Holidays begin!

Exams are over and graded (all of our students passed their classes this first term -hallelujah!), and the holidays have begun!

Sarah and I left on Monday for our week in Paradise/Zanzibar and just returned last night. It was beautiful, fun, restful - all of the best parts of a vacation! We went snorkelling one day, and I kept thinking 2 things: I HAVE to watch Finding Nemo again, and wow! Isn't God an amazingly creative God?! I know that, but seeing some of those fish, I just would have laughed, if I wasn't afraid of drinking in too much (Indian) ocean water! I have always imagined Him saying to the angels about the stars, planets, galaxies, "Just wait till they see this one!" Or when He created zebras, "How cool would white with black stripes, all the way from their manes to their tails be?" Now, I could just hear Him chuckling and saying, "That black and white thing worked so well on the zebra, let's do it with fish!"

That day also included about 4 hours sailing on a boat to and from snorkelling and was just so relaxing. We had lunch on a private part of the beach, met people from Holland, the UK, Sweden, just very international. It also fit in with my theme of having seafood at every meal except breakfast (only because I couldn't convince them to make a shrimp omelette!)!

The next day, we took a spice tour and a Stone Town tour. I had done both before, but our guides were very good and very informative, and I enjoyed both of those again.

The next day, as Sarah said, we just "relaxed." That was so funny to me because that's what we'd been doing all week, in one form or another! I mean, we didn't sail the boat or drive the cars for our tours or even have to memorize dates and names of plants and sultans! So, relaxing was something we pretty much had down!

Every breakfast we ate at our hotel, since that was included, and most lunches we ate at little local places but with lots of different options (as long as you wanted chips-french fries- or rice as your sides!) and local prices, as well - under about $5 for seafood dinners! Some dinners we also ate at those or at one of the beach hotels. One part of almost evry day was a trip to a shop for ice cream! After all, we were on vacation, at the beach! Hmmmm... wonder if that's how I gained a kilo in a week! Good thing I also did water aerobics every day, walked, kicked my fin-encased feet for an hour snorkelling, or I'd have gained 2 kilos! (I dreamed in kilos one week at Karanse! We eat rice for every lunch there, have chapatis for morning tea, which are mostly fried dough, and have bread with our soup for dinner. But, one night I dreamed I lost 6 kilos in one week! Aside from being physically impossible, all of my Australian, British, and New Zealand friends thought the funniest part was that I dreamed in kilos!)

We just got our latest and final mentor today. Her name is Shelley, she's from NZ, and she will be Sarah's fellow mentor in Magugu. That puts our household at 6 women for now. Joanna gets married in just under a month, and she'll be moving out then. More on all of this later. I will try to download some picture from the last week soon.

Seasons they don't tell you about in Tanzania!

Everyone knows about the "rainy" season, and most people not brand-new to TZ have heard the difference between the "short rains" and the "long rains" (we're having the short rains now, FYI), but there are actually several other "seasons" I have found out about!

Back in September, just as we were coming into spring/summer, the winds really picked up, and so did the dust. Especially since we live just over the hedge from a dirt road that is used quite frequently, everything in our house got covered with a fine layer of reddish-brown dust. One week when I was heading to Karanse, I closed my bedroom windows in an effort to minimize the dust, but the wind blew so hard that dust came in through any available space where windows weren't sealed properly. When I got back, I had to wash bed linens, wash window sills, sweep my closet, of all things, and vacuum my floor. This was the "dust season."

We pretty much always have our windows open; thank goodness for screens! We also have several doors to our house that someone is always leaving open, and they don't have screens. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a big increase in our fly population in our house. Joanna said this was "fly season," the weeks before the short rains come all the way up till Christmas! Today we had team lunch at our house, and I was so irritated by all of the flies that I gave Janet a job (since she was here early). I told her she couldn't eat until she had killed 10 flies! Joelle got in on that as well, and between them they killed about 30 flies!! Yuck!

I was telling Joanna last night my new discoveries of the seasons, and she said, "Just wait till locust season!" Oh, boy!!!

7th grade graduation and Christmas preparations...

and end of term, grading exams, etc.!

Last Wednesday was such a long-awaited day: Standard 7 graduation, our second at Karanse. This is such a monumental thing for this community, to have so many students graduate with the hope of secondary school before them. Before the coming of our school, something like 7 children had ever left Standard 7 and gone on to "high school." Now, we have 2 classes and something like 40 students from our scxhool along going on to "further education." Many important dignitaries were on hand, lots of parents, the whole school, even though they were technically on holiday, our students teachers, Godsave and Isack from Imara, and Joelle and me. The skies went from blazingly bright to drizzling over the couple of hours, but it was well worth it. Lots of food was served to everyone later, and a good time was had by all. I took video, not pictures, but I know Joelle took pictures, so I'll see if I can get some to put on here.

Then Thursday and Friday the student teachers took their exams, and Joelle and I (with Perimeter paying) took all of the teachers from Karanse out to lunch on Thursday to thank them for a job well done this year. That was a big deal for everyone, and we enjoyed it, as well.

Back to En Gedi on Friday, running errands on Saturday, church and the pool on Sunday, then it was time to start "marking" exams. It's hard to get used to the grading scale (we consider 50 passing!), so it was easy to feel a little discouraged seeing all of those 60%'s, but that's like a C, so they'll be fine with it!

Last night I went to my friend Isack's house for a visit and dinner since I haven't been there this trip at all, shocking as that is! Of course, the power went off just at dark, so we ate and visited by the light of one candle and 2 flashlights! However, I love his family, and have known them since before Ebenezer, the oldest, was even born. Now there are 2 of them, just live wires, and we had a wonderful time.

Today is the staff Christmas party for our workers and their families: 40 workers, maybe 80 children, spouses of many - it should be a big deal! Games, food, presents, a proper party!

Have I mentioned I'm off to Zanzibar next week?! Sarah, a fellow mentor, and I leave Monday and get back Saturday. We're so looking forward to it! It's summer here, though not as hot as it will be in January, so going to the beach is perfect for December! I hear it's very cold at home, so maybe this sounds good there, too!

