says: “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing…”
**NOTE: I thought I would specify the difference between a Pastor and Evangelist if you do not know. Really, they are incredibly similar…a Pastor has just gone through more schooling and can administer the sacrament of holy communion and also do baptisms!
Wednesday March 6th
After breakfast and morning devotion I had some time (45 minutes) again to work on some writing/check e-mail, however for some reason the connection was way too slow so I couldn’t get to Any website! PH and I took off about 9:15am and the only passenger we picked up today was an Evangelist-Luka (not PH’s right-hand man; he is still building)!
The place was very close today-and I even know the name of the village: Mikocheni! It is not far off of the Primary Road and I had been to this church before for just 15 minutes back in January when Luka and PH had stopped to inspect it because a wall had fallen down…now it is as good as new!!
We arrived about 10:25am and 2 of the Evangelists from the day before : Yohana and Simon were already sitting in chairs under a tree waiting for us. Also-another Evangelist whom I had met Feb 10th when we had a service at the Girls Secondary School. It was an easy morning for me as I studied my previous lessons (30-45) for about 2 hours and then read Scripture for an hour and a half and also prepared most of what I was going to say for tonight’s message @ the school. During this time, 2 more Evangelists came-they are older-and I have seen them a few times before also…they are kind and jolly middle-aged men :) I didn’t mind just sitting all morning/afternoon- the studying helped so much and it was good that I had time to write out something for my message. Also- Pastor Heri (who I also really like) showed up (on his bike) as well! PH, Pastor Heri, and Yohana took a break to go look at the cattle and then they disappeared in between the huts for a while. Before I knew it the time was already 2pm and Luka showed me where to sit (I sat by him up front-perpendicular to the Pastors and Evangelist).
The service began about 2:30pm and it was full! Another small girls choir of about 15 and walked from their village so we had 2 girls choirs and they were Great!! The visiting choir actually did some dancing and singing that is what I think of when I think of “Maasai.” Supposedly it’s more of a tradition in the northern part of Tanzania, but it was exciting to see them do it! Everyone LOVED it…people were laughing and had the biggest smiles on their faces (including me)…because a woman came over to PH and grabbed his hand and held it while she continued the traditional dance…(I did get some video of it)-but it’s a “bobbing” up and down while bending the knees (like the men do that I have described previously in other posts) but also the women (with the jewelry they wear) they very neatly shake their shoulders back and forth also…obviously the necklaces make noise- but I do not know if this is something that is supposed to be, how do you say- “flaunting” certain assets?!?! **Note-I did get a short video clip of the woman dancing for PH!! :)
There were a few baptisms-the sermon, communion, and the offering before we shook hands outside!
This time, it was about 4 young Maasai warrior men that came up to me to ask me my name again and my age- as well as if I was married! I was so proud that I finally recognized that question and I could answer their questions without having to find someone to help me…well, in this case-that wouldn’t be anyone as I would have had to just not answer them! Then they wanted me to take one picture of them- and they told me their ages- well, two of them: 24 and 26. I did not expect the 26-yr-old to be that “old!” But age is so hard to tell in really anyone because it seems as though the African-American skin keeps so nicely- and “young” looking I guess. Anyway, then a man came over and wanted me to see the girls choir by the side of the church and he took my camera and took a few pictures of me with them! Then, a Maasai elder came and grabbed my shoulder and motioned that it was time to eat so I went to join the other men.
The warriors were eating at a table behind me, but I ate with Yohana, PH and Pastor Heri, and the other Evangelists were nearby. Gosh- I was served another big bowl of food (with a spoon!) like yesterday! I ate almost all of it (more than PH I think-haha)…rice, some potatoes and just one piece of goat meat that I couldn’t rip apart with my teeth so I had to chew it forever in my mouth! That’s probably the best word to describe goat meat: chewy! :) I had a 12 oz bottle of water- and then they brought us mugs of boiled milk with sugar (not the disgusting sour yogurt looking/tasting stuff)-but exactly like a Vanilla Steamer at home! It was good! (but not as good as Paul’s mom’s)!
