I was HOT and SWEATY!  Being from Iow@ and living in Minnes0ta for a few years these are two words that I never thought I would use to describe Christmas however this year it was just that.  Upon waking at 6am the temp was 86 degrees and at 4pm the temperature gauge registered 97 degrees with 97% humidity…CRAZY!  I have always looked forward to a white Christmas, needless to say that didn’t happen, which caused me to miss the snow for a brief fleeting moment.  I am kind of getting use to being able to wear flip flops all year round!

For the holiday I was in a small village located along the coast of the Indi@n Ocean (I have now seen it many times and have yet to get me feet wet!).  The team of A1M missi0naries located there is made up of two couples and three single ladies.  Two of these single ladies were in my same situation – first Christmas away from family, so we knew exactly how each other was feeling.  I was sad to be away from my family however G0d provided wonderful people – both w@zungus (westerners) and nationals who made this Christmas truly unique and filled with laughter.

The festivities began on the 24^th.  At around 12 noon (which in Africa time is really anytime after 2pm) all the women were to gather at the church to start preparing the community lunch meal.  This is a very important event because technically if the wife dose not come and help prepare the meal her family is unable to partake.  Our meeting place was under the big mango tree by the church.  We sat outside on large hand woven grass mats and got right to work cleaning 80kgs rice (removing rocks and left over hulls), peeling garlic and onions, cutting up the beef that was purchased (which in the end looked to me to be mostly bone!  Iowa corn feed means nothing here), and making dough for mendazies (a small donut like bun that is eaten with tea).  The national ladies were very eager to teach us all their ways of cooking and preparation.  We shared MANY good laughs together!  The whole preparation took about 4 hours, but to me it seemed but a few minutes!  I enjoyed this time of fellowship very much!  Being able to sit with the national ladies, listen to them girl talk and learn their customs was such a blessing.

Christmas morning we were up and ready to go to the church by 6:30am!  Yes, this was early but around the time I had been waking up every morning due to the heat.  Once at the church there was still work to be done, peeling tomatoes and carrots, chopping cabbage to make cole slaw, boiling the tea, cooking all the rice and mixing in the spices to make pilau, reheating the beef and collecting the plates and trays that all the ladies were bringing in for the meal.  At first I was wondering, how was this ever going to get organized, however within about 30 minutes each women had a task to complete.  My task was to clean a little more rice and then help cook…which really means to just sit and talk with the nationals as they cook!!  One thing I noticed that kind of made me laugh is when the women were cooking the rice they would throw in a bit of salt here and there.  Every time they added it to the rice, they threw a little in the fire, “to help it cooked sweeter”.  I guess every cook has her thing!

The rice was cooked in HUGE metal pots called sufuri@s over open fires in the backyard of the church.  I think all total there were 8 sufuri@s filled with pilau and one with the beef…an impressive operation to watch!  The women know just how strong the fires have to be at different points in the cooking process to make the perfect rice.  Heck, I can barely cook a good pot of rice on my gas stove, if I had to use a fire I would be in trouble or I would eat burnt rice! HA!

About 10:30am it was time to get cleaned up and go to church.  The Christi@n ladies from the church all had dresses made out of the same material, this is tradition for any type of big event.  When I was in K@hunda I had a” skirti” and “blousie” made (for a grand total of $11 USD) from local fabric so that is what I wore and how the ladies loved it!  They appreciated so much that I was wearing a T@nzania outfit; the smiles it evoked were priceless!  Also jewelry, make-up and pretty shoes were required.  The women really did go all out and the men, just regular clothing for them.

Church only lasted for 2 hours which SURPRISED me!  I was at least expecting four hours at the minimum…the pastor must have known he would have been in trouble from the women if he went to long! HA!  They sang, danced and played the drum for a good while, nothing fancy but very beautiful!  Unfortunately the service was given in the local tribal tongue so I was not able to understand it at all…but I am sure it was good!  On a regular Sund@y the average attendance of this church is 30 people, this service 100 people came, some of who were MuSlims!  G0D IS AWESOME!!  I spent my time trying to interrupt L*ke chapter two from Sw@hili to English, what a wonderful story.  My Savi0r came to earth that very night to die so that I can live forever…WOW!

When the pastor finally said we were dismissed the church cleared out SO FAST!  People were ready to eat.  The older men all sat in the big room on woven grass mats and were served first on individual plates.  The women and children sat in another room some on grass mats some on the floor and were served second on platters (4-5 people sharing) and the teenage boys sat together in the last room on the floor and were served last.  There was a definite process that was followed and everyone understood it!  To get everyone fed including the “kitchen staff” took over an hour.  One person estimated that around 250 people came to partake in the meal.  What a witness for Je$us!

