"I live in Africa" moments

I was driving through Kawe the other day and I had one of those “I live in Africa” moments. Now, for those of you who have lived overseas or spent time in another country, you might relate to what I am saying (or maybe it is just me??!). But either way, even after being here for 3 years, I still have those moments when I suddenly realize that I live in Africa.

Let me back up a bit and explain…Kawe is an area of Dar that we often drive through but it is an area that is very “African” – lots of people around, little shops and dukas by the side of the road, daladalas (buses) whizzing past you. I was driving through there the other day by myself and I was listening to my music and enjoying my drive. When I am driving I don’t often get a chance to look around because I am so focused on avoiding a pothole, a person, the random animal or the car in front of me. For some reason, this day the traffic was moving slowly which usually is annoying, but I was enjoying taking in the scenes around me. That’s when it happened…I had an “I live in Africa” moment…now, I am not going crazy and I know that I live in Africa but it sometimes becomes so much a part of my life that I don’t realize that I LIVE IN AFRICA! It is hard to explain but it is at these times that I realize how blessed I am to be here and how happy I am. I realize that I am exactly where God wants me to be right now and that is so exciting. I realize that I love Africa and that it will always hold a special place in my heart.

The moments come fewer and farther between, but they are very humbling and a good reminder of why I am here now. I love waking up in the morning and knowing that I am here for a purpose. As I am preparing to head back to the states in a few short weeks, my mind is filled with thoughts of sadness, fear and excitement. But as all of these thoughts run through my mind, I am reminded of the blessing that I have had of living here for the last 3 years and I know that God has so much more in store for my future which is exciting.

These two quotes come from The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom and sum up whats going through my head now (definitely a book I would recommend)

Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our path, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see.

There are no “if’s” in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety. Let us pray that we may always know it.

It really is a small world...

When my parents lived in Bangladesh 30 years ago, the only way they could communicate with the world around them was by writing letters which would take many weeks to get to their destination. When my dad asked my mom to marry him, her parents had never met him before and had only saw a picture of him. They first met him 2 months before they got married!

How the times have changed...

Today, I can talk to my family every day (they call through the computer!), I can talk instantly through instant messenger with anyone in the world, I can even listen to the local radio station from home LIVE! Yes, right now I am listening to the WCSG LIVE - I am listening to the same thing that you might be listening to on the radio...I am even listening to the local weather and the traffic report...it is CRAZY!

Technology has really changed the world that we live in and while this change is not always good, I am grateful for the chance I have to be connected to my family and friends...it is definitly a blessing to me and I know my mom likes to talk to me too!

So as sit here and listen to the radio, it makes me miss you all and makes me excited to come home and be able to listen to the radio in my car! The world really is small...

(maybe I should email WCGS and tell them I listen on the internet in Africa...maybe I would make it on the radio!)

MIdterm Break

Last weekend was midterm break...even though it was definitely not the middle of the term! Like all of our breaks, we were ready for a few days off school and some time to rest and get caught up.

Friday night, Melissa and I went to South Beach because she had been given a voucher for a hotel there. South Beach is on the other side of Dar and you have to take a small ferry to get there. We were only there for a night (and I think we were asleep by 9pm!) but it was nice to be near the ocean and relax.

The ferry ride over - it is a small ferry with lots of cars and people crammed on!

Melissa and I on the beach

Just to make you jealous...the waves were crashing on the beach...what a beautiful sound!

The view from our balcony in the morning as the sun rose...a picture of God's beautiful creation

Sunday morning Meg, Melissa and I headed to Morogoro about 3 hours from Dar. We have a friend who just got married and moved there so we wanted to visit her. We also took two of our Tanzanian friends Burest and Asha (they played football with Meg and she has been mentoring them) with us and we took them to Mikumi National Park so they could see animals “live.” This is the second time I have taken people to the park who have never seen animals and it is so much fun to see their excitement and wonder at seeing the animals. We had a great time and were lucky enough to see lots of animals - including 3 lions right by the side of the road and an elephant that was not happy with us driving near it! Even though it was a long drive, it was well worth it!

Me trying to drive the Land Rover we borrowed...Iwas not very successful. I stalled 4 times and then gave up and Meg had to drive. In my defense the clutch on the car was really hard...

Because of all the rain we have had, the park was very overgrown. We got lost once and ended up driving through this thick field of grain - it was taller than the car.

Lions...right by the side of the road. They were so excited to see them.

