VOTE for...

It's crazy to think that it is campaign season in College Station right now! I am of the weird breed who loves campaign season and relishes in the community of it. What am I talking about? There is about a week long period (with months of preparation) where any and everyone running for Yell Leaders, Student Body President, spots in Senate, Class Presidents, & Class Agents hold signs & partake in nightly meetings to campaign for their spot in the government of Texas A&M University. This has been that week. Voting takes place Monday and Tuesday.

Our classroom

This week has been one of my best weeks yet. Wednesday I had the opportunity to visit Baraka(Blessings) Women's Group which is a grassroots organization made of 5 women who were trained with 15 other women on how to make peanut butter! And for those of you who don't know this about me,  "Ninapenda peanut butter"(I LOVE peanut butter)! When I said this to them, they laughed. They all work in a tiny room filled with an oven, peanut skinner, and machine that creams the peanuts. They buy the peanuts in bulk unshelled in town and pay about $130 for 100 kilos. They say that one kilo doesn't even fill one of their small tubs and they can buy 1 kilo for 2,000 shillings ($1.30). They sell the small tubs for 4000 shillings. They do get 100% of the proceeds returned to them. Think about that, with that 2000 shilling profit they have to pay the electricity bill, tax on the room, pay off the appliances they have, pay for transportation to and from the peanut shops, pay for the jars and seals and labels, and then split what is left between 5 women. WOW. When the power is working they can make about 25-30 of these small tubs each day. When the power isn't working, at least once or twice a week, they make and can pickled mangos and then jar and seal those as well. These women do not make enough money to support themselves or their families off of this business so they also have other jobs. 2 of the women are farmers and wake up super early to check on cattle and tend to the farm, come to the shop around 9, & spend all day working on peanuts. One of the other ladies knits sweaters when she isn't making peanut butter or tending to her family. I was very impressed by these women and the fact that they created this themselves & turned it into something successful. I will be returning to their shop on Tuesday and will come back with pictures! The challenge will be communication, we agreed that I would help them make peanut butter and mangos if they would help me with Swahili. We will see how this goes because they don't speak English and I speak only a little bit of Swahili. I talked with my house mates & house mom and told them I thought it would be great to buy our peanut butter from these women instead of the crappy American brand in the stores and they all agreed. I am excited to start using the peanut butter that supports local women. (We go through about 3-4 jars a week)

Thursday I volunteered at Cradle of Love from 11-2. Cradle is a baby orphanage outside Arusha that was started by a woman named Davona who basically told us that she saw a need and fixed it. You can read her story and see the babies at Cradle of Love if the link doesn't work, you can google it. They currently have 46 babies in a beautiful facility. 5 of which are under the age of 4 months, the rest are either crawling or toddling, but all under age 3. I spent my time there in the infant nursery where I fed, changed, loved, and sang to these beautiful little babies while the other two girls from my program helped with the toddlers and crawlers. The youngest, Good Luck is just under 1 month and adorable. I cannot explain to you how small some of these babies are. I am so used to chubby, healthy, American babies but some of these Children of God have the scrawniest little legs and arms with no fat on them at all! They are having trouble keeping food in Dickson as he has a form of acid reflux and continued spitting up the formula a full hour after he had his bottle. Keep him in your prayers. I have a deep respect for the African women who are the full time nanny's here. Because there is a major language barrier, there is not much communication between them and us. But moms: imagine having babies that are your responsibility, you love them like your own children, then having random volunteers come in each day and pick up the baby as soon as it whimpers or change his/her clothes 3xs within one hour because she burped up a little each time. Well, knowing most of us & knowing myself I think I would be in constant frustration. I was moved and inspired to have this mindset in my own life, not only when I have kids, but about everything in my everyday life.

I want to learn Swahili so I can talk with these dear people I meet on a daily basis or the people I continually interact with. We have two ladies who clean our house each day who only speak Swahili and I want to communicate with them better. The other day I was sitting outside reading the Bible as they were sitting out there beading something. In my most broken swahili we discussed that one of the women, Naiomi (a maasai) was making a Maasai necklace and that she was selling them, CHEAP. So we discussed that I wanted one and what colors I wanted and I bought one for 15000 shillings, about 9 or 10 bucks. It's super cool and I am pumped about it.

the deodorant is meant to show the size :)

