This week, a year ago my journey started. I got into my now sold PT Cruiser and headed for Rockville, VA for training. In April I boarded a plane thinking I was a team of 1 and God had much greater plans. In October my lonesome self became a team of 3 and joined the Recreation staff at the university where we could better interact with the students.
Now one year later the Lord has blessed me and taught far more than I could have ever imagined.
"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. " Eph. 3:20
This Wednesday our team of 3 will become a team of 7 . We have 4 Hands On students coming to work with us. This means that these 4 college students have surrendered a semester of their lives to be used to greater His kingdom. Our prayer is that they will be greatly excel in their time here, feel at home, and walk away with not only a love for this place and these students but a greater love for Christ.
2012 has much, MUCH in store and I am ready to take it on. My prayer this year is not to just survive but to THRIVE in Christ.
Jan 22, 2012
Dec 19, 2011
Dec 10, 2011
"Do they know its Christmas Time at all?"
Ive been thinking about the song by BandAid " Do they know its Christmas"
"And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?"
I can tell you YES! Now of course I dont live an a remote village but there are faint sightings of Christmas, but its not the same. I kinda like all the nonsense stripped away... just simply Christmas, with a nice helping of hot sun.
Today I went with some ladies to the Children's Ward of the largest Hospital in TZ. This visit will be on heart for a long time to come. The children and the parents overwhelm the facility. Atleast one parent must stay with the child at all times, so just as many mothers and fathers are there with the children. Mostly cancer patients or missing eyes or even tumors. We did a Christmas party. Colored a manger scene, sang "Jingle Bells", and Shared the story with them. They were grateful. We were also given perspective of what we could possibly do in the next year.
"And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?"
I can tell you YES! Now of course I dont live an a remote village but there are faint sightings of Christmas, but its not the same. I kinda like all the nonsense stripped away... just simply Christmas, with a nice helping of hot sun.
Today I went with some ladies to the Children's Ward of the largest Hospital in TZ. This visit will be on heart for a long time to come. The children and the parents overwhelm the facility. Atleast one parent must stay with the child at all times, so just as many mothers and fathers are there with the children. Mostly cancer patients or missing eyes or even tumors. We did a Christmas party. Colored a manger scene, sang "Jingle Bells", and Shared the story with them. They were grateful. We were also given perspective of what we could possibly do in the next year.
Nov 18, 2011
November: Chhhchanges!
The month of November has not held back in multiple ways. This entry is entitled “Changes” due to some changes in my ministry.
The Plattos are moving to Dar and have begun working with me at the University. Nate and I have begun teaching classes officially in the PE and Rec department. We teach 4 days a week- - Volleyball, Tennis, Table Tennis, and Ultimate Frisbee. I would say I’m “livin the dream.” I never thought we would be fully teaching classes with students there as a gateway to relationships. Oh how the Lord knew to prompt my heart for a degree in Church Rec, 3 years ago. The students are very receptive of us teaching. Even though its like a million degrees, we are having a blast with this.
School has started again at UDSM. All my old friends are back and the fresh new faces of new students. I have started teaching a Spiritual Disciplines Study to the girls in my bible study. Donald Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Soul.
The seasons have changed as well. It’s extremely warm lately. I can’t stop sweating. The sad thing is, its only going to get hotter.
Below are some pictures from the month!
The Plattos are moving to Dar and have begun working with me at the University. Nate and I have begun teaching classes officially in the PE and Rec department. We teach 4 days a week- - Volleyball, Tennis, Table Tennis, and Ultimate Frisbee. I would say I’m “livin the dream.” I never thought we would be fully teaching classes with students there as a gateway to relationships. Oh how the Lord knew to prompt my heart for a degree in Church Rec, 3 years ago. The students are very receptive of us teaching. Even though its like a million degrees, we are having a blast with this.
School has started again at UDSM. All my old friends are back and the fresh new faces of new students. I have started teaching a Spiritual Disciplines Study to the girls in my bible study. Donald Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Soul.
The seasons have changed as well. It’s extremely warm lately. I can’t stop sweating. The sad thing is, its only going to get hotter.
Below are some pictures from the month!
Oct 15, 2011
Its been a while ....
The first week of October was Orientation for the students. Over 2,000+ new freshman flooded the campus. It was amazing to see the chaos of no one really having a clue what was going on. Some didn't even know until the first day if they were even approved for admittance. We tried to get involved as much as we could. (By "We" I mean myself and the new married couple I am working with.) In the evenings we would venture to the sports fields but students were few... many found themselves standing in an ATM line for hours in order to pay their fees. We ate lunch in the Caf on day and walked all over campus, because we too are learning the lay out. On Thursday of the week we were given an opportunity to speak with other evangelical groups on campus about who are and what we are doing. I shared The Message's version of Matthew 7:13 and explained how this is a opportunity to be who ever you want to be and we want to help them be the person the Father wants them to be.
"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."
