Babies

Here are some pictures from yesterday and today. Warning...there are a lot! 

There are at least 10 toddlers that were here when I was here and they're the "big kids" now. It's so fun to play with them and hear them talk and laugh. There are quite a few photos of them! Brooklyn wanted me to take pictures of her and her three favorite little boys in the nursery, so that explains the opening three photos.  Enjoy the rest!

Brooke & Gifty

Brooke & Bensoni

Brooke & Edgar

Nanny Mwamvua is due in a month!!

All the nursery babies!

Dear friend & nanny, Anita, holding Bensoni

Brooklyn feeding the little ones

Immanuel is a character! He talks all the time and smiles non-stop!

Tom!

Noeli enjoying the swings!

Wonderful women!

Look at Charles!

Raymond 

Amani!

Little Ray-Ray! Now Raymond is a big, handsome boy! 

Mr. Charles

Gloria is a big girl now!

Dear friend and nanny, Pamela

Christina and Charles

Brooklyn with the sweet social worker, Harriet in the office

gotta love those chubby legs!

getting tired...

Monkeys eating berries behind the nursery

 After our day with the kids, we went to visit Neema, another friend & nanny who was pregnant when I left. She was actually one of the first friends I made when I was here before because she saved me in Arusha the first time I tried to venture out on my own. I was totally lost and had no idea where I was and realized it was very foolish of me to try and be adventurous on my own right off the bat. I'm pretty sure God sent her to me in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the crowds right before I burst into tears. Ever since, she holds a special place in my heart. Her beautiful daughter is 1 year and 3 months now!! We brought her some gifts and they were so excited about each little item. It always puts a smile on to watch the children play with the balloons.

Me and Neema's baby Catherine!

There were about 7 other kids who were related some how and hanging around so we gave them all balloons. They slobbered all over them, tried to blow them up, but could not....So, lucky me got to blow up every balloon that had been in every little mouth there. Kinda gross, but it was an honor :)

Neema's mother with her and the baby and some cousins

Grandma and grand-daughter

Mama & Catherine

 On the way back from Neema's visit, we stopped at the Duka (shop) where we always got the babies juice and Mandazi and went for walks. We got Brooklyn her first Mandazi! (Deep-fried bread with a little extra sugar) It was a hit..as I expected. The same Mama sits in that shop day in and day out...nothing has changed. Another pillow made of African fabric rags is hanging in her window. I bought one of them when I was here and it's sitting on my bed at home :) She's a dear lady!

Mandazi!

Ephraim and family!

Before I left in March, 2012

If you followed my blog while I was in Tanzania before, you might recognize this family. I met Ephraim through my volunteering friend, Sonya, who lived near by him. He has several cows, goats, and chickens. He would always let us come by and try milking his cow and have fresh milk, feed us, and visit. He speaks very good English because he is a Safari tour guide. Ephraim works a lot to provide for his family and is now working extra to get tutoring in German so that he can expand his safari tour guide job options. He's a farmer and is also preparing to build apartments in the field behind his house to rent out to students attending Arusha University. He has a beautiful wife and two of the cutest children ever. It's not every day you find such a humble, generous, hard-working person. They are such a sweet and loving family, they inspire me and I've learned a lot about what is important in life from them.

I had no idea if they would be home or if they lived in the same place, but Brooklyn and I walked up there on Sunday afternoon and surprised them. They were all home and were pretty excited! 6-year-old Emmy took quite a liking to Brooklyn and we played and talked and ate some traditional food the Mrs. had just made. They are so generous! I'm so thankful that I met them and that our friendship can be lasting.

Arriving at their house yesterday!

Brooklyn with the family and Emmy's new gifts from her :)

Beautiful Emmy in her new dress!

Estoni is too cute!

After we blew up the balloon, he didn't let go of it the whole time.

These kids are absolutely great!

Pile of bricks Ephraim has made to start building apartments behind his house to rent out to students going to Arusha University.

