In this blog I've written a lot about how we were meant to live life with a spirit of adventure and risk. For the past three weeks I've been telling myself I wasn't going to spend the money on a Safari. A thought not very congruent to my words. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to go more than anything. It drove me crazy to think that I would be in the best place and at the best time to see the most renown animals on Earth, and not be able to go. It's just that the number on the brochure was bigger than the number that showed up on my bank statement. However, consistent with the rest of this trip, God provided at the last minute in the form of a graduation gift from my Grandmother.
The whole weekend I was completely stunned by God's creation. I felt like I was in Jurassic Park. Seriously, when our jeep went through the gates of Serengeti National Park I kept humming the theme song to the movie in my head. I think it was because seeing the animals walk around their natural habitat seemed so foreign to me that it was almost fake. Elephants are much bigger in person, and lions are a lot scarier without the bars in between.
Not only did I see more species of animals than I thought possible, but I picked up a few stories too. I love what it says in the book I'm reading, Wild at Heart. "Life is a hypocrite if you can't live the way it moves you". Perhaps I was overly inspired by this, but either way it led to quite the weekend. I owe most of this to my friend Dave. Through my 18 year old friend, my boyish 18 year old spirit was let out of it's cage as well. Dave and I climbed rock formations and later found out that lion's sometimes sleep there. We played "who can step closer to the water buffalo" (2nd most lethal animal behind hippos). And stuck the better half of our bodies out the windows of the jeep in order to get a close up of the lion beside the car. I felt alive, maybe even... wild at heart? I write about this not to gain credit, it sounds crazy but it never seemed like we were in any real danger, despite what the guides might tell you. I say this because in a strange way I learned a lot about my inner peace through this experience. So much that I would feel selfish if I didn't share it with you.
I realized why being in a room alone is one of my biggest struggles. It's because I continuously dwell on anything that doesn't logically add up in my head. It's like being alone flips a switch that starts calculating numbers with dollar signs; ones that translate to how many days I have left to live in comfort. Or it starts an internal debate about what in the world goes on in the mind of a female. These kind of thoughts are all thoughts that require thought and proper preparation, but it is far fetched from the inner peace I've been longing for. We benefit from these thoughts only in a railroad tracks sort of way. We need them foundationally in order to function, but they will not bring purpose.
Here's how it relates to the Safari. I think we all crave adventure in a physical sense. This weekend I was able to indulge in physical adventure and feel alive. Instinctively we all want these types of adventures, and we take pictures in order to prove their legitimacy. I realized that in the same way my heart, my inner peace, desires to act wild as well. Most of us want a drive fast take chances lifestyle, how about a drive fast take chances heart?
Our inner peace is released through imagination. We get sick of a job, or a class, or a routine that is the same thing everyday. We want variety and adventure, to be let loose on a Safari every once in awhile. In the same way, our hearts and minds want to get let loose as well. Our head gets stressed when we think practically all day. It's why tax day is the most stressful day in America, because everyone is forced to think practically. Maybe guys watch sports and girls watch The Bachelor because it releases our minds for an hour or two and we begin to imagine a life like that.
I racked up a good amount of Frequent Flyer Miles coming here. Enough that, with what I already had, I can fly to anywhere in the United States. A few times on this trip I've let my imagination wander about what I could do with the rewards miles. I kept thinking about what I'm going to get myself into next. I thought about going rafting in Colorado, having lunch in Central Park, or playing golf in Arizona. Without the frequent flyer miles I wouldn't have even considered putting energy into these thoughts, there is no way I could afford it. But my Frequent Flyer Miles was something on paper that says 'YES! You can go anywhere!'. Then I realized that maybe inner peace means allowing those thoughts to flow without barriers. Imagination is where it's at, it's the ticket to inner peace. Our imagination is like a mental account of frequent flyer miles. Invest in it. The more you invest in your imagination the more you'll accumulate and the more wild adventures it'll bring you to. Life is a safari.
There was once a guy that used to go around the country and speak in classrooms of students. His goal was to encourage the kids to use their imagination. He believed the coming generation could change the world if they used their imagination. He was a very successful man, but thought the potential from speaking to kids was better than the money he missed out on by missing work.
He would go into Kindergarten classrooms and ask "Who here thinks they are creative?" Everyone would raise their hands in excitement.