One last thing, sorry this is super long--Morgan, one of the American students had her 21st birthday this weekend and the East Africans (EAs) were so supportive of her birthday and gave her a card and a keychain and the director of the program had a cake made for her. This is huge because birthdays are not celebrated in Tz. What we didn't know is that it was also Irene's birthday the next day. No one had done anything for her. I was talking to her Wednesday about her birthday and how she really felt about it and she said it was good, she just wished she was home (Dar es Salaam) because she missed her family and her sister always would make her a cake or get her ice cream. (Also, she has been out of school the last two weeks because she had Malaria & Typhoid.) She said the night of her birthday SHE took her the family she is living with out to dinner and SHE paid for all of them for her birthday dinner. How opposite is that from the states! Well, I told a few of the other girls this and we decided we would do something about this so we made yet another chocolate cake with peanut butter icing (MMMMM!) and surprised her with it after class Thursday morning. 3 of us busted into the room singing happy birthday while everyone joined in and then this is what blew me away, she started crying. She could not believe we had done this for her and she was in awe. Not only that, but one of the other EA started crying as well because she thought it was such a nice gesture. I have never, ever had someone so appreciative for a birthday cake. It was a very humbling experience. Also a little side note, most of the EA say they only get water in their houses 3-6 times a MONTH. WOW. The things we take for granted.

Most interesting way I have ever seen a cake cut

Neema & Irene (the birthday girl)

Sorry this is super long, I had a lot to say! The Lord is blowing my mind each day with what he is teaching me and how he has shown me he was preparing me for this trip. Please continue to pray that my actions, thoughts, and words are only glorifying to the Lord and being used to show the Lord through me.

Hip hop a potamus & rhinoceros

   

it's like the tree from the Lion King

eating some corn we bought on the road

Howdy y’all!

I hope your weekend was delightful and that you are starting off your week with an overflowing joy coming from the Lord. My weekend was great, very tiring, but great. Thursday we visited the African Court on Human and People’s Rights. They do not do any criminal cases, only Human Rights. This is where  We went on our group safari to Lake Manyara and Ngorogoro Crater along with visiting a Maasai tribe. I was a little hesitant to go because I went on a safari in Kenya and I am becoming so anxious to have a weekend where I have enough time to make the day long journey to Mombasa. I am glad I went though, it was a completely different experience than my first. First off, because it is “rainy” season instead of “dry” season, everything is luscious and green. Secondly, I was able to see some of the animals I have not yet seen before such as the hippo & rhino. Third, we had a guide we called Babu (grandpa) who has been doing safari tours for years and years and years. He is an old Maasai with gray hair and a beard. If you think of an old grandpa who loves to tell stories, teach you things, and make you learn things for yourself instead of just get the answer from someone else, then you are thinking of Babu. I have put lots and lots of pictures up so you are able to see the animals!

African Court on Human and People's Rights

We spent Friday night at a campsite/lodge outside of Lake Manyara so we could wake up early the next morning and go to Ngorogoro. Saturday morning we were able to go to Tepilit Ole Saitoti’s Maasai village. He wrote The World’s of a Maasai Warrior which is one of the books we had to read before we arrived in Arusha. He has written another book and the movie The Man of the Serengeti was made after him. We met his family, consisting of many wives and children, and his sister who is now very old but was very influential in his life. His youngest wife is close to the same age as his oldest daughter. Maasai believe in polygamy because it is their way of life. For them, if they only had one wife they could only have a little bit of cattle which means not very much money to support themselves, their children, or their village. Therefore, they have many wives and many kids to take care of their cattle and the village. Christianity has been introduced to them and many of them have become Christians but the problem is still there about the many wives. Saitoti talked to us a lot about his life and the American influence and how he has used his fame and fortune to help out his community by providing water to their ENTIRE area, building a solid school, a corral for the animals, and the ability to give his children necessary education. He speaks english very fluently and hopes for his children to someday be able to go to America. 

Two big things I realized while I was there: I miss my friends at Bluebonnet Assisted Living and I want to be out in the bush with the people, not stuck in this city. I volunteered at an assisted living twice a week last semester in College Station and made some great relationships with some of it’s guests. I miss them dearly! After being with Babu and Saitoti’s sister, I realized how much I truly care about the elderly. I have so much respect for them and this feeling of awe and admiration that I just want to sit there and talk to them so I can learn about their lives. Also, I have been aware that I would rather be in the bush than in the city, but it finally hit me hard that I want to live out there with the people. I am not afraid of that lifestyle of simplicity and hardwork, if anything I admire it and want to be a part of it. Yes, it would be hard but I think it would be so worth it. 

