Yesterday, I (Jana) got my very own Tanzanian driver's license and drove through town all by myself! :) Very basic thing, but it was a milestone for me. The car is still in one piece and nobody has yet suffered any trauma (that I'm aware of).
« December 2008 | Main | February 2009 »
Yesterday, I (Jana) got my very own Tanzanian driver's license and drove through town all by myself! :) Very basic thing, but it was a milestone for me. The car is still in one piece and nobody has yet suffered any trauma (that I'm aware of).
Posted at 06:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Since I was gone for the last week in Nyakaliro, this week my posts will include reflections on what happened over these last seven days. There will be two segments to each post, one journaling the activities of that day last week and the other updating you on what the events of the day this week.
Monday Last Week:
I headed out from home with Rob at about 1:30 PM, after eating lunch at home and grabbing my bag. Rob dropped me off in town at the ferry dock, and I caught the 2:30 ferry across the inlet. It is about a 40 minute ride. The ferry is usually crammed full with a couple buses, four or five small cars, and 200-300 people. Most are carrying their traveling bags, and the ferry is a bussle of activity. This trip was no exception. Upon arrival on the other side, there is a lot of crowding, pushing and shoving as the people make their way through the small gaps in between the vehicles and as vehicle begin to move. Everyone is headed toward a gate in the fence that surrounds the loading and unloading area. On the other side of the fence, there is a unorganized gathering of sedans and SUV’s that show the wear and tear of African roads. An assortment of young men compete with one another for the newly arrived customers, shouting out the names of different locations and seeking to guide their would-be customers to a vehicle by grabbing their arm or taking their bag. The competition continues as the vehicles fill, and drivers begin to jockey for a position. Dust litters the air as cars scrabble along the bumpy dirt-pack road, passing one another at high speed.
After a rather intense 1 ½ hour ride, I arrived in Sengerema. I bought a ticket to ride a daladala from Segerema to Nyakaliro, to wait as the conductor sought customers for the trip. After nearly two hours, we had filled the vehicle beyond capacity, and began making the trip. I sat up front on the bench seat of the small van with the driver and two other adults, one of whom was strattling the shifter of the manual transmission.
I was thankful to arrive in Nyakaliro around 7:00 PM and made the walk from the market center to Pastor Elias’ house, where I was kindly welcomed to a meal of ugali and fish, some warm fellowship, and a place to rest for the night. I would begin the hard work of language and culture study on Tuesday morning.
Monday This Week:
I took the same route to come home today as I did to go to Nyakaliro. I left Pastor Elias’ home at about 5:45 AM and made it to our house about 10:45 AM. I was happy with 5 hours. We took the day as a family and rested at home. Jana and the kids were very excited to have me home, and we were thankful that the time apart had come to a close. After 7 days of total Swahili language immersion, a lot of research, and time away from one another, today was a well-needed rest for everyone.
Posted at 08:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Since this message was typed before today and scheduled to post today, I thought that I would just put a note here that is disconnected to any events but is a part of everyday life.
Posted at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
On Sunday, I did my morning Bible reading from Matthew. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount says, "Maana pale ilipo hazina yako, ndipo pia utakapokuwa moyo wako." Translated into English it reads, "For that place where your treasure is, is the very place also where your heart will be."
Jesus spoke these words to remind his readers there are only two options: live with your mind and heart directed toward this world, or live with your mind and heart directed toward the next world. We cannot misunderstand Jesus' words. I do not believe that he is saying, possessions are a bad thing. Such a conclusion would contradict the fact that "everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving" (1 Tim. 4:4). Sometimes the things that can be destroyed by moth and rust or stolen by thieves are good things. I believe that Jesus is saying, anything we make as a pursuit in itself, a goal toward which we turn our lives, an object that we use to judge the value of our lives, no matter how good it is, has suddenly become a bad thing. Not in itself, but because of what we have made it: an idol.
I was struck with the thought that as we live and work here, we have two options. We can live in Tanzania with our thoughts always directed to America, and demonstrate that our heart is not in what we have been called to. Or we can be thankful for all that God has given us, and even though we have had to leave much that we love back in the States, we can invest our hearts in Tanzania, serving the people we have been called to, laying up treasures in heaven.
Pray with us that our hearts will, everyday, be found more and more to be here in Tanzania.
Posted at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Posted at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Today's service was great. We will try to post some pictures of it as we are able to get them from Rob. Thanks for your prayers.
Posted at 09:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 04:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
This morning, I was in the office reading a third year history book in Swahili. Lunch with the Howells and Eads', Beth, Dr. Dawson and Pastor Doran. More reading and translating in the afternoon. Spaghetti for supper. Kicked around a soccer ball with some boys from the Sweya church. Time with the kids.
Posted at 08:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Yesterday, Pastor David Doran arrived to Mwanza here. He is the senior pastor of Inter-City Baptist Church, in Allen Park, MI. Inter-City is a supporting church of ours, and it is the church that sent Rob Howell and his family here to initiate the work we are a part of. Inter-City partnered with our church, Parkers Lake Baptist Church, and is facilitating our being here through their ministry, Grace Baptist Mission. Our family has really enjoyed getting to spend some time with Pastor Doran while he is here. This morning, Jana, the kids, and I went to town with him to town to eat breakfast and get to talk. It was an encouraging time.
I had already mentioned that Dr. Sam Dawson has also been here visiting for the past week. He has been teaching through the book of Romans in a block class for the Bible Institute. They finished their study of that book today. Our kids have really enjoyed this "grandpa-in-training" (Dr. Dawson is expecting his first grandchild in April) and so have we.
Today was the graduation of four Bible Institute students: Ferdinand, Paulo, Elias, and Samsoni. They have labored for four long years to complete the program, making many sacrifices to become better ministers of the gospel. Ferdinand is the director of Tumaini Children's Home. Paulo is the pastor of the Sweya church. Elias pastors the Nyakaliro church. Samsoni is the intern at the Shadi church, but on Saturday, he will have his ordination council. Sunday, he will be installed as pastor of the Shadi church, and the church will officially be handed over to the believers there. (Elias and Paulo were ordained last year.)
What an exciting week to see the work of God move forward in Mwanza region! Rejoice with us in the great things that God has done (and is doing).
Just a note: It was -30 degrees (real temp, not wind-chill) in my home state of Minnesota, USA today. It was nearly 110 warmer here in Mwanza!
Posted at 07:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Pastor Paulo, the pastor of the church in Sweya, has a very bad case of malaria. He has been admitted to the hospital and, with the medication, we are praying that he begins improving soon. However, he is in a lot of pain and is rather lethargic when we went to see him at the hospital today. I would ask that you all pray for him, as he was admitted just the day before he was to graduate from the Bible Institute (Graduation for four of the students is tomorrow). More on graduation tomorrow.
Posted at 07:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Recent Comments