Friday, June 29, 2007
The real thing
Hey Everyone!
Yeah..the last post...oops, I'm still figuring out how this all works.
Only two weeks to go, and the we are done with Swahili school. I for one am truly amazed at how far I've come. Jamie is once again very confortable with her swahili. Its great that we both know it now, and can communicate with one another. Just wait till we come back to the states in a couple years and we can have a personal conversation right in front of y'all and no one will know what we are saying.
The kids are doing well. Annabelle, has tripled her vocabulary this week. She trys to say everything Mom or dad say. I talked to her on the phone tonight and she said "hi" "i love you too" and "bye" and something else I can't remember, with prompting from Mom, but tis wonderful. Jamie said she said "diaper" today which of course is a very important word for a little girl o know. I'm in Dar es Salaam this weekend helping pick up a vehicle and friend of mine and his wife are buying. Its a nice 98 Toyota Land Cruiser, big tires rugged off road suspension, a nice car. We'll drive about 7 hours back to Iringa tomorrow. WE go through a game pack, which when we came through coming to Dar, we say gazelle, giraffe, Elephant, warthog and Junio's favorite Zebra. I'll try to take some video for him on the way back tomorrow.
In other news, we've had rats in our banda recently, the night before I came to Dar, we had set traps, and ended up catching two coming into our house, however, they still were running around knocking things over on our night tables, and making noises under the bed. Certainly an unnerving experience for Jamie. But last night she didn't have any trouble( which is great because I wasn't there to protect her :o) ). Anyway...such is life in Africa. Thank for listening. Peace.
Jer
Yeah..the last post...oops, I'm still figuring out how this all works.
Only two weeks to go, and the we are done with Swahili school. I for one am truly amazed at how far I've come. Jamie is once again very confortable with her swahili. Its great that we both know it now, and can communicate with one another. Just wait till we come back to the states in a couple years and we can have a personal conversation right in front of y'all and no one will know what we are saying.
The kids are doing well. Annabelle, has tripled her vocabulary this week. She trys to say everything Mom or dad say. I talked to her on the phone tonight and she said "hi" "i love you too" and "bye" and something else I can't remember, with prompting from Mom, but tis wonderful. Jamie said she said "diaper" today which of course is a very important word for a little girl o know. I'm in Dar es Salaam this weekend helping pick up a vehicle and friend of mine and his wife are buying. Its a nice 98 Toyota Land Cruiser, big tires rugged off road suspension, a nice car. We'll drive about 7 hours back to Iringa tomorrow. WE go through a game pack, which when we came through coming to Dar, we say gazelle, giraffe, Elephant, warthog and Junio's favorite Zebra. I'll try to take some video for him on the way back tomorrow.
In other news, we've had rats in our banda recently, the night before I came to Dar, we had set traps, and ended up catching two coming into our house, however, they still were running around knocking things over on our night tables, and making noises under the bed. Certainly an unnerving experience for Jamie. But last night she didn't have any trouble( which is great because I wasn't there to protect her :o) ). Anyway...such is life in Africa. Thank for listening. Peace.
Jer
Friday, June 15, 2007
This week
Here are some pics of our place: One is a pic of the house we have mostly been living in. Another is a picture of the girl, Jiliani that takes care of Annabelle and Junio while we are in class, and the last is a picture of Junio and his friend Mikayla outside the tent we lived in while they were putting a bathroom on our stone house. We just moved back to the stone banda with a bathroom and it has been so wonderful.
Today both Jeremy and I got to come into to town to run errands. There are only vehicles that come into town every so often and usually there is not enough room for the whole family. So, we celebrated when we found a shop with Ice cream cones. Yeah!! Some of you have asked about our access to e-mail. We only have e-mail when we come into town and use the internet cafe. Sometimes it is slower than mud and we never know when we will for sure be able to come into town. So, thank you all for your patience in our slow returns to e-mail and things.
Swahili school is going well. My class is doing a play of the story of Joseph in Kiswahili. We are writing it and performing it ourselves. I am playing the part of Jacob, Joseph's father and the baker who has the bad dream and gets his head cut off. We have to memorize all our lines in Swahili so it is a little nerve-wrecking. Jeremy is getting prepared to teach a lesson in Swahili to his class on how to play a song on the guitar. He has to completely explain it in Swahili. This should be challenging but fun.
Annabelle is doing well, for those of you who didn't know, she did take her first steps but hasn't really started walking. She prefers to crawl or swim in the dirt. She is always covered from head to toe in dirt when we pick her up from childcare.
Junio is doing well. There is another American family coming tomorrow with 5 and 10 year old boys. Junio will start taking Swahili lessons with the other 5 year old boy on Monday for an hour a day. This is very fortunate because his friend Mikayla is leaving to go back to New Zealand next week and they probably won't see each other again for awhile.
