Through the Seasons

People keep asking if I’m excited to go back to Africa.  Boy, what a loaded question.

First of all, we spent most of our time in Dar and Iringa – not Mbeya where we’ll live – so I don’t yet have a good idea of what life there will be like.  I don’t yet have a good frame of reference because we spent so much time camping.  I do know I wouldn’t be excited about going back to more of that.  Whew.  Four and a half months was enough.

I am very much a step-by-step person.  I’m the one who can’t see the forest for the trees.  So until through one phase I don’t look to the next really.  (Although I am quite the planner.  I can plan for something – I just don’t get excited about it.)

So, our next step is packing, getting paperwork done, and getting to the airport on time.  The next step is that long (very long…  very, very, very long…) trip to Tanzania.  The next step is to be in Dar for a certain amount of time to make sure we get Asher’s 2-month vaccinations.  We don’t have those details worked out yet.  Then we have the trip from Dar to Mbeya – the very long trip where we have to accomodate us, a baby, 2 dogs, and luggage.  We’re not sure how that’s going to happen either.  THEN we’re finally in Mbeya ready to settle in and set up house.  There are A LOT of things that have to happen before we’re ever to that point so, no, I’m actually not excited right now.  I’m already tired thinking about the journey to that point.

But if I allow myself to look past all the challenges to us being in Mbeya I do get excited.  I see myself decorating a bit, establishing a routine, having people over, preparing meals (even if it’s just grilled cheese or PBJ), celebrating holidays, and just making that concrete duplex a home.  Yes.  That’s very exciting.

read comments (0)

A couple of weeks ago we went to church with our friends in Mbeya. What an experience!

The first 2 hours were spent in singing and an occasional, brief word from someone. Then there was a 30 minute sermon followed by more talking and singing. Oh and dancing! Lots of vibrant dancing. Since we were visitors we also had to stand up and introduce ourselves. (Horrible!)

The offering during the service was interesting too. They stand up front and everyone gets up and puts their offering in the basket. Then a man takes it out, counts it, and a little later comes back in to announce the total. The day we were there we didn’t catch the amount but the last time our friends went to that church the total offering was 11,000 shillings which is $10 and our friends gave 2,000 shillings of that total.

After church service everyone goes out front and shakes every single person’s hand. Then they form a circle where they auction off tangible goods that people have brought as their offering. When we were there a lady brought an egg. It was quite sweet and humbling.

The whole experience though was exhausting honestly. That’s just a lot of singing when you don’t come from a background where that’s normal. The fact that everything was in Swahili made it so much worse because you’re exerting so much energy to try to follow (which we hardly did at all).

It became extremely clear that to get the spiritual nourishment we crave, we’re on our own. It also reminded me of the 10 minority languages around Mbeya who don’t know Swahili and their only option for church and Bible is Swahili. It’s exciting to be a part of work that will take the Scripture and make it come alive for them in the language that they understand. And I’m even more grateful now for the fact that I grew up with English preaching, teaching, and Bible. We are so fortunate to have these things! Thanks Mr. William Tyndale. And thank You God for sending him to give us Your Word and for sending us to give Your Word to others.

read comments (0)

Question:  Where exactly is Tanzania?

Answer:

Tanzania is in East Africa, located on the Indian Ocean.

It borders Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and Malawi.

Mbeya is in the Southwest region of Tanzania.

It’s located in the highlands at 5,500 feet.

read comments (4)

 By far, our most frequently asked question is about the weather.  Here are the average highs/lows (in Fahrenheit) for Mbeya over the last 12 months:

January – 75/60

February – 76/60

March – 76/56

April – 75/55

May – 72/54

June – 70/48

July – 70/45

August – 75/48

September – 76/54

October – 81/58

November - 78/59

December – 74/59

During the past year, the max high temperature was 91 and the min low temperature was 17.  Those are rarities though as you can see by the averages.  Mbeya is very close to the equator but also 5,500 feet high so the weather is moderate.

read comments (1)