Winding Down

Well, we are all still here! I have mixed feelings about this, I would love to be with Jesus right now, but the day will come when we least expect it. I'm sitting in my room writing, listening to the rain come down. This is a sound I have always loved, but enjoyed even more so here because it drowns out all the other noises of the dogs, people, cows, calls to prayer, and roosters who want to wake you up at every hour.

 Here is a summary of my last week:

Mom & Dad were kind enough to bring extra suitcases filled with clothes and shoes for both adults and kids. I have started giving this stuff away to people I think truly need it. Here is a picture of the two ladies who clean our house every day but Sunday. Naomi received a pair of my toms that were too big for me and is holding shoes for her oldest son and Skollar has a pair of mom's old shoes. 

Naomi & Skollar in their new shoes plus a pair for the kids.

They have continually been making me laugh more than usual over the past week as they have thought I have been making some dish called Tanzania but I was really making Lasagna. (How can those be confused-- say Tan ZAAAIN ya) Also, I have woke up to a few chilly mornings finding both of the women wearing new tube socks from dad with their flip flops! SO funny.

Skolar brought over her kids and Naomi's kids so we could all meet them. They were precious and sang some songs and told us what they wanted to be including a lawyer, teacher, engineer,  & computer technician.

The 3 girls are two of Skollar's and her niece and the two boys are Naomi's 2 sons I think they are 17 and 15

 Tumemaliza shule!!! We finished our semester! Including our music final which included us performing a Maasai dance in traditional costumes!

Our music class: Brittany, Lex, Morgan, me

Our class with our teachers: Bwana Stubbs (the white guy) and Hezron 

Old school Maasai sandals made out of cow... the entire thing out of cow.

On Thursday I had a very American day and it was GREAT! The roomie and I went to lunch with Jennifer and then I ran errands around town with her including buying a big floor tapestry that we bought for $10 which probably originally cost a couple of hundred. Jennifer has been living in Arusha for the past 3 years as she has simply been following the Lord's calling for her life. She isn't your typical American in Africa who grew up loving Africa and loves being here and has always wanted to live here. She never thought about it until God placed it on her heart and told her what he wanted her to do. She now has a business called Shining a Light which employs and empowers women by teaching them money management, health, and family skills while also giving them a living by making sandals which are sold in the US. She also has a pre school that has been started so children can go to school! She is a wonderful woman following after the Lord and I so appreciate our friendship and the fun adventures we have had together. Check out her website and buy a pair of shoes they are cute and comfy!! 

On Friday we went to a "Garden Fair" at the estate of some very well off mzungus from South Africa and the Netherlands. They hosted a fair for people to come and sell their goods to raise money for their businesses and organizations. I went to help Jennifer sell shoes along with two of our friends from church who sold cupcakes and Swahili children's cds. I cannot emphasize the beauty and grandeur of this house and land. They also had two well kept, well trained dogs-- a lab and a German Short Haired Pointer, I was so excited to see dogs I could pet and play with. Let me just say, I wasn't in Kansas anymore...

Jennifer and I at the Garden Fair

The beautiful house & front yard--this picture does not do it justice

And my highlight of May? That might be an exaggeration, but Arusha hosted the FIRST ever American collegiate FOOTBALL game on African soil! And no, it wasn't football as in soccer it was AMERICAN FOOTBALL with a pig skin ball, cleats, pads, referees, and chain crew. Drake University from De Moines, Iowa played a team from Mexico. For some reason NCAA wouldn't let them play another American team (I think because they were playing outside the US and not under NCAA regulations). You can google Drake Football in Tanzania and get lots of results but here is their blog. 7 of us Americans went along with 2 East Africans and our director and his two ADORABLE kids.

The Maasai recieved front row seating to the football game because they were the half time show

Drake brought 1000 footballs to give to kids in the schools around the Moshi/Arusha area and have been holding football clinics for them as well as visiting some orphanages.

Our directors kids! SO CUTE and so well behaved. Get this they are 2 and 5 and speak both English and French fluently.

Some of the African student crowd behind us who would blow the vuvuzela and chant U S A! 

FINAL SCORE: 17 USA --  7 MEXICO

The teams congratulating each other. Drake is Blue and Mexico was Red.

The team then came over and yelled "Asante Sana" and TANZANIA to show their appreciation for being hosted. After wards, one of the players tossed his gloves into the stands which got the kids so excited. His teammates saw and followed his example putting the biggest smile on these kids faces who thought this dirty, smelly football glove was the coolest thing ever.

All the students got t shirts for the occasion commemorating the joint effort on all countries parts.

 Sunday we went to Vineyard for the last time and then headed out to a school that one of our friends from church teaches at and had a BBQ fully equipped with chicken, mystery meat sausage, and lamb. It was a great way to end my last Sunday.

I have this week left in Arusha and lots of things to get done including last minute errands and saying my goodbyes. It blows my mind that this football game seemed like it would never come and now it has come and passed and I have 5 more days in Arusha before I return to Mombasa.