The Journey: 2012

Monday, October 1, 2012

So, it has been a while...A Long While...since I updated my blog.

Sorry about the absence. I have missed writing here, and have thought of many possible posts. Alas, today you are getting an update through pictures. They are not in any kind of order. Some are from my mom's visit here this summer. Others are of our adventures living here. Hope you enjoy them and look for another post from me soon!

Many Blessings,

Amy

Donovan Hanging out under our glass coffee table.
He was watching a video. Interesting position!

Family Photo Time. Thanks Morrisons for capturing the pictures for us...
and for capturing our kid's attention so you could take the pictures!

Donovan and Emily playing football with a coconut
in the back yard with our co-workers.
Sound's like a CLUE game solution.

Coconut football with Daddy!

Donovan's 3rd birthday cake. Keeping it simple.
Daddy was traveling at the time.

One of Donovan and Nana's favorite things to do.
He was pretty good at catching the ball!

Hanging out after a birthday party at a neighbor's house.

Another of Nana and Donovan's favorite things to do together.
Putting together puzzles!

Kathryn and Catherine
Mom's Tanzanian Friend

Nana treated the kids to ice cream!
They obviously loved it!

Riding in a bajaj was one of Nana's favorite parts of her time here...
NOT!!!
It was definitely an interesting experience for her!

Nana and the girls playing cards before bedtime!

The kids caught a hedgehog at school when we went to buy uniforms.

This is Our Church!

First day of school for the girls. Donovan was so ready to go.
He started preschool a week later.

Our first set of baby bunnies and their mama, Turika!
There are 4 kits. Donovan and I are trying to hold the 2 black ones.

Our kids love to play with the baby bunnies!
Donovan was trying to share his chips with his favorite bunny.

4th of July fun...playing Ticket To Ride with friends!

Library time at school with Nana!

Donovan Loves to play Soccer/Football!

Swing Time!

Emily showing her balancing skills on the merry-go-round.

Nana and I cooking in the kitchen! It was so fun to have mom cook with me.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Sluggish

Right now, I have to be honest, I am feeling sluggish. I don't know if it is actually a physical issue because of some new medications I am taking, if it is spiritual, or if it is just an obstacle of

living life in a foreign place. And by sluggish, I mean slow to get started doing some of the things I know I need to be doing.

Whatever the reason, I am ready to get out of this "funk"!

I am not worried about any serious issues with this. I am mostly telling you this just to get it out there for some accountability. I will confess, I have not been studying the Word of God like I would like to. I have also not put much effort in my Swahili studies since returning from my trip to Thailand in May. I have the desire to do the things I need to do. I don't know if it is the motivation I lack, or the encouragement, or what. I just don't know.

What I do know is that God knows.

And with prayer He will lead and guide me.

So please be in prayer for me in this situation. I love very much that we are here, and want to be able to clearly communicate the Good News of my Lord and Savior. :)

Rob and the kids are doing great. I love being with them. The girls are starting to really enjoy playing games and doing art "projects". Donovan is growing so much. We found out the other day that he needs to be wearing glasses. He will get them tomorrow. I will post some pictures soon. I am sure he will be even more adorable, although I don't see how that is possible. Haha!

I hope you hear my heart in this post. I am really doing well, just feeling sluggish like I said before. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail (safariseekers@yahoo.com) if you have any comments, advise, words of experience that you would like to share.

Loving Life!

Amy

Donovan enjoying his juice at Daddy's birthday dinner!

Emily tried so hard to use chopsticks at the Korean restaurant,
then gave up and just started playing with her straw!

Shelbyanne loved the food.
I was so surprised and happy for her!

Rob asked for a banana split cake.
It turned out great, even with substituted ingredients!
I know I am holding my stomach, but I am not pregnant.
Maybe I was just full from dinner! :)

The kids loved playing on the sand pile we had in our yard
because of some construction that is going on at our house.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Getting the Job Done!

After returning from 2 & 1/2 weeks of training in Thailand, I had a case of culture shock. I was so glad to be back with my family and ready to get back to our routine, but mentally I was fighting a battle. I found it hard to come back to life here after enjoying the conveniences and familiar things and places in Thailand. Like fountain drinks, huge malls, McDonalds, air conditioners, worshiping the Lord with songs in English, and spending time with friends I have loved and missed...etc. Then to come back to Tanzania where life is different. As Emerson Eggerichs puts it, "Not bad, just different!"

It didn't take me long for the Lord to redirect my thoughts. I have a job to do here and I didn't have time to put things off. So back to work I went. For the last few weeks I have been preparing visa paperwork for 3 new families heading to Tanzania this year. I am so thankful to be blessed with this job and am looking forward to seeing them all arrive in the coming months. Please pray for them as they are in a time of transition, decision making, packing, and saying their goodbyes (for now) to families, friends, and churches.

What's on my mind now...

I need to find a language helper. We are at a place in our language program where we need to be meeting with people individually. Plus, I need to be talking with a woman, hearing life from her perspective. Also, I have decided to stop being frustrated with myself about the things I don't know and can't do, and be thankful and excited about the things I do know and can do. I am thankful to the Lord for that perspective shift. The language learning conference I attended played a key role in positively adjusting some of my thoughts about language learning.
It is time for us to start looking into buying a vehicle. We are able to get around with taxi's pretty well, but it has been harder since we have moved across town from where our regular taxi driver lives. We are trusting the Lord for guidance in this. There are several things we would need to have in place before we could even consider looking, timing, money, licenses, insurance, etc. To buy a car in Tanzania you have to pay 100% import tax since there is no internal automobile industry. That makes the prices quite high. We expect to have to pay between $10-20,000 to even buy a much older used vehicle. I know that nothing is impossible with God, so I can't wait to see God's hand in this process.
My Mom Is Coming!!! My mom has visited me everywhere I have lived, and she is coming next month to stay with us for just over a month. The kids have already started making signs and pictures for her to celebrate her arrival. We are super excited to have her here, and for her to be able to see what life is like for us.

Well, those are my ramblings for today. Blessings to you all in your journey. Sorry it has been so long since my last update. As they say in Tanzania..."Hii ni maisha!" "This is Life!"

Amy

When the bus stops, you don't even have to get off.
The convenient store comes to you!

Donovan loves to swing!

We were hiking in the woods.

Daddy with his girls!

The Princesses of the rock!

This is how I carry Donovan
when I am walking around town or hiking!

Donovan and I rode a zip line together...
and made it across safely!

We took the kids horse back riding for Emily's 5th birthday.

They loved it!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Our House

I have been wanting to share photos of the house we moved into last month. God has blessed us so much. We have down-sized from 6 bedrooms to 4, and are loving having a one-story house with a big yard. Soon I will include some before and after photos of the yard that Rob and our guard have been working very hard on. We appreciate all the prayers and support that we have received.