Milking Goats and Cows…I think I like the supermarket

After trying my hand at milking, I’ve decided that I like getting my milk from the market. It’s not that I didn’t get milk from the goat like a few others, it’s just very labor intensive for very little milk. I’m a fan of dairy products and the little milk I thin I could get from a herd of cows or goats probably wouldn’t sustain me. This perspective makes dairy products as I know them in the west a luxury. I don’t have to milk the animal then churn it into butter or wait for it to curdle into cheese. I walk into the store, select and my desired item from rows of similar items. The women who milk these animals daily put a lot of labor into getting the bit of milk that is used in food or for their children. I have even more admiration for them as it is part of their life. It’s not easy and there is never a vacation from those duties. They must be milked or they will stop producing..

I just walk to the market and shell out the cash. I think I’ve got it easy…and there’s no hair in my milk.

Grace, Hope and Happiness

I knew we were going to an AIDS hospice. I somehow missed the detail that most of the patients were children. It was a little gut wrenching. I had too swallow a few tears. Most of the kids were gone to school so we headed to the day care. It is a facility specifically for kids who are HIV/AIDS orphans or are positive themselves. There is a broad range of ages. The focus is getting kids ready to start school. Many of the older kids have never been in school. They receive meals and medication for their condition. The daycare staff works with home health care workers and the families to get the kids to a doctor's office regularly for checkups and medication refills as the government provides free ARVs (anti-retrovirals). After they sang their songs for us and we played a bit, we divided up into different rooms to work on letters and number. I think I was in one of the younger classes, but it is challenging to determine ages as all of the kids look much younger than they are due to various reasons.

There was one little girl (I found out later that it was a girl. I thought she was a boy because of the way she was dressed) in my class who caught my heart. She seemed to be hard of hearing and much younger than the rest of the kids. She was one only one who was not understanding how we were writing the letter A and the number 2. The entire time i was there she didn't make a sound. I decided to spend some time with her. I felt a huge need to pray. Not loudly or obnoxiously, but just to myself as we wrote our numbers. I had to confront the question if I thought God is big enough to heal her. I know He is, but I was challenged to pray that way. Even now, it will continue. I know that He has a plan for her life no matter what the condition or how long or short.

At WAMATA, a local organization for AIDS patients and community resources, we met three women who were living with HIV/AIDS. Upon meeting them, I discovered that their names either were or translated to Grace, Hope and Happiness. Hearing their stories gave me hope for others like them and also inspired me to be a better health care provider to patients I will have like them. They were the most wonderful women who were welcoming and gracious. they made me smile.

Lions, Flamingos, and Orangutangs, oh my!

Yes I went on Safari. Yes it was cool. Yes you weren't there...haha. Just kidding. Wish you all had been. Check out my pics. they are pretty good for how far away the animals were. Some of the animals were really close to the side of the road like the zebras and lions. I was sad that I didn't see any giraffes in the crater, but I saw them on the way out! There is a lot I could say about tourism and the economy and the pros and cons, but I'll save that for a later date.

The coolest part of the whole day was the morning as we were descending into the crater. There was this foggy mist that hung over the edge of the trees and the rim of the crater. A specific passage came to mind. See it quoted below and then I can explain the relevance.

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The clouds hovering over the crater made me wonder what the earth looked like during the creation process. It would have been a sight to see. God said and it happened. Pretty nifty.

What Tanzanian Hip Hop Sounds Like...and how I got married

Today we went to this place called Aang Serian - House of Pace. They have numerous projects, but the one we were involved with is called DIRA. Check out their video on YouTube. They take youth you have talent and interested in music, specifically hip hop, and have them set their traditional tribal songs to urban beats. They also convey themes about FGM, HIV, politics, children's rights, etc. They were pretty good from what I could understand and what was translated for me.

From there we headed to Karatu. It's just outside of the Crater conservation area. We checked into the Lutheran Hostel which was very nice. Everyone went on a walk while I stayed behind to journal in the courtyard. After a few minutes Chris comes to the main gate and calls me over. He's got seven adorable kids with him. It didn't take much convincing to have me walk with him to take these kids home. (Where they came from is a whole other very long story not too relevant to this one.) On our way back, we were stopped by this man who chatted us up. Eventually he asked us for a scholarship to send his daughter to school. Funds for that sort of thinking are in short supply here. He invited us back to his place and of course Chris said that we would come. It would have been rude not to go. I went along nervously and reluctantly, but I trust him and his Swahili is much better than mine. The long and short of it...in the end, the guy asked Chris if I was his wife. He didn't say no which was for my benefit and that's how I became his third wife. His first is a Uzbek gal he met last fall and the second is a girl named Siri that is on the trip with us. Now it is the standing joke that I am the third wife.