He would go into 1st Grade classes and noticed that when he asked the same question, about 90% of the kids considered themselves creative.
By the time he reached middle schoolers; nobody would raise their hands. A few would maybe point at the artsy kid.
The man was discouraged that with age we loose our imagination. He was discouraged because, remembering his purpose, he wanted so much for kids to believe they could do anything so long as they could imagine it. That if they let their creativity out on a safari they could accomplish anything. I think this man had it right, you have to dream big first. Begin with the end in mind, then start laying down the railroad tracks of practical thinking to see how you can make it there.
By the way the name of the man was Walt Disney.
Ironically his head is in a freezer somewhere with hopes that someday creativity and imagination can be restored to this planet. The same reason Disney went to classrooms to encourage kids.
The point is, God wired each of us to be creative and let our minds explore. When we are young our imagination dominates logic, our right brain is heavier than the left. As we grow older, nothing changes chemically, however the clutter of this world fuels logic to silence our imagination. It tells us we aren't good enough, smart enough, or have what it takes to succeed. It's a world that laughs at imagination, but at the same time is a little jealous when you follow your dreams.
The world says we are just another number, and to get in line. In contrast, Jesus says the only things that are numbered are the very hairs on our head.
"You are the light of the world. A city upon a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:14
Maybe what Jesus wants us to ask ourselves is not 'How can the needs of the world fit into me?' But more so, 'How can I fit into the needs of the world?' I think that's why, in the great commission, he put that 'GO' part in. 'GO! make disciples', not 'sit there until the world's needs fall into your lap'. I think that's why he gave us not just bodies to explore the world but minds as well.
So this is what I'm learning about inner peace. Sure, you have to give attention to the practical thoughts. You need them to execute. But what's the use of laying tracks if you don't know where they are going. I think before I was frustrated because I was spending my alone time figuring out how to lay my tracks and I didn't spend enough time dreaming about where they are going. According to Aerosmith "Life's a journey, not a destination". Romans 8:28 promises that if we love God we can expect something great. Use your imagination to deposit into that mental bank account, but don't forget to cash in on the journey that awaits.
A few wise words from Walt Disney for the road:
"If you can dream it, you can do it"
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Kilimanjaro and Other Experiences
Most of this Blog has been about spiritual learning points from the trip, but a lot of you have mentioned you’re curious what all I’ve been up to. So I want to make sure and fill you in about the stuff outside of the
volunteer work.
The first two weeks of living in a Tanzanian home have been so enjoyable. At first, there were a lot of things you just have to ‘man up’ and get over:
One of the first nights I went into my room for bed, only to find a huge spider crawling on the outside of mosquito tent.
I woke up a few nights ago to use the bathroom and there was a rat crawling around the floor. I was half asleep, but my reaction was “Hey Buddy!”, and then simply to carry about my business.
At first I was a little nervous when each meal turned out to be the same thing… everyday. Bread and butter for breakfast, Ugalli and beans for lunch, rice and beans for dinner. Now I honestly crave it each day, and am going to have Mama teach me how to make it so that I can replicate it back home.
We had a good laugh the other night when Mama said she was going to make a very special dinner for Jeff’s last night. Without fail we had rice and beans again that night. We wouldn’t want it any other way.
We are having our fair share of fun, too. Yesterday we took a day trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is about an hour and a half hour drive. We had plans to meet my friend Jory (who many of you know). We were to meet at the gate at 9 AM. We were on Africa time, so despite leaving at 7:30 AM we were still an hour behind schedule when the drivers decided to stop for breakfast unannounced. Luckily, totally a God thing, Jory and her friend Monica were on Africa time as well and we all met conveniently at 10 AM.
It was SO fun to see Jory, hear about her travels, and simply see a familiar face. We hiked around, a group of about 10 of us, and saw the majestic beauty of Kilimanjaro. I’ll admit that climbing around the base made me want to summit the beast, but I’ll have to save that for another time. Instead, we saw some of the most amazing waterfalls. II can’t wait to show pictures of this, it was awesome.
I decided I have to go on a safari. It’s expensive, but we get a great deal being volunteers. I think the regret I’d have coming this far and not going outweighs the cost. So now the anticipation is starting to grow, and I can’t wait to track down some lions and elephants.
