We get a lot of questions about furlough. What do you do? What is it like? Do you get any rest? Has it been fun? How are the kids adjusting? etc.
While there are no short answers to these questions, I can at least try to give you a glimpse into how our life has been since we got back in July. Here is how we've been spending our time.
1. Work - Dusty goes to the office at the church during the weekdays and works on linguistics, survey reports, getting acquainted with our work in Uganda, and finishing some work from Tanzania. I've been tackling our website issues which have made me enter a maddening cyber-chase.
2. Logistics - This includes trying to get our container full of our household items from Musoma to Entebbe (it's there now!), renewing passports and getting them to Uganda for visas (they're there, but now we need them back), submitting foreign medical receipts for insurance and then dickering over them with the insurance company.
3. PD (Partnership Development) - We're having several open-house events, giving presentations to multiple groups from 6 churches, meeting with supporters, and updating our address lists. How can this be so fun and so tiring at the same time?
4. Kids' education - Some time is spent taking care of the kids' schooling while they are here: Tessa is in public school 1st grade while Jack goes to a church preschool two mornings a week. Soon I will be wading the murky waters of home schooling curriculum and trying to figure out how to get it to Uganda in January. Anyone going to Uganda soon with luggage to spare?
5. Medical - All of us are in need of check-ups, shots, and some physical updates. Cooper had 4 shots this morning actually. These appointments inevitably lead to more insurance dramas.
6. Rest - Yes, it is part of our goal to get some rest from the stresses of living abroad. This is tricky since it seems we are just trading those stresses with American stresses, but nonetheless, we are enjoying some time with family and friends. We recently had two short vacations in the Colorado mountains and were very thankful to be back in our beloved Rockies again in spite of the kids' very serious croup episodes.
So, like you, our lives are a mixture of family, work, fun, stress, fellowship, and hassles. However, we never feel quite at home because we are traveling between 2 states and 2 countries, living in a home that is not ours and heading to an entirely new spot altogether.
That being said, we really are enjoying our time with our family, old and new friends, favorite restaurants, libraries, playgrounds, and the change in the seasons. Now, back to the glorious effort to clear out my inbox...
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
What It's All About
This past weekend, our team in Tanzania had the privilege of dedicating the first translated and printed book of Luke among the Ikoma (and Nata and Isenye) people in the Mugumu village. This is a huge milestone for our family and our entire team. Although we weren't there to celebrate, we are so thankful to have some of Michael Nicholls' photos of the celebration and wanted to share a few with you as well.
Long before the ceremony begins, the ladies of the church started preparing a meal for everyone who came. The food is usually ugali (boiled cornmeal), goat stew, rice, beans, and a bit of greens.
The children of the community curiously awaiting the dedication.
The participants joyfully line up to carry the box of Luke booklets into the church. The man on the left in the blue shirt is Mussa Karume Tobias.
Accompanied by singing, the Word is brought into the church in gift-wrapped boxes.
After unwrapping the box, Bishop Stephen Mageri holds up a booklet for everyone to see.
Celebration!!
Mwalimu Mtiro and a friend reading the very first book ever in their own language.
And this, folks, is what it's all about. This is why we first started thinking about becoming missionaries. This is what we have been striving toward since we moved to Tanzania in 2004, surveyed the people groups in 2005, and opened the cluster translation project in 2006. This is why you've been supporting us and praying for us and the Tanzanians around us - the Word of God in their mother tongue.
Thank you for going there with us in your hearts to make an eternal impact in the hearts of the Ikoma people and all the others both in the Mara region and around the world.
Praise God!
Long before the ceremony begins, the ladies of the church started preparing a meal for everyone who came. The food is usually ugali (boiled cornmeal), goat stew, rice, beans, and a bit of greens.
The children of the community curiously awaiting the dedication.
The participants joyfully line up to carry the box of Luke booklets into the church. The man on the left in the blue shirt is Mussa Karume Tobias.
Accompanied by singing, the Word is brought into the church in gift-wrapped boxes.
After unwrapping the box, Bishop Stephen Mageri holds up a booklet for everyone to see.
Celebration!!
Mwalimu Mtiro and a friend reading the very first book ever in their own language.
And this, folks, is what it's all about. This is why we first started thinking about becoming missionaries. This is what we have been striving toward since we moved to Tanzania in 2004, surveyed the people groups in 2005, and opened the cluster translation project in 2006. This is why you've been supporting us and praying for us and the Tanzanians around us - the Word of God in their mother tongue.
Thank you for going there with us in your hearts to make an eternal impact in the hearts of the Ikoma people and all the others both in the Mara region and around the world.
Praise God!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Early observations of life in America
Now that we've been here about two weeks, I'd like to share some observations about life in America. Some are things that I appreciate; others are simply things I notice.
1. There are lines on the roads indicating where you should drive, and where you can pass - and people follow them! When we have lines in East Africa they are considered mere suggestions. Driving here is so easy that we can almost safely zone out while at the wheel.
2. It's blazing hot in Texas, but everyone is surprised that it's never that hot in Musoma. Although we're so thankful for the A/C, we are surprised at how cold they keep the restaurants and other places. It feels quite odd to walk out into 105 degrees outside carrying a sweater so we can comfortably go out to eat!
3. CLEAN WATER! Oh, the luxury of clean water. I don't have to keep my mouth closed in the shower. I can rinse off my toothbrush from the tap in the sink. I can rinse a cup and then drink from it immediately afterward without worrying about amoeba. It's so nice!
4. The "bigness" of it all - at restaurants sodas and plates of pasta are huge. Along with this comes the "sweetness" of it all - sugar seems to be added to everything edible. And while on the topic of sugar - the sugar here is so nice and fine and white! Our sugar in TZ looks like what Americans call "Sugar in the Raw," big and brown, and we laugh that people consider that special!
5. Options are limitless. We can't get decent orange juice in TZ unless we squeeze it ourselves and add sugar (which due to the above reasons doesn't dissolve nicely). But here we have the choice of: pulp, no pulp, vitamins added, diet, healthy heart, antioxidants, fresh, frozen, from concentrate, from various types of oranges, from various brands, and then - which is the best price? And that's just juice! Now think about churches, entertainment choices, restaurants, clothing, friendships, music, books, and the list is as limitless as the options.
6. Green grass and beautifully manicured landscaping around homes and businesses in spite of lack of rain - and sprinkler systems!
7. Doctors' appointments are hard to get. In Nairobi we can get an appointment with a good doctor within 1 or 2 days pretty easily, even if we are a new patients.
8. It's light here from 6am - 8pm. In Musoma it's light from 6:30am - 6:30pm...year round. We can't seem to get the kids into bed at the right time since we're all internally confused.
9. In East Africa it seems to take us a lot of time and a lot of effort to get even small errands accomplished satisfactorily. Here, things are straightforward, traffic is easily navigable, and everything is open when we need it to be. American businesses have catered to the high value we place on efficiency, and customer service is standard instead of extremely rare.
10. We don't pay for internet by the megabyte - it just feels nice to view whatever we like without even thinking about its size.
So we're grateful to be back in the Land of Plenty, enjoying its riches and conveniences, but we also still appreciate life in Africa where things generally seem more simple and light.
1. There are lines on the roads indicating where you should drive, and where you can pass - and people follow them! When we have lines in East Africa they are considered mere suggestions. Driving here is so easy that we can almost safely zone out while at the wheel.
2. It's blazing hot in Texas, but everyone is surprised that it's never that hot in Musoma. Although we're so thankful for the A/C, we are surprised at how cold they keep the restaurants and other places. It feels quite odd to walk out into 105 degrees outside carrying a sweater so we can comfortably go out to eat!
3. CLEAN WATER! Oh, the luxury of clean water. I don't have to keep my mouth closed in the shower. I can rinse off my toothbrush from the tap in the sink. I can rinse a cup and then drink from it immediately afterward without worrying about amoeba. It's so nice!
