Enjoy the journey!

This morning as I was taking a walk I began to notice my surroundings. I saw three women in typical African dress (a colorful kanga wrapped around them as a skirt) walking together in companionable conversation with containers on their heads. This is something I see most every day. To me it is the norm. Next I hear a man who is cutting a hedge singing. Again, another very common thing here. All around me is life happening - African style. However, it is easy to grow accustomed to things that make tourists smile and take pictures. In fact, photographers and journalists from all over the world come to take pictures and write articles on the life I don't even think twice about anymore. You see, I'm just like you. I get wrapped up in doing laundry, cleaning the house, cooking, helping my daughter with homework, going to church, etc. It is easy for me to just live and not enjoy the life God has called me to. What about you? Have you taken life for granted? Maybe the beauty of the mountains? The stars? The sound of your child giggling as he plays with the puppy? Maybe the sound of the church choir or orchestra? As the song says, we need to stop and smell the roses. So as for me, I spent some time talking to the Lord and asking Him to help me today to rejoice in the unique life He has allowed me to live in Tanzania and to not get caught up in the daily living, but to enjoy the journey!

Trip to Tabora

Our family took a little vacation and went to the city of Tabora. We have missionary friends there, Tim and Kim Whitfield. We’ve known them since we first moved to Africa in 1995. It took about 7 hours, although it was only 230 miles. It was a long drive, but it was nice to get away from the big city of Mwanza and have some time of fellowship with our friends.

It just so happened that the Whitfields also had guests from the US – Tim’s parents. Bill and Faye have been in the ministry for many, many years. Abby enjoyed spending some time with “Grandpa and Grandma” during our time there. She and Faye spent one afternoon in the kitchen baking a delicious lemon cake from scratch! It’s always a blessing when she gets a chance to be with other godly women and learn from them.

We were thankful for the many days and nights of power while there. Up until our visit the power had been going off just about every day. However, one night it did go off - just in time for dinner. We pulled all the leftovers out and I heated them up on a one burner gas tank. It took a while to get everyone’s desired leftovers heated. (Abby had fun taking pictures of me. She said it looked a bit like a witch cooking her brew. Not sure if that was much of a complement for dear ole Mom, but I do have to agree that the lighting in the pictures was eerie!)

On our return home we stopped to look at a well known tree here called the Baobab Tree. It is an oddly shaped tree that is humongous. To show how big it is, we had Abby stand next to it. Can you even find her?!

Here is a bit of background information I found online:

"The Baobab is called the Tree of Life with good reason. It is capable of providing shelter, food and water for the animal and human inhabitants of the African savannah regions.

The cork-like bark is fire resistant and is used for cloth and rope. The leaves are used for condiments and medicines. The fruit, called "monkey bread", is rich in vitamin C and is eaten. The tree is capable of storing hundreds of litres of water, which is tapped in dry periods.

Mature trees are frequently hollow, providing living space for numerous animals and humans alike. Trees are even used as bars, barns and more. The Baobab also features as the Tree of Life in Disney's "Lion King", and is the centrepiece in Disney's Animal Kingdom." http://www.baobab-solutions.com/the_baobab.htm

Hit The Ground Running...

We arrived back in Tanzania on November 5th and hit the ground running! The national pastor we work closely with, Pelegrino, was getting married on December 3rd and we only had weeks to help him plan this big event in his life. We have been praying with Pastor Pelegrino for a godly wife for years. Now those years of praying were finally coming to fruition and we wanted the day to be as special as possible for this new couple.



Right after the wedding Bill taught a counseling class at Lake Victoria Baptist Bible College here in Mwanza. It is always a blessing to meet together with these men and women as they prepare for the ministry. I look forward to teaching a ladies class next term in June.



Next were the holidays and all the special church services in each of the six churches we work directly with. The day found us celebrating with our newest church plant in the village of Kitongo. We also enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner with fellow missionaries Greg and Paige Wagoner and Family.

The New Year has brought some new ministries the Lord has laid on our hearts. This past Wednesday Bill started Bible Institute classes at the Independent Baptist Church of Igekemaja. He is teaching the book of Matthew. We also look forward to the upcoming Family Seminars we'll be teaching at each of the churches in the Mwanza area. Our first being in T-X on January 22. Then on January 28th we will begin hosting a monthly Pastor's Fellowship at our house.

We are excited to see what plans God has for us in 2011!

My Girl!

We recently celebrated our daughter's 13th birthday. After having two wonderful boys I prayed for five years that the Lord would bless us with a little girl. I remember the day I had an ultrasound and the technician told me the baby was an msichana. I knew what that meant in Swahili, but I wanted to be sure. "That means girl, right?" The technician smiled and said that it indeed meant I was expecting a little girl.

I wasn't in labor for very long. For which I praise the Lord!! Bill actually helped to deliver this baby in the small mission hospital, Kijabe Hospital, in Kijabe, Kenya. I was anxious to find out if the technician was correct and waited for Bill to announce the sex of our new bundle of joy. When he didn't I said, "Well, is it a girl or a boy?" I'll never forget the words he spoke - words that reminded me to keep things in perspective. "Oh, I hadn't checked. I was counting toes and fingers." On October 24th, 1997 I gave birth to a healthy, fully-formed, baby girl.

I remember one day when Abigail was about 1 1/2 and I had decorated a wall while she was napping. She toddled into the room and when she saw it she clapped her hands and said, "Piddy Mommy!!" The budding signs of my kindred spirit and little decorator. (She hopes to one day be an interior designer.)

Another gift Abigail has is encouragement. She showed this gift early on as well. She was about 2 and in the process of potty-training. We were at the Walmart bathroom and she happily clapped for me and said, "Yeah! Good job Mommy! I'm so proud of you!"

I could write about many, many more stories. Like the time she cut her hair, the battle of the will over picking up Cherrios (BTW, I won!), and the tears of saying goodbye to friends to move back to Africa. However, I'll close this post in saying it has been a blessing to be Abigail's Mother. I look forward to the years ahead as I continue to watch her grown and become the woman God wants her to be. And I hope one day to be able to share all these stories with her daughter. =)

Happy Anniversary

Praise the Lord for the past 23 wonderful years with my husband, Bill! I feel so blessed to be serving alongside my very best friend.

As I reflect on these years of marriage I have many happy memories. Memories of when each of our children were born. Memories of our children growing up. There are also the sad memories like when we lost child number four in a miscarriage and when both our Moms passed away. There are memories of victory and trials. Times of great rejoicing in what God is doing, as well as times when we just hung onto the fact that we know God knows best and will work all things together for our good.

Through all these times, good and bad, there is one thing that has remained consistent. Are you expecting me to say our love for each other? Well, although we love each other very much, we are sinful humans who don't always love as we should. No, the one thing that is always consistent is GOD. He never changes. His love never fails. When times are good - He's there. When times are tough - He's there. He promises that He'll never leave us nor forsake us. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

If you want to look back one day on 23 wonderful years of marriage, then might I urge you not to make yourself and your husband the main focus in your marriage. Make it the LORD.