My First Week At 6,000 Feet

"When you believe nothing significant can happen through you, you have said more about your belief in God than you have declared about yourself."

-Experiencing God

I live in a village called Uhekule (oo-hey-kool-a). In this village are many things that make me think, “I would never see that in America.” For instance; Children using machetes to cut wood, toddlers carrying babies on their backs, toddlers wielding hammers, children working the shambas (fields) as part of school, and many more things. Just little reminders that you are in Africa. That being said, the minute I met the children, all doubts were gone. Eleven beautiful children, which I get the pleasure of knowing the next year. I love them so much already; they are so full of life! They like to tell everyone that they have Big butts. They are also very impressed with my muscles, and call me "Popeye". If they think I have big muscles I can not wait for them to meet my dad.

It's so beautiful here! I consider myself pretty lucky that I get to live here for a while. There are three buildings that make up the orphanage; the boys dorm, the girls dorm, and the volunteer dorm/ kitchen/ dining room/ classroom. Every day I look around and can’t believe that this is my life. The scenery is unreal. I am overwhelmed by the beauty of Tanzania (at least where I live) and this is my home. 

The kids all have some family in the village, but they are unable to really give them the care that they need. So they are at the orphanage. (In Tanzania, you are consider an orphan if one or more parents are dead.) So on Sundays, in the afternoon, we take the kids around for visits to their families. I was in a bit of shock when i saw their homes. I like the way Corrinne describes it, but it’s like looking in a National Geographic Magazine. All the pictures and video and assumptions about Africa, are pretty much true. They live in tiny "houses". Most are made of brick, or just pieces of wood for walls. They have a room where they cook over a fire place. And they just sit in these rooms with the smoke going everywhere, and the walls are just black. I went into a couple and I am not sure how they can stand it. My eyes were burning so bad! But this is life. This is how they live. The most amazing part of all of it is not how little they have, but how much. Everyone is so kind, and loving. They invite you into their homes-eager to meet you, and offer you food. At one house they had a bunch of dogs everywhere, and when we went inside, they offered us meat (which is very rare, and considered a huge honor). I was convinced that I was eating dog, but Corrinne said they don't eat dog here, they do eat cat sometimes.

I HATE spiders, in fact I am terrified of spiders. I can kill them, sometimes. Most people already know this about me. So, I am in my bedroom and decide that I would like to open my window for some fresh air. There are a few spiders in my room, but they haven't moved or anything so I am letting them live. Anyways, so I am opening the window and spiders scatter EVERYWHERE. I am pretty sure I start screaming and jump back about thirty feet (or so). I was able to kill a few, but then I try to close the window and it won’t close all the way. So I call in Corrinne and she finishes the job for me. Spiders. Ugh. 

Bibi Kay is designating me the Kuku or Chicken person. I have never dealt with chickens in my life, but now, in addition to the eleven children I am taking care of, I now have acquired twenty chickens. 

The kids discovered the birth mark on my leg and they say i have a little bit of African in me. :)

Bugs, are now a permanent part of my life. BUGS EVERYWHERE. In the house, in my room, outside, on the windows, anywhere and everywhere. Not to mention Spiders, which i hate. (as previously noted) And those are everywhere too. But even with all of that i am happy. I love that this is where I am, and some days are going to be harder than others, but for now, things are good.  I even had my first chance to work in the shamba (field) and it wasn't so bad. (at least what we were doing) I did get a pretty awesome sunburn. I had my hair up so the back of my neck and ears got burnt, and my face, and i had a sweatshirt on but the sleeves pulled up, so my forearms are burnt. Normally i would wear sunscreen but we left without a plan so i forgot all about it. Not next time though.

I still can’t believe that this is my life. This is where I get to live for a year. I have random moments of home sickness, but I am pretty sure those moments are meant to come. Plus I have eleven children to hug to help get through it. J I am still trying to wrap my mind around where I am. Africa. Tanzania, Africa.

For thanksgiving, Bibikay treated us to Spaghetti. (With meat in the sauce) It was delicious, but I did miss all the Hohensee/Yoder cooking. I was with you all in spirit, while I was sleeping.  

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” –Isaiah 61:1-3    

                    

Love has been on my mind a lot lately. God is really convicting me on loving everyone, even when it is hard. If I only love people when it’s easy, how does that show the love of Christ? What kind of an impact does that make? Anyone can love people who are easy to love, but to love no matter what, that is something special. I am so excited to see where this year is going to take me. What he has in store for me. He is obviously already at work here; I just get to join him.


