End of language school

We have finished the official part of our language study here in Tanzania, and we have certificates to prove that we now know beginning Swahili. I’m not sure what that means when we still can’t have any sort of conversation with anyone. But I can tell you the meanings of all the parts of this word: Ninakupenda. Are you ready?

Ni = I; na = present verb tense; ku = you object; penda = like or love.  

Got it? That’s one word for “I love you”.  All of their subjects and verbs are like this, with the various components strung together into one word. So, their long words require grammar study – you can’t just memorize words. But there was one word that we loved: shagalabagala. Say that three times really fast! It means messy. Somehow this DOES seem like an appropriate thing to say when you walk into your teenager’s room, doesn’t it?

In our final days of language study we had an interesting assignment: we were given 1,000 Tanzanian shillings (about 70 cents) and were taken to the local market to see how much we could buy with it. Bartering was expected, as part of the culture. Now, I’m very good at bartering, having honed my skill in Bali. But there’s a problem when you’re bartering in numbers that you barely know – they all start sounding alike. So at one point, I actually bartered UP. No wonder the guy took my offer so quickly! Needless to say, by the end of our morning at the market  I was mentally and emotionally spent, as well as thirsty, dirty and hot. But I did come home with: 4 pilipili hoho, 3 nyanya, 5 karoti, and 3 matango.  Anyone want to guess what these things are? Post your response!

Traditional "choo"

During our visit to a local church I experienced my first rustic African bathroom. A picture says it all.

After leaving language school it was great to spend a few days with our co-workers in Tanzania. A highlight was getting to see Aldersgate school, a Church of God Pre-K-12 partial boarding school with around 870 students. Rod was invited to speak to this group on Sunday morning, and used a soccer ball, to explain that God’s rules help us to enjoy the game of life.

Really, he's not playing soccer in church.

Rod's sermon was a little over the heads
of the youngest boarders at the school!

Two little girls who came up to me after church

A girl singing and dancing in her choir,
wearing the school T-shirt.

We really enjoyed all the many student groups which performed songs, and we wanted to share one with you. It’s a rough video, but hopefully you can get a sense of the great African music.

On Monday we got to see the school in session. I've been invited back to do teacher training there!

Notice the sweaters in the 85 degree weather!

Ben and Kelly Shular have been wonderful hosts our past three days here in Babati, Tanzania. We have enjoyed some unique culinary treats like wildebeast roast for Sunday dinner and warthog for breakfast. Delicious! Since there's not much wild game wandering around where we live in Kenya I don't think Rod's going to shoot me a wildebeast any time soon, so it was nice to taste it here.

Tomorrow we fly back to Kenya. Please pray for us as we continue to try to learn Swahili, while we really begin the work that God has for us at KIST.

Jan