When it’s especially good to know some Swahili!

Since I’ve been in preschool the past 3 weeks, I’ve listened to lots of Swahili, and I definitely know the words for, “Stop, No, Write, Listen, How are you,” etc. But, my favorite came the other day. Little Juven was outside playing on a bike, and I was hanging around watching several of the children. I heard him to say to another little boy, “Teacher Miriam, nampenda,” which is, “I love Teacher Miriam.” So glad I understood that!

Saidi to the rescue, again!

You may not remember that my car has a name, as do all my cars. This one’s name is Saidi, which is “help” in Swahili. I named it that almost time I knew it was my car, as I knew what a big help it would be here. Today was another one of those times. As a partial digression: at our house we have a solar water heater with an electric back-up. Since it’s the rainy season, we haven’t had enough sun lately to heat our water, and apparently the back-up isn’t working, so we’ve been heating kettles of water every morning and taking bucket baths. However, this morning, after 2 pretty sunny days, I actually had warm water for my shower, and I got in without having to wait for my (at the moment) 5 housemates to finish with the shower! I had a lovely shower and had come down to the kitchen to make a cup of tea and begin a leisurely Sunday morning getting ready for church when… Corinne, one of the other mentors, came in and said Samwelli, one of our TZ security guards’ wife was about to give birth and could I… she just left it hanging, but I knew she meant could I take them to the hospital? I told her to tell him I needed 5 minutes, and I rushed upstairs, dressed, put on make-up, grabbed what I‘d need for church, grabbed my tea, and was out the door. It was drizzling a bit, but not enough to make the road any worse, and he and I took off to get his wife. She and her friends were walking (!) down the road to meet us, so I picked up 3 of them and we were off. As bad as the road usually is, it felt even worse today with a very pregnant mama in the back seat! I actually prayed I’d miss most of the potholes! No trouble, and we made it to the hospital with time to spare (as she didn’t have the baby in my car!), and Samwelli had the biggest grin when they all got out of the car! Can’t wait to hear what they had. You can’t make this stuff up!

My "commute" this month

I thought about this just yesterday and decided to share it. Since I'm working in the preschool at Joshua this month, my commute is about a 5 minute's walk! Of course, it is the rainy season, so it does involve "gum boots," but it's still a great way to get to work! I sleep in till about 7:15, shower, dress, read my Bible, make up my bed, have the first cup of tea, put the rest in a travel mug (!), and am on my way. I pass workers just coming on to work, exchange greetings, and usually arrive to the sound of the children singing at devotions. On clear days, which we haven't had any of, I could see Mount Meru rising on my left, but she's gone for now most of the day. Beats sitting in traffic, that's for sure!

Bible Study and the road from H*'**!

I can't believe I didn't write about my almost-aborted trip into town last Tuesday night for Bible Study! Njiro Road, where I live, has to be one of the worst roads in Arusha. For the last several km before En Gedi it not only isn't paved, it is only graded once a year (or so it seems; I can't honestly remember the last time it was graded). It's nearly impassable after a rain, and the rains have arrived! Last Tuesday, after a lengthy Monday night rain, Richard and Pamela were going into town in their 4 by 4. I asked them to let me know if they thought I could get into town in my Honda CRV. Pamela sent me a text later that afternoon saying I should be fine, unless it rained again. Richard said if it rained while I was at Home Group, I'd never make it back. That made me a little nervous, but I had dessert, am responsible for leading and picking up one of the guys who goes, and I'd missed 2 times while I was in the UK, so I hated to miss again. I left under the darkest sky I've ever seen and had not even gotten to the house where we meet when Sarah sent me a text that it was raining at home already. I asked Janet, at whose house we meet, if I could spend the night, and she said, Of course! She has 3 daughters, but they are all away at school, so I had my pick of bedrooms. It rained all during Home Group, and a couple of other people, including Zilpah, my TZ friend and neighbor who had been over visiting just as I got ready to leave for HG, called to suggest I not try coming home! So, sure enough, with no toothbrush, pjs, ear plugs, make-up for the next day, etc., I stayed the night! Janet has a home-based business of cake making, so the next morning I helped her with several cakes, we had tea, then I left to meet Carly for coffee and teacher talk. Carly works for Imara and is the only teacher on their staff, so we meet pretty regularly so she can vent about things no one else there "gets." After that, I finally braved the road home. It was sunny and clear, and the road was indeed a nightmare, but not nearly as much of one as it would have been in the dark! And it's Tuesday again, so I'm watching the skies, again! Looks good for tonight!