Thanksgiving in Tanzania

As you would guess, this is not a big holiday in Tanzania! However, here at Joshua, there have been Americans on base for long enough that they have learned to celebrate this very American holiday! However, the mentors were supposed to be out in schools all this week, and since the only 2 Americans here at the moment are me and Janet (and we are both mentors) we moved the holiday up to last Saturday. Quite a large turn-out, 15 or so counting 3 little ones, enjoyed a wonderful feast of turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce (even though I saw it priced as high as the equivalent of $12.50 in one of the shops!!), mashed potatoes, gravy, butternut squash, green beans, and even pumpkin and pecan pies for dessert (though, sadly,no Cool Whip!). Janet gave the blessing, I got to tell all about the meaning and reasons for it, and we went around the table and everyone told what they were thankful for. Since there was no football to watch afterwards (!), we played a game for a while and enjoyed being together, just like a real family!

This was our last teaching week in schools as their exams are next week. After Monday, I mostly felt like I was supervising a study hall, since they were mostly finishing up assignments, and they didn't need me for that. I had taken 2 full suitcases of Project Child gifts from the Perimeter team that was just here, so Godfrey and I arranged a time for me to give out the gifts, along with hugs and encouragement from the sponsors. I got to do that on Thanksgiving morning! It was such a huge blessing to be the arms and words from all of those caring people. I even got a little teary at one point as I read a letter to one of the children from her sponsor, who has never met her. She said, "We have your picture in our kitchen, and we pray for you every night at dinner. We talk about you as if you were here." I just could barely read that out loud as it moved me to think of this sweet family and their love for this little girl they may never meet until Heaven. What great reunions there will be! I have to say, I want to be a part of all of those, too!

Joelle and I did come back Thursday (yesterday), Sarah was back shortly afterwards, and Corinne and Janet had come back with their students on Monday evening. (Long story I will tell some other time.) So we could have had our Thanksgiving dinner that night after all, but we had our weekly team dinner instead. However, everyone remembered to wish us Americans a Happy Thanksgiving.

Then today, we closed the primary school here at Joshua and had the end of term party with the 4 year olds, 5 year olds and the 1st graders. Cake and juice and singing and giving out their gifts: there was a school photo of each of them and a pencil of their own, and they were pretty thrilled with those. Reminded me, again, of all our children have at home and how even then, they're not always grateful!

7th grade graduation at Karanse was postponed till this coming Wednesday, so we still have that to look forward to before exams. Then, a week of grading, and finally, our holidays! Happy Thanksgiving!

It's election season, so Miriam for.....?!

Last week in Karanse, the students in the equivalent of 4th grade had their nat'l exams. Some of the things this meant were they were the only ones at school for the 2days of exams, really long recesses for them, and extra-special lunch for the teachers and visitors from the gov't! During one lunch, Joelle and I were talking with Godfrey about educational policies in TZ, like nat'l exams for 4th and 7th grade that determine your educational (and thus your life's) future. Godfrey was saying those may be phased out as the gov't wants everyone to get a high school education. Unfortunately, they're not training the number of additional teachers this will take. It's not all that unusual to have classes of 75-200 in high schools here. At one point Godfrey began telling us about the current Minister of Education. He isn't an educator but an engineer, and the new policies are his way of putting his mark on the educational system of TZ. Godfrey then said, "I wish Miriam was the Minister of Education." I assured him I would be very unpopular as I would go to most schools saying, "No, stop that!" to so many things I'd see!

Back to Joshua this week. In "my" 4 year old class, they are now talking about the Christmas story and singing Christmas songs. They only have this week and next, and then are out until the beginning of the year. The main grocery store, Shoprite, put up Christmas decorations on Nov. 1, but we're celebrating Thanksgiving, complete with turkey, this Saturday night. (The mentors will be out in schools next week, and no one else cares when we celebrate it since they don't even know what it's for!) I'm making the mashed potatoes, even though I really wanted to make my dressing! However, no Jiffy cornbread mix here - imagine that! However, there will probably not be any cranberry sauce, as that has to be imported and costs the equivalent of $12-$13!

A team from Perimeter Church was here last week for d'ship training, and I got to spend some time with them on Sunday afternoon. That was like being "home" for a little while! I had also listened to 2 CD's from services at church, and I just grinned as I listened to Laura lead worship! Definitely felt like I was "home!"

I also helped with our church's Children's Day on Saturday - about 25 children from 3-10 from 10 in the a.m. till 4:30 p.m. Long day, but many diferent activities and a good way to meet other people in the church and serve in some capacity.

One of my "new" jobs is proofreading curriculum! My niece Bethany has done that for her college newspaper and a music magazine, so maybe it runs in our family to be picky with other's people's work! Mentors on our staff are writing our college curriculum just weeks before we use it in schools, and I've started proofreading it before the final publishing. It at least means I get a sneak peek at what I will teach out in schools!

Speaking of mentoring, we go out next week, then the following Thursday and Friday are their exams, and the term is over! Next term, they will be in the clasrooms more, with our observing them, along with coursework, which will continue when they're not practice-teaching. They are very worried about exams, as this is such an exam-driven country, but we think they are showing good understanding of their studies.

Also next week is the graduation of our current 7th grade class. this is the second graduation for our school and such a milestone. I'm so thrilled to get to attend this one, and we have promised our student-teachers the day off so we all can celebrate (and serve!)!

In case I don't get on again for a week or so, Happy Thanksgiving!

Car repairs 2

Last Sunday I was backing out of an unfamiliar driveway, looking over my left shoulder, when I realized I had grazed a tree with my right side mirror. It cracked the mirror, so yesterday I took my car to our base garage and mechanic. Unfortunately, he was in town and didn't get started on it till today. I can see the garage from my bedroom, and I saw my car up on the lift. Thinking that was an odd way to change out a mirror, I went on with my business, which was pre-school today. However, the mechanic caught up with me and said the dreaded words, "I need to show you something about your car." Never good, no matter which country you're in!

Turns out, I needed an oil change, a new air filter (imagine that!), and 2 parts in the engine that I saw were broken but don't even know the names of! He said he'd call the shop in town for prices and let me know. Turned out to be 370,000 Tz shillings, or around $300. Miraculously, I had 420,000 shillings in car repair money that I had been putting aside from an allowance I'm given every month for that purpose. I jokingly told several people I was sure the labor would take the other 50,000. Almost! The 2 mechanics brought me back my car a little while ago and said they had forgotten to include the price of the mirror which was......50,000 shillings! I could only laugh! I've always thought mechanics knew exactly how much money you had to spend for repairs!

The really good things are: I had the money, so it's no out-of-pocket for me, and this was discovered before I got on the road to Karanse at 5:30 Monday morning! Happy ending!

Doesn't FEEL like November!

