A big decision for an even bigger God

The children have returned! It took me just seeing their smiling faces to remember exactly why I love Africa, why I love this village, why I love my life. It’s crazy to be this happy all of the time. I mean like all of the time. So happy that when I fall asleep at night I still have a HUGE smile plastered on my face. God is so good. I keep thinking about all that God has done in my life up to this point. He gave me a passion and a love for this place when I was six years old, and 17 years later I am here. I am in an orphanage, loving on a bunch of kids, and I have never been happier. 

Last Sunday, (the day the kids returned) there was a village soccer game. Only some of the kids had returned to site, so Angel and I took them to the game, anxious to see our other kids. When we arrived we chose a spot in the grass and sat down. In no time at all about twenty or more village kids surrounded us. They are still a little weary of the wazungu (white people) but they were content to sit near us and stare. Some of the braver kids would come close and tell me their names, while some would hide their faces and giggle. This little boy, probably three or four, came around. He was eating candy so he was sticky from head to toe, and had the snottiest noes I have seen in a while. My heart just melted. I saw this beautiful little boy that I just wanted to have in my arms. I reached for him and he sat in my lap perfectly content. Of course I was soon covered with little bits of candy, and some boogers here and there, but none of that mattered. 

After the one brave boy, all of the kids, one after the other just came and sat on my lap, eager for a little extra loving. There were some village women who came to try and save me, but I told them I was fine. (Hamana Shida, not a problem.) This is what life is supposed to be like. You are supposed to sit around with a bunch of snotty nosed, fungus covered kids, and give them as much love as you can muster, and then some. 

Things are changing at Sunrise. I can feel it in every fiber of my being. God is planning something big and nothing is going to stop him. Angel, the new volunteer, and I have discovered that God is giving us similar visions for Sunrise. We are going to start doing service projects with the kids on Saturdays. We feel like we need to reach out to this community of hurting people, and show them how much Jesus loves them. Something that is missing in this culture is Jesus. Sure they go to church, they know their bibles, but they are missing the relationship. They are missing the “Jesus factor”. We have asked for some names of some needy families, and we are going to take them food, and all of the children to help out with things around the house. The best way to teach someone is to be an example of it, and that is what we are striving for. We also feel and see the need to help these children with their school work. While most of our kids are excelling in their schooling, the rest of the children in the village are not. We want to extend a helping hand and start a homework help day. We can’t teach all of the subjects, but we can help with math and English. And who knows, maybe some of the teachers will feel the call to volunteer their time to help. The last project we want to work on and the easiest one to accomplish is a monthly village movie night. Once a month we would like to set up the screen and the projector to just bring the villagers together. 

God has also been laying it on my heart to bring the staff together more too. We have started to do a bible study every week. We had one the other day and it was such a beautiful thing. The Holy Spirit was present and moving. I have also asked if the staff will be willing to pray together every night. The more we look to God, the more resistance we are going to face, and now more than ever we need to pray. So I am going to ask the same of all of you. Please be praying for Sunrise. Pray that God’s will, will be done. Pray that these projects Angel and I are starting will be used for the glory of God. Pray that we will continue to look to him for the answers, that we will stay strong and in community with one another, and that everything we do will be for the glory of God. 

Which brings me to the big decision; I have decided to stay for another year. While it’s going to be hard to be away for another year, I know what this life holds for me, and I know that God has a plan for me, for Sunrise, and for this village. When I think about all that God has already done in my life, how can I say no to an opportunity to serve? I will be coming home in November for a visit, but returning to Tanzania beginning of December. I discussed this with Kay and she seems happy to have me stay on. At least it will take some pressure off of her. 

I just want to thank you all again, for all the love and support sent my way. I know that God has blessed me with all of you, and I just want to thank him for that too.

“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

-Luke 14:12-14

How time flies

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

-2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Saying goodbye to mom and dad has come again. We had a fantastic vacation together, and sharing my life here with them was such a blessing. (Sorry for the delayed post, it was too hard to do on the road.)  It’s interesting being back in Dar, in the same hotel, having just left my parents, and feeling completely different. Of course there were some tears when I told them goodbye, and of course I am going to miss them so much, but this time I know what I am going back to. I know how much love and how many little ones are waiting back in my new home, and it makes the goodbyes just a little bit easier. 

It was hard to watch the kids say goodbye to my parents, also known as “grandmother and grandfather” to 15 little ones. I don’t think the kids understood that when they return from their families they won’t be there, but at least they got to enjoy them for two weeks.

Dad teaching the children the right team to root for...GO DUCKS!

Part two of the parents visit to Tanzania involved a safari to Ruaha National Park. While I have many exciting pictures from this adventure, I just picked out a few. We saw lots of giraffe and elephants, birds, zebras, lions, and the highlight of the trip…. A leopard!!! It was beautiful at the park, and we had so much fun!!

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Part three of the parent’s trip involved a little DAR and a lot of Zanzibar. It was beautiful!!  We stayed in Stonetown, which is the main town on the island. We enjoyed lots if swimming, a dhow tour to a sandbank, snorkeling (where my back got FRIED), a spice tour, and a trip to Prison Island. It was the perfect way to end a wonderful trip. (Their flight should be arriving around 6pm OR time, so please keep them in your prayers!)

 I just heard tonight that a good friend of mine from high school passed away last night. If you could please keep his family and friends in your prayers I would really appreciate it! Thank you all so much.

