quick update

Well I thought I have been emailing more emails here but since they aren't here I guess I am sending them somewhere else...I wonder who is getting them! I finally have a good enough internet connection to actually check my blog. Anyway, here is a quick update on me, I am currently in Mugumu as my project in Tabora has fallen through. Here I am working on developing a water plan for the area and doing some spring protection. I am excited about the new work but very sad to leave all the wonderful people in Tabora. After Christmas I will be returning to Tabora to finish up, doing a safari with my parents who are coming out to see me (which I am pretty excited about), and then return to work in Mugumu.

It is hard to believe Christmas is this week. Being in Africa has sure made me realize how much my idea of Christmas is connected to the weather. I have never liked the song I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas but I have to say I get it now. I am fortunate that I will get to celebrate Christmas with another MCC family but it won't be the same without my family however the lack of hoopla with Christmas here is also nice and helps keep the focus on what Christmas really is, a religious holiday. Have a very Merry Christmas where ever you are.

Hello from Tabora

Hey all,

It has been a while since my last email mainly because I am not sure
what to write. I am slowly learning language and about the region. I
have visisted a number of villages surrounding Tabora to learn about
the water situation. In some cases peope have to walk up to 1.5 hrs
to get water! In other cases, people have it piped to their houses.
However, each place has its difficulties. I am still unsure what my
project will look like or actually what I will be doing in the future
at all. Fortunately, I believe this is partly what this first few
months is supposed to be (in addition to hgetting to know people,
culture and have people get used to me) so I hope more claritiy will
come. I am also slowly getting used to not knowing what is going on
most of the time and that planning is of little use as I am never
quite sure what will happen tomorrow. For example, yesterday I had a
business meeting in my PJs with the pastor and another church leader
when they showed up at my house to have a meeting without warning.
This seems to be normal here and so I am learning to go with the flow.
I hope all is going well back in Canada.

Bwana Awabariki!

Cara

Quick Hi from Tabora

Happy Thanksgiving!

It sure doesn't feel like thanksgiving here. I am learning a lot here
although not fast enough for my tastes. I know its been a while since
my last email but I hope I will have time to send one soon. Thought I
would let you know all is well here.

Bwana Awabariki

Cara

Hello from Tabora

Sorry about the delay. Internet is not the easiest thing here. I have been doing updates by email as my blog is kind of big to load on slow connections. I think there is a way around that but I don't remember what it is. If you would like onto my email list please let me know and I would be happy to add you. I am currently starting my 3rd week in Tabora. Everything is still pretty new and communicating is a bit of a challenge however people have been very welcoming and extremely patient as I learn very slowly. I ask for your prayers as I stumble my way through living in a new culture and language.

Week 2: Language studies continue

Mambo! (how are things?)

I thought I would send an update now that I have spend over a week in Tanzania. My language training is underway and I think it is going well. Thank-you to all of you who have sent messages to me. I appreciate the support and would love to write back to you individually (and hopefully eventually I will be able to) but my internet situation does not currently allow for that. I will be learning more about my assignment in the next couple of weeks. So far I know that in Tabora I will be getting a bike as everyone bikes there. I also know I will be working with KMT (the Tanzanian mennonite church) in the Tabora diocese to try to figure out what kind of projects we will be working on. I will be living with a family with 2 children and no one connected with my job speaks any English so my language training is extremely important. It is hard to make myself use swahili when people around me speak English but i am trying as I really want to learn. I have enjoyed exploring around where I am staying (near Arusha) where there are a number of villages that look exactly like you would picture an African village would look. We have tryed to talk to some people here but it is a bit challenging as we don't come up with the words fast enough and they talk to fast for us right now. So here is a bit for you ....Nilifika Tanzania wiki jana na nitasoma kiswahili mpaka nitakwenda Tabora. Ninapenda Tanzania. Kwa heri!

