Mondays with Allee

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31: 8 Tomorrow is the big day! Knowing that in just over 48 hours I will be reunited with my family, hugging my mom and dad tight, and cuddling with my dog Miles makes my heart do a somersault.  I'm also very much looking forward to eating real tacos again, going to see a movie or two, and enjoying many Starbucks seasonal Chestnut Praline lattes while I am home.  Frank and I will leave Morogoro tomorrow morning and take a five hour bus ride to Dar es Salaam.  Our flight doesn't depart until 11:55 PM but we want to give ourselves plenty of time to get to the airport and get settled.  As of now my bags are (almost) packed and I'm working on checking off last minute items on my to-do list.  I'm hoping to spend this evening at home with Anitha and some of my other friends relaxing and enjoying time together before we are apart for ...

"Many happy returns to the day of your birth.  May joy and gladness be given.  And may the dear Father prepare you on earth, for a glorious birthday in heaven." Papa I published my blog last Monday morning and in the evening I got a text from my mom that Papa was doing worse.  His blood pressure was low and he had a fever.  I called her. She was at the hospice center with him and my grandma and she said that it wasn't going to be much longer.  "His body is here, but his spirit is gone." she told me.  "I think he's there visiting you in Tanzania. Look for him, ok? In the children.  In the rain.  Even in the mosquitos."  I laughed softly as tears filled my eyes. She asked me about my day and what was going on here.  I told her stories about the kids and we laughed.   She was in the middle of a sentence when she suddenly said "I have to go." and hung up the phone.  I knew that was it. My grandfather, Carman Raga...

"...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 Over the past month I have failed to post a blog two out of the four weeks.  While I know that there is no contract requiring me to post every single Monday, I still felt guilty for not posting.  I also know that you, my readers, know that I am human and things happen, but I still feel my irregular posting deserves some explanation. Last summer when I came to Morogoro on the two week mission trip that changed my life, I met Frank and Junior.  If you read my blogs regularly, their names are familiar to you.  They are two incredible men who live and serve here in Morogoro.  They are both gifted teachers as well as leaders in our church.  When our team met them last year we had conversations with them about their dreams to attend seminary in the U.S. and return to Africa to...

"But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him." Luke 15:20 The rainy season is beginning here in Morogoro.  This past week we had three days of rain, which I know is nothing compared to the massive amounts of rain Texas has been receiving over the past month, but for us here in Morogoro those three days brought much needed respite from the scorching sun we have seen every day for the past four months.  With the rain clouds came cooler temps (70 instead of 85) which meant everyone here was bundled up in sweatshirts and jackets. Life continued as normal, but just as the children at school covered their heads with their sweaters as they ran from class to class, the rain draped life in peace and calm.  I have been assured that once the rainy season really hits and it starts raining every day and doesn't stop for months, I will be sick of it, but for now I thank God for the blessing of ...

"Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." Romans 5:5 How is it already Monday again?  The past week was a full one.  As usual it was full of love, joy, and laughter.  But also full of opportunities for learning, growth, and gratitude. On Tuesday we went back to the Maasai village of Mtipule where over 100 men, women, and children had gathered together for our second visit.  We talked about the importance of a balanced diet in preventing disease and also discussed caring for those who are sick in the community and provided them with a first aid kit, showing them how to clean and cover wounds.  Frank had conversations with the women about the different foods available in their area and ways that they can be sure to get enough nutrients in their day to day eating.  As promised during our first visit, we brought chalkboards for their teacher to use in the classroom an...

If God is all you have, you have all you need. John 14:8 Major life update: I bought a coffee maker!  I blame my love of coffee 100 percent on my parents.  They have been drinking black coffee my whole life and I started following in their footsteps around the age of 13. I've been hooked ever since.  While I love a fancy Starbucks drink as much as the next person, there is just nothing like a freshly brewed cup of black coffee.  It tastes like home to me.  So when Anitha and I were walking through the grocery store on Tuesday and I stopped to smell the bags of coffee, that rich, familiar smell sucked me in and I couldn't resist.  I bought the bag of coffee and asked the cashier where I could buy a coffee maker.  Conveniently, as if planned by God himself, the shop was right next door and within a couple hours I was home enjoying my first cup of brewed coffee in three months.  To say that my joy has been increased would be an understatement. ...

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 Today is October 1st which means Fall is now in full swing in America.  My Facebook and Instagram feeds are full of pumpkin spiced latte and fall decor pictures, posts boasting about "cooler" temperatures and I've seen at least three people share this year's list of new Hallmark Christmas movies.  Meanwhile in Tanzania life continues as usual.  It's still hot and the closest thing we have to a pumpkin spiced latte is...well...nothing.  We have nothing close to a pumpkin spiced latte.  I would be lying if I said I didn't miss Fall and the anticipation of the holiday season that comes along with it, but it seems silly to complain about missing out when every day I am living a life that I spent close to a year praying for.   Today being October 1st also means that I have been serving...

The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33: 14 Moses                                                                  Venance, Deborah, and Eliya Anitha   I woke up for school this morning after a two week break feeling rested, reenergized, and so excited to see my students again.  I don't know that I've ever said this before, but these past two weeks off of school actually felt long.  Don't get me wrong, it was much needed.  Immediately after finishing the school year in Texas it was time to pack for Africa and immediately after the mission team left we started school here and it has been nonstop ever since.  Having two weeks to rest, be at home, go to town with Anitha, spend time with my friends, work on my Swahili- it was so good.  B...

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23: 4 This week was very much like every other week here in that it was full of new experiences that made me so thankful to be here, but it was unlike any other in terms of the specific events that took place.  In June, while the team from Texas and Oklahoma was here, we visited two Maasai villages, Mtipule and Mangae, and held vacation bible school for over 300 warriors, women, and children.   It was an incredible two days spent with people who are experts at wearing their heart on their sleeves and expressing their gratitude.   Each village has one teacher who instructs between 20 and 50 students on any given day who don’t speak Swahili let alone English and they are doing this work without translators, chalkboards, or supplies of any kind.   I talked with one of the teachers in depth about his needs and he ex...