Day 73

All day there has been a song replaying over and over again in my head, and one line sticks out to me so much: "Tell the world that Jesus lives; tell the world that he died for them, tell the world that he lives again". So many times I walk away from a conversation or an opportunity where I later think "I could have shared the gospel right there", but for some reason I didn't. Isn't that what this is all about? We are called to go out into the world and be disciples of all nations - isn't that why I came here?

Me, E, & K <3

Telling the world doesn't just mean saying I'm a Christian either. Almost anyone can talk the talk, but walking the walk is the hard part. You can tell the world that Jesus lives, but maybe even more powerful is showing the world that Jesus lives in you, that Jesus lives in me! So many people that I meet here, especially the children, have contagious smiles and enormous giggles despite any challenges they might face. I want Christ to be my reason to smile, and I want my passion for him to be contagious too. I am nothing without Him, after all. I want people to know that, I want people to see that. Forget about age difference, forget about language barriers, forget about the excuses. I am here in Africa, here on Earth, for one reason - to serve my Maker. I owe it all to Him.

Our favorite chipsi restaurant:) If you want take away, you order through the holes in the wall!

Me & J eating chips mayai! It looks gross, but it is absolutely delicious!

Making corn flake squares for the Boona Baana kids

Last Sunday, we made a schedule for the entire week and now that it is just about over, I feel like we have accomplished so much! We have spent lots of time at Boona Baana, and we went to KidzCare twice. I wish every week was like this! We even got a beach day in ;) J, J, K, and me are always stuck doing things together because we have the same schedules, all working at Boona Baana. You'd think that we would be sick of each other by now, but it works! We're like sisters. I am going to miss them so much!

Our kitchen!

J & me taking an afternoon nap

S & me, my (not so) little buddy!

J & me getting ready for bed by candle light...power was out...again

Olo & I at the KidzCare nursery school

Smiles all around :)

Day 69

I was out of the house all day today, and it was great! It was one of the few chances I have had to really experience what it's like to live in Dar es Salaam. Living in a group of 12, it's hard to go anywhere without turning it into a big event. But today, it was just the four of us girls again and we met so many locals who were so friendly and welcoming, and even offered to teach us Kiswahili! We walked around the market, looked through the shops at Slipway, ate lunch by the water, got permission to walk around the shopping centre with the cappuccino mugs (we're regulars! aha), and ended it with a few hours at Boona Baana. I am going to miss this place so much - the smells (even the bad ones...they are part of what makes DSM unique), the sights, the faces, the language, the culture, and especially the kids.

Even if you are having a bad day or feeling tired or wanting to complain, its hard to frown when you are around the kids who come to Boona Baana. Today we painted pictures with them and some of them were so good! And I am so impressed with the way they interact with each other as well, like a family. The concept of family here in Tanzania is so much different from that in North America - not in a better or worse way, but just different. Sawa sawa, lakini tafaoti (same same, but different!). I love how everyone is a sister, brother, or cousin. I love how you are automatically born into a support system woven together with blood and non-blood "relatives". I love how a village will raise a child, if there is no one else to care for that child. And I love love love how even though I am pale white, with blonde hair and obviously Caucasian features, I am a dada (sister)!

Walking home in the intense heat from Wamama Kahawa (coffee shop)...looking for a cab...

Our uncontainable joy after finding a cab driver!

Me, E, and K :)

The group of us at Boona Baana!

(photocred: Jocelyn Ellen Photography)

Day 67

Tonight we had a really good class discussion about the role of international NGO's in Africa on their quest to end poverty, and whether or not they are doing more good than harm. There's a lot I could say about this, probably too much for this blog and definitely too much to type in the short amount of time that my computer will stay alive before freezing and dying. But one thing that kept going through my mind during the discussion is that in order to really make a difference, we need to give a hand up rather than a hand out. We are no better than them in any way, even though we might have different privileges than them. Black and white, African and Canadian, we both come from the same Maker and are called to serve the Savior, I believe. 

