Dear Cherished Interested,

When you get up to go forward or slip out to take care of something, your seat is filled when you get back..

Three baptized and six confirmed yesterday of the growing littles at The Small Things. They were part of a group of twenty total confirmed. First service ran from seven to ten, then the big service with all the extras from ten to three.

This was at a smaller mountain church near the children’s village. Three Pastors serving the second service which was done with parts in both Ki-Swahili and Ki-Meru. The Pastors asking for a show of hands from those attending as to which language those attending preferred as parts of the service progressed. Hymn numbers given in both.

His adoptive parents are reformed Jews living the most beautiful expression of Christ’s adoption of us all into Gods family by spending their lives in service to children and families. They love and support him in his faith but could not serve as his chosen adults to come forward for his baptism and confirmation. He chose me, the husband of Hilda who tutors his school age siblings and himself in their home not far from the children’s village. His youngest brother, 16 months and a chatterbox in Swahili and ever more in English, calls Hilda Bibi (grandmother) and me Babu (grandfather).

No, I didn’t know. Until we were sitting in the 7AM service and he and his big brother came in to find us sitting there. They were glad we were there. That’s when he looked up at me to ask if I was his adult? Who could say no?

That’s how I know about your seat disappearing when you go forward.

That’s okay though as it lets you be part of the scrum outside the open doors waiting for parts of service you have something to do with. Like offering, twice for those who have currency, but another time for those with mangos or potatoes or plantain or sugar cane or avocado or chickens.. lots of chickens, feet bound but otherwise unscathed. Living meat stays freshest in these climes.

That 16 month old wandering into and through the service looking for his big brother being baptized and confirmed.. The other big brother and Bibi in Hot pursuit.. Other people coming and going.. the offering of the bound feet taking turns making themselves heard..

Sound like chaos? Very blessed chaos with dancing young and old, singing, concerns for getting in place at the right time but deep joy.

Hilda and I took turns. I was gathered to the front for both the Baptism and Confirmation. Hilda was sent forward by the close-by members of the congregation to stand with me for the Confirmation too. I was gathered by his biological father who is unable to have his son at home with him. He did travel far to be with him yesterday though and went out of his way to keep me an active part of those two pieces of the service. Then came first communion and I was outside getting water, shade and a moment of space.. Hilda’s turn came then to joyfully commune with the newly confirmed, teaching and demonstrating correct hand placement for receiving the elements for the girl next to her.

Then back to the children’s village for celebration, food, and people, people, people.

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Last Thursday we were collected by the children’s village school bus..

Tutoring was cancelled so Hilda and I could be gathered with the non-profit operations staff, not the Mama’s as they are full time with the children, to attend a get-together of non-profits working relatively nearby in Tanzania. The get-together was an attempt to find a way to get together as a network for mutual support. Over 50 people were there.

It was intended to be a gripe session. What are the problems your organization is facing? Brainstorming solutions intended to come later hopefully as a network of connections forms up.

Now, Hilda brought with her a flash drive of her lesson plans from teaching. That little flash drive is becoming a rather sought after item. Although it teaches science in the context of what is available in North America, it teaches science to the latest standard giving student comprehension and hands on activity goals. Science is not taught here that way. It is taught by memorization for the purpose of passing an exam.

Thursday was another long day with no power at the end so we ate on the porch under the moon and flashlights. Diesel did arrive after supper so we had on-site generator power to find our way to our room.

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Years ago I built recycling programs for Whatcom County, Washington State. This I did between 1989 – 1999 with the last nine of those years as General Manager of a private Recycling Collection company owned by the local Garbage company.

Well, one of the connections people within the non-profit is working to get, himself and I, into one or more local plastics recycling manufacturers. This so I can help them figure how to develop a plastic bottle recycling scheme appropriate for here. This is complex so I won’t spend time here but as there are at least two local end users of plastic waste nearby, there is a market. That gives local folks a place to start.

One of the hoped for projects at the school that the non-profit has been given access to is gardens and farming. I haven’t been active there for decades either but have been asked to help in that.

Having hired and trained professional drivers over the years, defensive driving is also on  the table. I intend to prepare a brief presentation on that topic for the driving staff at the non-profit. Local professional drivers are awesome with eyesight and reflexes that amaze. There are some things I may have to share though.

It seems that as we wait for God to open doors regarding my atypical Pastoral education, we are both finding we have things folks around us here need.

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Prayers..

Thankfulness, thankfulness, thankfulness..

Whatever is on your heart for us..

Our health, our wits, our spiritual awareness..

The process up at Mwika Lutheran Bible College..

Patience.. and energy..

I have a lifetime of worry about money.. My faith in Gods provision..

That we stay open and formable for God’s gift of our next moment..

Recovery from floods in the Northwest and rain for parched Tanzania..

A Joyful Thanksgiving wherever and however it is celebrated..

Thank you, Thank You, Thank You.. Prayers, your prayer, makes all the difference..

Vern W

May Life be as Music to your Heart - May Music be as Heart to your Life 

- May Heart be as Life to your Music -