It has turned so warm! Sarah (fellow mentor) and I drove a couple of hours on Saturday to a warm springs swimming hole for the afternoon. We have also been to a hotel pool a couple of times, and I've used the little plunge pool here on base several times. During the day at Karanse, our classroom gets very warm in the afternoons, as we only have the metal roof between us and the sun! Several times we've taken our student teachers out to sit under a tree for the afternoon's lesson as it's cooler there than in the building. It is time for the "short rains" which should help cool things off, at least during the days. One night last week we even had a thunderstorm and about 20 minutes of hard rain. The power stayed on, though, which was a good thing for hot water for showers.

Such a good mentoring week last week, despite the sad news that one of our student teachers was leaving. Edward, one of our Maasai young men who is doing the course with his brother, got accepted to the University of Arusha for a degree in education, and he has decided to go there. The course starts next Monday, so Friday was his last day with us. He went with our blessings, as his heart is still to help his people, and he can still do that with this degree, so we wish him well. But, it wa still sad to say good-bye to one of our own. we have been praying for his brother, Steven, as he adjusts to life without his big brother around.

However, the good things about last week were the hands-on things that we had our students doing. One afternoon they all practiced writing on the blackboard, and we took pictures! They laughed because we were pretty strict on them: they had to correct handwriting, spelling, capitalization, everything! We'll do more of that, but it was a great first look at such a teacher skill!

We also divided them into groups and they had to do a poster or diagram on the material they had learned in their Learning unit. Very teacher-y: learning styles, motivating children to learn, what to do with children who have learning difficulties, how memory works, etc. We also took pictures of them with their finished posters, which were so much better than we'd hoped. Joelle did a seminar on quality presentations, and they really took it to heart.

Then we shared several food items with them, too! On Monday I took in a cake to celebrate Godfrey's birthday the week before (the headmaster at Karanse). After we sang to him and he blew out his candle, he said, "My first birthday cake." I was so touched. Later in the week we took our students bananas, as we don't think they spend their food money on fruit! One day we also brought bread, peanut butter, and "real" jelly - Welch's Grape Jelly from a stash SBC left me earlier! That was a big treat to hungry growing "boys!" My favorite was the day we gave them lollipops with a verse attached. Psalm 34:1, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." One of the students, Elijah, proving he really did learn some things about learning, asked, "So is this extrinsic or intrinsic motivation?!" We all laughed at that!

The nat'l election was yesterday, so all month there have been campaign trucks with huge loudspeakers canvassing the country (or at least the parts of it where I am!). One day Daniel, another student, said, "External distraction!" from our chapter on getting and keeping students' attention!

We won't actually find out who won the election till tomorrow, but it was the first time the opposition party had such a presence in the campaign. The same party has been in power since TZ's independence, so it has been thrilling to see the momentum for the other party gaining on the CCM.

As always, when we get back from a week out, there are many things to do: I did my second load of laundry today, we had to do some grocery shopping, catch up on emails, find out the USC football score (!), check in with family (though I haven't gotten to do that, yet), and get ready for the week here. Running errands and eating lunch out today, so have to run now!

New picture!

The above is the latest one of me, Debora John, and Aneri. I love it, and them! I think that shows in the picture!

Snapshots from a week in Karanse

Just thought I'd do little blurbs from this week rather than long paragraphs about one topic!

Did I ever mention that on the weeks that we go to schools we leave Joshua at 5:30 in the morning?! That's so we can drop off Janet and Corinne at St. Dorcas, stop by Angaza and see where we're staying THIS time (!), then be at school in Karanse as close to 7:30 as possible, but at least by devotions at 8.

This time we stayed at the small guest house at Angaza, just Joelle and me, with a fridge (but not the one has been following us from house to house!), but no "kettle." We both drink a hot drink in the mornings, me tea and Joelle coffee, but this time we got our serving girls to bring us a thermos of hot water on the 2 nights they brought our soup and bread for dinner. That gave us hot drinks 2 mornings, at least. The other 2 nights, we make soup in a crock pot, so it's waiting on us when we get home from school.

My sponsored child, Debora, has 2 best friends named Grace and Salome, who are good friends of mine, too. They have "tuition" (tutoring) after school a couple of times a week, so they finish up the same time my student teachers and I do. They have recently started asking me for rides in my car, "to sokoni" which is the shops at the beginning of town. The first time I took them, I'm not sure they had ever been in a car before, as they didn't know how to get in, close the door, etc. I rolled down the windows so their friends and family and neighbors could see them, and they squealed all through the town. We started teling people we were going to America! One day Grace came and told me her mother said she could go to America in December! Not sure who she's going with, but it won't be in my car!!

Thursday was a nat'l holiday for everyone except Joshua students! At all 3 of our schools, we went to classes, but we all tried to do it a way that wouldn't completely demoralize them. At Karanse, Godfrey had arranged for us to still have morning tea and chapati, which we weren't expecting, so that was a real treat. I had also brought in our left-over bread and peanut butter for a morning snack, so that was a fun extra. But the best part was that we had arranged to take our teachers out for lunch! We took their orders on Wednesday, Abraham (one of the students who lives and works in Karanse) took our order to the "restaurant," and we went on Thursday at lunchtime. Of course, it wasn't ready, but we enjoyed the time with our students. They were so appreciative as this whole cooking thing is still very new to them, and they hardly ever have their favorite foods: ugali and meat, so that's what they ordered, along with sodas, so it was a big treat!

Back at En Gedi, I had a package waiting on me, so that was fun to come home to, and a family with a small pool at their house is gone for the week, so I jumped in it yesterday afternoon since it was so warm. Today, after church, several of us went to the hotel pool, had lunch, and I got some more exercise. (Then, of course, we went out for ice cream sundaes, so I may have exercised in vain, but the water sure felt good!)

This week there will be meetings as we go over curriculum, reviewing what we did last week, and getting ready for next week. I'll also be in preschool several mornings. One very sad note about the preschool. One of the little girls from Celina's class died last weekend, and the funeral was last Monday. She had a brain tumor and when they diagnosed it they told the family she had 6 weeks to 6 months to live. It turned out to be less than that, as that was just a couple of weeks ago. She was only 4 years old. I heard that her classmates went, and I haven't seen them or their teacher yet, so that will be a sad thing to go back to. Her name was Ana, and her dad is one of our security guys. We've all just been praying for her, and now will be praying for her family and loved ones. That's never easy to understand or explain, so I'll probably do a lot of hugging and praying.

I'm still trying to upload some pictures from mentoring or me with Debora and Aneri, so I hope that happens this week, too!

There's a What in our kitchen?!