And that is that...more about the crater later. :)

What an example!

Today we went to our facilitator's church. It is an off shoot of a local Lutheran church. Very cute and far out in the sticks. Having never been to a Lutheran service, I was in for something completely new. The majority of the service was conducted in Kimeru which I know none of and the message was in Kiswahili. I only caught a few words here and there. The pastor greeted us and we had to introduce ourselves to the congregation of about 220 in broken Kiswahili.

Even though I understood very little of what was going on, I completely felt God's presence there. I was moved by the love, grace and compassion I saw in the people. They also were big givers: four offerings total and i think everyone gave something even if it was just 100 shillings.

After the service, there is an auction every week of items people bring. The proceeds are used to buy building materials as they are trying to finish their church still. We all brought something and my fabric went for 12000 shillings. Quite the pretty penny...and I thought no one would like it. :)

After church, we were sent out with different families for lunch and a "get to know the village" time. My host family was nice. Mama and Baba were quiet, but kind. The village tour was interesting. The highlight for me was seeing the village dispensary and the closed maternity ward. The maternity ward is over 75 years old. It was recently closed because it is falling apart. When women in the village need to have a baby, they either walk 3km to the next clinic or hope a birth attendant can get to their house. I think I'd like to help build them a new one. It's surprisingly inexpensive by our standards. It's something I will be praying about.

Apa, Sopa. Takwenya, Iko.

This is going to be more lackluster than usual. I'm tired and don't have many words though I hope you enjoy my little journey.

Saturday morning bright and early we set out for visits. First, we went to Peace House Secondary School. It was nice and their mission and projects are cool, but the best part is the Volunteer Coordinator that we were touring with is from Daingerfield - right down the road from my home town.

From there we started on the longest drive so far to Mondouli. We stopped there for water then headed to the Maasai market/homestead of Mondouli Jou. It was a long way up this hill on the bumpiest road yet complete with hairpin turns. It is market day so all along the way there are people dragging animals and carts of goods to market. Coming up the drive a Masaai market is something to see. The landscape is brown with hits of green against the bluest sky, then you see red...lots of it. Warriors dressed in traditional fabric and women with full beaded regalia selling vegetables. The long and short of it is that we went to the market and got strange looks as usual. I think I even got cussed out in Kimaa, but since I couldn't understand her, I'm only guessing.

We went on a long tour of the area; up and down and back again. It was something to see. Most notably was the drinking water source: a small pond in a rocky alcove covered with green slime and pollen. Yum. It was rather depressing to see. Small kids were hauling this water up the hill for drinking and cooking with. The only thing I could think about was doing a culture to see what was growing in it. I probably don't need to know.

To explain the title: those works are traditional Kimaa greeting and their replies. There is a whole host of rules that go along with who you say what to when and what the appropriate response is.

The day was absolutely gorgeous though. And I'm out of words... :)

Beating Flowers and Beeping Bugs

I think I should explain the beeping bugs part...it is much needed comedy of sorts. There is this strange bug which I have yet to see though it keeps me up at night. It beeps like an alarm clock continually...like all night. It is a high pitched fast beep that is absolutely ear piercing. That is one bug that could go extinct and I wouldn't care! Secondly, we have nocturnal monkeys...they run around on our tin roofs and throw fruit. Why are they nocturnal? Day time would much improve their aim in hitting things instead of my roof!


On to beating flowers...a strange occupation. Before the flowers, how we ended up smacking seeds and dying our hands purple. Part of our orientation is to visit a maize and bean farmer. This year he added sunflowers to the rotation. They are grown for the seeds which are pressed into oil after they are dried.


We start our journey to the farm. It is about 35 or 40 minutes from where we are staying. As always the village is down a long, dusty, rutted road. My seat has yet to forgive me. As we pull into the driveway of the farmer we are to visit, his wife and sister-in-law come running down the drive to meet us cheering and showering the car with flower petals. They were through them in the windows and of us as we got out of the car. I have never seen anyone so happy to meet strangers. When we got out of the vehicle Mama was nearly in tears. She insisted that we come in the house before we started out lecture outside. She said that having guests in her house was a blessing. She opened with a prayer before we did introductions. Mama Martha was praying in Kiswahili and I could only pick out a few words, yet I knew God was there. After introductions, we headed outside for chai and Q & A with the family. Next, it was on to the fields. First, we had to water the tomato garden by hand after drawing the water. The well was a hole in the ground surrounded by a tractor tire to keep people from falling in. We hoisted up the water from 30 or 40 feet and filled 5 gallon buckets to dump on the plants. It took several trips to make this happen. Then was the sunflowers. Mama cut the stalks of the ones that needed the flowers cut off. The flower needed to be dried up or the seeds weren't ready. Half of the group had knives to remove the flower heads from the stalk and the rest of us gathered them up to put in a donkey pulled cart. We cleared probably half an acre in a little over an hour.



