I Need to Get Rid of Some Weight

A Tanzanian Kitchen

How can I be overweight? I was really careful. I had only the things I needed. I don't know how to get rid of the extra two pounds I'm packing. If you haven't figured out by now, I'm talking about my luggage, not me personally. I have a 50 lb. weight limit for both of my check-in bags. Fifty pounds is NOT very much when you are leaving the country. I hate to admit, but I think most of the weight is with my hair products. How humiliating. Hopefully I will get over my vanity and will be able to leave most of my "material possessions" there for those who really need them.

Granted, I'm weighing my luggage on my bathroom scale and it may not be that accurate, but I want to have about a 3 lb. leeway for the airport's more accurate scale. I decided to leave my National Geographic magazines home, along with a pair of pants that I was hoping to be able to wear, but secretly knew I wouldn't be able to. The magazines were going to be for a lesson I was going to teach, but I can find magazines somewhere else, right?

Whatever possessed me to take 14 pairs of underwear and 12 skirts???? I'm sure I'll be able to have laundry done sometime, but there's always the chance that I won't find anyone that can do it for me. I'm sure I'll wear all 4 pairs of shoes (down from 6). What am I thinking?? I don't need all of this stuff, but I'm having a hard time thinking of being "without" my stuff. What if I need my rain jacket and not my light jacket or my sweater. Geesh, I'm pathetic. Guess it's time for me to go back to Africa and learn what is really important. It's most certainly not the things I'm taking, but the lives that will be touched (mine included) by this mission trip.

Tomorrow at this time I'll be on my way! Thanks for your support.

Packing and Eating

Six days until takeoff! Time is now flying by. I haven't packed yet, but I have a lot of PILES of things to take with me. I'm so amazed at the generosity of the people who know I'm going. Everyone is thinking of what they can do to help out, so it's not just my mission, it's "our mission". I've gotten money to take with me to "help" someone over there. It will go so far and be such a blessing. I'll be sure to tell you what I've done with the money while I'm there. A friend is giving me a box of old racquetballs to take and give to the kids. I think I'll share them with the students at my school so they can have something to do when school is out. The students are boarded there, so once school is out in the afternoon they don't have much to do. I'm also taking quilts, pens, bubbles, bracelets, and a really nice picture. I'm having a nice big bowl of ice cream right now. That's the one thing I will miss while I'm over there for 16 days. I remember in 2005 we literally ran in the airport in Amsterdam to the Hagen Das booth. Milk will also be something I will miss. They serve milk sometimes, but I was never sure if it was cow's milk or goat's milk so I didn't drink it. I will most likely have "tea" every day around 11:00. We all stop what we are doing for "tea". I may even be brave this time and try the banana stew (they put banana's in everything). I'm going to savor every bite for the next 6 days because my taste buds are going to be in for quite the shock. Maybe I'll like "goat" this time around?!?

The picture is of a market that sells meat. Anyone want me to bring you back some?

Winter in Tanzania

Phew! It's almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit today in Lincoln. That is 38 degrees Celsius. I looked up the weather in Arusha, which is about 40 minutes away from where I'll be staying on the mountain. It's supposed to be 66 with a low of 59 tonight. Ahhh, doesn't that sound delightful? I've cut and pasted the weeks weather forecast for Arusha. Hope it works when I hit post. I doubt if it will change much when I leave (in less than 2 weeks).

61°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind: E at 17 mph
Humidity: 94%

Tue

66°F | 59°F

Wed

68°F | 53°F

Thu

69°F | 57°F

Fri

68°F | 55°F

It's funny, but we think 66 degrees sounds comfortable, but Natives of Africa think it is cold. I will post a picture so you can see what type of clothing they wear in 60 degree weather. We layered and wore sweaters, but had them off by the afternoon.

I'm beginning to think about packing. I will have to wear skirts for 2 weeks. Yuck.

