tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1765961424345936312024-03-14T11:19:21.963-07:00A Funke Time in TanzaniaEric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-86805371717464741792020-08-30T18:08:00.000-07:002020-08-30T18:08:08.585-07:00Our Last Blog Post<p>So much has happened since I last
posted. January and February were a whirlwind of joy and sadness. We overcame a weeklong flu and a secondary
chest infection. We sold, packed, gave away, or tossed all of our possessions
in Tanzania. We welcomed a team from St. John in Cypress, TX for the opening of
the new Mwanza Lutheran Secondary School. We celebrated all that God has
accomplished during our time in Tanzania. We shed many tears as we said goodbye
to precious friends. We flew 30+ hours back to the U.S. We surprised my dad for
his birthday with a layover in Dallas and then continued on to St. Louis.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Less than a week after we arrived,
everything began to shut down. I also came down with bronchitis, and we played
the game, “Is it COVID-19 or not?” Thankfully, it was not. However, now we do
wish we had some of those antibodies. Instead of traveling to all of our
partner churches, we spent 10+ weeks living with Eric’s parents while Eric
waited for school districts to interview him via Zoom and while we found a
rental home in Dallas via virtual tour. In May, we loaded up a U-pack trailer,
moved down to Texas, completely repainted the five previously pink rooms and
all of the ceilings in our new rental home. As we were unloading, we realized
that the garage conversion room, i.e. our playroom where our pantry and two
other main closets were located, wreaked of cat pee. It took six weeks of
trying various remedies for us to realize that the cat pee was in the walls.
Six inches of the wall had to be removed and replaced around the base of the
room. Once the floors were treated and the carpet replaced, we could finally begin
to fully unpack.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We’ve had many adventures since
moving to Texas, some fun and some not so fun--- breaking my baby toe as I
tried to maneuver around boxes and tripped on the couch, participating in at-home
Vacation Bible School with our kids, camping with my parents several times,
enduring the most painful case of chiggers of my life (over 130 bites), teaching
our kids to swim at a friend’s pool, celebrating our kids’ first 4<sup>th</sup>
of July as American citizens, persevering through the entire driver education
process again since my license expired while I was in Tanzania, changing many
of our habits and food preferences as we are being treated for parasites, sorting
through the many boxes that had been stored for us in Eric’s parents’ basement,
and Eric beginning a new job at North Garland High School while I help Michael
and Julia adjust to online school.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This year is not conducive to
closure, but we are trying. We put together one last presentation that friends,
family, and supporters could view on YouTube. (If you haven't seen it yet, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Ji_UiFfmQ&t=1981s" target="_blank">here</a>.) We held 14 separate Zoom calls so
that we could reconnect with members of our partner churches. (Thank you to all
who participated! It meant so much to us.) On July 13-17, we attended an online
debriefing retreat through Train International. We are so thankful we had that
opportunity to talk with other returning missionaries and to process all that
we had been through. Even in the best of times, reverse culture shock and
creating a new sense of home is tremendously difficult. We realized through this
retreat that we are grieving losses on four levels---</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>We are grieving the loss of our home, work, and
community in Tanzania. I spoke at length about that in a previous post. What I
failed to realize previously is that many of our family norms were about to
change. In Tanzania, Eric and I were partners in ministry. Our friend group was
the same. I could call him throughout the day when he wasn’t in class.
Sometimes he would come home for lunch or we would go up to school. Now I miss
my best friend as he is busy teaching, and the kids and I are home without the
company of neighbors who were always eager to interact with our family. </li><li>We are grieving the loss of moments with family
and friends in the U.S. while we were serving in Tanzania. For example, my
parents’ home has numerous pictures of family events for which we were not
present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, my grandmother passed
away while we were living in Tanzania, so a fresh wave of grief is hitting as I
sort through the items she left for me. Furthermore, relationships have changed
while we were away, and we are in many ways trying to figure out what
relationships with American family and friends look like when we are not an
ocean away.</li><li>We, like all of you, are grieving the loss of
dreams and expectations thanks to COVID-19. We and our children had built up a
storehouse of dreams for what life would look like once we moved back to the
U.S. Very few of those dreams have become reality, and we are figuring out how
to adjust our expectations. For example, we initially planned that I would get
a part-time job while our kids attend school in-person. For now, that dream has
been put on the back-burner while our kids attend school online. </li><li>We are grieving the changes that have taken
place since we last lived in the U.S. The partisanship, racial injustice, and
general ugliness we see regularly as the U.S. approaches an election has made
it particularly hard to bring our family here.</li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The leaders of the retreat
normalized so much of what we have been experiencing. They shared that on
average it takes missionaries 1-2 years (not months-- years) to establish a new
rhythm, a new sense of purpose, and a new sense of community. They shared that
if we don’t process these feelings now, we will miss out on all that God can
teach us through it and we will inevitably see the effects of unresolved grief
later. During the retreat we talked about what we control, what we influence,
and what areas of concern we need to simply hand over to God. They helped us to
recognize and embrace the paradoxes in our stories. They helped us to
articulate our expectations, others’ expectations of us, and God’s expectations
(hint: they aren’t the same). We identified the different types of transitions
in our lives: anticipated, unanticipated, nonevent (meaning what we expected to
happen didn’t) and sleeper (meaning we weren’t even aware of the transition
because it happened so gradually). We celebrated all that we have gained and
learned during these years of ministry. We talked about ways to cope with
stress, how to maintain resilience and spiritual vitality, and how to forgive
both ourselves and others. We drew pictures, told stories, meditated on
Scripture, prayed for each other, and made new friends. I highly recommend this
retreat to any returning missionaries or missionaries in the U.S. for furlough/home
service.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We are still very much in the
process of transition, both emotionally and practically. We are still trying to
sort out our finances, insurance, medical providers, local bank, local
activities, and weekly rhythm. We still need to fill out all the paperwork for
our kids’ social security cards, Eric’s Texas driver’s license, our last U.S.
social worker’s report for our kids’ adoption, state recognition of our kids’ adoption,
our kids’ passports, a second car, my social work license, our will, and
transfer of medical records. We are still trying to figure out ways for our
kids to make friends, while not endangering family members with underlying
health conditions. We are still sorting through boxes and organizing closets
and drawers. This transition is definitely a marathon-- not a sprint-- with added
hurdles related to COVID-19.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Yet, during our retreat we were
reminded of this beautiful passage from Jeremiah 6:16.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Stand at the crossroads and look;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Ask for the ancient paths, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Ask where the good way is, and
walk in it, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And you will find rest for your
souls.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We will continue to take each step
one at a time. We will continue to stand, to pause, to abide at the crossroads.
We will continue to look to Jesus and recall that we are not the first to
experience the stress and pain of transition. We will continue to seek out the
good way and walk in it, knowing that in all things God will not abandon us.
And Lord-willing and by His grace alone, we will find rest for our souls. <o:p></o:p></p>Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-9131504313271795192020-01-13T03:32:00.001-08:002020-02-01T13:53:02.549-08:00The Long GoodbyeMultiple people have asked us recently if we are excited about moving back to the U.S. It is a difficult question for us. Yes, there are aspects of moving back to the U.S. that we are excited about—primarily thoughts of making memories with friends and family there. However, it’s hard to get excited about a new ministry when we don’t have jobs yet. It’s hard to get excited about a new home when we have no idea what that home will look like. So much of our future is still hidden from our vision, and we are simply walking in faith that God will be with us in our next season of life.<br />
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Right now, in this season, we have spurts of excitement, but excitement is not the primary feeling. This is a season of grief for us, and that is as it should be. We need to live into this grief in order to be ready for the next season. There will be a time for joyous “hellos,” but first we must walk through our time of “goodbyes.” Tanzania and the friends we have made here mean so incredibly much to us. Eric and I have spent all but one year of our marriage here. These years have formed us and (by God’s grace) strengthened our bond as a couple. Together we turned a dilapidated shell of a house into a home.<br />
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Over time, we developed deep, lasting friendships with many people here. We have had the best neighbors these past seven years, the kinds of people that make you want to leave a gap in your fence so that you can more easily talk to them in the backyard, the kinds of people whom you ask when you need a few cups of flour or who come to your house when they need a few tomatoes or a carrot, the kinds of people with whom you celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. The growth of their children has marked our time here. The three-year-old is now ten. We will miss watching them grow, having them over for Christmas cookie and Easter egg decorating, hearing their laughter as they swing in the hammock and play soccer in our backyard.<br />
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We have friends here, both Tanzanians and expats alike, who welcomed us as family, who encouraged us when we came to them in tears, who checked on us when we were sick, who brought us vegetables from their gardens, who invited us into their homes, who fed us delicious meals, who prayed with us during each step of our adoption process, who laughed with us, who advised us, who interpreted for us, who helped us better understand Tanzanian culture, and who welcomed and loved our kids as if they were their own kids. We hope and plan to see many of these friends in future visits back to Tanzania. However, I know from my past experience of leaving beloved people in Papua New Guinea that sometimes when you say, “see you later,” later actually means heaven.<br />
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We have loved walking around small-town Mwadui, greeting people from our church and Bible study as they pass on the streets. While there have been challenges and times of significant discouragement and burnout, overall we have loved our ministries here. We have felt a deep sense of purpose and have seen God guide our ministries in unexpected directions. Over time, this ministry has become my dream job—what I aimed for when I started my Master of Social Work degree in international development. I wanted to be able to connect needs and resources in meaningful ways, to build bridges of communication between countries and cultures, and to serve people both individually and as a community. I feel like we have done exactly that. We are leaving the many aspects of our ministry in very capable hands, and for that we praise God. Yet, we still grieve that we will not be as involved going forward, that we will not be present to personally witness the growth in all that God has planted.<br />
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We brought each of our children home to this house. This is the place where we became parents. This is a place where Michael and Julia felt safe and loved. They, too, are grieving the loss of this place. Julia has cried at the thought of not sleeping in her bed again, even though she knows that she will have a new bed and we will still be there for her when nightmares come. We cannot bring all of our children’s cherished belongings with us. We will sell the little kitchen set that Eric designed and we hand-painted for nights leading up to Christmas 2017. We pray that it will be a blessing to a new family. The kids’ Lego table that we had custom built for them will also be enjoyed by a new family. Our rocking chair—a spot for reading, singing, and play during the day, a place for cuddles and prayers in the evening, and a source of comfort for our crying babies in the night—that too will bless another home. We will soon sort through our children's toys and books and determine what items will fit into the number of suitcases we have available to us.<br />
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This season of grief actually started two years ago, when we first made the decision to pursue the I-600 route to getting U.S. citizenship for our children. Once we made that decision, we knew our time in Tanzania was coming to a close. At first only our families, the leaders of Global Lutheran Outreach, Bishop Makala, and our headmaster Rev. Nzelu knew about our plans. A new level of grief hit as we had to tell our partner churches this past fall, “We are moving back to the U.S.” Every time we said it out loud, there were at least a few shocked and saddened faces in front of us, sometimes accompanied by a small gasp. They have seen the value of our ministry and our love for the people here, and they have joyfully partnered with this ministry. Once we returned to Tanzania, we were faced with an even harder task. Over the next nine months we gradually shared our plans with our community. First, we told our closest friends in over a dozen different personal conversations. Sometimes these conversations included tears. They love us and understand our reasons, but the news also brings them pain. Then the news was shared with the school board in April. Thankfully by then we knew that Cheryl Kruckemeyer would be coming to teach, so our news was tempered by news of a new missionary who will be bringing new skills and passion to work at the school. Then, we started making broader announcements—to our colleagues at school, to our church, to our Facebook community, to our students. In each setting, people were surprised and supportive and sad.<br />
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Around Easter, holidays became bittersweet. We began the time of “lasts.” When we gathered together for celebrations, at least one friend always mentioned how much they will miss us at future celebrations. We made plans to show our children more of the beauty of their home country before they travel with us to live in a new country. We traveled to the Serengeti and to Zanzibar, determined to give our children some “firsts” in the middle of this season of lasts.<br />
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Grief is funny, because it hits at the oddest moments and in the oddest ways. For example, as we were preparing our house for Cheryl’s first visit to Tanzania, I cleaned and organized at a fevered pace. As we got in the car to travel to Mwanza to pick her up at the airport, the tears came. I realized that my frenzy was due to wanting everything to be perfect for her, wanting her to love this house and this place as much as we do, wanting her to feel at home, and realizing that our time in this house was coming to an end. Likewise, grief sneaks up on us. We can be sitting in church, laughing and clapping along as leaders surprise Evangelist Stanley Dodonda with a cake for his birthday, and then suddenly I look around the room and tears fill my eyes. I am surrounded by people I love and people I will miss.<br />
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We are still about seven weeks from departure. There are many more joys to share, memories to make, and tears to cry. Even once we return to the U.S., our re-entry will be a time of joy and sadness. We will visit each of our partner churches one more time, seeing and thanking people who have prayed for us, encouraged us, and supported this ministry for seven amazing years. We will say goodbye to them as well, because we don’t yet know when we will next attend worship at each of these churches. In July we will attend a missionary debriefing retreat put on by Train International. This retreat will help us cope with any reverse culture shock. I know from my past experience of leaving Papua New Guinea, reverse culture shock can be even harder to manage than culture shock. In August I will write our last newsletter—our 101st newsletter since beginning this chapter of our lives—and we will begin new jobs. Our children will start attending school. We will gradually settle into life in the U.S. and start building new dreams and making new memories. As the movie <i>Inside Out</i> so beautifully illustrates, Joy and Sadness are friends. Both can be part of our experience at the same time.<br />
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Please be patient with us. This is a big transition. Yet, we know that transitions are fertile fields for growth and that God is going to amaze us with how He brings the right people, jobs, and home into our lives at the right time. We so appreciate all of your prayers and love as we move forward.<br />
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Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12462629587824148825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-43652241169933890312020-01-05T10:08:00.001-08:002020-01-05T10:08:48.482-08:00Kid-friendly Restaurants in Dar Es Salaam With Playgrounds<div style="text-align: center;">
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While waiting for some of our children’s immigration documents, we spent almost 3 weeks in Dar Es Salaam in October 2019. Since we were staying in Airbnb’s in the Upanga area, our kids (ages 4 & 5) needed places where they could run, jump, climb, and get their energy out. Therefore, we usually went to one restaurant a day with a playground. Often during our trips to Dar, I wished that there was a good list of restaurants with playgrounds. Since I never did find a list like that, I decided to make one for other parents. Here are our recommendations for playgrounds in Dar Es Salaam. Be sure to check hours for each restaurant because several of them close for the afternoon and reopen for the evening.<br />
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• <b><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293748-d6475499-Reviews-Central_Park_Cafe-Dar_es_Salaam_Dar_Es_Salaam_Region.html">Central Park Cafe</a></b>—A lovely atmosphere with an indoor and outdoor play areas. This was close to where we were staying in Upanga and was one of our favorite places to eat. The outdoor playground is free with a food or drink order. The indoor play area costs 10,000TSH per kid. It is not open on Mondays.<br />
• <b><a href="http://www.citymall.co.tz/">Gaming Zone, City Mall 3rd floor</a></b>— Indoor play area which is great for rainy days. Under 3 years old costs 5,000TSH and 4+ years old costs 10,000TSH. You can order food at the Red Onion next door and have them inform you when it is ready. Be sure to tell them if you don’t want the food spicy. There are also other restaurants on that floor of the mall, including a gelato shop.<br />
• <b><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293748-d7260668-Reviews-Flames_Restaurant-Dar_es_Salaam_Dar_Es_Salaam_Region.html">Flames</a></b>—Wonderful Indian food. This was one of our favorite outdoor playgrounds, because they have playground attendants to help keep kids safe. This meant that our kids could go play while we enjoyed a mini-date.<br />
• <b><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293748-d1650513-Reviews-Zuane-Dar_es_Salaam_Dar_Es_Salaam_Region.html">Zuane</a></b>—Delicious Italian food with an outdoor playground and fenced area for kicking balls around. It is closed on Sundays.<br />
•<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293748-d3370558-Reviews-Ristorante_Bella_Napoli-Dar_es_Salaam_Dar_Es_Salaam_Region.html"> <b>Bella Napoli</b></a>—Another delicious Italian restaurant with a small outdoor playground that is perfect for little kids. They also have playground attendants and an indoor room off to the right with books and toys. It is closed on Tuesdays.<br />
• <b><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293748-d1208396-Reviews-Marrybrown-Dar_es_Salaam_Dar_Es_Salaam_Region.html">Marrybrown</a></b>—This is a fast-food restaurant (similar to McDonalds) with a covered outdoor playground.<br />
• <b><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293748-d1217714-Reviews-Epi_d_or-Dar_es_Salaam_Dar_Es_Salaam_Region.html">Epi d’or</a></b>— A wonderful Mediterranean/Lebanese cafe and bakery with an outdoor playground. They have lots of options on the menu.<br />
• <b><a href="https://www.myguidetanzania.com/shopping/the-slipway">Slipway</a></b>— There are many pricey but delicious restaurants at Slipway, including Thai food, seafood, and a gelato place. In the evenings they open the outdoor playground and have playground attendants. The playground costs 5,000TSH per child.<br />
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If you ever want to order-in food, the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jumiafood.android&hl=en_US">Jumia Food</a> app is wonderful. It provides a list of available restaurants in the area and a driver will pick it up and deliver your order for a very small fee.<br />
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If you are looking for a family-friendly AirBnB around Upanga, here are some we have tried in the past few years and enjoyed.<br />
• <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/18729018?source_impression_id=p3_1578247083_vkbfd3A7nYc%2Ba%2BOs">My home your home @United Nations Rd</a><br />
• <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/34799490?source_impression_id=p3_1578247455_lJOga%2BRubg4H3P0%2F">Elegant Condo</a><br />
• <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/26712954?source_impression_id=p3_1578247128_bSkYx%2BhQpG9JAx1U">Stunning penthouse with Sea view</a> (You can also get a <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/23133440?source_impression_id=p3_1578247155_ca1Vefl5ek78Hj1C">single room</a> in this apartment for cheaper. The room sleeps 2 adults and one child, but we brought a cot for our other child to save on costs).<br />
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If you are looking for a safe and reliable taxi driver, Felix (+255 774 333 309) is wonderful. If he ever can’t pick you up, he will arrange for his friend Jovin to drive you. Jovin is also a great driver.<br />
