Picture Edition!!

Elia

Goodluck

Elisha

Eliza, and our water tank

M&M cookies, thanks for the donations!!

Ziada & Eliza

Working in the Shamba

Priska

Lunch Break!

Goodluck, Ziada,& Hosea

Elia, Elisha, & Regina

Our Dinning Room

Main Building

Girls Dorm

Kitchen

Boys Dorm

Eliza and Jose

Tumpe

Ziada, Elenesta, & Eliza

Jeni

Elenesta

Kay and some of the kids working in the Shamba!

Ziada

Jeneti

Family i spent New Years with.

Bed Bugs

I am thankful for the return of Corrinne and Kay this week, but after living in the volunteer wing for 6 weeks by myself, its bit of an adjustment having a roommate again. It’s nice to have someone to share the work load with, and to have a friend. We have big changes in mind for Sunrise, which is very exciting. We are just praying and waiting for God’s plan.

Bed bugs. That is the theme of this week, and one I do not care to repeat. Over the past few weeks I noticed that I was getting bitten by something during the night. At first it was just a few bites, and then I woke up and my entire leg was covered. It continued for a few days and was getting worse. One night I took my phone (which has a flashlight….awesome!) and looked in my bed…And saw bugs!!!! Tiny bugs that otherwise would go unnoticed. So I moved into the guest room for a few days and started the process of riding my room of bed bugs.  I had to boil all my clothes and blankets, then hand wash everything, and leave it in the sun for as long as I could. I wiped my mattress down with bleach water and left it in the sun too. Bug spraying my room came next, I used so much that it took a few days for it to be safe to enter. I really hope that all my efforts pay off because it was a long process and I strongly dislike doing laundry.

I tried two new foods this week. One is called Daga, they are these tiny, really smelly fish that they eat whole, heads and tails. I wasn’t aware that is what I was eating at first; I had been really good at avoiding it. I guess it’s good that I am trying new things; however it’s not something I will be repeating…hopefully. The other thing that I tried this week was actually really hard to try; it took me like four hours to taste it. The taste wasn’t bad, a little more flavorful then chicken.  And what was this mystery meat you ask? Guinea Pig. That’s right, sweet, and adorable, your kids have them as pets, Guinea Pig. I learned last Sunday that they eat them here, and then my friend from the village brought one over for me to try.

Every Thursday evening is “special” for dinner, which means that the volunteers cook the meal. I have made soup, spaghetti with cheesy bread, pizza (not so good the first time, excellent the second), mac and cheese, all from scratch. This week I tried a new recipe. I made meatless meatloaf, which is made with mashed up beans instead of meat. It was awesome. We had it with pasta and I made a sauce, everyone seemed to enjoy it. It is such a long process to cook anything here, takes all day; plus you are cooking for around 15 people.

Corrinne and I will be going to Malawi next weekend. My 90 day visa is up in a couple of weeks, and so I have to leave the country to keep it valid. I am going to be applying for my temporary residency permit, but it is a long process and takes a month. So please pray that everything goes smoothly so I am able to get it. 

The kids are doing great this week; we are having lots of fun as usual. Corrinne met with my family when she was in America. She brought me back lots of goodies from them, including my new camera that Santa got me. I will try to post picture again soon!!! 

I have started to get a tan going on, mostly a farmer’s tan (arms, face, and feet). My hair is also getting blonder from being in the sun so much. Sunscreen is now my best friend. 

“God wants his people to understand that all life is spiritual; all of life’s activities come under his domain. How we plow our fields or how we shop at the market or even how we talk to a gas station attendant. Everything we do can be a way of worshiping him.” –Joni Eareckson Tada

Clean up, Clean up, Everbody Everywhere!

 “When we walk in difficult places, God sends the strength and nourishment to face what comes our way, not all at once, but day by day.” –Sue Monk Kidd

I’m sitting outside and it is the most beautiful summer day! After so many days of just rain, rain, rain, the sun is shining, its warm out, and I am just sitting in the grass taking it all in. What have I done to deserve this? What have I done in my life to get to live here, and not just live here, but love it. The answer is that I haven’t done anything to deserve all the things that God has given me. All the chances, all the love, all the trials, all the hope, all the dreams, the only thing that I have done is said yes. Said yes to a God who is faithful, yes to a God who knows me, who loves me, who has a plan for me. And even then it took so long for me to seek out all that God has to offer me in this life. 

I Knew that I would fall in love with this place, I knew it because I have always wanted it. God has been preparing my heart for this place my entire life. I just didn’t know what that love would like. I didn’t know how powerful that love would be, or how much I would cherish it. I didn’t know that in such a short time an attachment for a place I barely knew would grow. I didn’t know that these kids would enter my heart so quickly and that I would feel so deeply for them. I didn’t know that a heart could be so full all the time, and that you could have so much love for so many people. That I would love two worlds, and that I would be torn between them, not sure where my heart longed to be more.