Fifteen Days Away

I can't believe how quickly time is going by. I went and picked up my malaria and diarrhea medicine last week. Over $200 for just those two medications. Then I also have at least $50 in over the counter medications that I'm taking along with me.

I'm so excited because I heard back from Peter. Peter was our driver in Tanzania in 2005. He's kept in touch and often sends pictures of his children. He invited Heidi and I to his moms house in Machame. It is an honor to be taken to meet someone's mother. We need to think of a special gift for her and for his boys, too. I can't wait to see Peter and find out what has been happening to his life the past two years.

I got an e-mail today from Isaria. Isaria is a beautiful girl who happened to be my translator in church. She is from the area, but went to college and was home on holiday. She now lives and works in Dar so I don't know if I will get to see her or not. I hope she will be able to make it to the 100 year celebration of our sister church.

I'll attach a picture of Peter and one of Isaria so you can see my friends from the other side of the world.

I found out that I am going to be going on Safari on August 1-3 with some students from the school I will be teaching at. I have no idea where we are going or where we will be staying, but it will be a great experience to go on safari with them. The AIDS orphan that my family sponsors (Happiness) will be going on the school trip too!

I also found out that I get to go to a wedding while I'm there. When I was there in 2005 I got to experience a wedding in Africa. It was amazing. Guess I will be having goat on this trip too! They used the goat as we use wedding cake. (see attached picture).

Putting Things in Perspective

Okay, I had three comments on my "anxiety" post. All three people had WONDERFUL suggestions. The main theme was "put it in God's hands." They are right. This really isn't my mission. It isn't about me and what I'm going to do or my needs. It's about the people I'll run across. It's about their needs being met. It's about offering hope to those that have given up. It's to help me see God in the tiny things again.

I found out that we are going to be staying at the church (Uswaa) while we are there. Uswaa Parish is on Mount Kilimanjaro. It's a beautiful place in the middle of the jungle. I remember the last time the bush babies kept me awake all night. I thought they were gorilla's. The next morning I found out they were about the size of a tiny squirrel. They are so loud. Go to the following link to see what a bush baby looks like. If you click on the picture you will hear the sounds I will hear in the middle of the night while sleeping at the church.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13505034/

Sleepless Night

I kept waking up in the middle of the night thinking about everything that I need to do and everything that is "uncertain" about my trip. It shouldn't be this stressful, should it?

1. We are supposed to teach Sunday School when we are there. What are we going to teach?
2. I get to go on a school tour "field trip" for 5 days with the school I'll be teaching at. What do I pack? Where are we going? What will the sleeping conditions be like? When we went on safari last time we stayed in nice places, but our drivers stayed in places that were less than desirable. Will that be what the students and I will stay in?
3. Last time one of our Doctors was shaving in the shower and cut himself. He got a horrible infection from that. They say don't drink the water, but I guess you also have to be afraid of getting water in cuts. Should I get a prescription to take with me in case of infection?
4. Where will we be staying?
5. Will anyone pick us up from the airport when we arrive late on the 31st?

See why I couldn't sleep? Those are only a few of my questions going through my head. Feel free to post a comment to "reassure" me!! Blessings!

Preparing for Africa

Only 26 days and I'm off to Tanzania again. I'm more apprehensive this time then I was before. I'm not worried about physically being there, I'm worried that we haven't heard from anyone there and we don't know where we will be staying or what we will be doing while we are there. The saying in Africa is poly-poly (slow down, relax). Guess I should remember to just put it in God's hands and relax.

I have been busy buying small tokens for gifts to give to the students and the people I meet while I'm over there. I bought small bottles of lotion, picture frames, standing crosses, calendars and beads to make male and female salvation bracelets. My family has been so wonderful with helping me make the salvation bracelets.

I leave on July 30 and return the middle of August. Please keep my trip in your prayers and check back here every few days if you want to find out what I'm doing to prepare and find out about my Great African Adventure.