Along the lines of the lizard in the computer, but worse! Last weekend, after all of us mentors being gone for the week, we noticed a small hole in our kitchen window screen. Just assumed a knife in the dish drainer had cut it or something. We were mostly worried about mosquitoes getting in, but just closed the glass over the hole. The next day, to our surprise, there was another hole! Vicky was out on the deck outside the window, and said, "That's been bitten; there are little pieces of screen out here." We were definitely thinking "mouse" by then. The next morning, a bite of avocado was missing from one on the counter! By then, Joanna, downstairs, had noticed a hole in one of her screens, so she went and got poison for us to share (it's called "raticide" here!). We put out some peanut butter and poison in a couple of places, and the next morning, some had obviously been eaten, and Joelle heard it in the back of one of our cabinets. She and Corinne banged on the cabinet hoping to scare it into the open, but nothing happend. Another night, more peanut butter and poison, and we're up to about Friday. Friday morning, an entire banana was missing! That really creeped us out, beacause now it seemed we had this "super rat" who was impervious to poison and had dragged off a whole banana! We called one of the base workers to come over, and he proceeded to knock holes in baseboards to find it. He finally did run out of one cabinet (I jumped up on the kitchen counter at that point and was no help at all!) and ran under a sofa. Joelle, Corinne, and Philemon chased him with dish towels (Joelle), a hammer (Philemon), and screams (Corinne), as he ran from one hiding place to another. He found a really good one under the stove or in back of a cabinet because we lost him at that point. However, along the way, we found where he'd been spending all that week - he had stashes of food under a sofa, in the under stove drawer (which we never use), and in the back of a cabinet, behind the wall. There was talk of more poison, the garage cat, etc. Finally, a trap was procured and set last night with a piece of banana (apparently his favorite food!), and this morning he was caught in it and dead! He honestly didn't look as big as when he was alive and running around our kitchen, but we're still very relieved that he's gone! (And hoping he was alone!!)

Back to Karanse on Monday, and looking forward to it. Can't wait to find out who's sharing the guesthouse with us this week! That's always a new adventure!

Mentoring Week 3

This was a first - I was on my own this week without Joelle. Our fellow mentor Sarah has been in Magugu (a couple of hours' bus ride southwest from Arusha), mostly on her own as we've been mentoring, as her co-mentor doesn't arrive till December. In the meantime Allan Dow has been helping out, but he is so busy with the school that his time for mentoring hasn't been regular or predictable. The other 4 of us felt so badly for Sarah that a plan was devised: either Joelle or Corinne (who is with Janet at St. Dorcas) will go to Magugu with Sarah every other week, leaving either Janet or me on our own. Janet and I were fine with that plan, so this past week Joelle went, and I was in Karanse with the student-teachers. It really went so well - I know there were lots of prayers that went up on my behalf! The students were co-operative, congenial (as they always are), and just so involved in our lessons. The Karanse teachers were all soliticious about my being there, but they knew I was "home," so they weren't worried about me!

Of course, there had to be an adventure at Angaza! I arrived there first thing Monday morning, around 7:30, as I usually do. They "escorted" me to the larger, 3 bedroom guest house and banged on the door till a young lady came and unlocked it. We had obviously awakened her, as she came to the door wrapped in a kanga! She said, "Hello, Miriam." I thought she must be one of the Angaza workers, but I couldn't figure out why she was staying in the guest house. After she let me in to drop off my stuff, I heard her go in her bedroom and I heard a man's voice in there, too! All of the workers at Anagaza that are young girls are single, so this was a little alarming. I worried all day about what to do about this situation. However, when I got back, she came out, all dressed, with make-up on, and I realized she was the Joshua preschool teacher, Miriam, no less, who had just gotten married last Saturday! She and her husband were sharing the guesthouse with me on their honeymoon! We were the only peopple there, one bathroom; can you picture the awkwardness?! However, she was far more gracious than I would have been, telling me how glad she was to see me again!

On Thursday, Lynda, Vicky, and Nico all came out for a visit so Vicky could take pictures. She took some really nice ones of both me and the students and me and Aneri and Debora John. When I get those from her I'll post them on here.

Last night, back at Joshua we had a fun outdoor movie night. Barbequing, then a showing of Avatar, which I hadn't seen, as we all curled up in our Maasai blankets under the African stars! My friend Jenny had come, as we also had a showing of Vicky's favorites of all the 1000's of photos she's taken, and she and Jenny had hit it off on a number of occasions. Jenny spent the night, and the three of us stayed up late laughing and talking. Vicky leaves this week for Zanzibar, then leaves next week for home. I will miss her, but she's already planning her return trip here with her daughters!

This morning, as part of my parents' birthday present to me, I went and had a pedicure! Long overdue, but just wonderful! It was at a lovely upscale complex for safari-goers and wealthy residents, and Vicky and Sarah came along. Vicky had her pre-Zanzibar pedicure, and Sarah found a quiet place to read, then we all had lunch together. A lovely way to ease back into "normal" life.

Big doings tomorrow: my church moves out of the restaurant (Pepe's) that we've been meeting in into our own property for the first time! We're all so excited, and it should be a wonderful worship time. After that, several of us are going to the Impala Hotel pool for the afternoon, which I am really looking forward to! Sorry, but this doesn't sound much like suffering for the Lord in Africa, does it?! Actually, we don't usually feel like we're doing that, as we feel so called to this place and what we do here. It is great to also live somewhat normal lives in the midst of this, so we can keep doing what we love. (Of course the road to the new church is unpaved and shocking, and the pool is COLD, so maybe there are a few drawbacks!)

Mentoring week 2 - and my birthday!

I have to say the 2nd week was less tiring than the first week. At least this past week we felt like we knew a little more about what we were doing. We still stay about a day ahead of the students, at most, but they probably can't tell. They were a little behind what we'd hoped they'd done, but when they said, "To be honest, by 3:00 we're tired, so we go home," our answer was, "Thank you for your honesty, but you have to stay longer than that or you won't get everything done!" Then we showed that by keeping them until 5! We discussed the word "perseverance" many times last week!

