I have very big news to report to you. Hopefully you’ll be as blown away as I
was.
Drumroll, please…..
We have a real toilet this month!
It’s hard to hold back the tears. So, here we are in Tanzania. After nine
hours on a roasting bus, a flat tire, and almost being ripped off by the border
guards, we arrived in Moshi. We’re living with the church secretary (Everest)
and his family. This is one of the coolest places we’ve lived. It’s “out in the
country”, as we would say in Alabama. We’re right beside a beautiful river that
reminds of the creek at Sumatanga. There’s no actual shower, but there is
running water! First time in three months. There are countless monkeys (and
baboons) that play in the trees right outside the house. This is great for me,
but possibly not so great for them. Everest has a monkey trap. If a monkey takes
the bait, he plans to slaughter it and eat the meat. I’m assuming that means
we’ll be expected to eat it as well. We’ve been told that it’s got healing
qualities…especially for skin. Random, huh? Needless to say, if I’m the first
to find a trapped monkey, he will most definitely “escape”.
We have an incredible view of Mount Kilimanjaro in our backyard. It’s ironic
that we’re living with a guy named Everest. Anyway. You can perfectly see the
snow-covered peak. We constantly meet people from America, Australia, and all
over that have come to pay ridiculous amounts of money to climb it. Sounds
really intense. I’ll just enjoy the view.
Our ministry here looks pretty similar to the last two months. We’re speaking
at churches, visiting homes, and building relationships. It’s a pure God thing
that we’re here in Moshi. Colby and I both know one person each that has spent
time in Tanzania. Both worked in Moshi. Colby’s contact is still here and runs
an orphanage. We plan to visit Saturday and try to get plugged in, so that’s
really exciting.
In other news, we’re still trying to help Africans pronounce our names. As of
today, only two team members go by their actual names. Colby is now Tom. Not
really sure where that came from, but it’s easy to say. I guess he got tired of
being called Cobie. So now we have Helen, Tom, Chelsea, Nick, Jane, and Tony.
It’s entertaining for us.
I discovered yesterday how homesick I really am. In my moment of weakness, I
gave in to temptation. Somehow I spent 16,500 shillings on a box of real Frosted
Flakes. That translates to $12.00! This doesn’t make any sense…everything in
Africa is usually so cheap. It only cost $10.00 for me to travel from Mombasa to
Moshi. I guess authentic Kellogg’s cereal is a hot item here. What was I
thinking? It’s not even a big box. Tony the Tiger was just staring at me from
the top shelf, and I caved. I’m ashamed of myself…until I eat a handful of
sugary crunchiness and tell myself that it was worth it. I’ve decided to
meditate on 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s
sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I’m pretty sure that means I’m justified in buying the Frosted Flakes. It was
a moment of weakness, so now I’m boasting about it to you so that the glory of
God would be revealed.
PS: If anyone wants to send me more money so that I can continue to glorify
God, just let me know. :o)
