Twice in a Week!

So, in order to make up for the last few weeks, I decided to do TWO blog posts in one week... pretty crazy, I know. Also, good news: I found someone who has the same size camera charger as I do, so I can take pictures now!!! I'm pretty excited about this.

This is my last week being at Iringa International School, and I'm trying to soak up every minute of it: spending time with the kids, taking long walks around the town, and eating chapattis and samosas. This week is filled with a lot of lasts. Some good, some bad. I was quite happy to finish washing my last load of laundry by hand, and I'll be quite happy to take my last cold shower. However, it will be hard to have my last walk along the dusty path to school, and it will be difficult to have my last day with my students.  

This past weekend, I went to a meeting site for kids sponsored through Compassion International with my new friend, Lydia (she's a Tanzanian woman who makes chapattis for the teachers at school... so good!). There were about 60 kids that met there. They sang songs, learned verses, and listened to a Bible story. It gave my heart SUCH joy to hear sweet African kids singing at the top of their lungs in worship to Jesus. It was a small piece of Smile, and I enjoyed it a lot. I've been going there every day after school this week, and I met two kids Musa and Hawa. We played soccer, learned the alphabet and shapes through drawing with sticks in the dirt, and sang songs together. I only wish that I would've known about this place sooner so that I could've gotten to know the kids more.

After hanging out witkids in the morning, Lydia and I spent time together. She just got a job at an international school about 8 hours away. We celebrated by getting pedicures... only $1.30 U.S. dollars :)

On Saturday afternoon, some of the teachers and I went to Kisalnsa where many of the families from school went on a camping trip. It was beautiful! It reminded me a little of Minnesota because there was a lake/pond and a forest. We also had a delicious meal at night... a nice little break from the African food. It's been so fun getting to know my students more outside of school... something I don't think I would have the opportunity to do so much in America.

On Sunday, I was walking to church, and this tiny, sickly-looking kitten was caught in a thorn bush. He was meowing like crazy, and I couldn't stand the sight of him caught in all those thorns, so I got two Africans to help me get him out (no worries mom and dad... I used paper to get him out. I didn't touch him!) The Africans were talking and laughing in Swahili. No need for translation: American girls are crazy. I named the kitten Francis and tried to give it milk, but it was too weak to drink it. It was so sad to watch. He was shaking violently and meowing. We set it under a tree and told him he would die with love. Later on, he disappeared. We like to think that some cat took him under its wing and nursed it back to health.

Only 6 more days in Iringa, and then I'll be going to the beach in Dar es Salaam for four days. I'm so thankful to have this time to reflect on all that the Lord's taught me here in Africa and to prepare myself to head back to the states. My friend said it well, "It will be like a honeymoon with Jesus." Yes it will be, and I'm looking forward to spending the time with my Beloved!

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in eway. The Lord be with all of you." -2 Thessalonians 3:16