Tanzania Travels

Take a look...

2009-03-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

March 24th

Everyday I check out a couple of photoblogs. The first is Daily Dose of Imagery; a Toronto based photographer who always has incredible shots and often times they're of Toronto scenes. The other is The Big Picture; it's a compilation of pictures taken from various sources and are always fantastic. Below are some of the most striking pictures I've seen in the past few weeks. Enjoy!

Daily Dose

Florence

The ROM

Toronto Skyline

Deep Freeze at 475

Dog Sledding Husky

Husky Peeking Through

Before the Race

The Big Picture

Lightening Storms over a volcano in Chile

Lights of London

Pyramid at Chen Itza: notice the shadow of

a snake cast of left staircase.

Impact of the Economic Crisis: unfinished,

abandoned suburbs in the US.

This crisis weighs heavy on many Americans.

China's unemployed queue up at a job fair.

Spring has arrived in London.

Millions of duraniums in Germany.

Iraqis climb the hills with torches celebrating

NoRooz and the the beginning of Spring.

Gold Miners form a human chain while working

in the Congo: civil war has ravaged the country

for decades as factions fight for control of the country's

vast natural resources.

A Kenyan boys screams as a Kenyan Policeman

approaches his home in the slums.

This displaced Congolese girl mourns at the

funeral of her grandfather who died from Malaria.

Men smear coloured powdered on each other

during Holi, the Hindu festival of colour.

Women covering each other in coloured powder.

Students holding various colours during Holi.

A boy with a painted face looks into the camera.

Students smear each other with coloured powder.

Community + Christmas = Secret Santa

2008-12-11T11:58:00.000-08:00

December 9...

Now that I am back in Toronto life has resumed its pace which has seemed to ramp-up with the Christmas season. It's been more difficult to find time just to think and reflect as much, but if anything my life in Tanzania taught me how important that is. So, I'll continue to try and find time to think. Even if it's just on the subway.

For the past three years we've done Secret Santa at the house. It's always great fun and we keep the price reasonable so the gifts strike that great balance of being entertaining and fun while also being a little useless. Rest assured, there were no iPods exchanged or Yankee Swap.

I took some candid shots of the guys that you might enjoy seeing.

Of course there were jokes, like wrapping up Chris' mail and giving it to him as a gift. But don't worry, he got a real gift too.

Pat got a great magic book and wand.

Mark got a Jack Bower action-figure. Though the wrapping job was a bit suspect. Maybe it was theme wrapping job.

Paul got some great DVDs.

Craig got a strange but hilarious book.

Jay got his favourite: Starkbucks money.

And then we had a group hug.

I really do love my community here in Toronto; both from Wesley Chapel and my house community. But it's hard work, a lot more than I ever really thought about. Living with people can be great and terrible all in the same day but I find at the end of that day, I'm almost always happy that I live with these people. But it's not perfect. Nothing ever is. A good friend told me a few days ago that good community needs three things: doors. locks. and hinges. I thought it was a very apt illustration. I'm glad I live in community and I'm also glad that I have a door. Together those things make life pretty good.

New Time Zones and Old Favourites

2008-11-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

November 24...

I'm back! Back home in good old, freezing cold Canada. Man it's cold here. But to be completely honest, I'm kind of enjoying the temperature. It's really very refreshing...for about 10 minutes. And before I got to Toronto, I had the pleasure of landing in Amsterdam and spending a few hours in that beautiful city with my friend Lieneke, who I met in Tanzania and who lives in that coastal country. And while it wasn't quite as cold as Toronto, the brisk air and snow on the ground was good preparation for the real thing: the Canadian winter. My travel was as comfortable as I could have asked for and I arrived safely in Toronto a few days ago.

I've been asked a few times since I arrived the obvious questions about how my trip was and of course most people realize it is impossible to sum up such an experience in a few sentences. I can honestly say that is was an amazing, life-changing adventure where I learned more about myself and the world in which I live and have come to know and trust in God much more.

Ok, so I guess that is pretty good for a sentence. But other questions have been asked like if I notice the difference in life here in Canada. Again, there is an obvious difference, but I think it is the subtle things that are more profound. And I think it will take a long time before I fully appreciate all that I saw and did over there. As life continues to move ahead here in Canada I suspect that the little things like, taking transit, or eating in restaurants and even watching tv will slowly reveal to me the differences in life in Canada and Tanzania.

I also want to take the opportunity to thank all of you who read my blog while I was away and for the many encouraging and positive comments I received here. They really were lovely to read and often buoyed my spirit on low days, so I thank all of you for that. I also want to thank all of you who prayed and kept me in your thoughts while I was away. I can't explain fully how it felt to know that I was being held in prayer by family and friends at all times; it was wonderful though. I hope that you will continue to pray for me as I make my way through life and I will try my best to do the same for you, my family and friends.

God used me on this trip for His purposes and I know that. It was a phenomenal experience that came with its share of hard times and disappointments. But through it all God was good as He always is. I am thankful and look forward to the next adventure He sends me on.

Last Days

2008-11-15T05:41:00.001-08:00

November 15...

Less than a week left. I can't really believe it to be honest. It's totally cliché and I know it, but time has really just flown by. I can still remember so vividly, getting off the airplane in Dar just over two months ago: being accosted by the heat and humidity, then having my baggage “lost” (or just a few days late) and being completely drained by the time-zone adjustment. That sounds all pretty negative, but there have been so many amazing and good things that have happened since I arrived in Tanzania.

I have learned more about myself than I ever knew before and outside of a lot of “getting to know me” time I have met some truly incredible people. I have learned that we are never really alone and that when we step out in faith into the unknown God provides community for us; either through relationship with Him alone or with the people we meet along the way. Thankfully, I have had an abundant dose of the second and made many great friendships with people here.

I am sure that as time passes I will discover more and more of how this trip will impact my life. In the immediate I know there will be some changes: I know that I will appreciate my family and friends so much more, I know that I will appreciate the opportunities I have both at work and at church to use the gifts I have, and I KNOW I'll use less water when I brush my teeth (and I thought I was conservative before)! Hopefully, I will come to appreciate more the treasures I have been blessed with and be far quicker to give what I can to those around me.

