travelingrev-blog

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Dictionaries, thesauruses and cell phones for 100 students for Christmas

Can you send a dictionary, a thesaurus and an old cell phone to a Msalato Theological College student? This is my request.

Msalato Theological College has just under one hundred students. They are avid readers. Their personal bibles are filled with notations highlights and commentaries. They like most seminary students wouldn’t trade their school bible for anything in the world. Their bibles are very personal and usually given to them by a family member as an honor for them going to seminary. When I asked students which book they needed most the resounding reply was “an English to English dictionary” or our standard dictionary. They have repeatedly stated that English is of major importance to their success here in the college. And many have English to Swahili dictionaries but these only give partial help when they are attempting to grasp the full meaning of a word. I believe that a personal thesaurus as well as a personal dictionary would aid these students in their quest for knowledge in order to improve themselves and their community at large.

There are many cell towers in place throughout Tanzania. Although, they use cell phones with older technology. I brought four old cell phones with me to Tanzania only two worked. The others the technology was too new.

All of the students here at Msalato Theological College will be going home to see their families. Some of them haven’t spoken with them in months because of limited communication.

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That moment when....

I am beginning to know and appreciate that moment when forces beyond your control pull everything together. The points of the universe connects the dots and you get to say "Wow! Look at God."

I began my adventure in Tanzania to find God everywhere in everyone. However, those times when you need to find God in difficult for no reason people (in staff meetings) that can be particularly challenging.

This is the second week of the new semester here at Msalato Theological College, MTC where I am the Volunteer Lecturer in charge of the Dodoma Language Institute.

All the students have returned. The improvements in their English brings great joy to my heart. Then to see their confidence while speaking border on arrogance makes me leap with enthusiasm to eagerly continue the work I am privileged to do here.

The students' energetic return has helped me to understand how God is aligning the world yet again for a purpose I will never understand. They tell stories of how God used them in the villages to accomplish amazing things. They have all returned with noticeable weight loss because of the drought many areas did not have food and none complain.

The students return to feed on what MTC is able to provide and to gain more knowledge to equip them for their ministries. If given a choice many think they would like to visit America. However, overwhelmingly most just want to return to the villages and help others come to know God. They are true evangelist.

The Diocese of Central Tanganyika, DCT is the largest Anglican Diocese in the world (British Broadcasting Company, BBC). It has over 700,000 members. I am grateful for the opportunity to be present with students as they learn to be the future priest of this DCT.

It has been persistent dream of mine to assist young people become ministers. My son once ask in our youth group, "Mom if, it's so easy to become a priest, why don't you do it?" I did.

I thought it was difficult to become a priest in America, but to watch these young men and women continue their challenging quest to serve God is indeed humbling. God has taken all that I thought were problems of priesthood and made them a distant memory. These students walk vigorously with God regardless of the consequences. They have shown me how God will connect the dots in pleasant and troubling times.

God is in control and the universe is aligned. The students have returned, ready, willing and energized to learn how to be a better servants of God. They have boosted my energy and I am glad to be here so I can say, "Wow! Look at God."

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Dictionaries, thesauruses and cell phones for 100 students for Christmas

This is my request for this Christmas season. Can you send a dictionary, a thesaurus and an old cell phone for one Msalato Theological College student? These items can be shipped to Rev. Karen A. King, c/o Msalato Theological College, P.O. Box 264, Msalato Dodoma Tanzania. Msalato Theological College has just under one hundred students. They are avid readers. Their personal bibles are filled with notations highlights and commentaries. They, like most seminary students wouldn’t trade their school bible for anything in the world. Their bibles are very personal and usually given to them by a family member as an honor for them going to seminary. 
When I asked students which book they needed most the resounding reply was “an English to English dictionary” or our standard dictionary. They have repeatedly stated that English is of major importance to their success here in the college. And many already have English to Swahili dictionaries but these only give partial help when they are attempting to further explain the full meaning of a word at their advanced level. I believe that a personal dictionary as well as a personal thesaurus would aid these students. Their quest for knowledge in order to improve themselves and their community at large is evident in everything they do. Regarding cell phones: There are many cell towers in place throughout Tanzania. However, they use cell phones with older technology. I brought four old cell phones with me to Tanzania only two worked. The others the technology was too new. The towers are available but the cost of the phones are prohibitive. Many students need cell phones to communicate with their family. Often a cell phone call to or from home can improve study habits. Many of these students leave their village in order to serve their call to God. Please make sure that your phone carrier unlocks and resets the phone before you send it. This will make transferring it to a student easier. All of the students here at Msalato Theological College will be going home to see their families. Some of them haven’t spoken with them in months because of limited communication due to lack of cell phones. If you can find it within your power to donate any of these three items to one of these one hundred students they and I would be most grateful. Thank you in advance for considering my request. The Traveling Rev.

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With a humble heart

Today I followed my friend, Rev. Yohnan Chijete around his Deanery of Mleche to two of the four churches. The life of a priest in Tanzania is fulfilling and trying. Each church has more than two hundred members. Many members give their offerings out if shear love for God, Christ and community. Five USD is equivalent to ten thousand Tanzanian schillings. Some people earn less than three hundred dollars or 650,000 Tanzanian schillings per year. Priest rely heavily on inconsistent pay from the church/diocese and donations. Many live away from their home villages. So they maintain two locations, support their children through school and aid local villagers in their time of need. After my first visit in 2009, I came home to the US and gave up my Starbucks habit of $120 per month and sent money to various causes here for one year. Being back in Tanzania I can see that my donation helped make a difference in the lives of those who received these donations. These pictures depict the tale of two churches in the Mleche Deanery. The first church is St. John you can see that it has a roof, columns, chairs, lights, windows and a concrete floor. Here Rev. Chijete lives in the old pastor house until his house is completed. The members of St. John have reached 80% completion on the house and have reached a five thousand USD financial delay. The other church, I have forgotten the name, has Rev. Peter, Deacon in Charge who celebrated his one year anniversary today. Peter has galvanized the members of this church to build a new church and they need about three thousand USD. This would complete their floor and roof, at the moment windows are not a priority. Whenever I return from an unincorporated area to my upscale apartment, by their standards, I consider how blessed I am to be sharing my life with these wonderful God centered and focus people. With humbled heart, Karen

