october, so soon?!

I am still wondering how we got all the way to FALL, or rainy season in Tanzania.  The year has fairly flown by.  Part of the reason I have been a little slack in posting is because of our internet dilemmas, which like to present themselves as often as possible just in case life in the bush becomes a little too predictable!  Somehow, there doesn't seem to be a good time to fit in "sit on the back of the bed with the internet modem out the window to get reception so that at least the 'Google' thing appears and tempts me to try and actually look something up, when in all actuality I know that it is incapable of really "cruising" (I use the term loosely) the waves for anything more than the results of the search" into the daily schedule.  But I digress, and truly, there is no need to elaborate, much less complain!

Lauren, Megan and Kate enjoying the downpour

Rainy season is upon us, with torrential African rains pounding the house, followed by cool breezes or drizzle and then the intermittent sun.  Cries of, "THE LAUNDRY!" can usually be heard daily when the first drops start their descent and we race to see if we are, indeed, faster than the weather.  Kate has battled a tremendous fear of thunder, but she now bravely faces the storms with a confident (in the arms of somebody), "God is the one who made the thunder and lightening!"  Seeing the need for a good wash, we started scrubbing at the car last week just as the rain began falling.  Meggy got so excited.  "MOM!  God is helping us wash the car and now He's taking pictures of us, too!" That was the lightening she was referring to, and no, they weren't up-close pictures. :)  

This has been a hungry year for Tanzania, not to mention Kenya and some of the other surrounding countries.  The shilling here continues to lose value as the prices rise even higher for food and goods.  We are praying that the people will gather in an abundant harvest this year, and will give praise to God for it!  

New believers are such a blessing, aren't they?  That is definitely the case with the little church that has been started here in Kitongo.  We have no doubt that Satan has wanted to kill and steal and destroy everything that God had done to rescue and redeem.  However, after a rough start and serious issues along the way, God is more at work than ever and the church is staying faithful and committed.  It blesses us to be a part of it and see God's power.

Alicia Hazlett joined us last month, and is teaching the Mbugua children (our first home) every day now.  Alicia is a terrific teacher from Bozeman who is working to develop curriculum and a plan for our school-aged children at Mavuno.  Previously, she came out to Tanzania for a year to teach all of our children when we went to language school.  So she (mostly!) knew what she was getting into, and it is awesome to have her back!

Taylor and Kate share a moment.

We also got to have Taylor Balian with us for a little while a couple of weeks ago.  Taylor used to work here at Mavuno and work with us, and it was great to catch up with him and all that he is doing now in Sudan.  

Yesterday Moshi found a baby puff adder in our back yard and put it in a container for me.  As he handed it to me (lid off), he said he had caught a snake for the children (he knows they are fond of reptiles!).  As I was looking into it, he said, "It's not a very good kind, though.  It bites."  Oh, you must be talking about "Africa's Most Dangerous Snake."  Puff adders are extremely poisonous and some of our least favorite snakes around here, as they lay perfectly still until you step on them or get very close, when they strike.  Although typically sluggish, they have the fastest strike of any snake around.  So it was with great caution that I showed the kids, then taped the plastic on heartily until Dave could get home and see it.  I set it on the back of the counter where no one could reach it--not that I didn't make a whole bunch of threats as I was doing so.  Dave came home later and did the honors of killing it after taking a good look at it.  You're probably wondering how Moshi got it in a one-inch top of a container alive. "I just used a stick," he smiled. :)

our favorite reptiles!

In between the time I had it and Dave came home, I was thinking about that little snake just sitting there in its secure container.  I was absolutely sure no one could get the lid off, except Hannah, and even if it dropped on the floor, there was no way it could get out.  It seemed harmless enough.  It had beautiful coloring and shiny eyes.  As far as snakes go, it was gorgeous!  It reminded me of a story we read recently together, "Amanda and the Dragon," from Tales of the Kingdom.  The basic premise being that we can have forbidden things that seem harmless that in the end take us further away than ever before from where we want to be.  And that the little, tiny harmless things are the ones that grow and pursue us and in the end destroy us.  The author ends with, "When one loves a forbidden thing, one loses what one loves most. This truth is a hard-won battle for each who finds it and is always gained by loss.”  It always takes tremendous courage to kill what rages against us.  Dave and I want to be diligent to seek out and put to death those things that push us to compromise.  We want to be careful not to let a puff adder sit on the counter in an innocent looking container, thinking it will never grow, never harm us.  Please pray with us and for us, that we would honor God in the things we do, even the "little" things!