4. The "bigness" of it all - at restaurants sodas and plates of pasta are huge. Along with this comes the "sweetness" of it all - sugar seems to be added to everything edible. And while on the topic of sugar - the sugar here is so nice and fine and white! Our sugar in TZ looks like what Americans call "Sugar in the Raw," big and brown, and we laugh that people consider that special!
5. Options are limitless. We can't get decent orange juice in TZ unless we squeeze it ourselves and add sugar (which due to the above reasons doesn't dissolve nicely). But here we have the choice of: pulp, no pulp, vitamins added, diet, healthy heart, antioxidants, fresh, frozen, from concentrate, from various types of oranges, from various brands, and then - which is the best price? And that's just juice! Now think about churches, entertainment choices, restaurants, clothing, friendships, music, books, and the list is as limitless as the options.
6. Green grass and beautifully manicured landscaping around homes and businesses in spite of lack of rain - and sprinkler systems!
7. Doctors' appointments are hard to get. In Nairobi we can get an appointment with a good doctor within 1 or 2 days pretty easily, even if we are a new patients.
8. It's light here from 6am - 8pm. In Musoma it's light from 6:30am - 6:30pm...year round. We can't seem to get the kids into bed at the right time since we're all internally confused.
9. In East Africa it seems to take us a lot of time and a lot of effort to get even small errands accomplished satisfactorily. Here, things are straightforward, traffic is easily navigable, and everything is open when we need it to be. American businesses have catered to the high value we place on efficiency, and customer service is standard instead of extremely rare.
10. We don't pay for internet by the megabyte - it just feels nice to view whatever we like without even thinking about its size.
So we're grateful to be back in the Land of Plenty, enjoying its riches and conveniences, but we also still appreciate life in Africa where things generally seem more simple and light.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
African Anecdotes - Domestic Violence
Domestic violence - 12/6/2004
Last night, through the window, I heard a heated discussion between a man and a woman. In village living, the neighbor knows all. She was screaming and crying and he was talking loudly to her. I couldn’t understand, but it was clear that she was either accusing him or defending herself. Every now and then there was a thud, and her screams would heighten. A baby was wailing the whole time. It was just awful, and I prayed for them, but I barely knew what to pray for.
It has lead me to be thinking along these lines, “Why was I chosen to be born in a culture of education, where abuse is not acceptable and is illegal? Why was it me who was born in a family without fear of abuse? Why do I get to be a woman who doesn’t think about whether my husband will yell at me or hit me? Why me and not her?” I’m thankful, and so is Dusty, but our hearts are grieved for the women and the men here, who are raised believing that domestic abuse is not only normal, but to be expected.
And worse than that, we have heard that some women do not feel loved unless they are beaten! They have it so very backwards. Somehow they believe that if they are beaten every now and then, their husbands care about them and how they cook, where they have been, how they raise the kids, etc. If she cooks poorly for a few days without a comment from him or if he doesn’t eat at home for several meals, then she will assume he is eating from some other woman’s table, so his yelling at her or hitting her is an assurance that he’s not cheating, that he loves her.
Last night, through the window, I heard a heated discussion between a man and a woman. In village living, the neighbor knows all. She was screaming and crying and he was talking loudly to her. I couldn’t understand, but it was clear that she was either accusing him or defending herself. Every now and then there was a thud, and her screams would heighten. A baby was wailing the whole time. It was just awful, and I prayed for them, but I barely knew what to pray for.
It has lead me to be thinking along these lines, “Why was I chosen to be born in a culture of education, where abuse is not acceptable and is illegal? Why was it me who was born in a family without fear of abuse? Why do I get to be a woman who doesn’t think about whether my husband will yell at me or hit me? Why me and not her?” I’m thankful, and so is Dusty, but our hearts are grieved for the women and the men here, who are raised believing that domestic abuse is not only normal, but to be expected.
And worse than that, we have heard that some women do not feel loved unless they are beaten! They have it so very backwards. Somehow they believe that if they are beaten every now and then, their husbands care about them and how they cook, where they have been, how they raise the kids, etc. If she cooks poorly for a few days without a comment from him or if he doesn’t eat at home for several meals, then she will assume he is eating from some other woman’s table, so his yelling at her or hitting her is an assurance that he’s not cheating, that he loves her.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
African Anecdotes Revisited - Death
Death remains a very common topic here in Tanzania because it is so frequent and common, which does not make the grief any less of course. After seven years of living here, we are still amazed at how often we hear of people dying, including children and babies. Malaria takes a big toll among adults and children alike.
10/27/04 - Death in this culture
Although many things have changed in these parts, some traditions remain and differ by tribe. For instance, men are buried lying on their right sides, women on their left sides; everyone is buried with their heads to the West. The right hand in Swahili is called the “hand of man” and the left is called the “hand of woman.” There is good death (dying from disease, natural causes) and bad death (dying from murder or accident). Men are mourned for 4 days because they are or can be the head of the family, and women for 3 days.
In some tribes family members of the deceased shave their heads entirely. When the hair regrows, the family members can stop thinking of their loss. People deemed crazy are not mourned. If a baby is born as a stillborn, there is no mourning period, and no one, including the mother, is allowed to cry because it may bring bad luck, and she can have another child. If her husband dies, a woman is encouraged to remarry after the 4 days but these days everyone is wary of AIDS so she isn’t required to marry again. The cemeteries are divided into about 6 spaces for people to be buried according to religion.
In the past, when a person died, he/she was wrapped in a fresh cow skin, and the mourners ate the meat from the cow. Now he/she is wrapped in white cloth and put in a coffin. Muslims are not buried in coffins, but their bodies cannot touch dirt, so they are covered with leaves, etc before the dirt covers them. In the past, if a chief died, they would bury a live servant with him because he still would need someone to serve him; the family of the servant would be financially reimbursed (or paid in cows, etc.). When twins or breech babies were born, they would be “thrown out” because they brought bad luck. Also, if a child’s top teeth grew in before the bottom teeth, they would be thrown out too for the same reasons. Most of these traditions ceased when understanding grew.
Dusty was just saying today that we hear of a lot more death here. Someone was hit on their motorcycle in town on Sunday and was decapitated. 2 of our teachers have had neighbors die since we have been here. And we heard lamenting wailing from the village through our windows when someone died there. Community life is so much stronger here that everyone still knows everyone else’s business. The average lifespan is much shorter here too. If a person gets cancer, chemo and radiation are not really choices because of the lack of money and health care. And of course AIDS is claiming so many. We haven’t seen anyone with visible AIDS yet, but we know many people who have lost family members that way.
10/27/04 - Death in this culture
Although many things have changed in these parts, some traditions remain and differ by tribe. For instance, men are buried lying on their right sides, women on their left sides; everyone is buried with their heads to the West. The right hand in Swahili is called the “hand of man” and the left is called the “hand of woman.” There is good death (dying from disease, natural causes) and bad death (dying from murder or accident). Men are mourned for 4 days because they are or can be the head of the family, and women for 3 days.
In some tribes family members of the deceased shave their heads entirely. When the hair regrows, the family members can stop thinking of their loss. People deemed crazy are not mourned. If a baby is born as a stillborn, there is no mourning period, and no one, including the mother, is allowed to cry because it may bring bad luck, and she can have another child. If her husband dies, a woman is encouraged to remarry after the 4 days but these days everyone is wary of AIDS so she isn’t required to marry again. The cemeteries are divided into about 6 spaces for people to be buried according to religion.
In the past, when a person died, he/she was wrapped in a fresh cow skin, and the mourners ate the meat from the cow. Now he/she is wrapped in white cloth and put in a coffin. Muslims are not buried in coffins, but their bodies cannot touch dirt, so they are covered with leaves, etc before the dirt covers them. In the past, if a chief died, they would bury a live servant with him because he still would need someone to serve him; the family of the servant would be financially reimbursed (or paid in cows, etc.). When twins or breech babies were born, they would be “thrown out” because they brought bad luck. Also, if a child’s top teeth grew in before the bottom teeth, they would be thrown out too for the same reasons. Most of these traditions ceased when understanding grew.
