Those Days

It's crazy that I only have a few weeks left. This week and next week are my last weeks teaching. The next week is testing for the kids. Then i go on my safari and go home!
Last Sunday Brad, Tricia, and I went to Nate's church in Basotu. I enjoyed it. There were so many people there that Brad, Tricia, and I had to sit outside. One of the nationals that has gone through Bible School in Katesh preached. He is the assistant pastor under Nate and really makes many of the decisions for the church. It is awesome to see the growth in the church because it is only a year old.
The next day, Monday, I was basically the kindergarten teacher for the day. Mama Ema is the teacher but she wasn't able to be there. So a Teacher's assistant and I worked together that day to teach the kids. Unfortunately for reasons i really don't understand, he was only there to teach the Swahili and Bible lesson and i had to handle the rest all on my own. He left me! It was interesting. The kindergarten class understands English... but not very much. I tried my best to keep things very simple. I'm really used to teaching the 2nd grade who understand English pretty well.
During activity centers the student teacher came back so we broke into two groups. All of a sudden i see one of the girls in my group put her hand over her mouth. All i was thinking is oh no. She started throwing up but i was able to get her out of the classroom before it was really bad. The ladies that worked in the kitchen cleaned her up and sent her back to class! i just had this feeling that she was going to throw up again... so i kept a close eye on her. And not even ten minutes later she started again.
It was an interesting day that only got better!
Brad decided to teach me how to ride a "Piki Piki"- a dirtbike. So we sat in the driveway as he showed me the clutch, the brake, gas, all that good stuff. i was so nervous but i really wanted to try! so i got on and was fine in first gear. went around "the block". So Brad got on the other bike and we took off. He showed me how to shift into second... so i gave it a try. I guess i got scared though, at one point going in second gear we were taking a turn and there were cows and children all around. and i went straight instead of turning! I got scared and made the bike go faster! i probably would have crashed pretty badly if i hadn't crashed into these huge pricker bushes. It stalled out the bike and Brad had to fish me out, i couldn't get out on my own! And he couldn't get the bike out by himself either... i got it stuck in there pretty good! Two guys who were walking by helped him get it out. And a group gathered around and watched me.
That's one thing about Tanzania, if a white person does anything, it draws a crowd. You can be changing your tire on the road and people will come out of their houses to watch!

Its Been Awhile

Sorry you avid blog readers. I know it has been awhile. Its turned into life here. So the things that happen become... life.
Last week Brad, Tricia, and I traveled to Arusha on the 4th of July for a three day trip. They travel there about once a month to get supplies. It takes about 5 hours to get there on extremely bumpy roads. And there is so much dust from the lack of rain (it hasnt rained once since ive been here) that when cars drive by its scary... you cannot see a thing. its like a giant fog. and the trees on the side of the road are covered with dust. it looks almost like snow.
well anyways, we traveled there and spent our time getting supplies that you cannot get in Katesh like meats, shampoo, canned foods, cereal, different things like that. So we travel out there and pack up the car with enough goods to last a month.
We stayed at a single missionary lady's house. She is only recently single though, her husband suddenly died last year and she has only recently been back to the ministry. It is very amazing to see though. She has spent many years with her husband out here and I can't imagine how hard it is for her. But she is an awesome woman and definitely has the love language of service.
I was told today by one of the girls in the church that I'm too quiet. But i said, i dont speak very much Swahili. I dont have much to say! it is kind of frustrating. i can pick up enough words.. construction words especially, to know kind of what they are saying. but not enough to converse. but all i can really say is, Hello, How are you? and answer back. I am very grateful that the majority of my time is at the school which is an English medium school.
But I am very grateful for my time here. I am learning a lot about myself, about God, about missions life, about the ministry, and about life in general. Its crazy that a month from right now i will be back in America and back to school to finish out my last year.

want to know some words that I know?
Shikamoo- greeting to someone older than you
Marahaba- the reply to that word.
Hujambo- How are you?
Sijambo- I'm fine.
Bwana asifiwe- Praise the Lord.
Habari yako? What's the news with you?
Hamna sheda- No problem.
Asante- Thank you.
Safi- Cool. Safi sana- very cool
Habari za asabuhi? - Whats the news of the morning? -basically, hows your morning?
Habari za leo? - Hows your day?
Nzuri- Good.


okay. thats basically the extent of my verbal vocabulary. what i hear is a little bit more, but only by a little :)