To see more pictures and a few videos you can go to this link.

http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1868307027/a=3445132027_3445132027/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

We're Back!

We touched US soil on Monday afternoon. As soon as we arrived, my family was waiting with a Swahili welcome sign and then took Mike and I to Mi Cocina. I have never tasted such satisfying food and sweet tea! Mike and I came home and crashed immediately! And now it seems that we are back to normalcy. Mike is back at work, the laundry is done, the refrigerator is stocked, and the yard is mowed. But it isn't the same. Mike and I both miss Africa like crazy.

Our trip was better than we expected. It was almost as if Mike and I fit in Morgoro. Mike spent most of his time working with some of the members of the church digging the foundation for a high school dorm. Alex Mwagalale (the pastor of Morogoro Baptist) has established a special high school about 20 miles outside of Morogoro for students that need to leave the village for their safety. There are 35 boys and girls that range from the ages of 15 to 21. They live at the high school and attend classes from 8 to 2. Mike and the Tanzanians worked to build a new dorm for some of the students. The labor wouldn't have been so intense if they had a backhoe- but they didn't. They had a tool similar to a large ice pick. They successfully removed stumps (I think the Americans removed 1/2 a stump and the Africans 7) and built the trenches to pour the foundation for the dorm. Building the dorm and working with the Africans really strengthened the friendship between the men. By the time we left, Mike had new African brothers. As a departing gift, Mike gave each one an African bracelet (a manly one) to remind them of the time they spent together. Mike received an email yesterday from his friend Minja, expressing his appreciation for their new friendship. Minja told Mike that it was very hard to say good bye, but every time he looks at his bracelet he thinks of the blessings from the Lord.


I spent most of my time at Paduka (the high school) teaching English and Geography. It was very interesting to see the look on the kids faces when I showed them pictures of the ocean, the moutains, and New York City. Although they live only one hour from the ocean, they have never seen it. Most of them have never been outside of Morogoro. Spending time with the kids was such a blessing. They have so much joy, with so little worldly possessions. Food is scarce and water has to be fetched twice a day from a hole 3/4 of a mile away (in the mountains). They wash their clothes in buckets on Saturday, and iron all of their clothes with metal and hot coals. They have maybe two shirts and one skirt- and maybe one pair of shoes. Their water is contaminated and they get typhoid and malaria often. They cook on coals, and wash their pots with sand (a scrubbing agent) and precious water. They work every afternoon and Saturday to "trim the environment" or clear fields. They hope to someday plant some crops and have a place to play soccer. They know that their conditions are poor, but they know that their reward is in Heaven. They love the Lord with a passion that I have never experienced. I wish you could witness their worship for just one minute- because it would change your life. They cry out to the Lord in thanksgiving! As an American, I don't know if I could cry out to the Lord in thanks, given those circumstances. But as we see it as a lack of clean water, and lacking a kitchen, and lacking this or that- they see it as a blessing to even have water, or even have a place to live! Their perspective is far above mine.

Mike and I went to Africa hoping to teach them something. But we found that they taught us more than we will ever understand. We learned about hard work, perseverance, patience, thanksgiving, worship, praise, fellowship- and most of all, JOY. The relationships that we built over there are everlasting. Of course, we would love to return to Morogoro next year, but on the Lord knows what is in store. Everything can change in a years time. But we do take comfort that even if we don't see any of our friends again on earth, we will spend eternity with them. And I guarantee you that the people of Morogor will be blessed in eternity. Kay Shelton shared this verse with me on the trip, and I think it is a perfect illustration of the people of Morogoro.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether live in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me stength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. "
Phillipians 4:11-14

I have never gone more than 24 hours without eating, and I have never woken up wondering if there will be food available to me. But this is a concern for the people of Morogoro daily. There concerns are truly life threatening. They worry about food and water, we worry about saving extra money or buying a new gadget. Maybe we can't pay our satellite bill or can't buy extra clothes, but the Lord has always blessed us with food, clean water, shelter and clothes.

Yesterday, I found myself viewing people in a new light. I want to see people the way that the Lord sees them. All too often I look at people's things, and not their heart. Imagine what our life would be like if we looked at everyone's heart? I don't know...

I really wish I could summarize for you the kind of love that exists in Morogoro. Pictures can't explain it. Mike and I were very blessed to have spent the time that we did with the people. But I beleive that we were so blessed because the Lord called us, and we responded. The Lord does not call everyone to Africa. He calls people to China, Mexico, Dallas, Colorado, your neighborhood...the list goes on. But I have learned that when the Lord calls you, and you respond, he will bless you. Don't ge me wrong, parts of the trip were difficult. I felt fear like I had never felt before. I seriously thought I was going to die twice (I'm very imaginative...I doubt I was ever in TRUE danger). But I am so so so thankful that I went. My relationship with the people of Morogoro, our mission team, my husband and the Lord has all been strengthened. Thank you all for your loev and support. We felt your prayers while we were gone and could not have completed this trip without you.

We love you all and pray that God will bless you! Mungu awabarik!

