Just a song that has been heavy on my heart lately that I wanted to share...

1. Pass me not, O Gentle Saviour,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others You are calling,
Do not pass me by

Refrain:
Saviour, Saviour, hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling,
Do not pass me by

2. Let me at thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief

3. Trusting only in thy merit
Would I seek Your face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit
Save me by thy grace.

4. Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me.
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in heaven but Thee?

Snorkeling among the jellyfish. :) We had a blast!

Well, by now you all (or at least those who check this regularly) know my utter terror of jellyfish as I have talked about them many times in the past...as well as my dislike of getting in the ocean due to the possibility of them. However, this past weekend, I conquered many of my fears. Those of you who know me best would be proud.

To start it all off, on Thursday, we went to South Beach...a very lovely beach that it took us many hours to get to because we had to board a ferry in our car. But once we got there...it was gorgeous. I have pretty much decided that of the two oceans I have been to, the Indian Ocean is the most beautiful. However, I decided that my fears were silly, so I got in the ocean and stayed in by myself for about 20 minutes...I'm still afraid to put my feet on the ocean bottom because of sharp things and bad experiences there...but there were no jellyfish....haha, or at least none that I saw. Though later as I was walking the beach, I found several washed up.

So yesterday, we arrived on Zanzibar and the first order of business after checking into our hotel was to go snorkeling. I have been snorkeling only once before...and it was a very controlled environment...but there we were, heading out to sea in a little boat with our gear (snorkels, masks, and fins). Brent and Randy, who also know my fear of jellyfish, were playing it up the best they could...telling me about HUGE jellyfish that live in these waters and "pointing out" jellyfish as we rode to our destination. I was not pleased with them. We finally arrived and I quietly admitted to Brent that I was nervous about snorkeling...so he was kind enough to let me follow him around. As soon as we got in and started swimming...I started feeling little stings ALL over my body...Brent didn't stop, and due to my stubborn nature, I was not about to either...about 10 minutes later, we came up and talked for a minute about some things we had seen...when he mentioned that he was getting stung by a ton of little jellyfish....so there it is. Most of these jellyfish were so tiny I couldn't even see them...but that did not stop their merciless stinging...down the suit, up the shorts, on the face...where ever and whenever. But I refused to give in to the stinging...so we stayed out and Brent led me around the edge of the reef where we saw all sorts of amazing creatures...sea urchins, eels, clownfish, angelfish, huge starfish, sea snakes, and some really colorful coral. All in all, it was a great swim...we all laughed a ton due to various events in the water...and I think those of us who stayed in swallowed a good amount of salt water, too.

So there it is...I conquered the jellyfish...but I still do not like them. :)

If you want to see pics of our adventures...click HERE...

this evening we were driving home from "south beach"...i was just taking in the scenery when i got to thinking about my beloved africa. i've had a few people ask me about the theory of 'ham's curse' as a reason for why africa is the way it is. i've had other people ask me how i could live here when it is so poor and dirty. but as i looked out my window today, i saw something entirely different than what people who don't experience this continent see.

africans know how to love. they know how to take their time in life and value what matters the most...relationships. when i go outside of our house here in bugaruni, i see people...kids playing soccer with other kids...people stopping and talking with other people...and i hear laughter. when i go outside my house in the states, i don't see very many people...and if i do, they are usually in a hurry to get somewhere.

since being here, we have had a few conversations about language learning....because that is one of our goals in being here. and we have determined that the way we are learning language (the LAMP method) would never work in the states. here, we learn a couple of phrases, and then just go out into the community and find people to talk to. sarah and i have an established route and now when the ladies and children see us coming...they get enormous smiles on their faces and repeatedly say "karibu sana" (you are very welcome!). and they patiently listen to us, correct us, and try to teach us more. when they see that we are trying to learn their language and are interested in their culture, their faces light up...but in the states, we expect people to learn our language and have little patience with them.

now, this is not a "bash the states" post...bc the states are my home...and i do love them very much. particularly the one in the middle. :) and africa is far from perfect...i'm not blind to things that go on here. but i think this is a call to see things differently. people who ask me what on earth i like about africa usually get the same response...the people. they are beautiful. and i guess part of my curse is that most of those i talk to will never experience this, so they will never know...and i can talk until i'm blue in the face...it will never make sense. but those who have experienced it, they know what i am talking about.

so i guess these were my thoughts this afternoon on the way home from "south beach"...africa is beautiful land...green and lush (at least here in east africa!)...with so much diversity...the people are so colorful...and so beautiful. i guess i am destined to have a heart split between the states and this continent for the rest of my life...regardless of where i actually end up. :) both have a taste of home...yet i guess the only place i will ever truly feel at home is with my Father on that glorious Day. :) but there is much work to be done before then...the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. pray for workers. they are so needed.

