Change

As I am writing this, I am on a bus, leaving Iringa and headed for Dar. I have such mixed feelings… feelings of excitement to finally see my wonderful family and friends, yet a sadness for leaving a place that has so captured my heart. Somehow, there is a deep knowing inside of me that this will not be my last time in Africa. I’m not sure when or where the Lord will take me back, but I am confident that He still has plans for me here.

I couldn’t have asked for a better last day of school or last weekend here in Iringa. We had a little part y at school, and the students sang me the sweetest “Goodbye Stacy song”, gave me a t-shirt that they all signed, and made a very cute book for me. We ate cake and enjoyed our last time together. I’m going to miss my sweet students a lot.

the teachers that I worked with

On Saturday, the teachers were gracious enough to go on a 3 hour drive to Musoma, so I could fulfill my dreams of swimming in a waterfall in Africa. We had a lovely 10 km hike by the river complete with two guides- one leading with a machete and the other in the back with a gun. It all felt very adventurous, exotic, and daring… and that it was as we saw loads of elephant dung strewn along the path AND a COBRA AND A PYTHON!!! That’s right, a cobra AND a python. I would’ve walked right into the black cobra had our guide not stopped me. I know you’re supposed to act all calm and slowly move away, but I couldn’t help myself… I darted behind the man with a gun as fast as I could. We then saw the python on a rock, and THEN, he went in the water and swam. Did you know pythons could SWIM?! I had no idea, and I sure wish I found that out AFTER I fulfilled my life’s dream of swimming in a waterfall. But thankfully, the pythons stay away from the pounding of the waterfalls, so we had an incredible afternoon filled with showering under the falls, talking, having a picnic, and having some time with the Lord by the river. It was the perfect way to spend my last Saturday in Tanzania, so thanks to all those who made it happen!

I love African trees... so unique.

 Black cobra! This was after I felt I had maintained a safe distance

right before he plunged into the water. Sick!

this is elephant dung. It's huge!

I’ve been thinking about what it’s going to be like to adjust back to life in America, and here’s a list of some of the things I will have to adjust to (some will be quite easy to adjust to, others quite difficult!)

·         No longer being a celebrity

·         No longer having random men in the street confessing their undying love for me every single day.

·         Being able to drive… along with that driving on the right side of the road

·         Having a toilet that actually flushes

·         Having a hot shower

·         Not seeing people dancing and singing in the streets every day

·         Having reliable electricity

·         Not having random people in the streets telling me I’m beautiful (my self-esteem is going to take quite a blow when I get back to the states!)

·         Not getting hugs from random children

·         Not falling asleep to the sound of a mosquito buzzing in my ear or a chorus of dogs barking every single night. (at least I HOPE this is an adjustment I have to make!)

·         Not waking up to the rooster every morning

·         Not getting to go on hikes every weekend

·         Worshiping with a band

·         Not waking up to perfect weather every single day

·         Not having to wash my clothes by hand (Lord, thank you for washers!)

·         Being able to talk with people without half our conversation consisting of “Can you hear me?”

·         Huge grocery stores… well, stores in general

·         Being back in a materialistic culture

·         Being able to brush my teeth out of the faucet… wow!

·         The business of life in the States.

There are a lot of changes to take place. Sometimes, I think it will be like I’m stepping back through the wardrobe after being in Narnia… no time has passed, nothing’s changed, and it will all feel like a dream. No matter what changes lie ahead, I am so thankful to know that the Lord is constant, and He is the same God in Africa and in America. He is still faithful. He is still loving. He is still holy.

Well, I’ll be seeing you all VERY soon! Please ask me about my time in Africa… I’d LOVE to share about it with you!

In Him,
Stacy