Mondays with Allee

And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.  Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth Philippians 2:8-10      Although not the same Christmas buzz as I’m used to back home, there is definitely excitement in the air here in Bukoba.  We will close the school on Thursday and boarders will depart on Friday morning.  With exams finished and revisions made, the students are spending their days catching up on late work, reading their final library books of the year, and playing with friends before they leave each other for the month-long break.  The staff are writing their final reports and the wedding committees are tying up last minute details so that everything is in order before they, too, depart for home to prepare for Christmas with their famili...

Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9: 36-37 Final exams have started here at KEMPS, which means the end of the school year is drawing near.  Following Tanzanian Independence Day this Wednesday, we will review the exams with our students and tie up any loose ends before closing the school on the 17th.   It’s hard to believe that I’ve already been at KEMPS for a year because, really, I haven’t.  I arrived in February and taught for only one month before returning home from the middle of March to the end of July.  That’s why it is especially amazing for me to see the progress that my students in fifth and sixth grade have been able to make in such a short time.  Both grades are reading, writing, and comprehending and levels much higher than their own, and both have grown thei...

So do not fear, for I am with you;   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.   I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41: 10 I hope you all had a safe, healthy, and joy filled Thanksgiving weekend!  We ironically had no school on Wednesday and Thursday due to the fourth graders taking their national examinations.  I spent all day Wednesday preparing the traditional Thanksgiving dishes as best I could with the ingredients we have here.  It was a cool and rainy day, the perfect day to be in the kitchen with Christmas jazz playing.  By the time the sun set everything was prepped and in the fridge, ready to be cooked the next day.  But when Thanksgiving morning came, I didn’t feel the same excitement that I had felt just the day before.  Being surrounded by people just going about normal life, trying to convey our traditions to Joseph who has no context with which to und...

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12: 28-29 Wedding preparations are in full swing! We had a committee meeting last week where every decision was discussed and voted on by the staff (yes, every decision), and then smaller committees were formed for each part of the celebration (décor, food, security, cleaning, drinks, etc).  All of the smaller committees were assigned a chairperson who was to arrange meeting times for the committee and then report all of their discussions to me.  The major topic of discussion was the price of the horn players who will lead our procession from school down into town and back after the wedding ceremony, as well as which kind of car we should rent for Joseph and I to ride in during the procession. I pretty much just smile and nod, trying to keep up with the Swahili, and then ask Madam Peace about eve...

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 1 Peter 3: 9 Only a day late in posting this week!  For starters, I’m feeling much better.  No stomach issues in over a week!  I can’t even tell you how relieved I am to be able to say that.  Also, in just two days we were able to raise more than enough money for our three sweet boys in Morogoro! Joseph, Damas, and Eliya, as well as their parents, are so deserving of this assistance and I am so thankful to you who donated and continue to keep this family in your prayers.  We’ve ended the fundraiser until this time next year, but if you would still like to make a donation, as always, I will list multiple ways you can do so at the end of this blog post.   This past week was a busy one (a welcome change after being pretty much confined to my bed for three weeks).  At the beginning of the week we had a meet...

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 What a whirlwind this past month has been.  And while I’d like to hope things will calm down soon, I have a feeling that now until the end of the year is going to be just as eventful.  But before we get into what has gone on the past couple weeks, I have an exciting announcement! Keeping Kids in School: Tanzanian Student Scholarship Fundraiser  For those of you who have been following me for some time, you may remember the fundraiser we had last year around this time for three students here in Tanzania.  These were students who I had sponsored myself during my first year here, but due to the nature of my volunteer position, I was unable to afford to continue supporting.  Within days, you, my incredible friends and family, had donated mor...

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29 Well the past two weeks have not at all been what I was expecting them to be. Last Sunday morning I woke up feeling normal.  I had my coffee and a banana with peanut butter.  I got ready for church.  But as I was getting ready my stomach started bothering me and a headache was coming on.  I laid down for a few minutes and drank some water, waiting for it to pass.  Already late for service, I decided to just tough it out and I walked over to the church.  But as I sat, trying to focus in the hot sanctuary that seemed to be getting hotter and hotter, I just felt worse and worse.  Finally Joseph told me I should go home and lay down.  I slept for a couple hours, but woke up to a pounding headache and nausea.  Joseph suggested we go to town to check for typhoid and get some medicine, and he called our Madam Peace to see which clinics would be open on a Sunday afternoo...

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.   Psalm 145: 18          Things are about to change here at KEMPS.  Our seventh graders will take their examinations on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.  Once they finish, they will collect all of their belongings and leave KEMPS for the last time.  Many of these students have been boarders here since they were in preschool, spending significantly more time with their teachers and dorm mothers than their own families.  For these students, they are leaving their home, and while that brings a lot of excitement, it also brings some sadness.  We had our last run with the seventh grade girls last night.  We talked about what it means to be finished with primary school and leave the place they love so much.  They talked about the things they would miss and the things they were looking forward to.  They asked to take selfies together in their runni...