God has truly been good these last few months. I have been challenged, almost daily, to trust Him more completely and I hope that when I return that trust will continue to deepen. I am thankful to God and all those who helped get me here and I am very excited to return home and share all that has happened with my friends and family. And I might be a little too excited as I am finding it hard these days to fall asleep at night because I am thinking about my homecoming!

Soon enough. First I have to finish my work at St. Michael's and then brave a two day, 26 hour trip home. Yikes. But I know it will be worth it.

Iringa From Above

2008-11-15T05:14:00.000-08:00

November 14...

Andrew and I climbed Gangilonga Rock today. It's a massive granite rock face that sticks straight out of the hillside behind their house in Iringa. It took about 20 minutes to get up there and it was a little perilous at times, but Andrew took it all in stride. I tried to do the same.

Gangilonga Rock from the Wingfield's house

The steep path up to the rock-top

Once we got up there the view was amazing. You can see pretty well all of Iringa from up there. Apparently it's a popular hang-out for the local teenage population (as are most secluded look-outs) and is covered in graffiti. I couldn't understand it, but I imagine it said something like, “So-and-so was here and had a great time!”

Looking down

The rock itself ejects from the hill and is nearly flat on top, making it an excellent look-out. And it's here that the famous HeHe (pronounced Hay-Hay) Chief Mkwawa held his meetings with other tribal leaders on how to best fight the invading Germans in the 1890's. And I can see why he would meet there: the view is incredible and lets you see all of Iringa providing a serious tactical advantage. It's also on this rock that Chief Mkwawa committed suicide rather than be captured by the Germans when the colonial military finally defeated the Hehe in 1898. The Germans then took Mkwawa's skull back to Germany to display in the museum in Bremen until after WWI the British (who took control of Tanzania, then German East Africa) demanded its return to Tanzania in the treaty of Versailles!

And there's your history lesson. For those of you who know me well, you should be impressed that I've been able to hold back the history lessons this long!

The way down

Paul and I

Down By the River

2008-11-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

November 3...

There is a language school just outside of Iringa that many ex-pats attend to help develop their Kswahili so they can better serve in their positions here in Tanzania. The school itself is situated on the Little Ruaha river and designed as a camp-site based school.

Besides language school, they also have the facilities for people to come and camp which the Wingfields have done before. Or, if you just want to spend a day relaxing, you can come for a meal and swim in the river; which is what we did.

The food was incredible. I ate too much. But it was too good for moderation. Then after lunch, the Wingfields and I went down to the river for a swim. I realized after upon entering the water, that I had never swam in a river before. I guess I've just always been around lakes. Anyway, the river was excellent. It had a strong current that was great fun to swim in.

Hopefully the pictures will help you get an idea of what it looked like. And though it may not look it, there were some deep parts where I couldn't touch the bottom and where you had to fight against the current of the water. There were also some great rocky out-crops where I just sat and watched the river flow past me.

I am continually amazed at God's beauty reflected in nature. Maybe I just didn't notice it as much back home, or maybe it's because I'm usually surrounded by concrete buildings and row upon row of housing that I miss the beauty in nature. It's everywhere here and I love it. I feel constantly amazed at God's handiwork and feel privileged to experience it as I have.

If you feel like I did back home, buried by urban infrastructure, take a walk in the woods or a garden. You don't have to be surrounded by mountains to feel God's grandeur; take a deep look at the nature around you and feel God's presence there.

It's worth your time. Believe me.

Relaxing in the sun while I still can

2008-11-01T02:36:00.001-07:00

November 2...

I am trying to enjoy the beautifully temperate weather of Tanzania while I still can. I've been reading the CBC's website and seeing the temperatures steadily drop in Toronto. News from home also tells me there has been a few occasions of snow. Already!

Enjoy these photos. They were taken at the Wingfield's home in Iringa.

Wish you were here.

What's Love Got To Do With It?

2008-11-01T02:12:00.000-07:00

November 1...

I know, I know. It's a terrible title, but I couldn't help myself.
Do you ever think about why we do things? I mean, have you just stopped in the middle of the day and just taken a second to think, “why am I doing this?” I have to admit that back home, I really didn't do that very often and whenever I did it was probably because I didn't want to be doing what I was doing. You know one of those exasperated moments on the subway, or preparing a lesson and most often while washing the dishes.

The other morning I woke up in the village to the typical sound of morning activities in the village: people talking and laughing, the sounds of getting water from the tap outside and of course all kinds of barnyard noises that I have become accustomed to. And to be honest, I didn't want to get up. I didn't want to have to go and wash my face and hair and leave the rest of me unwashed. I didn't want to eat oatmeal for the millionth time. And I certainly didn't want to have to struggle through another English lesson working hard to communicate through a barely common language. I wanted to be back home where there is warm water all the time. Lots of choice when it comes to breakfast. And the comforting thought of easy conversations with other English speakers.

In that moment I thought, “why am I doing this?” And I really had to think.

There are a lot of reasons I came to Tanzania: adventure, exploration, travel, being independent, learning more about God. All good things. But sometimes those things aren't enough to get you out of bed.

My mind went back to Donald Miller's, Blue Like Jazz and his chapter on Love. He talks about people (Christians) using love like money. He says, “I used love like money, but love doesn't work like money. It's not a commodity. When we barter with it, we all lose” (218-219). He goes on to say that we should forget the notion of doling out our love like currency; lavishing it on some and refusing to give to others who we don't like, or smell or have offended us or something. And that thought made me think about why I came to Tanzania.

Yes I came for all those reasons mentioned before, but at the core, at the centre of my reason for being here is love. Seriously. That's really it. It's not complicated but it's been hard sometimes. I am here to love other people like Jesus loved me: unconditionally. And that has lots of tangible manifestations, like teaching. Lying in bed that morning, I realized that through teaching I am showing love to my students: by being encouraging and learning about them and caring about them as people. That's love. But love is not always easy. And it's not the chemically dependant kind of love we see on the silver screen. I can't just stop loving people because I don't feel like it or I don't want to get out of bed. It's a choice. Jesus chose and so must I.