Another funny house story (actually 2) happened at Angaza, where we stay. In the beginning, you may remember we were promised the smaller of the 2 guest houses because it was just the right size for the 2 of us. We were so happy to see that it had a refrigerator, and we were looking forward to that. The first week, there were some people there who had stayed longer than expected so we moved into Jocelyn's house, the director of Angaza. They brought over a large fridge for us, and we were in business! Last Monday, when we arrived to drop off our things, we were in the larger (3 bedroom) guest house, and the girls who were showing us to our house knocked on the door until someone came and opened the door. When we walked in, there were 2 suitcases in the living room (not ours, needless to say). Turns out, we were sharing that house (and its one bathroom) with a German couple for a couple of nights! No refrigerator, but we went off to Karanse, knowing that This Is Africa, once again! By the time we got home that afternoon, our large fridge from the previous house had been delivered, and we met our new housemates! That is NOT the end of the story. That couple left on Wednesday morning (not quietly and about 3:30 a.m.), so we had the house to ourselves for a night. However, Jocelyn had a problem that we "helped" with: her bishop and a pastor (both Tanzanian men, needless to say) were coming and needed to stay at our house, so Joelle moved into my bedroom, and the 2 of them got the other 2 bedrooms! So, we figure, we really never will know what to expect!

My birthday had many happy surprises, thanks largely to Joelle's planning. I had found Reese's Peanut Butter Cups here a couple of weeks ago, and declared that that's what I wanted for my birthday! Joelle gave me a pack first thing Thursday morning as my birthday present! She had also told the student-teachers and Godfrey that it was my birthday, so the students made drawings for me, and Godfrey and the staff signed a card and sang to me at morning tea! I also learned how to say "Today is my birthday" in Swahili! That afternoon she told me she had to go into Sanya Juu (The town just down the road from us) to pick up a package, so I gave her my car keys, and off she went. I knew it must have something to do with my birthday, but I couldn't figure out what. However, she came back a few minutes later with Janet and Corinne, our fellow mentors who are mentoring at St. Dorcas, about 30 minutes away! They took a dala-dala (minibus) to Sanya to join us for dinner as a surprise! That was lots of fun! They also brought birthday brownies, and we were just starting on those when Jocelyn came over with a bouquet of flowers for me! After dinner, I took them back to St. Dorcas, came "home", and was able to call my parents and Russ so they could wish me a happy birthday! Very nice day!

My birthday extended to coming back to Arusha and going right out to eat Chinese food with another couple of friends (and getting not 1 but 2 new pairs of earrings), then another pair of earrings on Sunday at church, and lots of birthday wishes on facebook!

Then, yesterday, several of us went back to Cradle of Love orphanage and held babies and toddlers for a couple of hours, then helped feed them dinner. Stil one of my favorite things to do.

The plan this week is to help in the preschool here at Joshua, have a new couple over for dinner tonight, work on materials for next week, do laundry, etc. The big excitement is Joanna's engagement party this coming Saturday night! Sarah, Vicky, and I are doing the chickens for that: cutting them up and marinating them for barbecuing. It should be a great party, as we're all so excited for Joanna and Simon, a pastor here at the college. Then, before I know it, it will be time to head back to Karanse!

Mentoring - Week 1

What an awesome week! Lots of ups and downs, unexpected surprises, watching God work in the minds and hearts of our student-teachers, and FINALLY getting to be with the teachers and students that I love at Karanse!

Ups: seeing Aneri and Debora John, my 2 sponsored children, every day last week. I also went to Aneri's house several afternoons after school and got to see his mama and sisters, which was such a treat. Also got to be friends with Faith, headmaster Godfrey's preschool daughter. Since she got out early every day, she'd often hang around, and I'd spend part of my lunchtime with her, then finally take her to Godfrey to take her home. She knew she was supposed to go home, but it was lots more fun to stay! And seeing Moses' and John's house in progress were big "up" experiences. Both of them are teachers in Karanse, real men of vision, such servant-hearted men, and great role models for our students, both young and older. Both of them asked me to pray over their houses, after I'd taken pictures for my on-going photo journal of how God answers those prayers. That was humbling, but so uplifting to be a part of such a great thing. And then, of course, getting to spend the time with our student-teachers every day really started the bonding process between us. Every day we would begin at 7:30 with Biblical Foundations, then join the school children for devotions (one of my favorite parts of the day), then have "classes" until morning tea. After tea, back to "class" til lunch. Then after lunch, we would do classroom observations, then more "classes" til dismissal. We would finish our day with another hour or so of classes. Then it was time to visit in the village before going back to our guest house at Angaza, about 20 minutes away. The classes for the week were Christian Teacher and Curriculum. These are our first 2 units, and we wanted to get started in both of them as the students will continue them next week in our absence. We also had to do some "life lessons" as this is the first time most of these Tanzanian men have lived on their own. One day we sent them on a "research trip" to the market and shops to find out the prices of all the things they need to set up house. Then we had to go over that with them, whittle it down to necessities, etc. It was very hard to leave them on Friday, and, in fact, one of them asked us to pray for them before we left, as they were pretty anxious about doing this without us for the next week!

Downs: only a temporary one for us: being in a different house than we'd been told, without the refrigerator we'd been expecting. Temporary in the sense that they brought us a bigger one than we'd have had in the original place we were supposed to stay! Then, the inevitable night without power, but it came on in time for the water to heat up for showers! One "down" was how much still had to be sorted out for our students: accomodations, furniture, food, etc. This left them feeling very unsettled for a couple of days, and several "discussions" were held between us, Imara representatives, Pastor, headmaster, students, etc. We really think, though, that that ended with resolutions and a feeling that we are all together in this.

Unexpected surprise: One of my favorites was the day we were walking through the village, and a man ran up and grabbed me! It was Debora John's father, and we have loved each other for years! He had recognized me and run over to greet me. We always hug, shake hands, I say whatever Swahili comes into my mind, he grins and says, I'm sure, how glad he is to see me. I've been to their house over the years and seen him at school on several occasions, and I was hoping to run into him or Debora's mom while I was there, so that was a great surprise!

We had to rush back to Arusha on Friday as our team at Joshua had our "Advance" (because we don't believe in retreats!), so it was a good time together here, too. All of this week we will debrief and prepare for next week, or prepare as much as we can! Maybe have a couple of back-up plans in mind, too! We say "TIA" for This is Africa, but sometimes we want to say "TIRA!" This is Really Africa! I'll put up pictures as soon as I get my laptop back and can download some. I hope to put a file on facebook, too, so check there, as well.

Thanks for your prayers. Oh, and the Standard 7 (like our 7th grade) take their nat'l exam tomorrow and Tuesday. This will determine where and whether they go on to high school, the school's standing in the nation and district, etc. We're praying that they do as well as the previous class and that everyone knows it's because we trust in God. We won't get the results for months, but I know they'd love to know so many people were praying for them.