Sometimes I wonder, what gives us the right to come here and tell them how to live? Tanzanians have just as much potential and ability to overcome poverty as any Canadian or foreigner. I've seen some NGOs do a lot of good things for these people, and when they incorporate education and create an understanding that leads to personal change, cultural change, and future change it is even better. But I have also seen a lot of NGO's driving around in their nice cars from their nice houses and wonder, where is that money coming from? I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, and I know sometimes I am just as guilty as them, but it's easy to criticize. Bottom line: what's the point of handouts if its not going to change anything or make a sustainable impression? How can we break the cycle of poverty rather than just give a temporary fix?

Anyways, I will probably re-read this tomorrow and wonder what the heck was I thinking, and I'm sure I have plenty of grammatical errors. But if you are reading this, you probably know me well enough to cut me some slack and just enjoy hearing from me. Tomorrow I begin my last week here as an intern before my parents come (WOOHOO) and then a week after that I will be on my way home!

Giving Baby J a busu (aka a kiss!)

Me and Mama B

Squinty eyes; trying on I's sailor hat after his school play!

Day 66

HAPPY BELATED CANADA DAY!

Don't know who the random girl is in the background...

What better way to celebrate the independence of our beautiful nation than with a bunch of crazy college students from Canada at a goodbye party for Sophie. We walked into the compound of CIDA's senior analyst in Tanzania thinking that we were going to a Canada Day celebration, but boy were we wrong. The 12 of us were the only ones dressed up in any form of Canadian-themed attire, complete with flag capes and tattoos on our foreheads. Rather than a "Canada Day get together" as it was described, it turned out to be a going away party for a very lovely family.

Before the party, J & J and I stopped by L's open mic, where he performed an act based on Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. We were also pleasantly surprised to watch performances by Tanzania's up and coming rap and hip-hop artists. Almost better than watching the performers was watching the audience. The kids knew some of the songs and I was so happy to see some of them get so into it. Especially Mama B, who was dancing and fist pumping like nobody's business!

Day 65

There are a lot of ugly things in this world - garbage, gutters, guns, greed, and more. Unfortunately, a lot of these things are also used as examples of Africa. For hundreds of years, the continent of Africa has struggled to overcome obstacles such as government corruption, civil war, disease, genocide, debt, and poverty, to name a few. Most of us believe that all of these things are what define Africa because that's often all we see or hear about it. The media almost always portrays the pictures of Africa that are negative. It is true that this continent has had many challenges face them, but it is not without hope and definitely not without beauty. Even in the most broken of places, even after the most disheartening events, even among the innocent faces, there is always beauty that outshines it all.

This is Doto, one of the twins from KidzCare

I wish I knew how they do it, how on Earth some of these people exude so much joy after so much loss. Some of them are widows, some orphans, some are too sick to walk, and some have such traumatizing stories that I don't even dare to ask about their life before this point. Yet, they have the biggest and brightest smiles I ever have seen. Forget straight white teeth, healthy long hair, perfect figures, and designer clothes - none of that will make you beautiful. Beauty lies in the ability to radiate joy despite difficult circumstances, and this is exactly what these people do. Beauty lies in the unseen. It can be heard in the giggles of children whose parents have been taken by HIV/AIDS. It can be felt by the warm welcome from strangers as you walk into their humble, one-room home. It can be seen in the examples of Africa's colorful culture, landscape, traditions, innovations, and most importantly in the people.

One of the awesome boys at KidzCare!

This morning I was up before a lot of the others, so I had some time to hang out with the ladies in the kitchen - the sisters/dadas - and helped them wash dishes. Priscus was around also and taught me some more Kiswahili. Then in the afternoon a few of the girls and I walked down the back streets of Mikocheni B to find a little "restaurant" (although that word is way too formal) to eat chips mayai! Chips mayai is like an omelet where the main ingredient is French Fries, topped with salt & ketchup and sometimes salad. Probably not the most nutritious, but it is very filling and for a big plate its only about a dollar. Tonight we are going to a Canada Day part hosted by a man who works for CIDA and a few other families from his compound. I am so excited to meet other Canadians, and now that everyone is back from Arusha it will be good to just hang out all together again.

A butterfly that just happened to stop and flutter its wings for D & A and I as we walked around Slipway!