Cara

Finally in Africa

I am very excited to finally be in Africa. I arrived on Sunday and since then have not actually done much except for trying to recover from jet lag. Today was my first Swahili lesson. There is a lot to learn but it was very good to get started. The teacher is good and I think I will enjoy the classes a lot. I hope I will learn enough to communicate with the people once I leave for Tabora. We went for a run/walk today and got to see a bit more of the country than the compound we are living in. We saw some villages, very awkwardly greeting some people and then smiled and laughed as we failed to understand what they said, and even heard a choir practice (which was very beautiful). I look forward to seeing and learning more in the coming days and also am looking forward to the day I sleep through the night.

Leaving on a jet plane...

I am sitting in the Africa house in Akron enjoying my last morning in North America for a long time. There have been a lot of goobyes as everyone has been gradually leaving for assignment. I am finally actually leaving for Tanzania today. It is a bit surreal and I am not sure that it has totally sunk in yet but at the same time it is a bit overwhelming...does that make any sense? It has been a good week of orientation where we have been scared and encouraged about the experiance as well as had a lot of fun and made some new friends. Thank-you for all the kind wishes and prayers. I ask your continued prayers for my journey and for building relationships when I reach my destination.

When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I

Psalm 61:2

Orientation

I am currently at orientation in Akron. It is beautiful here and I am really enjoying the people that I am meeting. It has been fun to get to know some of the other SALTers as well as the IVEPers (who are from many different countries and are coming to USA and Canada). and YAMENers (from any country to any country). It is good to have some people here who are from Africa (although not from Tanzania) to get a little taste of what is to come. I have so far learned that my Swahili book may be teaching me some things that would get me laughed at as well as a little bit about how we dress and act differently here that what they would do in Africa. The worship has also been a great experiance as we have a worship service/devotions every day with all of the SALTers, IVEPers and YAMEN. The sessions have been good and I think they will be very helpful for when I get there. I think that the most important things so far have been talking about realistic goals for our terms and how to support our spirituality on term when the churches we attend may not be what we are used to or what we understand. My favorite quotations from orientation so far are from the SALT coordinator (alhtough I think at least the second one is from somewhere else)

"the goal of humanity is to not be in God's way"

"we approach our lives [in north america] as a problem to be solved, not a mystery to be lived"

I have to admit the heat with the humidity in Akron is a little bit unpleasant...I feel sweaty and gross whenever I do anything outside. This is a bit concerning since I am about to head to Africa!

In conclusion I am having a wonderful time and am getting more and more excited for heading to Tanzania. I ask you to keep me in your prayers as I discover what God has in store for me in this journey.

I reached my fundraising goal!

I got my final update on my fundraising. I have well above the required contribution so thanks again for all your support!

Another pre-trip update

I thought it was time for another update. I have learned a bit more about my assignment. My impression (although I may be mistaken) is that I am doing some initial groundwork to start working in the Tabora region. It sounds like a real challenge but it also sounds really exciting. I am looking forward to the opportunity to spend the time to get to know the people and the culture. I am currently in the process of trying to figure out what to pack for a year in Africa. It is a bit scary to try to figure this out so any tips would be welcome.

Quick update

I figured it was time to do an update so that I would get in the habit of posting before I leave. I am now at approximately half of my fundraising goal which makes me very happy...at the risk of sounding repetative...thanks. In terms of other preparation, I feel like I still have a lot to learn but I am slowly plugging away at what needs to get done. I spend today working on Swahili and I am not confident I know any more than I did this morning...but I am told it will come eventually. I am still not sure what to do to prepare for the assignment itsself but I am hoping more clarity will come in the next couple of weeks. I have also been keeping busy with a course at CMU about conflict transformation. It was a great course and I learned a lot...especially about myself. No matter where I end up, I think spending a weeking thinking about and learning about conflict will come in handy. I met some amazing people and am looking forward to taking another class next week.

Thank-you

I want to take this opportunity to say thank-you. Thank-you to those who have shared insights about living in Africa or overseas in general. Thank-you to those of you have encouraged me when I got scared. Thank-you to those of you who donated to MCC on my behalf to help fulfill my fundraising requirements. Thank-you for your prayers and words of support. I could not do this by my self and I want to start this blog by saying...you guessed it...say THANKS!