There are so many things that I miss about Oregon. My family, my pets, my friends, a church where I understand what is going on, washing machines and driers, everyone speaking the same language, late night video games, laying on the couch watching TV, reliable internet, driving my car on paved roads, going to one store and being able to buy everything I need, not being needed so much, making decisions that only affect me, steaks, a life that I have grown up with. 

And yet here I am, in a world that has none of those things and I am happy. I have eleven children that I love so much, that fill my days with laughter, joy, and dancing. I love getting pictures drawn for me, constant hugs and kisses, introducing them to new things and being introduced to new things, all the questions, the constant noise, singing songs, feeling needed. I love the simplicity of this life, simple in the sense that they don’t need a lot to be happy. We don’t have a TV, or video games, a swimming pool, a movie theatre, bowling alley, a mall, or iphones. We have two soccer balls, most of the our time is spent outside (when it’s not raining), we watch a movie once a week and it’s a privilege, the kids taught me a game that all you need is a ball (or piece of fruit), some rocks, and a small hole in the ground. A lot of the time we just sit outside in the grass listening to music, and they do crazy things with my hair. This is my life in Tanzania, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I have been here for a little over two months and sometimes I can’t believe it’s only been that long, and at the same time I can’t believe it’s already been that long. These two months have been full of so much change, so much love, so much happiness and joy, so much life. One of the staff members has been gone this week on a family emergency, and so I have been sleeping in the boys’ dorm. I fall asleep at night to the sound of five little boys singing songs, and my heart just swells. I can’t say that I wanted or was planning on being a mom anytime soon, and these children aren’t really mine and yet they are. I can claim these kids as mine, I am a mother of eleven children.  (luckily it’s a shared motherhood) 

My Life is so different here, for so many reasons. I shower twice a week, sometimes more if I am lucky enough to have hot water. (I tried doing a bucket bath a few times, but I have way too much hair) I have washed my clothes a grand total of twice, once a month basically. We clean the facility three times a week, at home I barely cleaned my room three times a year. We walk everywhere and anywhere. I am constantly making things from scratch, instead of everything coming out of a box that you just add eggs and water to. Eggs don’t come out of a carton, and often times there is chicken poop on them. To cook on the stove you can’t just turn It on, you have to start a fire and let it heat up.  Time really doesn’t exist. Church is over two hours long, which is like eight hours long when you don’t speak the language. All of these things are now my new normal, it’s my life, and you got to love it. 

Turns out being the bad guy works out in your favor sometimes. This week the kids have been little angels!! Everyone is doing their chores and brushing their teeth. I don’t have to ask for things more than once. It has made this week such a breeze especially since there is so much work to do for the return of Kay and Corrinne. We are in major clean up mode, washing walls, floors, windows, mowing the grass, laundry, cleaning rooms, getting rid of spider webs (something I am not taking part in), pretty much anything and everything that can be cleaned will be cleaned.  This place is going to shine. 

There is a big change coming here, and it needs lots of prayer. We aren’t sure of the future of Sunrise, but God put it here for a reason, he brought the people he did for a reason, we have to believe that he is not done with it yet. He has a plan so big and so wonderful and we just have to trust him.  I was reading in Exodus about Moses and the Israelites. God had just delivered them from Egypt and now they were worried about food. God gave them enough food for each day, day by day. They had to trust and believe that God was going to deliver. I want that kind of faith, the kind that requires me to believe that God is going to take care of me every day; I want to know it in my heart to be true.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fails. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’” –Lamentations 3:22-24

The Bad Guy

Tanzania 101:

There is something here that I like to call the “Tanzanian Squeeze”, and this is how it works:

I was catching a taxi from Njombe (closest “big” town) back to Uhekule, where I had just finished my weekly grocery shopping. We basically filled the trunk of the van with everyone’s stuff and it was time to go. I was taking an 8 passenger van, and we had about 11 people crammed in there, not too bad right? (I had the privilege of being up front) Next thing I know there is another lady wanting to catch the taxi too, so the driver takes a bag of rice and sets it in between our front seats, and then has someone sit on it. Now we have 12 people in our 8 passenger van. We are all getting settled when I realize that the lady who just got on, has a chicken! That’s right a live chicken, so we have 12 people and 1 chicken in the 8 passenger van.  We are taking off out of Njombe, when yet another man wants to catch a ride with us. At this point I am convinced that there is nowhere else we can possibly fit someone, and yet I am proved wrong. This man sits in the trunk of the car! Now we have 13 people, 1 chicken, a ton of cargo, in an 8 passenger van. You have now been taught the Tanzanian Squeeze. 

