My Trip to Tanzania...

The group heading out at 4am... Shonduri, Grace, Joseph, Mercy, Bob, Lewis, Josh, and Blessings

My Tanzanian Experience.....
Over Easter break I had the opportunity to take six of my ABC students and Josh Ketchum on a two week mission’s trip to Tanzania. Most of these students have never even left their own country let alone their own village or city. So, this was an amazing opportunity for them. This would be like travelling to Europe for most of us Americans. Before leaving, these students had to apply for a passport, which only a few people in Malawi can actually get. When they got their passports, they could not believe it....you would have thought they had just received $10,000.00.
So driving to Tanzania took forever.

On the way overlooking Lake Malawi

Just driving through we saw giraffes, water buffalo, zebras, and antelopes.. Our own personal safari... God's amazing kingdom!

We travelled by car 15 hours the first day and 15 hours the second day. Two thousand kilometres later we arrived in Arusha, Tanzania. The students were in culture shock. They had never been in a place where people spoke a different language and where everything was totally different. To them their world was being blown apart. What was interesting is that Josh and I were not really affected by all these differences. It was normal for us to not know the language or the culture. For Americans, there is little difference between the village in Malawi and the village in Tanzania.....village is village to us. It was not like we were going from 1st world to 3rd world or vice versa, but we were going from 3rd world to 3rd world. For the students though, it was like two different worlds. They were looking out the windows like they were on a safari.
We spent eight days in Arusha working together with the Maranatha Christian Center. Pastor Eric Mukwenda is the pastor of this church and is also a very good friend of mine. I have known Pastor Erik for 12 years now. Pastor Eric kept us very busy with construction projects, outreaches, preaching, teaching, evangelism, etc. I was so proud of my students because the only way they could talk with the Tanzanians was through English. When they were teaching or preaching, they had to do it in English while someone else translated it into Swahili. They did great! What was interesting is that these students picked up the Swahili language so quick. I have been to Tanzania five times now and I have learned a lot of Swahili, yet in just eight days, these students knew twice as much. This amazed me at how fast they can learn languages. Most Africans know at least three to five languages, so their brains are accustomed to learning languages, while most of us Americans only know one language. It is very difficult for me to learn much of anything in eight days, let alone a language.

Grace teaching the students at Maranatha Christian School

The team performing for the church

After we said our “goodbyes” to the pastor and to the rest of our Tanzanian friends, we got back into the car and headed for “home”. It was interesting because I was actually looking forward to getting back to Malawi. Malawi had become a second home to me. It was now familiar, comfortable. So, we finally got to the border of Malawi, cleared customs and then drove through the gate. The students let out a loud cheer and were singing and clapping. They were experiencing the sweetness of coming home after being in a foreign land for 8 days. The familiarity and the comfort overwhelmed them. The students were on cloud nine. Although I was excited to be in Malawi after our 8 days in Tanzania, I knew I would be even more excited to come home to America, after being in Africa for several years. The students got to feel in Tanzania a little bit what Americans feel all the time in Africa.
Looking back on our journey, I can see that God did a mighty work in the lives of my students. God used them in powerful ways and we saw his faithfulness in everything we did. God protected us on our journey and brought us safely home. It was a privilege for me to be a part of such a great team. I am so blessed because I am much closer to these Malawian students as a result of this trip,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this....
Bob

THE EDITED VERSION.... :)

About 25 people came to ABC this last week to visit one of our friends that is here from California. They were here to go on outreaches and to do other short term stuff. There were a couple of comments they had said which I have thought a lot about. One of those comments was "I thought we were going to stay in villages the entire time we were here". My friend had them staying in the ABC Campus Guest Huts for4 days and then staying in the "village" for 3 days.

So after they went to the village the comment that was made was "Oh.... so that is why we didn't stay in the village the entire time! We wouldn't of made it through the entire week." "It was really hard to stay even one night" The "villages" in Africa are really amazing places to visit, yet at the same time they truly show us what we are really made of. It is emotionally and physically exhausting when you come from the 1st world and are plunked right down into the 3rd world. Being people who have grown up in the 1st world, you can't really take that out yourself. That is our culture - 1st world. It is really ingrained in us. The way we live and the things we are surrounded by. Those comments that were made, made me really think.

