"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Psalm 8:3-4
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
a picture is worth a thousand words
"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Psalm 8:3-4
Monday, April 5, 2010
Just a quick trip to the grocery store....
Tuesday I went grocery shopping with Julia and Mrs. Joy. Now I've been grocery shopping here before so it wasn't really a new experience but I wanted to tell you about it because it really made me think. Just to see the difference. Just to see what it's like.
In the states I usually do the shopping for the family (on my week) on Tuesdays. There is this one nice grocery store about 15 minutes from my house that has everything I need on a usual basis. So I get around, hop in the car and drive to the grocery, park, shop, push the buggy of bags to the car, load 'em up and drive home. I put them away and continue with my day. The end. Oh, sometimes I have a nice little chat with the check out girl. Sometimes I see someone I know....but that's still it.
Here's what happened on a regular shopping in Tanzania. We get around, hop in the four wheel drive SUV, wait a second while Luke gets the gate, and drive 30 minutes into Arusha. We drive on a dirt road for part of it, an extremely rough and potholed paved road and into the city itself that is lined with other vehicles, push carts, people and animals. We stop at a roadside vegetable stand and bought 1-2 kilos each- carrots, zucchini, cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes. Two heads of lettuce, two large avocados, one large pineapple, two mangos and a bag of apples. Julia and I stood there in the dirt talking with the lady (Julia did the talking seeing as I can't speak Swahili!) as she got the vegetables ready with Julia keeping a tally. We paid about 18 US. for all of that. I know for a fact I couldn't have gotten away with that much, in that quality for under 45 US. in the States!!
Then we drove about 10 minutes further to a supermarket and bought some house ware type items (like doing your Walmart shopping) and fresh milk products like cheese, (10 US. for 1 kilo.) and yoghurt. This stop made up for the cheap price of produce with things like a toothbrush costing about 4 dollars US.
The last place we went to was a grocery store called Pick 'n Pay. There we found boxed milk, canned vegetables, condiments etc. These items were about average. So we check out and they actually have a scanner system (the shop I've been to in Moshi had a calculator) and the young man boxed up the groceries and carried the box out to the Wagon for us. We headed home by way of the post office through more traffic, speed humps, daladalas, people on foot pushing carts....
Thirty minutes of it. Back up the dirt road to the house, pause at the gate while Luke holds the dogs and opens it for us. As we're unloading everything Linz informs us that the power is still off so we put away the perishable food, and wait as long as we can before Luke starts up the generator. The end.
That was their regular shopping trip- Mrs. Joy and Julia were commenting on the ease of it. Which it was...if you live in Tanzania.
I'm amazed at the difference in so many ways. Just the whole way you go about things here! It's humbling and sobering to think about the two different ways of life.
And I thought that getting a call from Mom for one more thing as I was almost to the check out line was inconvenient!
Yep, that's an avocado!
Friday, April 2, 2010
The internet is out at home so we girls are over here at the Samfords (Bonnie was sweet to invite us over!) checking our email...I had a post all typed up but since my computer is sooo smart..and can't connect to the internet, I'll have to wait! Ha! Computers! You can't live with 'em and you can't live without 'em!
The rain here has been lovely! I love rain. :) It's peaceful and lovely.
I'll post more soon!
The rain here has been lovely! I love rain. :) It's peaceful and lovely.
I'll post more soon!
Friday, March 26, 2010
So hi! I finally got my blog all fancied up! Thanks to the help of Lindsey and Julia my blog has a brand new look! Haha..if you're wondering what the difference is, it's just a rearranging of the black and white! But dontcha know, black goes with every thing and you add white and it's classy! Haha...Oh dear...I need some help!!
A little more seriously now. I've been in Africa for two weeks today. And it's been a wonderful two weeks! Mrs. Joy has been sewing bridesmaid dresses and she is doing a beautiful job. :) Julia, Lindsey and I have been doing regular stuff around the house...for me it's always fun to do regular stuff with dear friends- there's something encouraging about folding laundry and doing dishes with friends.
It's been rainy here and the clouds have been bunched around Mt. Meru almost constantly. It's amazing how you can hear thunder in the distance with sunshine coming over the fence.