Words from Jessica

Jessica sent me this email today...so I will let her do the talkimg

We made it to germany. I dont have a phone to call but the guy let me use his internet to email. We are in a really nice house, it is 3 stories and a basement....which is HUGE for germany. we are on the top floor in our own apartment. the flight was really good. no turbulance. tomorrow we will be tourists in the town. I am STARVING constantly. When we got to the house, the mother had pizza and bread for us to eat. I am so sick of my bars and i havent had meat since i left the U.S. except for the chicken with the feathers and lungs. I am hoping tomorrow to get some sausage or something with substance. We have a wedding on saturday, church Sunday and coming home Monday. We are ready to be home, but its nice to visit with the Germans. We picked up on swahili so much in Tanzania, now we have to pick up on German. We have found ourselves using swahili words and people just staring at us.

Homeward Bound

Jessica and Mike have made it safely to the airport in Dar Es Salaam. Their plane left at 3am their time. But they got to the airport about 9:30 pm their time. It is very unsafe to travel by night there and it takes 3 hours to travel by car to the airport so they left Morogoro early to avoid traveling at night. So as I type this they should be airborne to Etiopia were they will land at 6:45 am. They will then have a layover in Etiopia until 10am where they will board another flight to Franfurt, that will land at 435pm. They will then have until Monday the 26th in Germany where they will leave and arrive back at DFW at 225pm. Lots of traveling and lots of layovers. I am sure they will be exhausted by the time they arrive at their house Monday.

Safari Success

Well their safari adventure today was a success. Jessica said while they were out exploring they saw elephants, zebras, hippos, baboons, giraffes, and lions. Yes and all of these were in the wild!!! She said they got about 30 feet away from everything. Luckily they weren't chased by anything and I don't think that they got lost. But what a cool experience!!! The only time they got a little nervous was when they were near the lions, which would scare me too.

The cook at their hotel approached Jessica and told her how much she really enjoyed her being there and she gave her a dress. Of course these people make so little money so to give a dress was a HUGE gift. Jessica gave her a gift in return...so sweet!!

I wish there was more to report, but that's it folks...until next time.

DIY Safari

It's hard to believe that Jessica and Mike will be leaving Thursday morning to start heading home from Africa. They still won't get back to Dallas until Monday. But when I talked to her today she really wasn't ready to leave. It's hard to believe that this village has no access to the outside world. The people there don't have computers or phones in their homes and there is no mail service. So once they leave, there will be no more communication. She says that they have all gotten very attached to the girls they have been working with. The girls don't want Jessica and the other ladies to leave. Today they gave them the book that they had received from a teacher at Lesa's school and the girls went crazy when they got them. Jessica said you would have thought that it was Christmas. Everyone there is so over the top with their emotions.

Church yesterday was three hours of shoulder to shoulder sitting. Two hours of the service was in Swahili, but that it was not a dull moment there was singing and dancing and praising God. How great it is to know that you can still worship the Lord even if you are half way away the world, in a culture that is so far removed from what you know. Our God can work His wonders anywhere he sees fit.

Now to clarify the safari that Jessica will be going on. All of the men our going into the jungle to visit with some tribes. So the women in the group, Jessica included, and their bodyguard are going to drive around in their jeep and try to find animals in their native habitat....basically this is a DIY safari.

I know that they have had a great time spreading the word in Africa and I can't wait to see all the pictures and hear all the stories.

Missing Clean Water

Sorry the blog has not been updated in a while. But to be honest nothing has been too exciting. Jessica has said that they are REALLY missing clean, clear tap water. What a common necessity that we take for granted? During the day Mike works outside and Jessica teaches a group of girls. They love her and never want her to leave. The village has given them some African clothing but they are pants and Jessica is not for sure if she can wear them to church, since they don't allow women to wear pants in church. Monday there are going to go on a safari to see some animals in the wild. I think that would be so cool. It will surely be an unforgetabke experience.

Today was their day off so she walked with some girls to their water hole to get water and the girls told her that you couldn't come at dark or the gorillas would get you. YIKES!!! To get to the water hole they had to walk 3/4 a mile and through the jungle.

She has been eating a lot of rice and oranges. The other day she noticed that she had noodles in her rice. Sure enough she got sick, luckily she was able to make it back to the hotel before she got too bad.

It is a very poverty stricken area the houses that are more modern don't even have windows or doors. The people there don't feel that it is a necessity. I know that they are really enjoying their time there and God is really using them to spread HIS word.

Doing Well

Jessica called today and spoke to my mom. She said things are still going well. They went today to visit some girls that had hid up in the mountains because they had been used for prostitution. The girls had not eaten in 4 days so the group Jessica is with bought them 200 pounds of rice and beans which was $100. That should be able to last them for a while. Everywhere they go they have a body guard with them and even when she steps out of the hotel to make a call a security guard follows behind her.

On a good note they have not seen any snakes, spiders or scorpions. They are able to take a shower every night, since there is running water in their hotel. It's brown but it's better than nothing.

They have finally found a safe food- rice, beans and some type of plantain. We should all feel so blessed to live in a country where we have clean water, schools for our children, chicken without lungs and feathers and we are safe to walk down most streets.