Dusty was just saying today that we hear of a lot more death here. Someone was hit on their motorcycle in town on Sunday and was decapitated. 2 of our teachers have had neighbors die since we have been here. And we heard lamenting wailing from the village through our windows when someone died there. Community life is so much stronger here that everyone still knows everyone else’s business. The average lifespan is much shorter here too. If a person gets cancer, chemo and radiation are not really choices because of the lack of money and health care. And of course AIDS is claiming so many. We haven’t seen anyone with visible AIDS yet, but we know many people who have lost family members that way.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
African Anecdotes #1: Church
In light of our leaving Tanzania and moving to Uganda, I am finding myself in a retrospective state of mind. Therefore I'm posting some of the original African Anecdotes that I began writing in 2004 before I began blogging.
A choir in a Masaai church we visited in Kenya in 2004
10/5/04 (written in Musoma during language school)Church
Life continues on here, and we visited our 4th TZ church this week. We have been to 8 services in East Africa so far including Anglican, Lutheran, Africa Inland Church, a Masai (tribe) church, and Baptist; some were urban and others were rural. The first hour of most of these services is focused on singing, prayer, and scripture reading; most services go for two hours or more, and only one had an optional Sunday School for adults.
Let me tell you, the choir is always the main attraction. The choirs here are a treat for both the ears and eyes. They have no robes, but they have a combination of dancing and signing that is very engaging. It seems that each song has a different set of hand signs and foot movements to follow, and no one ever screws up. They harmonize their voices, but unfortunately, I can’t always appreciate that because the music team (electric guitars, bass, drum, and/or synthesizer) plays loudly and not very well.
Churches usually take at least 2 offerings, so we always split what we will give in three groups, both for me and Dusty, so that we can participate in 100% of the offerings. We have yet to figure out the reasoning on multiple offerings. Everyone walks single file to the basket at the front of the church and donates while the choir sings. Someone always announces the attendance and offering amounts of the former week, and one time it was announced that the women gave more than the men, and all the women cheered and clapped in an otherwise very liturgical service. We have been to 2 services where vegetables and fruit were auctioned off among the congregation to raise funds too.
Sometimes laypeople give the sermons, and it is not uncommon for a woman to preach. We never know how long the sermon will be, but it feels very long. Sometimes I just pray quietly when my brain tires of listening for words I recognize. Women (in general) sit on the left side of the church, and men on the right, but everyone expects foreigners to sit together, which is nice for us. Kids usually sit in front, and behave very well, considering that they are there for 2 hours! The pews are always wood with or without backs on them. We are always asked to stand and introduce ourselves as guests, and we usually stumble through some pathetic Swahili sentences, but everyone is gracious and pleased in spite of our tripping tongues. At the end of the service while we are singing, the first person out (pastor) shakes hands with the next person out, and so on, so that we shake hands with every person in the church and exchange greetings. The kids do a little curtsy thing to us, and they have a different verbal greeting too.
Jack in "Sunday School" outside our church in Musoma where we still worship. The pastor's house is in the background. The kids play under this mango tree.
A choir in a Masaai church we visited in Kenya in 200410/5/04 (written in Musoma during language school)Church
Life continues on here, and we visited our 4th TZ church this week. We have been to 8 services in East Africa so far including Anglican, Lutheran, Africa Inland Church, a Masai (tribe) church, and Baptist; some were urban and others were rural. The first hour of most of these services is focused on singing, prayer, and scripture reading; most services go for two hours or more, and only one had an optional Sunday School for adults.
Let me tell you, the choir is always the main attraction. The choirs here are a treat for both the ears and eyes. They have no robes, but they have a combination of dancing and signing that is very engaging. It seems that each song has a different set of hand signs and foot movements to follow, and no one ever screws up. They harmonize their voices, but unfortunately, I can’t always appreciate that because the music team (electric guitars, bass, drum, and/or synthesizer) plays loudly and not very well.
Churches usually take at least 2 offerings, so we always split what we will give in three groups, both for me and Dusty, so that we can participate in 100% of the offerings. We have yet to figure out the reasoning on multiple offerings. Everyone walks single file to the basket at the front of the church and donates while the choir sings. Someone always announces the attendance and offering amounts of the former week, and one time it was announced that the women gave more than the men, and all the women cheered and clapped in an otherwise very liturgical service. We have been to 2 services where vegetables and fruit were auctioned off among the congregation to raise funds too.
Sometimes laypeople give the sermons, and it is not uncommon for a woman to preach. We never know how long the sermon will be, but it feels very long. Sometimes I just pray quietly when my brain tires of listening for words I recognize. Women (in general) sit on the left side of the church, and men on the right, but everyone expects foreigners to sit together, which is nice for us. Kids usually sit in front, and behave very well, considering that they are there for 2 hours! The pews are always wood with or without backs on them. We are always asked to stand and introduce ourselves as guests, and we usually stumble through some pathetic Swahili sentences, but everyone is gracious and pleased in spite of our tripping tongues. At the end of the service while we are singing, the first person out (pastor) shakes hands with the next person out, and so on, so that we shake hands with every person in the church and exchange greetings. The kids do a little curtsy thing to us, and they have a different verbal greeting too.
Jack in "Sunday School" outside our church in Musoma where we still worship. The pastor's house is in the background. The kids play under this mango tree.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Introducing: Mafuru Hill
As you may recall, Sululu, our office construction foreman and good friend, gave us the blessing of naming his 12th child. We named him Simeoni, from the second chapter of the book of Luke. In return, we asked Sululu to give Cooper a Jita name as Sululu is from the Jita tribe. He chose the name Mafuru, which is a small fish and also the name of his deceased brother, which was quite an honor for us. Apparently Cooper/Mafuru was born during the time when many of this fish are available.
Although we will continue to call him Cooper, Sululu and his family will now call him Mafuru. We can now introduce him to Tanzanians as Mafuru, which is much easier for them to say and understand. And now we are Baba Mafuru (Dusty) and Mama Mafuru (me)!
Dusty holding Simeoni, now 4 months, and Sululu holding Mafuru
Sululu's uncle and Mafuru. This older man has completely withered legs and is only able to walk with the use of a tall stick, but still radiates such beautiful joy. He is always happy to see us.
Mama Simeoni, Sululu's third wife, and Mafuru. Cooper couldn't sleep because he was being passed around a lot, and any time Cooper let out a little squeak from being tired she insisted that he was hungry even though I had just fed him. Tanzanians don't let their babies cry - they just keep feeding them. Our explanation of putting Cooper on a feed/wake/sleep schedule fell on deaf ears...again.
Sululu's second wife on the left and third wife on the right with some of the kids. Everyone enjoyed holding the little mzungu (white) baby.
This was such a fun morning - having chai with our friends in their home, cuddling Simeoni with his big eyes, and waiting for Cooper's Jita name with mounting curiosity.
Although we will continue to call him Cooper, Sululu and his family will now call him Mafuru. We can now introduce him to Tanzanians as Mafuru, which is much easier for them to say and understand. And now we are Baba Mafuru (Dusty) and Mama Mafuru (me)!
Dusty holding Simeoni, now 4 months, and Sululu holding Mafuru
Sululu's uncle and Mafuru. This older man has completely withered legs and is only able to walk with the use of a tall stick, but still radiates such beautiful joy. He is always happy to see us.
Mama Simeoni, Sululu's third wife, and Mafuru. Cooper couldn't sleep because he was being passed around a lot, and any time Cooper let out a little squeak from being tired she insisted that he was hungry even though I had just fed him. Tanzanians don't let their babies cry - they just keep feeding them. Our explanation of putting Cooper on a feed/wake/sleep schedule fell on deaf ears...again. 
Sululu's second wife on the left and third wife on the right with some of the kids. Everyone enjoyed holding the little mzungu (white) baby.
