 24, and two nephews 21ish and 24. Besides Lucy (17) they are all being sponsored through this family for school or trade training. Lucy will start a trade once one of the other girls is done, now she watches the house during the day. We do have running water and power, and the infamous squat-pot toilet. But we are used to cold showers now and sleeping under our nets away from the beetles. With the concrete wall, security guard, two dogs (which are not like pets here) and the many locks on the three doors to the main door, we feel very safe. The house is very loving and surprisingly familiar to my American family. A major difference between the other households is that our main cook is the 24-year-old nephew. Though they are the ones who take care of the house, probably as a trade off for being sponsored, our Baba is big on Everyone being Family and have taken us in lovingly.
Food has not been a problem for us. Our biggest stretch was a whole fish about 8" long. I'm not really a food-with-a-face person... mind over matter. It tasted great. Besides that we have had american like food and been able to try some of their settle dishes. Wali na ndizi pika, rice and cooked banana, is a great one and mandizi, which are like doughnut pastries. We found out last week that they have been feeding us like that because they are aware that our stomachs wont do well with such sudden change. A blessing in disguise. We have felt over served though, getting our food at a set table every day and being served before everyone else. It's just an awkward thing we've gotten used to. We're unsure if its because we're guests, or Americans. Having young adults living with us has been a surprisingly great thing also. We love our family very much. Even with language as a barrier, it's amazing how humans can connect. Our family has even asked us to travel up from Dar to have Easter with them (they are strong in their Catholic faith). Though we know it can't happen, the gesture warmed us.
So, on the first day we went to the Arusha National Park around Mount Maru. The greenery was beautiful and the giraffes, zebras, "pumbas" baboons and many birds were exciting. We got to walk just yards away from buffalo and to a waterfall deep in the forest. We've been to the African International Center to learn about the EAC, the Arusha Declaration Museum, hear from people working on recycling and owning business in Tanzania. We've visited a coffee farm and a non-profit that made a plethora of beautiful things with used glass and other recyclables and hired only physically and even mentally disabled individuals to give them opportunity in life. We've learned about the school system; we are currently having class in a room of an international school owned by the wife of one of our Whitworth professors and an Aussie couple. We've interacted with people from Australia, Russia, France and Italy. Our swahili skills are improving greatly and I've even had great bargaining experience and simple conversations on the streets.
I'm sure there is so much more I could say; thank you to those who have ventured through this whole post. And another thank you for all the prayers and support back at home. We leave on Saturday for Zanzibar where we'll encounter the beautiful ocean and be at an actual college. I'll be able to put SUZA University as a place of study on Facebook =] It will be sad to leave our current families, but I'm looking forward to the new adventure in Zanzibar. Praying for you all at home. Missing all my friends and family. Feel free to send me updates. I would love to hear anything, even if it's what you did for the day.
Mungu ni pendo God is love.
That word, mzungu, is a familiar one to us now. Mostly in play or to get our attention but sometimes it is called to us without the kindest intentions. The term is easy to laugh at, but some in our group have become a little tired of hearing it so often. I joked to a friend here that normally I am a darker one, but I've never felt so white. Here, anyone not African is mzungu. It's much different from what diversity we have in the states. But that is a piece of what makes them such strong people culturally.
We are seeing parts of culture on the streets and in each of our host homes. We are staying two to a home and each having different experiences. Some are seeing strong hierarchy in the family, others more relaxed. For some, the religion is key and for others not so much. Some have running water and are part of the 10% who have electricity, others have only been able to take bucket showers and use their flashlights at night. So, even in all the differences, this is the similarity I have noticed- each person here has their own stories and each persons' life differs from other, just as it is in America.
Let me tell about my family a bit and then about some fun activities we've done.
My family has a mother and father who both work. My Baba (dad) is well traveled because he used to work for World Vision and is now part of the East Africa Community (if you are interested in politics, policy and africa look this up.) Our mother is a journalist for the paper. Their little boy is a year and a half and one of the happiest babies I've known. Luckily, he loves us, where some of the others have experienced their host siblings being fearful of them. His sister is nine-years-old and learning english well. She loves to play with us. As most of the families have extended relatives living with them, we have three nieces, 17, 21 and 24, and two nephews 21ish and 24. Besides Lucy (17) they are all being sponsored through this family for school or trade training. Lucy will start a trade once one of the other girls is done, now she watches the house during the day. We do have running water and power, and the infamous squat-pot toilet. But we are used to cold showers now and sleeping under our nets away from the beetles. With the concrete wall, security guard, two dogs (which are not like pets here) and the many locks on the three doors to the main door, we feel very safe. The house is very loving and surprisingly familiar to my American family. A major difference between the other households is that our main cook is the 24-year-old nephew. Though they are the ones who take care of the house, probably as a trade off for being sponsored, our Baba is big on Everyone being Family and have taken us in lovingly.