Funny story: Wednesday evening on our way to Bible class we heard that the road by the church building was closed so we parked at the school and walked about a quarter of a mile down this little path. It started out with a pebble path under some trees, then progressed into a nice walk through a grassy field. It was very lovely, really it was, but when you're trying to walk through mud and slippery grass without falling it's a little distracting! But, we all made it both ways without falling. (though I nearly fell three different times and there was one spot where I was doing some kind of weird lurching and flapping!!) As I was sitting there listening to class, I was thankful. Thankful that I was there safe. Thankful that I had friends willing to do what they're doing. Thankful for the rain. Thankful for my family. Thankful for so many things...
Like beauty in so many different forms.
I challenge each of us to right now count our blessings. And to look for beauty. Everywhere.
A little more seriously now. I've been in Africa for two weeks today. And it's been a wonderful two weeks! Mrs. Joy has been sewing bridesmaid dresses and she is doing a beautiful job. :) Julia, Lindsey and I have been doing regular stuff around the house...for me it's always fun to do regular stuff with dear friends- there's something encouraging about folding laundry and doing dishes with friends.
It's been rainy here and the clouds have been bunched around Mt. Meru almost constantly. It's amazing how you can hear thunder in the distance with sunshine coming over the fence.
Funny story: Wednesday evening on our way to Bible class we heard that the road by the church building was closed so we parked at the school and walked about a quarter of a mile down this little path. It started out with a pebble path under some trees, then progressed into a nice walk through a grassy field. It was very lovely, really it was, but when you're trying to walk through mud and slippery grass without falling it's a little distracting! But, we all made it both ways without falling. (though I nearly fell three different times and there was one spot where I was doing some kind of weird lurching and flapping!!) As I was sitting there listening to class, I was thankful. Thankful that I was there safe. Thankful that I had friends willing to do what they're doing. Thankful for the rain. Thankful for my family. Thankful for so many things...
Like beauty in so many different forms.
I challenge each of us to right now count our blessings. And to look for beauty. Everywhere.
Monday, March 22, 2010
One Sunday in Africa
We went to Moduli yesterday for worship. To those who live here, it was just another Sunday at Monduli. But I had never been there. We drove 50 minutes to reach it- across a Maasai plain then turning toward the hills to a small village sprawled out amongst thorn bushes, little dips and gullies. With green hills making you look up to see the sky. Maybe I should have taken a picture. But the people here don't like pictures being taken. I respect that. Besides a picture is flat. And this was anything but flat. It was full of character, color, sound, smells...you can't take a picture of something that you'll see in your mind until you die.
Like a small tanish building of cinder and mud. Cement floor that was more like a dirt floor, simple benches neither painted nor plumb. There were glass windows looking very modern and unbroken-like something out of another world. Outside the cows walked by with their little boy walking behind giving a whack at a straggler. A sheep called and a hornet got stuck trying to get in the window.
We sat there on the benches and worshiped God. We sang in Swahili. I heard two amazing lessons. One on the purpose of our life on earth, by Jacob, and one on lessons from the rich man and Lazarus by Mr. George. But there was also the lesson of God's plan of salvation and worship- from a dirty little building in Monduli, Tanzania to the nice building in Cave Springs, Arkansas. Every time I come here, I'm struck again by the magnitude of God's plan. And also of the need to tell every person. Have you ever heard a lesson that's translated? Perhaps it gets tiring at times for those who live here. But to me it's something like a painting or a piece of music- the web it weaves, the English sentence, the Swahili sentence, hearing the words you recognize, seeing comprehension and encouragement in the dark eyes and nodding heads. Back to English, back into Swahili....
At then end of the service, the congregation doesn't just have a closing prayer and everyone stands up, picks up their purse and leaves. No, they sing a song and file out the building and shake hands down a line until everyone has shaken everyone's hand. Then they have a closing comment and then we're done. And you turn to the person next to you, talk if you can, smile if you can't and murmur "shikamu" the the elderly looking Momma who comes up to shake your hand again.
You stand in the hot sunshine with the wind pulling at your clothes and watch the Christians talking together, the white with the brown. The mommas gathering together, holding babies, chattering quietly. The men standing around shaking hands and talking. It's natural and easy, they've been doing this for so long...just like we do.
And then we drive away, back down the uneven road and back home.
I wish each person could step outside and see what it's like to be in place that is so different but the principles are the same. The love and worship is the same. But I'll never be the same. It's too beautiful. It's too much.