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Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12462629587824148825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-92208244326789995872017-10-05T11:41:00.002-07:002017-10-05T11:41:53.768-07:0010 Answered Prayers<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As of September 7th, we have lived in Tanzania for five years! Usually this time of year we put out a “Year In Review” video, but this year with all the travel back and forth to Mwanza, chronic illness, and finally bringing our daughter home, we just haven’t been able to commit the time to making a video. However, I do want to take a moment to celebrate and share all that God has done since we arrive back in Tanzania in January. Truthfully, we felt pretty overwhelmed at that point, because so many needs, dreams, and timelines flew at us as soon as we hit the ground. While I have seen God do amazing things here in the past, I must admit that I am human, and sometimes I get scared. I get scared of failing, of not being able to fulfill promises, of letting people down… So in January I started a prayer list. These prayers have often lasted for many months, because sometimes my timing is not God’s and progress is slow. However, as I look back today, I can see how God was at work and answered each one of the prayers.</span><br />
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<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbjb_9AK7t7wa4t47qc0Zv7mvdo4nPrew_5c7d0EKUkPuwgEYBWKQShrOJbd7MHFlja25g1cWFaXiA1I4GUf4N9eJRGMKUQ7V9ebfAhtKvSNZeYiPBwHSLwr48Nw5f3Bt1DgtIZLCvRo/s1600/IMG-20170228-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbjb_9AK7t7wa4t47qc0Zv7mvdo4nPrew_5c7d0EKUkPuwgEYBWKQShrOJbd7MHFlja25g1cWFaXiA1I4GUf4N9eJRGMKUQ7V9ebfAhtKvSNZeYiPBwHSLwr48Nw5f3Bt1DgtIZLCvRo/s200/IMG-20170228-WA0000.jpg" width="150" /></a>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Majid’s Desk and Bathroom</b>--In 2016, we were grateful to see a young boy named Majid walk for the first time thanks to many of your donations. We also started the year with enough money to enroll him in Agape Lutheran English Medium Primary School. However, in January I received word that the school could not admit him unless money could be found to build a special desk to accommodate his leg braces and a bathroom that was handicap accessible. By God’s grace, one of our partner families stepped in and provided the money for the desk and the bathroom. Majid has now almost completed kindergarten and will be entering Standard 1 next year!<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Deaconess Celebration</b>—At the end of January, we<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlXvF3gOJHCo5ONMrQb3OW4p8wWg0k1_qPodHORzKeH0pygEUwS42HE1na42FcG04U5TJZXiziDPftT0K76ifBNCA6cKASN6kwzc4TG1G4Iu5uFcAU9l97krpi-U0mtq0KkQNrc5wIFY/s1600/IMG_3376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlXvF3gOJHCo5ONMrQb3OW4p8wWg0k1_qPodHORzKeH0pygEUwS42HE1na42FcG04U5TJZXiziDPftT0K76ifBNCA6cKASN6kwzc4TG1G4Iu5uFcAU9l97krpi-U0mtq0KkQNrc5wIFY/s200/IMG_3376.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
learned that the next class of deaconesses would be consecrated in early March. In the past, we’ve given new Tanzanian deaconesses handmade deaconess stoles in honor of the occasion. However, given that the stoles hadn’t been made yet and still had to be shipped across the world, we weren’t sure if this gift would make it in time. We are so grateful to Deaconess Ann Maki and the members at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Longmont, Colorado for jumping into action and getting the stoles made. They were sent from the U.S. on February 17th, but we weren’t sure they would arrive in time for the consecration on March 11th. In the past, most packages had taken about a month to arrive. However, they did arrive in time! With a week to spare! The graduation/consecration weekend was a joyous celebration, made even more joyous by friends in the U.S. and a speedy delivery.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Retreat</b>— Sometimes God answers prayers that we didn’t<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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even know we needed to pray. While we had a marvelous time with family and friends during our fall furlough in the U.S. last year, we never really had time away for spiritual rest and to reflect on what God is doing in our lives. We were delighted when the LCMS invited us to their East African missionaries’ retreat in Kenya, but quickly realized that we could not afford the travel and hotel costs. We sent our regrets explaining why we would not be able to attend. A few weeks later we received word that because other guests wouldn’t be able to make use of their stipend, the LCMS could cover all of our travel expenses! When we mentioned the trip to Global Lutheran Outreach, we found out that they had recently established a fund to help missionaries retreat for times of rest. They were thus able to help pay for our hotel costs! The week away turned out to be a beautiful and much needed time to be spiritually fed, to network with other missionaries, and make memories together as a family.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>World Federation of Diakonia</b>— Last year I began to <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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dream about sending two Tanzanian deaconesses to the World Federation of Diakonia conference that is held every four years in different parts of the world. This year’s conference was in Chicago, and my deaconess community was helping to host it. Having been to this conference before, I knew it would be an amazing opportunity for some of my Tanzanian colleagues, but when we returned to Tanzania, I learned that the discounted registration ended in March! The thought of raising $3,300 for each person before that date was nerve-wracking. Then, toward the end of February, I realized the importance of having Bishop Makala in attendance to help with the interpreting, and so that he was on the same page as the diaconal leaders and could collaborate with them when they returned to Tanzania. So now I was looking at $9,900 to raise! However, God brought forward some wonderfully generous donors. We were able to register Bishop Makala, Deaconess Matrida Sanga, and Director of Education Grace Mutabuzi before the discounted registration deadline, and by the second week of May, the trip was fully funded. Then we ran into some snags in getting Matrida’s passport, praying desperately that it would arrive in time. It did! Little by little, all the details—how to get U.S. visas, how to get them a hotel during their long layover, who would pick them up, who would drive them, etc.—came together. As I watched (via pictures) our colleagues interact with the servant leaders from around the world, my spirit leapt for joy. The whole trip truly felt miraculous, and our friends came back spiritually rejuvenated and bursting with new ideas to integrate into ministry here.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Laboratory for Mwanza Lutheran Secondary School</b>—In <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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January we also received an email from our friend Bishop Gulle of the East of Lake Victoria Diocese concerning the Mwanza Lutheran Secondary School. In the past we had connected them with partners to help them build two more classrooms and bathrooms for the new school. However, now the government was requiring a completed laboratory before the school could open, and Bishop Gulle implored us for assistance again. They had already completed the walls and roof for the building, but didn’t have the money to finish it. Since we were already doing another fundraiser for the Diakonia conference, we told him we wouldn’t be able to help at this time. However, a few weeks later, our friends at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, TX, who had previously been instrumental in getting the classrooms and bathrooms built, asked about progress of the school. We told them about the request, and they agreed to match any donations that came in up to $7,000. However, this summer they took that one step further when their Vacation Bible School raised the remainder of the money needed to build the lab. The lab is currently under construction now and should be ready in time for the new school year in January! Praise the Lord!<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A New School for Baraka</b>—We have been walking along side <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab7dNUyXIbzzf67xqLs6VztO6qQyDLg45dLQjYlRDNHEL_j1KDCurTgV7mAnlkmt12WWKLqg5MKT0DLI2p-Sq5dulv9K2tC9SpjJqbR9bvYjbmA7xbJP4JeG53LGPqRSUFPRW7HYdLrc/s1600/IMG-20170816-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab7dNUyXIbzzf67xqLs6VztO6qQyDLg45dLQjYlRDNHEL_j1KDCurTgV7mAnlkmt12WWKLqg5MKT0DLI2p-Sq5dulv9K2tC9SpjJqbR9bvYjbmA7xbJP4JeG53LGPqRSUFPRW7HYdLrc/s200/IMG-20170816-WA0001.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
our friend Baraka and his family for almost our entire time here in Tanzania. Since he was born without eyes and experiences some developmental disabilities due to early life seizures, he didn’t start preschool until he was age 7. We were able to get him into the Lutheran preschool here and hired an aide to help him. However, after two years, it was clear he had outgrown the preschool. When we arrived back in Tanzania, the search began for a new school. There are very few schools for the blind here in Tanzania, and even fewer that provide boarding, and fewer still will accept kids with developmental disabilities. We and Baraka’s parents called numerous places and met many dead ends. Finally in March, one school in Dar Es Salaam agreed to meet with him, so we sent Baraka and his mother. They told us that they couldn’t accept him yet because he didn’t have all the skills he would need to board. Therefore, his family began intentionally working with him on that list of skills. Then in July, we learned of an even better opportunity at a school closer to home. We sent Baraka and his mom to the school, but their trip was delayed when Baraka fell ill with malaria. Finally in August, they met the school administrators who agreed to accept him at Mwereni Intergrated School for the Blind in Moshi. Not only that, but they also said they would be willing to teach Baraka’s younger brother Amani, who was also born without eyes, when the time comes. Praise the Lord! Baraka has an aunt that lives near the school, and she reports that he is loving his new school.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Michael’s Medical Bills</b>— While we were in the U.S, we <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPwNxvsgeyHO0raaGhO1w2UMCmrIWL8H-xLcVJTFNmiD4vqTajGVhbgBKISCxHQKEl-QMxmvRBiy2hR2zw70nWMyP8MQkDa-CX73nvJkORYBA-eWMtZ3Sj1i4LjzA1KYcg4urBwPRXWI/s1600/st-louis-childrens-hospital-amazing-children-hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="600" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPwNxvsgeyHO0raaGhO1w2UMCmrIWL8H-xLcVJTFNmiD4vqTajGVhbgBKISCxHQKEl-QMxmvRBiy2hR2zw70nWMyP8MQkDa-CX73nvJkORYBA-eWMtZ3Sj1i4LjzA1KYcg4urBwPRXWI/s200/st-louis-childrens-hospital-amazing-children-hospital.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
were able to get Michael into St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s International Adoption Center. This center particularly looks at children’s vaccine levels, tests for parasites and international illnesses that other doctors miss, and gives parents the support of an occupational therapist. We were so grateful because they determined that Michael had only had the measles vaccine, not the full MMR, and also found and treated a parasite in Michael’s digestive system. However, we got back to Tanzania, the bills started rolling in, and we discovered that our insurance company was not willing to cover all of these tests because they were outside of normal care. They lumped all tests into “wellness.” Since medical tests are expensive in U.S. hospitals and the insurance company only covered $500 of wellness, we soon received over $5,000 worth of bills we couldn’t pay! We sent in an appeal, but the insurance company still refused. We mentioned our plight on Facebook, and a dear friend Liz Neuf mentioned that she worked right next to the billing office at St. Louis Children’s. She put us in contact with someone, who put us in contact with another person, and we continued waiting. Finally in June, we learned that the hospital was going to comp us the remaining balance of our bills! We breathed such a sigh of relief and thanked God for Liz and all the people at the hospital that made it happen.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A Safer Computer Lab</b>— When we returned to school in <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEGTbLZ0BgEZK-_iUiruFNmr3oRLnH5WVdWyNUeQEHF864zZ6w0De9dDz87013M5U05CrkCBq-OiW2j8uV1-4vVejxCU_ywzU-95LBC_IIdlr-6Ep9Wvg6Lu3lUzFLOB2sazyPUarNNA/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEGTbLZ0BgEZK-_iUiruFNmr3oRLnH5WVdWyNUeQEHF864zZ6w0De9dDz87013M5U05CrkCBq-OiW2j8uV1-4vVejxCU_ywzU-95LBC_IIdlr-6Ep9Wvg6Lu3lUzFLOB2sazyPUarNNA/s200/IMG_4359.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
January, we learned that the air-conditioning units for the computer lab had finally arrived. Thus, Eric and Sundi began packing up the lab for the installation of the air-conditioners and ceiling tiles. Because of setbacks in worker schedules, the room was finally finished in March, or so we thought... The first day Eric had the students in the room, one of the students mentioned that the computer—which was turned off—was hot. Sure enough, there were 240 volts coursing through the computer, which led Eric to discover that some short-cuts had been taken in the wiring when the computer lab was built last year. If he had not discovered this, someone could have been seriously injured or the building could have caught fire. We thank God for safety and that the situation could be remedied. Eric supervised the rewiring of over half of the lab. The electrical work was completed in May, and Eric has since been able to network all the computers and make the room as safe as possible. The students and teachers love being able to use the lab for study, practical applications, and research. <br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Work and Resident Permits</b>— The story of these permits is <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRPsxYoAXv4s-ykeENNUEYjfjAtbsw71IBxg4g_Jv4MsrvsnFKSfqfExWPd4WXvm1oKmRWQCrjO2RgZAv5nSS6fFkBKcg8XM8FU9rQ-6mXnr0v8ZJ6VYQpLcn756gHUNoKq19Lm03vIM/s1600/Permits+2017b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRPsxYoAXv4s-ykeENNUEYjfjAtbsw71IBxg4g_Jv4MsrvsnFKSfqfExWPd4WXvm1oKmRWQCrjO2RgZAv5nSS6fFkBKcg8XM8FU9rQ-6mXnr0v8ZJ6VYQpLcn756gHUNoKq19Lm03vIM/s200/Permits+2017b.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
literally a two-year journey. Here’s the briefer overview:<br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- September 2015: We applied for our resident permit renewals September 2015 and received the receipt that serves as the permit until the official one is issued. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- March 2016: We had still not received our permits, and a lawyer friend told us that we had waited an abnormally long time, even for Tanzania. We returned to the immigration office. They advised that we submit our papers to them again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- March-August 2016: We experienced many more months of confused, frustrating meetings. Bishop Makala even came with us to the office a few times. We couldn’t get any straight answers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- August 2016: We were in Dar Es Salaam applying for Michael’s passport. We asked the immigration advocate helping us with the passport to check on our resident permit case. A few weeks later we learned from her that the original papers had never been received by the Dar Es Salaam office. Our papers from March 2016 had been received but shelved, because a law was passed in December 2015 that said that missionaries now needed work permits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- September 2016: Our advocate Rose helped us apply for work permits and resident permits again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- January 2017: With Rose’s help, we received the work permits one week before we were supposed to return from the U.S. to Tanzania. That permit, along with our receipt, was enough to at least get us into the country. Praise the Lord!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- January 2017-May 2017: We faced many obstacles—papers lost, people on maternity leave, people transferred to new offices, etc. Rose was just as frustrated as we were.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- May 2017: I (Linda) finally received my permit. Eric’s was still MIA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- July 2017: We learned that when they had printed my permit, immigration archived both files without printing Eric’s. They were attempting to find the files.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- August 2017: We flew to Dar Es Salaam to hand-deliver all the documents that would have been in the file if it had been found (thank God we had made copies!). However, then because the receipt of payment for our application had expired--being two years after our original application—we had to pay again and supply new updated documents for his permit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- September 20, 2017: I finally picked up Eric’s permit myself in Dar, as well as the permits for new GLO missionaries Amber and Austin Reed. Thanks to our agent Rose, who we wouldn’t have found if we hadn’t been through this whole saga, the Reeds’ whole process—work permits and resident permits—took only 4 months. We have learned a lot through it all and we will never again attempt this process without Rose’s help. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Bringing Julia Home</b>— And last but not least, we have <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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endured a long prayerful journey to bring our daughter home. Our home study was conducted in September 2016 before our furlough, but due to circumstances outside of our control, we didn’t receive the home study report until April 1st. Then we learned that the Commissioner of the Ministry of Social Welfare was no longer housed in the Dar Es Salaam office. His office is now in Dodoma, a 7-hour bus ride from Dar. Thus, every single document that needs his signature must travel between the two cities, delaying the process by weeks/months. We braced ourselves for another long wait. Finally, on July 14th we received the letter to go and identify who our child would be. Long-story short, our daughter Julia only became eligible for adoption a few weeks before we received that letter. As painful as the wait was, had we received the letter any earlier, we may not now have our beautiful daughter. It took another two months and two trips to Dar Es Salaam to get the letter that gave us permission to bring her home. However, our joy was complete when on September 22nd, our little girl came home. </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Looking back even through the really tough times we can see God’s hand clearly at work. We want to say a special “thank you” to all of you have prayed along with us and partnered with us in these ministries. You are an answer to our prayers. The ministry continues as we head into Year Six. We are now praying a whole new batch of prayers, such as finding appropriate housing for new GLO missionary colleagues Amber and Austin, finishing construction of the clinic at our school, and finalizing the Tanzanian side of Julia’s adoption. We hope to be able to share many more answered prayers with you all in person Fall 2018. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-58519523673479966422017-02-25T09:54:00.000-08:002017-02-25T09:54:59.482-08:00My Double Life<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
No, I am not a spy. While Eric
and I did enjoy McGyver, Alias, Superman, etc. as young people, we don’t weekly
assume alter-egos that jet off to exotic places for secret missions. Yet, as we
packed and prepared at the end of our most recent furlough, I did have the
distinct realization that I lead a double life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Tanzania has been our home now
for over 4 years, longer than I have lived anywhere except my childhood home in
Richardson, TX. Our house here is a place that we have restored and decorated
as a couple. It is filled with memories, including the majority of our memories
as a family of three. Here we have meaningful work and our own routine. We have
a community here that we love and who loves and supports us. Whenever we return to the U.S., we live in
the homes of others, adapt to their schedules and routines, and try to squeeze
1.5-2 years’ worth of presentations, doctors’ appointments, deep conversations,
and memories into a few brief months. Furlough is exhausting. However, it is
also exhilarating, because the U.S. is also home. We are back in the homes of
our youth, which hold a tremendous amount of wonderful memories. Suddenly we
can dive into conversations in our native tongue and therefore reach different
depths of conversation. We can talk with people who have known and loved us for
decades. We generally have a clearer understanding of cultural norms. We blend
in and are not immediately identifiable as outsiders. There is something truly
refreshing about that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Two countries--both very much
home. In each place, I am myself, and yet in each place, I am also different.
Sometimes it almost feels like there are two Lindas—U.S. Linda and Tanzania
Linda. Let me elaborate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-insideh: none; mso-border-insidev: none; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
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<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.65pt;" valign="top" width="161">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 172.3pt;" valign="top" width="230">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u>U.S. Linda<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 174.55pt;" valign="top" width="233">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u>Tanzania Linda<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.65pt;" valign="top" width="161">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>My Alias<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Linda Funke in the U.S. is Linda with a short I, and Funke pronounced
like “funky.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Linda Funke in Tanzania is pronounced “Leenda Foonkay.” This Linda is
also called “Madam Linda” at school or “Mama Michael” by the community as
parents are also given the name of their first child. Eric is also called
“Baba Michael” fairly regularly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>My Gear<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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As soon as we return to the U.S., this Linda digs through the bins in
Eric’s parents’ basement, unpacking items that serve my American persona—blue
jeans, 120-volt hairdryer, skirts that show my knees, jewelry, a variety of
shoes including boots and high heels, coats, hats, scarves, etc. U.S. Linda
appreciates a comfy pair of jeans and enjoys trying out new styles. U.S.
Linda almost never has anything tailored because of the expense. U.S. Linda
enjoys occasionally wearing heals and being closer to her husband’s height.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As soon as we return to Tanzania, this Linda pulls out dresses with
beautiful vibrant pattern, handmade to fit me. Tanzania Linda also loves the
freedom of long skirts. Yes, you read that right—<i>freedom. </i>While they may not be suitable for more strenuous
activities, for everyday activities that require sitting on the floor with my
son, long skirts have a lot more give than the average American jeans and
don’t require a belt to keep them from riding too low. Tanzania Linda almost
always wears sandals, because they are comfortable and she doesn’t want to
tower over her Tanzanian friends.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Shopping<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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U.S. Linda uses cards to pay for most everything and may look a
little foolish figuring out how the whole chip thing works. U.S. Linda also
appreciates how you can find a lot of what you are shopping for in one or two
stores. U.S. Linda can easily pick up random items at a nearby store on the
way home from the day’s activities.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tanzania Linda pays for everything using cash (which you may or may
not be able to get at the ATM that day). Tanzania Linda goes to many open-air
markets and little shops looking for items and may or may not find them.
