Christmas in October

"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 and also gave them fifty school bags filled with supplies for the children in the village who are attending school. The bags were generously made and filled by the United Methodist Women at my home church of Prosper UMC. I brought the bags to Tanzania with me in June and have been holding on to them, waiting for the right opportunity to give them to students in need. Initially we thought we would give them to the children at my school here in town, but after witnessing the needs of the Maasai children, it was obvious that they would benefit the most from such an incredible gift. As we unloaded the fifty bags from the bus the women and children's eyes got big and huge smiles spread across their faces. They clapped and hugged us and thanked God for his provision. I told the story of Jesus and the children and as I was speaking I looked around at all the tiny faces staring back at me with wonder and joy. I was reminded that each of these little ones is a gift from God. He knows their name and he has their story already written in his book. He has a plan for their life just as he does for mine and yours and this moment that we shared together is part of it. How amazing is that?
Thursday was like Christmas at our school. A little over a month ago, one of my previous teachers, Christie Migl, messaged me asking how she could help my students and fellow teachers. I gave her a list of supplies that we could really use and last week three huge boxes arrived at the post office for us. They were filled to the brim with pencils, rulers, erasers, crayons, colored pencils, sharpeners, folders, spirals, and chalk. Seriously, opening up the boxes felt like Christmas morning. Frank and I just kept pulling out more and more things yelling, "Merry Christmas!" On Thursday we spent time sorting and counting the supplies and figured out the best way to distribute them to the students. There were enough supplies for every student to have a pencil and eraser, and the older students to also have a blue and black pen. We went from classroom to classroom explaining the gift to the students and passing out the supplies. The joy on their faces was so incredibly humbling. Because I teach these students every day, I know them well. I have witnessed them at their quirkiest. When they are full of preteen awkwardness and teenage angst. I see kids getting picked on and kids taking care of others. The newness of the environment has worn off and sometimes I forget just how different their lives are from the lives of my previous students. But then days like Thursday happen and I am brought back to reality. The reality that for 100 first graders, getting a new pencil and eraser can bring more happiness than many of us will ever experience. It was a day that, like my students, I will never forget.
Friday started off as a normal day, but around 10:00 Frank got a call that our friends at Mkambalani, the third Maasai village that we will be visiting monthly, were waiting for us. We had tried to contact them to let them know that we would be coming on Friday, but never heard back. We assumed they didn't get our message so we hadn't planned to go. When Frank called with the news I asked him what we should do, but I already knew what his response would be. "Well we have to go, they are waiting for us." We quickly loaded up the bus with biscuits, juice, called Junior and Baraka to join us, and headed out to the bush. It takes an hour and a half to two hours, to get to these different villages. Once we turn off the main road we just drive into the dusty bush following semi visible paths, occasionally stopping to move tree branches out of the way. We usually come upon women and children who are walking to the church to meet us and we give them a ride the rest of the way.
This was my first time visiting Mkambalani so I wasn't really sure what to expect. But when we drove up to the small church constructed out of tree limbs, rope, and palm branch like leaves, the women and children who were gathered greeted us as if we were old friends. Normally the children are pretty scared the first time we come to visit, especially of me since I am white, but these children were eager to greet me and shake my hand. The women hugged me and warmly welcomed us into their church. We spoke with them about the importance of education, which hit hard because there is no school in the area for the children to attend. Their church was just recently built and their hope is to create a permanent structure as well as classrooms so that their children can receive education. The women were eager to contribute to the conversation and express their needs and dreams for their children. Because the children are not in school they are only speaking Maasai, which meant any instructions for the children had to be translated from English to Swahili and then into Maasai. This didn't at all hinder their joy or excitement. They ate their biscuits and drank their juice and played games with Baraka and me as if we had done it a hundred times before. They even hugged me and let me pick them up. They served us massive portions of rice and beans before sending us off.
As I laid on the bus on the way home I thought about all the children in that village with no school to attend. The Tanzanian government requires all children to go to school and yet there are large, populated areas in which no schools exist. The Methodist church is giving hope to this community and they are counting on them, not the government, to some day provide them with a school and teachers for their children. I talked to Frank about how we can make this happen for them. He discussed first constructing the church, then the classrooms, and then finding teachers. Of course these projects require money which we don't have. And with all of the projects that need funding, where does this community fall on the priority list? In the time it takes for the church and classrooms to be constructed, a whole community of children are going uneducated. I can't go about my day knowing this without feeling heaviness in my heart. I discussed all of this with Frank and he sighed deeply. "So we need to do something. You and me Allee. We are the ones that have to do something about this." Then it was my turn to sigh. I don't know yet what we are going to do, but I know that God does. I ask that you would keep the community of Mkambalani as well and Frank and me in your prayers as we strive to be a source of dependable hope for these people.
I am of the total belief that the work I am doing here is not of my own doing but of God's. I am merely a willing body, thankful that God has chosen to use me in this way. He has shown his faithfulness to me above and beyond, including through the people I mentioned above. I want to sincerely thank the UMW of Prosper UMC, Christie Migl, all those who have donated money towards my missionary efforts, and those who remember me in your prayers. The events that took place this week truly would not have been possible without you and I am so thankful that God has called you to use your gifts to make a difference in my life and the community I am serving.

Mungu akubariki,

Allee