After the clearing, came the beating. We walk to the place where it is to be done, surrounded by livestock of course, and a host of small children that heard that Wazungu (white people) were here working. The cart was done and we began the deed. Smack the flower as hard as necessary with the stump of a stick until the seeds all fall out. This took forever and my arms are still not speaking to me. It's going to take quite a bit of washing for the purple stains to come off of my hands.


Finally all of the flowers were done and I was a bit crispy, then we spread them out to dry. Back to the house we headed for colas and leaving for a village tour. At the end of the day we all were invited back and the family was happy to share their home and life with us.


This entire experience was quite moving. The amount of hospitality was amazing. There really are no words to describe how humbling it was to get the greeting and farewell we did.

Off Roading in Africa

So I've finished two days here. It's been an absolute adventure. I feel like I've already been here for a month or so. The one thing I noticed is how much Tanzanians love food. I think I've been eating, either meals or chai, every three hours or so since I got on the plane in Amsterdam. I can say that it has been really good. I never thought I'd like banana and beef stew (that was part of lunch today) but it's pretty amazing. Also makande...it's beans boiled with coconut and a bit of meat. It's pretty tasty too. Nothing beats a glass of fresh mango juice or fresh pineapple. By fresh I mean grown next door and picked this morning. It's so much better than the produce in the supermarket. I'll be spoiled when I come home. Bananas here even taste good. :)

Today's big adventure was going to a coffee farm. I got to try my hand at harvesting, preparing and roasting coffee. It was interesting to see the process of how these farmers produce the beans that end up in your cup at Starbucks. The adventurous part was actually getting there. We pack 14 people in a Land rover and head up a muddy hill (it rained all night and most of the morning...it was really cold today too. I've spent the day in several layers and a hoodie). We tired to make it up the first road with no success. We got halfway up and proceeded to slide/somewhat controlled reverse down the hill. Then we went the other way. It was a rutted muddy road. All of us chicas in the back were clinging on for dear life and laughing like crazy. It was too much fun! There were a few times I thought we were going to get stuck though. Going back down was just as much fun...with a little more (controlled) sliding involved.

I have the chance to bring a few kilos of fresh coffee home...anyone interested? If so, please leave me a comment and I can place an order for you. I'll need it in the next two or three days though.

Arrival and Basic Details

The flights went well, though it was a long journey. Upon arrival in Arusha Monday night, we checked into the Training Center for Development Cooperation. I'm staying alone in green unit number 7. To emphasize the green theme...my curtains, door, tile, sink, toilet, shower curtain, and chair are all green. I've always wanted a canopy bed. I have one now; it's just a mosquito net.

On our first day, we went to Lake Dhuliti for a Kiswahili lesson and a picnic. Then we headed to three different markets. I bought my kangas. Kangas are long sheets of colorful, patterned cloth women wrap over their clothes. At the last market there was an enormous section of second hand clothes being sold. It was almost overwhelming; the amount of clothing was amazing. I’ll be writing more about this later as it inspired quite a few thoughts about American benevolence and poverty. I also had to ward off the one-eyed beggar that tried to claim me as his girlfriend! Luckily a loud protest and hand gestures did the trick. :)

Memories on Yellow Paper through the Jaws of Death

In preparing to leave, I promised myself that I would clean out all of the College Life Ministry files that were left. I knew what most everything was, so it would be less time consuming if I took care of it all. Pretty much everything was the way I left it 18 months ago.

I found in the midst the stack of brown visitor cards stapled to their bright yellow guest follow up sheets. Each of those cards represents to me one more life we had the chance to touch. As most of them were at two or three years old, policy is to shred them. I couldn't bear the thought of throwing them in the box to be shredded by some one who didn't understand the significance of each of those names. As I took the few minutes to do the deed myself, I reflected on that period in my life - running a young adults ministry. It was the best time in my life and it was the hardest.

Departing from Gate A37...

OK, so that's not the exact gate number, but you get the idea. I fly away tomorrow night! Yikes! I need three more days to even feel like I'm ready to go. I need company while I pack and I'm most certainly accepting visitors. I miss all of you already! I got intense butterflies for the first time today about leaving. I know it will all pass....it's the nerves about walking into so many unknowns.