However, shop keepers are also often willing to go and get something for you
while you wait if they know of another shopkeeper who has it. Tanzania Linda
also is a bit more organized when shopping because town is 30 minutes away
and we only go once a week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Personality and Activities<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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U.S. Linda tries to make the most of every opportunity to be with
people, and therefore is more likely to watch TV with family, go to
playdates, concerts, shows and museums, go out to dinner with friends, etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Communicating and recognizing cultural nuances requires more
attention here, so Tanzania Linda tends to be more introverted. She makes
more time for reflective activities such as reading, writing, listening to
podcasts, and going for walks in the neighborhood.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Diet<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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U.S. Linda so appreciates being able to eat out, having many foods
pre-cut/prepared, and having a huge variety of foods. Seriously, every item
of food has dozens of options—vegetables, fruits, ice cream, popcorn, milk,
cheese, etc. We also love being home with our extended families where we
usually don’t have to cook and can enjoy the company of other loved ones in
the evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tanzania Linda appreciates that there aren’t a lot of hidden
additives in her foods. While it takes at least forty-five minutes to an hour
to prepare a meal here, most of the ingredients are extremely fresh. There
are not as many options here, but much of the produce they do have is so much
better than in the U.S. You have not truly seen a “jumbo” avocado until that
avocado reaches the size of avocados here. I have not met a banana in the
U.S. as sweet as the ones we can find here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Worship
Life<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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U.S. Linda travels around to many churches during our visits. During
our four months of furlough, we worshipped with 15 different congregations.
We enjoyed the diversity of services, the ability to have other family
members help us with Michael, the ease of listening more closely to the
service in our native tongue, and the beautiful music with a wide variety of
instruments and intricate choral parts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Tanzania Linda generally worships at our small church in Mwadui and
is accustomed to services going at least 2-2.5 hours. Tanzania Linda loves
the dancing and the beauty of the human voice in the acapella music. She also
loves how everyone brings what they have for offering and the produce and
goods are auctioned off after service. Here we may either be distracted by
Michael or struggling with the language barrier, so we supplement with sermon
podcasts in English on Monday night. Here in Tanzania I also have time for a
women’s Bible study so I can dig a little deeper with a small group.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My heart is divided, which is the
nature of having two homes, two lives. In each place, there are struggles. In
each place, there are people we love and aspects of our lives that we treasure.
Having a double life isn’t easy, but right now I wouldn’t have it any other
way.<o:p></o:p></div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-22675537257153026772016-09-11T12:30:00.000-07:002016-09-11T12:30:15.772-07:00Reflections on The Poisonwood Bible-- Part 3<div class="MsoNormal">
The main purpose of <i>The
Poisonwood Bible</i> is to bring to light how the domination of Western culture
and political forces in the colonial times, and even today, has degraded the
dignity and hope of Africans, particularly in the Congo. I am grateful for
books like this one that help us to see history from new perspectives and
hopefully help us to learn from our mistakes. While not the main message, the
book does contain secondary messages that call various aspects of Christianity
and the missionary life into question. I have recommended this book to other
missionaries for that very reason and will continue to do so. I think it is
important for us to be intentional about what we do or don’t do, to examine our
own motives, and to see how our beliefs might be misinterpreted, or worse,
twisted in ways that hurt others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At the same time, missionaries already suffer under the
weight of stereotypes, and I fear that this book might reinforce those
stereotypes. Stereotypes typically have a grain of truth. There are numerous
stories of missionary families like the Price family who have done extremely
harmful things in communities in the past. Even in the present, I have encountered
well-intentioned projects that didn’t really hit the heart of the need and
weren’t sustainable. There are times when missionaries get sidetracked by their
own agendas and forget to really listen to the people around them. I have seen
missionary money create dependencies and lasting problems in communities.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog--%20part%203.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
I have encountered missionaries who saw the world in black and white, who came
to teach and to show people how to live and believe rightly, but could never
figure out how to work within their host culture. They left disillusioned and
bitter, spewing venomous words towards the people in their host country and
towards other missionaries living there. There is some truth in the stereotype.
And yet, the stereotype leaves so much out…<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 2000, Robert Woodberry began to study the link between
Protestant Christianity and democracy as a graduate student of sociology at
University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill. He traveled around the world
collecting data, and he discovered something remarkable. He observed that
countries that were open to missionaries had better health outcomes and better
access to democracy over time. Woodberry knew his research was controversial,
so he continued to add variables such as climate, health, location,
accessibility, natural resources, colonial power, and disease prevalence into
the statistical model, but the connection between Protestant missionary work
and global democracy remained significant. In 2005, Woodberry received a
half-million dollar grant, hired fifty research assistants, and set up a
database at the University of Texas. The results remained consistent: “<span style="background: white;">Areas where Protestant missionaries had a
significant presence in the past are on average more economically developed
today, with comparatively better health, lower infant mortality, lower
corruption, greater literacy, higher educational attainment (especially for
women), and more robust membership in nongovernmental associations.” He
submitted his research to <i>American
Political Science Review </i>in 2010. The editors were skeptical of his
findings, so they asked for more evidence. He provided 192 pages of supporting
material. His research was published by <i>American
Political Science Review</i> in 2012 and won four major awards. So far
Woodberry’s discovery has been supported by over a dozen studies conducted by
other researchers.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog--%20part%203.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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It turns out that even Congo, the setting of <i>The Poisonwood Bible</i>, had missionary
advocates. Two Baptist missionaries, John and Alice Harris, took pictures of
the atrocities in Belgium Congo described in <i>The Poisonwood Bible</i> and smuggled the photos out of the country.
They then traveled around the United States and Britain raising awareness and
creating public pressure to end the violence. Many missionaries throughout
history have become activists against injustice. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There are many cross-cultural missionaries throughout
history that I admire. I am equally inspired by the many local Christian
leaders who daily show love to those around them, and I am truly grateful that in
many cases the role of missionary has shifted from leader to partner in
ministry. I love the growing diversity among missionaries. And I pray that as
the world continues to become more and more of a global community, churches can
unite together to fulfill our call to “to act justly and to love mercy and to
walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog--%20part%203.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> A
great book on this topic is “When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty
Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
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<div id="ftn2">
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog--%20part%203.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Much more information about Woodberry’s research can be found at <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/january-february/world-missionaries-made.html">http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/january-february/world-missionaries-made.html</a>.
The article Woodberry wrote can be found at <a href="http://www.academia.edu/2128659/The_Missionary_Roots_of_Liberal_Democracy">http://www.academia.edu/2128659/The_Missionary_Roots_of_Liberal_Democracy</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-72273341438374758102016-09-10T12:25:00.000-07:002016-09-10T12:25:42.653-07:00Reflections on The Poisonwood Bible-- Part 2<div class="MsoNormal">
In my last post, I explored some of the reasons why Nathan
Price of <i>The Poisonwood Bible</i> never
should have entered Congo as a missionary in the first place. In this post, I
want to explore some of the theological differences between what he and his
family believe and what I believe. To be fair, each of these topics could be
blog posts in their own rights, but I will try to keep my thoughts somewhat brief.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Conqueror vs.
Caretaker. </b>The very first Bible passage quoted in the book is Genesis 1:28:
“And God said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,
and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of
the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.’” Then in the
very first chapter the speaker, Nathan’s wife, Orleanna, poetically muses over
how the West came to conquer Africa and how her husband Nathan was likewise the
conqueror. The way the verse in Genesis is used, one might feel justified in
“subduing” a continent, a wilderness, a wife, a family. However, that is never
how I have viewed this passage. Throughout the Bible, it is clear that all
things actually belong to God. For
example, Deuteronomy 10:14 declares, <span style="background: white; color: #23221f; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"Behold, to the Lord your God belong
heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.” Psalm 24:1
states “</span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">The
earth is the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">’s,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">and everything in it,</span></span> <span class="text"><span style="background: white;">the world,
and all who live in it” and this phrase is again reiterated in the New
Testament in 1 Corinthians 10:26.</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #23221f; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Similar
statements can also be found in Genesis 14:19-22, Exodus 9:29, Exodus 19:5,
Leviticus 25:23, Job 41:11, Psalm 50:10-12, Psalm 74:16, Psalm 89:11, Psalm
95:4-5, Psalm 104:24, Haggai 2:8. </span>Therefore we are not owners, and we
are not conquerors. We are stewards--caretakers called to value, nourish, prune,
restore, and protect the world around us. There is much Biblical justification
for showing love and appreciation for the natural world and the people around
us, but Nathan Price missed it all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Religion of judgement
vs. Religion of grace. </b>When Nathan Price and his family entered the
community, the people of Kilanga welcomed them warmly, killing a goat, and
preparing a feast. This was Nathan’s first opportunity to address the people,
and what does he start with? He shamed the women whose breasts were exposed—which
was appropriate to the culture— taking the story of Lot out of context in an attempt
to justify his message. And all I could think was “Wow. He completely missed
the point. What is critical to the message of Christ?” When Jesus approached
people, especially those who eagerly showed him welcome, he led with love. He
led with gratitude. He did not hold himself to be above others, but served
those around him. The only group to whom he expressed anger and judgement were
the Pharisees and teachers who thought they were above their neighbors—the
Nathan Prices of that era. Yet, even among that group, some came to realize
that the primary message of Jesus was love, a love not bound by anything we
have done or could ever do, a love given freely as a gift. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Using shame to change
behavior vs. Behavior change as a result of relationship. </b>The destructive
nature of shame and of using shame to try to change behavior has become
increasingly clear to me over the years. I have especially appreciated and
highly recommend the research and writing of Brene Brown. Nathan Price regularly
used shame tactics to change people’s behavior, and again, I think Nathan Price
missed the point. Christianity is not a list of things that one must do to
please God—pray a certain prayer (check), get baptized in the river (check), go
to church (check), read the Bible (check), memorize certain verses (check), dress
a certain way (check), end polygamy (check)<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog%20part%202.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>…
As Pastor Ben Stuart once said, “That is not Christianity. That is list-ianity.”
Christianity is not a list. It is a relationship. It is understandable how
Nathan Price missed this distinction, because there are many churches and even
whole denominations who have lost this distinction. God is not “watching us,”
as the Price children suspected, waiting for us to mess up. God is loving us,
grieving with us, rejoicing with us, and longing for us to know him better. In
its truest form, Christianity is simply a relationship with God/Jesus/Holy
Spirit. Do our actions change in various ways as a result of that relationship?
Of course! That happens in any meaningful relationship. The more time you spend
with your best friend, for example, the more you may start to use the same
expressions and act similarly. I do not pray because I am supposed to. I pray
because relationships generally do not go well without communication. I do not
read the Bible because I feel guilty if I don’t. I read the Bible to discover what
words God might want to speak into my life. I do not go to church because I am
being forced. I go because I know that as a human I was built for community and
I need the encouragement of others in my faith. God is not a fan of coercion
and does not want a relationship founded on fear and guilt. God wants a
relationship based on love and trust. I become highly skeptical of any
religious organization or person that wants to shame me into something. My God
does not want to shame me. My God relieves me of shame and tells me I am
beloved. I do not want to be pushed, guilted, or shamed; I seriously doubt
anyone does. I want to be inspired <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Prosperity gospel vs.
Actual gospel. </b>Prosperity gospel is the idea that if you pray the right
way, give the right way, and do the right things, God will “bless” you, meaning
that health, wealth, success and happiness will follow. We see this ideology in
both the U.S. and Tanzania. Here in Tanzania there is even a church called
“Winners Church.” The concept is rampant in many Christian circles, and it is
completely false. This concept is not the gospel—good news—of Jesus. Jesus did
not experience a world without trouble. I mean, seriously, he was violently
killed on a cross. Likewise, none of his disciples became rich, many of them
were beaten, and all but one were killed for their faith. The belief that only
good things happen to good people is more closely akin to karma than to
Christianity. On the night before Jesus was killed, Jesus shared with his
disciples how they would be scattered and how he would die. He said, “I have
told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will
have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Trouble,
pain, and suffering are parts of this life. The good news is that there is a
peace in God that transcends life’s circumstances, and there is a hope in Jesus
that cannot die. And yet, Nathan Price
believed fervently that he would have success on earth if he just followed the
magical formula. He believed that any problems that befell the Congolese were
because of their lack of faith. He believed nothing bad could happen in his
life because he was “doing God’s work.” He did not heed the warnings of others
or ever consider that he might need to change his approach. As such, the people
of Kilanga followed suit, and as soon as trouble befell the Price family,
particularly in the death of their youngest child, the people assumed that
Jesus could not be trusted. Nathan had metaphorically built his house on sand,
and as soon as trouble came, his weak spiritual foundation collapsed. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>The Bible as
punishment vs. The Bible as a love story. </b>Whenever Nathan Price wanted to
discipline his children, he forced them to write 100 Bible verses with the last
verse driving home whatever point he wanted to make. Or if he was in a
particularly foul mood, he would drive the point home with his hand or belt.
That’s enough to make any child hate the Bible. It is exceptionally hard for
children to see God as a loving father when their own father expresses no love.
It is impossible for children to see the Bible as a love story when it is used
as punishment. Yet, it is a love story. Truly, there are many Biblical stories
that are confusing. There are many passages that can only be understood in a
certain historical context and with a more nuanced sense of the original
language and culture. And honestly, there are parts I wish I could just forget
about. However, this I know. The Bible was never meant to be a rulebook for the
“morality police.” It was always meant to be the story of the love of our God. It
tells of a Creator who never gives up on His creation, no matter how far it
strays, no matter how many times it says “I don’t trust you. I will take care
of myself and do things my own way.” As Pastor Truemper, one of my Valpo
professors used to say, “God loves you, for Christ’s sake, and He will never
let you go.” If you ever want to read the Bible in the form of a novel to get
to the heart of the message, I highly recommend “The Book of God” by Walter
Wangerin Jr. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Working for God’s
favor vs. Trusting that you already have it. </b>Throughout the book Nathan
tries to overcome his survivor’s guilt by “saving souls.” The entire time he
was trying to earn God’s approval. Many religions have this concept of do
enough good and then you will get God’s approval, get into heaven, or reach
some higher plane of existence, but that is not Christianity. If there is
anything that makes Christianity unique from other religions, I feel it is that
you don’t have to earn God’s approval. God loved us enough to reach out to us
through Jesus and to do whatever it took to bridge the gap between us and God.
All God wants from us is a relationship, for us to trust that He loves us and
to let Him into our lives. A beautiful book on this topic is “The Cure: What if
God isn’t who you think He is and neither are you?” by Bill Thrall, Bruce
McNicol, and John Lynch. The book presents an allegorical tale of a person who
comes to a fork in the road. One side says “Pleasing God,” while the other side
says “Trusting God.” Which side would you choose? Nathan Price definitely chose
“pleasing God” which led to a life of mask-wearing and sin-management instead
of living by faith with the assurances of God’s love and grace. His wife,
Orleanna Price, also felt this burden. Even when she returned to the U.S., she
felt she had to hide her hurt; she felt that she could never be vulnerable.
Unfortunately, even today the church is not always the best at allowing people
to be real and vulnerable, but that is what we are called to do! We are all in
the same boat, and the sooner we can take off our masks, the sooner we can
experience the fullness of God’s love and share it with others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Cringing at “unearned
blessings” vs. Being thankful for every gift. </b>Nathan Price felt that he had
to earn every good thing that came into his life. He could not accept that God
could give gifts purely out of love, with no strings attached. As an example,
he became ashamed of sex with his wife instead of seeing it as a beautiful
gift. He also felt that he had to completely detach himself from material
goods. Because of his sense of guilt, he did not feel that he deserved joy or
laughter. He could not take pleasure in the simple gifts—a beautifully
decorated plate, eggs from his neighbors, the sighting of a kopi in forest, the
laughter of his children… So much of his life might have been different if he
had been able to embrace all the gifts of his Creator. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>People as projects
vs. People as people. </b>Nathan Price has one goal—“saving the lost,” particularly
through baptism in the river. It did not seem to matter to him whether or not
the person actually understood or believed anything he said. He didn’t care to
find out what they believed or how they saw the world. Nor did he care to find
out why the people were so averse to going to the river (crocodiles). He knew nothing about the people around him
and did nothing to serve them or show them love. All he cared about was the end
goal. Personally, I have never seen my role as “saving people from hell.”
Good-grief, that’s a lot of pressure, and the whole notion of that is
fear-based. Fear is not how I want to live my life nor what I want to impose on
anyone else. In the book, one of the Price children wondered aloud what might
happen to all the people who didn’t know about God. I can tell others about the
peace I have in God’s promises for my future, but I will not tell anyone
definitively what happens post-death or what has happened to one of their loved
ones. There is so much we don’t know. I
am not God. I love how Phillip Yancey phrases it when asked about a similar
topic, “I do not know the answer to your questions. But I believe strongly that
at the end of time no one will be able to stand before God and say ‘You were
unfair!’ However history settles out, it will settle on the side of justice
tempered by mercy.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog%20part%202.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Nathan Price could never see the people in Kilanga as more than a project. What
might have happened if Nathan had seen the people in his community as people,
as neighbors, as friends, as fellow passengers on a journey? I want to walk
with people. I want to share in their joys and sorrows and share my joys and
sorrows with them. Of course, in the context of our openly Christian school, I
regularly share about my faith, but I also admit that I am still a work in
process and always learning. I do not have all the answers, but I do want to offer
what I have experienced and found to be true in my limited time on this earth. I
unapologetically believe that the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives to bring
hope and healing. I’ve seen it—in my own life and in the lives of others. When
people are looking for hope, I am more than happy to share about the source of
my hope. That being said, being a Christian or believing what I believe is not
a requirement for my love or friendship. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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In my final post, I’ll talk more about the reputation of
missionaries—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Stay tuned…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog%20part%202.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> As
a side note, I think cross-cultural missionaries have to be exceptionally
discerning about what aspects of culture they want to see changed and why. I
think this is a where a lot of things have gone wrong historically. When we try
to transplant a certain way of worship, a certain way of dressing, a certain
way of speaking, a certain way of interacting, we might just miss our core
mandate to love. Change takes a lot of time and a lot of relationship. For
example, while there are many reasons that polygamy can be damaging-- affairs
due to lack of attention, spreading of diseases, jealousy and abuse among
wives, etc.— encouraging an already married man to abandon some of his wives
could be the very opposite of loving. Likewise, I think we always have to
consider what aspects of our own culture could use to be changed and what we
can learn from our host culture<span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog%20part%202.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span>Here is the context of that quote-- </div>
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Phillip
Yancey’s <i>Prayer: Does It Make Any
Difference? </i>(38-40): On a trip to Japan I found myself late at night in a
pastor’s study in one of the largest churches in Tokyo. I had flown in that
morning and had already endured a rigorous day of meetings. I wanted to check
into my hotel room and go to sleep, but Japanese hospitality required this
courtesy visit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The pastor pulled out a sheaf of papers and, through
an interpreter, told me that during his entire career he had worried over this
one issue but was afraid of speaking to anyone about it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For the next twenty minutes without interruption the
pastor poured out the agony he felt over the 99 percent of Japanese who had not
accepted Jesus. Would they all burn in hell because of their ignorance? He had
heard of theologians who believed in people having a second chance after death
and knew the mysterious passage of 1 Peter about Jesus preaching to those in
Hades. Some theologians he had read seemed to believe in universal salvation
although certain passages in the Bible indicated otherwise. Could I offer him
any hope?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thinking aloud, I mentioned that God causes the sun to
rise on the just and the unjust and has no desire that anyone should perish.