Ok, I couldn't think of what to post and it has been awhile...and I remembered that I had the link to this pic (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg). Ah, the "Dark Continent"...it is so....dark. :)

"africa gets in your blood...and once its in, its hard to get it out." i heard someone say this the other day and all i could think was "amen to that!" tonight i was talking with one of my teammates and he informed me that he does indeed like africa very much. he is even possibly considering some long term stuff here versus his original plans.

the "dark continent"...it flows heavy in my veins and i have not been able to shake it since my first affair with it in 2002. yet as i sit and ponder where God may have me in the future...after my next year of school...i really have no idea. i pray that it is africa down the road somewhere...and i pray more specifically for a certain part of africa...but tonight as i sit here thinking about it, i have to confess that i am scared. do i really want to go it alone? will i really go it alone if it comes to that point? some days that question weighs very heavily on my mind and stretches my faith like no other. but when it stares me in the face, i cling to the knowledge that God is good...and knows what He is doing...for He has placed this heart in me and only He knows where it will lead.

My best friend, Cori, always says that she wants to be on "the African side of Heaven" and I have always agreed heartily with her...but today, that certainty was even more confirmed than before. This evening after teaching ESL to some local teachers, the four of us (Brent, Randy, Sarah, and myself) went to a Lutheran Church that Brent and Randy were invited to. We were expecting to just go and listen to the practice...so when we got there, we shook everyones' hand and sat down on the side to listen...when all of the sudden one of the men (who I later discovered to be one of the directors) grabbed my hand, pulled me up, and dragged me behind him to the front row right in the center. Then I saw him go back and get Sarah and the boys. He sat Sarah on one end and the boys behind us a couple of rows with the other guys.

So they started singing and I was trying to pick up a few words here and there when the girl next to me opens up this day time planner where she has the words to the song written...as I started following along, I think she was amazed that I could read the Swahili and follow (its not as amazing as it sounds...Swahili is completely phonetic!) because her and the girls around me looked and laughed as to say, "Wow, the mzungu (white person) can read!" Finally, Sarah moved over to sit next to me so she could follow along to...when the choir director stopped the choir and announced that the two of us were to "audition"...well, we got out of it with some seriously nervous laughter...

However, later, the director looked at me and said "It is time for you to present yourself." I just looked at him with a blank stare...but it didn't work. So I stood up and said, "Well, what do you want me to say?" He told me to say my name, where I was from, and what I was doing...so here is what I said....(remember, its phonetic!)

Hujambo. Jina langu Sara. Nina toca America. Ndyio kwanza nemefika hapa. Nahitaji kujifunza Kiswahili. Asante. :)

So if you want to see evidence of this...check this out: http://www.pagescornertanzaniapics.blogspot.com/

Today when we went out for our language practice, we went into the same neighborhood as the last few days...I really want to build some friendships there and become familiar with those people. Today, however, when we went down there, we stopped and talked to some ladies when all of the sudden, 4 children came up to us and started chanting "mzungu" and laughing. While Sarah was talking with the adults, I pulled off to the side and started talking to the kids. I asked one boy, about 10 years old, what his name was. His name was Almas, so I told Almas what I was doing here and then preceded to ask him what some different objects were and what he was doing. He thought this was all very funny, but really was helpful in getting me to understand. He then started following us around (along with about 2 dozen other kids) and stopped and listened with each person we stopped to talk to. :)

At one point during the afternoon I had to just laugh because there was a woman standing atop her stairs by herself and then we came up and decided to talk with her...and before we knew it, we literally had an audience of children. They filled the stairway with her at the top and us at the bottom. One look at this lady and you would know she was tough...but as I watched her and she watched me, I discovered that she has a soft side as I smiled, she finally smiled back...totally giving herself away. :)

God is good and being here has reignited a fire in my heart that I thought may be gone...but just spending time talking with people with the limited language I have is the most amazing experience. Swahili is one of the two languages I really want to learn...so to hear Swahili coming out of my mouth...and even better yet-to know that they are understanding me because of their responses...it is just amazing. :)

This is the redeeming pic...see next entry. :) Happy Birthday a day early Cori.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my best friend, CORI...on the 14th...tomorrow!! You see, Cori informed me earlier this year that last year I did not get a pic up of her on her bday...so I thought I ought to make it up this year. :) So Cori...in honor of you reminding me...I had to post the "Bob" pose. :) Love you!

I'm pleased to meet you. Ok, so I'm uncertain of the word breaks, so if you speak Swahili, cut me some slack. :)

All is well here on the beloved Dark Continent...today was day three of language learning and it was far easier than day two...but still a challenge to make things come naturally. Sarah and Carol and I went out today to meet people and to try our sentences on. It is very difficult at times to get over the "American mindset" and just strike up a conversation...especially when I am a naturally less outgoing person...but I have to confess that I love it. Something about Africa makes me less aprehensive. Which is funny because we were just talking yesterday about how missionaries have to have sort of "two personalities"...one to function in the US and one on their field. So I guess it makes sense to be less aprehensive. The Tanzanians just love to see that we are trying. And even the children will stop and listen to us and help us in correcting our Swahili. It really is a beautiful way to learn a language. :)

Today we got to play with lots of kids...and assuming you somewhat know me, you know this is where my heart really is. Today I was reminded of where my passion is and my heart was sort of "reignited" toward ministry with these types of kids.

