We had the opportunity to go to a lodge at the edge of the Serengeti 2 weeks ago. It was wonderful to be in the midst of God’s creation and away from town for a while. We were able to see zebra, baboons, impala as well as many birds. Keith enjoyed the drive from the main road to the lodge. It was 18 km and took us about an hour to drive it because of all the pools of water on the road. Check out our pictures below.

Saturday Fun

This morning we went for a hike up a hill of rocks. There are lots of these in Musoma. Lyndy one of the kids’ teachers joined us for the hike, she knew how to climb it and we didn’t. She was a great tour guide. At the top we had an awesome view of Musoma and Lake Victoria.

Luke, Lyndy and Nikki

In the afternoon we hung out with two ladies that were with us at language school. Luke enjoyed having someone else to play Wii with.

Then we went to visit the kids at a local orphanage. They are babies up to age 2. They are a little shy but after a while warm up to us.

Some like to play ball but I don’t think they have a chance to do it much. It also seems like they aren’t used horsing around like what we did with our kids, although Keith found Angel who likes to be turned upside down. They usually enjoy a snack of fruit while we are there. It is clear they are well taken care of and loved at this orphanage. Once they are 1-2 they return to the village where they came from and a family member will care for them.

Lots of rocks everywhere



It's so heavy

They are so precious but it is hard to get them to smile

Who's in your corner?

I have had a bad couple weeks and to be honest was upset with God for calling us to TZ. I was struggling with everything that goes along with moving to and adjusting to a new culture. Then I found this last week or maybe I should say it found me. I’ve been reading ‘Grace for the Moment Daily Bible’ by Max Lucado. Below is an excerpt from an entry last week. Hopefully this will be of help to others that are struggling with something or going through a rough time. Unfortunately the praying and waiting can be so tough when you want answers yesterday. But we have God fighting for us. Who else would we want in our corner?

God, Our defender

He is my defender, I will not be defeated. Ps 62:6

Here is a big question. What is God doing when you are in a bind? When the lifeboat springs a leak? When the rip cord snaps? When the last penny is gone before the last bill is paid?...

I know what we are doing. Nibbling on nails like corn on the cob. Pacing floors. Taking pills…

But what does God do?...

He fights for us. He steps into the ring and points us to our corner and takes over. “Remain calm; the Lord will fight for you” Ex. 14:14

His job is to fight. Our job is to trust.

Just trust. Not direct. Or question… Our job is to pray and wait.

From When God Whispers Your Name

--Max Lucado

We like to call our friends or family before going to God. But they can’t help us like God can. And I did email some friends and vent to them. Their words were encouraging but when I read this and realized God is fighting for me that was better than anything a friend could do or say.

Hand washing vs. machine

I’m beginning to think hand washing our clothes would be a lot simpler. I thought buying a washing machine in Dar before arriving in Musoma was a good thing. We didn’t get a big one. I figured we would do lots of smaller loads. When talking with other moms it was pointed out to me that you don’t know what the water pressure will be like and if it isn’t good it will take a long time for the washer to fill.

There is this very small filter in the washer where the water hose connects to the machine. I have no idea if all machines have this. Having come from America where the water is clean, I wasn’t aware of this filter.

Our water comes from Lake Victoria and I have no idea if there is any filtering system it goes through before reaching our house. We have two filters the water goes through before entering the house so we thought that would be enough for the washer. Well it appears it is not. The tiny filter I mentioned earlier gets dirty very quickly and when it is dirty there is not much water that enters the washer. When this happens I bring in a bucket of water that has been filtered through our sand filter (I explain this more later) and dump it into the washer. If I don’t do this the wash cycle could take up to 3 hours to do or it will stop all together as the water coming into the washer stops because the filter is so dirty.

So until we come up with a solution which might be putting a filter on the water line coming into the washer I must clean this tiny filter before every wash and at times dump in water to fill the washer faster.

The sand filter I mentioned is what we run all the water through that we plan on using to drink or cook with. After the water goes through the sand filter we put the water through another filter to kill any remaining bacteria.

I’m not complaining, I just wanted to share a piece of my life right now. But yes I have started to think hand washing our clothes would be easier. I have done some hand washing and it really isn’t bad. I just have a hard time ringing the water out of the heavier items.



School with Laura Billingham at Language school

The kids didn’t start school till mid-September after arriving in Iringa for Language School. They were taught by our friend Laura Billingham through mid-December when she had to return home. Then they were taught by me (Chris) until our training started in January. They had a 4 week break while we were at training and traveled to Musoma. Mid-February they started school in Musoma with other missionary kids.

Luke and Nikki's school in PA

Up until this year the kids went to a public school and had 20+ kids in their class. To say this year has been an adjustment is an understatement. For the most part they have done really well. The roughest time was probably when I was teaching them. J

Luke and Nikki's desks

They are in a class of three, Luke, Nikki and another gal that is also Nikki’s age. There is also a class of younger kids that meets in another room with the second teacher. The like art and the Africa study they are doing every afternoon.