God Bless you all and thank you for your prayers!!
Today both Jeremy and I got to come into to town to run errands. There are only vehicles that come into town every so often and usually there is not enough room for the whole family. So, we celebrated when we found a shop with Ice cream cones. Yeah!! Some of you have asked about our access to e-mail. We only have e-mail when we come into town and use the internet cafe. Sometimes it is slower than mud and we never know when we will for sure be able to come into town. So, thank you all for your patience in our slow returns to e-mail and things.
Swahili school is going well. My class is doing a play of the story of Joseph in Kiswahili. We are writing it and performing it ourselves. I am playing the part of Jacob, Joseph's father and the baker who has the bad dream and gets his head cut off. We have to memorize all our lines in Swahili so it is a little nerve-wrecking. Jeremy is getting prepared to teach a lesson in Swahili to his class on how to play a song on the guitar. He has to completely explain it in Swahili. This should be challenging but fun.
Annabelle is doing well, for those of you who didn't know, she did take her first steps but hasn't really started walking. She prefers to crawl or swim in the dirt. She is always covered from head to toe in dirt when we pick her up from childcare.
Junio is doing well. There is another American family coming tomorrow with 5 and 10 year old boys. Junio will start taking Swahili lessons with the other 5 year old boy on Monday for an hour a day. This is very fortunate because his friend Mikayla is leaving to go back to New Zealand next week and they probably won't see each other again for awhile.
God Bless you all and thank you for your prayers!!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Welcome to Africa!!
HI everyone, sorry this is the first post I've had in a very long time. With internet connections being so slow and all, its been difficult. We have, as you know, moved to Tanzania, and we are now is Language school, learning Swahili. Jamie already nows it and its been great for her to get reacquainted with it, but as for me its new, exciting, and a lot of work.
We've been here now for almost a month. The campsite we are staying at is a fantastic place, great for Junio to play in and everything. The food is great, the staff are really helpful, and will speak swahili to you if you want to, but also know at least some English. It seems to be a really good introduction in the culture. We study in the morning, and then have the afternoon to go into town or whatever. Town is about 12 km away.
One bummer, is our camera has broken. So the pictures will be scarse for awhile until we find something here or in the states ( and someone coming over). A friend of mine got it to work barely, with a bit of sauder and a piece of a pop can, but this is really a temporary solution. So much to say, Annabelle was sick with Malaria, she got the prize for being the first one. though, unfortunately the price was sleepless nights which Mom, Dad and Annabelle enjoyed together. But is all better now, and back to her happy healthy self, which is a huge blessing.
One of the most intersting things is that, here the stars are different, or at least certainly in different places. I'm no astronomer, you'll have to ask someone who knows ( like my dad), but they are really bright and different. just FYI.
I don't know what else to say, I hope to update this when I get into town every week, that way you all can stay more connected, eventually we might even have pictures we can post too. thanks for praying. see ya.
We've been here now for almost a month. The campsite we are staying at is a fantastic place, great for Junio to play in and everything. The food is great, the staff are really helpful, and will speak swahili to you if you want to, but also know at least some English. It seems to be a really good introduction in the culture. We study in the morning, and then have the afternoon to go into town or whatever. Town is about 12 km away.
One bummer, is our camera has broken. So the pictures will be scarse for awhile until we find something here or in the states ( and someone coming over). A friend of mine got it to work barely, with a bit of sauder and a piece of a pop can, but this is really a temporary solution. So much to say, Annabelle was sick with Malaria, she got the prize for being the first one. though, unfortunately the price was sleepless nights which Mom, Dad and Annabelle enjoyed together. But is all better now, and back to her happy healthy self, which is a huge blessing.
One of the most intersting things is that, here the stars are different, or at least certainly in different places. I'm no astronomer, you'll have to ask someone who knows ( like my dad), but they are really bright and different. just FYI.
I don't know what else to say, I hope to update this when I get into town every week, that way you all can stay more connected, eventually we might even have pictures we can post too. thanks for praying. see ya.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Sunday, May 21, 2006
What happens when you have nothing to say.
I think when you have nothing to say nothing happens. The trouble is that either people have nothing to say or too much to say. this is the case with Bloggs. It is important to me to spell Blogg with two "g"'s thanks.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Time for a new post
WEll now its time fora new post. ITs been about 1.5 years since my last. I am married to my lovely wife Jamie and have a 5 year old Junio and a 3 month old Annabelle. The Lord has been very good to us. WE are plasnning on going to Africa next year to study linguistics and Bible translation.