I enjoyed very much being part of the village church Christmas.  I like how they focused on serving together as a family in Chri$t to reach out to their community.  It was not so much about “stuff” which was nice. I have not missed the craziness of Christmas shopping.  I do love giving gifts to people in my life, but December in the States NO FUN!  This village church gave the Good New to MANY in their community who needed to hear it…the harvest might be a long time coming, but seeds were planted and I was honored to be a part of it!

The weekend following Christmas we W@zungus (westerners) went to town to celebrate.  We had a Christmas branch (just on branch not a complete tree) decorated, white elephant gift exchange (I was the only one who bought a gag gift…however in the end was the gift everyone wanted!) and did a stocking exchange, so nothing big but very nice.  Also we ATE!  We had all kinds of Americ@n/Can@dian food.  I actually had the “I’m so full I can barely move feeling” and it has been a long time since I can say I experienced that!

Overall, I would describe my first Christmas in Afric@ as BLESSED!  I was with people that I had only met briefly at conference in October and in a village I had never visited, however we all have one common goal: To share the $AVING GR@CE of JE$US with the people of Tanzania and that bond makes us brothers and sisters in Christ.  THANK YOU JE$US for Your strength and provision!!

It has been WAY TO LONG since I have posted a new entry…SORRY!  My excuse, life in Afric* is just a little bit slower then life in the $tates, just trying to fit in…cultural adjustment, HA!

Just this week I arrived in a different village here in T*nzania and plan to stay here for the next two weeks to celebrate the holidays and study language.  During conference I met three other single girls that live in this village and they welcomed me to come celebrate Chri$tmas and New Years with them.  I am having a WONDERFUL time here with them but it is HOT! Everyday the temperature rises to at least 93 degrees with a humidity level of 90%!  I am hot and sticky all the time…so much different then what Christmas usually feels like in MN/IA.  I have always wished for a white Christmas and this year I am just wishing for a cool drink at some point during the day!

I am amazed at how different our mini$tries look.  On the Lake we are more healthcare focused and here their focus is church planting.   Yet we have the same goal…to share the $AVING knowledge of Je$us with ALL who will listen! With Chri$tmas approaching in just a few days make sure to take time to share the REAL reason for this celebration, the BIRTH of our $AVIOR and REDEMMER Je$us Christ…His LOVE is the FREE GIFT that keeps giving for ETERNITY!

HAVE A BLESSED CHRI$TMAS

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I will write again shortly after the new year roles in…can hardly believe that 2009 is almost over!!

Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

Exodus 23:19

This is one of the S*bbath Laws stated in the Old Test*ment and here in Afric* is a law that is still practiced.  The first Sunday of every month a special offering is taken for the pastor.  This is an opportunity for church members to give to him and his family directly as a way of saying thank you for his service.  This was taken after the general church offering and a special offering for the choir…so I was thinking that it would be small, however I was mistaken.

The normal routine for the offering collection is that starting from the back of the church on the men’s side (men and women do not sit together) each person that wants to give gets up and files along the outside wall waiting their turn to place their offering in the basket on the head table.  The women follow in the same manner but when they place their offering in the basket each one curtsey as a sign of respect to G0d.  The same curtsey is done when greeting an mzee (older person of the community) as a sign of respect.  The verbal greeting from the younger person is “Shikamoo” (I am holding you feet…) and the mzee replies “Marahaba” (Good).  Kids are taught from a very young age here to salamia (greet) older people in a respectful manner.  Now I have adopted this practice.  Every time I give my offering or greet an older person I curtsey and say Shikamoo as my sign of respect for them.  Just last week I did this to an Americ*n that was here visiting…guess it is becoming my new norm!  It has made me also think about how I greet J*sus everyday…what do I do to show Him the respect He deserves?

The men went first giving only in monetary form (because they are the ones that care for the money) but then it was the akina mamas (group of women) turn to give and they brought their first fruits from their shambas (farms, which the women plant and work).  Corn, beans, mihogo (used to make flour); rice, sugar cane and even LIVE chickens were given!  The chicken was placed on the table right in front of my co-worker Mary and she did not know what to do!  It was flapping its wing and making a real ruckus!

This might seem kind of strange to you, to bring these kinds of things to the offering table in church, however giving these items here in Afric* is almost more sacrificial then giving money.  Money comes and goes but chickens are a source of eggs year around and when killed to eat is a great honor and usually only done when guests are coming.  Corn, beans, mihogo and rice are staple food items that take time to grow and the main source of nutrition.  Yes, they can get more but only if the rains come.  They gave from their family’s security.