I was already stuffed-with food AND drink when a woman brought just me and PH a bottle of Pepsi…I really should have given mine to Pastor Heri but I thought, ok, as the guest maybe I should drink it and also I thought I could get it down…however after half of it my stomach was hurting badly and I just could not finish it (no problem as the Maasai guys would after I left)! While we were drinking our sodas, a few of the Maasai men turned around their chairs to face PH and so they were in sort of a half-circle around me- and the Evangelists came closer and I guess it was sort of a “meeting.” The 24-year-old who had talked to me earlier told me his name is Daniel and they asked about my soda- and I told them (in swahili) that my stomach would burst because I was so full! It’s actually an easy sentence and they laughed as they understood! I’m glad I could “justify…” at least, in their language!
We said good-bye and left about 5:20pm. I couldn’t believe how much I had eaten yesterday and today. I have never been fed so much food (and drink) in a village before!
Oh-and PH mentioned on the way home that their was some drama today as no one was their to receive the guests (which is a BIG no-no)… I was wondering as we didn’t even have the first Sacrament!! So I guess when we were eating PH was trying to figure out the mis-communication and how this congregation has been doing and PH told me that when the Head Elder finds out this news-that no one was around to receive/serve the guests he will be very upset and ashamed.
We made it back to the seminary at 6:30pm- in time for dinner, but today I was SO full I didn’t need anything…I just grabbed a piece of pineapple and a dinner roll (as the bread is SO good)!
I had to rush back to my room as I only had an hour to finish preparing and writing some notes for the service…then I went over to the church at 7:50pm as the Pastor likes to start about 8pm-although the students slowly show up until 8:20pm. I prayed with the Pastor and another student and then went back to sit in the front row.
I couldn’t believe it… they do a Wednesday night Communion service almost exactly the way Eucharist at Wartburg College on Wednesday nights is. All of the green hymnals were donated by the Lutheran Church in Waverly, Iowa! And they follow a communion liturgy that is the same as a typical Lutheran service. We sang a couple hymns and the different forms do some songs in their seats (with a simple drum and their voices)…it is SO beautiful. The echo is awesome, especially being in the church with them. By 8:25pm when I got up to speak for about 10-13 minutes the place was full…there had to be at least 150-200 students in there! (And one row of white people that had come just to listen to me…I didn’t even ask-Jan announced to everyone at breakfast and I didn’t think anyone would want to come- but Jan came, Harold, Sofia, Julie & Roger, Lars & Chelsea and her friend from Norway). It really meant a lot to me to have their support…especially because I’m always nervous in the first couple of minutes when I start to speak (no matter where or what kind of audience I have)!
Communion takes a while as everyone has to file out of their seat and kneel up front to receive the bread and tiny cup of wine-but of course there was wonderful music to accompany. It was time to sing the last hymn and I don’t know what happened, or if this happens a lot or what…but anyway, the Pastor (who has an Incredibly quiet voice that I myself could barely hear in the front row) started to sing the first couple words and no one joined in with him- a few people (and myself) are trying to sing quietly… well, he says-Let’s start together- and the Same thing happened. We get through one verse and he says, Let’s start again… and then he comes over to ask me if I will start-and I said- they are all much better singers than I am. I hear people whispering/fidgeting and shutting their books… and so the Pastor tries a 4th time and I think a few more people joined in, but we made it through one verse-maybe two and then all sorts of books close and it’s clear (by that sign) that the students have overruled the pastor.
