Travel to Peace House

This morning we left Mwangaza to travel to the site of our seminar.  I managed to use the flip video as we traveled down Ilburo road.  It is always amazing to me how Allen can drive through the obstacles and the potholes in the roads.  I wanted to provide a little realism for our family back home by taping the journey today.  Alexa, Steph, and I laughed so hard when we watched the bouncing, jumping of the tape.  Even that does not convey Ilburo road.  Two years ago when we came to Peace House Allen used the back door entrance, which literally means taking the wrong turn and driving across the grasslands narrowly missing trees and bushes.  This time we took the front door entrance.  It was a good memory to laugh about this morning.  We were greeted warmly when we arrived at Peace House by their staff.  We were taken to our house which is larger than Tim and my first house in Romeoville.  It is unbelievable to me how much space we will have for the next four days.  We were also given a tour of Peace House and it was nice to see the chicken coops are built. We mentioned again the possibility of buying chickens from Mary at St. Dymphna.  Hopefully this connection will come to fruition.  After our tour, William arrived with the Physics teacher and we met the Biology and Chemistry teachers from Peace House that we will be working with this week.  It is very hard not to overwhelm these teachers.  We tried very hard to convey that we are here to share knowledge and expertise and the sharing is mutual.  We need to have honest communication from our partners if this is going to work.  We went through the Rhatiba and modified it based on their suggestions.  We will be eating our meals with the students in the dining hall.  Unfortunately for Steph, all meals consist of beans.  At lunch it was beans, rice, and orange section.  At dinner, it was beans, ugali, and cooked spinach.  As Steph is passing on most of the food, the head cook told her that she does not eat enough.  He doesn't know that she will go back for peanut butter on toast or oatmeal tonight.  Steph met the coordinator for music and devotions today.  She will work  with him tomorrow sharing devotion ideas and music.  He has asked her to share her music at the student's devotions this week. This is a great opportunity for her.  Speaking of Steph, she loves it here.  I knew she would fall in love with the people of Tanzania.  She has the "bug" now and talked today of switching her major to international relations so she can learn more in order to be a more effective missionary.  Almost forgot - We came across a beetle today.  It looked like the type that Timon ate in the Lion King. It was as big as Stephanie's fist.  She did not come close to it to find out if this is an accurate measurement.  Alexa took a picture so I am hoping that I will have one to post soon.  After our lunch, we welcomed the team back to our home to see the teaching supplies and resources that we brought with us.  The hand-held white boards were amazing to them as well as the squishy balls.  We discussed some ideas but then let them look through the resources.  They felt all were nzuri sana ( very good ) to use.  The difficulty will be what to use when.  They will meet as a team tomorrow to come to consensus and then after lunch, we will meet to discuss our options.  I hope by this time tomorrow, we will have a plan in place for Day 1.  After our meetings today, we walked around the loop and had a beautiful view of Mt. Meru.  It was gorgeous.  Again causing Steph to say that she could stay here.  We also had the opportunity to meet with students during their free time.  This was the most memorable aspect of the day.  It brings us to the heart of why we are here.  To answer these students questions about our country, to share information, to sing Roho Yangu, to learn English and Swahili  and many more opportunities allows us to feel connected to the children.  We also attended devotions with them where we heard a minister answer the students' questions.  The first question was, " Is it lawful for a man to marry his sister" and the second was, "If all of God's people's names are written in the book of life isn't the book becoming too heavy?"  Again, what an amazing perspective these question gave to us.  After dinner with the students and interacting with more of the teachers, we find ourselves in the computer lab for some internet time.  This will be very limited for us so I need to write quickly and hopefully convey all that is happening to us in one post.  Please send emails - I miss home and my family.  I think sometimes that it is easier with Steph here but that just also brings to mind the ones I left behind.  I wonder if Matt's mouth is alright, how did Kate do at her lacrosse game, is Andrew spending too much time on video games. Most of all I thank God for a wonderful husband to gives much more than he receives each day to allow me to continue in the work that I love.  Love to you all, Mom and Steph