Zebras and look at the HIPPOS!! 

he was so cool!

check out that gauge in her ear

Saitoti

Dada kwa Saitoti (his sister) 

Mama Frida, our assistant director

our house mom...Moira!

Maasai and cattle

The Lord provides and He is my stronghold and I am so thankful of that. I am so thankful for my parents and my family. I am thankful for the environment I grew up in and the morals they raised me with. Sunday was great, my roommate(Megan C) and I went to a coffee shop, then church, then to lunch and had a nice walk home. Two more days of school and it’s the weekend again! Praying for you!

me and the roomie!!

Nyama & HAPPY BIRTHDAY CODY!

This should be pretty quick! The title means meat in swahili. say the word: ny (aaaa)ma --exactly like it looks. It's fun right? Well this week we have been the crazy white people walking around town saying it and then laughing hysterically. We have also been quite the little bakers. Brittany and I made chocolate chip cookies from scratch, TWICE. The first batch was gone after 3 hours. We also made pancakes from scratch and tonight we made peanut butter icing from scratch to put on our chocolate cake (from a cake mix) for Morgan's birthday! We have been quite proud of ourselves as we have had to improvise ALOT and use cooking pans as mixing bowls & cake pans and our eyes as measuring cups and chocolate bars as chocolate chips, This week I switched from Gender and Development to an African music class which is held at a local University in Arusha, Makumira University. I love this class already! I think that it will be a saving grace through out the semester as I get to go to their school and learn their dances and songs and how to play on their instruments.

We also had the opportunity to visit the African Courts of human and peoples rights today with some graduate students from a Hebrew University in Jerusalem. I really enjoyed getting to talk to them and learn a little bit about their backgrounds. Two things I found most surprising: 1-they don't really like the city at all, they think it's too busy and chaotic with politics and religion; 2- not one of them is Jewish or religious for that matter. One of the girls told me they follow the Jewish holidays but not one of them practice Judiasm, not even the least bit. Now, I don't know if that is a stereotype that I had, or if they are just an unusual group of Israelis. This week has been full of challenges, laughter, and missing people. I would love to say more, but I am exhausted and have to wake up in about 6 hours to go on safari and we have a lot of traveling to do.

I encourage you to read Psalm 16 and praise God for the power He has and the fortress we find in Him. After I read this, I just want to get up and shout it to everyone! Maybe I should do that.... :) In the mean time, on a closing note, I was very humbled after reading Judges 7-11. The Israelites disobeyed God and turned against Him time after time, even after He saved them. He was frustrated with them and tired of giving them second chances but they repented and got rid of their ways of idolatry and sin and God forgave them and saved them once again. How many times have I wanted to say "Nope, you've already messed up again why should I give you ANOTHER chance or forgive you again?" Let me tell you, it's has been a few too many times. I am so thankful that God is so merciful and so full of grace that He takes us back time after time! I am prayerfully trying to make God's mentality my mentality on many things and especially this one. I hope this email finds you all doing well! Sorry for any typos or sentences that don't make sense, I am way too tired to read through it :)
Love and truly do miss you all and my american food!

HAPPPY BIRTHDAY!

Last but not least I have to give a shout out to Cody because today he turned 24!!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Mkuru Camel Safari

We officially claimed ourselves as morning people, although I have a feeling this will change as the semester gets longer. And just a warning, this might be long, like the rest of my posts have been.

They love Obama here...

 Yesterday I had the best day we have had in country yet. Since we have not been able to volunteer yet or get out of the city, 8 of the 11 of us decided to go on a camel safari to the Mkuru village at the base of Mt. Meru. After driving for about 40 minutes, we got a phone call from one of our fellow students from East Africa who said she had just arrived to our house to go on the trip with us. We waited on the side of the road while another taxi brought her from our house. While we were waiting, a little boy came up to the bus from an alley way and started shyly getting our attention. Soon, more and more came out and we got out of the bus and attempted talking to them. The first picture is of most of the kids. They were very sweet but a little skeptical seeing as though its just on the outskirts of Arusha and most people probably don't stop there for any reason. This was EXACTLY what I needed... some interaction with adorable East African kids (and their mom). Her name was Elizabeth-shout out to you sissy!!