We have been off to a pretty rough start with the kids; no one wants to do their chores, they all took off the other day without telling anyone or asking permission,  some of them didn’t come home for lunch, etc. I have had to be the bad guy all week, and discipline, discipline, discipline! I went over all their chores with them and what is expected, reminder of the rules (ie not leaving without asking), and I have had to talk with certain kids individually. We have one girl who is older and WAY more mature than the other kids, but she has started telling them what to do, and spanking them for not obeying. So I had to talk to her about that, and I told her that I realize she does more than the other kids and I really appreciate it; however she is not to tell the other kids what to do or discipline them, if she has a problem she needs to talk to me or one of the other staff. I had to be really mean and take away movie night this week, and I think now they realize I am serious. 

We have this point system for the kids. When they do their chores or brush their teeth they get a point (which is a painted piece of corn) and then they get to buy something from the store each week. It was working great before the kids left for their families, and now they “don’t care about points”. I am hoping that when we have store this week, and the kids who don’t have enough corn and can’t participate, will care more this following week.

I am excited for the return if Kay and Corrinne this next weekend. Kay will be flying into DAR, and then going to Arusha (northern TZ) to meet with a pastor at another orphanage. She is going to check theirs out, and then he is going to come here. He might have some ideas for NGO’s that can take over here. So be praying like crazy for us, that we will be open to God’s leading about the future of Sunrise. As of right now I am the only volunteer lined up for Sunrise, BBK wants to leave in March, and Corrinne in April, but no later than July. 

I will be getting my temporary residency permit soon, so be praying that everything goes smoothly.

“God knows the lessons we need to learn, lessons of patience, submission, and self-denial. Our faith may need strengthening. We may be so concerned that God remove us from prison, that we miss the lessons he has for us in prison.” –Millie Stamm

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

As usual, thank you for your continued Love and Support. 

Happy New Year!

It’s a new year, and it’s time for new resolutions, and this year is a big one for me. Not just because I am in Africa, but because I am living my dream. My lifelong dream of someday moving to Africa to work in an orphanage. For my entire life- as long as I can remember, I have known that this is where God wants me, somehow, someway. What an amazing feeling to have your dreams come true, and have them come true in such a powerful, extraordinary way. I want this experience to change me, to change me in ways that make it impossible to go back to the way things were. I have been here for almost two months, and these two months feel like a life time. My life has changed drastically, I have changed, and the way I look at things has changed. I have no Idea what the rest of my life is going to look like after my time here, but I know that this year will forever impact it. I always hear people say “live life to the fullest”, not until recently have I really thought about what it means. What it means for me is embracing this new life that God has given me, working hard every day especially when it is hard, loving all the people that I come into contact with, not being afraid to try new things or looking absolutely ridiculous, believing in the power of dreams, teaching by being an example, fighting for what’s right, knowing that God loves me in the biggest way that anyone can love. This is my life now, and even if it is only for a year I want it to be the best year of my life.  

People are always asking me if Africa is what I expected. I can’t answer that. I am not sure what I thought it would be like, now that I am here. All I know for sure is that I love it. All of it. This life is simple, hard work but simple. You greet everyone you pass in the village, you welcome everyone who stops by into your home. I don’t feel unwelcome, anywhere.  Although it’s not all rainbows and butterflies, there are frustrations and challenges, but I am determined to enjoy all this place has to offer.  

I have been asked to teach English to the villagers once a week. I am a little intimidated, it’s a lot different than teaching English to the kids. I think it will be a really great way to connect with the villagers, really put myself out there and get to know people. 

Life is back to normal now. The sounds of kids playing, constant noise, doors opening and shutting, my name being called, “Court-ta-ney, Court-ta-ney”, laughter, music playing extra loud for dance parties, chaos, our life, all signs the kids have returned. Now we are getting back into the routine of  things. I have been working on my Swahili, learning more every day. I had an exciting and new experience for New Years! I was invited to one of my friends in the village’s house. I had intended to just go for a few hours but his family welcomed me and his sisters wanted to teach me how to make their special dishes. Although they spoke next to no English and the same with me in Swahili, it was really fun. They made me feel so much love and acceptance, plus I think they were a little excited to have an mzungu for the holiday. We welcomed the New Year with dancing, and it was an experience I will not soon forget. They invited me to come the next day as well and I was even given an assignment! 

For the most part I have adjusted exceptionally well, which is something I can only thank God for. However this week I got sick. Really sick. I will spare you the dirty details, but it was terrible and I am so thankful to be feeling better now. This is the reason I have been so late in posting a new blog, so I am sorry for that. (Plus terrible internet.)

We live next door to the dispensary and someone had a baby!!! So I went over with one of the staff to meet the little girl and her family. She is absolutely adorable, of course! Within the first hour of her life she saw an mzungu, what an honor!  The women here are so tough! This woman walked to the dispensary, was told that it wasn’t time yet and to come back later, went home, and came back a few hours later to have her baby. She has her baby, rests in the bed for maybe 2 hours at the most, and then walks home with her baby!

As usual thank you for all your continued prayers, and support. I appreciated them, and need them. Happy New Year! Welcome to 2013!