Wednesday, November 28
Advent in the Village
Dear Family and Friends,
Recently I saw on the internet lots of ads for "Black Friday" sales! What a shock! I found myself saying, "Really? Is it that time of year?" In this part of Tanzania, the weather is tropical year round. We do not have dependable electricity or internet service so we really don't get news on a regular basis. Tanzanians don't celebrate Halloween or our American Thanksgiving so there's no "build up" for Christmas. And here it is November 28th and we've yet to hear the first Christmas song---anywhere. No T.V. so no Charlie Brown Christmas Special (or the Grinch or Rudolph or Frosty or anyone for that matter.) One day often seems like the next here. The sun rises at 6 a.m. and sets at 6 p.m---everyday. The temperature starts at 64 degrees and reaches lower 80's ---everyday. Except for 3 days of rain, there's been only dryness and sunshine for 5 monnths now.
So------no colorful ads in Swahili newspapers---only black and white pictures and articles about the "Gov't Move to Sell Ivory Stockpile Faulted"(last week's headline). No clever commercials on T.V. for stocking stuffers or that holiday party! Tanzania in December is the same as Tanzania in October when we arrived---sort of just another day.
I wonder if that's why the shepherds were so shocked on that Holy Night 2000 years ago. Their life was probably somewhat like life is today for many village people in Tanzania. Each day is the same---filled with the goal of survival---getting enough water for their livestock, selling enough tomatoes or bananas or mangos so they can buy some eggs from their neighbbor's chickens or some milk from the scrawny goat tethered to the nearby tree.
In America, Jesus comes in the sparkle and glitter of the holiday season.
In Tanzania, Jesus comes into the dust and dirt and poverty of everyday existence.
I don't know what to make of all of this yet---but somehow I expect that Christmas will be very different for Tim and me this year. . .but if it's anything like what we've experienced so far, Christmas will far surpass our expectations.
No matter where we live, may we all use this time of Advent to truly prepare our hearts for the incredible blessing of the birth of God's Son.
With much love for each of you,
Tim & Diane
Sunday, November 11
Greetings from "the farm"
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012
Dear Family and Friends,
It's hard to believe that Diane and I are begnning our 7th week in Tanzania. The campus has a very "agricultural flavor." The campus is about 60 acres, has 2500 students, and no paved roads. Several of our Tanzania faculty members raise livestock on their little house lot on campus--usually chickens, ducks, goats, and sheep. Almost anywhere on campus you will see a mother hen with her brood of six or seven chicks scratching and pecking for food.
The weather is really quite nice---60 degrees at night and about 82 degrees during the day, and that's the temperature all year round. So we keep the windows open 24/7 for the fresh air and dust! About midnight we can smell the distinct odor of our neighbor's sheep. Then at 2 a.m. another neighbor's dog goes into attack mode as he takes on a snake---poisonous. Then another neighbor has some "druken roosters" that start crowing around 3:20 a.m.! This is more like living on the farm then when I was living on the farm!
My class is going well. I have 30 students who are second year students in the Bachelor of Divinity Progrram. About one third are female and most all of them come from tribes with very strong cultural traditions. We will soon be completing the academic part of my class. For the last half of the semester we will move into the seminary chapel. Each student will plan, practice, and lead a worship service for the rest of the class. They will chant a full liturgy, deliver a sermon and preside at Holy Communion. After each service the class will process, encourage, and critique the student's worship service. The liturgy will be in Swahili since that is the language they will use when they go back to their villages. But I asked that they do their sermon in English (for my sake). Should be an interesting time.
Things are going well here, and we pray that things are well for you.
With a prayer for God's blessing,
Pastor Tim & Diane
P.S. All the pictures of flowers that follow are from our yard and neighborhood. Enjoy!
Dear Family and Friends,
It's hard to believe that Diane and I are begnning our 7th week in Tanzania. The campus has a very "agricultural flavor." The campus is about 60 acres, has 2500 students, and no paved roads. Several of our Tanzania faculty members raise livestock on their little house lot on campus--usually chickens, ducks, goats, and sheep. Almost anywhere on campus you will see a mother hen with her brood of six or seven chicks scratching and pecking for food.
The weather is really quite nice---60 degrees at night and about 82 degrees during the day, and that's the temperature all year round. So we keep the windows open 24/7 for the fresh air and dust! About midnight we can smell the distinct odor of our neighbor's sheep. Then at 2 a.m. another neighbor's dog goes into attack mode as he takes on a snake---poisonous. Then another neighbor has some "druken roosters" that start crowing around 3:20 a.m.! This is more like living on the farm then when I was living on the farm!