It was 9:30pm and I was tired and needed to get back to my room…but Harold had waited for me so we talked for about 15 minutes about the service and especially how quiet and timid the Pastor was. He seemed pretty young-but I was frustrated because it seemed as if he had No confidence whatsoever… granted the service is in English-but when there are SO many students it just seems like it would be more beneficial to have a little more enthusiastic of a full-time pastor working with them to make church seem more enjoyable maybe. Also- instead of singing hymns all of the time, maybe they could sing a different song (like many of the ones I sing at camp)-with or without actions! Haha
Hmm… it was an interesting end to the night that made me think. I was just disappointed-for the students, and for the Pastor I guess…
I finally got to bed about 11-11:30pm.
** I used the Bible Verse in my title because this verse has especially taken on more meaning here… sometimes it feels as if we are stagnant in our own faith, or in the faith of our community, state, and country…let alone thinking about any other country in the world. I am so encouraged and hopefully you will share in that encouragement of knowing that the Gospel truly is alive and well and bearing fruit all over the world~ especially among the Maasai people in Eastern Africa!!
strength in Him,
Alana :)
Thursday March 6th
Roger gave the morning devotion on Daniel 4:34-37 and wanted us to think about how the fact that God is in Control plays out in our lives. Class went excellently today…something magical happened- somehow, I reached a new level of understanding/speaking today…and I think it all had to do with the fact that today my teacher had me close my book when we were doing the sheet of practice Exercises. This was my first time doing that and it was challenging, but at the same time it wasn’t. I don’t know where all of these words came from and I don’t know how my ears were so attentive-but today I realized that for the first 48 lessons I was trained to read/write the language and I can adequately do that. The long-course students have had to close their books from day one and I wish that the short-course students could have done that…I don’t know why all of a sudden the head teacher (Chuma) told the teachers that were teaching the short-course students (there’s only a couple of us left) to have us close our books now…I mean if I would have closed my book the first 48 lessons who knows where I could be linguistically now.
After the tea break at 10, Elizabeth (my first teacher) measured me for some tops she is making me. Then Godbless, (Jan’s teacher this week) had gotten back early also so he came to my gazebo to chat. He had asked me last week about my education but I didn’t know about him-only that he is at a University in town. It was great- as he talked in Swahili and I understood! :) He is a really great guy and it was fun to hear about other college students’ lives in this part of the world!
After lunch, Jan and I looked at our different kitenge material that we had bought and were deciding which ones would look good as a skirt or top. At 4:35pm Jan and I walked over to Elizabeth’s place as she is a tailor and LOVES to sew…Jan is also using her sewing machine and finished making her own bag today. I was planning on going to the Volleyball game from 5-6pm, but then I got so into seeing pictures of all these different skirts/tops she can make and so I spent the next hour getting measured/picking out designs and figuring out which kitenge’s to use for what!
It was already 6pm so Jan and I had to go to dinner! Dinner was exciting as Roger and Lars talked about the volleyball game and how some of the secondary school boys challenged the teachers/students to a game and we lost!! Also- Jan asked PH at dinner if she could come tomorrow and she wanted to know some other questions-how far is it, should she bring water, will we be in the sun…and also- if it was bumpy…then she was honest and said-well-I need to know if I should wear a sports bra or not! HaHa! Everyone just laughed and I said- it’s ALWAYS bumpy… and Julie said: TMI (too much information)! Somehow that got me to talking about going to the bathroom in villages and why I purposely do not drink water during the day at a village…and then other people talked about times they had to go to the bathroom SO bad (experiences here in Africa, and also back home in the states)!
The rest of the night has been filled with writing….and it’s almost 10pm here so I need to post this and get some sleep as the next two days will be BUSY before my day of rest on Sunday. Tomorrow I am going to a village again…although I did want to- Sister Paulette said she is going tomorrow (and I can’t let her go alone)-and plus company will be nice! Also, Jan decided to go now too- Yay!!! And Pastor Malaki will be with us again tomorrow- even more exciting!!! :) Saturday I am climbing the mountain again and we have to start even earlier as we are going the longer (less strenuous?)way this time!!