One thing that is funny to me is that in all of Africa, only village life is all that is shown to the rest of the world. Urban African is never shown. Cities are never shown - A normalish grocery store - never shown. (When Madonna comes to visit here in Lilongwe, she stays at a really nice lodge that some really nice people from South Africa built. - Ok side note... Bob and I went out there (were Madonna stays) for a 2 day get away. it is about 45 min from town and there is a horse farm next to it and a huge area to hike and bike around. Super nice place to stay. They had wonderful food and they had a huge flat screen TV in the lounge and we watched Animal Planet and a movie.... Cozy beds and amazing bath tubs and showers. Anyways- the only problem I had was that they played the greatest hits of Madonna at the restaurant the entire time. Ok back to my original thought) But when Madonna comes, the paparazzi only shows her out in the villages. They don't show anything else but the village. So the perception of Africa to the outside world (and I am so guilty in doing this), is that the entire continent of Africa is one huge village. It isn't. There needs to be an expose' done on "Urban Africa". But who wants to see that. The rest of the 1st world wants to see the village and rustic settings of Africa, so that is what is seen. I thought when I would be moving to Africa I would be living with my cow for milk and trying to wash my clothes by hand. Ahhh I have about 6 different places I shop at and I have an amazing washing machine. Of course we do have other aspects of life that are more complicated than what we are used to. But we don't live in the village. We live with about 150 college students and about 75 Americans and 40 other Malawians on this 50 Acre campus. We are a village but an urban village. I teach the senior college girls and I think they are more urban than me. Many of them grew up with TV in their room. I think that is more urban than me. They have travelled to the UK and many other western countries in the world. The media, even National Geographic, shows only the village, and fyi - Africa is more than just a village! Anyways- just some thoughts.

Along with that comment from that team came another. They got out of the bus that brought them from the airport here to ABC and were saying "We can't take pictures of ABC because it is too nice" Ok this was made about the housing that was provided by ABC for short term teams ( the guest huts).

What are we thinking that we can't show the rest of the world that something is actually nice in Africa. Are we supposed to suffer on mission trips. When we show people the pictures of the missions trip and how we "roughed it", does that make it a better mission trip that you had to sleep on the ground? I think it would make you more crabby! Why do we have to suffer to make it sound like "you did it". You survived. Go on Survivor to suffer and survive! A missionary as God calls us - a real Missionary... is not someone who is suffering and showing the world we are able to handle survivor.... but it is to share the gospel by going out unto the world and sharing how Christ changed your life from the inside out. We have this mentality that you have to go and suffer to be a real missionary. Maybe going out just means going out your front door. I may be called a "missionary" yet at the same time have a bad attitude and a fake walk with Christ. I will not accomplish what He has called me to do. First I have to love God , and then love His people. It is so simple. Many days I should just stay inside my house and not come out until it's not about me anymore, but about what He is doing. Yep. I still am not perfect. :)
Just some side notes on life. There are some days that I really think about Africa and how amazing it is and yet it is so different from what I had originally thought, and many times it is exactly what I thought. Other days I am so ready to have my comforts and run home to my mama! I have learned so much of the African culture and at the same time I know nothing. So, this journey that I am on is ever changing. I wake up loving it all and then I go to sleep dreaming of home and familiarity. One day this seems like home and within that one day I feel like a total stranger. It is one thing to visit for a few weeks and then go back home, but to stay for a few years, that is where you see what you are made of. ( I personally am not impressed with myself most days. For some reason I thought I was tougher and not so crazy! ). I love the story that God is developing in my life and somedays I just want to stay in bed.... Oh well- Thanks for reading my thoughts on life.... Amy Louise

The comments of a visiting team....

About 25 people came this last week to visit one of our friends here from California. They were here to do outreach and short term stuff. A couple of comments that they said, I have thought about allot. One of the comments began was - "I thought we were staying in the village the entire time we are here" My friend had them staying in the ABC Campus Guest Huts and then after 4 days being here they were going to stay in the "village" for 3 days and 2 nights.

A typical village house

So after they went to the village the comment that was made was "OH so that is why we didn't stay in the village the entire time! We wouldn't of made it through the entire week." "It was really hard to stay even one night" Really it is amazing this thing called the "village" and at the same time you see how much you are made of. It is emotionally and physically exhausting when you come from the 1st world and are plunked right down into the 3rd world. As people that have grown up in the 1st world, you can't really take that out yourself. That is our culture - 1st world. It is really ingrained in us. The way we live and the things we are surrounded by. But what that comment has made me think is that It is funny to me that of all of Africa- village life is all that is shown to the rest of the world. Urban African is never shown. Cities never shown - A normalish grocery store - never shown. (When Madonna comes to visit here Lilongwe. She stays at a really nice lodge that some real nice people from South Africa built. - Ok side note... Bob and I went out there (were Madonna stays) for a 2 day get away. it is about 45 min from town and there is a horse farm next to it and a huge area to hike and bike around. Super nice place to stay. They had wonderful food and they had a huge flat screen TV in the lounge and we watched Animal Planet and a movie.... Cozy beds and amazing bath tubs and showers. Anyways- the only problem I had was that they played the greatest hits of Madonna at the restaurant the entire time. Ok back to my original thought) But when Madonna comes The paparazzi only shows her out in the village. They don't show anything else but the village. So the perception and I am was so guilty that this Continent is entirely a huge village. It isn't. There needs to be an expose done on Urban Africa. But who wants to see that. The rest of the 1st world are the ones who want to see the village so that is what is seen. I thought when I would be moving to Africa - I would be living with my cow for milk and trying to wash my clothes by hand. Ahhh I have about 6 different places I shop at and I have an amazing washing machine. Of course we do have other aspects of life that are more complicated then we are used to but really to. But we don't live in the village. We live with about 150 college students and about 75 Americans and 40 other Malawians on this 50 Acre campus. We are a village but an urban village. I teach the senior college girls and I think they are more urban than me. Many of the them grew up with TV in their room. I think that is more urban than me. They have travelled to the UK and many other western areas in the world and they get it. The media even National Geographic shows the village and fyi - Africa is more than just a village! Anyways- I just have thought about that comment alot.

