Wednesday, April 29, 2009

I spent two days in the village of Mwitikira. I was honored to made Mwitakirian. This photo shows the women at the well. I pulled up two buckets. Water ....

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another mother & baby - maternity ward.jpg

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just born - touring hospital.jpg

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for mills!.jpg

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the bishop & his valley.jpg

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rift valley with cross.jpg

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rift valley.jpg

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home away from home...nursing school.jpg

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bishop with nurses.jpg

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nursing school - miss you Ellen!.jpg

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st johns sewing school.jpg

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form ii at st johns (not st joes!).jpg

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secondary school student's @ st. joes.jpg

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bishop with child.jpg

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the bishop.jpg

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mayoni.jpg

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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Unable To Upload Photos

All: Amy called me from Dodoma. She is doing fine and is back from her village visit. However, her wireless is down for unknown reasons and she has not been able to troubleshoot the issue. So, more pictures are coming to the blog, they're just delayed. Thanks. Amy's dh.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

While the Carpenter 's Kids had their picture taken, I found fun with the other children of the village ....some of whom were not "needy enough" or "vulnerable enough" to be CKs .... That alone shows the poverty in Africa.......

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Beautiful!

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Traditional song & dance!

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Dance & Sing!

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Willie demonstrates how to use their new mosquito nets :)

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Welcomed with love & song!

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Our going too fast on dirt pothole filled, rutted to the near center of the Eath roads caused a problem for Willie. :(

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After uniforms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Village #2

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Good Saturday Morning! Beside me are geraniums...grown to gigantic size. We are leaving Dodoma to head north to 3 villages' Distribution Day. More pics soon........ :)

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

The hostel in Dar

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My room for one night in Dar. I'd take a picture of the bathroom, but I can't figure out how to turn on the light! :)

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In dar!

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For Jaime!

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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Card from Mom

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Mom was concerned this card would not get to me by the time I left. And, she was troubled by the lack of pictures of me on my blog. So, dh took this for you ~ MOM~ after our departure dinner at Layla's. Oceans of love ~ Big A.

The card reads:

Prayer can span the distance

when folks are far apart.

so I keep you in my prayers

and close within my heart!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Two Cups of Tea & A Latte


(With apologies to Greg Mortenson!)


Today I had three “let’s met before you leave” with three wonderful women. Each friend is at a different phase of life. Each friend breathes life into me from her own perspective.

Thank you Mary, Brigette and Michele for supporting me through this journey. You will be in my heart in Tanzania and always!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Thank you, Sabrina!

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Good News and Commissioning

On Saturday morning, I walked our dog Duke to let the dh sleep in. I usually don’t do this, but I was feeling joyful after a really nice good-bye party from my previous work. And, with the prospect of following my passion and calling ~ a few minutes of sleep seemed like a small sacrifice.


While walking Duke an email came over my crackberry. “Good news” it was title. It was from my mission mentor. A patron had given us a chartered flight on Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma. She asked if I was ok with this. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I immediately emailed back “Way cool!”.

The way cool part was this was EXACTLY the reason I am taking this trip with her. First, I learned with this email how important it is to ask if something is ok with your travel companions. Never assume! That really comforted me.

And second, anyone who knows me at all knows this is so outside my comfort zone it is unreal. The daggone flight that made me hate flying in the first place, a commercial fight taking off in the tailwinds of Hurricane Hugo, was a puddle jumper. Now God is asking me to get into a five seater.

And, the reason this is “Way cool!”….last summer when we returned from South Africa, I commented to my husband on how smooth the flights were . He said that I could expect that from now on while flying overseas. Without missing a beat, I said, “Yeah, until I’m flying out to nowhere on my mission work.” This was said flippantly and way before I began the discernment process.

Careful what you wish for! :)

On to the Commissioning….

Below is the prayer Oran read for me. Both services were lovely. And, Sam is going to say it again tonight at the 5 pm service. I haven’t ever been to more than two services a day. Only odd part, I was thanked by a parishioner for “my service”. It was so nice, and so unexpected. That and Doug’s African music….like the unexpected plane ride…way cool!

Let us now commission and pray for these your servant Amy whom we send forth in mission:

Eternal God, you have promised your salvation to all peoples, and have given us a vision of a great multitude around your throne, from all nations and tribes and languages: Help us as we bring this vision into our time and place; go with Amy who now undertakes your work in the church of Tanzania. Enable her to hear and speak new words of hope and praise, and bring her safely back to us with renewed vision of your glory and purpose; through Jesus Christ, the living Word. Amen.

I didn’t think I’d ever understand the meaning of being humbled….I think I’m beginning to get it.

Friday, April 17, 2009

My good-bye party!

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Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Several Successes


Well, today I was able to get the mobile blogger going, my rss feed working (thanks, Wayne!) and purchase my evacuation insurance. Whew!

I love the website name for the insurance: http://www.gomissiontrip.com/.

Today - even beyond my personal successes - seemed very upbeat. Friends calling and sharing good things, really nice lunch with some of my soon-to-be-former co-workers, and just a general feeling of happiness. That was really nice today.

Testing with a picture by photographer Wayne Whitaker!

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Testing from the crack berry

Well if this works, I am now about a decade ahead of where I was just 2 weeks ago! :)
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Thursday, April 2, 2009

Selecting Bible Verses

I ordered my “business” cards last Sunday. I have found that whether it is for business or personal, having cards with my contact information makes me much more efficient. My husband has been a card collector at least as long as I have known him. I never developed an interest in them until I became an Insurance Agent. Then, I found the power of the card amazing.

Part of this process was for me to select a bible verse that I felt represented my experience. So what did I do? I brought my husband the Bible. :)

This is what he came-up with and I LOVE it!!! (King James Version, of course!)

Ephesians 6:20
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

I had previously asked one of my mother’s dear friends, who leads a prayer group, to select a verse for me for this trip. She selected Matthew 10:42 for me.

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold [water] only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Thanks Linda and Jeff!