This month, my main ministry has been teaching English, along with Marissa and Aubrey twice a day to adults. It has been so fun. I love their eagerness to learn English, their willingness to say, “We don’t understand” and how they almost bowl over Aubrey to get to the night’s homework. Education here is prized. Whereas college students sometimes skip classes and feel obligated to take that “Art in the Middle Ages” course, the people here want to go to school. As one girl that we met in Uganda said, “You can give me money. That is used up or can be stolen. You can give me a car. That will rust and break down eventually. But give me an education; no one can take that away from me.” Beautiful. But we have had to work with them on not saying “fine” when we ask how they are. One of my favorite students is John. When we explained that everyone already knows how to answer “fine”, so it was no longer allowed, he began answering our questions of “how are you?” with, “I am not fine, I am doing great!”
It has also led to lots of funny conversations. Yesterday, we went to a youth convention. Michael, one of the younger guys who helps us and comes for English lessons, was sitting beside me. “What do you call this?” I asked, pointing to my plate of brown rice and tomatoes. He looked at me and then very slowly said, “We call it BROWN RICE.” He was serious! “Michael!” I exclaimed, “I know it in English! I meant in Swahili!” (It’s pilau, if you’re wondering!)
We also had a Girls’ Night the other day for our hosts’ daughter, Agnes. She’s 22, too, and is this feisty, awesome woman. Plus, she watches Brazilian soap operas that have been (badly) dubbed into English. Aubrey and I watch with her, and laugh and try to duplicate the voices we hear, which are all manner of odd. The night included the four Chrysalis girls, Agnes, her sister-in-law Grace, Uzima, chocolate, Cokes and Pride and Prejudice. Nothing like a good love story in British accents to bond Americans and Tanzanians!
Today is our free day. We have gone to the home of a lovely woman who opens up her house (and refrigerator) to us each Monday. We were told that she lived “a stone’s throw” away from the Indian Ocean. I expected a 10-minute walk (at least). Instead, what I found is that, if you are in her swimming pool, you could literallly throw a stone into the ocean from the pool. Well, I personally couldn’t, because I have a terrible throwing arm, but anyone with skill could! It’s wonderful to be here, but I realize as I use the flush toilet, or wash my hands in a real sink, or shiver from air conditioning, that I’m changing. These are such luxuries! I look outside, to the sprinkler rather vainly watering the grass scorched by the hot sun (which feels like it’s about 28 feet from my face), and I wonder: is it necessary? Where is the line between enjoying what we have and seeing it as a blessing, and being wasteful? I tend to feel guilty about a lot, so maybe that’s happening here, but I wonder. So many people here in Dar live within 15 miles of the ocean, and they’ll maybe see it a handful of times in their lives. And I’m here for my third time. How did I get so blessed? And am I doing enough to share those blessings with others? I look at the pudge on my stomach, the Coke in my hand, and I walk by the man with the mangled legs (not a rare occurance here in Dar, heartbreakingly enough), and I just wonder.
The Indian Ocean! Aubrey and I, with the Indian Ocean as a backdrop.
Pictures from actual ministry coming soon!!!
