Come here to follow our bloggers as they span Tanzania from coastal city to mountain village, exploring Compassion International's ministry to impoverished children and telling you all about it with words and pictures along the way.
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I went to Tanzania last week to help others, but really I think they helped me the most. Here’s what I mean…
Thursday night after dinner Shaun asked us what we thought would be the hardest part about going back home.
My answer?
“I don’t know how to go home after spending the last week here — I didn’t want to come here in the first place.” It was supposed to be funny — so I’m glad the group laughed at me, because I was sobbing at that point and really needed a bit of relief. {I cried so many times last week, really it was no surprise that I cried once again on Thursday.} We left on Friday, May 4th, and the entire week leading up was hugely emotional for me. I knew I needed go on the trip but I didn’t *want* to. Every feeling from this past week has been shot straight into my heart.
Mothers everywhere love their babies and want them to grow up and to succeed in life. Partner with a mother (or if the child is an orphan, partner with their guardian) and help ensure that their child is cared for, fed, schooled, immunized, in community with other children, surrounded by mentors, clothed and given the chance to learn about God’s Word. Is there any better gift?
Yesterday I stood inside a beautiful building with a thousand other believers. Lights flashing, hands raised, sounds blaring, we joined together in praise of the One who created us all. The one who still works miracles. The One who has not forgotten, has not let go, has not surrendered His creation.
But worship was different for me. As we entered the sanctuary with it’s four solid walls, high, vaulted ceiling and cushioned, comfortable seats, I told Lee that I feel different. Not different in a “I want to sell all we have and live in a hut eating bananas and tangerines” sort of different, though. It’s more of a, “I’ve seen God’s power and ability to move in and through His people and I don’t ever want to lose this feeling of awe and gratitude for who He is” sort of feeling.
Warning:: Moms of boys may experience uncomfortable, unexplainable side effects while reading this post. Side effects are treatable with a prompt visit here to sponsor a teenage boy. In order to alleviate the discomfort, take one or two of those and email me in the morning–for real, you should email me after you do this.
Vast green grasslands with big huge-attention stealing, Mt. Kilimanjaro quietly watching over the entire last 45 minutes of driving. Mt. Kilimanjaro is an introvert but one you can’t help but notice. It was breathtaking. And on the way, our guide, Mary tells us that many of the children at this Compassion location are Maasai. Wait, what? Maasai? I know that word! The ONE thing I actually kind of heard of about Tanzania? I have to put on my sunglasses on the bus and make Maggie tell me funny stories because how do I explain that I’m already tearing up that Topo might be Maasai?
I tried to think of a brilliant way to start this post today. I desperately wanted to channel my inner Ann Voskamp and write something eloquently beautiful and poetic about all that I saw today but, honestly, all I’ve been able to come up with is…
HOT DOG, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFRICAN PLAINS TODAY AND IT WAS FLIPPING AWESOME!
This is a beautiful country. In every sense of the word, Tanzania encompasses the majesty and beauty of Creation. Mt. Kilimanjaro opens up to rolling hills and wide, open valleys surround plains rich and green. Cattle lumber slowly up the hillside, their shepherds walking beside. It was all so peaceful, driving through that wide open countryside.
Every night of this trip, all of the Compassion bloggers have come together to share stories, snacks, laughter, tears, check facts and spellings (Kiswahili – oh my!) and do what we love most – write. I have been so blessed to share this week with five amazing bloggers whose styles and perspectives differ greatly from my own. There is so much more that I want need to say about my experiences this week, and I know that the stories will come to me slowly over time in many future posts, emails, and conversations. But for now, I want you to meet the incredibly gifted people I have come to love this week and hear about our experience through their words.
Hey guys!
So here’s the deal. We’ve talked a lot about Compassion this week. Um…actually we have talked exclusively about Compassion this week. I’ve talked so much about Child Sponsorship, which is the core of what Compassion does, but there are SO MANY ways for people to get involved with this ministry.
So maybe you already sponsor a child and you want to take it a step further. Or maybe you don’t yet sponsor a child, but you would like to help contribute to the work Compassion is doing all around the world. Here are a few ways you all can be involved in Compassion International.
I remember when I was a young child I used to enjoy throwing rocks in a pond near my home and I was always amazed at how that one little rock could send ripples throughout this huge body of water. As I’ve gotten older I’ve seen the ripple effect of good/bad decisions, good/bad coaches, good/bad investments, good/bad leaders and the list goes on and on. The ripple effect is all around us and some ripples are larger than others. Let’s take a look at a ripple.
The Setting: The middle of the vast open-land in Tanzania where the Maasai Tribe resides. Small home/hut made of mud, leaves, vines and trees. Imagine the most national geographic, late night infomercial w/ flies buzzing around image that you can conjure up.
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15: 4-7
Today was our final day visiting Child Development Centers in Tanzania. Part of me is exhausted, a tired that I have rarely felt any other time of my life. Yet part of me feels more alive, more energized than ever before. Inspired by the words of one of our group leaders, Shaun Groves, I prepared to give as much of myself to this last group of children as I did to the first.
From the very beginning, this center visit in Arusha, Tanzania was different from all of the rest. Driving out to the center took over an hour and we traveled through some absolutely beautiful areas not far from Mt. Kilimanjaro. The homes here are a different style than the ones in Mwanza because the soil is so very different, making bricks difficult to make. Also, there is a very large Maasai population.
Amy Lupold
Jolanthe
Kelli
Maggie
Scott
The
Keely Scott
Shaun
The children welcome us with a dance
Compassion child gets a new doll
Moses shows his sewing abilities.
The Duck Dance
Tour of Child Development Center TZ-670
Tour of Child Development Center TZ-967