Take Care~ blessings for your weekend!
all the glory up,
Alana :)
**NOTE: I thought I would specify the difference between a Pastor and Evangelist if you do not know. Really, they are incredibly similar…a Pastor has just gone through more schooling and can administer the sacrament of holy communion and also do baptisms!
Wednesday March 6th
After breakfast and morning devotion I had some time (45 minutes) again to work on some writing/check e-mail, however for some reason the connection was way too slow so I couldn’t get to Any website! PH and I took off about 9:15am and the only passenger we picked up today was an Evangelist-Luka (not PH’s right-hand man; he is still building)!
The place was very close today-and I even know the name of the village: Mikocheni! It is not far off of the Primary Road and I had been to this church before for just 15 minutes back in January when Luka and PH had stopped to inspect it because a wall had fallen down…now it is as good as new!!
We arrived about 10:25am and 2 of the Evangelists from the day before : Yohana and Simon were already sitting in chairs under a tree waiting for us. Also-another Evangelist whom I had met Feb 10th when we had a service at the Girls Secondary School. It was an easy morning for me as I studied my previous lessons (30-45) for about 2 hours and then read Scripture for an hour and a half and also prepared most of what I was going to say for tonight’s message @ the school. During this time, 2 more Evangelists came-they are older-and I have seen them a few times before also…they are kind and jolly middle-aged men :) I didn’t mind just sitting all morning/afternoon- the studying helped so much and it was good that I had time to write out something for my message. Also- Pastor Heri (who I also really like) showed up (on his bike) as well! PH, Pastor Heri, and Yohana took a break to go look at the cattle and then they disappeared in between the huts for a while. Before I knew it the time was already 2pm and Luka showed me where to sit (I sat by him up front-perpendicular to the Pastors and Evangelist).
The service began about 2:30pm and it was full! Another small girls choir of about 15 and walked from their village so we had 2 girls choirs and they were Great!! The visiting choir actually did some dancing and singing that is what I think of when I think of “Maasai.” Supposedly it’s more of a tradition in the northern part of Tanzania, but it was exciting to see them do it! Everyone LOVED it…people were laughing and had the biggest smiles on their faces (including me)…because a woman came over to PH and grabbed his hand and held it while she continued the traditional dance…(I did get some video of it)-but it’s a “bobbing” up and down while bending the knees (like the men do that I have described previously in other posts) but also the women (with the jewelry they wear) they very neatly shake their shoulders back and forth also…obviously the necklaces make noise- but I do not know if this is something that is supposed to be, how do you say- “flaunting” certain assets?!?! **Note-I did get a short video clip of the woman dancing for PH!! :)
There were a few baptisms-the sermon, communion, and the offering before we shook hands outside!
This time, it was about 4 young Maasai warrior men that came up to me to ask me my name again and my age- as well as if I was married! I was so proud that I finally recognized that question and I could answer their questions without having to find someone to help me…well, in this case-that wouldn’t be anyone as I would have had to just not answer them! Then they wanted me to take one picture of them- and they told me their ages- well, two of them: 24 and 26. I did not expect the 26-yr-old to be that “old!” But age is so hard to tell in really anyone because it seems as though the African-American skin keeps so nicely- and “young” looking I guess. Anyway, then a man came over and wanted me to see the girls choir by the side of the church and he took my camera and took a few pictures of me with them! Then, a Maasai elder came and grabbed my shoulder and motioned that it was time to eat so I went to join the other men.
The warriors were eating at a table behind me, but I ate with Yohana, PH and Pastor Heri, and the other Evangelists were nearby. Gosh- I was served another big bowl of food (with a spoon!) like yesterday! I ate almost all of it (more than PH I think-haha)…rice, some potatoes and just one piece of goat meat that I couldn’t rip apart with my teeth so I had to chew it forever in my mouth! That’s probably the best word to describe goat meat: chewy! :) I had a 12 oz bottle of water- and then they brought us mugs of boiled milk with sugar (not the disgusting sour yogurt looking/tasting stuff)-but exactly like a Vanilla Steamer at home! It was good! (but not as good as Paul’s mom’s)!
