Long Time No See!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all of your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Hey there! Long time no see! 

It's been a busy and exciting few months since I finished my year of service at Wesley Primary School.  I was able to travel home for two weeks at the end of June to see my family and friends a while I was there I celebrated my 26th birthday and was offered another missionary teaching position in northern Tanzania! When God showed me that my time at Wesley was finished, I found myself praying (okay, worrying) about what was next for me.  Do I go home? I didn't feel called to return to teaching in Texas.  Do I find another job here? A missionary job? I started searching for opportunities both close to Morogoro and all over Tanzania and east Africa.  I contacted the ELCA (Lutheran Church of America) and told them a bit about my background and the kind of work I was being called to do and asked them if they had any positions that sounded like a good fit.  I got a response almost immediately with what appeared to be the PERFECT fit (almost like God knew what he was doing).  It was an English teaching job at an elementary school, very similar to Wesley, that would start in January and last for two years.  While it is still in Tanzania, the school is in a city called Bukoba, which is located in the far north west part of the country on Lake Victoria, close to the Ugandan border and a 17 hour drive from Morogoro.  The position offered to provide travel expenses, housing, a stipend, as well as medical insurance.  I filled out the application quickly and had my interview while I was home in June.  Everything about it felt right.  In the interview they asked me about my experience in Morogoro and told me about the 30 year partnership between the school and their partner synod in the U.S.  Thirty minutes after my interview, I received an email that they felt I was the right person for the job.  Thanks be to God.  

I returned to Tanzania and began studying Swahili at the Lutheran Junior Seminary here in Morogoro.  The seminary, which is also home to a high school and the Swahili language program, is situated at the base of the Uluguru mountains with the most spectacular views and luscious tropical greenery that reminds me of being at a summer camp in the woods.  The language school always has students coming and going, some studying for two weeks, some a month, some longer.  They bring in teachers as they are needed and create individualized programs for every new student(s) that arrives.  I started my class with two other students, Astrid a young woman from Norway, and JJ Kim, a 60 year old missionary from South Korea.  Our class was by far the most diverse and I think we had the most fun.  Our teacher Agnes was a master at catering to our differing first languages and varying levels of Swahili knowledge.  We studied Monday through Friday from 8 to 4 with a long lunch break in the afternoon.  I loved every minute of it.  Really.  Being able to take a language that I had been trying my best to speak for the past year, and have everything explained so clearly made my heart happy.  Every day another I got another piece of the Swahili puzzle that I had been trying to assemble in my head.  

I think my favorite part about the language school is all the different people I have been able to meet.  I remember the first time I had lunch with Astrid as well as two other girls, one from Finland and one from Germany, and we spoke (in English) about our experiences in Tanzania and the differences from our home lives, I felt this surge of joy flow through me.   For the entire year I served at Wesley, I didn't meet anyone who was not Tanzanian.  And I enjoyed that.  I learned so much and really was immersed in the culture.  But I know now that having people to talk to who understand both where you are coming from and what you are experiencing is more important than I ever realized before. 

When I finished my time at Wesley and started studying Swahili I also moved to a house closer to the seminary.  Since July I have been living real Tanzanian life.  There is no Anitha to cook and clean and wash clothes by hand.  I do that myself.  I don't have consistent running water so I fetch it in buckets from the well outside my house.  Every day I am learning more about African life and how difficult it can be and I would be lying if I don't think back to my life in McKinney, Texas with envy at times.  I still have Lucky and Daisy who keep me company which greatly confuses my neighbors.  Also, I think Lucky is expecting kittens (will keep you posted on that)! 

I am now just over halfway through my Swahili course.  JJ has already left to start his work and Astrid is taking some time off to visit the mountains, so I am continuing alone and expect to finish a bit earlier than the originally anticipated November ending date.  I am working on getting all of my paperwork in order to start my new job in January and will come home for Christmas before the big move. 
I have missed writing Mondays with Allee.  I took a break, first, because I needed it, but also because honestly I didn't think I would have much to write about.  But even though I haven't been serving in an official capacity the past few months, God has continue to work and every week I think of something I want to tell you all about.  I stay in contact with my friends from Wesley and I have visitors at my house nearly every weekend, which I love.  I have met hilarious, interesting, and inspiring new friends at the language school, and I have experienced African life in a totally new way living on my own.  I have also had the time I was needing for my spirit to renew and for my body to recharge.  I feel more ready than ever to begin this new call in Bukoba in January.  

While I was serving at Wesley, the needs of those around me were so apparent that whenever someone asked me how they could help, I always had an answer.  People have continued asking me what they can do to help and I know that when I start my job in January God place new needs in my path, but during this transition I wasn't really sure what to say.  However, a need has recently arisen.  Last year I agreed to sponsor three students with their studies.  These students, Damas and Joseph Venance and Patricia Paul, their families took me in as their own.  They loved me and cared for me and became my own family here in Tanzania.  I felt that helping them with their school fees was the least I could do, not thinking seriously about my no income volunteer status.  When I stopped to think about whether or not I could support these students long term, I just told myself, 'God put the need in front of you, he will make a way'.  The time is coming soon for these students' school fees to be due, $1,650 in total, and I am not in a place financially to be able to support them.  If you feel called to contribute any amount, even just five dollars towards these kiddos' education, it would mean the world not only to them and to me, but to their entire family.  I have started a fundraiser on Facebook "Keeping Kids in School: Tanzanian Student Scholarship Fundraiser" where you can donate, and, as always, you can use Venmo (username @Alison_Gomulka) or send a check to 15601 Shady Brook Lane College Station, TX 77845.  

I will resume weekly Mondays with Allee posts when I start my new job in January and I relish your continued support and prayers as I finish my Swahili course and make the transition to Bukoba.  I have felt the power of love and prayers from this community of readers and for that I can't thank you enough.  

Mungu akubariki,

Allee

School Fee Details

Damas Venance 

4th grade at Wesley Primary School

School Fees: $350 per year

Due: Before Christmas

Joseph Venance

8th grade at Alpha Secondary School

School Fees: Estimated $600 per year (Waiting on test results)

Due: Before Christmas

 

Patricia Paul 

1st year at Kenyata Univeristy

School Fees: $340 per semester ($680/year)

Due: End of September 

Joseph (left) and Damas (center) in front of their house with baby brother Eliya.

Patricia's school photo.

Patricia posing in front of her university..