Food has not been a problem for us. Our biggest stretch was a whole fish about 8" long. I'm not really a food-with-a-face person... mind over matter. It tasted great. Besides that we have had american like food and been able to try some of their settle dishes. Wali na ndizi pika, rice and cooked banana, is a great one and mandizi, which are like doughnut pastries. We found out last week that they have been feeding us like that because they are aware that our stomachs wont do well with such sudden change. A blessing in disguise. We have felt over served though, getting our food at a set table every day and being served before everyone else. It's just an awkward thing we've gotten used to. We're unsure if its because we're guests, or Americans. Having young adults living with us has been a surprisingly great thing also. We love our family very much. Even with language as a barrier, it's amazing how humans can connect. Our family has even asked us to travel up from Dar to have Easter with them (they are strong in their Catholic faith). Though we know it can't happen, the gesture warmed us.
So, on the first day we went to the Arusha National Park around Mount Maru. The greenery was beautiful and the giraffes, zebras, "pumbas" baboons and many birds were exciting. We got to walk just yards away from buffalo and to a waterfall deep in the forest. We've been to the African International Center to learn about the EAC, the Arusha Declaration Museum, hear from people working on recycling and owning business in Tanzania. We've visited a coffee farm and a non-profit that made a plethora of beautiful things with used glass and other recyclables and hired only physically and even mentally disabled individuals to give them opportunity in life. We've learned about the school system; we are currently having class in a room of an international school owned by the wife of one of our Whitworth professors and an Aussie couple. We've interacted with people from Australia, Russia, France and Italy. Our swahili skills are improving greatly and I've even had great bargaining experience and simple conversations on the streets.
I'm sure there is so much more I could say; thank you to those who have ventured through this whole post. And another thank you for all the prayers and support back at home. We leave on Saturday for Zanzibar where we'll encounter the beautiful ocean and be at an actual college. I'll be able to put SUZA University as a place of study on Facebook =] It will be sad to leave our current families, but I'm looking forward to the new adventure in Zanzibar. Praying for you all at home. Missing all my friends and family. Feel free to send me updates. I would love to hear anything, even if it's what you did for the day.
Mungu ni pendo God is love.
Friday, January 6, 2012
You don't until you Do
Sometimes I'm really awful at making decisions; I want to make the best choice possible and fear that if I get anything less that I've missed out! I don't even fear that what I do get won't work just as fine, but instead focus on what I didn't get, or do, and what I could be missing. The issue is I think too much, sometimes out thinking practicality. So, as you can imagine, when Blogger asked me to chose a title for this new blog I sighed because I knew my weakness. But, look! There stands a name! The blog name was partially inspired by Jonsi and his song Go do. The other influence behind picking it is the very concept that made me chose it so quickly and confidently. Doing. We are called to do, to act, to move. Not to sit back. Why do some people who lack self-confidence and encouragement fill up their schedule with overwhelming amounts of things to do? Because doing gives us purpose, we want to have things to do, we want to be meant for something. I know I get held back many times when I should be doing something. I've found that, like I already said, it's my ability to think that gets in the way. This all goes perfectly with something I wrote a few months ago when I was angry at myself for the many times I had felt or heard God ask me to do something yet I never stepped out. Take note though, this is not an excuse, but a realization and an encouragment.
It’s a rather unfortunate thing, the way humans are capable of thinking so intensely, even though its considered the greatest and most powerful gift for mankind. We think about cars, and dogs, our jobs, math, books, boys, girls, ourselves. God.
Here is something to think about: what if you didn’t think about things, but instead just acted. Granted, that would be dangerous for certain life choices, and some people do actually function that way. But what if the people of the church put their minds to rest and woke up to their calling.
“Go forth, and I will make you fishers of men.” Go into all the earth. Do not just go, but go do. God had purpose behind sending us out (added to relate to the opening paragraph).
You know why I don’t act half the time that God speaks to me to do something, actually more than half the time? Because I think about it. I think, what will they think? What if I’m wrong? What if You don’t come through God? It's not asking God if he’ll follow through, it's doubting that he will. Or, sometimes, I think so much about doing something, that I in part believe its been done. Then, I feel okay about myself and not so bad that I didn’t tell that man at my work that God loves him, or say an encouraging word to the barista. Am I the only one that does this?
