Sorry – this must be quick.
We’ve had a chance to say “so-long until we meet again” (NOT good-bye) to the students and then participate in a lovely program with the teachers and staff and student representatives. Many overly kind words were said and it appears I have them all fooled!
In all honesty, it has been so fun to be free to laugh and be silly as I was with the students, to smile alot, and even share my burdens. It is because of you – the people on the other end of my writing that I have felt so supported and able to share of myself so completely. Thank you!
And I got to see the drum dances again – and this time to even join in and dance. And I did all that on an especially humid day with more layers on than I have worn since arriving! (more on the why so many layers later).
We leave here at saa moja ya asabuhi! (that all means 7 am – see, I’m even learning Kiswahili time!) I’m barely holding the tears in because the headmaster requested that I not make his students cry!
And Dan is feeling much better and of course wishes I had posted anything in the “blog-osphere” about his tummy. But I am convinced about the power of prayer!
Hopefully I’ll have a bit of time tomorrow in Ifakara to write a little more!
Dave Baldwin said,
March 26, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Heidi
at the AMST (Area Mission Strategy Team) meeting couple nights ago, it was my turn to do devotion on Luke 10:1-12, the sending of the 72. As I was pondering what the focus should be, I read your “Reaping and Sowing” blog. Wow, that was it, perfect, to focus on planting seeds, reaping what others before you have sown, sowing what others after you will reap. Wonderful, and the perfect connection to our text. So I read your blog of the day to the group, all greatly enjoyed it, all the pastors were of course familiar with our sister synod over there, and it spurred good discussion, and a good connection with the mission survey project Pr Helga has been doing in this area, her own planting and sowing of seed. Very good discussion and good timing for your subject of choice. Hope you and Dan have good post-Tumaini travels.
David
Donna Hoopingarner said,
March 27, 2009 at 2:15 am
Love to you both! We are anxious to see you. Be safe and travel with our love!
Ken and Donna
Pastor Dan said,
March 27, 2009 at 6:40 am
Those farewells … sigh! Parting among friends truly is such sweet sorrow. Still, the memories remain and so do the blessings. I’m glad Dan is feeling better and I hope you have safe travels back to Europe and then to the States. Let those good memories travel with you as we’ll want you to unpack them again and again!
We thank God for blessing you with “being Heidi” among his people in Tanzania. Now you know more of the power of God’s love having lived with them, eaten with them, danced with them and enjoyed the monkeys and all the other things that make that place such a neat part of “God’s country.”
Travel well. The Lord is with you!!
Pr. Dan
MR.Mandike said,
March 27, 2009 at 9:00 am
Hi!
Hoping your fine.
Truly the time has come for you to depart at TLS
May God be with you and a safe travel back home.
With regards,
Mandike
Muco.
Philorian Mpendaye said,
June 14, 2009 at 2:20 am
Heidi, you did a great job at Tumaini. The students and staff have a fond memory of job and they miss your experiences and your warm motherhood. They feel they are alone. Please, come again.
Philorian, Belgern Germany
Rachel Mpendaye said,
June 14, 2009 at 2:25 am
Heidi, you are gone and we feel empty through missing your presence. Jesus Christ joined us across the huge oceans and your daparture is real a gap to us. I am sure the students at Tumaini and staff too will miss you in the coming term. I had from many students who are in holidays saying we miss madam Heidi. OOhhh. We hope one you will join Tumaini again. God bless you. Mrs Rachel, Edgar Maranta School of Nursing