My class is going well. I have 30 students who are second year students in the Bachelor of Divinity Progrram. About one third are female and most all of them come from tribes with very strong cultural traditions. We will soon be completing the academic part of my class. For the last half of the semester we will move into the seminary chapel. Each student will plan, practice, and lead a worship service for the rest of the class. They will chant a full liturgy, deliver a sermon and preside at Holy Communion. After each service the class will process, encourage, and critique the student's worship service. The liturgy will be in Swahili since that is the language they will use when they go back to their villages. But I asked that they do their sermon in English (for my sake). Should be an interesting time.
Things are going well here, and we pray that things are well for you.
With a prayer for God's blessing,
Pastor Tim & Diane
P.S. All the pictures of flowers that follow are from our yard and neighborhood. Enjoy!
Monday, November 5
Sunday, Nov. 4th
Dear Family and Friends,
I apologize for the pictures that follow and commentary not lining up! Obviously the learning curve is slow which seems to be the theme for our life these days! I'll keep trying, but don't jump to the false conclusion---Tim is NOT cooking--we are probbably changing in many ways, but that's not one of them---yet!
It has been a good week since I last wrote. We had a wonderful time with Mark and Linda Jacobson who are Americans who have lived here over 30 years. Mark told us some of the history of the country so we could better understand the politics, economics, and social issues that he faces as Executive Director of the Arusha Lutheran Medical Center. It is a beautiful, new, 3 story hospital that has advanced technology and training for staff. (Dr.) Mark starts each day with his staff in prayer. He sees their role as healer/priest--a very wholistic approach to medicine. You will be hearing more about ALMC when we return because it is a project worthy of your prayers and support. After an enjoyable lunch, Linda showed her Tz. driving skills as she manipulated the jammed traffic as we looked for a toilet seat cover! Even in Tz. the basics in life are still important.
(The President of Tz. was in Arusha proclaiming Arusha to have the status of a city, and dedicating the new Mandela University).
We also met with Barbara and Andy Hinderlie yesterday for a delicious "American" lunch prepared by Andy. The Hinderlies are the Global Mission Program Directors for East Africa. They have lived in Africa for 15 years, so they were sharing their experiences in ministry in the various African countries in which they've lived. Then Barbara took us for our first haircuts since we've been here. I was a bit apprehesive since Aly, the haircutter, has a "unique" reputation. However, the haircut turned out great and I look forward to going back again
The great news is that after nearly 4 months of dry season, God opened up the heavens and we now have rain. And I mean rain!!! This rain is not like what we have at home--rain for maybe 20 minutes and then that's usually it for most of the day. This rain is like someone ripped open the heavens and massive amounts of water pour down endlessly for hours. A Maasai student we've come to know well told us that this type of strong, heavy pounding rain is not what they usually get. Usually they receive a softer rain this time of year. He went on to say that the Maasai are not happy with this rain. Their cattle are very weak at this time of year because the dry season lasted 1 month longer and the cattle had very little grass to eat. Consequently, the cattle are extremely weak. He said that in the past 2 days the Maasai have had many cattle killed by the fierce rain that went on so long ---amazing but true. This rain is something else!
Our classes continue to go well. Last week after class a student talked with me about discipline of young children. We had just completed a week of lesson on developmental stages. She focused on pre-schoolers and said, that if a 2 or 3 year-old doesn't obey they are beaten with a stick, and later the child will come and say, "mama, I love you. Why did you beat me?" Sometimes the parent will threaten the child by saying, "I will dig a big hole and put you in it if you don't obey"---or tell the child they aren't their first born any more. Even at that young age, the child seems to know the importance and value of being the first born. So this led to a discussion about healthy ways to handle such situation. The needs in Tz. seem endless and parenting classes are unheard of, but I think I'll be mentioing in class how this could be a good outreach program for the church to offer.
We hope this finds each of you well. We are praying for you as you vote and for our country's leadership. The people here are very much Obama fans and they like talking to us about the upcoming election. We miss being there at this important time in our country.
Enjoy the following pictures. Until next week--may you know God's peace,
Tim & Diane
Dear Family and Friends,
I apologize for the pictures that follow and commentary not lining up! Obviously the learning curve is slow which seems to be the theme for our life these days! I'll keep trying, but don't jump to the false conclusion---Tim is NOT cooking--we are probbably changing in many ways, but that's not one of them---yet!