I was already stuffed-with food AND drink when a woman brought just me and PH a bottle of Pepsi…I really should have given mine to Pastor Heri but I thought, ok, as the guest maybe I should drink it and also I thought I could get it down…however after half of it my stomach was hurting badly and I just could not finish it (no problem as the Maasai guys would after I left)! While we were drinking our sodas, a few of the Maasai men turned around their chairs to face PH and so they were in sort of a half-circle around me- and the Evangelists came closer and I guess it was sort of a “meeting.” The 24-year-old who had talked to me earlier told me his name is Daniel and they asked about my soda- and I told them (in swahili) that my stomach would burst because I was so full! It’s actually an easy sentence and they laughed as they understood! I’m glad I could “justify…” at least, in their language!
We said good-bye and left about 5:20pm. I couldn’t believe how much I had eaten yesterday and today. I have never been fed so much food (and drink) in a village before!
Oh-and PH mentioned on the way home that their was some drama today as no one was their to receive the guests (which is a BIG no-no)… I was wondering as we didn’t even have the first Sacrament!! So I guess when we were eating PH was trying to figure out the mis-communication and how this congregation has been doing and PH told me that when the Head Elder finds out this news-that no one was around to receive/serve the guests he will be very upset and ashamed.
We made it back to the seminary at 6:30pm- in time for dinner, but today I was SO full I didn’t need anything…I just grabbed a piece of pineapple and a dinner roll (as the bread is SO good)!
I had to rush back to my room as I only had an hour to finish preparing and writing some notes for the service…then I went over to the church at 7:50pm as the Pastor likes to start about 8pm-although the students slowly show up until 8:20pm. I prayed with the Pastor and another student and then went back to sit in the front row.
I couldn’t believe it… they do a Wednesday night Communion service almost exactly the way Eucharist at Wartburg College on Wednesday nights is. All of the green hymnals were donated by the Lutheran Church in Waverly, Iowa! And they follow a communion liturgy that is the same as a typical Lutheran service. We sang a couple hymns and the different forms do some songs in their seats (with a simple drum and their voices)…it is SO beautiful. The echo is awesome, especially being in the church with them. By 8:25pm when I got up to speak for about 10-13 minutes the place was full…there had to be at least 150-200 students in there! (And one row of white people that had come just to listen to me…I didn’t even ask-Jan announced to everyone at breakfast and I didn’t think anyone would want to come- but Jan came, Harold, Sofia, Julie & Roger, Lars & Chelsea and her friend from Norway). It really meant a lot to me to have their support…especially because I’m always nervous in the first couple of minutes when I start to speak (no matter where or what kind of audience I have)!
Communion takes a while as everyone has to file out of their seat and kneel up front to receive the bread and tiny cup of wine-but of course there was wonderful music to accompany. It was time to sing the last hymn and I don’t know what happened, or if this happens a lot or what…but anyway, the Pastor (who has an Incredibly quiet voice that I myself could barely hear in the front row) started to sing the first couple words and no one joined in with him- a few people (and myself) are trying to sing quietly… well, he says-Let’s start together- and the Same thing happened. We get through one verse and he says, Let’s start again… and then he comes over to ask me if I will start-and I said- they are all much better singers than I am. I hear people whispering/fidgeting and shutting their books… and so the Pastor tries a 4th time and I think a few more people joined in, but we made it through one verse-maybe two and then all sorts of books close and it’s clear (by that sign) that the students have overruled the pastor.