It was a humbling experience…even those that have hardly any earthy processions did not want to miss the opportunity to give back to G0d from what He had given them.  They do believe that whatever they do have comes directly from Him watering their fields causing the crops to grow.  What am I giving to G0d?  What sacrifices am I making to show Him the respect He deserves?  What are my first fruits that He is asking me to bring to the house of the LORD?  I have much to pray over…

Now that I have my work permit (YEAH!) I am able to work at the local clinic here in K*hunda.  On Monday and Friday they have well/sick child clinic and Tuesday is pregnant lady clinic.  The other days of the week I am able to go up in the mornings and work as the laboratory technologist or just help out with odds and ends that need to be done.

So far this has been a good experience!  Not only am I able to do a variety of jobs to help out but I am getting my face and name out in the community. Now when I walk through the village local people say “Hi” and invite me into their homes…here visitors are seen as blessings no matter what time of the day it is!

One patient I took care of was a 7 year old little girl that had fallen out of a tree she was climbing to get a mango.  She came with a kanga (a piece of cloth used for many different purposes by EVERY woman here in Africa) wrapped around her head…I was not sure what I would find under it. Once I unwrapped her head and cleaned the laceration up a bit I saw that it would need a few stitches. So I had the patient lay down on the wooden table used for procedures and wait as I gathered up my supplies.  However it did not take me long to see this would not be a 5 minute task to complete.

I first had to go outside, get some water from the well, light the kerosene burner and boil the instruments I wanted to use for 30 minutes.  While this was going on I had to send the family to buy a razor blade to shave the little girls head and get a clean kanga from home to use as an outer dressing.  Then to prepare my dressings, I had to cut off my 4×4’s from a large roll of gauze and cut stripes of tape from a large roll.  By this time the instruments were ready for use and I could boil some water to use for irrigation.  Antibacterial agents are in short supply, so I am practicing the motto I learned when I was observing surgery once – the solution to pollution is dilution!  When I asked for sutures the only type available was dissolvable which had a BIG needle on the end! This was going to be a challenge!

After about one and a half hours I was ready to start…it takes just a little bit longer to get things done here.  The procedure went well and in the end the laceration was clean, closed and had a clean dressing on it.  I am not sure how long the dissolvable sutures will last but they are at least in place for now!

I am and going to be stretched in MANY different ways working here, but my goal is to show love and compassion to every patient I care for!

You are never going to believe this…make sure to be sitting down when you read this entry….

!!!MY WORK PREMIT CAME THROUGH!!!

!!!TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

I am now official till September 10^th 2011!

Just last week I was in Dar es Salaam attending my regional conference and my passport was taken to get the official stamp.  My director asked me “Aren’t you excited?”  my reply, “I am not getting my hopes up, when I see the work permit in my passport that is when I will get excited.”  So I waited and waited all day, wanting to ask about it but I didn’t…I was trying to seem calm on the outside but on the inside I was asking Jesus PLEASE let today be the day.  Then in the evening The Lake Team and I were in a meeting with all our “bosses” discussing ministry and my director handed me my passport not saying anything.  Quickly I opened it up and on the last page I saw it; my work permit!!  I SCREAMED “THANK YOU JESUS FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A RESIDENT OF TANZANIA!”  Then I calmed myself down for the rest of the meeting and tried to listen but all I wanted to do was CELEBRATE.  Once the meeting was over I went straight back to my room and did a dance for Jesus, I GAVE HIM ALL THE PRAISE AND GLORY, MY JOY WAS OVERFLOWING!  Once I got it all out I sat down and really looked at it and I noticed I had a Resident Permit C…what did C mean?  So I went quietly outside up to my director and I said “Do I want to be a Resident C?”  he smiled and said “Yes.”  I breathed a sigh of relief and again THANKED JESUS!

Now I want to send out a BIG THANK YOU to all of you who have prayed over this situation for me!  I would post a video of me doing a little dance for you, but it would never get it downloaded with the internet here…but know that I did one!  PLEASE know I APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS VERY MUCH!!  It is because of YOU and YOUR support that I am able to be here in Tanzania working for Jesus!!  He is ALIVE and AT WORK here in Africa in my life and in the lives of the people around me…THANKS for being part of it!!!