God’s Son on earth spent his last strength praying for his enemies. We
discussed the view of hell presented in C.S. Lewis’s intriguing fantasy <i>The Great Divorce, </i>which shows people
like Napoleon who have a second chance after death but opt against it. “<i>Thy</i> will be done,” says God reluctantly
to those who make a final rejection. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“I do not know the answer to your questions,” I said
at last. “But I believe strongly that at the end of time no one will be able to
stand before God and say ‘You were unfair!’ However history settles out, it
will settle on the side of justice tempered by mercy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Like Job, I reached that conclusion not through
observation or argument but through encounter. “Surely God will be able to
understand my doubts in a world like this, won’t He?” asked the Dutch prisoner
Etty Hillesum from a Nazi concentration camp. I believe God will, in part
because God’s revelation to us includes eloquent expressions of those very
doubts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-45981139154805925772016-09-09T11:02:00.000-07:002016-09-09T11:02:07.407-07:00Reflections on The Poisonwood Bible-- Part 1<div class="MsoNormal">
A few months back a friend recommended the book <i>The Poisonwood Bible</i> by Barbara
Kingsolver to me. I had heard of it before from other friends, but last month I
finally took the time to read it. It is a fascinating, well-written, tragic
story about a fictional missionary family in the Congo in the 1960s. Through
this piece of historical fiction, I learned a tremendous amount about the
history of Congo. It has given me a lot to think about regarding the West’s
contribution to poverty, war, and corruption in many African countries, but it
has given me even more to think about as a missionary myself. (Warning: This
post will be full of spoilers so if you want to read the book yourself and form
your own opinions, stop here).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The word “missionary” often comes with a lot of baggage. In
one of my social justice and human diversity classes during grad school, we had
many discussions about “trigger words”—those words that immediately bring a
visceral reaction when we hear them. My professor openly admitted that
“missionary” was one of those words for her. And I get it. There are tragic and
true stories of missionaries—some well-meaning but ignorant and some more
self-indulgent than well-meaning— doing immeasurable harm in the communities
they were called to serve. There are stories of self-righteous, proud
missionaries bringing disease and discord, destroying family and social
structures in an area, and depriving people of the beautiful, unique aspects of
their cultures. Many people immediately associate the word missionary with an
“I’m right, you’re wrong” attitude. They hear about a missionary and assume
that the person will judge and try to “convert” them. I have personally had a
friend of a friend refuse to meet me because he heard that I was a missionary
in Africa. As I said, there is a lot of baggage<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
and not completely unjustified. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Nathan Price, the missionary and villain in <i>The Poisonwood Bible</i>, is the
archetypical proud missionary who demeans the people of Congo, as well as his
own family. I would love to say that he was just a piece of fiction, but I know
there have been Nathan Prices in our world and still are to varying extents. For
that reason, great anger and sadness welled in my heart as I read about Nathan
Price’s abuses. I hate that many people’s experiences with Christians have been
largely negative and hurtful. I also hate that at various points in my own walk,
I have hurt people. Some such situations are known to me and some I may never
know. Because I am imperfect and always learning, I cannot claim to have done
it all right in my life, much less in my work in my host culture. Yet, as I
read the story, I was also amazed/appalled by how the fictional missionary caricature,
Nathan Price, perceived the world and God and by how incredibly different his
missionary experience was from my own. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There were so many red flags regarding Nathan Price. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Red Flag #1:</b> He
had emotional baggage from being the only surviving member of his unit to
escape the Battaan Death March during World War II. Out of survivor’s guilt, he
decided to earn God’s love and his way into heaven by “saving souls.” Instead
of work as a missionary, he needed extensive therapy and to relearn the basic premise
of Christ’s message-- “You can’t and don’t earn your way to heaven. I love you
as you are, and want a relationship with you. I will do anything, even die, for
that relationship.” Many missionaries these days are required to meet with a
counselor before, after, and/or during their time of service, because whatever
emotional baggage you carry with you is only heightened when you enter into a
new place and culture. Before my missionary service as an HIV educator in Papua
New Guinea, I attended a weeklong training where we learned many things about
culture, expectations, and potential struggles I might have. I was asked to
take four different personality tests and met with a psychologist to discuss
the results and to increase my self-awareness. During my time in PNG, I had
regular meetings with both American and Papua New Guinean mentors and completed
monthly reports to the Education/Formation Director of the Lutheran Deaconess
Association. I also met with a counselor for multiple sessions before and after
my year in PNG. During my time in Tanzania I have also worked with a counselor
via Skype on and off for the last 3 years. I’ve been taught that if you aren’t
in a good place emotionally/mentally, you won’t be able to serve your community
well. Unfortunately, Nathan Price didn’t have or want that kind of support, and
his shame exhibited itself in many forms of abuse, including verbally and
physically abusing his wife and children. He did not love the people around
them, but only sought to manipulate them so that his own tortured soul could be
saved.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Red Flag #2:</b> He
did not enter Congo with the blessing of a mission organization. In fact, the
mission board rejected his request repeatedly but finally relented to give him
a one year post. Thus he had little to no training or accountability. Later in
the story, when Congo gained its independence from Belgium, Nathan Price and
his family were told directly to leave. Yet Nathan refused and also would not
allow his family to leave. As a result, he put their family and community at
risk and became a burden to the very people that he was supposed to be serving.
We have numerous missionary friends who have had to leave their homes very
suddenly, and it is always exceptionally difficult. However, they realized that
it is important for an outside source to be able to make that call, especially
when children are involved.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Accountability, prayer, and support are so important in the work that we do.
One of the things we love about our life in Tanzania is that we have multiple
layers of accountability and support. We have individuals from eighteen different
churches who pray for us and to whom we regularly report via newsletters and
visits during furlough. A member of the Global Lutheran Outreach staff comes
out to visit us at least once a year and guides us through reflection activities
meant to assess our physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual health.
What is especially unique to our situation, however, is that our primary
accountability is to our Tanzanian colleagues. We work directly for the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Tanzania (ELCT); our permits list the ELCT as our employer. This is
not always possible in countries with less established churches, but I do think
that following the advice of mentors and leaders in one’s host culture is
critically important. At school we listen to and act on the priorities of our
headmaster, Rev. Nzelu. In regards to community development projects, we listen
to the priorities of Bishop Makala and never initiate a project without his
blessing. Nathan Price listened to no one—not the mission organization, not the
local leaders, not his family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Red Flag #3:</b> Nathan
Price believed in the Apocrypha. For those unfamiliar, the Apocrypha is a
collection of writings that have unknown origins and are not generally
considered part of Jewish or Christian scriptures. Sometimes they are included in Jewish
scripture or Christian Bibles as interesting and potentially useful texts, but
not of the same caliber as other scriptures. Often the Apocrypha is in direct
contradiction to texts that have evidence of being written by eye-witnesses and
early disciples of Jesus. In the early days of the Christian church, leaders
had to determine what would be part of the Christian canon (Bible) and
apocryphal texts were considered but rejected. And yet, Nathan Price decided
that they are of equal value to other texts in the Bible. It becomes hard to
establish any kind of theological common ground if you can’t even agree on
which texts should be considered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nathan Price also claimed certain phrases that sound like
they might have come from the Bible, but absolutely didn’t. For example, “The
Lord helps those who help themselves” is nowhere in the Bible and is actually
against the very concept of grace. God helps all people, especially those who
realize that they cannot of their own power help themselves. Likewise, “You
have nothing to fear but fear” cannot be found in the Bible. Fear can be
perfectly reasonable and a gift of protection or fear can be a prison. The
Bible does say that perfect love drives out fear.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Unfortunately, Nathan Price only knew fear, the fear of God’s wrath. He never
knew God’s love and was never able to extend love to others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Red Flag #4:</b> Nathan Price was full of –isms. Racism. Ableism.
Sexism. He left the U.S. at the height
of segregation and entered Belgium Congo at the height of colonialism. He had
been taught that Africans were a cursed people, a curse which dated back all
the way to the time of Noah’s son Ham. Because of this, Nathan only ever saw
himself as the teacher and superior of the people in the village of Kilanga and
never as their student and servant. Thankfully, the vast majority of Christians
today have realized that the concept of “the curse of Ham” is incredibly
inaccurate and damaging. I highly recommend the DVD series “Africa and the
Bible: The Earliest Roots of the Faith” with Wintley Phipps. It shows how
isolated Scripture passages have been used to justify racial oppression and
explores the unique and meaningful role of the African continent in the Bible
and in the early church. Admittedly, American churches and society generally
still have a long way to go before all people are treated as equally loved and
valued by God. However, I am glad that the church has generally denounced any “Biblical”
reasons for racism. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Likewise, Nathan Price looked down on people with
disabilities, which included a large number of people in the community given
how hard their work was on their bodies. His own daughter, Ada, who was
differently abled from birth, felt that she was valued less than others and
actually found comfort from living in a community that did not look down on her
for her limp. Nathan could not see Ada’s unique gifts and all that she could
have taught him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Nathan Price also looked down upon women. Instead of
encouraging and nourishing the gifts God gave to women in his life, he saw the
education of women as “a waste.” I was taught that men and women were both made
in the image of God and are partners in life and in ministry. To this day,
churches that cannot see this truth frustrate me. Again, this could be a post
in and of itself. In fact there are many, many books written about how women
are integral to the Bible and to Christian theology generally, so for now I
will just say that had Nathan Price treated his wife as his equal and listened
to her, much if not all of the tragedy in their lives could have been
prevented. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Red Flag #5:</b> Nathan
Price believed he was only there to the change those around him, not to be changed
himself. I was taught that if you don’t come back a different person than when
you left, something has gone terribly wrong. The culture and people around you
should change you as you learn from them. He believed he was only there to
teach instead of approaching as a learner first and foremost. I was taught to
find teachers and mentors as soon as you can when you arrive in a new country. One
of my favorite definitions of humility is being teachable, and Nathan lacked
any ounce of humility. If he had opened himself to learning, someone might have
told him that with his mispronunciation instead of saying “Jesus is glorious”
at the end of every service, he said “Jesus is poisonwood.” We were taught to
learn to laugh at ourselves, but Nathan never learned to laugh at his mistakes
or even admit he might make some. He also believed he had all the answers
instead of acknowledging that there are some things for which we just don’t
have answers and won’t this side of heaven. This book touches many huge
questions that Christians have been wrestling with and writing about for
centuries. How can a good God allow such suffering? Does God cause the pain? I can’t fully answer that question, and though
many have tried and there are some profound answers out there, I don’t thinking
anyone can answer the question fully. What I do know is that much pain is
caused by humans, not God. I know that God can use pain and suffering and can
bring healing and resurrection, if we allow him to. I am skeptical of people
and churches who believe they have all the answers, because if they do, where
does faith come into play? Faith in and of itself means that we rely on
something or someone that we do not fully understand. It means taking a leap
without fully knowing what lies beyond. It means trust. While I definitely
would love answers and have at times angrily told God as much, I am also glad
that we have a God bigger than our comprehension. How sad it would be to have a
God that was only as big as our mental capacity. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Based on these factors alone, Nathan Price never should have
been allowed to pastor anyone, much less a community completely foreign to him.
In my next blog I’ll further explore some of the theological concepts that he
warped and used for evil. Stay tuned…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> As
a side note, in churches it can be the opposite extreme—people putting you on
some kind of spiritual pedestal. That can also feel like heavy baggage, but
that is probably a different post for a different day. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> We
were taught that when children are involved, missionary parents have to be
especially aware of their children’s needs. Obviously there is always a period
of adjustment for kids who move to a new country, so that needs to be taken
into consideration. However we were also taught that you “never sacrifice your
children on the altar of mission,” meaning that there are many ways to serve
God. If serving in your living situation is jeopardizing your children’s
long-term well-being, it is probably time to find another way to serve God. That
being said, tragedy can strike in any land, even to the most discerning parents.
My own great-grandparents suffered the death of a child when they were serving
in China. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/The%20Poisonwood%20Bible%20blog.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> 1
John 4:18<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-48305923632343642502016-06-22T11:32:00.000-07:002016-06-22T11:32:14.183-07:00My Top 10 Tips for Toddler Adoption<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear friends of ours in Tanzania will be bringing home their
two-year-old little girl in the coming months. The recent celebration of
Father’s Day and the upcoming growth of our friends’ family has led me to
reflect on our own adoption journey. If I were to pass anything along to
families adopting a toddler, this would be it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My Top 10 Tips for
Toddler Adoption<o:p></o:p></div>
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<ol>
<li><b>Research.</b> There
are some great books out there that give practical ideas for helping you and
your child connect and grow. My personal favorite is <i>Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child</i> by Patty Cogen. I also
liked <i>20 Things Adoptive Parents Need to
Succeed</i> by Sherrie Eldridge, because it identifies dozens of other
resources that will help us at various points in our journey. I paid the $25
for an online subscription to Adoptive Families Magazine, which gave me access
to all current and past articles, as well as podcasts on a variety of topics. Whenever
I’ve had questions, it’s been pretty easy to search for the topic in the
magazine. I also recommend asking lots of questions of your child’s previous
caregivers. What is the child’s typical schedule? What do they like to eat?
What food do they dislike? What are they afraid of? What helps to calm them
when they are upset? Thankfully, we were able to shadow Michael’s caregivers
for a full day. It helped us to understand Michael’s previous norms and to make
the transition as easy as possible for him. Regular visits with him before we
brought him home also started the bonding process and helped ease the
transition.</li>
<li><b>Be gentle with yourself.</b>
I think it is important to realize that no matter how much parents prepare, they
won’t be fully prepared. We were definitely figuring things out as we went. Actually,
truth be told, we still are. ;-) It took about three months for us to find our
new normal. Survival mode is a very real thing, especially when your child
isn’t sleeping well. Do whatever you
have to do to keep your sanity. Self-care is so important, even as you are
caring for another little person. I think those who have to wait a really long
time to become parents are even more apt to try to be perfect parents. The
dream of perfect parenting went away for me on Day Three when I was holding
Michael and sobbing from exhaustion. I’ve realized that kids don’t need perfect
parents. They need the love of imperfect parents who show them that it is ok to
be imperfect.</li>
<li><b>Ask for help. </b>Communities
know that parents with a newborn need help. In both Tanzania and the U.S.,
people will rally around a family with a new baby—cooking meals for them,
helping with chores, etc. However, folks often don’t realize that adoptive
families also need support. We have to ask. For us, that meant asking a
Tanzanian friend to bring dinner for us our first night home with Michael.
Looking back, I wish we would have asked our neighbors for more help in those
first weeks. I know they would have been willing. We did finally come to our
senses and realize that with Omary (our previous house helper) away at school,
we needed more help. We bought a washing machine which cut back on hours of
handwashing. We also hired Dinnah and taught her to do many different to chores
to lighten our load. She has been an absolute Godsend. With the added support,
we could spend more time with Michael, more time together as a couple, and more
time sleeping.</li>
<li><b>Take advice
(including this blog) with a grain of salt</b>. Somehow I thought that by
living in Tanzania I would escape some of the “mommy wars” and the barrage of
advice that comes with parenting. I was wrong. Everyone has an opinion. From
Tanzanians, we get “What are you feeding him for breakfast? You should feed him
this.” “He should play more with other children.” “You are carrying him too
much.” “He should attend this school next year.” “You are putting him to bed
too early.” “He needs a jacket. It is very cold (i.e. the temperature dropped
below 75 degrees Fahrenheit)”… From the worldwide web, we’ve been told what we <i>should</i> be doing regarding Michael’s
sleeping habits, weight, health, activities, etc. It can get very overwhelming.
Some advice has been helpful and some hasn’t. I think I’ve come to more peace
with it all as I’ve realized this is just part of parenting in today’s world. Take
what works for you and leave the rest. The truth is that there are differences
between a child entering a family by birth and one entering by adoption. There
are differences between a child entering a family as a first child and one
entering a family that already has biological or adoptive siblings. There are
differences in adopting an infant vs. a toddler. There are differences in
raising a child in Tanzania vs. any other country. There are differences in
communities and housing arrangements. There are differences in parents’
personalities and parenting preferences. And there are differences in children,
regardless of any other factor. What works for one child may not work for
another and what is a struggle for one child may be a breeze for another.
Parenting is in many ways a giant experiment, so we all have to try different
things and see what works for our families.</li>
<li><b>Weight lift before
adoption</b>. This was one that caught me by surprise. Toddlers are heavy!
Parents who start their families biologically typically start with a kid 6-8lbs
and work their way up. We started with more than 20lbs of weight. Then add to
that the books saying how important carrying your toddler is for bonding, Michael
wanting to be held only by me, and Michael wanting to be held all day long in
those first months. I had some extremely sore arms!! Carriers definitely help
(if the child is willing) so invest in a good one, but physical preparation
beforehand also would have helped. </li>
<li><b>Prepare yourself
emotionally for your child to bond with one parent before the other</b>. I had
this dream that Eric and I would be able to share in all aspects of parenting
from the beginning, but that wasn’t the case. Michael bonded to me first. As an
example, the very first day before we left Mwanza with our son, I needed to use
the toilet--a dirty squatty-potty, not suitable for two. When I handed Michael
off to Eric, Michael screamed and screamed and only calmed when I returned. In
that first six weeks, both Michael and I were terribly sick with a cold that he
had picked up before his departure from the baby home. Eric would have taken
him so that I could rest, but Michael wanted me, every moment of every day.
Michael’s third night home, I only got 4 hours of sleep because Michael would
only sleep in my arms. The next day, he took a nap in the car on the way back
from visiting our social workers and wouldn’t go down for his regular nap.
Thus, Eric played with him on my stomach while I took a power nap on the couch.
It was hard on both Eric and me. I felt like Michael wanted more from me than
my sick-self had to give, and Eric felt like he had more to give than Michael
would allow. This phase passed, but it was a tough one and one we didn’t
expect. I reassured Eric that he was a great father and that I appreciated him
doing all the behind-the-scenes work--preparing the diapers and pajamas,
washing the dishes and diapers, cooking dinner, cleaning up the house, etc.