Friday's class

They have school from 8:30-3:00 every day except Friday. On Friday school is over at 12:30. Friday is also a special day because other missionary kids in the area that are homeschooled join our kids for a Bible class, art class and Phys. Ed. They have Chai 10:30-11 every day and lunch from 1-2. Chai is a snack break and the adults have tea (chai).

The school building

One thing we were pleasantly surprised about is that they both are taking piano lessons. The one teacher knows piano and is borrowing a keyboard from another family. The last year we were in PA Nikki kept asking to play the piano. Both Luke and Nikki are doing well and liking it.

Miss Lyndy teaches Science, Social Studies and Preschool

Miss Shelley teaches Math, Reading, Spelling, Grammar and piano

Luke has been able to meet other boys his age on Fridays when the other kids join. We are looking forward to another boy returning from the states this summer and then in December we are excited about two families coming that have older kids as well. We are excited to see that the school is really going to grow over the next year.

Moving, birthdays and a new normal

Monday March 12 we moved into our house. It feels so good to be in our own place and unpack our things. It has been wonderful to be able to stay in others homes during this time of transition but we are happy to be in our own place using our own things.

Love the site of empty totes

The unpacking went well. Part of what helped is that we are renting a furnished home so we didn’t have to go buy the dining room table or living room furniture. That was a huge blessing. I spent Tuesday unpacking and then Wednesday baking for Luke’s birthday. Thursday was spent in town doing some shopping for things needed for the house and Friday was spent getting ready for Luke’s birthday party on Saturday.

Our home

Luke had a lot of fun at his party. We played a couple games and then the kids just had fun playing together. We also invited his teachers and some gals that were with us at language school. It was fun being together celebrating Luke.

Luke is now 11 years old

Keith started working on Monday,  the 19th so we will hopefully be getting into a ‘normal’ routine with work and school. His week has gone well so far. There is lots to do and lots to learn.

The kids are doing well in school. They love Fridays the best, maybe because school is over at 12:30. This is also the day other homeschoolers in the area join our kids for art, a Bible lesson and PE type activities. They love having the other kids join them. I am hoping to take pictures of the kids next week at school so you can see what their school is like.

The kids are having fun with the puppies and it is fun having them around. This is our first experience with dogs so we are learning lots. Right now they like to nip at us. So we are trying to get them to stop.

So far this week he has chewed my flip flop
and pulled clothes off the clothes line



A day in the life of Transition

Wednesday the 29^th day of February 2012
Here is what our day was like:

8:00 am We left the house.  But first we loaded our washing machine into the truck to take it to the house so the electrician and plumber could do what was needed to hook it up.

8:15 dropped the kids off at school

8:20 stopped at the duka la umeme (electrical store) for supplies

Nikki holding Spot

8:30 went to the house

8:40 let the puppies out, gave money to the mama working at our place to buy milk for the puppies. Fed the puppies the remaining milk left over from yesterday.

9:15 I went into town to do some shopping. Exchanged 4 empty soda bottles for 4 full ones of Fanta Blackcurrent for Luke. When we bought a crate of soda last week they didn’t have his flavor so I took some of our empty ones to get full ones. It is cheaper if you return the empty bottles.

Nikki named Spot and Luke named Charger

Asked around to find the stationary store. Had a lady from a duka I frequent show me the way.  Bought veggies from several stands at the market. I had wanted to buy plates for our house but the one duka was closed and the other one had no shopkeeper.

Once I did all my shopping I went to the ATM for cash. Waited in line for a bit and once I was done and had gotten into the truck, the guy in line before me came to the truck and wanted my phone number. (I didn’t give it to him)

10:30 – back at the house

10:50 – Both Keith and I next went to the Wycliffe office to talk to a couple people.

12:15 – back at the house, tried to find out when the mama was going to make the food for the puppies. She was still out buying supplies but soon returned.

12:45 – I left for home. Was going to make a pizza crust for supper, but the power went out soon after 1 and didn’t come back on until 2. Since I had to leave at 2:45 to pick up the kids there was no time to make the pizza crust.

2:45 – left to get the kids, bought more electrical supplies and went to the house.

4:45 – left the house and watched for milk being sold along the street for the puppies. Saw a biker with buckets on his bicycle but he had no more milk. As we entered town we saw milk alongside the street so we stopped and bought 2 bottles.

5:10 – got home and decided it was still early enough to make pizza. The kids had a snack and then went off to play. Made guacamole while the dough was rising for Keith and I to snack on and enjoy with our homemade tortilla chips.

6:45 finished supper, Nikki did homework and then shower time.

8:45 the kids were off to bed. A little later than normal. Keith and I were trying to figure out how to say some stuff in Swahili that we needed for the next day.

After the kids were in bed I chilled a bit by reading a book and Keith found a Swahili/English app for his phone that he was playing with.

I’ve included some pictures of our puppies for those that are not on FB.

--Chris