Try this link to see my pictures:
 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151258567313959.487503.783708958&type=3

Journey to & Through Tanzania

After an emotional goodbye in which my dad reminded us that i was "not dying" (lol) I was on my way. Ready to take on my new life.

Traveling went smoothly, well as smoothly as you can expect. The 15 hour flight from New York to South Africa was challenging to say the least. It seems silly to say but I questioned “what the heck I was doing here?” Why I had I agreed to put life as I knew it behind me to get on this plane, alone, tired, hurting (it’s hard to sit for so long); All to come to a place where all those things will most likely still be true. However I believe that God gives us a hope, in small details, and at 5:00 AM, I saw the most beautiful sunrise. A sunrise on a plane, flying over the Atlantic ocean, almost to Africa. A sunrise full of green/blue/ and reds. A sunrise welcoming me to a new chapter of my life. A chapter that I know holds so many things to teach me, to challenge me, to mold me into the woman God wants me to be. I told him yes and I know that he would be faithful to me, and reveal all he has to offer me in Tanzania, Africa. In his time, with my obedience.

14 NOV 2012:

When I finally get off the plane in Tanzania, the overwhelming feeling hits me again. “What the heck am I doing here?” The reality of where I am sets in and I can’t help but miss home. Miss my family. Miss my comfort zone. Miss my idea of what “normal” is. Normal is not having people walk all over the roads as cars fly by. Normal is not having people walking around barefoot on dirty roads as cars fly by. Normal is not where I am. When I arrive at my hotel the normal that I miss and the struggle with why I am here gets stronger. I would never in my life stay in a hotel like the one I am in. Its tiny, no tv, no internet, a broken fan, and it’s not home. I want to cry, and jump back on those planes for home, and then God reminds me that he loves me, he is going to take care of me, and I look at my room again. I having running water so I am able to take a shower, and my toilet flushes. I have a bed to sleep in; in fact there are two beds in my room. Most of the people I passed on the way here probably don’t have half the things I do tonight. My normal is something they only dream of. This is their normal. I am fortunate, and I am here for a reason. I am here to love these people because Jesus would. I am here to learn about a life that I know nothing about. If this was going to be easy, where would the room for growth be? I have to remind myself that God wants me here. God wants me here. 

15 NOV 2012:

If i thought God was sending me here to do this alone. He is not. In fact he wants to remind me that this is not possible without him. My life in Africa is not an accident. He sent me here for a purpose that only he knows, so of course i can't do this without him.

 My first day in DA,R... If I thought that public transportation LOOKS scarey, actually experiencing this first hand is TERRIFYING! It's a first go, first go situation. It amazes me that there are not more crashes. I literally just had to close my eyes, and trust that they do this everyday. My new friend here who took me around Dar, asked if this was different than America. I just shook my head, YES! It is impossible to describe the differences, you just have to experience it.

But this is their normal.This is how they run things, and it works. It's not my job to say what is "better". It's my job to come love, and experience all Tanzania has to offer. And trust that God is with me the whole time.

I know that this year is not going to be easy. I know this. And yet God wants me here. He has a plan so much bigger than anything that i can think of, and he has invited me to share in it with him. In my first day in Dar, he showed me that i can't do this alone, that i need him. I need him like never before, because this life is hard. Its not a bad thing to need him. I should always need him, but in my life i get comfortable, and think i can do it alone. (which i can't there either)

In my first 3 days in Tanzania this is what i have learned: 

1. Personal space-does not exist. I am the blonde haired, blue eyed, white girl, and everyone wants to talk to, touch, and stare at me.

2. Public transportation- TERRIFYING.

3.Appreciation for my home- Through the roof.

But just when i think that things are as bad as they can get (on a 12 hour bus ride to Njombe)  we drive through a national forest. Do you know what that means? That means that in their natural habitat, I got to see Giselle, zebras, a baboon, and about 10 giraffe!!!!!!! Just on a bus ride across Tanzania. I am in Africa! Africa!

17 NOV 2012

I'm off to the orphanage in a few hours. Things are about to get real. I will try to post as often as i can. (limited internet) I love you all. Keep up the good work with all those prayers! :)