Like a small tanish building of cinder and mud. Cement floor that was more like a dirt floor, simple benches neither painted nor plumb. There were glass windows looking very modern and unbroken-like something out of another world. Outside the cows walked by with their little boy walking behind giving a whack at a straggler. A sheep called and a hornet got stuck trying to get in the window.
We sat there on the benches and worshiped God. We sang in Swahili. I heard two amazing lessons. One on the purpose of our life on earth, by Jacob, and one on lessons from the rich man and Lazarus by Mr. George. But there was also the lesson of God's plan of salvation and worship- from a dirty little building in Monduli, Tanzania to the nice building in Cave Springs, Arkansas. Every time I come here, I'm struck again by the magnitude of God's plan. And also of the need to tell every person. Have you ever heard a lesson that's translated? Perhaps it gets tiring at times for those who live here. But to me it's something like a painting or a piece of music- the web it weaves, the English sentence, the Swahili sentence, hearing the words you recognize, seeing comprehension and encouragement in the dark eyes and nodding heads. Back to English, back into Swahili....
At then end of the service, the congregation doesn't just have a closing prayer and everyone stands up, picks up their purse and leaves. No, they sing a song and file out the building and shake hands down a line until everyone has shaken everyone's hand. Then they have a closing comment and then we're done. And you turn to the person next to you, talk if you can, smile if you can't and murmur "shikamu" the the elderly looking Momma who comes up to shake your hand again.
You stand in the hot sunshine with the wind pulling at your clothes and watch the Christians talking together, the white with the brown. The mommas gathering together, holding babies, chattering quietly. The men standing around shaking hands and talking. It's natural and easy, they've been doing this for so long...just like we do.
And then we drive away, back down the uneven road and back home.
I wish each person could step outside and see what it's like to be in place that is so different but the principles are the same. The love and worship is the same. But I'll never be the same. It's too beautiful. It's too much.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Prices
[Here is the lesson outline for a devotional I did for a ladies brunch last Saturday. If it doesn't make sense, don't hesitate to comment.]
I went into Hobby Lobby to frame a small painting that I bought for my Dad in Tanzania, East Africa. I walked up to the desk and started the process of looking at frames and that sort of thing- now I'm not the greatest at framing art, but I do enjoy looking at it! The lady was very patient and helpful and I filled out the paper and handed it back to her; she gave it back and asked me just one little question "How much is it worth?". I kinda looked at the paper, at the painting and then at her- my mind was going a totally different direction then she was thinking, so I scribbled twenty dollars on it, we finished it up and I walked to my car. But I sat there and just let my mind go. What is the price of my painting?! Well, I payed 10 dollars US for it, I bought it from this little Tanzanian guy, I have no idea of his background, if he's even alive right now! I spent $1500 on a ticket to Tanzania, I spent 30 precious minutes with a friend I only get to see maybe once or twice a year, I bought it because my Dad loves art and it looked just like the kind he would like! What was it worth? Way more than 20 dollars! It's actually priceless! But it's also worthless. In the world's standard, in almost any one else's standard, it's not worth very much.
Then I got to thinking about other pieces of art, say, Mona Lisa. (I really like that painting.) Do you know that it is worth 700 million US? Seven hundred million dollars. We know who painted it, we know all about it, we know about de Vinci, we know about the story of Mona Lisa, etc. But is it any more important then my little painting? Is it worth anything more? Really? No. In relation to things eternal, and things that make life real, no. It made me think of Matt. 16:26- For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?
*What is the price of that painting?
*I couldn't really put a price on it: It was both priceless and worthless.
-Mona Lisa
*worth 700 million dollars.
*is it any better in actuality then my little painting from TZ? It's both priceless and worthless.
What are real prices? The price we place on our selves, our children, our spouse, our future spouse, our time, God, etc.
I'm focusing on God and time.
What price does God put on us? And what price do we put on God?
-The price God puts on us:
Gen. 1:26&27 (made in God's image)
Proverbs 139:14 (God has a plan for us before we are even born)
John 3:16 (God sent his only son to die for us)
Philippians 2:8 (Jesus came willingly to bear our sins. To become sin.)
-The price we put on God.
John 5:24 (He will save us)
I John 1:9 (Forgives sins)
I John 5:13 (Hope of heaven)
*We are all very humbled and grateful for the price God places on us: we're faithful and confident in the price we have in God. But what about every day living? When life gets busy and distracting, do we lose track of the price?