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Please pray for Tanzanian students who take Form Four Exams for the next three weeks. They don't get their results until March. There are times when I realized how easy I had it in America and complained about it. The wonderful spirit of Tanzanians are grateful for everything and everyone they have in their life. They showed and taught me love and gratitude before after only five weeks. This time their spirit is truly sinking in. I am forever humbled and grateful. Thanks God for the opportunity to see your love in this way. Asante Mungu!

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The Chaka Shamba

Today I had the blessing of sitting on one of the Chaka's Shambas or farms. This shamba is 30 acres and sits between two high ridges. The sun sets on the west of the farm and the view I'm told is the best ever. We walked over two miles around the farm according to my Fitbit. The only person tired was me. The Chaka family members spoke of how they harvest rice, maize, mangoes and an assortment of other vegetables. They showed me the different fields for planting. I was invited back in December when everything is lush and green. We headed back to the house to see Baba Chaka looking like a Great Chief sitting in the shade viewing his land. He was very wise in his investments while he was working for the government. He has the children and the land to prove it. It felt so good to sit in the shade and the cool soft wind from the hills on a hot day. We drank cold sodas and ate coconut cookies. Incorporated rural life has solar panels for electricity and man made wells. It appears to be hard work through cooperative farming with the neighbors. They share the work and the harvest. Dennis is married now, he wasn't six years ago. His lovely wife smiles and nods whenever spoken to. She and Magdalena seems to have a great relationship. On our walk they locked arms and whispered the whole time. The Chaka shamba is a lovely place to spend the afternoon. See you there soon. Karen

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After five hours of traveling here is my hotel room in Tabora. It was worth the trip. The hotel owner is a friend of the Chaka family and their land connects with a common fence.

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The toilet in the bush

The bus is different. The Windows stayed open until we got to the rough road . Then the endows were closed and the air was turned on. Please tell me why the air wasn't on the whole time. Never mind. We started going through the unincorporated area. The windows needed to be closed and the air conditioner was truly appreciated. I could not understand how in miles and miles of trees and grassland how anyone knew it was time for their stop. Everyone who was getting off stood five minutes before their turn and the bus stopped. And voilà there stood a small town with dukas/stores and everything, except a toilet. Magdalena kept saying we would have to use the toilet in the bush. This means when the bus finishes going through the unpaved and unincorporated area, the bus stopped on the first half mile of paved road and everyone who had to go got off the bus. Okay start laughing now. So, I get off the bus looking for a toilet even a choo. Magdalena leads me to the back of bus and says hold on to the rail on the back of the bus and stoop down and pee. My brain says that's okay I'll wait. There are other people squatting here. They of course are looking at me with great disgust because I'm holding up the line. Can I do this? 30 seconds, 40, 50. Magdalena says hurry the bus is leaving.60,70 and finally it comes. I am cracking up. This is too too funny. Toilet in the bush. Of course the Facebook video of th loins coming out of the bush sped up the process. My sister, Amy's advice to always bring tissue and hand sanitizer came to mind. I'm glad I listened.

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Into Shamba or into bush country.

Today my friend, guide and language teacher, Magdalena Chaka is taking to her family home/farm. Whereas, I thought I was in a rural area it's about to get even more rural. The trip to the chop/toilet in the bus station has proven very interesting. Okay I needed a change of clothes afterwards. Lol! Magdalena has to tell me how to use it. She then assured me that people of Tanzania still wet their clothes when they use the chop. Assume your best squat position then aim for the five inch hike in the floor. The good news is I didn't wet my socks and shoes. Lol! Success!!!

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God's rural world

I often forget that God's rural areas are the same all over the world. The day often starts with the cock's crow and is followed by the sweet harmony of birds chirping, dogs howling, cows mooing and engines turning. Once harmony is achieved your sense of smell is awakened by the aroma of lavender, roses and manure. When I have these morning whether in Dodoma, Tanzania, Walsingham, UK, Bridgetown, Barbados or Ripon, Wisconsin; I wondered of God's grace towards humanity. Then a "What if?" question always comes to my mind. What if we were as kind, generous and forgiving towards each other as God is towards us? Kind, generous and loving as the earth that continues to yield fruit, vegetables and livestock. Kind, generous and loving as the sun, sky, stars and moon. What if we were truly created in the image of God reflected His kind, generous and loving spirit to each other? Then God would emerge beyond Himself and create something new and different in the world. Who will you practice your Godlike ways with/through today.... Let's be like God and be kind, generous and loving to someone today. Give thanks by giving you. The Traveling Rev Karen

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Old friends together again in Tanzania after six years.

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These are just a few things in my week

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I have officially finished my first full week in Tanzania. It has been exceptional and challenging. I must say one day I lost it; I broke my glass pitcher of Sorrel Punch (Rosell) and I didn't have a dust pan and my mop broke. Sometimes it's the little things. The staff promptly brought me a mop and my house momma arrived the next day. These are just a few pictures from this week.

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Everywhere I go

I been told there was an earthquake in the area on the day I arrived in Tanzania. However there it was not near me. Your continued prayers for me and the people of Tanzania. When I was in Paris in 2005, the protesters burned cars. Go figure.

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