There are about 2600 languages which do not yet have the scriptures in their language. Why is this important, you ask. Well... It'd be like an american trying to read their most favorite book in the world, in Old-english. They may recognize one or two words, maybe more but they certainly couldn't understand the majority of it, let alone let the world really sink in to enjoy them.
There are about 2600 languages which do not yet have the scriptures in their language. Why is this important, you ask. Well... It'd be like an american trying to read their most favorite book in the world, in Old-english. They may recognize one or two words, maybe more but they certainly couldn't understand the majority of it, let alone let the world really sink in to enjoy them.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Question
Why is it so difficilt for us American to desire balance in our lives?
I don't think this a value in our society. It certainly was in other societys in the past, particularly some of the greek people (well maybe not their society, but certainly in the writings of Aristotle and Plato). But it seems as so though balance is the "forgotten virtue." Well, shoot, the word Virtue and its various connotations and denotations, have largely been lost in our post-modern western world. Virtue implys something of intrinsic value, but in our PM world what has value apart from the value assigned by the individual?
I was talking to a friend the other day, and I realized that the issue really comes down to nature of truth. Is truth apart from the individual? Or maybe better put, is truth bigger than the individual. I think so. But I digress.
Balance is no longer a virtue. Why?
And to add as a side note, where did Honor go??
I don't think this a value in our society. It certainly was in other societys in the past, particularly some of the greek people (well maybe not their society, but certainly in the writings of Aristotle and Plato). But it seems as so though balance is the "forgotten virtue." Well, shoot, the word Virtue and its various connotations and denotations, have largely been lost in our post-modern western world. Virtue implys something of intrinsic value, but in our PM world what has value apart from the value assigned by the individual?
I was talking to a friend the other day, and I realized that the issue really comes down to nature of truth. Is truth apart from the individual? Or maybe better put, is truth bigger than the individual. I think so. But I digress.
Balance is no longer a virtue. Why?
And to add as a side note, where did Honor go??
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
A frustration
WHy is it that we always assume that whatever is new is better? THis is something common in the culture in which we live. But as I live in a life of Christian ministry, I find that we so easily get sucked into the same mentality in the church, at the great expence. We are called to right living and cultural relevance, but the newness of the latest and greatest often begins to erode away our conviction and solidarity on Othrodoxy more than we realize.
It happens all to often, that someone will come up with a new idea (which in itself may not be new, simply a repackaged one), and claim that they have finally found "the way", "this must be it!", they shout, and then we must to start a revolution in order to change things. "Throw it all out, start again" they say. The truth is often, that they simply do not know their history and do not understand scripture. Solomon very clearly says, " there is nothing new under the sun." But Further, since when has the Biblical concept of redemption involved through out the old and starting again? That was never God's plan. His plan has always been working for the inside to change, to redeem, life for his people. This is why Jesus came and was incarnate. He did not one day say, "oh Shoot, everyone is horribly sinful, hey Dad lets just start again." He came to earth, drew us, sinful people, to himself and transformed us, through his spirit and his grace.
My point, I suppose, is simply to say, there is nothing new in the realm of Christian thought and practice, just repackaging (this does have value, but more about that later). Be very sceptical of anyone who tells you that everything that came before is crap, and we have to start over because they have finally got it!
It happens all to often, that someone will come up with a new idea (which in itself may not be new, simply a repackaged one), and claim that they have finally found "the way", "this must be it!", they shout, and then we must to start a revolution in order to change things. "Throw it all out, start again" they say. The truth is often, that they simply do not know their history and do not understand scripture. Solomon very clearly says, " there is nothing new under the sun." But Further, since when has the Biblical concept of redemption involved through out the old and starting again? That was never God's plan. His plan has always been working for the inside to change, to redeem, life for his people. This is why Jesus came and was incarnate. He did not one day say, "oh Shoot, everyone is horribly sinful, hey Dad lets just start again." He came to earth, drew us, sinful people, to himself and transformed us, through his spirit and his grace.
My point, I suppose, is simply to say, there is nothing new in the realm of Christian thought and practice, just repackaging (this does have value, but more about that later). Be very sceptical of anyone who tells you that everything that came before is crap, and we have to start over because they have finally got it!
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
The Now
This the now. At the urging of a good friend and the gentle nugging of my will, i decided it may be profitable to provide a forum for myself to discuss the now of life and truth. OF course, often, the then is the same as the now.
IN short my hope is that this would be a place to the discuss my current ideas and thoughts with myself, in the hope of someone else reading them, and benefiting from them. Perhaps this is to much to ask, i pray not.
IN short my hope is that this would be a place to the discuss my current ideas and thoughts with myself, in the hope of someone else reading them, and benefiting from them. Perhaps this is to much to ask, i pray not.
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