This was such a fun morning - having chai with our friends in their home, cuddling Simeoni with his big eyes, and waiting for Cooper's Jita name with mounting curiosity.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Ultimate Kidism List
Due to lack of time/energy I have not been as faithful with our email updates as I would have liked, but I have been collecting the kidisms from the past 3 months. So here they are, in full. Enjoy!
First, from our time in the Nairobi as the kids were adjusting to the wonders of urban life:
Jack, accustomed to bathing in a basin and watching the water drain down the bathtub: "Look! The water is sinking!"
Jack, on the first shopping trip: "Wow! A parking lot! Can we park here?!"
Kim, after Tessa prayed for the person passing us in an ambulance: "because one day it could be one of us." Tessa: "Oh, it will definitely be me." Us, shocked: "Why?" Tessa: "Because I am always blowing my nose!" (she had a rare cold at the time)
Jack, noticing the overhead car light is not working: "The car's umeme is off." (umeme = electricity, and at home in TZ, we have frequent reason to say "the umeme is off.")
Jack, hearing a car alarm: "Mama, what's that bird's name?"
Tessa, after a beggar knocked on our vehicle window:"Mama, is he rich?" Kim: "No, he's poor and was asking for money." Tessa: "Well, he should go to a bank to get money instead of asking us." (followed by a lengthy explanation of poverty and our response to the poor)
Tessa: "They should really get Chik-Fil-A in Nairobi." (Amen!!)
Jack: "Come see my dot com!" (the city he built from tracks, trains, and blocks on the floor)
Tessa: "God just told me how He wants me to serve Him!" Us: "Really? How?" Tessa: "He wants me to go to the playground tomorrow!"
Kim: "And we may have to wake you in the middle of the night if that's when the baby comes." Tessa: "Or the side of the night would be fine."
Jack to Tessa, who was playing with his toy: "Be fortunate with my helicopter!" (meaning: 'careful') Jack likes to use big words, even if he doesn't understand them.
While on vacation at a hotel on the coast of Kenya:
Tessa, pointing at a group of boys: "Mama, I like cute boys... like THAT one." Yikes!
Jack, after a conversation about baptism: "When we were in the ocean, I put my face in the water and baptized myself!"
Jack, in the restaurant after a meal: "Where's the sink?" We were confused why he wanted a sink and made an effort to get him to clarify. Turns out he wanted to take his dirty dish to the sink! Us: "Oh no Jack; these nice men will take our dishes for us!"
Kim: "..and we can take a boat tomorrow." (meaning the glass bottom boat at the hotel) Jack: "I would like to take a boat back to Musoma." The boy really missed his home!
And after we returned to Tanzania:
Jack: "I don't like you exasperated. I like you happy." (We had read a book earlier with an exasperated mother in it and had explained that word to the kids.)
Tessa: "...and then Jesus said the magic words, and the water turned into wine."
Jack: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a beaver." (should be 'bee')
Tessa, with arms spread partially: "I love you this much." Kim, with arms spread all the way: "Well, who do you love this much?" Tessa: "Cooper."
Dusty: "What's happening in Libya is so sad." Tessa: "Who's Olivia?"
Jack, whose fish taco was falling apart: "We need to put some tape on this taco."
Tessa while looking at things through the car window: "I'm a good-looker, aren't I?"
Tessa, after a previous conversation about getting engaged: "When I grow up and a man asks if I will marry him, I will DEFINITELY say yes!"
First, from our time in the Nairobi as the kids were adjusting to the wonders of urban life:
Jack, accustomed to bathing in a basin and watching the water drain down the bathtub: "Look! The water is sinking!"
Jack, on the first shopping trip: "Wow! A parking lot! Can we park here?!"
Kim, after Tessa prayed for the person passing us in an ambulance: "because one day it could be one of us." Tessa: "Oh, it will definitely be me." Us, shocked: "Why?" Tessa: "Because I am always blowing my nose!" (she had a rare cold at the time)
Jack, noticing the overhead car light is not working: "The car's umeme is off." (umeme = electricity, and at home in TZ, we have frequent reason to say "the umeme is off.")
Jack, hearing a car alarm: "Mama, what's that bird's name?"
Tessa, after a beggar knocked on our vehicle window:"Mama, is he rich?" Kim: "No, he's poor and was asking for money." Tessa: "Well, he should go to a bank to get money instead of asking us." (followed by a lengthy explanation of poverty and our response to the poor)
Tessa: "They should really get Chik-Fil-A in Nairobi." (Amen!!)
Jack: "Come see my dot com!" (the city he built from tracks, trains, and blocks on the floor)
Tessa: "God just told me how He wants me to serve Him!" Us: "Really? How?" Tessa: "He wants me to go to the playground tomorrow!"
Kim: "And we may have to wake you in the middle of the night if that's when the baby comes." Tessa: "Or the side of the night would be fine."
Jack to Tessa, who was playing with his toy: "Be fortunate with my helicopter!" (meaning: 'careful') Jack likes to use big words, even if he doesn't understand them.
While on vacation at a hotel on the coast of Kenya:
Tessa, pointing at a group of boys: "Mama, I like cute boys... like THAT one." Yikes!
Jack, after a conversation about baptism: "When we were in the ocean, I put my face in the water and baptized myself!"
Jack, in the restaurant after a meal: "Where's the sink?" We were confused why he wanted a sink and made an effort to get him to clarify. Turns out he wanted to take his dirty dish to the sink! Us: "Oh no Jack; these nice men will take our dishes for us!"
Kim: "..and we can take a boat tomorrow." (meaning the glass bottom boat at the hotel) Jack: "I would like to take a boat back to Musoma." The boy really missed his home!
And after we returned to Tanzania:
Jack: "I don't like you exasperated. I like you happy." (We had read a book earlier with an exasperated mother in it and had explained that word to the kids.)
Tessa: "...and then Jesus said the magic words, and the water turned into wine."
Jack: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a beaver." (should be 'bee')
Tessa, with arms spread partially: "I love you this much." Kim, with arms spread all the way: "Well, who do you love this much?" Tessa: "Cooper."
Dusty: "What's happening in Libya is so sad." Tessa: "Who's Olivia?"
Jack, whose fish taco was falling apart: "We need to put some tape on this taco."
Tessa while looking at things through the car window: "I'm a good-looker, aren't I?"
Tessa, after a previous conversation about getting engaged: "When I grow up and a man asks if I will marry him, I will DEFINITELY say yes!"
Thursday, May 19, 2011
You might be a missionary in Tanzania if...
(apologies to those who have already read this, but I just discovered that it got lost among older posts, so here it is again)
You might be a missionary in Tanzania if...
1. You're the only person in the neighborhood who exercises for the sake of exercise, and everyone knows it.
2. You keep a frozen water bottle in the freezer to put in the fridge for power cuts.
3. You know instinctively which bumps in the dirt road to avoid and which you can pass over easily.
4. You only have one wardrobe, and it's for warm weather. Similarly, you get a bit excited when it's cool enough to actually wear socks.
5. You shop at the second hand clothing market for all your family's Christmas gifts.
6. Knowing every toilet has issues here, you ask the host what you need to know about the quirks of the toilet before you go to use it.
7. Smelling smoke in your house does not make you panic because you're keenly aware that it's just someone burning refuse outside.
8. Your language is laced with Commonwealth English. You go "on holiday." You were "in university" or even "in uni." You change "nappies." You put your trash in the "rubbish bin."
9. You know what it means when someone is taking a medicine ending in -azole. (parasites or worms)
10. You know that what looks like a squeeze mustard bottle on a restaurant table is actually filled with hot sauce.
11. You pack produce in your suitcase. (most recently butternut squash)
12. You don't think twice about seeing a dirt-colored cow lying down outside the grocery store door because you're so excited about actually going into a grocery store in the big city!
13. You arrive one hour late to a wedding and yet are still one hour early.
14. You understand why there is a sign on the toilet door saying, "Do not stand on seat." (Locals use squat toilets - ceramic hole in the ground - and aren't sure how to use a Western toilet.)