Ministry here on Lake Vict0ria got off to kind of a slow start but this last month I have been on the road…actually on The Lake!  I have not had a chance to post an update because I left my computer in K*hunda (the mainland or launching point of the Lake Ministry).  It didn’t take long for me to learn that traveling by boat (canoe, small/big motor boat) from one destination to another always involves getting wet; the variable factor is just how wet.   Sometimes it is just my feet and lower legs from getting into the boat, maybe a few sprinkles on the arm here and there which is WONDERFUL!  However most of the time I arrive completely soaked…I am use to it now and know which skirts will dry quickly in the warm breeze.  When I was in town I bought some heavy duty plastic bags. My next journey I will wrap my computer in a few and me in the rest!

Anyways, over the last month I have been busy here on Lake Vict0ria and I have enjoyed every minute of it!  The last week of August I went to Ugand* to assist with a health education class given to a group of individuals that are being trained as CBV’s (Community Based Volunteers).  They are  everyday individuals with steady jobs who have a desire to make a difference in their communities.  They attend regular meetings to learn how to improve the conditions of their villages through proper hygiene and sanitation, and they learn to care for and counsel a person with HIV/AIDS.

The week long meetings I attend covered many aspects of HIV/AIDS such as disease process, proper nutrition, anti-retroviral therapy and home visiting and counseling.  I benefited much from theses meetings because they were all taught in English then translated into Ugandan.  The knowledge I was able to obtain will be of great use to me and my patients when I am able to share it in Kisw*hili.    It was an honor to meet these individuals they have a true desire to make a difference for the betterment of their communities.  Not all of them were Christ*ans in fact three of them were Mu$lims, but all of them heard from the Word of G0d multiple times during the week.  They heard:

M*rk 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

II Corinth*ans 1: 3-4

Praise be to G0d and Father of our L0rd Jesus Chri$t, the Father of compassion and the G0d of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in and trouble with the comfort that ourselves receive from G0d.

II Tim0thy 2:2

The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

The goal is not to only teach these individuals but to equip them with the knowledge they need to go out and teach others…both functional and sustainable!

Afterwards I returned to T*nzania and stayed on Bumb!re Island.  On this island there is an AICT Clinic (Africa Inl*nd Church T*nzania Clinic) where I was able to go everyday and work together with Kathy the main coordinator and nurse of this ministry and Dr Brian.  They taught me many things about tropical medicine including how to recognize harmful organisims/worms/protoza under the microscope.  Some of the samples were not that pleasant but did provide great learning opportunities!

I have many stories to share with you that happened over the last month.  My eyes have been opened to some of the challenges I am going to face while working on the islands.  G0d has placed before me a great need.  Life in the fishing camps are hard…S*tan’s stronghold is evident.  Be praying that I will be able to show G0d’s love to each person I encounter so that His glory can shine bright in a dark world.

It seems like since I have started TRYING to speak Kiswahili I have received many more laughs then usual!  One of the first rules of language learning is to be able to laugh at yourself…WOW have I laughed!  So, I thought I would share some of my slip ups with you and share the laughter.

What I wanted to say when addressing a ladies bible study:

I am a Christian and I love my God!

Mimi ni Mkristo na ninapenda Mungu yangu!

Instead I said:

I am a Christian and I love my leg!

Mimi ni Mkristo na ninapenda miguu yangu!

What I wanted to say to a car load of men:

Wait, I will bring a bottle!

Suburi, Nitaleta chupa!

Instead I said:

Wait I will bring a pair of underwear!

Suburi, Nitaleta chupi!  (You can imagine the look I got from those men!)

What I wanted to say to a lady at the market:

Excuse me. can I help you carry your potatoes?

Samahanai. nitaweza kubeba viazi?

Instead I said:

Excuse me. can I help you carry your shoes?

Samahanai. nitaweza kubeba viatu?  (Needless to say she walked at little faster.)

What I wanted to ask in the middle of town was:

Where is the bathroom?

Choo ni wapi?

Instead I asked:

Where is the shower?

Bafu ni wapi?  (She then asked me with a weird look on her face…you want to

shower now?  I thought bafu was a more lady like word for the

bathroom…guess not!)

What I wanted to ask the ladies in the kitchen:

I need to learn how to cook!

Ninahitaji kujifunza kupika!

Instead I said:

I need to lean how to vomit!

Ninahitaji kujifunza kutapika!  (The laughter did not stop for many minutes!)

Okay, that is all I have for now!  I am sure there have been MANY more that people have been gracious and not brought to my attention…Kiswahili is coming, but as you can see I still have allot to learn!