Dressmaking, Tanzania-style and a little work

I already know about buying fabric and having someone here make it; I've done that many times before. But, I tried a new sewing person and just got my new outfits (and 2 decorative though not very comfortable pillows for my bed) this past Sunday night. I am very pleased with his work! I had been given 2 pieces of fabric a couple of summers ago, and I just never got them made up, so I showed Julius what I wanted, and he did such a nice job.
My friend, Janet, also had some fabric made up for a 2 piece outfit, and 1 piece of light cottony fabric for a nightgown. We could both tell that the nightgown concept was particularly "foreign" and couldn't wait to see what came back! It really looks like a summer sheath, complete with facings and a zipper - not necessarily something you want in a nightgown! She's going to have him remove the zipper, at the very least!
My pillows are pretty, but I think he stuffed them with rags, so they're not soft, but will definitely keep their shape for a long time (unlike bed pillows you sleep on here!).
My housemates were so impressed that they went right out and bought fabric, and I gave them a fashion show of all my TZ outfits to give them an idea of what to have him do for them!
Now, about work, now that the students are on holiday. Joshua had gotten in a shipping container of more school books than I've ever seen in one place, and they have been filling up our education office, and are in piles in the container-storage space. (Containers here are used for offices, storage, a classroom, etc. NOTHING goes to waste!) Janet and I were assigned the huge task of organizing those, getting them out of the office, and onto the shelves that have been built in the container. We worked yesterday afternoon, when it was so hot in there, and then all morning this morning, and can finally see some organization beginning to happen. This will probably be our on-going job for the rest of the week, apart from mentor-training meetings and a trip tomorrow to see our schools and accomodations for our weeks out in the villages. Janet and Corrine will be at St. Dorcas, where 1/2 of our Karanse graduates are in secondary school. The two of them haven't been there and would, of course, like to see it before they begin living there for 2 weeks out of every month. Joelle and I will be going to visit Karanse and Angaza (where we will stay) because Joelle hasn't been to either place, and there are still arrangements to set up or finalize. Even though I have been lots and lots, I can't wait to go! Though school is out for holidays right now, I'm hoping there will be children and teachers around to visit, and I have a couple of jobs to do for Perimeter while I'm there.
The next week, lots more meetings to help us know what our part is, then we finally get to go! That part seems to be taking so long!

Note to Mama and Liz Amor (!)

Just wanted you both to know I did indeed get your packages! Liz, I hope you got my check, and Mama, I hope you wrote a check to yourself! Who knew those were going to be soooo expensive to mail?! Many, many thanks!

Mama, it's beginning to warm up, and I'd love a couple of pairs of my capri pants I left at home, especially the khaki ones and the black jeans ones. Since they're not too heavy, maybe one more pair - surprise me!

Thanks, again!

Saying good-bye is never easy

Today we say good-bye to our student/teachers, some for a longer time than others, and it's just never easy. We've been together 6 weeks now, and I feel like I'm just getting started - how can it be time for them to leave already? Of course, I'll see 6of them every other week beginning the end of August as we go out to Karanse to mentor, but some of the others I may not see for months. They're going to miss each other, too, so today is very bittersweet.
It is made a little better by 3 things: I'm going into town this afternoon to pick up my 2 packages that have been here for a week, we're having dinner at Khan's (more on that later - you've got to hear about this!), and I'm going on a day safari tomorrow to Arusha National Park, one I've never been to before, so I'm really looking forward to it. More on that after I get back.
Now, Khan's. For anyone who's been here on a short-term team, you've eaten there, but for any others, it is pretty hard to explain. By day, it's an auto parts shop, by night it's a sidewalk Indain tandoori chicken/beef restaurant! It's actually one of my favorite places to eat here, and it's always a treat to take new people there. We have a couple of new people on base who haven't been before, so we're going tonight for dinner. It's also turned cold (50's maybe), and since we'll be eating outside, we may have to bundle up, but that's even more fun! And the food will warm us up! I'll try to include a picture of that and safari next time I get to download pictures.

Teachers, teachers, and more teachers; and Jif!

Yesterday I got to do something I've been looking forward to practically since I got here - go see almost all of the Imara teachers at a seminar SBC is putting on in Arusha! There were about 40 of our JTTC (and other) teachers at Arusha Community Church, and I haven't seen most of them since exactly a year ago! I was a presenter at the seminar for a couple of days last year and got to see many of them, but then I left for home. As I sat in the devotions (with the Imara worship leaders, who I also hadn't seen since I got here), I was overcome with gratitude that the Lord had truly brought me back to TZ, to the very place I last left. A great reunion with them all after devotions, and during tea time and lunch time, with many promises to come see them in their schools, looking at baby pictures (Godfrey's newest daughter, Glory, looks a lot like Faith, his oldest; Loomoni's 2 daughters are beautiful), hearing an update on John's house (no roof, yet), hearing the news that Moses' daughter Lulu will be taking her Standard 7 exam this year and Exavier will be taking his Standard 4 exam, so many prayers for them, please; it just went on and on! Hated to leave, but I wanted to run by Imara, too, and see Miriam, Isack, and everyone else there.

While I was at the seminar, sweet Sharon, from SBC, gave me a huge "Miriam bag" with some teacher materials, a letter from a sweet couple I know in AZ with pictures of their new baby, and what she called, "leftovers" from their trip so far - teas, Starbucks instant coffees, oatmeal, Crystal Light-type drink mixes, grape jelly, and (best of all) half of a 3lb jar of Jif! She'd been planning to bring that to me all along, but then "sacrificed" some of it for the sake of the team in one of the remote villages where they stayed. Like Christmas, but more unexpected!

It really is funny how much something small like that reminded me of God's goodness - I certainly didn't "need" those things, but they were such treasures that I remembered I have a loving Father Who even cares that I get Jif peanut butter in TZ. A good reminder to me that He can handle the little things as well as the big ones, and that all I have to do is trust Him (harder to say than do, sometimes, though, I admit).

Car repair, Tanzanian style

I had mentioned earlier that I was having electrical problems with my car, and after Sunday's adventure with the gas tank door release issues, I knew something had to be done. Joanna, here at Joshua, reccomended Elisante, who used to be a mechanic here and now works somewhere else, but is still available. I texted him yesterday, and he said he'd come this morning. Sure enough, he arrived around 11:30, and I showed him all that doesn't work in my car. We both hoped it was a fuse or something simple (me probably more than him!). I gave him my keys, thinking he'd have to take it somewhere, but about 15 minutes later he called me down to see my tape and Cd player working, my sun roof opening and closing, and my gas release door springing open! My overhead light still doesn't work, because the bulb is blown out! I'm still not sure what it all was, but it wasn't a fuse. I asked, so gratefully, how much I owed him, and he said, "For you, 10." (That's 10,000 Tanzanian shillings, or about $7.50!) I told him I'd call him any time I needed something done, and he told me to call anytime!
Now I'm not foolish enough to think that will happen so easily every time, but it was a great first time car repair story (not counting the recharging battery as the actual first one here!).
The next home visit will be on Thursday by a man who does sewing for people on the base. He's made dresses, pillows, etc. for Joanna and others, and Janet and I both have fabric we want made up, so I'll write abut that next!