So I'm still going. Still trying to make each day count. Still trying to show God's unconditional love to those I meet here. And it's something I need to do back home too. And as long as I can, I will choose to love.

Developing a Heart for Development

2008-10-25T02:03:00.000-07:00

October 25...

The past few days I have been working with Andrew the village of Usolanga which is about a two hour drive away from Iringa. One of Emmanuel International's projects here in Tanzania is the creation of sustainable, clean drinking water sources. And in a country like Tanzania that basically has two seasons, dry and wet, that means utilizing the torrential down-pours of the rainy season in the middle of the hot and dry time through water storage tanks.

EI has constructed a bunch of these rain-water tanks that basically catch the water off the rooftops and stores it in huge tanks to be used during the dry season. The tanks are remarkably simple in design, but that's why they work. To build these huge cisterns EI has to organize the labour, construction materials, time-lines and funding and it is no small task. To build an identical tank in Canada it would take a couple of weeks. Here in Tanzania, it takes at least a month and that's if everything goes according to plan. Like most developing countries, Tanzania has a chronic shortage of skilled labour and finding suitable building materials can prove to be difficult and costly. Despite the challenges, EI Tanzania has been getting the job done.

So for the past two days, Andrew and I were working with one of the water projects currently under construction at a medical clinic run by the Anglican Church. It was awesome to see the work being done there and nice to pitch in and help where I could; shovelling, tying down sun-shades and cold-welding. I should mention though how incredibly hot Usolanga is. Unlike Iringa and Kilolo, this village is down thousands of feet from the highlands and as a result endures the full brunt of the sun's rays. The thermometer in our EI accommodation house said it was 38 degrees Celsius at 2pm and it only got hotter. Because of the heat, work begins at 6 in the morning and ends at 2 in the afternoon just as the sun reaches it's thermal zenith! So, as is the custom, we ended work and went inside for an attempted nap.

Despite the heat, it was a great experience. I really enjoyed seeing the project come along and was happy I could help in my small way. And I slept incredibly well that night. And the meals we had were fantastic, not because they were gourmet, but because I was famished! Have you ever noticed that when you put in a really hard day's work you feel really satisfied after eating and sleep really well? I think it's something that I've missed out on back home.

And if I'm honest with myself, I can admit that I actually thought fondly of the winter back home and for a moment wished there was snow outside. Wow. That's a scary thought.

Adventures in the Highlands

2008-10-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

October 17...

I got the chance to visit a remote village last week. It was great fun even getting there. The roads, well they really weren't roads. More like, “Oh hey, those crater looking things seem to be in a line. Do you think they could have been roads once?” I'm just glad we were in a capable 4X4 truck that could handle the terrain.

We were picking up some students for the Bible School that's also located on the St. Michael's grounds. It took a few hours to get there and when we finally did, our passengers were not ready for us yet. So we helped some locals bring sand up from the river to make cement and my friend Ken (the driver and an Australian ex-pat working at St. Michael's) played with the local kids.

All the kids loved Ken. He's pretty much everyone's grandpa here.

It was a fun trip and I was happy to have had the chance to go.

Next stop Kilimanjaro!

2008-10-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

October 15...

Well maybe not Kilimanjaro. I did however, climb the hill that sits opposite of St. Michael's last weekend with my good friend Hugh. It took about an hour to get up there and a little more than half of that to get back down.

We walked up through people's sambas (fields) and it felt a bit like walking through someone's backyard. But they didn't care and it saved a lot of time!

The view was amazing and my photos do not do it justice. My legs were sore the next day, but it was well worth it.

No pain no gain I guess.

I Want To Tell You A Funny Story

2008-10-17T05:29:00.001-07:00

October 13...

Well it's funny to me at least. Before coming to Tanzania, I have to be honest and say that when I prayed to God for stuff, I generally had a pretty vague belief that whatever I was asking for would happen. I'm not entirely sure why this is (and sometimes still is) the case. Maybe I didn't want to get my hopes up you know. I didn't want to ask God for something very specific and then not get it, or get something else: sort of a disappointed Christmas morning scenario where you really wanted a remote control car and got multi-coloured underwear instead.

Or maybe, I felt like I couldn't possibly know the mind of God and so whatever I wanted was probably not what He wanted for me and so over time, I just stopped asking specifically for stuff. Sure I would still ask, but it would all be pretty general; and there's nothing wrong with that either.

But to be completely honest, I just stopped thinking that God would answer prayer on the spot and with exactly what I needed (and wanted). That is changing though. And believe it or not, it started with a boiled egg.

Let me explain:

Before coming here I didn't eat boiled eggs. A recent chat with my mom has revealed that we apparently had the option to eat such food as kids, but never did. When I say we, I'm referring to my brothers and I (and if you're reading this now brothers, please don't ostracise me for developing an enjoyment for boiled eggs). Anyway, I had the chance to eat them here and they're really not bad and are an awesome source of protein, which is great for village life.

So the other day, I was here in Kilolo and feeling really hungry. It was my last day in the village before leaving for the weekend and going to town (Iringa). I didn't really have a lot of food left, and nothing that would feed the need for protein. I decided to go and collect my daily bread (not the little pieces of paper with Bible verses but the actual stuff you eat) from my neighbours and on the way I casually just said something to God which I guess constituted as prayer; though it was more of a passing thought directed at Him. I said, “God it would be really great if You could get me something to eat”. And I was specifically referring to something with protein in it. And just kept walking. Actually, I pretty well forgot that I said that until He answered (which is a habit I'm trying to break). So I got to my neighbours, collected the bread and had about a three sentence conversation with the kind people who provide me with bread. I was just about to walk out of their home, hands full of carbohydrates, when I was called back. “You like eggs?” I was asked. “Sure.” I replied. And then out of the air came flying a hard boiled egg which I caught but nearly missed.

As I walked out of the house and back to my own I couldn't help but laugh a little. As if God had answered my dumb little prayer and with a hard boiled egg no less. I was really grateful and enjoyed the egg immensely.