An accident occurred on August 1, with an AIM AIR Cessna 206. It occurred around 2:30PM (EAT) near the N*irobi Wilson Airport. There were four people on board; AIM AIR pilot Frank Toews, AIM AIR mechanic Ryan Williams and two Americ*ns who were filming a documentary on poverty in Afric*. Frank Toews and Ryan Williams did not survive the accident…they have gone home to be with the L0rd and are now looking at the S*vior, they loved and served with their lives, face to face!

Please pray for Frank’s wife Tiffany and their four children, and Ryan’s wife Dawn and their four children.  There are many hard days ahead and tears to be cried…ask G0d to bring them all an extra measure of grace and peace that passes all understanding!

The two Americ*n’s that were involved in the accident were taken to the hospital for treatment and are physically healing well, but mentally and spiritually they struggle.  Both are having reoccurring panic attacks, nightmares and continuing pain.  As far as I can tell from their blog entries they do not believe in Je$us Chri$t as their Savior, one even proclaims to be an atheist.  PLEASE PR*Y that through the events that occurred they will realize that Je$us Chri$t is the One that saved their lives and can give them the peace they so desperately need!

I am trusting G0d, with all of you, to show Himself to be good, even beyond our expectations and understanding of what good could mean, in a situation like this.

Also remember the entire AIM-AIR family; it is small, only around 20 pilots. Ask G0d to protect their hearts and minds from guestioning their calling and fear.

Remember the AIM-AIR leadership; this is time for hard decisions.  They just ended a probational period two months ago for two recent accidents over the past year, even though their safety requirements are higher then most. Currently the fleet is grounded as the investigation into this accident takes place.  PR*Y that G0d will guide the investigation and give support to all that are questioned and doing the questioning.

Remember those in the field that AIM AIR serves. There are many who do their work in confidence knowing an airplane can come when needed to bring supplies or bring transport to a safe place. PR*Y that no one feels stranded or alone and we can continue to serve them to the best of our abilities.

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS;

DO NOT BE AFRAID;

DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED,

FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL BE WITH YOU

WHEVER YOU GO!!

Joshu* 1:9

Pray that all of us in the AIM family will find comfort in His promises and cling to His Word in a time of uncertainty!

I am now a resident of K*hunda T*nzania and already I can see how it is different then M*gambua!  In M*gambua I lived in the middle of the community and was able to see other houses through the bushes because it was very dry and the trees hardly had any leaves.  The only water I saw came out of a faucet and the air was so dry I had to use lotion multiple times a day to keep my skin from cracking!  The ground was made of red fine dirt that was all over everything in my house.  The clinic was only a 2 minute walk from my front door and I went up there everyday to do something or other, which I enjoyed very much. The main source of income for the people was crop farming or animal herding…which I am familiar with coming from Iowa and Minnesota.

Here in K*hunda my house is only 100 feet off the shore of Ziwa Victori*!  The view out my kitchen and living room window is breathtaking!  It is of the dock where the fishermen go in and out with their boats and a perfect view of the sunset…G0d has blessed me every night with His beauty! The ground is all black sand and the trees are green and full of foliage.  It is almost like I am in the jungle…I can’t even see my neighbors house.  There is moisture in the air because water is everywhere!  I have so much to learn about fishing and the life the people lead here.  Another difference…there is a small market!  I am now able to buy all the very basics of life, fruit, vegetables, flour, sugar, milk, beans and used clothing on a daily basis here in K*hunda.

Ministry…I am still not sure exactly what that is going to look like for me yet.  The other nurses have been in N*irobi for the last 4 days and is due back today, so hopefully I will learn more soon.  Here is Kahunda there is an AICT (Afri*an Inland Church T*nzania) medical clinic about 7 minutes away from my house and is ran completely by T*nzanians.  Also there is an AIDS testing and counseling center here.  I have visited both and I do see places that I could fit in, but I am not going to get to involved till I talk with till I talk with the other nurses.  There are multiple mobile clinics that go out to the surrounding islands and permanent clinics on three islands.  So there are many, many opportunity for ministry I just have to see what the plan is first.

I am excited about being here in K*hunda and having the opportunity to work together with the team.  Life will be different for me in many ways but I know G0d has a reason for bringing me here and I am going to do my best to figure out what that is!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the prayers on my behalf during my journey!  G0d brought me right to my front door without one problem or set back…only He could have done that because the journey was long and the roads were bad!  After driving here in Afric* dodging the cows, chickens, goats, people walking/riding their bikes, kids playing, pot holes, washouts and rocks in the road, driving in the States will be NO problem!