15. You can't leave your house without being frowned upon because you didn't wrap your baby in three blankets even though it is 85 degrees and sunny outside.
16. Instead of going to liquor stores to get free boxes for moving, you BUY them from random shop owners on the side of the road.
You might be a missionary in Tanzania if...
1. You're the only person in the neighborhood who exercises for the sake of exercise, and everyone knows it.
2. You keep a frozen water bottle in the freezer to put in the fridge for power cuts.
3. You know instinctively which bumps in the dirt road to avoid and which you can pass over easily.
4. You only have one wardrobe, and it's for warm weather. Similarly, you get a bit excited when it's cool enough to actually wear socks.
5. You shop at the second hand clothing market for all your family's Christmas gifts.
6. Knowing every toilet has issues here, you ask the host what you need to know about the quirks of the toilet before you go to use it.
7. Smelling smoke in your house does not make you panic because you're keenly aware that it's just someone burning refuse outside.
8. Your language is laced with Commonwealth English. You go "on holiday." You were "in university" or even "in uni." You change "nappies." You put your trash in the "rubbish bin."
9. You know what it means when someone is taking a medicine ending in -azole. (parasites or worms)
10. You know that what looks like a squeeze mustard bottle on a restaurant table is actually filled with hot sauce.
11. You pack produce in your suitcase. (most recently butternut squash)
12. You don't think twice about seeing a dirt-colored cow lying down outside the grocery store door because you're so excited about actually going into a grocery store in the big city!
13. You arrive one hour late to a wedding and yet are still one hour early.
14. You understand why there is a sign on the toilet door saying, "Do not stand on seat." (Locals use squat toilets - ceramic hole in the ground - and aren't sure how to use a Western toilet.)
15. You can't leave your house without being frowned upon because you didn't wrap your baby in three blankets even though it is 85 degrees and sunny outside.
16. Instead of going to liquor stores to get free boxes for moving, you BUY them from random shop owners on the side of the road.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Kids' Easter Photos
Happy Easter! We have so much to praise God for this year with the birth of Cooper, and as always we are especially thankful today for the resurrection of Jesus, who has brought us eternal life. May your Easter be filled with the joy of the risen Lord! As we say in Swahili: Amefufuka! (He has risen) Amefufuka kweli kweli! (He has risen indeed!)
2007 in Musoma
2008 in Musoma
2009 in Texas
2010 in Musoma
2011 in Nairobi
2007 in Musoma
2008 in Musoma
2009 in Texas
2010 in Musoma
2011 in Nairobi
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Embassy
This morning we went to the American Embassy in Nairobi. The last time we were there was four years ago when we were obtaining Jack's passport and social security number. Since then things have changed a bit - namely that you can no longer simply go to the embassy - you have to make an appointment online or over the phone.
The odd thing though, is that when pursuing a passport, the embassy makes the appointment for you. I keep imagining the movie-type situation where the bad guys are chasing the good American all the way to the embassy gates. In Kenya that American wouldn't get in without his/her official paper proving that he/she has an appointment!
So we found out yesterday afternoon that they gave us the appointment for this morning at 10:30. They had put our request off a bit, so Dusty emailed them and remarkably received a reply within hours with the appointment for today. So that was impressive at least. We cleared our schedule - embassy appointments are precious!
We left our house at 9:15 so we could meet our friend Carl at a nearby shopping center parking lot at 10:15. The most odd thing is that the embassy has NO PARKING - at all. Perhaps this is to prevent car bombs? But then why not have off-site parking? It's completely frustrating. Carl took us to the embassy and dropped us off, and we took a taxi back to the shopping center when we were done.
We were scanned immediately at the gate, and then anything we brought with us was scanned again. The items the security guards chose to keep while we went inside were our cell phones, car keys, and ... Spencer. Spencer is the metal, magnetized train that Jack chose to bring as his toy for the day. Let me tell you, Jack's bottom lip popped out and tears formed in his eyes as we walked away from Spencer, although we hastened to comfort Jack by telling him he would get Spencer back when we left. The poor guy was so worried and saddened!
We waited about 45 minutes to submit our paperwork, sign it, and swear in. Everything went smoothly and the lady didn't mention our missing information, so hopefully it will not be a problem. She said it will take 2-3 weeks to get the passport. Obviously we're hoping no longer than 2 weeks so we can return to Tanzania.
In the meantime, Cooper is neither Kenyan or American. He's just a boy floating with no citizenship anywhere. Apparently, children born to foreigners have to apply for Kenyan citizenship, which we're obviously not going to do. Simply obtaining his birth certificate was stressful enough, and dual citizenship is still not allowed, at least as far as we know.
The most harrowing part of the morning was fighting traffic in a construction zone. It was absolutely unbelievable how aggressive the matatu drivers are. Matatus are the 14 passenger mini-vans that many people use for transportation here. But other drivers as well are just as aggressive. There appear to be no road rules and risk is the name of the game.
All told, we've been very pleased that things have happened so quickly - even the staff at the embassy were impressed to see a 10-day-old baby applying for a passport. Usually it takes longer, so we know the Lord, not the embassy, is expediting our process!
The odd thing though, is that when pursuing a passport, the embassy makes the appointment for you. I keep imagining the movie-type situation where the bad guys are chasing the good American all the way to the embassy gates. In Kenya that American wouldn't get in without his/her official paper proving that he/she has an appointment!
So we found out yesterday afternoon that they gave us the appointment for this morning at 10:30. They had put our request off a bit, so Dusty emailed them and remarkably received a reply within hours with the appointment for today. So that was impressive at least. We cleared our schedule - embassy appointments are precious!
We left our house at 9:15 so we could meet our friend Carl at a nearby shopping center parking lot at 10:15. The most odd thing is that the embassy has NO PARKING - at all. Perhaps this is to prevent car bombs? But then why not have off-site parking? It's completely frustrating. Carl took us to the embassy and dropped us off, and we took a taxi back to the shopping center when we were done.
We were scanned immediately at the gate, and then anything we brought with us was scanned again. The items the security guards chose to keep while we went inside were our cell phones, car keys, and ... Spencer. Spencer is the metal, magnetized train that Jack chose to bring as his toy for the day. Let me tell you, Jack's bottom lip popped out and tears formed in his eyes as we walked away from Spencer, although we hastened to comfort Jack by telling him he would get Spencer back when we left. The poor guy was so worried and saddened!
We waited about 45 minutes to submit our paperwork, sign it, and swear in. Everything went smoothly and the lady didn't mention our missing information, so hopefully it will not be a problem. She said it will take 2-3 weeks to get the passport. Obviously we're hoping no longer than 2 weeks so we can return to Tanzania.
In the meantime, Cooper is neither Kenyan or American. He's just a boy floating with no citizenship anywhere. Apparently, children born to foreigners have to apply for Kenyan citizenship, which we're obviously not going to do. Simply obtaining his birth certificate was stressful enough, and dual citizenship is still not allowed, at least as far as we know.
The most harrowing part of the morning was fighting traffic in a construction zone. It was absolutely unbelievable how aggressive the matatu drivers are. Matatus are the 14 passenger mini-vans that many people use for transportation here. But other drivers as well are just as aggressive. There appear to be no road rules and risk is the name of the game.
All told, we've been very pleased that things have happened so quickly - even the staff at the embassy were impressed to see a 10-day-old baby applying for a passport. Usually it takes longer, so we know the Lord, not the embassy, is expediting our process!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Welcoming Cooper
We're so happy to announce the birth of Cooper Clement Hill, who arrived on Sunday, March 27th at 10:30 in the morning, weighing 7 lbs, 15 oz. He is a healthy baby, and we were released to go back home the next morning.
Knowing how fast Jack arrived, we left ourselves plenty of time to get to the hospital, and because it was a Sunday morning we had no traffic and made the normally one hour drive in 10 minutes! I had a full team of the OBGYN, midwife/doula, pediatrician (required in Kenya to be present), nurses, and Dusty of course. The labor came hard and fast and left no time for the epidural - so I had a natural childbirth even though I would have preferred otherwise. Additionally, it was "back labor," meaning the baby's face was turned the wrong way, so the pain was intense.