Cute kids we met on the side of the road while waiting for our friend

Jacko

After she got there, we got back on the bus and continued our voyage for another hour and a half. I could have called it a day at that point, but there was only more to come. Our trip off the main road was very fascinating as it was an array of different landscapes. There were rolling green hills, lush trees, dry land, lots of dust, and many maasai people. Here are some pictures of people carrying water to their homes. (Yes, the water issue is REAL!)

Carrying water

Little boys carrying water

Really cool big bird on an Acacia tree

where's waldo? 

 We finally made it to our destination after lots of dust and cheering when our bus made it through some ditches and up some steep unpaved hills. We all mounted our camels and expected to go on half day ride through the arid land. All the camels were tied together in a line and there were 2 of us per camel.

Most of our group!
Nick, Megan, Brittany, me, Morgan T, Whitney, Lex, Annah, Megan C

Fitzgerald--our camel

our fearless Maasai leader

check out the size of those thorns!

Morgan & I on Fitzgerald

mr. maasai and I

 After riding for about an hour, we stopped and dismounted. We walked over to "Baboon Cave" which was a breathtaking view of a deep valley/cave. There were some Maasai there with their goats that used the different heights of the cliff as a corral for the animals. This is where they bring the Maasai boys after they have been circumcised before they become warriors. They live in this area for 2 months on nothing but meat and liquid medicine, no water. For each boy/man who comes out, a cow must be slaughtered. It is called "Baboon Cave" because at night about 200 baboons come here to sleep. The view from the top of this was beautiful.

Baboon Cave

 We then got back on our camels and thoguht we would get back on the bus and go back home. However, we were very wrong. We went back to "headquarters", ate lunch, and then went on a walk to a Maasai kraal where one family of Maasai live.

Our guide drew us a picture of the set up of a kraal. The outer circle is the "fence" made out of  dead limbs. Inside that is the line of houses, or mud huts. Inside the huts is another fence that is the animal corral. This too is made from dead limbs and has an opneing during the day which they add more limbs to close off at night. Each home is called a boma.

Maasai bomas

passage way, see the limbs!

 The Maasai are very friendly and welcoming people. They invited us into their homes and let us play with their kids. As we were in the village, we were told about the Maasai and their living conditions. Morgan summed it up very well by saying, "We take our environment and adapt it to us, they take their environment and adapt to it." Everything the Maasai people have is used and everything is very well taken care of.

The "kitchen": the small hole on the right side is the "oven/stove" which is nothing more than a hole in the ground for fire. The skinny thing in the top left corner is an inside of a cow they use to store their milk.

Their bed is made from straw and sacks with a dried leather skin as the mattress. This bed is for the dad, the mom and kids sleep in a little nook connected to the kitchen. It is very, very dark in the homes & only have one small window less than 6 inches wide. These houses are tiny, only 4 people could fit in the house with very little movement. 

a "maasai cupboard" in the grandmother's boma. Her home was a little larger, probably because she is an elder.

The grandma of the maasai kraal we visited

 We were offered the chance to buy legitimate Maasai jewelry they had handmade. I bought a few pieces, it was a great buy for two reasons. First and foremost, I knew that 100% of the proceeds went straight back to allowing them to live life. Secondly, it was about 70% cheaper than it is in the cities. I loved this trip and am now even more fascinated by the Maasai people. There was a woman from Holland doing her research for her PhD who went on the trip with us to document and interview us based on our experience. She is working on cultural tourism. She lives with one of the Maasai families in their kraal and experiences life with them just as a typical Maasai. I was very impressed by her and would love to spend some time living in a Maasai village for the chance to truly learn more about their culture.

On our way back, I got to almost experience my first tornado (if you will). There were dust tornados EVERYWHERE! They were very fascinating to me and I took a ton of pictures of them. They were on both sides of the roads and would move rather quickly stirring up dust and brush as they moved.

chaco love.

Our feet were very dirty and we were very tired after our long day excursion from 8am to 5:40 pm. The cost of the excursion itself (camels, lunch, & maasai) was $35 and the close to 5 hour bus rental was $21 (both per person) we felt as though we got way more out of our day than our $56 would have gone in the states. So, if you ever come to Arusha and want to ride a camel, go to Mkuru camel safaris! You can even stay over night on a platform tent, although there aren't many wild animals during the day. Tomorrow we will go to church and then an African choir performance in the afternoon. I am so ready to dive into volunteering!