Eric reassured me that I was a great mother, even when I was sick, exhausted,
tearful, sore, and just wanted some space. Even though our job distribution
didn’t originally go as planned, we were still a team. We are happy to say that
now the balance is much more like we had hoped. Michael has bonded with both of
us, enjoys time with both of us, and finds comfort from both of us.</li>
<li><b>Make time for the
transition</b>. Toddlers joining a new family have a difficult road to travel,
because they are going through the developmental stages of attachment and
independence all at once. Two-year-olds by nature experience extremes, but I
think it can be even more dramatic for kids with complex backgrounds. One day
they want to be fed by you; the next day they want to do it themselves. One day
they are content to lead the way on the walk; the next they want to be carried
the whole way. We’ve had many people ask us, “Why is Michael still _________?”
(sucking his fingers, wanting to be hand fed, wanting to be carried, wanting to
be cuddled overnight, etc.) I try to explain that for a year and a half of his
life, he had to share his caregivers’ attention with 20-50 other kids. He
didn’t have a mother or father to dote on him. Yes, he still uses some of his coping
mechanisms from his time at the baby home, and yes, sometimes he regresses and
wants to be babied. He is making up for lost time and has to regularly adapt to
many new experiences and people. He had to learn how to ride comfortably in a
car seat; he didn’t learn that as a newborn leaving from the hospital. He had
to learn how to take a bath/shower in our bathtub. He had to learn what it
means to share in a family meal at the table. It’s a process for him, and it is
ok to take it slow. It has also been a process for us. So much changed when we
became parents—sleep, food, daily schedule, work/ministry, hobbies, vacations,
etc. I highly recommend making space in one’s life for the transition. That can
mean different things in different families, but I think it helps to hold loosely
on to expectations of what life will be like. Make time to grieve for the
aspects of life that aren’t what they once were and to rejoice in the beautiful
additions to your life. You can help
your child to do likewise.</li>
<li><b>Intentionally connect
with your partner and with God</b>. I am pretty sure this is true with most new
parents, but we discovered that Michael quickly became our lives. If we weren’t
intentional about connecting with each other, it just wouldn’t happen. Once we
started getting past survival mode and got the help we needed, we began to set
aside time together after Michael’s bedtime. One night is specifically
designated to listen to a sermon podcast together and discuss it. One night is
date night when we read together, play a game together, watch a movie together,
or just talk. This made a huge difference in our relationship and in our
ability to parent well.</li>
<li><b>Prepare your heart to
be an ambassador for adoption</b>. A friend of mine who has also adopted told
me this bit of advice before we brought Michael home. Many people don’t know
much about adoption or haven’t interacted with an adoptive family. They will
ask questions and sometimes make insensitive, hurtful comments. We have figured out our answers and responses
to some of the more common questions and comments, but we know this will be
part of our journey for the rest of our lives. Thankfully, we aren’t in it
alone it. There are many other adoptive families who can help.</li>
<li><b>Soak in the moments
whenever you can</b>. This post delves into some of the hard aspects of
adopting a toddler, but it is truly worth it. Michael has brought us more joy
than we ever thought possible. We have been able to watch Michael’s personality
unfold as he has become more confident and secure in our love. Our home has come alive in many new and
wonderful ways. The first time that your child calls you Mommy or Daddy— or
Mama and Baba—is magical, and with a toddler, you generally don’t have to wait
quite as long as with infants. The brains of toddlers are sponges soaking up
the world, and we get to witness it on a daily basis. New words. New
activities. Every day is an adventure. Every photo reminds us of how far Michael
has come and how far we have come as a family. A beloved professor of mine, who
has two children by adoption and two by birth, said it well: “The love is the
same. No matter how they come to you, the love is the same.”</li>
</ol>
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Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-60502225742613189712016-06-07T09:50:00.002-07:002016-06-07T09:51:33.791-07:00Right People, Right Times-- A blog revival ;-)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have abandoned this blog for far too long. I think there
are many reasons why…</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">There’s a lot to process in the first two years
of living in a new place, so there’s a natural impetus to write things down.
For me, that inertia started to diminish over time. I’ve noticed this trend for
many other missionaries too.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">We’ve been able to share a lot of our stories
through other media, like Facebook albums. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">As we became further invested in our ministries,
there were times when immediate needs took priority over writing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">After my last post in November 2014, we began
the 2015 school year. We spent the first 5 months trying to get as much covered
at school as possible and preparing for our first furlough (May-July 2015). Then
shortly after our first furlough we became parents! That will change life for
sure ;-)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">I also think for me there are seasons in my life
when I write and there are seasons in my life when I read. In the last year and
a half, I’ve felt more inclined to read. And I’ve read some amazing things… Love
Does by Bob Goff, all of Brene Brown’s books, Parenting Your Internationally
Adopted Child by Patty Cogen, etc.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All that to say, there are plenty of reasons why I didn’t
write, but I’m starting to feel the nudge to do some reflecting and writing
again. So where to begin?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I look back at the year and a half gap in this blog, I’m
just amazed at how people have come into our lives at exactly the right time. During
the times when our journey seemed especially messy, I take great comfort in
looking back and seeing how God pulled together other aspects of our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Community Health Evangelism<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In December 2011, we traveled to Jos, Nigeria, believing
that to be where God was calling us next. During that visit, we were introduced
to Fiona and Rick Jara and their girls. Fiona, a nurse midwife from Australia,
had been implementing a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) program in villages
outside of Jos. CHE is a world-renowned program that has been implemented in
119 countries to date. It is a biblically-based holistic health program that
“equips communities to identify issues and mobilize resources to achieve
positive, sustainable change.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/First%20blog%20post%20in%20a%20long%20time.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> While in Nigeria, I was able to shadow Fiona
as she taught a CHE seminar on maternal health. We also visited a village so
concerned about the poor maternal health rates that they had come together to
renovate a building donated by a local leader and turned it into a birthing
center. It was inspiring to see what communities can do when they have a shared
vision and the education necessary. Fiona promised to make sure I was fully
trained in CHE if I came to work in Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After our visit, life changed. Violence, strikes, and
kidnappings at that time caused many organizations to pull missionaries out of
Nigeria. We received a new call to Tanzania that was an even better fit for our
skills and passions. The Jara family moved to Ghana to work with an
organization doing CHE there. And life moved on... until January 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Almost four years after meeting the Jara family, we learned
that they were considering a call to Tanzania and would be in the Arusha area
for several months. Fiona asked if I still wanted to be trained in CHE, because
she and Rick were hosting a Training of Trainers 1 seminar in Arusha. The
answer was yes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After the training, I was excited about the potential of CHE,
but knew that if it was truly going to be community-owned, I shouldn’t be the
one to lead the way. I would need Tanzanian help. Nine months later I learned
that Holly Freitas, another CHE trainer, would be hosting a vision seminar in
Mwanza. Thus we sponsored three representatives from our diocese, chosen by
Bishop Makala, to attend the seminar. They came back passionate about the
program, but we were delayed in putting anything together by my new role as
mother. Finally, in March 2016 we held a vision seminar for leaders throughout
our diocese, and the idea of Christ-centered community-based development gained
momentum. We are now choosing pilot areas and preparing for a full Training of
Trainers 1 (TOT1) at the end of the month. The diocese has also chosen Jeremiah
Shauri as CHE coordinator. He will be traveling to Kenya in August for a 5-week
course covering TOT2, TOT3, and many other topics. He will also receive
internship experience there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Everything has happened at pretty much the only time it
could have happened. I met Fiona Jara during the one month we were in Nigeria in
2011. The Jaras were only in Tanzania for a few months in 2015 and are now
currently living in Australia. Holly came to do the seminar in Mwanza in
September 2015, shortly before she broke her neck in a crazy beach-wave
accident. She has been in recovery since that time and has not held any other
seminars in the Mwanza area. We could have never guessed how all of this would
unfold, and yet here we are with many doors opening up. We don’t know exactly
where all of this will lead, but we definitely have a sense that God is in it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Language Mentor<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have a love/hate relationship with the Swahili language,
which could actually be a topic for a whole post in and of itself. I remember
when I lived in Papua New Guinea, I felt sorry for those teachers who spent
most of their time at English-speaking schools, because it was so much harder
for them to learn the local language. And now here we are in Tanzania in a very
similar situation. It is a struggle to learn a new language, and in my opinion,
Swahili is every bit as robust a language as English. Choose any sentence, and
there are probably at least 10 different ways to say the exact same thing in
Swahili. One language learning website estimates that for English-speakers it
takes about 600 solid hours for individuals to become conversational in
Spanish. For Swahili, they estimated it would take about 900 solid hours.
Because we live in a community with many English-speakers and students who need
us to speak English, it has been slow in coming. I’ve also always been one who does
well with accountability—a teacher or guide. Give me a standard and I will
likely surpass it. I do even better with fellow classmates with whom to
commiserate and study. After language school, we had no designated teacher, no
accountability, and no fellow classmates. We got to a level of Swahili where we
could comfortably get around and then the learning slowed to a crawl. I prayed
that I might find some way to reignite my language learning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then I attended the CHE vision seminar in Arusha in January
2015, and I met fellow participant Amanda. She told me about how she had a
language coach and a language helper in her Swahili study. Her language coach
provided accountability and language learning ideas. She would work with her
Tanzanian language helper each week and then would report back to her coach.
She offered to be my coach and encouraged me to find a helper. My friend Mercy
agreed to be my helper, and the next six months of lessons reinvigorated my
language learning. The lessons have been put on the backburner since Michael
came home, but I continue to be grateful for how God answered my prayer in that
season of my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Adoption<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We started thinking about adopting in Tanzania all the way back
in 2012. During our time at language school in Morogoro, we spent quite a bit
of our free time at an orphanage within walking distance. As we played with and
got to know these precious children, we began to wonder, “Was it possible for
expats to adopt in Tanzania?” When we moved to Mwadui, I searched for the
answer via the internet. I found the Forever Angels website, which described
the process for expats adopting. A few months later, I realized that Forever
Angels was only 2.5 hours away from us, and we could actually visit the baby
home (yes, I was a little slow on that one.) We visited the home in September
2013 and met the founder Amy Hathaway. Amy and her husband were originally from
England. They had adopted 5 children themselves and had helped countless expat
and Tanzanian families adopt. We learned that we couldn’t foster/adopt until we
had lived in country for 2-3 years. We continued to think and pray about it and
decided that we would probably benefit from talking to other Americans who had
adopted from Tanzania because every country has such different policies. One
night we discussed contacting the U.S. embassy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The very next weekend, we took a trip to Mwanza and decided to
attend the late service at the Lutheran cathedral. As we entered the compound,
the earlier service was concluding and out walked a white couple with three
white children and two black children. We were amazed, because we hadn’t seen them
before and we knew all the expat Lutheran missionaries. We introduced ourselves
and met Dr. Rob Peck, who is a pediatric surgeon at Bugando hospital, and Liz
Peck who is a nurse and regularly volunteers at Forever Angels. Two of their
beautiful children were adopted from Forever Angels. Their family have become
dear friends of ours. They connected us with our lawyer in Dar Es Salaam and
answered so many of our questions about adoption. They have encouraged us on
our journey, offered medical advice when needed, and opened their home to us
many times as a place of respite. Would we have met them if we hadn’t been in
Mwanza that weekend? Who knows! However, God knew that we needed them in our
lives and through them we have met many more wonderful people who have blessed
our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have many more stories like this… friendships that God
knew I needed even when I didn’t know… people who came to visit from the U.S.
at the exact time I needed medicine or some other supplies…. people who spoke
right to my heart when I needed it most.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are definitely ups and downs in this life, and
sometimes when we are right in the midst of it, we can’t see how God is
working. Sometimes, it is only by looking back that I can begin to see the
patterns of care and the faithfulness of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
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</span><br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Linda/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/Reflections/First%20blog%20post%20in%20a%20long%20time.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <a href="http://www.chenetwork.org/what.php">http://www.chenetwork.org/what.php</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-39043981342961361172014-11-19T09:47:00.002-08:002014-11-19T09:47:40.127-08:00Pure Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This past week I was invited to participate in a free 4
day/3 night retreat hosted by Pure Joy International. Pure Joy offers retreats
for missionary women around the world. They pick three countries a year, and
this year happened to include Tanzania. The entire trip was so meaningful and
deeply rejuvenating. Here are a few of the highlights…</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wednesday</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Arriving at a beautiful 4-star resort on the
beach in Dar es Salaam and having that feeling of, “Is this for real?”
Everything was stunningly beautiful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kX2PkPDaq-7ZkuOXYiT11Ksyzly2m7JA_PlwUZ6D66fLWHo8CARvZec6l9YNKdcAsb7KleGEO_nU3dQ6B9iOFT061groX4b2JbUM3WqAHI38S6rur0pmQ4zo4QuxpVpTyTWAHmtlPHXp/s1600/IMG_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kX2PkPDaq-7ZkuOXYiT11Ksyzly2m7JA_PlwUZ6D66fLWHo8CARvZec6l9YNKdcAsb7KleGEO_nU3dQ6B9iOFT061groX4b2JbUM3WqAHI38S6rur0pmQ4zo4QuxpVpTyTWAHmtlPHXp/s1600/IMG_0536.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->That first feel of air-conditioning…ahhh… the
funny part was all the Tanzanian missionaries aren’t used to it, so eventually
we had to ask for the temperature to be turned up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Meeting the 15-person team that had come to host
the retreat. Each of the women came from a church that partners with Pure Joy,
and several of them were former missionaries themselves. One of them was even a
former Tanzanian missionary who had lived in Shinyanga from 1988-1994. It was
so fun to hear her stories of taking her kids to the Mwadui pool <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Beginning to get to know the other 48 missionary
women from all over Tanzania. A few of them I knew from our days in Morogoro
and our trip to Dar in May, but most were new faces.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Our first of many little gifts we would get
throughout the retreat. People from various churches had made/bought all kinds
of little gifts for us—candy, jewelry, bags, devotion books, a cd, etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Worshipping in English in a large group for the
first time in a year. The music was so beautiful. I especially enjoyed the song
“Never Once” by Matt Redman. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The first messages. Over the course of the week,
8 different women would give talks. That particular night, the topics were
trusting God when He gives us more than we can handle (because sometimes God
will) and taking down the masks that we wear, which is especially hard for
missionaries who feel like they have to be perfect/inspiring in order to get
funding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The first of many delicious buffet meals--so
nice to not have to decide what to cook, not have to clean rice, etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rooming with and catching up with Shantelle, one
of my friends from our language school days in Morogoro.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thursday</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Talks on being secure in our worth as a child of
God, relying on God when we can control so little about our lives, Christ as
our immovable rock, paying attention to the dry areas of our life, and trusting
God to see and complete the whole picture. I especially appreciated when one of
the leaders had the group brainstorm the daily hassles of life in Tanzania,
things that clash with our personality, life events we have experienced while
here, traumatic events we have walked through, and losses/gains of living here.
Suddenly we all felt that we weren’t alone in our experiences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIe5UpYX8tC0YLYHlhBmgr4bUK3V8Q8lqAj_zzZCEZQLk0KDiSr-0C0fWG-122cPj3-_FP4561CnMwXD_QCs48rQy1eNplzBwQh-FsX1jSYNbRxNv10x9_-Vj5wLj5xzirfAmsyut5Is8/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIe5UpYX8tC0YLYHlhBmgr4bUK3V8Q8lqAj_zzZCEZQLk0KDiSr-0C0fWG-122cPj3-_FP4561CnMwXD_QCs48rQy1eNplzBwQh-FsX1jSYNbRxNv10x9_-Vj5wLj5xzirfAmsyut5Is8/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sharing stories, advice, and resources among
fellow missionaries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->More amazing worship and time of prayer</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Free time at the waterpark next door. Apparently
there are two water parks in Dar Es Salaam. Who knew?! It was so much fun to be
a kid again and zoom down waterslides.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Movie night. They had brought a trunk full of
popcorn and movie theatre candies. It was the first time in ages I’ve had Raisinets.
Then we laughed our way through the movie Mom’s Night Out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Friday</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Talks on living a life of faith and gratitude,
what we can do in those “What am I doing here?” moments, finding our strength
in God, and nurturing our marriages in Christ. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->More amazing worship and getting to know even
more people. Several other people were also considering adoption, so I was so
happy to be able to pass along what we know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->More time racing down waterslides <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> Yes, grown women can
make a tube train.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Individualized gift bags. Months ago, they had
asked us about things we miss and things we enjoy, and then individuals filled
each of our gallon-sized bags. Mine was full of caramel popcorn, cheesecake
jelly bellies and a cheesecake chocolate bar--since they couldn’t send a real
cheesecake--, dark chocolate, some fun make-up, and an Amazon Kindle gift card.
I loved it all!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Saturday</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A short walk along the beach</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Letters from people who had been praying for us
the whole time</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Last morning worship and closing thoughts</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->More books and potential resources to help us as
we head back into real life</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Exchanging contact information with people all
over Tanzania. Looks like we will have people to stay with if we want to travel!