I like this picture because you can see the shadow of the elephant in the water.

All of us...Melissa, Upendo, Burest, Meg, Asha and me

Near to the place we were staying was this waterfall and we took the girls there for the afternoon.

Beauty!

We were reminded yesterday in our prayer meeting of the blessing that we have to work in such a beautiful place...this is the amazing view from the staff room! (are you jealous???)

Be a blessing...

I bought this song from itunes (which I am kind of addicted to...) the other week and have been really thinking about the words. It is called The Blessing by John Waller and it talks about the choice we have to leave a blessing or a curse. Maybe I have been thinking about this a lot lately because I am thinking about leaving Tanzania, my home for the last 3 years. Maybe it is because I have only recently understood how blessed I have been throughout my life. Either way, this song rings true and has challanged me to think about the way that I am living and the legacy that I am leaving. We have a choice to live to be a blessing to those around us and may it be said of us (me) that we lived our lives for God.

Enjoy...

Let it be said of us
While we walked among the living
Let it be said of us
By the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That we lived to be a blessing for life
Let it be said of us
That we gave to reach the dying
Let it be said of us
By the fruit we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That our legacy is blessing for life

This day You set life, you set death right before us,
This day every blessing and curse is a choice now
And we will choose to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us
That our hearts belonged to Jesus
Let it be said of us
That we spoke the words of life
Let it be said of us
That our heritage is blessing for life

For your Kingdom, for our Children
For the sake of every nation


Matthew 7:20 - "Thus, by their fruits you will recognize them." (our theme verse this year)

The whole CD is great if you are looking for something new...

I am a Christ-follwer because...

my life has been transformed by the saving grace of Jesus Christ!

Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are. 1 Peter 3:15 (The Message)

In small group last week, I asked my girls how they would finish this sentence. I shared with them that when I was their age, I was just beginning to understand what it meant to follow Christ and I was just starting to know what I believed and why. I told them that I wish that when I was there age that I had been able to say clearly what I believed and I wish that it was something that I had thought more about. I then challenged them to answer this question for themselves and to begin to think about why they are a Christian. It was an interesting assignment for them. I knew going into it that it was something that they would not like because when I was there age, I know I would have hated it. But it was a good challenge for them and a good reminder for me. We had some good discussions about what it means to be a Christian and follow Christ and how important it to know what we believe. The Bible tells us that we need to be ready to share the reasons for the hope that we have. My girls are still learning what it means to follow Christ and I love being able to walk this journey of faith with them and to be able to pray for them as they choose for themselves to follow Christ.

I was listening to a sermon the other week and it talked about how as Christians we are good at being the hands and feet of Jesus but that we are not very good at being the voice of Christ and proclaiming the gospel. He goes on to say that we need to be bold enough to make the truth claim that “I am a follower of Christ.” To proclaim that I am a Christ follower means that I am not ashamed to testify to the fact that I believe Christ is God and I’ve encountered Him and I believe the Gospel is true and that it has transformed my life.

This is my truth claim...this is why I am a Christ-follower...

I am a Christ-follower because I am loved, forgiven and accepted, and because He alone can bring me peace and joy. I believe He died for my sins and I have hope in His future glory. There is evil in the world, but I believe that God has given me freedom and has redeemed me. I believe because He has called me His child and I am created in the image of God and am continually seeking to be more like Him. I believe because God is faithful and His promises are true yesterday, today and forever. I believe that God has a perfect plan for my life and that He longs for me to draw closer to Him. I believe that fullness can only come through Him. I believe God gave me the truth in the Bible to lead and guide me on this journey. I believe that God is compassionate and that His mercies are new every morning. I believe that God’s grace is sufficient for me and I stand on this promise. I choose to follow Jesus because He helps me make sense of the world and give me hope. I choose to follow him because he has the power to heal me and won’t send anything beyond what I can bear. I believe because the world around me reveals his love and beauty and I can stand in awe of all he has done for me. I believe because I have encountered Christ and have been transformed.

Just as important as being able to say what we believe, is the action that follows from your belief. I asked my girls how their life is different because they are a Christ-follower, how are they different than someone who does not know Christ? It is my prayer for them (and for me) that their beliefs are mirrored in their actions and that they have the boldness to proclaim that they follow Christ.

My pastor once said that we should ask ourselves two questions every morning: Who do I serve? How then should I act? I serve Christ and I will live my life seeking to be like Him.

Am I being the voice of Christ? Are you?

I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Romans 1:16