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! :)