-What is the price we put on our time?
*We as women are frequently commenting on time. There are times that I just marvel at time and how fast it goes by! And I'm not even a Mom!
*What the Bible says about time:
James 4:14 (life is a vapor)
a) what do we do with our time?
Do we use it to God's glory? Or do we get caught up in the cares of the world?
How much time do we as women spend on our physical appearance?
I Peter 3:3-4 (the hidden man - it's our hearts and the beauty of Christ within us that matters.)
Romans 12:1-2 (Present ourselves holy to God)
How much time do we spend on things like books, movies and hobbies?
Phil. 4:8 (careful choices)
Proverbs 4:23 (guard our hearts and minds)
Luke 6:45 (the things we put into our hearts and minds will come out)
How much time do we spend on our houses and belongings?
Luke 10:40-42
How much time do we spend worrying about something?
Luke 12:22&25 (By worrying can we add to our lives?)
Philippians 4:6 (Do not worry!)
-These are just a few categories but they have really made me think about the emphasis I place on things. When we put a price on our time, what are things we can do to make it price worthy?
*Personal study and prayer time.
a) Study- do we feed our spiritual body as much as we do our physical body?
-Hebrews 2:1-3 (We are urged to not neglect our salvation)
II Corinthians 13:5 (Prove ourselves)
II Timothy 2:15 (Study)
I Peter 3:15 (Always ready to give an answer)
Look at these action words (underlined) We have to stand up and take action with our personal lives.
b) Prayer- do we talk to God as much as we should? How close would you be to your husband or friends if you only talked a few minutes before you go to sleep?
c) Memorization- Do we store up God's word in our heart? (Matt. 4) Jesus had a scripture ready for everyone of Satan's temptations. How many of us can quote movies and books? I can! What would our lives be like if we could quote a passage from God's word as much as we can quote movies and books?
This doesn't even go into the ways we can use our time wisely by serving others, but we must be sure of our salvation. And as we grow in it, on of the byproducts will be serving others. As we grow closer to God our lives will reach others and the circle will extend. We will affect our families, our friends and the people we meet.
Ending- We are of great price. God considers us a great price. Let's live our lives as a great price. I Corinthians 6:20 I Peter 2:9-10 Ephesians 5:15
(This lesson has been very challenging for me. As I've studied each of these different points, and thought about the significance of time, my heart is pricked. And I'm challenged and provoked to try even harder to do better. )
I went into Hobby Lobby to frame a small painting that I bought for my Dad in Tanzania, East Africa. I walked up to the desk and started the process of looking at frames and that sort of thing- now I'm not the greatest at framing art, but I do enjoy looking at it! The lady was very patient and helpful and I filled out the paper and handed it back to her; she gave it back and asked me just one little question "How much is it worth?". I kinda looked at the paper, at the painting and then at her- my mind was going a totally different direction then she was thinking, so I scribbled twenty dollars on it, we finished it up and I walked to my car. But I sat there and just let my mind go. What is the price of my painting?! Well, I payed 10 dollars US for it, I bought it from this little Tanzanian guy, I have no idea of his background, if he's even alive right now! I spent $1500 on a ticket to Tanzania, I spent 30 precious minutes with a friend I only get to see maybe once or twice a year, I bought it because my Dad loves art and it looked just like the kind he would like! What was it worth? Way more than 20 dollars! It's actually priceless! But it's also worthless. In the world's standard, in almost any one else's standard, it's not worth very much.
Then I got to thinking about other pieces of art, say, Mona Lisa. (I really like that painting.) Do you know that it is worth 700 million US? Seven hundred million dollars. We know who painted it, we know all about it, we know about de Vinci, we know about the story of Mona Lisa, etc. But is it any more important then my little painting? Is it worth anything more? Really? No. In relation to things eternal, and things that make life real, no. It made me think of Matt. 16:26- For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?
*What is the price of that painting?
*I couldn't really put a price on it: It was both priceless and worthless.
-Mona Lisa
*worth 700 million dollars.
*is it any better in actuality then my little painting from TZ? It's both priceless and worthless.
What are real prices? The price we place on our selves, our children, our spouse, our future spouse, our time, God, etc.
I'm focusing on God and time.
What price does God put on us? And what price do we put on God?