It was 9:30pm and I was tired and needed to get back to my room…but Harold had waited for me so we talked for about 15 minutes about the service and especially how quiet and timid the Pastor was. He seemed pretty young-but I was frustrated because it seemed as if he had No confidence whatsoever… granted the service is in English-but when there are SO many students it just seems like it would be more beneficial to have a little more enthusiastic of a full-time pastor working with them to make church seem more enjoyable maybe. Also- instead of singing hymns all of the time, maybe they could sing a different song (like many of the ones I sing at camp)-with or without actions! Haha
Hmm… it was an interesting end to the night that made me think. I was just disappointed-for the students, and for the Pastor I guess…
I finally got to bed about 11-11:30pm.
** I used the Bible Verse in my title because this verse has especially taken on more meaning here… sometimes it feels as if we are stagnant in our own faith, or in the faith of our community, state, and country…let alone thinking about any other country in the world. I am so encouraged and hopefully you will share in that encouragement of knowing that the Gospel truly is alive and well and bearing fruit all over the world~ especially among the Maasai people in Eastern Africa!!
strength in Him,
Alana :)
Thursday March 6th
Roger gave the morning devotion on Daniel 4:34-37 and wanted us to think about how the fact that God is in Control plays out in our lives. Class went excellently today…something magical happened- somehow, I reached a new level of understanding/speaking today…and I think it all had to do with the fact that today my teacher had me close my book when we were doing the sheet of practice Exercises. This was my first time doing that and it was challenging, but at the same time it wasn’t. I don’t know where all of these words came from and I don’t know how my ears were so attentive-but today I realized that for the first 48 lessons I was trained to read/write the language and I can adequately do that. The long-course students have had to close their books from day one and I wish that the short-course students could have done that…I don’t know why all of a sudden the head teacher (Chuma) told the teachers that were teaching the short-course students (there’s only a couple of us left) to have us close our books now…I mean if I would have closed my book the first 48 lessons who knows where I could be linguistically now.
After the tea break at 10, Elizabeth (my first teacher) measured me for some tops she is making me. Then Godbless, (Jan’s teacher this week) had gotten back early also so he came to my gazebo to chat. He had asked me last week about my education but I didn’t know about him-only that he is at a University in town. It was great- as he talked in Swahili and I understood! :) He is a really great guy and it was fun to hear about other college students’ lives in this part of the world!
After lunch, Jan and I looked at our different kitenge material that we had bought and were deciding which ones would look good as a skirt or top. At 4:35pm Jan and I walked over to Elizabeth’s place as she is a tailor and LOVES to sew…Jan is also using her sewing machine and finished making her own bag today. I was planning on going to the Volleyball game from 5-6pm, but then I got so into seeing pictures of all these different skirts/tops she can make and so I spent the next hour getting measured/picking out designs and figuring out which kitenge’s to use for what!
It was already 6pm so Jan and I had to go to dinner! Dinner was exciting as Roger and Lars talked about the volleyball game and how some of the secondary school boys challenged the teachers/students to a game and we lost!! Also- Jan asked PH at dinner if she could come tomorrow and she wanted to know some other questions-how far is it, should she bring water, will we be in the sun…and also- if it was bumpy…then she was honest and said-well-I need to know if I should wear a sports bra or not! HaHa! Everyone just laughed and I said- it’s ALWAYS bumpy… and Julie said: TMI (too much information)! Somehow that got me to talking about going to the bathroom in villages and why I purposely do not drink water during the day at a village…and then other people talked about times they had to go to the bathroom SO bad (experiences here in Africa, and also back home in the states)!
The rest of the night has been filled with writing….and it’s almost 10pm here so I need to post this and get some sleep as the next two days will be BUSY before my day of rest on Sunday. Tomorrow I am going to a village again…although I did want to- Sister Paulette said she is going tomorrow (and I can’t let her go alone)-and plus company will be nice! Also, Jan decided to go now too- Yay!!! And Pastor Malaki will be with us again tomorrow- even more exciting!!! :) Saturday I am climbing the mountain again and we have to start even earlier as we are going the longer (less strenuous?)way this time!!
Take Care~ blessings for your weekend!
all the glory up,
Alana :)
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