The other day God told me to pray for a woman who opened up to me about her runaway 18-year-old daughter. Unintentionally, I assume that when I’m supposed to do that, the time will come… then I realized, no it wont! I don’t until I do. The only thing that will make me step out in faith is me. I think that the “right” moment will come and I let my mind get the best of me. But the passiveness of living like that kinda makes me sick. Mostly because I live that way.
What about this: God has a calling on my life. One day, I will speak in front of millions. One day I will lead people to salvation. One day, I will speak to strangers and see the sick healed. One day.. Let me tell you something, “one day” never comes. Today is one day, so is tomorrow and the day after that is also one day. Today will only be your one day when you purpose to Do and get past the passiveness and bondage of your discouraging thoughts.
If you want to do something, you wont do it until you do. All those thoughts are possible becasue we are thinking beings, but they stem from fear and doubt. Two things not created or imposed by God. No, to do the will of the Lord means trusting in Him and not leaning on our own understanding because the reality is, our own understanding is so tiny compared to what God knows. When we think through things too much and try to understand everything and fit it into our own human boxes, we are attempting to take things into our own hands and no longer are we relying on the Lord. Also, if God has put something on your heart or you know the desires and passions you have for now and the future, do not let fear stop you. Do not, especially, allow yourself to think that your dreams and goals will just come to you as you sit and watch. Yes, God's grace and power can make anything happen and he will see to it that his plans for you come through. But, our part is to do. And the good news is that Jesus gives us strength, power, will and confidence in Him in order to go do the things we are called to.
What I'm about to go do is what actually sparked the blog. I'm heading off to Africa today- Tanzania. I'll be studying there until early May. It's a miracle that this trip is actually happening for me, but God is calling me to it and he has made it possible; now I'm going. I'll keep updated as much as possible while I'm there. If you've been waiting on something, go do it.
It’s a rather unfortunate thing, the way humans are capable of thinking so intensely, even though its considered the greatest and most powerful gift for mankind. We think about cars, and dogs, our jobs, math, books, boys, girls, ourselves. God.
Here is something to think about: what if you didn’t think about things, but instead just acted. Granted, that would be dangerous for certain life choices, and some people do actually function that way. But what if the people of the church put their minds to rest and woke up to their calling.
“Go forth, and I will make you fishers of men.” Go into all the earth. Do not just go, but go do. God had purpose behind sending us out (added to relate to the opening paragraph).
You know why I don’t act half the time that God speaks to me to do something, actually more than half the time? Because I think about it. I think, what will they think? What if I’m wrong? What if You don’t come through God? It's not asking God if he’ll follow through, it's doubting that he will. Or, sometimes, I think so much about doing something, that I in part believe its been done. Then, I feel okay about myself and not so bad that I didn’t tell that man at my work that God loves him, or say an encouraging word to the barista. Am I the only one that does this?
The other day God told me to pray for a woman who opened up to me about her runaway 18-year-old daughter. Unintentionally, I assume that when I’m supposed to do that, the time will come… then I realized, no it wont! I don’t until I do. The only thing that will make me step out in faith is me. I think that the “right” moment will come and I let my mind get the best of me. But the passiveness of living like that kinda makes me sick. Mostly because I live that way.
What about this: God has a calling on my life. One day, I will speak in front of millions. One day I will lead people to salvation. One day, I will speak to strangers and see the sick healed. One day.. Let me tell you something, “one day” never comes. Today is one day, so is tomorrow and the day after that is also one day. Today will only be your one day when you purpose to Do and get past the passiveness and bondage of your discouraging thoughts.
If you want to do something, you wont do it until you do. All those thoughts are possible becasue we are thinking beings, but they stem from fear and doubt. Two things not created or imposed by God. No, to do the will of the Lord means trusting in Him and not leaning on our own understanding because the reality is, our own understanding is so tiny compared to what God knows. When we think through things too much and try to understand everything and fit it into our own human boxes, we are attempting to take things into our own hands and no longer are we relying on the Lord. Also, if God has put something on your heart or you know the desires and passions you have for now and the future, do not let fear stop you. Do not, especially, allow yourself to think that your dreams and goals will just come to you as you sit and watch. Yes, God's grace and power can make anything happen and he will see to it that his plans for you come through. But, our part is to do. And the good news is that Jesus gives us strength, power, will and confidence in Him in order to go do the things we are called to.
What I'm about to go do is what actually sparked the blog. I'm heading off to Africa today- Tanzania. I'll be studying there until early May. It's a miracle that this trip is actually happening for me, but God is calling me to it and he has made it possible; now I'm going. I'll keep updated as much as possible while I'm there. If you've been waiting on something, go do it.
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