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Getting stuck in Dar with one of my new friends—getting
stuck in Dar Es Salaam traffic and missing our flight wasn’t fun, but getting
to have a last evening by the ocean with seafood and gelato with a friend made
it much better<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I want to say a special thank you to Pure Joy on behalf of
all of us who were nourished by this retreat. I only wish Eric could have
experienced something like this too. It was so special! I hope that someday I
can pay it forward and help a Pure Joy team in another part of the world. For
those of you in the U.S., check out their webpage </span><a href="http://www.purejoyinternational.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">www.purejoyinternational.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">,
and if it looks like a ministry you’d like to be a part of, invite Vicki to
your church. For those of you who are missionaries, if you’d like to have a
Pure Joy retreat in your country, send Vicki an email and she’ll see what she
can do <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">P.S. If you are wondering why this is such a great ministry,
check out this article I came across recently on missionary stress. </span><a href="http://cottrillcompass.com/blog/2012/just-how-stressed-are-missionaries-and-what-can-we-do-about-it.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">http://cottrillcompass.com/blog/2012/just-how-stressed-are-missionaries-and-what-can-we-do-about-it.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
It also provides some ideas of how those in a missionary’s home country can
help reduce missionary stress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12462629587824148825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-78417589174906007602014-07-24T13:02:00.001-07:002014-07-24T13:02:24.323-07:00Inside My Brain<div class="MsoNormal">
Just in case you are under the impression that
cross-cultural missionaries know what they are doing, here’s a little inside
look. This is part of my internal monologue during a recent new event. I had
never been to a rice cleaning party before. I had been invited by the bride’s
mother that morning, and all I knew was that we were supposed to clean rice for
her daughter’s Send-Off on Saturday and that they needed the school’s speakers
for the event. For those not from Tanzania, cleaning rice means picking the tiny
stones out of the dry rice. For an event as big as a Send-Off I imagined they
would need a whole lot of rice. I was right. Our best guess is that it was
about 50 pounds of rice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Upon
arrival…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh wow. They all look so nice! Apparently I underestimated
the dress code for a rice cleaning party. Note to future self, dress nicely to
a rice cleaning party. At least I arrived about the right time. I’m an hour
later than they told me, and I’m still one of the first ones here, but not the <i>very</i> first one here. And look, some of
them have already started cleaning rice. Something I know how to do, since we
do it at least once a week every week.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I greet
the host and start cleaning rice.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ok. Doing good cleaning rice. Oh wait, I’m sitting
cross-legged and no one else is. Gotta sit with my feet tucked under me or legs
out in front.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I put my
legs out in front)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, this isn’t going to last long. I’m not flexible
enough to sit like this for long periods of time. Tucked under it is.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I adjust
and continue cleaning rice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, they are just using their right hand for cleaning. Not
both. Ok. Right hand it is. Man, I’m so much slower one-handed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Someone
comes up to greet me.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ok. Here it comes… the Swahili…. O goodness she is talking
fast! And it’s so hard to hear her over the music. I think I got three words
out of that. Ok. How to respond? “</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I give
it the good college try)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hmm… confused look. Guess that wasn’t it. Ok, she’s trying
again. Got more. Time to respond.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I give a
second response)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ok. That was better. Not great. But better. Is she giving
me a look of pity? Ok. Deep breathe. Yes, Swahili is hard.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I
continue cleaning rice after she leaves. I get to the point of cleaning where
the rice is tossed in a woven shallow basket to get the chaff out.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ok. I got this. Wait, how do they do it so little extra
rice doesn’t fly out. Slower maybe. More intentional. Ok that’s better. Does
anyone notice that I’m a novice? Hopefully not.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I keep
working at the rice. Eric shows up to take a few pictures.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yay. My partner in awkwardness. I’m saved! Or at least I
won’t be the only one for a few minutes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Eric
takes some pictures and then leaves.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh man, my butt’s falling asleep. Time to shift.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(More
women arrive.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Huh. Everyone makes kelele (tradition female cry of joy)
when more people arrive. I’ll have to try that next time.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Later
more people arrive.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Shoot. Missed the kelele again.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(Even
more people arrive. Over 50 are now present.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Wow. How many people do they need to clean rice?!?,,,
Remember, Linda, this is a social thing. It’s not just about the activity.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(A woman
offers to help me and takes my basket.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hmm… was I doing something wrong or was she just being
nice? I mean I think I’m doing everything everyone else is doing. I’ll assume nice. Please let it be nice.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I help
out the other women without baskets.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh man, losing feeling in my legs again. How do they sit
like this for so long? Shift.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(The woman
soon returns my basket, and with a little more work the pile is finished.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well it looks like our pile is done and most of the piles
are done. Now what?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I watch
the five dancers for a while.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I feel weird just sitting here. Maybe I should go dance.
But it’s such a small group and I don’t see anyone I recognize. I’m not sure
I’m emotionally prepared to be in the spotlight. Maybe later.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I sit
and wait some more.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Now I feel really awkward. Maybe I’ll go talk to someone I
know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I find
our neighbor and ask what happens next. She says that nothing happens right
now, but eventually there will be a TSH 5,000 collection from each woman.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“O goodness. I don’t know that I have that on me. I didn’t
know about a donation. Maybe I’ll go home and grab it, and just take a little
breather from feeling awkward.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I return
home with promises to come back shortly. I get the money, chat with Eric for a
few minutes, use the bathroom, and then return.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, some people are already leaving. Perhaps I waited too
long. I wonder where to give the donation”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I check
with our neighbor and find out they’ve already taken the donation.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Bummer. I guess I stayed in the house too long.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I find out
who is collecting the money. They receive it gladly, and then a few minutes
later give me TSH 1,000 back.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Wait, there’s change? I’m so confused.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I hang
out some more. I see some of the people who were dancing earlier.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, I did know some of the people who were dancing! I guess
I could have danced. Oh well, I’ll dance up at the Send-off on Saturday.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I sit
for what seems like a very long time.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ok. Don’t let your American impatience get the better of
you, Linda. Just be present. Hang out until your neighbor leaves.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">(I chat a
little bit and sit some more. Finally, I hear from our neighbor that it’s an
appropriate time to leave.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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“And another event, more or less successfully, navigated.”</div>
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This whole scenario reminded me of one of the great tips for
cross-cultural missionaries in the most recent <a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/living-well-where-you-dont-belong/" target="_blank">Alifeoverseas.com post:</a></div>
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“<b><i><span style="color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cultivate a tolerance of ambiguity.</span></i></b><span style="color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> According to <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ambiguity?s=t"><span style="color: #2361a1;">Dictionary.com</span></a>, ambiguity is defined as
“doubtfulness or uncertainty of meaning or intention,” which is just another
way of saying you don’t know what the heck is going on. As those of you who
live (or have lived) cross-culturally know, this is permanent state of affairs,
as you grapple with a language that is different, customs that seem strange,
and social systems that are often opaque. Those with a low level of ambiguity
tolerance may experience more culture stress than those who can say (honestly)
“I don’t have a clue what’s going on around me, and that’s fine.””<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Am I always fine not knowing what is going on around me?
Nope. But I’m trying to be, and that’s the first step :-) </div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-6201997010309567132014-07-10T07:41:00.000-07:002014-07-10T12:50:13.462-07:0010 THINGS MISSIONARIES WON'T TELL YOU (From our perspective)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This blog post is going to be a little bit different,
because it is actually written for other missionaries. However, those of you
who love and support missionaries might also like to listen in and get the
inside scoop. There’s an article that we’ve seen passed around for a few days
on Facebook called <a href="http://www.trinitykenya.com/10-things-missionaries-wont-tell/"><span style="color: blue;">“10 Things
Missionaries Won’t Tell You.”</span></a> When we read it, we found that the ideas were
definitely common among missionaries like ourselves, and yet, we didn't agree
with the tone of the article. The author sounded really jaded, perhaps at the
height of culture-shock or burnout. The article was probably very therapeutic
for many missionaries to read, because it normalizes a lot of feelings. Yet, we
fear that if a missionary maintains this mindset, he or she won't last long.
Here are a few ways we've found to reframe these ideas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. THEY DON’T HAVE THE TIME OR ENERGY TO WRITE…BUT THEY DO
IT FOR YOU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What the original
article said:</b> “<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Newsletters,
blog posts, website updates – all the “experts” tell me that I need to be
sending you fresh content on a regular basis so you won’t forget about me. But
here’s the thing…writing is </span><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">hard</span></span>, especially for those who aren’t natural writers. You know
what else is hard? HTML, CSS, PHP, and a bunch of other tech-geek stuff that
you have to learn about just to make a decent-looking website or email. I
really want to tell you what’s going on, but it’s hard to turn out gripping
narratives while I have a sick child asleep in my lap. And if I have to look up
how to code a “mailto” link one more time, I’m going to scream!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>From our perspective:</b>
Newsletters are hard, even for those of us who like to write. However, it can be
helpful to think of them as "the job," i.e. what pays the bills.
Everything else is "the ministry.” (This is not entirely exclusive however,
because ministry can also happen through newsletters.) Spending time writing a
newsletter every month is just part of the job. Plus writing a newsletter is an
opportunity to slow down, reflect on life, and document your life here. Have I
complained when I have writers’ block or when something isn’t working right in
the e-newsletter program I am using? Yes. Absolutely. However, I also realize
that someday my children and grandchildren are going to treasure these
newsletters, and many people do faithfully read them and pray for us. It’s
worth a few hours of inconvenience a month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">FACEBOOK
“LIKES” DON”T PAY THE BILLS. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What the original article said</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">I’m glad that you liked my Facebook
status. I really am. The thing is, when I say we need $1,200 by the end of the
week to pay the school fees for orphaned children, I’m talking about actual
dollars and actual need. Contrary to the rumors, Bill Gates doesn’t donate a
dollar for every Like. That part is up to you. So, the next time you Like my
status, consider sending a few bucks my way too.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For our perspective: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">We know Facebook
doesn't pay the bills. It’s really not designed to. However, it helps keep
people connected and excited about the work, and excited people pay the bills. Facebook
is a prime example of group-think. As another missionary quoted, “Every man’s
challenge is no man’s challenge.” If you really want to raise funds, you have to
connect with people individually, not through an impersonal social media blast.
Besides, Facebook can serve other great purposes. For example, it's a great
opportunity for emotional support and to support and encourage others.</span> </span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. <span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">THEY ASK FOR MONEY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHOICE.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 21pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
<h4 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What the original article said: “</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Lest you think #2 sounded a little whiny and
money-hungry, you should know that I truly </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">despise</span></span> asking for money. I always have. And now I have to ask
for it almost <span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">all the time</span></span>. Even
when I’m not asking for it, I’m <span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">thinking</span></span> about asking for it. There are never enough funds to do
all the good I’m trying to do, and I live with a nagging feeling that the one
person I <span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">don’t</span></span> ask
is the one who would have written the big check. So, when I ask for money, know
that I do so with fear and trembling.”</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>From our perspective:</b>
One thing I’ve discovered in all my years of fundraising is that people in the
U.S. WANT to give to meaningful causes. In fact, being a part of something
bigger than themselves that leaves a legacy HELPS them. It’s a win-win
situation for all involved. No, not everyone you come in contact with will
think your cause is a priority and not everyone who does value it will be
financially able to support you in that way. However, you are not doing them a
disservice by inviting them to partner with you in a cause that is
meaningful. And if you don't feel your
cause is meaningful, then there are some other issues that need to be
addressed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">4. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;"> YOU’LL NEVER HEAR ABOUT THEIR WORST DAYS.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What the original
article said: “</b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Things are
pretty bad here. If I told you what’s really going on, you would either come
rescue me, or think I was exaggerating. If you heard some of the things I’ve
said out loud, you might question my salvation. If you knew some of the
thoughts I’ve had rattling around in my head, you might question my </span><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">sanity</span></span>. Sometimes good days are hard to come by, but I
don’t dare tell you the worst. If I did, you would probably tell me to throw in
the towel.<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: cabin; mso-hansi-font-family: cabin;">”</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>From our perspective:
</b>Sure, no one likes to hear that you spent the afternoon crying your eyes
out in frustration, and every missionary gets to that point. Don’t believe me?
Click <a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/what-if-i-fall-apart-on-the-mission-field/"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">here</span></a>.
And you can't be completely transparent with everyone. However, you should be
completely transparent with a few people, and at least somewhat transparent with
all the people who are part of your prayer team. We personally try to share our
struggles, but we also try to maintain a grateful heart and share our thanksgivings
as well. And if you are having more hard days than good days, it might be time to
talk to a counselor through Skype or other means. There is no shame in this,
because living in another culture is HARD, and talking it out is way better
than becoming bitter and burned out. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. THEY NEED A VACATION…BUT WON’T TELL YOU IF
THEY TAKE ONE.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What the original
article said: “</b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">After 2 or 3
years of hard work, most people feel like they deserve a little break. Take the
family to the beach. Visit a theme park, a national park, or Park City. I would </span><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">love</span></span> a vacation, but honestly, I feel guilty
“pampering” myself, rather than putting all my time and resources into the
ministry. On top of that, I know some people will judge me if my vacation is
“too nice.” If I scrape and save pennies for 5 years so I can spend a week on
an exotic island, you’ll never hear about it, because I can’t handle the
snarky, “It must be nice” comments (the ones you’ll say to my face), or, “My
donations paid for your vacation” (which you’ll think, but not say out loud –
at least not to me). So, I keep some great stuff to myself for fear of being
judged.”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>From our perspective:
</b>Take the vacation!! It is so very important to take breaks. Working in
another culture and language is stressful, and many, many missionaries
experience burn-out if they are not proactive about getting rest and
rejuvenation. We understand the concern, and we too wonder, “Does our vacation
sound too extravagant? Will we lose donors over this?” However, we’ve found
that if we explain why this vacation is important to us and the ways we have
tried to be financially responsible in planning the vacation, most people are
incredibly supportive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">HOSTING
TEAMS IS A NIGHTMARE.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What the original
article said</b>: “<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Bless your heart. You think you’re doing me a favor. Thirty
people show up at my door and expect me to provide transportation, food,
lodging, sight-seeing, and a list of service projects a mile long. You’re here
to “help.” The thing is, the other 51 weeks out of the year, we manage to do
what needs to be done here just fine. That is, except for the time we spend
working on the logistics for your team. You come over and want to help build a
fence, when I can hire local workers to build a fence for a tiny fraction of
what you spent to come here. I appreciate your desire to help, and I even love
having visitors, but consider the size and expectations of your group before
you plan your trip. A team of 3 or 4 highly skilled people is much more
valuable to our ministry than a gaggle of mission tourists.</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: cabin; mso-hansi-font-family: cabin;">”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>From our perspective:
</b>For sure there are horror stories. We’ve heard many of them from fellow
missionaries. However, it doesn’t have to be like that. A lot of it depends on
the make-up of the team and how much preparation they’ve had. Try to stay
active in the preparation beforehand, helping the team set their expectations,
giving them resources, and letting them know what to bring and what not to
bring. In the preparations, make sure that the team is working <i>with</i> local leaders on projects that
local leaders feel are a priority. Then be available for mentoring while the
team is there. They may not look like the people that you normally share God’s
love with, but it’s quite possible that they need your love and care as much as,
or more than, your normal crew. Keeping the groups smaller can also be really
helpful, and make sure that they understand that the primary reason they are
there is building relationships, not building a fence. Even with all your planning and effort, sometimes things won't go the way you hoped. At that point you just have to bless it and release it. Try to learn from the past and keep an open mind and heart for the next team. Short term mission teams
are a fantastic opportunity for developing partnerships, as every single person
that comes to visit will (potentially) return to their home country as an
ambassador for your ministry. It’s also possible that in hosting these teams,
you are helping to raise up future long-term missionaries. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">7. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;">“GOING
HOME” IS A LOT OF WORK.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What the original
article said: “</b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Please
understand, I now have two homes. When I’m at one, I’m away from the other, and
there is a lot of emotion involved in that. On top of that, my life is
absolutely </span><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">crazy</span></span> when
I go “home.” I have to see relatives and friends, visit with partner churches,
and take care of any number of issues that have arisen with my health, my
electronic devices, and my government paperwork. Whether it’s a few weeks or a
few months, I spend my time living out of suitcases and hustling from one
appointment to the next. Is it good to be home? Sure. But when I get on that
plane to go to my <span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">other</span></span> home,
I breathe a sigh of relief that life is almost back to ‘normal.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">From our perspective: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Very true. Furloughs are exhausting. And
yet, they are also deeply refreshing. They give you an opportunity to catch up
on other parts of your life and make memories with family and friends. They
also give you the opportunity to miss things about your life in your host
country. Furloughs can be so good for restoring perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 30.0pt; margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8. IT’S EASY FOR GOD TO TAKE A BACK SEAT IN THEIR
LIFE</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What the original
article said</b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">:</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: cabin; mso-hansi-font-family: cabin;">“</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Let’s face it, I’m no saint. I’m not any
more spiritual than you are. I don’t start my day with three hours of
devotional reading and prayer. I typically just get up and get to work. And
there is a </span><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">lot</span></span> of
work to be done. In fact, there is so much need here that it’s really easy to
become so focused on doing <span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">things for God</span></span> that
I lose sight of <span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">God himself</span></span>. In
pursuing my calling, I’ve somehow forgotten about the <span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">caller</span></span>. My spiritual life is almost nonexistent, other
than the occasional desperate cry of ‘Why God?’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">From our perspective: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">For sure we are not more spiritual than
our friends who are not cross-cultural missionaries. That being said, we’ve
discovered that we do need to be more intentional about being spiritually-fed
here than we did in the U.S. If we aren’t spiritually fed, we <i>will</i> fall apart. Personal story: Sometimes
it sneaks up on you. I realized I hadn’t gotten enough spiritual nourishment
when we missed our opportunity to go to an English-speaking worship service in
Dar Es Salaam. We had the right time, but the wrong place. When I found out our
mistake, I completely broke down in tears and it took a while to pull myself
back together. It’s like dehydration. By the time you realize you are thirsty,
you are already dehydrated. So, yes, intentionality. Since it is still hard for
us to be spiritually-fed through Swahili worship services, we supplement with
sermon podcasts, evening devotions, and most recently an English-speaking bible
study. Do what works for your family and time frame, but do SOMETHING to
regularly connect with your Maker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 30.0pt; margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. IT’S HARD TO TRUST PEOPLE</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What the original
article said:</b> <span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: cabin; mso-hansi-font-family: cabin;">“</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">There are good people here, there really are.
But I have seen the worst of humanity in my work here – much of it from people
I worked with and trusted. Other missionaries and pastors can be the worst.