We are all very grateful that Cooper and I are both healthy, and we are recovering well. He is so sleepy at this point that we can barely wake him up to feed him, and yet he still manages to be awake in the middle of the night. Now for a few photos:
Jack enjoyed snuggling up next to me in the hospital bed. He's not quite sure what to make of the whole baby thing, but he's doing a great job and is happy to have a brother.
A rare wakeful moment on the Rift Valley sheepskin we bought for Cooper.
Tessa is completely in love with Cooper, and having a baby in the house has been a great joy for her. She holds him all the time and enjoys dressing him and helping with diaper changes.
The Princess Zahra maternity ward. Jack had just knocked his ear on Cooper's car seat so he wasn't too happy here.
Cooper, snuggly in his multiple blankets in the hospital bassinet. East Africans love to bundle their babies, but we were very surprised the staff never placed a knit cap on his head like they do in the States.
Riding on the bassinet and banging it into the walls - a nice, quick introduction into what Cooper can expect from his siblings' activity level.
Happy mom, sleepy baby about 7 hours after the delivery.
Happy father, uncertain brother about 5 hours after the birth.
Tired and content.
Our first Kenyan visitor, Salome, who was thrilled with Cooper - and he was pretty interested in her too!
We praise God for this amazing gift - a beautiful baby boy, a safe delivery, a morning drive to the hospital with no traffic, quality hospital staff, meals at home provided by friends, and an apartment to stay in while we recover and apply for Cooper's birth certificate and passport.
Knowing how fast Jack arrived, we left ourselves plenty of time to get to the hospital, and because it was a Sunday morning we had no traffic and made the normally one hour drive in 10 minutes! I had a full team of the OBGYN, midwife/doula, pediatrician (required in Kenya to be present), nurses, and Dusty of course. The labor came hard and fast and left no time for the epidural - so I had a natural childbirth even though I would have preferred otherwise. Additionally, it was "back labor," meaning the baby's face was turned the wrong way, so the pain was intense.
We are all very grateful that Cooper and I are both healthy, and we are recovering well. He is so sleepy at this point that we can barely wake him up to feed him, and yet he still manages to be awake in the middle of the night. Now for a few photos:
Jack enjoyed snuggling up next to me in the hospital bed. He's not quite sure what to make of the whole baby thing, but he's doing a great job and is happy to have a brother.
A rare wakeful moment on the Rift Valley sheepskin we bought for Cooper.
Tessa is completely in love with Cooper, and having a baby in the house has been a great joy for her. She holds him all the time and enjoys dressing him and helping with diaper changes.
The Princess Zahra maternity ward. Jack had just knocked his ear on Cooper's car seat so he wasn't too happy here.
Cooper, snuggly in his multiple blankets in the hospital bassinet. East Africans love to bundle their babies, but we were very surprised the staff never placed a knit cap on his head like they do in the States.
Riding on the bassinet and banging it into the walls - a nice, quick introduction into what Cooper can expect from his siblings' activity level.
Happy mom, sleepy baby about 7 hours after the delivery.
Happy father, uncertain brother about 5 hours after the birth.
Tired and content.
Our first Kenyan visitor, Salome, who was thrilled with Cooper - and he was pretty interested in her too!We praise God for this amazing gift - a beautiful baby boy, a safe delivery, a morning drive to the hospital with no traffic, quality hospital staff, meals at home provided by friends, and an apartment to stay in while we recover and apply for Cooper's birth certificate and passport.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Small Towners in the Big City
Before we left Musoma, and in the middle of a heat wave without power, I commented, "If Nairobi is this hot and having electricity issues I will be SERIOUSLY disappointed." Apparently I said that so strongly that Tessa timidly asked, "what does 'seriously' mean?"
Fortunately, I have not been disappointed - it is cooler here, and we've barely lost electricity at all - just blinks here and there. We're not having an ant problem, milk is easy to buy, the kids and I love the bathtub, we've been to a couple of restaurants, and we have a grocery store nearby. On the health front, we've visited the OBGYN and hospital twice, met with a doula/midwife, and found out that partial epidurals are available. So the list of things to which I was looking forward has been met. Yea!
Traffic is just as atrocious as I remembered, and the apartment is quite "cozy" (read: small), but we're managing fine. Home schooling is going surprisingly well, and Dusty's able to walk down the hill to the office to do his work on the computer and with colleagues. The kids have made a few friends at the tiny playground next door, and we're settling in well.
Having said these things though, it's clear that we're small town folks in the big city. We find ourselves readily speaking Swahili to Kenyans, who speak perfect English but enjoy Swahili too. Dusty's managing parking fine, but I have still resisted parallel parking our truck on the hill of our apartment complex. We're experiencing sticker shock at the prices of medical care - in Musoma it costs less than $5 to visit the doctor at the clinic - here it's about $40. Granted: the care is a bit different too!
The kids thought that a car alarm was a bird singing. They are fascinated by the traffic and ceaselessly comment on all the large trucks and buses. They referred to traffic yesterday as "the parade." They continue to talk and pray about malaria, which really isn't an issue, so we don't have to use our nets. They're thrilled by having ice cream in the freezer (well, we all are), grapes in the fridge, and store-bought cookies. The milk from the carton/bag tastes different to them, so Tessa decided it must come from a "different cow" than the one from which we get milk in Musoma.
But with all the big city has to offer, we still are focused on the main reason for our being here - waiting for this baby to come into the world, and into the Hill family. I'm getting a bit of stage fright, Dusty's trying to figure out how to navigate Nairobi and the American Embassy to make the baby an American, and the kids continue to pray that "the baby has fun in Mama's tummy."
Surely the next time I post, we'll have the Little One out, named, videoed, and photographed to our hearts' content. Till then, thank you for all your encouragement and prayers!
Fortunately, I have not been disappointed - it is cooler here, and we've barely lost electricity at all - just blinks here and there. We're not having an ant problem, milk is easy to buy, the kids and I love the bathtub, we've been to a couple of restaurants, and we have a grocery store nearby. On the health front, we've visited the OBGYN and hospital twice, met with a doula/midwife, and found out that partial epidurals are available. So the list of things to which I was looking forward has been met. Yea!
Traffic is just as atrocious as I remembered, and the apartment is quite "cozy" (read: small), but we're managing fine. Home schooling is going surprisingly well, and Dusty's able to walk down the hill to the office to do his work on the computer and with colleagues. The kids have made a few friends at the tiny playground next door, and we're settling in well.
Having said these things though, it's clear that we're small town folks in the big city. We find ourselves readily speaking Swahili to Kenyans, who speak perfect English but enjoy Swahili too. Dusty's managing parking fine, but I have still resisted parallel parking our truck on the hill of our apartment complex. We're experiencing sticker shock at the prices of medical care - in Musoma it costs less than $5 to visit the doctor at the clinic - here it's about $40. Granted: the care is a bit different too!
The kids thought that a car alarm was a bird singing. They are fascinated by the traffic and ceaselessly comment on all the large trucks and buses. They referred to traffic yesterday as "the parade." They continue to talk and pray about malaria, which really isn't an issue, so we don't have to use our nets. They're thrilled by having ice cream in the freezer (well, we all are), grapes in the fridge, and store-bought cookies. The milk from the carton/bag tastes different to them, so Tessa decided it must come from a "different cow" than the one from which we get milk in Musoma.
But with all the big city has to offer, we still are focused on the main reason for our being here - waiting for this baby to come into the world, and into the Hill family. I'm getting a bit of stage fright, Dusty's trying to figure out how to navigate Nairobi and the American Embassy to make the baby an American, and the kids continue to pray that "the baby has fun in Mama's tummy."
Surely the next time I post, we'll have the Little One out, named, videoed, and photographed to our hearts' content. Till then, thank you for all your encouragement and prayers!
