The Eads to Tanzania

"Bye again Daddy!"

This is Jana. I will be holding down the 'fort' and the blog this week.

Dan left for Nyakaliro this morning at 6:30 with Rob, Dr. Snoeberger, and some of the Institute students. While the kids and I are always sad to see him go, we know how profitable these trips are for him. Please pray, again, that this week-long trip would be a productive time as he continues to research and learn more about Tanzanian/Wasukuma culture, and as he continues in developing fluency in the language. On Thursday I had the opportunity to greet Pastor Elias, who Dan has been staying with on his Nyakaliro trips. I told him how much I have enjoyed hearing about his family. Elias' response was that Dan has quickly become a "mwenyeji" (inhabitant) in Nyakaliro.

Dan was able to sit in on a few days of Apologetics class this week at the BIble Institute. As in the past, he enjoyed the class and found it very profitable to listen to how Rob translated the English into Swahili. To know more about this, check the Howell's blog.

On Wednesday, Dan went into town to obtain a motor-bike for Beth Roark. Even since Wednesday, this has been a big help for our team. Now Beth has the flexibility to go to and from Tumaini whenever she needs to with little fuel expense.

Dan had an interesting experience when he purchased the bike. A couple of the sales clerks were discussing his sale in Swahili, assuming that the 'new mzungu' (white guy) didn't understand. He ruffled a few feathers when, a minute later, he casually inquired about something in their conversation. Eyes got big, jaws dropped, and the manager scolded his salesman for ruining their business because this man understood Swahili.

Also, a small thing that meant a lot to me this week: On Thursday I and the kids went to get some tomatoes. As often happens, we ended up stopping to visit a few neighbors along the way and ended up being out for a few hours. When it was time to go, Grace begged to stay! This has NEVER happened before. In the past, I have usually needed to leave because Grace has been begging to return home. I was so thrilled by this. Thank you for praying for the kids' adjustment here. 

My Best Language Learning Tool

I have jokingly said that my best language learning tool is sunscreen.

I am convinced that a spoken language may be learned in a classroom or an office, but it cannot be learned well. Njia bora kujifunza lugha nyingine ni kuongea. The best way to learn another language is to converse. So, with my fair skin lathered in sun block, and with my language learning notebook under my arm, I head out.

I have already fell into the trap more than a few times of thinking that if I just read more, do more flashcards, etc. (all things done indoors), I will improve my Swahili. They will definitely help my Swahili, but they will not progress me in my fluency. Rob has been kind enough to gently remind me of this when I fall into the all too common American mindset that learning a language is an academic exercise. Language learning does involve academics, but mostly it is a kids' game that is played by repeated immersing yourself with native speakers and making people laugh with your silly mistakes. 

I have made a lot of people laugh. 

But, by God's grace, the mistakes become less and the conversation becomes more meaningful. Today, Sunday, I was out visiting with Pastor Paulo again. We left around 1:00 PM, after church, and I returned home around 6:00 PM.

I plan to be making good use of my best language learning tool this week.

Bible Institute- Day One

Well, at least it is day one for me. I was able to sit in on class today as Rob taught an introduction and overview on the books of Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and 1 Corinthians. I find that this listening time is some of the most productive for developing my listening ear. Also, Rob's Swahili is very well-enunciated, so that helps too.

Teaching and Visiting Again

Yesterday, I taught the children's class for the third time. This time we discussed the Fall and the Curse. It is becoming easier (but not easy) every time I am able to teach.

From 2:00-8:00 PM, I was visiting with Pastor Paulo. I am learning so much from observing his manner in the various visits. We had a real time of encouragement together. These times are invaluable for future ministry (and for learning now).