P.S.

I know I referred to a picture of my house and car earlier, but I only thought I could download it! Maybe later!

A Typical (?!) Sunday in TZ

Though there's really no such thing as a typical anything in Tanzania, yesterday was such a great combination of some of the things that make up my life here, that I had to share them. First, on my way to church, I gave a ride to 2 people who either live at or were visiting EnGedi (the base where JTTC is located). One of them is a pastor-in-training, a lovely girl from Dubai, and the other was a Tanzanian pastor who had been at a conference with Lois, one of our ladies here on base who does women's conferences. Anna and I had never talked, but by the time I dropped her off at her church we had discussed what brought us here to TZ, a possible move for her to a church in Georgia (what a small world!), and her struggles with knowing the right thing God was leading her to. We found we had many things in common (including cats we love and have left behind!), so I told her I'd have her to dinner one night and we could continue finding out all about each other. Then Deo and I had a brief talk before I dropped him off; I found out later he was the pastor who got thrown in jail on Thursday due to Lois' conference at his church! I wish I'd known that so I could ask him all about that!
Then I arrived at Pepe's (the Italian/Indian restaurant where the Arusha Vineyard church is meeting). During our tea break between the singing and preaching, I had my morning samosa, talked with a few people, set up lunch plans, etc. My friend Jenny preached, based on the book The Prodigal God, which Mary Beth Stoudenmire had given me, and I gave to her! Good review of things I'd forgotten!
After church, I had to run get gas before meeting people for lunch, and I gave another friend, Mary, a ride. So glad I did because I'm having some electrical difficulties with my car, including opening the gas release door! Mary urged them in Swahili to really work at opening it as I really was low on gas!
Then we met Jenny and 2 younger ladies who are visiting from Australia at an Indian restauarant (very big here), for lunch. Last weekend Jenny and I had run into 2 friends of hers who are getting ready to move back to the States, so we were quizzing them on what they were getting rid of that we needed. One of the things I really want/need is a bedside lamp, as I hate getting out of bed, undoing the mosquito net, turning off the light, rearranging the mosquito net, then getting back in bed! Ross and Ramona had a clip-on gooseneck one, and lots of used clothing for Jenny to distribute, so we made plans to go get those yesterday.
Ross and Ramona had been at a ministry that includes an orphanage, so the 5 of us went there for our stuff and to cuddle babies for awhile! The orphanage is called Cradle of Love - don't you love that? They have children from birth to 3 years old, their youngest being 20 days old! We couldn't go in and hold the really tiny ones due to the new baby's immune system still needing more time to strengthen, so we went to the building with the toddlers - so cute!! They were just waking up from their afternoon naps, so they were still pretty cuddly! A few of them finally roused enough to go outside, so we carried armfuls of little ones outside to join them. Several of them were perfectly content to sit in laps and just watch, and we were perfectly content to let them! Jenny and the volunteer coordinator both warned us that when we got ready to leave, they'd cry like they never got any attention or affection, but that that wasn't at all true! Sure enough, when we started putting them down and waving bye-bye, such tears and wails! At one point Shea, the coordinator asked if we had any questions, and I thought, "My only question is how many can I take with me?!"
After picking up my lamp and Jenny's things, we drove down the road to Mount Meru Game Lodge, a hotel/restaurant/game reserve. We drank coffee (them) and tea (me) and ate cookies and muffins while watching, just feet away, zebras, ostriches, monkeys, eland, peacocks, herons, storks, and several kinds of birds I don't even know the names of! We actually petted the eland (look that up - sort of in the antelope family, but bigger) and stayed till feeding time 'cause we wanted to see that, too. Then we walked over to the pens where they have crested crane, porcupines, a crocodile, all just in little walled or fenced pens.
By that time I had to leave in order to be back for team worship at 7, which was a great way to end the day.
However, it was still pretty early, so I read and watched an episode of NCIS, which I've borrowed on DVD, on my laptop, under my mosquito net, by my new lamp!!
A great Sunday!!

Tanzanian garage sales and movies

Just this past week, I got to go to a garage sale that a local couple were having. There are always people moving in and out of the area, as people go home on furlough, their assignment with the UN ends, etc. This particular couple were selling their son and daughter-in-laws things, so there were lots of children's DVD's, books, puzzles, etc. - a big temptation, but nothing I was looing for. I am, however, looking for a couple more things for my bedroom and patio, so I did some more looing on Saturday at a second-hand furniture store and a new (expensive) show room, just getting an idea of what's available and how much to expect for it all to cost.
There ia great cinema complex here that opened right before I left the last time I lived here. It has a grocery store, several restuarants, shop, and a movie theatre that shows American and Indian movies. I met a friend for lunch and a movie on Saturday. Doesn't that sound "normal" and not like a missionary, at all?! But, today, back to computer and PE classes!
I wanted to attach a picture of my house and car. That's my patio on the upper left, with my bedroom right behind there. When I move out into the village of Karanse, I'll post a completely different view of where I'll be living!
Happy birthday to my dad yesterday! Love to all!

There's a what in the computer?!

Perhaps the most African thing yet happened during one of my computer classes yesterday. I have 3 classes, back to back, and in the second class, one of the computers wouldn't come on. We had just used it in the previous class, but I am making them practice turning it on, so we turned it off at the end of the first class. One of the students was on it, so I sent him to a different computer while Darran, a westerner from Australia and my very capable assistant, worked on it. The CPU (big box attached to it for my less computer-savvy friends!) was warm, and Darran said it shouldn't be. After a few minutes of investigation, he came and whispered, "Do you have a few minutes for a quick teaching lesson?" I told him yes, and we gathered the students around the computer. He explained that it shouldn't be hot because it has a fan, and he turned the CPU around so they could see the fan. Then he asked if they could smell anything and they said yes, but no one could identify the smell. He asked, "Does it smell like fried lizard?" A lizard had crawled into the fan, been killed, then cooked! After he took out the lizard (I didn't watch that part!), we let the computer cool off, then it worked fine for the next class! Ah, Africa! It was actually a very valuable part of the class, as something similar to that is very likely to happen once they go out to the village schools. Good lesson for me, too: if anything's wrong with the computer, check for lizards!