Life in Nairobi So Far
From today - March 24th. Due date is April 3rd, but for obvious reasons, I'm hoping the baby comes as soon as possible. Two of our biggest concerns are being stuck in the very tight parallel parking here at the apartment or stuck in traffic on the way to the hospital.
Our mornings are spent in kindergarten home school. Jack plays on the floor with trains, colors, and blocks while Tessa and I work together. Occasionally he joins in for reading and other activities. Temporarily home schooling Tessa is good practice as it appears that we will be home schooling once we move to Uganda as well. So far, it's going quite well, but I do wonder how it will keep going once the baby comes.
Tessa dancing to the Sheryl Crow song from the movie "Cars." Both kids love rocking out every now and then.
Blowing out the candles on her pink cupcakes on her actual 6th birthday. I could only find some odd floating candles in the shop, and only 2 of the 6 would light. We topped the cupcakes with ice cream and real strawberries - the biggest treat. We had already celebrated her birthday early with her friends in Musoma with a butterfly birthday cake, and I'm so glad we did - this birthday celebration was just the 4 of us, but was still fun (except when Jack blew the candles out first and got in a bit of trouble!).
Opening presents after breakfast on her birthday from care packages (thanks Wendy and Nana!) and us.
Kids get creative when resources are few. This evening Tessa decided to make herself into a pirate by coloring an eye patch and taping it to her face with Scotch tape - topped by a hat. I think Dusty got her to say "Arrgh" here. Cutest oddball pirate I've ever seen.
Care package arrived with Cinderella clothes for Barbie - thanks Wendy!
Wendy, my cousin, sent some Duplo blocks for Jack - they've seen a lot of happy daily use. We're so thankful!
A nice quiet activity - both kids reading on the couch.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Nairobi Bound
On Sunday, March 6th we will be making the drive from Musoma, Tanzania to Nairobi, Kenya. For the most part, I'm grateful to go, but there are a few disadvantages as well. Here's how the lists boil down:
Why I'm looking forward to being in Nairobi:
1. The climate! It's nearly 6,000 feet high, so it's always cooler there, and we've been dealing with heat like we've never known in Musoma. This has been more difficult being pregnant, but also because with 7 hours of daily electricity rationing, we frequently can't run a fan.
2. Electricity! While we're being cut daily, Nairobi folks are getting cut 3-5 hours only once a week.
3. Nakumatt - a real grocery store (plus) to make meals so much easier! Think Target - Kenya style. The kids think it's a treat to climb into a shopping cart. When you ask Jack "where did you learn that?" he often says, "Nakumatt," but why he says that remains a mystery. At Nakumatt I can buy...
4. ...Pasteurized/Homogenized milk! No more buying milk from the bucket on the back of the milkman's bicycle, boiling it, letting it cool for hours before putting it in the fridge (if it's on), then scraping off the cream in the morning.
5. Bathtub! We are staying in the apartment where we stayed when Jack was born, and it has a bathtub, which we don't have here in Musoma. Here we use big laundry basins for the kids. My pregnant body and I are looking forward to experiencing something resembling weightlessness, and the kids always have a blast in a real bathtub.
Tessa in the tub at the Nairobi apartment right before Jack was born.
6. Restaurants! It will be very nice to not have to cook every day for every meal, whether we go out or order take-out on occasion. We have four restaurants in Musoma, but two of them only serve fish/chicken and fries, and the other two sometimes make one wonder if it would have been better to stay home and cook/clean for ourselves.
7. Ant-free home. We are currently experiencing the worst ant invasion we've ever seen. Maybe this is because we're in the dry season, but we've had several dry seasons without problems like this. They've invaded our entire kitchen - even the fridge, the floors, the back porch table, the dining table, the dog's dish, and sometimes the toilets too. We put out ant traps, but they march on, so we've taken to spraying them with a water bottle that has 10% bleach.
8. Paved roads. Ok, I know there are many roads in Nairobi with frightening potholes, and lots of traffic, but the 4km dirt road we must use to get to town here in Musoma is definitely NOT agreeing with my pregnant belly. It is a rough drive on all of us, plus we've had to use a detour since Sept/Oct as they have been slowly working on a 3/4 km stretch. Today was the first day we noticed something resembling pavement on that stretch. My patience has ended, and I don't want that road to be "the straw that broke the amniotic sack."
9. Hospital! The books tell me I could have the baby any day now that I'm in my 36th week. Being in the same city as a really good hospital will provide relief from anxiety for me - I do NOT want to have a baby in Musoma. I've only had one prenatal visit this whole time, so it will be good to finally meet with the doctor who will be delivering the baby and finally get some prenatal (and natal) care.
The hospital where Jack was born and #3 will be born if we can make it through traffic!
10. The baby! We're all eagerly anticipating seeing and getting to know this new person in our family. Hopefully we can choose a name during the eight hour drive to Nairobi!
What I'm not looking forward to about being in Nairobi:
1. Having to borrow someone else's washing machine as the machine for the apartment complex is broken. Fortunately we can buy and use disposable diapers and let the cloth diapers wait till we're back in Musoma.
2. Cooping up the family in a small 2 bedroom apartment with parquet floors which echo. And no garden with a lovely view of Lake Victoria like we have here!
3. Making new friends / reestablishing older friendships - finding friends for the kids to play with might be a challenge as many of our friends who used to live in Nairobi have now moved away.
4. Homeschooling Tessa while entertaining Jack and then adding an infant to care for on top of it all. Can I keep up with her curriculum? Thank goodness it's only kindergarten - surely I can handle that, right?
Tessa in front of her school in Musoma
5. Nairobi traffic. Anyone not having experienced it might not believe me when I say it is my number two cause for worry about having this baby (see #7). I do NOT want to deliver a child in our truck!
6. Dusty being in Entebbe, Uganda for the first 5 days after we get there - I have a lot of phone numbers of friends and a good taxi driver's number just in case I need to make a run for the hospital! However, I'm looking forward to this opportunity for him to see the city where we'll start living in 2011, get to know the team members there, look for housing, and get a better understanding of what his role will be... as long as he makes it back to Nairobi before the baby.
pregnant with Tessa in 2004 in front of our office in Entebbe
7. Delivery with no hope of an epidural - enough said. I am NOT a "natural" kind of gal when it comes to childbirth.
So I only came up with seven disadvantages, and I'm sure I could have listed more than ten things to which I'm looking forward. It must be a good plan!
Why I'm looking forward to being in Nairobi:
1. The climate! It's nearly 6,000 feet high, so it's always cooler there, and we've been dealing with heat like we've never known in Musoma. This has been more difficult being pregnant, but also because with 7 hours of daily electricity rationing, we frequently can't run a fan.
2. Electricity! While we're being cut daily, Nairobi folks are getting cut 3-5 hours only once a week.
3. Nakumatt - a real grocery store (plus) to make meals so much easier! Think Target - Kenya style. The kids think it's a treat to climb into a shopping cart. When you ask Jack "where did you learn that?" he often says, "Nakumatt," but why he says that remains a mystery. At Nakumatt I can buy...
4. ...Pasteurized/Homogenized milk! No more buying milk from the bucket on the back of the milkman's bicycle, boiling it, letting it cool for hours before putting it in the fridge (if it's on), then scraping off the cream in the morning.
5. Bathtub! We are staying in the apartment where we stayed when Jack was born, and it has a bathtub, which we don't have here in Musoma. Here we use big laundry basins for the kids. My pregnant body and I are looking forward to experiencing something resembling weightlessness, and the kids always have a blast in a real bathtub.
Tessa in the tub at the Nairobi apartment right before Jack was born.6. Restaurants! It will be very nice to not have to cook every day for every meal, whether we go out or order take-out on occasion. We have four restaurants in Musoma, but two of them only serve fish/chicken and fries, and the other two sometimes make one wonder if it would have been better to stay home and cook/clean for ourselves.