So many animals! Here's a tiny baby goat :)

 After a nice long visit with the family and playing with Emmy and Estoni, Ephraim walked with us on all the back trails up to the gate of Arusha National Park. On the way, we passed this well.
One year ago, a nine-year-old boy going to fetch the water for his mother, fell in and drown because he could not swim. Children ran to Ephraim's house calling him to come because they knew he could swim...but by the time he got there and jumped in, it was too late. It's simply a tragic story. Ephraim, being the kind of man he is, collected bits of money from all the villagers and took matters into his own hands to have this nice wall, cement opening, and safety lid put around and over the well.

Brooklyn thought she'd try and pull up a bucket of water....it was a struggle

                                                                 but she was successful!

Looking into Arusha National Park

New Colobus Monkey Statue at the gate! ;)

This man has become a great friend!

Mt. Meru Game Park Visit

A Sabbath we will remember!

             Brooklyn and I had a really neat experience this Sabbath! I was originally planning on taking Brooklyn to the church at TASS, which is the Adventist boarding academy just out of Usa River and up the mountain a little ways. We were pretty tired in the morning, though, and we weren't very timely so I decided that we would go to Usa River SDA church which is closer. Nothing is in English there, however, they have a youth church choir and an adult church choir which I LOVE listening to. And I knew Brooklyn would appreciate the music too. We arrived just as they were transitioning from Sabbath school to church...moving their plastic chairs back into the open-air, long and narrow church building. We found two seats about half way up and got settled in. About that time, I looked across to the other isle and a woman was staring at me with her mouth wide open...it was my dear friend and seamstress, Mama Janetti!

This was at her old house with her mother and two daughters the day before I left a year and a half ago. Her mother is now passed away.




Now, here are some things that make the story more exciting:

1. She had no idea I was coming back to Tanzania because we have no way of communicating while I'm at home...so we had not kept in touch.

2. I had heard that her house had been torn down and that she had moved...but I didn't really know where or how to find her.

3. Janetti was not a Seventh-day Adventist, so I wasn't sure why she was at church today...

4. Both Brooklyn and I were wearing special dresses that she had made!

5. Just the day before, she had put two pictures up of her and I that I had given to her when I left!

With those things in mind, the story is even more special. So Janetti kept looking over at us with her mouth open and a  tears coming out of her eyes and we had to wait until the end of the service to express our excitement. 

It was a wonderful service-the congregation singing a cappella hymns in harmony, the choirs, and the long Swahili sermon. After it was over,  we hugged and smiled and hugged and smiled. She brought us over to a group of members and talked all excitedly in Swahili and I only caught bits and pieces,  but she was really excited. We asked her to show us where her new home was and as we followed her, I figured out the story! (She really doesn't speak English, so it was a little difficult, but her daughter helped translate further when we got home...and my Swahili improved in just one afternoon)! 

A neighbor and friend of Janetti shared with her a book written by Ellen White. Janetti had been reading it and learning a lot and accepting everything. She was very excited about it! So her friend had invited her to church this Sabbath and this just so happened to be the first Sabbath she had ever attended! ...and I was there too!

I believe God has perfect timing and He is looking out for even the smallest details to add joy and fulfillment to our lives and to strengthen our faith. It was such a memorable Sabbath He arranged! 

                   And now my dear friend and seamstress is an Adventist! How exciting is that!?!

Janetti's one-room house...which is actually much bigger and nicer than her last home. 

I love this green color!

The "courtyard" out her back door opens up to the back doors of many other homes! There are two squat pots at the very end of the court yard which serve as the bathrooms for everyone.  

The girls had fun jumping rope with some pieces of fabric tied together in the middle.

Janett's 6-year-old daughter, little Janetti is in the front, 10-year-old Esther is on the other side of Brooklyn, Janett is in the very back and the rest are neighbors who wanted to join in :)

Little Janetti carrying my books. She is a cutie-pie!