Along with that comment came another. They got out of the bus that brought here to ABC from the airport and immediatlelty were saying" We can't take pictures of where we are now because it is too nice" Ok this was made about the housing that was provided by ABC for short term teams ( the guest huts)

ABC Campus Guest Huts

What are we thinking that we can't show the rest of the world that something is Nice in Africa. Are you supposed to suffer on mission trips. When we show people the pictures of the missions trip and how we "roughed it"! Does that make it a better mission trip that you had to sleep on the ground? I think it would make you more crabby! Why do you have to suffer to make it sound that you did it. You survived. Go on Survivor to suffer and survive! A missionary as God calls us - A Real Missionary: is not someone who is suffering and showing the world we are able to handle survivor.... but it is to share the gospel by going out unto the world and sharing how Christ changed your life from the inside out. We have this mentality that you have to go and suffer to be a real missionary. Maybe going out just means going out your front door. I maybe called a "missionary" over here and have a bad attitude and really have a fake walk with Christ. I will not accomplish what He has called me to do. First love God , and then love His people. Simple and yet so many days I should just stay inside my house and not come out until it's not about me but about what He is doing. Yep. I still am not perfect. :)

Just some side notes on life. Some days- I really think that Africa is amazing and so different of what I had thought and many times it is what I thought. Other days I am so ready to have comforts and run home to my mama! I have learned so much African culture and at the same time I know nothing. So this journey that I am on it is ever changing. I wake up loving it all and then I can go to sleep dreaming of home and familiarity. Then I realize one day that this is home and within that one day I feel like a stranger. It is one thing to visit and then go back to home , but to stay. That is where you see what you are made of. ( I personally am not impressed with myself most days. For some reason I thought I was tougher and not so crazy! ) I love the story that God is developing and somedays I just want to stay in bed.... Oh well- Thanks for reading my thoughts on life.... Amy Louise

Easter- What a full day...

Just wanted to connect and let you know that we are doing great. Bob is having a wonderful time in Tanzania. The team has done amazing. Thank you for your prayers. I only get tidbits when he phones for a few minutes.

We had a good Easter. We went to church and feed the team that sets up for church and then after we ( the girls and i ) had about 13 people over for an Easter dinner. We played games and laughed alot. It was great.

Definelty am missing family during this time. We can't believe that it will be 2 years in July since we were able to see family last. That is a long long time. Thank you for loving us as we are so far away! Wish each and everyone of you as you journey on. Please remember we love you and cherish you! Lots of love- amy louise

Things aren't as easy as they should be...

This has been the longest journey yet. You know how you love the DMV! Well just know that the DMV here is even more amazing. That is all in a sacartastic voice! :) Last year when we tried to get our Malawi Driver's License and were denied because we only had a reciept of our visa ( we hadn't been given our real visa until this last December) The Man - told us " I don't know if you will get your visa because this piece of paper is only a receipt." Ok. So what are we supposed to do about driving and being pulled over. ( Pulled over here is not the same in the US.) Pulled over means a man standing in the middle of the road waving at you to make you stop and check our your records. So we had his boss make us a piece of official paper that says we can drive here in Malawi. So we had to get Bob's his license here becasue since he was traveling it would make sense not to deal with any problems. The journey began at 7am. We got there and waited 2 hours. Here is analise taking pictures...

Waiting...

Still waiting...

By 2:30pm we had come and gone back and finished the process. We had it done...

Then the Man who I didn't take a picture of because I know he would of been cranky... Had to clear it... With....

Money... It is what makes the world work....

Waiting... To .... Pay.....

Still Waiting......

Ah the Temporary until the real thing comes in 2 weeks. Bob ended up getting his faster with a little Malawian help.... So You think things in America can get on your nerves. Just come to a place where the system doesn't work right and see how it all goes for you...

So the latest on bob and the team. they got there with no problems and are doing great. They are helping build as school and in the afternoon working with the church there. Us girlies are doing good. No problems. AHHH....

Lots of love- amy louise