And stuff like that keeps happening.

Today, as I made my way to the bus station I said another quick, no-thought prayer. I was late leaving and needed get to the bus station quick but knew I could only go as fast as my legs would take me. I prayed something like, “God, it would be great if I could get to the bus station really quick.” Seriously that was it. Nothing deep or profound. There was no scripture quoting. Just a quick little thought, again directed in His general direction.

And then it happened again. He answered.

A few minutes later and classy looking red pick-up drove by and slowed down. The window rolled down and the young driver asked me, in English, “Are you going down?” By which he meant are you going down to the town centre (where the bus station is). I said yes and few minutes later I was at the bus station right on time courtesy of a very kind Tanzanian. And for my parents' sake, the truck had official plates, so it wasn't just a random truck, but some government official or something: very safe.

You know, if stuff like this keeps happening I may have to start praying a little more earnestly.

But here's the thing: I don't want to become spoiled and greedy. I realize that God wants to (and does) provide for us. But I don't want to get caught in the trap that has me praying strategic prayers with laser guided accuracy. I just don't think it works like that. I want to develop an expectant attitude that is patient by nature and trusts that whatever God's provision (or lack of) is and whenever it comes (if it comes) is what is best for me.

But I have to be careful I think. Because in trying to do that I could slip back into the thinking that God doesn't really answer our prayers in the immediate with exactly what we need. And then I just stop asking God for anything and instead try and work it out on my own. And that leads to two things: a) disappointment, which is usually followed by b) pain.

So I'm going to keep making those small prayers for my daily needs. And I think I'll even ask Him about the bigger things too and trust that He knows what He's doing.

I mean who would have thought of a boiled egg. But it worked.

Scottish Jigs...You Can Dance If You Want To

2008-10-12T00:22:00.000-07:00

October 12...

Last weekend, I went to a church retreat here in Iringa. Well just outside Iringa actually, at a beautiful camp ground. It was part of Iringa Christian Fellowship, which is an English speaking church here in town made up mostly of ex-pats who meet semi-regularly.

Some highlights include:

1. Caleigh Dancing
2. Amazing food
3. The best shower I've had in Africa
4. Great fun with new friends

We camped out in tents, and based on my village lifestyle, it wasn't all that different from what I'm used to. There were learning sessions, music and great times just to hangout. All in all it was a great weekend.

And if I didn't know it already, the Caliegh dance proved once and for I that while I may have two left feet, those feet love to move across the dance floor!

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie...Literally

2008-10-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

October 2...

Just a couple of pictures of the Wingfields' guard dog sleeping. His name is Dog. Seriously. And yes he actually sleeps like this. A lot.

Enjoy

Do you have the time?

2008-10-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

October 1...
(I apologize for the length of this post. I've had a lot of time to think this week)

One of the first things I noticed here in Tanzania, was that time moved differently in this part of the world. Of course, there was the obvious clock adjustment as I flew across several time zones and then dipped below the equator. Seven hours difference from Tanzania to Toronto. I was surprised how quickly I adjusted to the difference. It could be because I was awake for most of my two day journey across an ocean and nearly two continents. So when I finally arrived in Iringa (my home for two weeks) I quickly slipped into a steady sleeping pattern: in bed by 10.30 asleep at 11.00 and up and 8 or 9 (usually 9) in the morning.

In Iringa, life moved a little slower than Toronto (especially the internet, but I am very glad to have it at all) but for the most part things happened as usual. Breakfast would be somewhere between the infant giggling in the family room at 8am and well before noon. That's generally when lunch was had. And dinner found a comfortable slot around 5.30 or 6 at night. Pretty standard schedule. There was stuff in between but that was all pretty normal too.

Life in the town of Iringa is much different than life in the village of Kilolo. The most obvious difference being the size and location of the village. It's small. Really small. And it's an hour away from Iringa and a good bit of time from anything else. As such, there are some amenities that are not found in village life: namely electricity. And that my friends has a more powerful influence on daily life than I had ever considered. Without electricity for lights, or tv, or computers or anything I've completely adjusted my daily life. Seriously it's major.

These days I wake up at 5.30 or 6 (that's in the morning!) when the Rooster calls; right outside my window. I don't actually roll out of bed until 7.00 but by then I'm wade awake. And the only reason I am not in a catatonic state during the day is because I go to bed at...wait for it...9.30! The last time I went to bed at 9.30 The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was still making new episodes and the class of Bayside was just about to move to bigger and better things (along with more terribly written plot lines) in college.

I teach half days, so once I'm done for the day that's it. Done. Lesson planning doesn't take that long; an hour if I really waste time. Not sure if that's because I'm planning terrible lessons or it's just more straight forward teaching basic English rather than history or geography. Either way, I have a lot of time on my hands. I fill some of it with watching season one and two of the Office on my iPod (which I power with a solar charger I brought) and occasionally movies on the same device. But mostly, I read and think. In that order. And usually the one leads to the other.

I've had so much time to read and think that I've now just realized how rushed I am back home. Seriously, back in Toronto I can stuff a day full with anything but thoughts. The only opportunity I have to think was usually on the subway and that's only if I forgot my music. Dead space needed to be filled and so I filled it with everything I could. Not all of it was bad necessarily, and it'll surely be a challenge to make space for thought when I come home, to make time to think and reflect on life.

And another thing about thinking is that I find I talk to God a lot more. Not that I sit and pray ceaselessly (though that would be good I'm sure) but rather, it's just a simple dialogue between Him and me. I guess I could just be making it up and then I'd be talking to myself in which case I could give a friend of mine at WC a serious run for their money. But actually, I think it's me talking to God. And guess what: He talks back! I know, I know, of course He talks back but this time I'm actually listening. I think it has to do with the filling of the day with junk. Less junk = more clarity. I think I trust more easily now that it's God speaking to me, without the competition for air space I have back home.

Either way I like it. And I would recommend you try it.

Personal Space on Hiatus

2008-10-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

September 28...