The next day I wound up in the hospital for 3 days with Amebas and Dysentery. I am fine now, but it was a long hard road to recovery. I have never been so sick in my life and would never wish anyone what I experienced. It was amazing to see the way my M family here and Students at the University wrapped their arms around me while my family was many miles away.
I am feeling much like myself again and gaining my strength back. This next month the family that I am working with will be finally moving here and we will begin full on at the campus. There are many doors open for us in the field of recreation we are so excited about.
"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."
The next day I wound up in the hospital for 3 days with Amebas and Dysentery. I am fine now, but it was a long hard road to recovery. I have never been so sick in my life and would never wish anyone what I experienced. It was amazing to see the way my M family here and Students at the University wrapped their arms around me while my family was many miles away.
I am feeling much like myself again and gaining my strength back. This next month the family that I am working with will be finally moving here and we will begin full on at the campus. There are many doors open for us in the field of recreation we are so excited about.
Sep 22, 2011
In time....
After spending quite some time here, I tend to glaze over the things when I first got here would shock me. I dreamed the of the days when I didn’t seem so wide eyed…. Now I feel as if I have reached that point here. Most of these “shocking” things happen while driving. I feel like after driving here I could drive anywhere, but I am also fearful of my driving when I return to the states.
- Guys in roller blades while holding on the back bumper of a bus. This scares me to death! Especially when I am driving behind it!
- Getting thru a traffic light without power. This is insane. Reoccurring all the time here due to power outages. Just gun it and go!
- Speaking of power outages, power going out in a restaurant for a few minutes and sitting in the dark until they’re generator kicks on.
- Buying multiple of something I really like just incase they are out of it for a long period of time.
- Guys peeing on the side of the road. I just laugh out loud every time I see it.
- Street sweepers – these are men and woman who spend their days doing a thankless job. They sweep sand in the roads, I am shocked they put their lives in the hands of such insane driving.
- Days going not quite as I had planned—waiting on a fundi (mr fix it) who said he would here an hour ago, traffic not moving when it needs to be, product not working and needing to return it and only to have its replacement fail as well, having an “Im not the mood for Africa day” and hermit inside for a few hours and watch too many episodes of Saved by the Bell….
This next month the fun will begin… Students will be returning to campus, 5,000 new students will join us, and we as a “team” will tackle the task at hand. GREAT doors have opened for us to walk thru, we are excited to see what is in store!
- Guys in roller blades while holding on the back bumper of a bus. This scares me to death! Especially when I am driving behind it!
- Getting thru a traffic light without power. This is insane. Reoccurring all the time here due to power outages. Just gun it and go!
- Speaking of power outages, power going out in a restaurant for a few minutes and sitting in the dark until they’re generator kicks on.
- Buying multiple of something I really like just incase they are out of it for a long period of time.
- Guys peeing on the side of the road. I just laugh out loud every time I see it.
- Street sweepers – these are men and woman who spend their days doing a thankless job. They sweep sand in the roads, I am shocked they put their lives in the hands of such insane driving.
- Days going not quite as I had planned—waiting on a fundi (mr fix it) who said he would here an hour ago, traffic not moving when it needs to be, product not working and needing to return it and only to have its replacement fail as well, having an “Im not the mood for Africa day” and hermit inside for a few hours and watch too many episodes of Saved by the Bell….
This next month the fun will begin… Students will be returning to campus, 5,000 new students will join us, and we as a “team” will tackle the task at hand. GREAT doors have opened for us to walk thru, we are excited to see what is in store!
Sep 12, 2011
6 months wrap up!
6 months ago I sobbed getting on the plane... unsure of what was on the other side of the ocean. Now 6 months later, I am proud to call Tanzania my home. It truly has been a whirlwind.
I have learned to...
- Live alone. The past 6 years I have lived in and out of dorm rooms. Then I went from all of that to a 2 bed room by myself half way around the world.
- Drive a stick shift. Learning to drive here alone was has been crazy much less learn to drive all over again.
- Learn to speak a language sufficiently.
- Make new friends from all over!
- Catch a vision for the ministry that lies ahead! Oh the things God's going to do!
-See doors open for our ministry on campus!
Lastly,
- Lean on my Savior more than ever before....
That last one has been my biggest lesson of all. Without that all the things above I have learned would not be possible.
I got to take a break from TZ and head up to Kenya to see some good friends. Below is some love a giraffe gave me and the after shock!
I have learned to...
- Live alone. The past 6 years I have lived in and out of dorm rooms. Then I went from all of that to a 2 bed room by myself half way around the world.
- Drive a stick shift. Learning to drive here alone was has been crazy much less learn to drive all over again.
- Learn to speak a language sufficiently.
- Make new friends from all over!
- Catch a vision for the ministry that lies ahead! Oh the things God's going to do!
-See doors open for our ministry on campus!
Lastly,
- Lean on my Savior more than ever before....
That last one has been my biggest lesson of all. Without that all the things above I have learned would not be possible.
I got to take a break from TZ and head up to Kenya to see some good friends. Below is some love a giraffe gave me and the after shock!
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