I really enjoy the new dynamics of my homestay. Matthias (Sweden), Kazee (Australia), and Maria (England) all arrived yesterday. With Shane being from Canada, we have a fun mix of people. Five people and five different countries. We spent last night talking about adventures from all over the world.
I’ll keep you updated on anything else I get myself into! Two weeks, wow, I don’t feel a sense of urgency yet to get out and do anything. I think it’s a good testament that I’ve used my time wisely.
Hope this paints a picture of what it’s been like here! And hope everyone back home is having a blast. I’ve got to get going so I’m home for some Ugalli before getting rocked by Africans at futbol. God Bless!
volunteer work.
The first two weeks of living in a Tanzanian home have been so enjoyable. At first, there were a lot of things you just have to ‘man up’ and get over:
One of the first nights I went into my room for bed, only to find a huge spider crawling on the outside of mosquito tent.
I woke up a few nights ago to use the bathroom and there was a rat crawling around the floor. I was half asleep, but my reaction was “Hey Buddy!”, and then simply to carry about my business.
At first I was a little nervous when each meal turned out to be the same thing… everyday. Bread and butter for breakfast, Ugalli and beans for lunch, rice and beans for dinner. Now I honestly crave it each day, and am going to have Mama teach me how to make it so that I can replicate it back home.
We had a good laugh the other night when Mama said she was going to make a very special dinner for Jeff’s last night. Without fail we had rice and beans again that night. We wouldn’t want it any other way.
We are having our fair share of fun, too. Yesterday we took a day trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is about an hour and a half hour drive. We had plans to meet my friend Jory (who many of you know). We were to meet at the gate at 9 AM. We were on Africa time, so despite leaving at 7:30 AM we were still an hour behind schedule when the drivers decided to stop for breakfast unannounced. Luckily, totally a God thing, Jory and her friend Monica were on Africa time as well and we all met conveniently at 10 AM.
It was SO fun to see Jory, hear about her travels, and simply see a familiar face. We hiked around, a group of about 10 of us, and saw the majestic beauty of Kilimanjaro. I’ll admit that climbing around the base made me want to summit the beast, but I’ll have to save that for another time. Instead, we saw some of the most amazing waterfalls. II can’t wait to show pictures of this, it was awesome.
I decided I have to go on a safari. It’s expensive, but we get a great deal being volunteers. I think the regret I’d have coming this far and not going outweighs the cost. So now the anticipation is starting to grow, and I can’t wait to track down some lions and elephants.
I really enjoy the new dynamics of my homestay. Matthias (Sweden), Kazee (Australia), and Maria (England) all arrived yesterday. With Shane being from Canada, we have a fun mix of people. Five people and five different countries. We spent last night talking about adventures from all over the world.
I’ll keep you updated on anything else I get myself into! Two weeks, wow, I don’t feel a sense of urgency yet to get out and do anything. I think it’s a good testament that I’ve used my time wisely.
Hope this paints a picture of what it’s been like here! And hope everyone back home is having a blast. I’ve got to get going so I’m home for some Ugalli before getting rocked by Africans at futbol. God Bless!
Update Letter - Halfway Point
Jambo from Tanzania!
I am about halfway through my stay here, and I wish to update you about the amazing progress in two short weeks.
I have spent my time at the Tuamke Orphanage. All orphans live with either grandparents or older siblings, therefore the orphanage doesn’t actually house the children. It serves more so as a school for orphaned children, specifically children who have lost both of their parents to HIV.
It is a small , two classroom, cement building. There are three classes for children ages 4 to 9. The younger students are grouped into 1 classroom, while the 8 and 9 year olds are in the other. Since the orphanage opened just over a year ago, they have only had one teacher for the 3 classes. She had to run back and forth between the 2 classrooms and attempt to teach all 3 classes (35 students) at once.
They needed a lot of help, and I am thankful for being placed in a spot where I can be used so thoroughly. I now teach the older kids, and the staffed teacher works with the younger. In addition to their dire need of teachers, I saw many other projects in desperate need of an answer.
The kids have about an hour break each day. We would send them outside to play, however there was no place to play except for a dusty alleyway. In back there was a large plot of land, but it was completely grown over with trees, bushes, weeds, and most sadly tons of garbage. It took a stretch of imagination to ever picture it a place where kids could play, but with the students help it became a reality. Now we play futbol everyday and the kids can actually work up a sweat.