Today I made the trip from the town of Iringa to the village of Kilolo by bus; the People's Chariot. I will make this trek every week after I finish teaching to get to the Wingfield's home in Iringa. Getting there and back is always an adventure but it's particularly interesting when I ride the bus.

If it hadn't already happened, it is safe to say that I have now lost all my North American sense of personal space when travelling in vehicles. If anything, my daily commute to York University on the TTC at rush hour has prepared me well for this trip; but even at it's most crowded the bus in Toronto could not compare to the buses here. By the time the bus was in full motion every seat was filled (some with more than one person) and the isle was completely full. I was lucky that I had a seat and that luck can really be attributed to the fact that I arrived an hour before scheduled departure. I learned that lesson the hard way last Sunday when I arrived fifteen minutes early to the find both the inside and roof of the bus completely full (and when I say full, I really, truly mean it). This week I had the foresight to arrive an hour early and miraculously found a friend at the bus terminal gearing up for the same trip. He kindly helped me find the right bus and we got a seat together.

That's another thing I have to get used to here in Africa: time. Things just happen different here. When something is supposed to happen at 4 that really means it's starting at 5. And though the trip from Iringa to Kilolo really only takes 45 minutes to an hour by car, the bus trip, all stops and waiting included took me 4 hours. And that's making pretty good time. People just have a different pace here. It should also be noted that the roads in most of rural Tanzania would attract an extreme off-roading crowd were they back home; so that makes travel time much different too. But I'm adjusting and really, the trip was pretty good.

It was a bit strange to see the things people bought on board though. I mean in Toronto, I've seen people bring on small pets occasionally and only during the designated hours. So seeing a cat or even a small dog would be no surprise. A fully grown chicken though?! That made me take a second look. At first I thought it was dead. Its handler had its feet bound and it really seemed quite lifeless. Upon further reflection however, I realized that it's eyes were blinking and would occasionally ruffle its feathers. I was surprised at how calm it was. I really thought that any animal (let alone myself) would get fidgety on such a trip. But this bird, in a plastic bag mind you with its head sticking out the top, was completely content, though I'm sure PETA would have had a fit. Very strange indeed; at least for me.

As I had the isle seat (for leg room of course) I was ready to have people move past me as they found their seats; but that wasn't even the half of it. As I said, the seats and isle were completely full so when people had to get off or move it was like watching playdough be squeezed through a press. Again, any sense of personal space I had was quickly eroded making the typical transit rider expressions like, “there's no more room back here” null and void. That was pretty well cemented as people were all but sitting in my lap as passengers tried to move by. As for leg room: forget about it. In trying to describe our predicament I was reminded of a witty phrase used by a one Tobias Funke when travelling in the back seat on a Bluth family road-trip. Aptly put Dr. Funke.

Despite my apparent negativity, I really want to emphasize that it was a good trip. Space (or lack there of) is something I've quickly gotten used to here, so having mamas (older Tanzanian ladies) practically sitting on me isn't really an issue any more. And I was very thankful to God for proving a travelling companion who could help get me get on the right bus and safely to Kilolo. All in all it was an eventful trip.

Did I mention the ticket agent would climb on the roof rack while the bus was in full motion and crawled over top of the seats to move from the front to the back of the bus. I wish you could have been there.

Celebrate Good Times. Come on.

2008-09-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

September 27...

Yesterday was St. Michael's first ever graduation ceremony! The school staff, invited guests and a host of parents were on site to lend their congratulations to the Form Four students. And for those of you who are blissfully unaware of the British schooling system circa 1963, that's grade 12 by Canadian measures.

Let me just say that this graduation ceremony for 70 students made my York University graduation of 800 look like a walk in the park! It officially started at 11.00 (an hour late) and wasn't over until the last person was fed at 4.30 in the afternoon! Wow. It was a merathon of songs, dances, dramas, official introductions and speeches. And I was very glad to have a translator beside me.

All in all, it was a beautiful ceremony and I am glad I was able to be a part of it. Slowly but surely education is going to revolutionize Tanzania.

Parachute or Potato Sack

2008-09-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

September 21...

Before I begin let make a disclaimer: Both long term and short term missions/development projects are valid, do good things and help people.

And now that you pretty well know what this post is about, let me explain. The group from the UK that was here last week gave me lots to think about. They were on a short-term trip in Tanzania (a couple of weeks) and I, by contrast, will be here for three months (It should also be noted that the length of time a development project lasts is completely relative and so for some my three month trip could easily be classified as a short-term project). So I'd like to just compare my trip to the two week trip.

It was very interesting for me to watch how the people from the UK acted in this country knowing that they were only here for a few weeks and were in a sense parachuted into the life of Tanzania. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but something in me felt slightly uncomfortable with some of the things that happened. Don't get me wrong, the group was incredibly kind and generous and worked hard to be gracious to their hosts at all times and very much accomplished that goal. I just felt a bit strange, knowing that what they said and did would have long lasting impacts on this community, but that they would not be here to witness those affects. And I really must admit that I missed moving around and interacting with Tanzanian communities outside of the Wingfields' presence. I think that's because though Andrew and Miriam are foreigners in a foreign land and always will be, they are so much more integrated into the life and culture of Tanzania than anyone who has been here two weeks (or three months).

When I am with the Wingfields and interacting with people in Iringa or Kilolo there is a different feeling transmitted; something that can only come from living here long-term. It's a respect for the people and places you see and know that can only develop over months and years. And to be honest I'm really just coasting on that sense of commitment developed by the Wingfields. Again, I've only been here two weeks and barely speak the language. I've developed no great report with people but I suppose it's the knowledge that I will be here for a season and will try and develop those relationships and intimate knowledge of the culture and people of Tanzania that makes me feel different; maybe even good?

But don't worry, I certainly won't get full of myself. I have daily experiences that humble me: particularly when I try local survival techniques like using a potato sack filled with straw acting as insulation to keep my shower water warm over night: it didn't work. I had the worst shower of my life that morning. So clearly I have a lot to learn. But I'm glad I'll be here a while to learn it.

Plenty of time to perfect the use of a potato sack and not a parachute.

The Interesting thing about Generosity

2008-09-26T10:06:00.001-07:00

September 20...