Anyhow, time is flying by...so I guess I better get some rest. :)
Grace.

This pic is thanks to Brent...I wasn't thinking clearly enough this afternoon to take my camera with me on our outing...so this is a pic from the guy's outing. :) Things are going well, but our brains are definitely swimming in Swahili words and sounds that are very foreign to us. I know personally I have decided that I cannot think anymore on the phrases I learned today or I will go out of my mind. It has given me a whole new respect for long term miss'ys who spend the first several years learning language!! :)

Check these photos out!! HERE

Brent seems pretty relaxed with this whole thing. :)

For the life of me I could not get this one word...George was very patient with me. And when I finally got it later in the evening...I forgot the one before it!! Ggrr...this language learning is tough!

And finally Sarah getting her practice in with George.

Randy trying to get the Swahili in his head...it seems no matter how many times you hear it, you still get tongue tied sometimes!! :)

If any of my UCrew '02 is checking this out, this was probably one of my favorite parts of the day (there were many favorites today!), but do you know what this is?? It is Mirinda Fruity!! YUM! Anyhow, I posted pics and a blog today on the Tanzania Team section of the site...so if you are here...check that out today. :) Grace!

Well, we have arrived in Tanzania and today was our first full day. We just sort of got oriented. I forgot how much I love East Africa. So here are my high lights from the day...

• Passion Fruit Juice
• Children "waving" by raising their eyebrows
• Pointing with your lips
• Swahili being spoken all around us
• Being back in Africa

I love the children of Africa...today we went to a school and saw hundreds of beautiful children...and I thought to myself..."God, I'm so torn sometimes...but I love this place...please let me come back here again." Just wish that I could bring my family with me. And all my friends. Heaven will be pretty great. The best of both worlds...well, the best of both my current worlds anyhow. :) I' m going to bed....Grace.

Here we are...Randy and I are sitting at the airport here in Columbia getting ready to fly up to Newark to meet our team...so the next time I post anything, I'll be on the other side of this earth. Please check out the Tanzania Team section of this site (look to the list at the right) for day to day updates and pics of our time there. Here we go....

Grace.

So I am back in SC. I was going to tell you all about the trip...how annoying the Florida and Georgia drivers were or how I saw some pretty hilarious bumper stickers or how I really wasn't ready to come back here...but I think I have found a much more worthy post.

Because I had a total of 16 hours in the car, I had a lot of time to think. All last year my housemate Amy would ask my what my car's name was. I kept telling her that I didn't have one...just nothing seemed to fit...except that I figured it had to be a boy because it was rather difficult at times. :) So then it hit me like a ton of bricks when I was somewhere in the middle of the TN mountains...

Jack.

It is perfect. Jack is a strong name. Consider, if you will, Alias or 24...both shows have a character named Jack. Jack is a strong, stubborn, likes-to-do-things-his-own-way, competitive, dependable type of name. And he's cute. Which, I personally think my little red Escape is.

So there it is....Jack.

If you've met Jack, let me know what you think. ;)

It's funny how things work in life. For the first time in three years, this place (Iowa) has started to feel like home again. It has been such a beautiful thing to me because I have felt so homeless and like a wanderer...but alas, all good things must come to an end. And this is no exception. Tomorrow morning (Wednesday), I will be heading out and Lord willing, be stopping in Indianapolis to see my housemate and her fiance as well as my friend Sus and her family. As sad as I am to leave home, I am looking forward to these reunions. Then on Thursday, I will, Lord willing, drive the rest of the way to SC before flying out on Saturday to Tanzania for four weeks. If you happen to think on it, I would covet your prayers as I travel...long drives alone are not something I really look forward to, but they are necessary.

In other news, I didn't get to catch any fireworks this year, I chopped my hair off again, and I'm sitting here enjoying some really amazing bread that my dad made. Yum.

Yesterday was quite the day. It started when my dad told me that I was going to change this faucet...a project I was going to tackle over Christmas...but waited until yesterday. So, with Dad's guidance...well, you can see for yourself...

Yes, those are my hands...I really did this...I can now add "plumber" to my list.

The finished product...nice, eh?

These are some of my longest time friends...Susie (in the green) was the first real friend I had in W'burg and Andy has been a buddy of mine since about the same time. Andy came down for our 10 year reunion (which I conveniently missed) and since I couldn't believe he actually had a kid (and bc I wanted to see him and his wife and our other friends!), I stopped by. And I have to confess, their son is about the cutest little guy I have seen! ;)

This is my best friend from high school and college...we see each other about once/year...and last night was it. :) She and her husband brought lawn darts (a fun game I had never played)...so we got to play. Fun stuff. :)

Such a fun night of catching up, lawn darts, and just being with friends. These are the days I love. By the way, Kirk and I won out in this game. ;) Though Brina and Julie had us scared for a bit!