It has been a good week since I last wrote. We had a wonderful time with Mark and Linda Jacobson who are Americans who have lived here over 30 years. Mark told us some of the history of the country so we could better understand the politics, economics, and social issues that he faces as Executive Director of the Arusha Lutheran Medical Center. It is a beautiful, new, 3 story hospital that has advanced technology and training for staff. (Dr.) Mark starts each day with his staff in prayer. He sees their role as healer/priest--a very wholistic approach to medicine. You will be hearing more about ALMC when we return because it is a project worthy of your prayers and support. After an enjoyable lunch, Linda showed her Tz. driving skills as she manipulated the jammed traffic as we looked for a toilet seat cover! Even in Tz. the basics in life are still important.
(The President of Tz. was in Arusha proclaiming Arusha to have the status of a city, and dedicating the new Mandela University).
We also met with Barbara and Andy Hinderlie yesterday for a delicious "American" lunch prepared by Andy. The Hinderlies are the Global Mission Program Directors for East Africa. They have lived in Africa for 15 years, so they were sharing their experiences in ministry in the various African countries in which they've lived. Then Barbara took us for our first haircuts since we've been here. I was a bit apprehesive since Aly, the haircutter, has a "unique" reputation. However, the haircut turned out great and I look forward to going back again
The great news is that after nearly 4 months of dry season, God opened up the heavens and we now have rain. And I mean rain!!! This rain is not like what we have at home--rain for maybe 20 minutes and then that's usually it for most of the day. This rain is like someone ripped open the heavens and massive amounts of water pour down endlessly for hours. A Maasai student we've come to know well told us that this type of strong, heavy pounding rain is not what they usually get. Usually they receive a softer rain this time of year. He went on to say that the Maasai are not happy with this rain. Their cattle are very weak at this time of year because the dry season lasted 1 month longer and the cattle had very little grass to eat. Consequently, the cattle are extremely weak. He said that in the past 2 days the Maasai have had many cattle killed by the fierce rain that went on so long ---amazing but true. This rain is something else!
Our classes continue to go well. Last week after class a student talked with me about discipline of young children. We had just completed a week of lesson on developmental stages. She focused on pre-schoolers and said, that if a 2 or 3 year-old doesn't obey they are beaten with a stick, and later the child will come and say, "mama, I love you. Why did you beat me?" Sometimes the parent will threaten the child by saying, "I will dig a big hole and put you in it if you don't obey"---or tell the child they aren't their first born any more. Even at that young age, the child seems to know the importance and value of being the first born. So this led to a discussion about healthy ways to handle such situation. The needs in Tz. seem endless and parenting classes are unheard of, but I think I'll be mentioing in class how this could be a good outreach program for the church to offer.
We hope this finds each of you well. We are praying for you as you vote and for our country's leadership. The people here are very much Obama fans and they like talking to us about the upcoming election. We miss being there at this important time in our country.
Enjoy the following pictures. Until next week--may you know God's peace,
Tim & Diane
Sunday, November 4
Dear Family and Friends--
I apologize for the pictures and commentary not lining up! Obviously, this is a learning curve which seems to be the theme for my life these days! I'll keep trying, but don't come to the wrong conclusion---Tim IS NOT COOKING--we are probably changing in mant ways, but that's not one of them-
I apologize for the pictures and commentary not lining up! Obviously, this is a learning curve which seems to be the theme for my life these days! I'll keep trying, but don't come to the wrong conclusion---Tim IS NOT COOKING--we are probably changing in mant ways, but that's not one of them-
Daily life in Tanzania
This isPenina, who is teaching me Tanzanian cooking. She is preparing Ndizi Chezi, translated as Banana Cheese casserole. It has bananas (like the ones we eat), spinach, onions, oregano, and cumin seeds in it topped with cheese. (Tim's not a real fan of this recipe!) I thought it was quite tastey!
Voila! (Not a Tanzanian word but it works!)
Here Penina shows the finished dish. It's assembled similar to how we make lasagna.
This is 2 yr. old Christina. She is the daughter of our housekeeper. Christina had just come from the doctor (Look how dressed up her mother had her.) She has been having stomach problems, and did not want to be separated fom her mother, so Lydia (Christina's mother) brought her to "work" with her. Lydia wrapped her up and carried her on her back while she swept and fixed lunch. It was a short work day for Lydia since her daughter was not feeling well.
You just can't take the farm out of the boy---no matter where he is! Tim is putting his homemade rain gauge out in our yard. The rains have begun and they are powerful. We get about 2 1/2 inches each time the heavens open up!
For all you monkey fans--this fella sits in the tree outside the window where my desk is. We sort of have a mutual fascination ---he wonders about me and I wonder about him!
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