This past week, St. Michael's had some guests from the UK. They were visiting various projects initiated by the Anglican Church in Tanzania and stopped in at the school for a few days. I had to admit, that it was pretty nice to have some English speakers around to chat with and it was great for my confidence to be around people who knew even less Swahili than me!

When they arrived they had lots of questions about life in Tanzania and even though I've only been here two weeks, I found myself giving a whole ream of answers. And while they had come pretty well prepared for their stay here, they still needed a few things and much to my surprise I found myself offering everything I could. I say surprise not because I was never taught to be kind to strangers or generous to those in need, but rather I was surprised at how immediately friendly I was and willing to help them. You see, I categorize myself as an introvert (though that may come as a shock to some) and if I'm really honest, I would call myself an introvert who masquerades as an extrovert.

Don't get me wrong, I love being with people and telling stories and jokes to get a laugh but being extroverted in a group takes a lot out of me which then forces me to retreat to find time to recharge away from people. And I think that's the real demarcation of introvert vs. extrovert. I've found that extroverts recharge by being with people. For them, down time is spent in the company of a lot of friends and being pretty active. Introverts on the other hand, re-energize on their own or with a few very close friends. And that is me.

Getting back to generosity. I was amazed how quickly I was offering my help to these newcomers to St. Michael's. When I thought about it later, I think my reaction would have been different had the Wingfields not treated me so well upon my arrive to Tanzania. They modelled exceptional generosity and kindness when I came to this country and I think that left an impression on me. Because I experienced such kindness, I knew how important it was and so, in turn, I offered it to others.

Maybe this like the Christian walk in general: when we interact with Christians who really strive to show Christ's love in all circumstances we can't help but be influenced and have our behaviour affected. Likewise, we should realize the impact we have on others whether they're Christians or not, and understand that when we live like Christ did we're helping others live like Him too. And what happens then can be summed up in the words of a certain bumper sticker I know: Love Wins.

Church at 5000 Feet

2008-09-15T03:03:00.000-07:00

September 14...

Today the Wingfields and I visited a small village church just outside Kilolo where St. Michael's is located. The local evangelist invited Miriam and Andrew to this special Thanksgiving service because they played a crucial part in the medical treatment of his young son. His boy was born with a club foot and for a number of reasons there was no corrective work done at birth. Recently though, Andrew and Miriam (and a host of other individuals and organizations) helped get the boy corrective surgery by an Italian doctor who was in Tanzania. So today, the church service was in celebration for the boy's successful surgery and to thank those who had contributed to the process.

It was a beautiful occasion. The drive to the church was long, but breathtaking. We literally were going to church in the mountains. Our road was far from smooth and took us around sharp bends and up steep inclines. But the views were incredible. It reminded me of walking along the tops of really high snow banks when I was a kid – if you were careful you could just walk along the top while precariously looking down to the ground and continue to make your way across the the narrow peaks. This felt quite similar. The road was carved out of the widest part of the hills allowing us to look down on the rest of the hills which seemed to go on forever. In all we were up 5000 feet.

The church itself, I learned, was fairly typical for a village church. A small mud-brick construction with a relatively low roof (yippee for me!). Though the building was modest, the music was heavenly. The small choir of six or seven children was amazing. They were in constant harmony and sang with a power I've only heard from large choirs. The service was conducted entirely in Swahili but Andrew was kind enough to translate for me. He and I were also able to share some music with the church as we sang a classic Matt Redman song together with the guitar. I was also invited to introduce myself to the church and conveyed my greetings from my home church in Canada. I explained that I was a teacher and working with Emmanuel International and considered it my honour to be invited to their service.

I really wish I could describe the music better for you. Every person in the small building was singing with such passion and sincerity – and with such beautiful harmonies. And even though I didn't know all the words to the songs, I found myself singing along. Again it was a privilege to be there and be a part of their worship.

Afterwards, we were invited to the family's home for a generous lunch. It is worth noting that the hospitality in this country is phenomenal. People value their guests so much and put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that they are looked after. The meal was delicious and gave me my first taste of Fanta – which tastes exactly like orange pop to me.

All in all it was a good day. Playing the guitar reminded me of how much I miss leading worship at Wesley Chapel but it was definitely a blessing to share some music with this church in the mountains.

Moving In

2008-09-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

September 13...

Some time has passed since the last update. I've found that since I have such limited internet access my posts will most likely be a compilation of events from my time here in Tanzania. It'll be a hodge-podge of happenings. Come to think of it, that would be a good title for a blog.

Since I last posted I have successfully moved into my accommodations at St. Michael's Secondary School. It took the better part of day, with all the packing in Iringa where I was staying, then the hour long drive to Kilolo and St. Michael's, and then unpacking and setting up. All in all, I was very tired when it was all over! Andrew was incredibly helpful in the moving process – he is one amazing packer. Seriously, if there were car-packing Olympics I think he'd be a serious contender. And I know good packing technique when I see it. Having lived with parents who enjoyed spontaneous furniture rearranging and were always helping others move house and home (wink to Michael Penney) I have seen packing a car at its best; and its worst. Andrew would definitely make my short list of movers. It really was incredible how much we packed in and on top of, that Land Cruiser.

When we arrived we began unpacking and setting things up. The Wingfields were gracious enough to offer me some unused furniture so that I now have a seating area, a bookshelf, a writing desk, a wardrobe and anything else I could need; including a solar shower. More on that in a bit.

Andrew also set up my SODIS table. SODIS is a method by which I purify my drinking water. The process is dead-easy and 99% effective. First you fill a clear water bottle (about 1 litre) with water and shake vigorously about 20 times. Then you fill the bottle to the very top leaving no room for air bubbles. Then you let it sit in direct sunlight for one day (or six hours on a very sunny day) or two if the conditions are cloudy. After that you can use the water to drink. I should mention that the water I have access to by outdoor tap comes from a spring, and is then filtered (by me) and then goes through SODIS. So when it's all said and done, it's very clean. It has made me think more deeply about the ready access to fresh, clean drinking water we have in Canada. I think when I get back I will be even more concious about how I use (or misuse) water.