During week two we took the initiative to repair the desks. Just about every single one of them was on the verge of collapse. It was disastrous. The kids couldn’t sit still if they tried because the whole desk seemed like ocean waves. Many of you, when you chose to support me, commented that you wished you could give more, or that you knew it wasn’t much. I spent $8 for a hammer and nails. You can’t even imagine the difference it has made. So I assure you that every little bit goes a LONG ways here. So thank you.
It’s now week three, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. I love teaching, although it’s a tremendous challenge to teach orphaned children English. I love teaching because the kids love that I am there. I love it because I’m convinced it’s making a longer impact than fixing desks and building a field. However, I have plans to continue to make the orphanage more practical and a better place to learn. The next task at hand is chalkboards.
In my classroom there is an old chalkboard that, if you’ve seen pictures, is a sight for sore eyes. It’s been so deeply used that it’s difficult to see what’s even written on it. It also sits on the floor, so anyone other than the first row can’t see the lower half without getting out of their desk and walking to the front. Then, as I realized last week when fixing the desks, there isn’t even a chalkboard in that classroom. So this coming week we’ll use the left over hammer and nails to build stands, and bring in new chalkboards.
It’s been fun, too, to get the chance to visit a few other placements that other volunteers are at. On Wednesday I visited the Faraja Center for Orphaned Children. They were a far more developed orphanage, with a full staff or cooks, maintenance men, and teachers. They had a relatively strong set of resources; crayons, markers, games, etc. Not much by US standards, but compared to Tuamke, where the only resources we have is what I pick up at the store before arriving in the morning, they have a lot.
On Friday I visited what is commonly called ‘The Widows Project’. This was a show put on every Friday by a group of widows in a nearby village. They have all kinds of animals to go around and see, as well as an African Band, traditional African dances, and an acrobat show. It was started recently with the help of volunteers. People pay to get in, and they also serve food and drink to raise money. It’s a beautiful project because it has made them self-sufficient. The money raised goes 70% to widows who have lost their husbands to HIV, and 30% to the local orphanage. It has caused me to consider ways I can help Tuamke one day become self-sufficient.
To recap the three principles I originally set out for:
I am strongly encouraged by the way we have been able to impact the Tuamke orphanage. Everyday when I get home I am completely drained of physical energy, but so filled with emotional and spiritual energy. I love the kids and am truly going to miss them when I leave.
I have had so many great conversations with other volunteers. Originally I wanted to move to the volunteer house where there are 20 other volunteers. However, being at the homestay has allowed me to really invest in the two other guys, Jeff and Shane, that I have lived with the past 2 weeks. Jeff left last night, and 3 new people arrived. There are now five of us total. It’s such a unique experience because all five of us are from different countries (US, Canada, Sweden, England, and Australia). We already had some great conversation last night.
My inner peace; I feel I have been internally challenged in so many directions. Being alone so much has done nothing but encourage me to talk to God more. I am more comfortable than I ever was with just being myself. I couldn’t help but smile yesterday when one of the newbies asked me what there is to do once you get back from placement. “You mean other than just love life” was the only way I could think to respond.
Thanks to my home Pastor of Missions, I’ve added a fourth principle. He mentioned, and I agree, that so many of us go to a country like Africa and assume we are going only to help them. He asked me, “Andrew, how are you ready to receive love while you are there?“ We have the American mindset that they need us more than we need them. It’s not true, there is so much love we can receive from them if we are willing to accept it.
I can’t thank you enough for helping send me here. I really believe, and I hope you do too, that this will make a lasting impact on Africa, as well as all the many other nations involved in this program. God Bless, and I’ll see you soon!
Love,
Andrew
I am about halfway through my stay here, and I wish to update you about the amazing progress in two short weeks.
I have spent my time at the Tuamke Orphanage. All orphans live with either grandparents or older siblings, therefore the orphanage doesn’t actually house the children. It serves more so as a school for orphaned children, specifically children who have lost both of their parents to HIV.
It is a small , two classroom, cement building. There are three classes for children ages 4 to 9. The younger students are grouped into 1 classroom, while the 8 and 9 year olds are in the other. Since the orphanage opened just over a year ago, they have only had one teacher for the 3 classes. She had to run back and forth between the 2 classrooms and attempt to teach all 3 classes (35 students) at once.