Back to work now...It's finally my last day!

"Shanea, when you come home, I'm taking you on a shopping spree."

The title of this post is the key line I remember from a voice mail I had on my phone Sunday morning. It was my friend Karen calling. I couldn't figure out why she left this message and asked me to call her. She had agreed to store the majority of my clothes and linens while I am away so I didn't have to ship them home or rent a storage facility. Everything was neatly packed in Space Bags. I wondered...(i.e. the conversation with myself in my head) "Did her house flood? No, the clothes are in bags. They can't be squished if the bed broke she was storing them under. The house catch on fire? I just saw her sister and she looks rather calm. Oh my gosh, is Karen OK? No that can't be it. Hmmmm...am I that poor of a dresser?...I did wear jeans to work this week. We were just talking about clothes....maybe she won a sweepstakes and wants to just take me shopping...."

I finally called her back and Karen's first question was, "Are you sitting down?" Yes, I said....(thinking...this can't be good) She proceeds..."Well, I'm taking you shopping when you get home. My car was stolen and all of the clothes you gave me to take home were still in the trunk."

I think "Oh Wow!" My suits, dresses, linens, costumes, and bedding! In the end, it's not something that I won't get over. I lost a few of Jeremy's things I still had and one blanket from my Grandmother. They are just things. Karen is OK and that is important. Who knows....maybe I'll need a new wardrobe when I get home.

The Party

Yesterday was the first of the two depature bashes. It was a gerogrous day at Sunnyside. The only thing that could have made it better would have been more parking spaces. There was a wedding and a birthday party going on.

All of the ladies from the Y came out. It was great to spend time with them. I have so much food left over, I've modified the menu for Monday's party. Leftovers it is...No need to waste anything right?

I couldn't ask for better friends. They are all so amazing and supportive! I can't wait to come back to them. They make it worth staying here!

I spent the afternoon luaghing with friends and playing with one of the coolest dogs ever! If I aver have a dog, I need a Jake!

Oh, the knot in my chest!

I woke up this morning with the feeling of stress! I think it's all starting to hit me. I woke up to a room that was a disaster and feeling like I just need a day to clean and pack up what is staying here. I still have to read and take my pre-departure exam that is due sooner than I care to admit. More Kiswahili lessons wouldn't hurt either. I know I'll survive. I'm feeling this way because I'm tired. Tiredness doesn't negate the legitimate feeling though.

I'm looking forward to this weekend and the week to follow. I know it's going to be a lot, but it's part of the journey. I spoke with a good friend/mentor yesterday and she helped put a lot of this in perspective. It was an encouraging conversation that really helped me out.

If I ever do this over, the one things I would do differently is work less prior to my departure. The money is great, but there has been little self-care time. I'm hoping to make it home relatively early tonight and get some things done. Really, thought, I want to sleep. :)

Have Courage?

Courage: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.

I've come to realize in the last few months that I've lost some courage. It's more of a slow eating away in my confidence that I'll be safe and everything will work out; this is not only in regards to my trip to Tanzania but also my life in general.

I think that part of this journey for me is a restoration of my courage. Not recklessness, but courage to live without hesitation. I am challenging myself to muster up the courage to explore and prove to myself that I am the person I remember. I've gone through my guide book and looked for places to go and things to do...and I plan on doing them. Maybe not all of them, but I want to get out and experience Tanzania.

In the past few years, I've gone through some circumstances that have caused me to be less than my adventurous self. This is a journey back to the heart of who I am and a time of reflection on the things I know I want to do with my life. I'm puling out this mission statement that I wrote several years ago during my first year with Street Rock. I think that was the time in my life where I had the clearest picture of where I was headed. It may be rudimentary, but I can build on it. I truly believe that I heard clearly and discerned with my heart what I should know.
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Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Packing and Gift Giving

I thought that I was almost done shopping and on my way to packing for this trip. I recently found out that I have further gift purchases to make. What I bought already feels completely inadequate or inappropriate. Now I'm headed back to the store...multiple stores at this point to get what I think I need. Yikes! Twenty, yes 20, days from now, I'll be in the Amsterdam airport hoping that what I packed is sufficent and that no one has or will rifle through my bags. I have no idea how I'm going to get it all there. Barbara said to pack light...I think I'm trying. I have no idea how to narrow down what I need for clothes especially in regards to my newly developed photosensitivity...the last two times I've gotten in the sun, I break out in hives. Ick!

Gift giving is a big tradition and expectation. I have no idea how to give approproiate gift that still are a bit unique to reflect me.