The there's the shower. It's a solar unit that Andrew is letting me use. It's really not high-tech. It's basically a heavy-duty plastic bag painted black on one side that you let sit in the sun all day until it's warm. Then you hang it up and let gravity do it's job. It's all right, but I'm really going to have to experiment with it to get it just right. Adding hot water from the kettle works – but I think showering is going to become more of an art for me. Everything is! Even getting breakfast now takes at least ½ an hour. Though I did really enjoy the porridge I made myself with oats. Really life without electricity is a challenge, but I'm sure I will come to appreciate it. Well at least I hope I do. My first night without electric lighting I went to bed at 9 o'clock! That's the first time I've done that since I was eight! And I was awoken the next morning by the rooster that lives 5 feet from my bedroom window at 6.00 in the morning. The sun hadn't even woken up yet. And yet there I was. Earplugs in and doing nothing against the auditory onslaught of bird that has serious issues. I was tempted to tape it's beak shut but I'm sure PETA wouldn't like that very much.

The people at St. Michael's are lovely. They are very friendly and always willing to help. Most of them however, want to speak English making the task of practising my Swahili rather difficult. And I had Ugalli for the first time. It's basically the main bit of the meal and it looks like mashed potatoes but has greater structural integrity. And believe me, mashed potatoes does have some structural integrity. I know from experience since I was dutifully dubbed “the potato man” by my Nana Read. Anyway, with Ugalli, you just scoop the the rest of the meal up with the Ugalli and put it in your mouth; sans knife and fork. Just be careful you don't have cut on your finger like I did. Who knew beans could irritate a cut so badly.

I met with the school administration. I know that I will teach grade 10 Geography which they call Form II after the British system: Form I = grade 9, Form II = grade 10, Form II = grade 11 and Form IV = grade 12. They also have Form V and VI which I think are mandatory if you want to go to University. Anyway, I'll be teaching Geography and helping the Form IV and V's with essay writing which should be fun. I'm happy to teach Geography but am scrabbling a bit to get resources to prepare for my first lesson on Thursday or Friday. Tuesday and Wednesday of this week I will sit in on some classes and see how teachers at St. Michael's teach and how students learn (both being incredibly complex things that really can't be fully understood in two days). When I met some students on Friday in the classroom they all stood up at attention and were incredibly well mannered. This is something that will take some serious adjustment on my part. Hopefully we can come to a compromise in formality and they will call me Mulimu-Jason; which means teacher-Jason. I can dig that.

That's pretty much all that happened this week. Tomorrow I'm going to a village church with Andrew and Miriam and we're going to sing a song for them. I hope it goes well! I also have been using a prepaid cellphone and having to learn how to text people. That is not going well. At least, it's taking me forever! And I simultaneously love and hate automatic word creation on the phone. I wish I had studied under the masters of texting (i.e. Everyone between 15-25 I know) before I left. But all is well. I will learn along with a whole whack of other things!

Good things come in little packages

2008-09-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

September 9...

I used to hate earplugs. Those stupid little spongy things were uncomfortable, weird looking and really didn't work for me. In fact, when I did put them in to dampen the ambient sound I found myself more irritated by the sound of my own heartbeat thumping in my head. Effectively, I resigned myself never to use earplugs.

Then I came to Africa.

Ok well maybe Africa has nothing to do with it. But since being here I have found a new love for those great little do-dads the fit snugly in my ear and block out all sound (except for the heartbeat, that's still there.) The Wingfields have a beautiful home. But it's guarded by the loudest dogs I have ever heard. And they're not just loud. They make the most unholy noise I've ever heard. It's like combining the evil sound made by those creatures in the movie the Village with the howls of an elk in heat. Throw in a little blender noise, and you've got an idea of what this sounds like. It's awful and it could keep you up all night. Added to that, the Wingfields have a beautiful little 1 year old: Ben. He's so sweet, but he's got pipes that would make Pavarotti and Celine jealous. Therefore, I am extremely grateful for a mother's wise words that gave the universal advice: “just in case you need them”.

Outside of sleep, my day in Iringa was filled with selecting stored furniture that will find a new home in my room at St. Michael's. A seven foot bed was decided upon for this tall Canadian. Apparently, I'm really tall in Africa too. Go figure.

Miriam and I also visited the home of some nuns in Iringa who make a variety of food for sale that beats the market prices and tastes delicious. I bought some Pear jam and tomato sauce and have every intention of going back tomorrow to buy some pasta. As I said, it's all home made Italian food (by Italians no less) and costs less than the market. For example, my jam and two bottles of tomato sauce cost 3000 Tanzanian shillings. That's about 3 bucks Canadian!

My day also had me studying Swahili again with my patient teacher Betty. It's coming along, but now I remember why I stopped taking French in grade nine. Learning a language is hard! Let's just say I can start a conversation in Swahili all right, but after I've asked how your morning, afternoon and evening was I'm at a loss. More study is needed I'm afraid. Thankfully, the students I'll be teaching speak English. I really only need Swahili for the market. Let's hope I figure out how to say, “can I have my change?” which I think is “changi”.

Then I ended the day with bible study at a local couples house in Iringa. Second Chronicles. King Jehoshaphat. Very interesting guy. Great name. I'm going to try and do like him and just trust God to solve my problems both in Tanzania and Canada. It sure beats trying to fix them myself.

Catching Up

2008-09-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

September 7...

I need to make up for lost time. A lot of things have happened over the last few days so I'll do my best to recall most of what's happened. Since the last entry, I've met Miriam and Ben; the family of Andrew Wingfield. They are both fantastic. Miriam is probably the most positive person I know and she is a joy to be around. Her constant warmth and hospitality has made adjusting to Tanzanian life far easier and both she and Andrew have been amazingly helpful and kind. I could not ask for a better support system in Tanzania.

