Back in the USA

A friend recently emailed me assuming we were not yet in the States because I had not updated the blog. I told her that's because there are so many entertaining things to do here and people to see that I hadn't even thought of the blog. Plus I haven't figured out how to get the photos off the camera and onto this laptop.

Regardless, we're having a great time here. Dusty's already finished his first course in school, in which he was a teaching assistant. I think grading papers gave him a whole new perspective on schoolwork for his other classes starting next week. The kids are having a blast in the pool at our house and at local playgrounds and libraries. I enjoyed shopping for some new clothes with birthday money while Mom watched the kids. And we're all loving hanging out with family and friends.

Highlights have included: peaches, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, yogurt, turkey, boneless skinless chicken breasts, and all the other fantastic food we can't get in TZ. Jack's new word is "a-ay" which is "airplane" without the consonants - he gets lots of daily practice with all the airplanes zooming overhead. Tessa mistook two gold glass high-rise office buildings for sand-castles.

I'm writing from Denver where we're having a short trip, so Dusty's highlight is going to the Rockies game tonight with buddies. And my personal highlight was getting over carsickness in the Mt. Evans' parking lot to hike the remaining way up to the top of the 14,000 foot mountain... while carrying Jack... in the snow... in FLIP FLOPS... and not falling!!! Let's just call it Supermom (otherwise known as poor planning). Fun times. - photos later.

Walking and Reading

Jack began walking about 3 weeks ago on his 17 month birthday. It took him a long time to walk, but he got the hang of it fast. So fast that he is now comfortable wearing these wellies which are significantly larger than his feet. He kept trying to wear Tessa's frog wellies, so I pulled out thes old ones of Tessa.

He's also a book abuser. No, he doesn't abuse books; he abuses the person that he wants to read the book to him. He approaches Dusty or me and tries nicely to give us the book and sit on us. If we are otherwise occupied, then he will hit us with the book and start hollering and crying, until we cave or run away. If we read, then he's so happy, but if we leave, a real tantrum begins even if the hitting stops. Today he hit Tessa in the face with a book - ouch! But what can I say? He's a librarian's son.

Mary and Joseph Confusion

We live on a Catholic compound here in Musoma. They recently built a sort of grotto thing to hold a statue of Mary, painted it pink, and surrounded it with potted plants, flags, and colored lights. It's quite bold to say the least, but fortunately the pink has faded. Tessa is enamoured with Mary, and we must greet her every time we come in the compound if Tessa's with us ... "Hi Mary!"

Ironically, the gatekeeper is named Joseph. Tessa, who has never seen the classic Disney movies, recently received a coloring book with Cinderella, Beauty, Jasmine, and some other heroines with their beaus. She thinks they are Mary and Joseph. Apparently all the Biblical Christmas stories she was so familiar with in December have now been replaced with the "Mary statue - Joseph gatekeepr - Disney" combo. I'll have to think of some fun Biblical lesson to get her back on track.

Thoughts of a Family Dog

His finger's in my eye. Her bouncing bottom is crushing my lungs. They're so loud, and he has some serious stinking poop in his trousers. When will the big people tell them to leave me alone? How long do I have to take this? Don't these little people know I'm a scary Rottweiler?

Ah well, it's all worth it if I can just reach the cookie the little guy left under the dresser two days ago.

Last Day of School

Here on our compound we have a small Catholic school. On Friday, we heard drum beating and singing, so Tessa and I set out to see what all the hub-bub was about. 1 minute later we had to return to the house for our umbrellas. When we arrived we saw the field had been cleared so the many kids could march out and put on a show for some visiting educational dignitaries and a smattering of parents. This meant that the kids were standing at attention, singing their songs, and doing their daily exercise routine while standing in the rain. I felt so sorry for them as I watched them stand there shivering with beads of rain rolling off their heads - and they just stood and took it! No screaming or running or complaining like I would expect of American kids.

Kids here have some bizarre stoic ability to sit (or stand in this case)quietly through anything. But this is the first time I've seen them do it in the rain. Children, even young ones, can sit quietly through a 2 - 3 hour church service, all lined up on the front bench with their parents somewhere behind them, and rarely will we see a kid get in trouble or toted out. We've heard 2 reasons for this. 1) They are disciplined frequently and severely at home. 2) They are undernourished and simply don't have the energy to misbehave.

I think it must be a lesser combination of the two. I think additionally, entertainment is rare here, so they're happy to watch or be involved in almost anything. Plus they are next to siblings who can pinch them or whatever to make them behave. Finally, the little ones are nursed a long, long time so when one of them fusses, Mom just opens her shirt, and voila! - a quiet youngster.

Whatever the reason, quiet kids in a service are something to admire as our own kids wriggle, giggle, cry, fuss, and complain. I'll be thankful for the church nursery and Sunday school to take our kids off our hands when we come home so we can worship in peace, and so they can have a good worship time too.

Juvenile Scissor Phobia

Jack at left, at 16 months: "No, no! Not the scissors! Not the curls! Torture, torture. Won't someone, anyone, help me? Aargh!"



Jack below, 10 minutes later: "Oh, well, hee hee. I guess I overreacted just a little. Thanks Mama."

Me: "oh no! Oh dear! Where's my baby boy? Who are you? What have I done?"

The Face of Translation

I just thought you might enjoy seeing some of the people who are helping us walk the long road of Bible translation. These four are among many who have helped in our project with building orthographies (alphabets) for 8 language groups here. All are busy people with many other demands on their time, but they were all happy to come and work on their languages so that one day they will see the Scriptures in their own mother tongues.

Can you imagine...
.. not having the Bible in English?

.. praying in your second language because no one told you that you could pray in English?

.. not knowing how to read?

.. never having read anything in English because it was not yet written?

.. not having any Bibles or other books in your house?

.. going to church but worshipping in your second (or third) language?

.. never having understood that Jesus loves and died for you?

Frankly, I can't really imagine these things, but after living here, I know that there are so very many countless Tanzanians (and others around the world) for whom these statements are true.

We are so very grateful to be a part of this awesome task. We're also thankful to have seen all that the Lord has been doing here in Musoma since we arrived. We are encouraged by the great faith and dedication of those who are working alongside of us, like the people whose pictures you see here. And we're thankful that you are a vital part of this ministry through your constant prayer, encouragement and support. We look forward to seeing you soon on the other side of the ocean!