Finding Friends, Filleting Fish, and Family Funnies

Over these last few days, I have been trying to spend a large part of the day visiting. This means that I am seeking out new friends to help me in my language learning, and it means that I have opportunity to invite these friends to church with me. I am thankful for my growing ability in the language, and how these hours are becoming filled with more and more understanding (on both sides). This morning, I filleted a large fish that Jana bought from a local seller. The kids watched me and thought it was great. We decided not to cook it whole (although this is the common way to cook it here), and we are looking forward to having it for supper tomorrow night. Silas turned 2 last week. He is enjoying life in Tanzania. This morning as he was looking for a missing shoe, he threw up his hands and with a puzzled look said, "wapi?!" (Swahili for 'where'). This evening, he called me into his bedroom and with an intent look on his face was looking under the bed saying 'dudu!' (mdudu is Swahili for bug). He is coming along well in adjusting here. Grace surprised us this past weekend by cutting a substantial amount of her hair off. We found her in her room with a pair of scissors, a mullet, and a pile of hair swept under her bed. Jana did her best to make it look normal. Our camera has not been working, but at some point we will try to get some pictures up of her 'new look'. Thankfully, most all the African girls her age have shaved heads, so it's not that big of a deal here. Grace also has been more and more comfortable these last couple weeks when out with Jana. This morning she went outside the house and asked Mama Lucy to help her tie her baby doll on her back (like all of the African mothers that she sees). Afterwards she explained to us that she greeted Mama Lucy the right way, that she asked for help by saying, "baki? baki?" (No, this is not Swahili for back...but it seemed to communicate well enough) and thanked her in Swahili afterwards. She was proud.

Here and There

Today, I spent the morning with Rob in town. Bank (became a signer on the accounts). Market (attempted pickpocket, he didn't get anything). Assorted errands.

This afternoon was tasks around the house and some downtime with the family.

Planned and Unplanned Participation

The planned part- Scripture Reading.

Yesterday, I was asked to do the Scripture reading for church in Sweya this morning. I gladly accepted. The text was Psalm 23. I spent about a half hour this morning prior to the service reading those six verses over and over again to get my pronunciation and fluidity worked out. This was the planned part.

I did the reading with basically no hitch. I was happy with the fact that I (or my Swahili) did not seem to be a distraction to the message of the text. Pastor Paulo preached from Matt. 28 about each individual believer's responsibility to participate in making disciples.

The unplanned part- The Closing Word of Prayer.

At the close of the sermon, there was a song of reflection sung by the congregation, and then Pastor Paulo asked Daniel if he would close in a word of prayer. I thought, So, who is the other Daniel? Then I realized there was no other Daniel in the service. He was calling on me!

I thanked God that we could gather together this morning. I thanked Him for the message that we heard and asked Him to help us to look for and understand the application of that message to this week. I thanked Him for our Savior.

I stumbled and stammered, but I finished. Praying in public (or in private) in Swahili is still something awkward for me. This morning when I uttered Amen, I was thankful to have gotten over a new hurdle but also left longing for a day when it feels normal to pray to God in this new language.

Debugging

Yesterday we spent the morning preparing for our house to be fumigated. Everything covered, everything else in cabinets. Sheets off of the beds, curtains drawn. At 11:00, Jana and I headed into town to do errands and to get her to language school, and the exterminator came to spray. This is a regular happening, once every six months or so, to kill the mosquitos, scorpions, cockroaches, millipedes, and other assorted insects that inevitably make their home in our home. This fumigation has been one of the major factors in us not getting dealing with Malaria on a monthly basis.

The kids came into town with the Howells, and we met up with them to get the kids. We stayed in town until 8:30, trying to let all of the fumigation spray settle in the house. When we arrived at home, the floor was a slip-slide from the spray and was littered with all sorts of dead bugs. It took most of this morning to sweep up, rearrange, wipe down floors, and clean sheets. It is a lot of work, but we are thankful for being able to take one more step to be able to protect our health.

I worked from home today on my grammar study.

Update: I have finished reading the book of Genesis in Swahili, and I have completed my Historia 3 primary school book. We both (Jana and I) are making steady progress on our goals.

Back Online

We have been having internet troubles (like, no internet) since Thursday or Friday. Tonight is my first time to get online or check email. We are going to go to bed now because it is getting late, but I will try to update tomorrow about the latest happenings.