Getting familiar with Iringa has been my task these last couple of days before I go for my first visit to Kilolo and St. Michael's. On my first full day here (Saturday) Miriam took me to the market in Iringa and showed me around the down town. The market was a wonderful display of fresh produce and was a buzz of activity. The food is all piled on tables where the vendors sit on top surrounded by their goods and deal with customers. There is always room to barter and Miriam is as experienced as any Tanzanian in the ways of negotiation. She is also quite capable of conversing in Swahili and does so with ease; something I greatly admire.

Later, Andrew and Ben (now just over a year old) met up with Miriam and I at a great little cafe that is operated by the Anglican Diocese. It's designed to give employment opportunities to Iringa's disabled and so serves excellent food while selling unique handicrafts in the attached shop. The cafe itself is on the second floor allowing customers to sit and watch over the edge of the wall down below as workers create their goods. It was really very fascinating as the men and women worked various looms and sat sewing.

Then that night the Wingfields and I travelled down out of Iringa to a nearby dairy farm where every Saturday, and English speaking family hosts a little get together where volleyball is the main attraction and friends can catch up on all the latest news. I tried my hand at volleyball and was able to hold my own against a few very skilled players (an accomplishment I attribute entirely to my above average height). After the game we returned home and relaxed by watching an episode of Quantum Leap. I'd forgotten about that show, but was quickly reminded of its classic appeal. Time travel plus classic moral message equals one great half hour (albeit a bit cheesy). Then Andrew and I went to the bus terminal to pick up my luggage that arrived that evening by bus.

When we first arrived and scouted out the situation it wasn't apparent that the even had my luggage. The bus had parked about three feet away from another bus and there was no electric lights to speak of; certainly not enough to shine on the undercarriage of the bus where the cargo was stored. Imagine then five or six people crammed between the buses all looking for their luggage in the dark night and speaking a language which I barely understand. Thankfully, Andrew's Swahili is impeccable and with the help of a cell phone casting its blue light we were able to get my luggage. As soon as we got back to the house I rummaged through my bags and put on my warmest sweatshirt – it gets pretty cold here at night!

Then today we all went to English speaking church which happens on the first and third Sunday of each month. It was nice to be able to worship in English, but Miriam assures me that they will take me to a Swahili church soon which should help with my language absorption. Later we all went for a walk around the block with little Ben in the stroller (which appears to me to be more of an off-road model than anything I've seen in Canada). We also stopped in to visit with some friends of Andrew and Miriam – Hope and Mama (something). Apparently, when a mother has a child in Tanzania they gain a new name: Mama whatever. So to many people in town Miriam is now Mama-Benjamin. The visit was really nice but it was a reminder of how little Swahili I know. I sat quietly for the most part, smiling at everyone and having either Andrew or Miriam translate everything that was being said. I hope to one day be able to converse at a basic level with Swahili speakers but I know it will take practice. So far I know that “Asanta Sana” means thank you very much. Karibo is a welcome greeting (which has various responses). And there are plenty of other phrases I'm going to have to pick up. In the meantime, I'll continue to smile a lot and hopefully I won't offend anyone too much.

The Realities of Travelling

2008-09-07T06:15:00.000-07:00

From September 4...

“It's all part of the experience!” That pretty well sums up my travel to Tanzania. First the plane in Canada was delayed three hours, then when I arrived in Amsterdam I only had 15 minutes to catch my connecting flight to Africa and now my luggage has not arrived and because of the realities here, it won't for another two days.

The flight on KLM was actually pretty good. I mean, I will never completely fit comfortabily in economy class, but overall, I was impressed. I felt like they just kept feeding me! And the food was quite good too. But how I wished I could have stayed longer in Amsterdam! Really there is a deep part of me that wants to explore Europe with my best friend Paul. There's just something about walking around history that gets my blood pumping and I know Paul feels the same. So I believe a European trip is in order – and soon!

I slept a bit on the plane but doing anything comfortable on the plane is a challenge when your knees are under constant barrage from the seat in front. Do people really not realize the havoc they wreak when they recline their seats at breakneck speeds? Suffice to say, the combination of a substantial time change (seven hours I believe) and being crammed on a plane for an unholy number of hours equals a tried and weary traveler.

On the bright side, Andrew (one half of my host team) was able to pick me up immediately from the airport and I didn't have to pay the $100 USD airport tax in full like some other passengers. I got away with paying $50. Once the airport drama was over, Andrew was quick to whisk me away to a Guest House which is where I'm writing from now under a rather fanciful blue mosquito net. More good news, the adapter Chris lent me works perfectly allowing me to charge my laptop and iPod. Both of which have assumed new levels of importance since the loss of my other baggage. And in relation to the iPod (graciously donated by Ryan Szabo) I started watching Long Way Round and am finding the parallels to my own adventure to be quite profound. I'll keep watching and hopefully keep getting encouraged.

So now it's time to sleep. Tomorrow is my first morning in Africa. I can't really believe I'm here. It hasn't sunk in yet; even with the rat that crawled across the kitchen counter where my water's stored.

Soon though. I think it'll set in soon.

Last Minute Luxuries

2008-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight is my last night in Canada for three months. I am excited, nervous, anxious, joyful, terrified and surprisingly calm. There are a lot of things that I am going to miss: electricity, running water, showers, familiar food and all of those comforts. But most of all I will miss my family and friends. They are my support right now. They will be missed most dearly. I know that I will make new friends in Tanzania and that those relationships are part of my reason for leaving – I still just worry. But as I think through my worries, I find myself realizing that they're really not based on much; just fear. I know I will make friends. I know that God has provided me a strong support system in Tanzania. I know all these things and so I need to trust.

As I was preparing to fund raise for this trip I had worries. But God revealed to me that I just needed to trust. Not to trust that He will do what I want Him to and even if I think that what I'm doing is what He wants – things don't always go my way. Be He told me in my Spirit to just trust – not to trust that the money would come through and not that my trip to Tanzania would absolutely happen – but to just trust that He would do good things with my life because He loves me and wants to use me. And so today I trust and tomorrow I leave. And my leaving makes me think back to what I read in Donald Miller's book Through Painted Deserts. His words were those that first made me want to seek this adventure and reassured me that everything would be alright. He wrote, “...and you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed.”

And with that, I go.