7. Ant-free home. We are currently experiencing the worst ant invasion we've ever seen. Maybe this is because we're in the dry season, but we've had several dry seasons without problems like this. They've invaded our entire kitchen - even the fridge, the floors, the back porch table, the dining table, the dog's dish, and sometimes the toilets too. We put out ant traps, but they march on, so we've taken to spraying them with a water bottle that has 10% bleach.
8. Paved roads. Ok, I know there are many roads in Nairobi with frightening potholes, and lots of traffic, but the 4km dirt road we must use to get to town here in Musoma is definitely NOT agreeing with my pregnant belly. It is a rough drive on all of us, plus we've had to use a detour since Sept/Oct as they have been slowly working on a 3/4 km stretch. Today was the first day we noticed something resembling pavement on that stretch. My patience has ended, and I don't want that road to be "the straw that broke the amniotic sack."
9. Hospital! The books tell me I could have the baby any day now that I'm in my 36th week. Being in the same city as a really good hospital will provide relief from anxiety for me - I do NOT want to have a baby in Musoma. I've only had one prenatal visit this whole time, so it will be good to finally meet with the doctor who will be delivering the baby and finally get some prenatal (and natal) care.
The hospital where Jack was born and #3 will be born if we can make it through traffic! 10. The baby! We're all eagerly anticipating seeing and getting to know this new person in our family. Hopefully we can choose a name during the eight hour drive to Nairobi!
What I'm not looking forward to about being in Nairobi:
1. Having to borrow someone else's washing machine as the machine for the apartment complex is broken. Fortunately we can buy and use disposable diapers and let the cloth diapers wait till we're back in Musoma.
2. Cooping up the family in a small 2 bedroom apartment with parquet floors which echo. And no garden with a lovely view of Lake Victoria like we have here!
3. Making new friends / reestablishing older friendships - finding friends for the kids to play with might be a challenge as many of our friends who used to live in Nairobi have now moved away.
4. Homeschooling Tessa while entertaining Jack and then adding an infant to care for on top of it all. Can I keep up with her curriculum? Thank goodness it's only kindergarten - surely I can handle that, right?
Tessa in front of her school in Musoma5. Nairobi traffic. Anyone not having experienced it might not believe me when I say it is my number two cause for worry about having this baby (see #7). I do NOT want to deliver a child in our truck!
6. Dusty being in Entebbe, Uganda for the first 5 days after we get there - I have a lot of phone numbers of friends and a good taxi driver's number just in case I need to make a run for the hospital! However, I'm looking forward to this opportunity for him to see the city where we'll start living in 2011, get to know the team members there, look for housing, and get a better understanding of what his role will be... as long as he makes it back to Nairobi before the baby.
pregnant with Tessa in 2004 in front of our office in Entebbe7. Delivery with no hope of an epidural - enough said. I am NOT a "natural" kind of gal when it comes to childbirth.
So I only came up with seven disadvantages, and I'm sure I could have listed more than ten things to which I'm looking forward. It must be a good plan!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Naming a Tanzanian Baby (no, not ours)
On Sunday we had the privilege of visiting our Tanzanian friend, Sululu, and his family at their home to welcome their new baby boy bringing a quilt that I had made for him. Sululu is the foreman for the construction work at the office, so Dusty is his "boss," and Sululu felt very honored to have his boss and family come to visit for chai time (mid-morning daily tea time).
Sululu has three wives and 12 children. The third wife, below, is the mother of the baby. Sadly, the family had just lost their nearly two year old boy a few months ago to a sickness which should have been preventable, so everyone has welcomed this baby boy with great joy.
We were only a bit surprised when they asked us to give the baby a name - this is not too unusual, but is a great honor, and we had not prepared anything. He already was given his family name from his mother's father, Maragesi. We decided to find a name in the book of Luke since that has been the book our project has been working on for a few years, and the first two chapters are printed in the family's language, Kijita.
Dusty selected Theophilus (the "most excellent" recipient of Luke's gospel), and I selected Simeon, the righteous man who was waiting for the Messiah and blessed Jesus and his family when Jesus was presented at the temple. The kids cast their vote for Simeoni (the Swahili version), so we went with it.
Jack was curious about the baby, but definitely did NOT want to hold him.
Dusty read the story of Simeon from the book of Luke to the family and told them why we had selected the name. The family was amazed - Maragesi Sr.'s Christian name is also Simeoni! What are the chances of that? They knew God had truly chosen that name for this little baby, and we were amazed as well - it was truly a beautiful moment and a definite "God-thing" as all acknowledged. Maragesi Sr. nearly cried.
Tessa couldn't get enough of holding the baby, even when he got her legs wet.
After chai, we began to say it was time for us to go when Sululu announced that the ladies were already making lunch for us. He said that giving chai to someone was nothing, but a meal must be served to honored guests. The ladies brought out the full spread: rice pilau, 3 kinds of meat, vegetables, bananas, cake, and ugali.
Ugali is the staple food of Tanzania. It is a corn-based mush about the consistency of play-dough which is eaten alongside other food and rolled in the right hand into a ball before popping it into your mouth. Our kids have never liked it; it's a bit bland and pasty, but when they saw that you can roll it around like play dough, they changed their tune to the delight of our hosts. Everyone laughed when Jack rolled it with both hands!
Finally our day with Sululu's family ended with a speech by Sululu, a prayer by his uncle, a prayer of blessing from Dusty, and a family photo. Maragesi Simeoni Sr. is sitting next to Dusty's left. It took a bit of coaxing and jesting to get everyone smiling, but it was well worth the effort - don't you think?
In the car as we were driving home, Tessa wisely told us, "Sululu's family gave us two presents today - the first was that we got to name the baby, and the second was a really nice lunch." What a great insight and attitude from a five year old!
Sululu has three wives and 12 children. The third wife, below, is the mother of the baby. Sadly, the family had just lost their nearly two year old boy a few months ago to a sickness which should have been preventable, so everyone has welcomed this baby boy with great joy.
We were only a bit surprised when they asked us to give the baby a name - this is not too unusual, but is a great honor, and we had not prepared anything. He already was given his family name from his mother's father, Maragesi. We decided to find a name in the book of Luke since that has been the book our project has been working on for a few years, and the first two chapters are printed in the family's language, Kijita.
Dusty selected Theophilus (the "most excellent" recipient of Luke's gospel), and I selected Simeon, the righteous man who was waiting for the Messiah and blessed Jesus and his family when Jesus was presented at the temple. The kids cast their vote for Simeoni (the Swahili version), so we went with it.
Jack was curious about the baby, but definitely did NOT want to hold him.Dusty read the story of Simeon from the book of Luke to the family and told them why we had selected the name. The family was amazed - Maragesi Sr.'s Christian name is also Simeoni! What are the chances of that? They knew God had truly chosen that name for this little baby, and we were amazed as well - it was truly a beautiful moment and a definite "God-thing" as all acknowledged. Maragesi Sr. nearly cried.
Tessa couldn't get enough of holding the baby, even when he got her legs wet.After chai, we began to say it was time for us to go when Sululu announced that the ladies were already making lunch for us. He said that giving chai to someone was nothing, but a meal must be served to honored guests. The ladies brought out the full spread: rice pilau, 3 kinds of meat, vegetables, bananas, cake, and ugali.
Ugali is the staple food of Tanzania. It is a corn-based mush about the consistency of play-dough which is eaten alongside other food and rolled in the right hand into a ball before popping it into your mouth. Our kids have never liked it; it's a bit bland and pasty, but when they saw that you can roll it around like play dough, they changed their tune to the delight of our hosts. Everyone laughed when Jack rolled it with both hands!
Finally our day with Sululu's family ended with a speech by Sululu, a prayer by his uncle, a prayer of blessing from Dusty, and a family photo. Maragesi Simeoni Sr. is sitting next to Dusty's left. It took a bit of coaxing and jesting to get everyone smiling, but it was well worth the effort - don't you think?
In the car as we were driving home, Tessa wisely told us, "Sululu's family gave us two presents today - the first was that we got to name the baby, and the second was a really nice lunch." What a great insight and attitude from a five year old!
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