Just when you think you know someone, they stab you in the back, the front, and
both sides. I’ve gotten to where I simply don’t trust anyone. My guard is up,
and it’s not coming down. I refuse to get burned again. If that means I have to
do everything myself, then so be it.</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-ascii-font-family: cabin; mso-hansi-font-family: cabin;">”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>From our perspective:</b>
Have we had people take our words and actions out of context? For sure. Have
people lied to us? Yes. However, that happens everywhere. It really sounds like
this particular author has some trust issues to work out. Vulnerability is hard,
but is also the source of all that is meaningful in life. Here’s a really great
talk on the subject: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/"><span style="color: blue;">“The Power of
Vulnerability”</span></a> or you can read Brene Brown’s book, “Daring Greatly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 30.0pt; margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. THEY ARE LONELY</span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What the original
article said: “</b><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Having
neglected my relationship with God, and given up on people entirely, I’m left
with just me. I hate it. I want to quit. I have dreams about what my life would
be like if I went back to my old home town, to my old church, and my old
friends. I could get a normal job earning a salary – with healthcare and </span><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">paid vacation</span></span>. I could shop and eat at normal places. Most of
all, I could have normal relationships. But here? I’m all alone. I don’t know
if there’s anyone like me here, and I <span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">know</span></span> no one back home understands. I want to feel wanted,
invited, and loved. I want someone to pour into me the way I’m pouring into
others.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>From our perspective:
</b>This is especially true in the first year. Building relationships is hard
whenever you move, but it is especially hard when you are moving to a new culture
and doing it in a new language. Every missionary has moments when they want to
quit. Be gentle with yourself. Reach out to start building relationships in
your community as soon as possible, but also reach out to other missionaries
who “get it.” This might mean driving somewhere to visit or finding a
missionary community online. We highly recommend <a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.ALifeOverseas.com</span></a> as a place to get
started. It has helped normalize many of our feelings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This post is simply our gut-response put out there to hopefully encourage and help a few fellow missionaries. Perhaps as we continue to think about these topics, other ideas will come to us. We would love to hear from other missionaries as well. What has worked well for you? How do you work through the raw emotions found in the original article? </span></div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-51797132035594063942014-05-29T11:35:00.003-07:002014-05-29T11:35:31.125-07:00What God Is Teaching Me: Self-Care<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eric and I
recently came across a blog post that describes the normal stress levels of
cross-cultural missionaries. Here’s a snippet: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">“</span><span style="color: #111111;">When stress levels reach above a 200 {on the
Holmes-Rahe scale}, doctors will advise patients to make life changes– drink a
glass of wine, exercise, sleep more, that kind of thing. The goal is to keep
stress levels below 200, since anything over that can result in some incredibly
negative effects, especially over the long term. In fact, 50% of the people
scoring a 200 were hospitalized in the two years following the scoring with
heart attacks, diabetes, cancer, or other severe illnesses. Apparently, the
cumulative effect of stress on the body and mind can be an extremely damaging
one. Then, they used the same standards and scale to assess missionary stress
levels.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">They
found that the average missionary’s stress levels for the first year are
typically around 800-900, and the sustained stress levels of a cross cultural
worker stays around 600.”’ </span></strong></span><a href="http://www.lauraleighparker.com/2012/03/stress-missionary/">http://www.lauraleighparker.com/2012/03/stress-missionary/</a></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18.4pt;">Our first thought was “Wow! So this is why so many
mission organizations stress self-care.” As we thought more about it,
especially about our last week, we can definitely see why many missionaries get
burned out.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18.4pt;">This week we experienced the many normal stressors—</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Trying
to teach students who have many gaps in their education<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Trying
to support other teachers who are overworked and underpaid<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Trying
to function in a language that does not come naturally<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Missing
key pieces of information either because it is not yet available (a lot of
decisions here come last minute) or because of the language barrier. We often
feel like we are the last people in town to know what’s going on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Patiently
-- or not so patiently-- enduring sporadic internet that toys with our
emotions, sometimes allowing us to stream Youtube videos, but sometimes
distorting our Skype calls with family beyond the point of recognition<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Bargaining
for many of our needs in order to get a good price and still paying too much
sometimes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Trying
to determine when and how to help when someone comes to us with a need<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Driving
30 minutes to two hours for cash, mail, and supplies, and still not always
being able to find what we need and want. And bless your heart if you forget
something on your list, because it will have to wait until the next time you
are in that town. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Spending
40 minutes to 2 hours preparing meals every night. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Having
things break in our house pretty much weekly thanks to low quality products
(this week it was my hairdryer and our cd player in our car. Replacing the
hairdryer meant a two-hour drive to Mwanza, so it wasn’t a quick fix).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, we also
had some “fun” bonus stressors this week.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Losing
power for almost two days which means terrible sleep without our fans, changes
in our menu thanks to the lack of an electric oven, minimal use of electronics
or having to find a place to recharge, and doing everything at night by
flashlight. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Having
to siphon water into buckets from our lower water tank because the electric
pump couldn’t pump the water to the upper tank. We used those buckets to do
everything from washing dishes, hands, and clothes to flushing the toilet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Getting
a sliver of glass stuck in my foot that must have come in from outside<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Getting
shocked by our electric oven/stove and realizing that we are going to have to
call an electrician because it is not working properly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Having
our debit card—our primary source of income—rejected because there is a limit
on how much you can withdraw during a weekend. Being a national holiday weekend
in the U.S., we would have to wait four days before we could access money again.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">·<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">Coping
with the additional homesickness that usually accompanies the U.S. summer. In
the winter, we just miss the people. However, in the summer we miss family
vacations (my family will soon be en route to Hawaii for my cousin’s wedding
and Eric’s family will travel to Colorado later this summer), baby-showers,
weddings, the Deaconess Annual Meeting, reunions, and favorite summer
activities like hiking, swimming, and attending plays and festivals. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">Yep, this is why we
have been told to consistently monitor our stress-levels and put in place
habits that ease the stress. Self-care is so important. Exercise, the
occasional evening walk, evening devotions/prayer, watching childhood TV shows,
talking with a Skype counselor who specializes in missionary care, listening to
music, and reading books are a few of the ways we’ve found to cope with the
daily stresses. However every now and then we just need a vacation. Two things
officially brought us to Dar Es Salaam this week—meetings with Bishop Makala at
the Ministry of Social Welfare and chaperoning our Form 4 students with their
senior trip next week—however, we’ve decided to use the time before and after
these events to breathe. We are looking forward to enjoying time with some of
our former language school friends in Dar. Then, since we are “in the
neighborhood” we will pop over to Zanzibar for three nights as a belated
birthday present to Eric and 3<sup>rd</sup> anniversary present to each other.
We pray that this time will allow us time to process the months past and rejuvenate
us for the work ahead </span><span style="color: #111111;">J</span><span style="color: #111111;">
Thank you to everyone who supports us in our work and in our rest.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">** As a side note,
we know missionaries don’t have the market cornered on stress ;-) We pray that
you all, who work so tirelessly, also find ways to cope daily and that you get
some opportunities to breathe deeply this summer. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-15255696381565649122014-04-19T08:37:00.001-07:002014-04-19T08:42:13.842-07:00What God Is Teaching Me: The Complexity of Poverty<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For many years I have been on a quest to understand poverty
and, even more importantly, to understand the lives of people who live under
the weight of poverty daily. Pivotal moments flash in my mind…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">- As an 8-year-old helping at a food pantry, I
learned that one person’s health tragedy is enough to send an entire family
over the financial edge. The daughter of this family was in my sister’s class.
It hit home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">- As a teen, I was surprised and mesmerized by the
joy I saw in a church in Mexico, a joy that had nothing to do with material
possessions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">- As a student,
I began to understand social work, as well as the rudimentary outlines and
implications of poverty. My intellect was engaged.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">- As a guest in several orphanages of Romania, I
witnessed corruption and innocence existing side by side.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">- As an intern in Papua New Guinea, I heard
individual stories of friends dreaming of a life where their children could get
an education or maybe simply live beyond the age of five.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">- As a listener, many conversations with deaconess
sisters and classmates further deepened my awareness of the complexities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">- As a grad student, I spent two years of full
time study delving into some of the hardest, most unanswerable questions of
poverty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">- As an intern, I saw the pain and strength of women
in the St. Louis “ghetto” with unimaginable histories and admired the
immigrants who strained to adjust to life in the U.S. while battling Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I received a Master’s degree, but I also received the awareness
that there is still so much to learn. I will never be finished. Each experience
has changed me, and my time in Tanzania is likewise forcing me to grow. I learn
from the stories of survival, despair, and achievement of my Tanzanian friends
and neighbors. Sometimes I learn from my own mistaken assumptions: “Why can’t
you just… oh, that’s why.” And most recently, I have been grateful to learn
from the writers of the blog series “A Life Overseas”. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of the writers particularly caught my attention in her
post, <a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/please-dont-say-they-are-poor-but-theyre-happy/" target="_blank">“Please Don’t Say They Are Poor But They’re Happy.”</a> Rachel Pieh Jones
often writes about extremes when talking about people struggling with poverty.
She notes that there is a tendency to make others one-dimensional. Some tend to
stigmatize those who are lacking material wealth. “If they just ________ or
didn’t _______, they would be fine.” “Why don’t they __________?” More common
among missionary and nonprofit agencies is the ennobling of poor. (Ironically,
I’ve seen Americans veer one way in viewing other Americans who are
impoverished, and veer the other way in their perception of people in poverty
in other parts of the world.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As I read Rachel’s post, I realized that in years past I
have likewise fallen into the trap of saying, “They are poor, but happy. Look
at how amazing they are!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it
is good to recognize and celebrate the moments of nobility. Yes, there is
something about having to rely on God on a very real and daily basis that can
bring about spiritual growth. And wealth can be a deterrent to deep faith. However,
poverty and suffering do not in and of themselves make people noble.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At Rachel’s suggestion, I read “Behind the Beautiful
Forevers” by Katherine Boo. Katherine spent four years listening to stories,
pouring over records, and observing life in a slum in Mumbai, India. The book
feels like a fictional novel, but it is the real life journalistic account of
the lives of people in that slum. It’s a hard book to read. Eric can vouch for
the fact that every time I picked it up, I ended up in a bad mood. It does not
shy away from the harsh realities. I think many people will react to the
narrative with anger and heartbreak, as I did. However, I am glad I read it. It
shows how complex, how messy, and how agonizing decisions of survival can become.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the end of the book, Katherine writes, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“In
my reporting, I am continually struck by the ethical imaginations of young
people, even those in circumstances so desperate that selfishness would be an
asset. Children have little power to act on those imaginations, and by the time
they grow up, they may have become the adults who keep walking as a bleeding
waste-picker slowly dies on the roadside, who turn away when a burned woman
writhes, whose first reaction when a vibrant teenager drinks rat poison is a
shrug. How does that happen? How—to use Abdul’s formulation- do children intent
on being ice become water? A cliché about India holds that the loss of life
matters less here than in other countries, because of the Hindu faith in
reincarnation, and because of the vast scale of the population. In my
reporting, I found that young people felt the loss of life acutely. What
appeared to be indifference to other people’s suffering had little to do with
reincarnation, and less to do with being born brutish. I believe it had a good
deal to do with condition that had sabotaged their innate capacity for moral
action. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In
places where government priorities and market imperatives create a world so
capricious that to help a neighbor is to risk your ability to feed your family,
and sometimes even your own liberty, the idea of the mutually supportive poor
community is demolished. The poor blame one another for the choices of
governments and markets, and we who are not poor are ready to blame the poor
just as harshly.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It
is easy, from a safe distance, to overlook the fact that in under-cities
governed by corruption, where exhausted people vie on scant terrain for very
little, it is blisteringly hard to be good. The astonishment is that some
people are good, and that many people try to be.”<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">People are people. Sometimes they are noble, sometimes they are
corrupt. Sometimes corruption comes solely out of our own sinfulness. And
sometimes it is a survival mechanism bred by a corrupt system constructed by other
sinful people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have good and evil
within us. The idea of each person being both saint and sinner is not limited
to one socioeconomic class. I pray that we, as individuals and as a society,
can continue to move past one-dimensional thinking and depictions of those
whose lives seem so different from ours. Most heartily I pray I can daily find the
cultural humility to ask meaningful questions and to learn.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">** If you would like to read more, I recommend Rachel Pieh
Jones’ post <a href="http://www.djiboutijones.com/2013/10/when-rich-westerners-dont-know-they-are-being-rich-westerners/" target="_blank">“When Rich Westerners Don’t Know They Are Being Rich Westerners.”</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was such a great challenge to me and I’m
still unpacking how this looks in my daily life.</span> </span>Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-59016130219155294152014-01-24T10:32:00.003-08:002014-04-05T07:41:44.020-07:006 Lessons From Kilimanjaro<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From Linda’s perspective, but with Eric’s input.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>THROUGH ANOTHER PERSON’S EYES. Every person
experiences the mountain differently. Just because it is the same mountain does
not mean that everyone sees it the same way. The person from Switzerland
experiences it differently than the person from Phoenix. The young experience
it differently than those older. The porters experience it differently than the
tourists. And a person with fibromyalgia and IBS experiences it differently
than someone who does not face that challenge. However, just because each
person’s story and experience is different doesn’t make one person right or
wrong. We gain a lot when we can begin to see the mountain through another
person’s eyes. Looking through Eric’s eyes, I saw how the mountain was a
vacation for him, a chance to get away and breathe, the fulfillment of a dream.
Through him, I saw the various patterns and textures of the earth as we climbed.
When Eric looked through my eyes, he saw the intensity of the challenge, the
sacrifice that it took to get to this point, the mental battle to push past the
pain, and the indomitable spirit required to achieve this goal. By looking
through each other’s eyes, we gained a new respect for the mountain and for
each other. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->THE GUIDE’S PACE. Sometimes our guide seemed to
go at a snail’s pace. There were times when we wanted simply to push on ahead
and complete the task as quickly as possible, or at least faster than the
present speed. However, the guide knew better. He knew that if we climbed the
mountain too quickly, altitude sickness would set in and we would never make it
to the top. While it would have been easy to accomplish the short term goals a
lot faster, he had the ultimate goal in mind. So it is with our eternal Guide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>PERSEVERANCE AND DISCERNMENT. When challenges
hit, sometimes it means we should take another path, and sometimes it’s simply
time to persevere, to look past the pain. It can be difficult to know which
time is which. That’s why it’s always a good idea to discuss such matters with
your Guide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->BREATHE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s really beneficial to stop sometimes, to take a step back, to
breathe, and to look around. It is so easy to lose appreciation for the journey
when you want to achieve the goal so badly. When we get so focused on what we
are doing, we can lose sight of the beauty and diversity around us. Plus, we
save ourselves a lot of headaches when we take those moments to breathe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>THE NEXT STEP. During the night of the summit,
we traversed a seemingly endless amount of switchbacks—right, left, right,
left. We could see the top of the peak, but it always seemed so far away. Our
guide told us, “Don’t look too far ahead. Focus on my feet.” The sentiment
reminded me of Stormie Omartian’s book “Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On:
Trusting God in Tough Times.” Sometimes looking too far ahead can be intensely
overwhelming and not helpful. We just needed to focus on that next step, and
then the next, and then the next. It’s not comfortable, especially for
Americans who like to plan every last part of our lives, but this technique is
often necessary. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS. Many people might think
that climbing Kilimanjaro is empowering. “Look at me. Look at how strong I am.
I can do anything. I’m on top of the world.” That wasn’t my experience at all.
When I reached the top, I didn’t feel strong. I felt intensely weak. For hours
I had pushed past the pain. I had “dug deep,” and all I wanted was a blessed
release from the pain. That is what the top meant to me when I reached it—I
could finally turn around and begin heading towards a place where I could rest.
Maybe I had conquered the mountain, but it had also conquered me. And I knew
beyond a shadow of a doubt, I could not have done it alone. I could not have
reached the top without someone carrying my pack for me. I could not have
reached the top without the encouragement of Eric, without his reminders that
people were praying for us. I could not have reached the top without the
expertise of our guides. I could not have reached the top without Diamox
helping my body absorb oxygen at maximum efficiency. I could not have reached
the top without a community of support praying for us, a community that
believed in us and in our school enough to pledge money for every step. And I
could <u>not</u> have done it without God. So many things could have gone wrong
that didn’t. So many things could have made this goal impossible to accomplish.
But by the grace of God, I did make it to the top, and maybe it’s better that I
didn’t have a “mountaintop experience” in that moment. There is a part of me
that wants to be seen as a champion, a part that wants to be the hero and
inspire people. However, I can’t pretend that I felt victorious or that the
smile wasn’t plastered on a tear-stained face. That picture on the mountain
will always be a reminder to me—a reminder of God’s words, “<span class="woj">My
grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I echo
Saint Paul, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-35178006478284696472014-01-24T10:31:00.001-08:002014-04-05T07:41:52.258-07:00You Know It's Cold When...<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Inspired by our recent trip climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You know it’s cold when…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>You have to really scrape to get little flakes of
butter and you must carve your peanut butter in order to put some on your toast</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->You are thankful you bought hiking boots a size
too big since you need to wear 2-3 pairs of thick socks every day</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Your air pillow is deflated by the middle of the
night, and it’s not because there is a leak</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUcOK5uz83HOOR7xM8Nxy0gqcHWZ_Sm9C2WYdno3jdqlVMQzc7_-o0ux8EhuG9nE7eBYVIiiCGJPQgpn7lgvPTCvPJmmuEU1T2HZ02SwAUuiBrRUfVXMgVsFU7Oe8MqOihBHNMHPZlq4/s1600/Kili+-+197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUcOK5uz83HOOR7xM8Nxy0gqcHWZ_Sm9C2WYdno3jdqlVMQzc7_-o0ux8EhuG9nE7eBYVIiiCGJPQgpn7lgvPTCvPJmmuEU1T2HZ02SwAUuiBrRUfVXMgVsFU7Oe8MqOihBHNMHPZlq4/s1600/Kili+-+197.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Your -10⁰ C (14⁰ F) sleeping bag is just not
cutting it, and you have to put your down jacket and a fleece around your feet</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->You wear your balaclava (face mask) to bed and
in combination with your hooded sleeping bag, you resemble a ninja mummy. See
picture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->You put all your clothes for the next day in
your sleeping bag with you to keep them warmer and yet it still feels like you
stepped into a refrigerator when you add those layers on in the morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>You don’t have a cold, but your nose runs 24/7, thereby
creating a scaly Rudolph nose by the end of the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->You don’t have to move your toothbrush up and
down or right and left. You just have to put it in your mouth and let your
shivers do the rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>The choice between going to the outside toilet
to relieve your bladder or staying in bed and having your bladder keep you
awake all night suddenly feels like a life or death decision, and you spend at
least 20 minutes deliberating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Your teeth hurt every time you sip normal
drinking water, and even the tiniest pills are hard to get down because your
mouth seems to go into hypothermic shock when you try to swallow said water
that quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->You change your underwear right when you get to
camp because it is the warmest part of the day and exposing that much skin once
the sun goes down seems ill-advised.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Your muscles are sore, but the thought of
Icy-Hot is repulsive. Why would you want anything icy touching your body?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Even lukewarm beverages and dishes are steaming,
and you can see your breath during normal conversation. Thus, the dining tent
soon has the ambiance of a hookah lounge.</span><br />
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Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-58156734200312933092013-08-13T11:56:00.000-07:002014-04-05T07:42:10.561-07:00Class Trip to the Serengeti<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you have ever been a chaperone on a youth trip, you know
that youth trips, even to tourist destinations, are not the same thing as
vacation. This weekend was evidence that this truth is universal ;-) That being
said, we were delighted to have some time with Form 4 (senior class) students
outside the bounds of the school. Here’s a little peak out the Senior trip to
the Serengeti:</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 1</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The original time of departure on Saturday was 5:45am.
Thankfully we got the message the night before that the bus wasn’t going to be
able to get there that early—new departure time: 8am. Like good mzungu (white
people) who are still figuring out when time is fluid and when time is strict,
we arrived at 8am. The bus however didn’t arrive until 10am, because they had
wanted to wait for a full bus of passengers to take to Shinyanga before
starting their next job. Time isn’t money here. Money is money. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By 10:30am we were loaded up and on our way with five other
teachers and the fifty Form 4 students that could afford the trip— the students
were expected to pay the equivalent of $30 US dollars. The bus is not like
buses in the U.S. with an aisle. Each aisle has a seat that folds up and down,
so that five people can fit across comfortably. We fit six on each row.
Everyone had packed lightly, but even still the bus was packed to the max.
