Sunday, November 14, 2010

I'm going to try this diligence thing once again.  We'll see how it goes :)

Today was a fun filled day starting with a great church service from Matthew 7.  A continuation of last weeks sermon about not trying to take the speck of sawdust out of your eye until we've taken the log out of our own eye, along with this came the advice about knowing when and how to correct. We talked about wounded hearts and trust this morning as well..hmm...sound familiar?

After church some friends came over and we chit chatted for awhile and I threw together a yummy meal of scalloped potatoes, steamed pumpkin and meatloaf.  I love having the time to cook and enjoy the cooler weather brought on by the rain and clouds of the day. 

Crystal and I watched a few episodes of HOUSE and are now setteling in to read email, chat with family, check up on fb and eventually get back to schoolwork.

I continue to ponder my blessings and think of all the things I'm thankful for and that I take for granted.  I am thankful that I still have parents and grandparents and all my siblings, thankful that I have clean drinking water, a Bible in my mother tongue, an education, a great church and the list goes on.
God is good all the time and I think it is important to reflect upon the many blessings he has given us.  All too often it is easy to find something to fuss about.  What are you grateful for today?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Time continues to fly faster than a speeding bullet!  I was glancing over my blog and realized I started driving in Dar a bit under a year ago.  I have since started driving bajaji and am hoping to get my license this coming week.

We are well into our school year and as is typical the second year goes better than the first.  I feel much better about my teaching just feeling more settled into routine.

In the past month or two months God has made it clear that my time in Africa is not yet done.  I have decided to stay on and have found a new house to move into.  It is very freeing to know that I am in God's will.  Next week we sign a lease on the new house and hope to move sometime in December.  Hopefully we will spend our Christmas in our lovely new home! :)

Along with the need for a new home came the need for transportation.  I tutor in another part of Dar three afternoons a week after school and traffic is a bugger, I decided the way to go is by bajaj.  I spend Saturday mornings in Madala village tutoring.  I am hoping to buy a bajaj by the beginning of January.

I've grown to love the verse "The heart of man plans his ways but the Lord establishes his steps." so true... God has everything planned out and when we walk in sweet surrender to Him and are in continual communion with Him nothing is sweeter :) 

Hope all is well with you, love hearing your updates! Have a relaxing Sunday!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Summer--oops I mean Winter madness :)

Today marked our last day of school before the "summer" (or if you're living in Dar it is Winter) break.  The day was filled with many goodbyes to staff and students alike as is the case when you live in a mission community.  It is hard to believe that I have been living in Dar for nearly 11 months.  Though I love teaching, it will be nice to have some time off.

We had a final assembly this morning and after that a time of farewells and checking out.  The day has been very  cool (chilly in fact) at a current temp of 78 degrees Fahrenheit.  I really appreciate Dar weather at this time of year.

This afternoon, Crystal and I and our neighbor Lydia, took the opportunity to go to Tegeta to browse through their used clothing market (which is open every Friday)...I found a pair of good Capri's for 500TSH (30ish cents), we were then able to buy some fresh produce.  There is a huge produce market in Tegeta. Right now oranges are in season and 10 oranges cost us 1000 TSH or 69 cents.  We've made a few batches of homemade orange juice! (YUM!!)  After shopping in Tegeta, we went to "Camel Oil" which is a gas station/small 'supermarket' they have most things that we need and are very close to home.  They have even started selling LUKU, (LUKU is our electricity--we prepay it and then get a code to punch into a LUKU box at our home) which makes them even nicer and more convenient!

The weekend will be filled with many events, some of us on the compound will go out for a nice breakfast. (I hear it's the best place to go when feeling homesick--apparently the food is wonderful!).  In the afternoon we are invited out for one last beach party.  On Sunday it is farewell to my roommate and a few others.


A month and a half ago I started tutoring a little guy with special needs who is not a part of our HOPAC community.  I go to their school and tutor him three days a week.  I will continue to work with him throughout the summer.  It still baffles me that there are virtually no options for those with special needs.

I am hoping to have my newsletter out very soon...

Hope all is well for each of you! happy Friday!  :)