They needed a lot of help, and I am thankful for being placed in a spot where I can be used so thoroughly. I now teach the older kids, and the staffed teacher works with the younger. In addition to their dire need of teachers, I saw many other projects in desperate need of an answer.
The kids have about an hour break each day. We would send them outside to play, however there was no place to play except for a dusty alleyway. In back there was a large plot of land, but it was completely grown over with trees, bushes, weeds, and most sadly tons of garbage. It took a stretch of imagination to ever picture it a place where kids could play, but with the students help it became a reality. Now we play futbol everyday and the kids can actually work up a sweat.
During week two we took the initiative to repair the desks. Just about every single one of them was on the verge of collapse. It was disastrous. The kids couldn’t sit still if they tried because the whole desk seemed like ocean waves. Many of you, when you chose to support me, commented that you wished you could give more, or that you knew it wasn’t much. I spent $8 for a hammer and nails. You can’t even imagine the difference it has made. So I assure you that every little bit goes a LONG ways here. So thank you.
It’s now week three, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. I love teaching, although it’s a tremendous challenge to teach orphaned children English. I love teaching because the kids love that I am there. I love it because I’m convinced it’s making a longer impact than fixing desks and building a field. However, I have plans to continue to make the orphanage more practical and a better place to learn. The next task at hand is chalkboards.
In my classroom there is an old chalkboard that, if you’ve seen pictures, is a sight for sore eyes. It’s been so deeply used that it’s difficult to see what’s even written on it. It also sits on the floor, so anyone other than the first row can’t see the lower half without getting out of their desk and walking to the front. Then, as I realized last week when fixing the desks, there isn’t even a chalkboard in that classroom. So this coming week we’ll use the left over hammer and nails to build stands, and bring in new chalkboards.
It’s been fun, too, to get the chance to visit a few other placements that other volunteers are at. On Wednesday I visited the Faraja Center for Orphaned Children. They were a far more developed orphanage, with a full staff or cooks, maintenance men, and teachers. They had a relatively strong set of resources; crayons, markers, games, etc. Not much by US standards, but compared to Tuamke, where the only resources we have is what I pick up at the store before arriving in the morning, they have a lot.
On Friday I visited what is commonly called ‘The Widows Project’. This was a show put on every Friday by a group of widows in a nearby village. They have all kinds of animals to go around and see, as well as an African Band, traditional African dances, and an acrobat show. It was started recently with the help of volunteers. People pay to get in, and they also serve food and drink to raise money. It’s a beautiful project because it has made them self-sufficient. The money raised goes 70% to widows who have lost their husbands to HIV, and 30% to the local orphanage. It has caused me to consider ways I can help Tuamke one day become self-sufficient.
To recap the three principles I originally set out for:
I am strongly encouraged by the way we have been able to impact the Tuamke orphanage. Everyday when I get home I am completely drained of physical energy, but so filled with emotional and spiritual energy. I love the kids and am truly going to miss them when I leave.
I have had so many great conversations with other volunteers. Originally I wanted to move to the volunteer house where there are 20 other volunteers. However, being at the homestay has allowed me to really invest in the two other guys, Jeff and Shane, that I have lived with the past 2 weeks. Jeff left last night, and 3 new people arrived. There are now five of us total. It’s such a unique experience because all five of us are from different countries (US, Canada, Sweden, England, and Australia). We already had some great conversation last night.
My inner peace; I feel I have been internally challenged in so many directions. Being alone so much has done nothing but encourage me to talk to God more. I am more comfortable than I ever was with just being myself. I couldn’t help but smile yesterday when one of the newbies asked me what there is to do once you get back from placement. “You mean other than just love life” was the only way I could think to respond.
Thanks to my home Pastor of Missions, I’ve added a fourth principle. He mentioned, and I agree, that so many of us go to a country like Africa and assume we are going only to help them. He asked me, “Andrew, how are you ready to receive love while you are there?“ We have the American mindset that they need us more than we need them. It’s not true, there is so much love we can receive from them if we are willing to accept it.
I can’t thank you enough for helping send me here. I really believe, and I hope you do too, that this will make a lasting impact on Africa, as well as all the many other nations involved in this program. God Bless, and I’ll see you soon!
Love,
Andrew
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