Thursday, November 26

Today is Thanksgiving

   Today is Thanksgiving.  I walked into the village to see if the village seamstress could sew a hem for me.  It's a dirty walk on a rocky, pitted dirt road.  When you turn off that road to go deeper into the village there are lots of burned, charcoal-fueled fire spots where dwellers have burned their trash or in one case 3 years ago, a thief was burned to earth on one of those spots.

   The  young woman who does the sewing wasn't home, and the young girl attending the home didn't speak English so we exchanged a few words in Kiswahili and I returned to campus by way of the main highway.

   It's a bit of a walk so I was thinking about different things when I heard a voice call out, "Bibi" (Grandmother).  I wasn't really paying attention and kept walking until the same voice yelled louder, "Shikamu" (A greeting of respect for an elder.)  I turned around and saw a boy about 10 years-old.  He was pretty dirty and carried a heavy black plastic bag on his shoulder.  He started speaking Kiswahili.  I explained (in Kiswahili) that I didn't speak much Swahili, but he kept talking as if I understood! (He must have understood the little I said, so that's a complement to my efforts at studying the language---or else when I thought I said I didn't speak much, I actually said I speak a lot!!!)   Anyway, we soon got to the pantomime version of communicating and he wanted to know what was in my small purse.  I acted like I didn't understand and pulled out the blouse I hoped to have hemmed that I was carrying uderneath the purse.  He must have thought that this "bibi" really didn't get it!  So in frustration and with a rough, strong voice he demanded, "Give me money!"  I looked at him kindly, smiled, and said, "Hapana (no), I have no money."  Then I asked him (via gestures) what was in his bag.  his eyes became stern.  I think he thought I wanted to take his bag, so I gently said, "Your bag is heavy, so sorry."  (At least that's what I think I said.)  So he took  down his bag from his left shoulder and opened it to show me the coal he was carrying, probably to sell.  I again said that it was very heavy and I was sorry.  We walked a bit more in silence.   I noticed his strong arms---yet still those of a boy developing muscle. . .He wasn't inn school and today is a school day here. . .
I wondered about how protective he was of his bag of coal. . .

   After a bit he said, "Good-by."  And I said, "Kwa here. Sik njema." (Good-by. Have a good day.)  He replied, "Asante" (thank-you) and crossed the busy highway. . .

   I said a prayer for him as I continued my walk back to the campus.  He coulld  have been one of my grandchildren----how different their life is.

   Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming here. . .Our life is so abundant inn the face of their poverty. . .

Dear God, please be with this Tz. boy today and with our grandchildren so far away.  Fill all of their stomachs, keep all of them safe from harm, and help each of them grow to know You---and love You with all of their heart.

 Happy Thanksgiving to all of you

Wednesday, November 18

Elections African Style

Greetings from 8000 miles away!
  We are doing fine--no real excitement since our house fire.  We both have 25 students in our seminary classes and Diane has begun teaching a course in Abnormal Psychology at the University.  We have monkeys who play in our front yard and Diane is glad to report that we have seen no snakes......so far!
  Elections have been completed in Tz.  They elect a new president every 5 years and the president is limited to 2 terms.  The office of president rotates between a Christian president and a Muslim president every 10 years.
   The election drew a lot of excitement and energy.  There were party flags on every street corner, giant billboard signs, outdoor political rallies that drew thousands, and trucks with loud speakers blaring their party slogans driving up and down the roads.  We kept a low profile during election week for safety reasons.
  By African standards the election turned out to be very peaceful.  Many countries surrounding Tz. measure their election by the 100's killed, 1000's injured, and countless homes, autos and businesses burned.  Not so for Tanzania.
   Unfortunately most of our seminary and university students were not able to vote.  The government required all students to register at their universities to vote (since that is where they would be residing at the time of voting).  Then just before elections, the government delayed the start of classes until after elections.  Since the students were at home (away from their universities) at the time for elections, they weren't registered to vote in their home district so they lost their right to vote. Interestingly one of the opposition parties consisted in a large part of this youthful population.  (That party lost.)
   The other unfortunate side effect to the elections was an increase in the physical attacks on the albino people. Many politicians who were running for office would use witchcraft in hopes of improving their chances for winning.  Some of the believed-to-be most power witchcraft practices include the use of albino body parts.  Consequently, many albinos (children as well as adults) are maimed and killed for their body parts to be used in these rituals. In the classes we teach, we have the opportunity to address such issues.  The seminarians and pastors are on the front line in working with these beliefs in their villages. By educating the pastors/seminarians about mental illness, witchcraft, and superstitious practices, lives can be saved and changed in many ways. We give them knowledge and hope in helping their people deal with these destructive  customs.
   As we write this we realize that Thanksgiving is just a week away. We wish each of you a Blessed Thanksgiving.  We are grateful for your interest and your prayers.  We are deeply blessed--both here and at home---living in Tanzania makes us so much more aware of that.
  Tim & Diane


                                      
Tanzania's new President Magufuli
                                 





Flags from opposing parties everywhere. . .
. . .and on everything!!!