Dear Family & Friends,
Now 'tis Monday evening of the first day of our last seminar, and feeling tired but very positive. There were times today when we facilitators thought our teacher participants had not remembered as much as we had hoped from 2010, or certainly that they had not spent much time practicing the classroom/lesson plan preparations or computer skills. But the overall participation within the sessions, interactive discussions between teachers during activities, and teacher-facilitator interactions were very reinforcing. All facilitators were directly leading or involved in the sessions: a student-centered model lesson, review and application of the resource book, computers for EXCEL, an overview of what the subject area syllabi contain, reviewing the first component of sheltered instruction and expanding the applications to Tanzanian secondary classrooms, and finally, from 7-8 PM, teachers beginning their lesson plans. OK, now we remember why we are tired.
But this letter is about being blessed by visitors and visiting, while still working together in our expanded team to prepare last week for this week's seminar. As most of our visitors will probably attest, finding time with us depends very much on finding time outside our work -- and our housemates would probably tell you we never stop talking about Mwangaza's efforts to assist teachers in their growth. We are not complaining, just sharing our passion.
Mama Marieth and family invited us into their family in 2001 and we always feel at home each year/time we walk to Enaboishu. Last week Mama texted us from a bus on the road from Dar, where she had attended a wedding. With her was her firstborn, Inse (in - say) who has lived in Senegal for more than 20 years. Since that means he has always been on the other side of Africa when we were in Tanzania, this was our first opportunity to meet and share with him. Prisca, the 4th daughter, escorted him to our house at Mwangaza after our day's meetings/work had ended, and they shared tea and conversation with us. Inse is an artist/painter, with many insights into the human condition, especially as political life changes in the countries of western and northern Africa. His thoughts, concerns, and perspectives reflect also the strength of faith and character we see in his Mama. Walking challenging paths to get to us, they left about 5:30 so they could arrive home before darkness fell -- and it does FALL here.
Then we awaited our next guests, Nese (left) & Kellen (right, wrapped in the blanket) Msseemmaa, ladies who are becoming well-known as individuals, but are also known as the sister and wife of David Msseemmaa, and also the daughter and daughter-in-law of Pat & Martin Msseemmaa.
There is no way to tell everything about their reasons for being in Tanzania at this time, but Nese is seeing many people and places for the first time, including Kellen's home in Uganda and the summit of Kilimanjaro. She is traveling with Kellen most times, but Kellen is also the contact person for a chocolate bar manufacturer in Missouri who buys cocoa beans from southern Tanzania, so she has been on the road to there.
We had a wonderful evening of sharing, introducing them also to Pastor Merlyn and Carolyn (our newest teammate) Seitz, then stepping away for some special alone time at the local lodge restaurant. As you can see, our ladies were smiling and looking beautiful as always. They even chose to stay overnight and share breakfast with us, but then needed to leave early Tuesday morning to catch a bus to Engaruka, the parish/village in companionship with St. Pauls in Sterling. There are also students there who St. Pauls are supporting with scholarships to attend high school at Enaboishu.
Story of a changing world: After Inse and Prisca left, we began looking for the arrival of Kellen and Nese, having received a Sunday email from David (their long-range travel agent) that they would probably arrive about 5 PM. Of course 5 had come and gone before Inse and Prisca left, but no one here expects folks to arrive "on time". However, as time was approaching 7 PM, a bit of anxiety was setting in -- but then the phone rang. Certainly we were amazed when the caller wasn't Kellen or Nese, but David, who was calling from Missouri in the USA. His very important reason for this emergency call? -- to tell us that Kellen and Nese were in a taxi, about 3 kilometers from us, but had lost our phone #. So, while less than 2 miles from us, they had called across Africa, the Atlantic, and halfway across the States to reach David , who in turned called back to TZ to notify us they were OK, just down the road a piece, and would be arriving momentarily. Isn't communication technology wonderful?!!
We left work a bit early Tuesday afternoon, as Pastor Seth and Fadhila had invited us to visit them in their home in Usa River. (We are not being disrespectful to our USA, the village's name is Usa (oo - saw) River) As it is not far beyond the Stubbs' at Makumira, we caught a ride to the front gate of the Univ and Seth met us there. Soon we were being warmed by their great hospitality and delicious food. Fadhila's older sister lives literally across the street from them, shared in the preparations and the afternoon sharing. Between them, the ladies set a tantalizing table of great tastes. Fadhila is a teacher and is also raising chickens to sell to restaurant kitchens in the area. Right now she has 300 3-week old chicks, already eating lots and hopefully will be the right size soon, as Americans and Europeans are arriving for safaris in the Northern Hemisphere's summer months. Seth is doing well and Joel is loving special time with his Baba.
Pastor Kambeine, the Pastor of Ketumbeine when Sharon visited in 2003, visited us at Mwangaza Wednesday afternoon. He very much honored us by bringing his oldest daughter and his fiance, Christina, a elementary teacher of English. They are to be married August 6th. Pastor's first wife passed away approximately 2 years ago, weeks after giving birth to their 4th child. Pastor Kambeine is no longer at Ketumbeine. The Bishop moved him to a parish nearer Arusha, as his home/children are in this area. In fact, his new congregation is near Makumira and Usa River.
Meanwhile, our team was working regularly and at length to wrap us the previous week's intake and exit surveys, brought Carolyn up-to-date (we, of course, were sharing much more during her first weekend than anyone could absorb while fighting jet lag), and plan for the upcoming (this) week. Creative juices were flowing from all teammates, and if today was an indication, the facilitators and the teachers will grow this week.
And last, but not least, Mwangaza received a late Saturday afternoon/early evening visit from NIU professor Kurt Thurmaier from Tanzania Development Support, whose group arrived earlier at Kili earlier in the day, had picked up Pastor Seth and toured Makumira University, and made time for a quick stop at Mwangaza before continuing on to their rooms for the night. Mwangaza folks are grateful for the visit, and email discussions are likely to follow, since Dr. Thurmaier and group are also invested in education.
One of the impressive experiences of the week occurred during NIU's visit, as the Mwangaza's overnight guards and Andrew, our friendly fundi, anticipated my next steps and had the seminar hall, then the computer rooms open and well-lit to be shown and discussed. Even had the very bright flashlights/torches ready for the short walk in the dark to the hostel, with a torch leading the way and another following. Mwangaza's staff epitomizes Mwangaza, each person seeing him/her self as an integral part of the team, anticipating and finding ways to be of service to others while also sharing with others. It is a joy to be part of the team even for our relatively short periods.
Peace and love,
Mike and Sharon
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