-The price God puts on us:
Gen. 1:26&27 (made in God's image)
Proverbs 139:14 (God has a plan for us before we are even born)
John 3:16 (God sent his only son to die for us)
Philippians 2:8 (Jesus came willingly to bear our sins. To become sin.)
-The price we put on God.
John 5:24 (He will save us)
I John 1:9 (Forgives sins)
I John 5:13 (Hope of heaven)
*We are all very humbled and grateful for the price God places on us: we're faithful and confident in the price we have in God. But what about every day living? When life gets busy and distracting, do we lose track of the price?
-What is the price we put on our time?
*We as women are frequently commenting on time. There are times that I just marvel at time and how fast it goes by! And I'm not even a Mom!
*What the Bible says about time:
James 4:14 (life is a vapor)
a) what do we do with our time?
Do we use it to God's glory? Or do we get caught up in the cares of the world?
How much time do we as women spend on our physical appearance?
I Peter 3:3-4 (the hidden man - it's our hearts and the beauty of Christ within us that matters.)
Romans 12:1-2 (Present ourselves holy to God)
How much time do we spend on things like books, movies and hobbies?
Phil. 4:8 (careful choices)
Proverbs 4:23 (guard our hearts and minds)
Luke 6:45 (the things we put into our hearts and minds will come out)
How much time do we spend on our houses and belongings?
Luke 10:40-42
How much time do we spend worrying about something?
Luke 12:22&25 (By worrying can we add to our lives?)
Philippians 4:6 (Do not worry!)
-These are just a few categories but they have really made me think about the emphasis I place on things. When we put a price on our time, what are things we can do to make it price worthy?
*Personal study and prayer time.
a) Study- do we feed our spiritual body as much as we do our physical body?
-Hebrews 2:1-3 (We are urged to not neglect our salvation)
II Corinthians 13:5 (Prove ourselves)
II Timothy 2:15 (Study)
I Peter 3:15 (Always ready to give an answer)
Look at these action words (underlined) We have to stand up and take action with our personal lives.
b) Prayer- do we talk to God as much as we should? How close would you be to your husband or friends if you only talked a few minutes before you go to sleep?
c) Memorization- Do we store up God's word in our heart? (Matt. 4) Jesus had a scripture ready for everyone of Satan's temptations. How many of us can quote movies and books? I can! What would our lives be like if we could quote a passage from God's word as much as we can quote movies and books?
This doesn't even go into the ways we can use our time wisely by serving others, but we must be sure of our salvation. And as we grow in it, on of the byproducts will be serving others. As we grow closer to God our lives will reach others and the circle will extend. We will affect our families, our friends and the people we meet.
Ending- We are of great price. God considers us a great price. Let's live our lives as a great price. I Corinthians 6:20 I Peter 2:9-10 Ephesians 5:15
(This lesson has been very challenging for me. As I've studied each of these different points, and thought about the significance of time, my heart is pricked. And I'm challenged and provoked to try even harder to do better. )
Saturday, March 13, 2010
My heart always gets so full
Here I am in Africa. I find that every time I come back I notice something new. And I wonder why I never saw it before. Like the sun. The sun is so bright here. I know the reason is because Tanzania is 7 degrees off the equator. But the color and warmth seem more. Making the sky and the trees and shrubs so much more so.
It's so beautiful here! I wish you could all see what I see. I could try to tell you but it's just not the same. You can't really describe sunshine so warm and yellow you can almost see it. But really all we see is the light from the sun making the colors all around glow. You can't describe the songs of birds and the wind in corn. You just have to see it and hear it and feel it.
Airplanes really are handy. You can get on it and go places you might not ever go. I'm very blessed to be able to be here. In Tanzania, East Africa, with the Jensen family. I really do love them. There is just something so good in essence about them. :)
So I'm here for a month. And it's going to be such a wonderful time. :)
It's so beautiful here! I wish you could all see what I see. I could try to tell you but it's just not the same. You can't really describe sunshine so warm and yellow you can almost see it. But really all we see is the light from the sun making the colors all around glow. You can't describe the songs of birds and the wind in corn. You just have to see it and hear it and feel it.
Airplanes really are handy. You can get on it and go places you might not ever go. I'm very blessed to be able to be here. In Tanzania, East Africa, with the Jensen family. I really do love them. There is just something so good in essence about them. :)
So I'm here for a month. And it's going to be such a wonderful time. :)
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