Through the Seasons

How do we like it?

When I was in the States my blog posts were daily and had a bit more variety and, if I remember correctly, a bit more heart and transparency.  I feel like now I merely report news each time I get the chance.  I hope to one day get back to how I used to write.  I really enjoyed it being that way.  So instead of giving you another play-by-play update I’m going to tell you how we like it here.  Hmmm…  or at least how I like it here.  I’ll let Jonathan speak for himself. 

I do really like it here so far.  The problem has been that practically the whole time we’ve lived at a campsite run by a British couple.  There are Tanzanian workers but we’re not submersed in the culture all day every day.  We also get served whatever they want to serve us and have moved 7 times since arriving.  The months of morning sickness didn’t help either because I spent a lot of time simply lying in bed.  Because of all this I’ve felt more like I’m transitioning constantly than settling into life here.  Being in the banda instead has helped tremendously (and so has the morning sickness ending).  We can make some of our own food now and then (just breakfast and snacks) and we have more space and windows.  The view is nicer too.  I’m really looking forward to moving to Mbeya and really taking care of my own house and family again.  Sometimes I daydream about what colors I want to “decorate” with at home.  The baby’s room will of course be blue (so cliche, I know).  I would love to have a purple and green accented bedroom.  (We’ll need a mosquito net and you can choose purple as one of the colors for the top.)  In the living room I envision yellow and orange.  But who knows.  We won’t be able to decorate a whole lot but a little touch here and there would be nice.  Like, if we need curtains anyway, those are the colors I’d want…  Uh…but where was I?  Oh yeah.  How I like it here.

The Tanzanian people we’ve been around the most have been gracious, friendly, and a lot of fun.  I’ve heard the best thing about Africa is the people and I can see how that would be true.  I do have times of disorientation or at least a feeling of being overwhelmed:  at the market, in town, and at church.  First of all, I’m extremely aware of being different and standing out in these places.  The language is exhausting to listen to because you’re working so hard at communication.  And sometimes just the mere busyness of it all wears me out.  (Going to the mall in America did the same thing to me.  I’d get tired, overwhelmed, and overstimulated.)  But the more I go to these places the more comfortable I feel.

There are definitely things from the U.S. I miss – mainly familiar foods – but there are some things I like here better – well, those are foods too.  Haha…  The beans are so good here.  I don’t know how they cook them but yum!  The pineapple here is the best I’ve ever had (and I have eaten fresh pineapple in Hawaii).  I love that the fruits and vegetables are so cheap.  That really helps to be able to eat a lot of those and they’re always fresh.  The things in the market put to shame most American grocery store produce sections.

I guess overall I just feel like we haven’t really begun “doing” enough yet.  Yes, we’ve been working hard at learning the language and culture.  But as a “do-er” and “worker” and “goal/progress-oriented” type person, I am looking forward to getting involved in the work in Mbeya.  It depends on the baby how much time I can put into the actual accounting work but to even be there where Jonathan and the rest of the team is making a difference will be rewarding I think.  We sat in on a meeting when we were in Mbeya recently and it was nice to see both “Western” missionaries and Tanzanians working together.  Hearing about all the work going on was encouraging and uplifting.

One of the prayer requests of the team in Mbeya is to have young people come long-term who will learn the language and spend time building relationships.  That’s what they need the most.  They need the work to be done too, of course, but the more we can understand the Tanzanians in that area the better we’ll be able to serve them and, more importantly, to equip them to take over our roles and continue the work themselves.

So I guess that’s how I like it personally and regarding the work itself.  I don’t ever just feel frustrated and upset (which can happen when you’re transitioning to a new culture).  Sometimes bugs get on my nerves especially if I’m trying to eat – but we eat outside here so that problem will be remedied eventually.  I really don’t like biting into rocks in the rice.  (I hope my dentist isn’t reading this…)  I get scared that I’m going to break a tooth and it really just doesn’t feel good.  I don’t mind people yelling at me in the market or asking me for money.  They aren’t real aggressive so I just either respond or ignore based on the situation.  Hmmm…and I guess outside of that, everything is fine right now.  When we move to Mbeya and I’m doing all our shopping, cooking, housecleaning, etc that may change but for now I’m comfortable and happy and content.

(I think the care packages from people have helped tremendously too.  I’ve had both brownies and candy corn today.  Thank you all again and again and again for sending us familiar food!!!)