Is it really February???

Hey friends! Em has been a champ at blogging, but I confess I have not updated the blog in quite some time now. So much has happened in the last few months with a surprise trip to Dar via Zanzibar, school closing for 2009, Christmas in the village, hosting 2 visitors, climbing Kili, and returning to start a new school year. And all since December. I started off 2010 by traveling to Moshi to trek Kilimanjaro with 2 of our teammates. It was the adventure of a lifetime, and I might have developed a hiking addiction as Emily mentioned…though not every mountain I climb has to be 19,340 feet-that last part to Uhuru Peak was a little tough. Emily had a safari of her own traveling to Kenya then Uganda to visit friends and raft the Nile. She has since been working on Lake Victoria with other friends of ours who are doctors and nurses specializing in mobile clinics and midwifery medical care. They also provide testing and counseling for HIV/AIDS. This has been an intense and challenging experience for Em as there are huge needs there, and it is a very dark place spiritually. In some places the HIV/AIDS rate is 80%. She has been stretched physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, but I know she has learned to rely on the Lord more than ever, and she has been able to use her nursing skills in a new and different way which is exciting. She has learned a lot and is coming back home on the 8th to share her newfound knowledge and put it into practice in the village. We are psyched about that. I have enjoyed some alone time in the village over the past 3 weeks, but I am definitely ready for her to return. It was good for us to work individually for a period of time, but we both have reflected on what an encouragement it is to experience this with a friend and fellow newbie. It makes a huge difference, and I don’t think either of us will take one another for granted over these next 5 months. It is crazy to believe that we have been living her for over 7 months now. While Em was away the rest of our team met with our unit leaders over a 3 day retreat to discuss and reflect on our work over the last 6 months. It was refreshing and renewing to get to talk with them and get some advice and direction about our various ministries and relationships with local people and our Tanzanian teammates. It was also the perfect time to refocus our vision for what God has for us here. After the hustle and bustle of getting the new year started at school, I was reenergized and even more passionate about reaching the teachers, kiddos, and their families. It is difficult to think about leaving and how to continue this ministry when we are gone, but it is important to establish sustainable programs and ministries that will continue and flourish long after we leave. This is my task and challenge for the next 5 months. Please join me in prayer as we seek to establish a clear vision and long term program/curriculum for teaching the children the Word of God and the Good News of the Gospel. I also want to encourage and meet with the teachers regularly to study and talk about the Bible and how it applies to our lives. My desire is to pour into them and thus overflow into the lives of the students at our school. We will hopefully complete the government school registration process by March, and we are eager to implement even more programs upon completion. Beyond school, we will continue to build relationships with our friends and neighbors. One of my main goals is to focus on a few key relationships that have grown in my time here, especially my relationship with my language helper. She is my best friend and I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t get to see her and visit every day I am in the village. She is a source of knowledge, joy, encouragement, and laughter. I have started sharing stories from the Bible with her through our language lessons. She wants to continue despite my lack of storytelling ability, so that is awesome. God can work even through limited language and vocabulary. I have definitely learned that His power is made perfect in my weakness. I can’t wait to update you all again…sooner rather than later, but until then, thank you for your continued love, prayers, and support. Keep ‘em coming!

Peace out,
Sarah