I'm here!

I really am now "Teacher Miriam IN Tanzania!" I arrived Saturday night and met the teacher/students this morning. Today is their orientation day, and I start by assisting in teaching them "Sports" this afternoon and computer tomorrow. How hysterical that those are the 2 courses I'm responsible for! It is like the staff asked, "What can we get Miriam to teach that will really show God's strength through her weakness?!" Then, that's what they picked! If there are 2 things I am less competent in, I can't think what they are!!

Many people have asked where I'll be living, and my answer has been vague, as I didn't really know myself. I knew I'd be living at the college, and I knew the house (yes, a "real" house, for those who can't picture it). They even gave me the master bedroom so I have my own bathroom, large closet, and even a balcony patio of my own. This is where I'll be for the next 6 weeks, then every other week once I start mentoring in the village.

Also, every night this week I am having dinner with a different family here at the college to help me settle in. And since my much anticipated car had a dead battery yesterday and I didn't get to go to church or do a big grocery run, that's a good thing.

No jet lag, 2 good nights' sleep, and I'm ready to begin!

Trying not to stress over a "Stress Test"

With only 3 days to go, I got a message late yesterday afternoon that my doctor wanted me to have a stress test today! I couldn't help wondering if she knew my life is a stress test at this point! I went to church last night and got the prayer team to pray for my time in TZ, and while I was there, I had them pray that everything would go OK with the test. Then, I watched SC win the National Championship in Baseball, so that probably helped my stress level some!
This morning, everything went great, and I'm back on track - packing every last thing I can, talking to my brother and sister, getting the will and Power of Attorney done, last minute trips to the bank, etc. It really is going to happen!

"God is in the details"

When I was at CIT (Center for Intercultural Training) doing ministry training, I received an email from Joanna, my contact in TZ. She wanted to know if I was going to be buying a car there. I said yes, and jokingly told her she could be looking for one for me. She asked what kind I wanted, and said a couple of friends of ours, Josh and Renee, were looking to sell theirs. I knew them when I was there, and we had this Southern connection as they were from Boone, NC. I told her I had liked my RAV4 when I was there, so that would be fine.

Back story: When I came back to the US 3 years ago, I needed to buy a car the following year, and really wanted a Honda CRV. But, this car would be Quinn's (my nephew), and I thought that might be too much car for a first time driver, so I went with another Civic. I was thinking, maybe my next car can be a CRV.

Present: Joanna emailed me back that they were trying to sell their.............. Honda CRV! She said I could email him about it, but that they were out of the country. Something (Someone?) told me that they were on furlough in NC (where I was!). We exchanged emails, and sure enough, they were in Myrtle Beach but heading to NC that weekend. On Monday, we talked, I drove into town and transferred money from my account to theirs! I have a car already waiting for me in TZ! Josh even said, "Miriam, we don't know why that car hasn't sold, yet." I said, "I do. It's my car!"
Today when I told that story at lunch, my parents' preacher's wife said, "God is in the details." I thought that was a great summary!

My first blog! This is mainly because I keep getting the same questions from a variety of people and want to answer them all fully and completely, but I just can't always remember who I've told what to! So skim this if you already know the details and check back another time!



4 years ago now, I got to sped a life-changing year in Tanzania working with a ministry called Imara Ministries Foundation and a teacher training college called Joshua Teacher Training College. I taught several classes at JTTC and assisted Imara in 5 village schools throughout northern Tanzania, neither of which I had ever done in the US! I even helped start and set up 2 preschools - not bad for a 5th grade teacher! It was an amazing year, and God stretched me waaaay outside my comfort zone. As soon as I left, I was praying to be able to go back again for another long stint, and I am just on the verge of that now!



My church, Perimeter, suggested I go through a missions organization called United World Mission, and they, in turn, required me to go through a cross-cultural training program called CIT in North Carolina. I'm there now - an almost month long intensive course like being in grad school! I got there about a week after everyone else had started, so I had to hurry to catch up: read 2 books, dozens of articles, write 3 papers (in the last week or so) and start on my 15 page final paper! It's been more reaffirming than I would have thought, and I find myself loving the intensity of it as I know it will help me on the field.



So, what am I going to be doing this time? Good question: I'm wondering the same thing myself many days! JTTC helps train the teachers for the 5 Imara villages and that was becoming impossible due to resources at Joshua. So they've devised a plan to mentor and distance educate the teachers, using our best resource: previouls JTTC-trained teachers already in schools. The training includes lots of Western methods to replace their lecture/rote memory methods, and a great deal on incorporating a Christian world-life view into your teaching of all subjects. The instructors at Joshua are wonderful at all of this, but they/we are all Westerners ourselves, and the new teachers have had to figure out what this looks like for Tanzanians to be doing it. This way, they get to see other Tanzanians putting these concepts into practice and what it looks like in a Tanzanian setting. I am so thrilled to get to help pilot this program. It means I get to be in the village of Karanse 2 weeks a month: the village where I first lost my heart to African children, then teachers, then widows, then fathers, etc. I sponsor 2 children there and have been going for so many years that it really is a place that I consider one of my favorites on earth! I have no idea where I'll stay during those weeks, but the other 2 weeks a month I'll stay at the JTTC campus, where they already have a room waiting for me (with 3 suitcases I sent on ahead - have you ever tried packing for a year?!). That's another great place, and I'll include pictures of both so you'll, hopefully, begin to get a feel for where I'll be. I anticipate lots of pictures of children, too, as that's where my heart really is. I'll use the teachers' and children's names as often as I can so you get to know them, too.



Lastly, a huge thank you to supporters who have truly enabled me to be on this adventure: financial supporters who are faithfully giving so I can go, people who helped me move out of my apartment, gave me places to live and store my things, provided meals when I couldn't even think of cooking, are keeping my cat,and just generally cared about me and loved me through this whole hectic time. I can never thank all of you enough. And then there's family and friends who are "letting me go" in the emotional and physical senses of that word. I will miss all of you more than it will ever sound like I am as I'll also be trying to "be there" 100% and sometimes that sounds like I don't miss you at all! You have a huge place in my heart!



I'm not going to be one of those daily bloggers because (1) I'm just not that narcisssistic and (2) I don't belive anyone wants to know that much about all of this! So check back in a while, and I'll let you know how the journey's going!