Mambo everyone! (Hello)

(mike typing)

We are almost finished with our second day here in Morogoro and today was alot of hard work. We went up the mountain to a highschool in Chamwino and worked on building a dorm for the kids. Its amazing to see how hard our friends here work - non stop. Tonight we're going to be heading back to the church to work with more of the kids (and hopefully play a little futbol !)

Mike's time is over. This is Jessica.
We are in a land where they pee in holes, eat corn meal with spiders in it, boil entire fish and call it good, and clean dishes with dirt. And we LOVE it! I have fallen in love with the children. I have hugged a child, laughed at a child, cried over a child and cooked with a child. And we have been here less than two days. I love the Ugali (cornmeal and water) and stay away from the chicken. (We found a lung and a feather in ours.) I am teaching at a school with 30 students ages 18-22. Most of the girls have had children (for money) and they are trying to further their education. The people here LOVE the Lord and experience true joy.

We ride around in a pink van that has broken down three times. We have run out of gas, had a gas leak, had a dead battery, and I'm sure it will continue.

I think Mike and I belong here. We are more than okay. To Mom and Dad- I miss you and love you and wish you could experience these people. To Amanda- you have to come back with me! And to Little Andrew and Allison, the children here are wonderful...but not as wonderful as you!

I love you all and miss you like crazy- but I am literally having the time of my life sleeping under mosquito nets and trying to pee in a hole!

Love to you all! Kwa Herie!

They Made It

Jessica called about 10:30 this morning, CST, to let my mom know they made it safely to Tanzania. They have already checked into their hotel, which Jessica said was gated and had good security. She said things have gone well so far, they did have to wait 4 hours once they landed in Tanzania for the bus to take them to Morogoro. She said they felt over-whelmed and that they had met the people they would be working with and were anxious to get to work. Please keep them in your prayers as the real work begins for them.

On a lighter note, Bentley has been a little brat since being at my mom and dad's. She threw up yesterday repeatedly and someone peed on the floor either Diesel or Bentley. And my mom said Jessica forgot to remind her that her dogs like to go out at 6:30 every morning so my mom has had an alarm, i.e, Diesel's face in hers every morning at 6:30. Plus Diesel is scared to walk on hardwood floors which is all my parents have in their house. It has been very comical to see a 100+ pound dog frightened to death of the floors he's walking on.

Jessica can only call for 5 minutes a day so if and when she calls again, I will keep you updated. Thanks for all the prayers that have been sent their way.

Headed To Ethiopia

Jessica called last night and they safely made it to Germany. They then had a 16 hour lay-over and left today about 2pm our time. She called to say they were about to leave from Germany and that everything was going great. They were concerned yesterday that their luggage would be over the 50 pound weight limit and all 3 of their suitcases were.....but they had a fellow Aggie who was checking them in and he let it slide. If not they would have had to pay $50 for each suitcase that weighed over 50lbs. She says she will call Monday once they get to Tanzania.

While they are away please pray for their safety, and that they may truly touch many lives there. What a great blessing for them to be able to travel to Africa and be able to spread the word of our Lord while there. The conditions are no where near optimal so pray that that will not deter any of those traveling with them about why they are there.

I will try and update this blog anytime we hear from them, until then continue to pray for them.

And we're off!

Today is the big day! We're off to our African adventure! I'm sure we forgot to pack something, but as long as we have our passport, toothbrush and underwear- we're set! We are leaving at 2:30 and we will arrive in Germany around midnight, US time. We will be there for 16 hours before we leave for Ethipia on a 7 hour flight. 4 hours in Ethiopia and then 3 to Tanzania!

My sister, Amanda, will be updating the blof from this point on. If we ever have access to internet, I will try to post something, but she should be updating the blog daily.

Please continue to pray for our safety and for open hearts. There is definately a language barrier in Tanzania so pray that the Spirit will speak through us in a way that they can understand.

Until then- kwa heri! (Goodbye in Swahili)

Last Minute Details!

We're leaving in four days, and I don't think we are any closer to being ready then we were four months ago. It seems like I buy something, set it in a pile, buy something else, set it in another pile, make a list, make a new list, lose the old list, and have to start all over again!

I don't think it is real to either of us yet. I have a feeling the Mike will be panicing Thursday night, and I'm sure we will make a few midnight runs to Wal-Mart. We have our flight information. We will be on a nine hour nonstop flight from DFW to Germany, leaving Friday at 2:30. We have a sixteen hour layover in Germany where we will join the Germans from ANdernach City Chruch for food and fellowship...and maybe some naps. From there, we have a seven hour flight to Ethiopia with a four hour layover. Lastly, we have a two hour flight to Tanzania where we then drive a couple of hours to Morogoro!

I've included a picture of our group that is traveling to Tanzania. Please excuse the photoshopped head of Amy. There are four couples traveling (including Mike and I), and two women whose husbands will remain in the States. Everyone, besides me, is a mother leaving their children. Please pray for the families that are left with maybe one phoen call a day. We pray that the enemy doesn't penetrate their thoughts and imaginations. Please pray for comfort for the children. Kids can have very extravageant imaginations, which leads to worry.

I will keep you updated until the day we leave. Until then, please continue to pray for our protction and that the Lord's Will will be done.