Greetings from Tanzania!

Arrived in Tanzania on January 15th. Spent an overnight at a YMCA hostel in Dar es Salaam. The next day we travelled by Land Cruiser to Kibidula. We had a heap of luggage atop the vehicle and nine people squished inside. Fun, fun, fun! It was a long trip, but we enjoyed almost every moment of it. Stopped to eat chapattis and beans at a roadside "restaurant." The road wound through Mikumi National Park, so we were able to see some baboons, cape buffalo, wildebeest, and even some giraffes. Saw several overturned trucks by the roadside; we were thankful for safe travels.

Hard to believe that we've been here at Kibidula for over a week now. In another way, it seems like we've been here forever...

Begun teaching at the elementary school. Teaching several different subjects to several different Standards (grades). It is challenging, to say the least. The kids don't have much respect for "wazungu" (white people) teachers, as they know we won't hit them with a stick when they misbehave. Working on some disciplinary techniques... A hug from a student at the end of the day makes it all worth it.

The first night here was hard. I felt isolated from everything familiar. I felt friendship-starved. The next morning, a question arose in my mind that is worth a lengthy pondering: If I were the only person alive on earth, would God's companionship be enough for me, or would I still feel lonely? Ultimately, the question is this: Is God enough? It was funny how much I realized I was searching for familiarity. God must have smiled, as He placed things in my path for me to discover: a fifteen year old boy named Asheli :), a weed that grows in our garden back home, a deck of Dutch Blitz brought by one of the other girls, a painting by someone from my home church that is in the house of a missionary family here, and a bonding with the girls who are also staying the missionary girls' dorm.

The atmosphere here is amazing. Friday night vespers is a beautiful thing: American, South African, Swiss-German, and Tanzanian (including Masai, as well as other tribes) all gathered together to encourage one another and give glory to God.

I feel like I was built for this place. I love the riding-along-the-road-standing-in-the-back-of-a-pickup-with-the-wind-in-your-face way of life here. Though it's not all riding in vehicles: we've done quite an extensive bit of walking so far. The Primary School is located at the edge of the Kibidula campus, so the kids can walk from nearby villages. However, the house I am staying in is at the other end of campus, about two-and-a-half miles away. To get drinking water, we must walk a ways in the other direction. Needless to say, we are getting plenty of exercise :) Our bikes have arrived, and we are extremely excited to give them a try this week. Should cut our travelling time in at least half.

So far we've managed to wash laundry twice, bake bread multiple times, and make guacamole for Sabbath breakfast (yum!). The first day, I locked myself in the bathroom, the next day we locked ourselves out of the house, the third day we managed to lock ourselves IN the house. (Don't ask...) The doors cannot be opened from the inside when they are locked. With five girls and only three keys, we have had to sort out the who-what-where-when-why-how of access to our house. We've also managed to laugh every day-- usually late at night when we are tired beyond exhaustion :) I've been trying to learn some Swiss-German from my roommate, Selina. I've finally managed to say two sentences without sounding like I'm choking :) It is a very different language than I am familiar with...

All the young people were invited to one of the missionary family's houses Saturday night to collaborate ideas on involving the ten-or-so younger missionary kids here on campus. We then had popcorn, watermelon, bread with spreads, and enjoyed fellowship around the fireplace while cooking "snakebread"(bread on a stick). I have volunteered to do Pathfinder-type activities with the missionary kids here. We are planning on going camping sometime in February. There is a swamp we can canoe in and much "bush" to explore. Looking forward to it.

So... the Africa adventure has begun; although, in reality, it is just continuing. I'm looking forward to all that God has in store.