Hellos & Goodbyes

 I am so thrilled to finally be able to share this life with my parents. The two people who have raised me, and supported me, and loved me unconditionally, and now I get to show them this new life that I have found, with these amazing children. I think the even more exciting part is getting to share my parents with these kids. The kids love my parents, and my parents love the kids. Basically there is a whole lot of love going around here.

My dad is quite impressive to these kids, at first it was his muscles that had all their jaws dropping, but now they love all the great things about my dad that I do; his strength, his kindness, his gentle heart, his willingness to always be near them and hold them, and all the things that make him the exact opposite of a typical Tanzanian man. Tanzanian men do not cook, they do not serve food to women or children, they do not show affection, and the fact that my dad does all of these things has greatly impressed the children and villagers alike. In fact when we were making dinner for “special” one of the kids said to my dad, “You. Cooking?!?”

The kids also love my mom, like generally everyone that gets the pleasure to meet her. She is loud and funny and when she played soccer with the boys they were quite shocked that she had so much mad skill on the field. The boys ask everyday if she is going to play with them again. She reads them stories in the evenings and is teaching them songs in English. The staff also loves her because of her willingness to help them with their daily duties; washing dishes, sweeping and mopping floors, and assisting with cooking. I cannot describe how incredible it is to have them here and to watch them fall in love like I have. This place and this life that I have been given was meant to be shared. SO Karibu Tanzania! (Welcome to Tanzania.)

Well although things have been really great and exciting lately we also had to say goodbye to someone we all know and love. Sunday was Corrinne’s last day at Sunrise. We had a huge party for her on Friday evening with lots of good food, good company, and good dancing. I believe we sent her off in true Tanzanian style. With her leaving the torch as manager of Sunrise has been passed. I am now officially in charge. It’s terrifying and kind of exciting all at the same time. (So extra prayers will be needed on my end.)

This past week and a half has been full of laughter, and excitement, and as usual learning. We went to a friend of mine’s house in the village, and they served us potatoes and tea. My dad was sitting in front of the dish so he was serving up the food, everyone in the house started laughing when he served the woman who made the food. Not that it is culturally offensive, it’s just not culturally normal. Mom and Dad have learned the village greeting, “komwene”. (com-when-a) Whenever you are walking through the village you must greet everyone, and they are passing with flying colors, not to mention impressing everyone with their knowledge of the language, well until the next greeting is said and they have no idea how to respond.

Our biggest and most hilarious learning experience was just last night. In Kiswahili trash is taka taka, so I was telling the children that their candy wrappers needed to go in the taka taka not all over the floor. Dad says, “Did you say taco taco?” The children all bust out laughing and start to tell us that taco, spelled tako, means butt. That’s right, dad was saying “Butt Butt”! We all laughed and laughed and were still laughing about it this morning. I was explaining to the staff that taco was a kind of food that we eat in America. I am not sure that they will ever try one, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t have a hard time eating something that is called butt in my language either.

For special this week we made a good old fashioned American meal; cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chips, French fries, and soda. The adults all had delicious burgers, made by dad, and the kids had hotdogs. The meal was fantastic! My first burger in over 6 months!

The trip so far has been amazing, and I expect that the safari and Zanzibar will be exciting too. I just want to say thank you SO MUCH again for all of the donations that were sent for the kids. They are so thrilled with all of their new things and so thankful too. I have never known a more deserving bunch of kids than these.

Parents Addition:

 

We have been in Africa, specifically Uhekule for 12 days now, the majority of it we have been here at the orphanage with Courtney and 15 wonderful children. So far the only hiccup has been our luggage not showing up for six days. Instead of living through Courtney’s blog and Facebook posting, we have the privilege of seeing and living her life for a short time. Everything she describes in her Blog is accurate. The children here at Sunrise and the staff are all wonderful. It is a family and naturally there are differences of opinions, minor squabbles, and everyday family issues, but in the end the children look out and protect each other. It has been awesome getting to know 15 different personalities. The kids are so excited to see you and just want to be loved. They follow a pretty tight schedule here, on school days they are up at 5:30 a.m. to start their day and it ends at 8:30 p.m. when they go to bed. In between school and bed time, they all have chores to do. These kids work harder than any children I have ever seen before. Life here is not easy as far as modern conveniences go, for instance they wash their clothes by hand twice a week. It is not all work; they also have free time to play football (soccer) with friends from the village. The scenery surrounding the village is incredible; some of the distant hills remind me of Eastern Oregon. I can see why Courtney has fallen in love with her life, the children, staff, being in Tanzania, etc….. I’m very proud of her and what she has given up to be here. I’m pretty sure she is receiving more in return, just from watching the children interact and love her unconditionally.

-Steve                                                                                                                                                                            

I don’t even know where to start.  This past week has been incredible. I was never worried about Courtney coming here.  I think some people did not understand that.  This is what she has wanted to do since she was six years old.  I knew without any doubts this is what the Lord wanted her to do.  He gave me what I needed to be able to let her go.  Being here with her and seeing firsthand what the Lord’s vision is for her has been such an honor.  Like Steve has already said, these kids are so wonderful.  They are always so happy to see you and they make you feel so loved.

I have not been able to get good at washing clothes by hand because the staff always ends up asking to wash Steve’s and my laundry.  They don’t however seem to mind when I help sweep, mop or do the dishes.  

I am so proud of Courtney and I am very happy for her that she is able to live her dream.  The kids and staff love her so much.  Well, the dinner bell is ringing and I am starving.

-Lynn