(Side note: we thought we had packed lightly, and we had for us, but Tanzanians
take it to a whole other level, washing clothes to be re-worn again another
day).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were expecting the
trip to take about 7 hours (2.5. to Mwanza, 3 to the Serengeti entrance, and
maybe another 1.5 into the park). We made it to Mwanza in good time, but since
we had left late and the Serengeti park gate closes at 4pm, we were still in a rush. Lunch
consisted of a box of cookies per person, a soda, and a water bottle, because
that is what Philemon (the Assistant Headmaster) could buy quickly from street
vendors while the bus filled up on gas. Then we were on our way again. By God’s
grace, we arrived at the gate at 3:58pm. Whew! Praise the Lord! It was only
once we entered the gate that we began to realize our time estimation was way
off. We were in a bus, not a Land Cruiser, which meant we were practically
crawling over the bumpy roads of the Serengeti. Plus the Youth Hostel was in
the center of the Serengeti, which by crawling bus was 7 hours away from the
entrance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let me paint the picture for you: For those of you who are
international travelers, imagine a 12.5 hour flight. Now, take away the leg
room and imagine that you are sitting on a wheel, so your feet rest a foot off
the floor and your thighs are at a 45 degree incline (this was Linda’s
situation). For entertainment, you have Tanzanian music videos and a Tanzanian
soap opera on one central TV, but only for the first 5.5 hours because for the
next 7 hours it is too bumpy for technology. You get one bathroom break the
entire time, which consists of doing your business in the middle of nowhere
with a dozen others of your gender around you. There is no privacy in a time
crunch. At one point during the trip, your group is attacked by a band of
tsetse flies—the really bad ones that can cause Trypanosomiasis, aka sleeping
sickness. Thus all the windows are closed, and you get to enjoy your own
personal unventilated sauna with fifty teenagers. Getting (smelling) the
picture? Good times ;-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yet, with all of those challenges, the students behaved
beautifully! We didn’t hear any complaining. In fact, one of the students asked
Linda if she was tired. She confessed yes and that her body was aching from
hours of sitting in one position. The student then encouraged her, “You have to
be strong.” We were amazed at the strength of the students and the teachers. During
the travels there were some really special moments, such as the students
breaking into an impromptu hymn-sing, seeing a band of lions sleeping on the
road, and being led down the road for many kilometers by one particular zebra
who liked running in the light of the bus. It wasn’t until we stopped the bus
and turned off the lights for several minutes that the zebra went on his way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We arrived at the youth hostel at 11:30pm. Given that it was
so late, the students were sent to bed with some bread and butter for dinner.
Accommodations included a large room with bunk beds for the boys and one for
the girls, with boys’ and girls’ cement outhouses nearby. </span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 2</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next morning everyone was up by 6:30am bathing,
cleaning, and preparing meals. The youth hostel provided a place for coal fires
and some large pots, but we had brought everything else with us. Since everyone
had had very little food in the last day and a half, we made the first meal the
main meal. The girls worked very hard preparing the cow meat and fish cooked in
a tomato sauce, as well as a giant pot of rice. By noon, everyone had eaten,
all the dishes were clean, and we were on our way to tour the Serengeti.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For many of the students, this trip was their first time to
see any of these animals. There are no zoos in Tanzania. They were mesmerized!
I think we enjoyed watching the students as much as we enjoyed watching the
animals. Since most of them did not have cameras, Eric became the class
photographer and students will be able to pay to have pictures printed. This
opportunity got a little out-of-hand at some points, as we were mobbed by
students wanting us to take their picture ;-) We did love their enthusiasm
though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We also stopped by the Serengeti tourism center. The
students and teachers were placed into three groups as tour guides led them
through the complex, teaching them about the animals and the environment. The
center had bones of various kinds of animals, emblems of their footprints in cement,
and descriptions of various animals and land conservation efforts. The guides
were very knowledgeable, and the students asked them lots of questions. The
center even had its own wildlife as dozens of hyraxes and mongooses scampered
about. They were obviously very accustomed to visitors. </span><br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That evening we had some of the drama that one might expect
out of a trip like this—items going missing, issues of appropriate boy/girl
relations, trouble settling down after a big day, safety issues, etc. I see all
you youth ministers out there nodding your heads in empathy. We got <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> little sleep that night. However,
that night also held one of our most special memories as well. After dinner,
Eric got out his guitar, and we led the group in song and devotions. We loved
singing with the students, and we pray that throughout the trip they heard
grace from us.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u></u></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Day 3<o:p></o:p></u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next morning we were once again up with the sun, preparing
some left over rice and tea for breakfast, and dealing with some remaining
drama. By 10am we were packed up and on the road. We found a better road coming
back which cut an hour and a half off our trip. Because the road was less
known, the driver did have to stop and ask for directions once from a very
accommodating “rastaman,” as the students termed him. Our new friend enjoyed
the attention as the students with cameras took pictures of his dreadlocks. When
we arrived at the Serengeti gate, we ran into a bit of trouble, because
apparently they were supposed to charge extra for ex-patriots, even working ones.
However, since the entrance gate hadn’t caught it, they let us go this once.
Good to know for future reference. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
We were so encouraged by what good time we were making that
Philemon decided to stop and get a hot meal for everyone for lunch. It took
over an hour to get chipsi mayai (fried eggs and potatoes) for everyone on the
bus, but it was a nice treat. We ran into our biggest travel problems in
Mwanza, where we got stuck in traffic that resembled a parking lot. Thus, the
trip back actually took<i> longer</i> than
the trip there. Thirteen hours later, at 11pm we finally arrived back at the
school. We never ceased to be amazed by the energy of the students. While we
looked and felt like something the cat dragged in, the students were as
jubilant as ever. They cheered as we drove into the school and were already
exchanging stories with their classmates as we headed home. We are thankful for
their joy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-24186743228226554562013-08-02T01:52:00.000-07:002014-04-05T07:42:20.350-07:00What God Is Teaching Me: How To Live Simply<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">This post is
a tough one for me to write, because I’m still not very good at this lesson—at
all. However, this topic has been rolling around in my head since we moved to
Mwadui, so I figured it was time to put a few of my thoughts down in print.
It’s a struggle for every missionary: “How ‘Western’ do I live?” There are
large variations in the answers, and there is no “right” answer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Some
are naturally adaptable and live exactly as the people in their community. I
admire these folks, and there are significant advantages to this lifestyle as
it allows them to better see through the eyes of the people and understand the
needs. However, these people are rare, and there are unique challenges to this
lifestyle. For example, what do you do when your health or the health of your
children is in jeopardy? How do you maintain financial support without modern
conveniences?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you successfully
adapt to the culture shock, which is extreme in general, but even more extreme
when giving up all familiar experiences and technologies that keep you in touch
with family and friends in other parts of the world? If you plan to return to a
Western environment, how do you readjust? <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Some
recognize how difficult living in extreme circumstances can be, and they try to
make their home a refreshing haven for themselves and their families. This
allows them the emotional health to continually reengage in a draining
ministry. For example, a family we came to know and love in Nigeria bought a
standing pool for their children. They lived in a city where bombs went off
regularly, and sometimes their children had to stay home from school for days
due to various real threats. The pool gave their children a sense of normalcy
and fun in the midst of trying circumstances. Even in less extreme
circumstances, some missionaries recognize that certain Western conveniences
and hobbies help stabilize their emotional health and make them better people
and servants. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Some
buy Western conveniences so that their time is more efficient and they can give
more time to their ministries. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Some
buy Western conveniences to be shared and used by the local community who would
not otherwise have access to such things. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Some
utilize Western conveniences because they know their children will someday live
in/receive education from Western countries, and they want to familiarize their
children with this other world. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Some
use their resources to become a retreat center for those who are live more
simply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">And
for many, their decisions are a mixture of these principles.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I have found
that each situation, culture, and missionary is unique, so to place judgment on
others without having walked in their shoes is both hurtful and unjust.
However, on a personal level, this topic has been both challenging and
convicting for me. “How ‘Western’ will I live?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I recently
read a book called “Missions and Money,” talking about the complexities of
wealth among missionaries. I’m not recommending the book, because it is intensely
law-oriented and put me into depressive tailspin of “I’m a terrible missionary,
and I should just give up on being here, because I might be doing more harm
than good.” Thankfully, a good infusion of gospel brought me out of that, and
though I don’t agree with everything in the book, there were many passages that
provided food for thought. This passage gave a label to some of my tendencies:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“The word
that perhaps best sums up the plethora of secular values which influence all
North Americans – including missionaries – from infancy throughout life is <em>consumerism</em>, the way of life
established upon the principle that the great goal of human life and activity
is more things, better things, and new things; in short, that life does consist
in the abundance of possessions.”<a href="file:///C:/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/What%20God%20is%20Teaching%20Me%20Part%205.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="file:///C:/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/What%20God%20is%20Teaching%20Me%20Part%205.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Consumerism.
Our entire economy in the U.S. is built around it. If everyone in our country
was content with what they had, I fear that our economy would crash. Can you
imagine a Christmas where everyone decided the gifts were not necessary to
celebrate our Savior’s birth? I did not realize until I moved here how much a
part of my psyche this is. </span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I understand
that sometimes buying something new can be better than something used. We have
been in a three-month battle with our used refrigerator that sometimes refuses
to cool. And sometimes, we all buy things for the same reasons as mentioned
above—to be used so that we have more time for ministry, to be used in our work
and ministry, to be loaned to others, to give us a space to emotionally,
spiritually, and physically recharge, to create a retreat and safe space for
other people… Yet in Tanzania, I am learning the value of living simply. And
though I don’t always succeed, the quest to live more simply is one worthy of
undertaking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">In the
Bible, Jesus gives just warning to the rich that we can put our trust in things
instead of God. Physical wealth can lead to spiritual poverty. In 1 Timothy, we
are warned that the love of money (and not just money but the things which it
can buy) is the root of all kinds of evil. And yet, in the Bible we also see
some examples of the “righteous rich.” In the story of Abraham, God told
Abraham that he was blessed to be a blessing for others. The primary meaning of
blessing in this context is spiritual blessing, but at the same time Abraham
was by no means poor. His resources could be used to help others. The resources
in and of themselves were not evil.<a href="file:///C:/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/What%20God%20is%20Teaching%20Me%20Part%205.docx" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
So how do we keep greed at bay and use our blessings to be a blessing to
others? It’s not easy, especially for those of us who have grown up in a materialistic
culture. For me, one helpful tool has been when I buy something to ask myself,
“What need am I trying to meet in buying this?” “Can I meet that need with
something simpler or with something I already have?” “What impact will this
purchase have on others in my life and on my ministry?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Like I said,
I’m a work in progress. There have been many times that Eric and I have
purposely bought the simpler item or not bought something because we decided
that the alternative, while nice, was not necessary. And yet, we also recognize
that we still have a lot of things that our Tanzanian friends don’t. We pray
that through the financial blessings we have received, we can be a blessing to
others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="file:///C:/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/What%20God%20is%20Teaching%20Me%20Part%205.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <span style="line-height: 115%;">Jonathan J.
Bonk, <em>Missions and Money</em>, (Maryknoll, New
York: Orbis Books), 34-35.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="file:///C:/Linda's%20Stuff/Tanzania/What%20God%20is%20Teaching%20Me%20Part%205.docx" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Thanks to this blog <a href="http://reports.heartcrymissionary.com/coordinator-blogs/the-righteous-rich-can-wealth-be-used-to-glorify-god-part-2/"><span style="color: blue;">http://reports.heartcrymissionary.com/coordinator-blogs/the-righteous-rich-can-wealth-be-used-to-glorify-god-part-2/</span></a>
for the insight about Abraham</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-63759056574542093462013-07-30T11:42:00.001-07:002014-04-05T07:42:28.278-07:00What God is Teaching Me: How To Let People In<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">One of the
first pieces of advice we received from staff at Global Lutheran Outreach was
“try not to be as independent as you are used to.” That advice has been
repeated many times since then.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;">It’s true
that independence is greatly valued in the United States. Our infrastructure
illustrates this value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently came
across this quote from the book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In
Pursuit of Loneliness </i>as I was reading Jonathan Bonk’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Missions and Money:</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“We seek a private house, a private
means of transportation, a private garden, a private laundry, self-service
stores, and do-it-yourself skills of every kind. An enormous technology seems
to have set itself the task of making it unnecessary for one human being ever
to ask anything of another in the course of going about his daily business.
Even with the family, Americans are unique in their feeling that each member
should have a separate room, and even a separate telephone, television, and
car, when economically possible. We seek more and more privacy, and feel more
and more alienated and lonely when we get it. What accidental contacts we do
have, furthermore, seem more intrusive, not only because they are unsought but
because they are unconnected with a family pattern of interdependence” Slater,
In Pursuit of Loneliness, 7.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;">I’ve always
been an extrovert who enjoys getting to know people, but lately I have realized
that this quote bears some truth in my life. I am accustomed to a lot of
privacy and doing things for myself. Thus you can imagine what it was like when
we first moved here and we had to ask for help with everything--
transportation, meals, medical care, washing clothes, shopping, and language. Moving
to a new culture in some sense requires becoming a child again. Suddenly you
are not the independent adult you thought you were. You are the dependent
little kid who has to ask someone how to do… well, everything. As we learn and
begin to figure out how to do these things for ourselves, it is tempting to say,
“No thank you. I don’t need your help,” but we’ve realized that when we do, we
deny ourselves the opportunity to build a relationship.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Hiring
someone to help with time-intensive chores has also proven to be a significant
shift in our lives and perspective. Over time, Omary has become like a member
of our family, and yet having someone consistently in the house was and
continues to be an adjustment. When someone is in your house for many hours a
day and shares every meal with you, a great deal of vulnerability is required.
It’s hard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">When Omary
first started working for us, every time I would leave the house, I would lock
the door to our bedroom. Somehow having someone in our private room seemed too
personal. However, one day I asked him to wash all the windows. When I
returned, I realized I had forgotten to lock the bedroom door, and there he was
washing the windows. The boundary had been crossed. I don’t regret it. Omary
has proven himself trustworthy on many, many occasions. However, letting a
person who is very different from me into my life and personal spaces feels
risky. What will he think of me? Of my various habits? Of the messy parts of my
life? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to only show the good sides
of myself to Tanzanians, but by letting someone into my home, I have removed
the possibility of hiding my darker moods. Omary, more than any other
Tanzanian, has seen both Eric and me at our best and at our worst. He can tell
when I am angry or sad, when I am obsessing about something I shouldn’t be
obsessing about, when I am sloppy, when my perfectionism takes over, when I am
being a control-freak… He sees it. And he takes it in stride.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">In the U.S.,
we also seemed to have more control over our social sphere. If I wanted to
visit with someone, generally we would set up a get-together in a restaurant,
coffee shop, or sometimes my home. If someone was invited into my home, it was
generally at a prearranged time. I also generally knew how long the visit would
last and could graciously excuse myself if I needed to continue on with my
other activities of the day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People
didn’t tend to just stop in, and no one, outside of our immediate family, had
daily access to our house, our own private sanctuary.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And yet,
with a change in culture, we too must adapt. I wish I could say that I’m
comfortable with friends just stopping in to say hello, but it still remains
difficult for me to lose that sense of control, to shift gears from what I was
doing to the relationship at hand. Tanzanians are known for their sense of
hospitality. As a cultural norm, guests are considered a blessing—no matter
whether they were expected or not. My parents got to see it first hand as twice
during their visit, we stopped by a friend’s house to introduce them-- with no
prior warning-- and our Tanzanian friends welcomed them warmly, with juice or soda
and even a snack. Tanzanians also have the custom of accompanying the guest
part of the way toward their home, as a sign of wanting to spend as much time
with them as possible. We try, but I think many Tanzanians have realized that
we are not as skilled at hospitality as they are. Yet they treat us with grace,
knowing that we are learning and growing in this area. We continue to learn
from the people who have let us into their homes and lives. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-37229698728731349062013-04-22T12:44:00.000-07:002014-04-05T07:42:37.053-07:00What God is Teaching Me: How To Go With The Flow and Love In The Moment<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Very often here the days don’t go as planned. Today was
case-in-point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My plans for today included:</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>hymnal translation</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>errands around Mwadui</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>take our night guard, Peter, to pick up his wife
and new baby at Kolandoto Hospital</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>get the car to the shop to have our wheel
repaired after it was punctured yesterday</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>make some calls regarding an entrepreneurship
seminar for villages around Maganzo </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>prepare for the class I am teaching on Friday</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>go to choir</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My plans changed
when:</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Omary was sick, so we went to the doctor and waited 2.5
hours.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Eric called me to let me know he had misunderstood the time
for picking up Peter, and we discussed a new timeline for the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The pharmacist was at tea, so we had to come back for the
medicine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had to make an unexpected stop by the school, because at
the hospital, the accountant asked me to drop off the bill for some other
students. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I returned home with two kids because their parents, staff
members at the school, wanted me to drop the kids off at home (very near ours).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The phone calls were impossible because Airtel, our phone
network, was down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I took Peter to pick up his wife and baby, I discovered
that they don’t live in Mwadui, but rather in a nearby village. Instead of the
careful, tarmac-driving I was expecting to do with our spare tire, I ended up
driving cross-country. I am not talking about “the roads were so bad, that it
felt like no road.” I’m talking about literally driving over grass and avoiding
rocks. Those who know me well know that I was not blessed with a natural
propensity towards driving. This excursion was WAY out of my comfort zone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">About the time that I felt like I should let Eric know what
was going on (if Airtel was working again), I discovered that I had
accidentally left my phone at home. I had no way to communicate with my partner
in life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After making a pit-stop to pick up a friend of Peter’s
family, we finally made it to Peter’s house. Knowing that I needed to get back,
Peter decided to take a “short cut” to Mwadui’s back gate. I, however, was
completely unaware of this plan. Peter speaks no English, and somehow the
information got lost in the language barrier. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After more off-roading and minimal-roading, we arrived at
the back gate. Even after we found the guy with the keys, we discovered that
one of the locks was broken. The gate could not be opened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We started driving the road around Mwadui, which was a
treacherous, mud-covered mess. We got stuck, twice. The first time we managed
to get out with just a little maneuvering, but the second time we were really
and truly stuck. Naturally, it was the last big mud puddle before the front
gate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I found out that Peter had the number to Gasper, the
school’s driver, so we asked him to come out and help. Twenty-five minutes
later the car was out, but not without added damage. Something had been knocked
loose and was dragging on the ground. Gasper fixed it enough to be able to
drive it to the shop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would like to say that I was gracious and loving
throughout this whole ordeal, but by the end of it, I struggled to keep back
the frustrated tears. It was all I could do not to take my frustration out on
those around me, and accept Peter’s thanks for my help. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I did get the final thing on my list accomplished, but only
because Eric was able to borrow the school’s truck to drive me to choir. Our
vehicle was still with Gasper at the shop. Some good news out of all this was
that our tire repair and whatever other repair they made only cost us $6.
Sometimes Tanzanian prices are a beautiful thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-----------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is an extreme example, but the changing of plans is a
common occurrence here in Tanzania. Changing of plans is also common in the
U.S. I think the difference is that Tanzanians expect it and handle it beautifully.
I do not. According the Myers-Briggs personality test, I am a J, which means
that I like to have order and structure in life. I can handle a lot if I know
what to expect, if I am “emotionally prepared” for it. However, there are times
when you can’t prepare in advance. I continue to pray that as I acculturate, my
“P side” (flexibility) will flourish, and I will be able to be more like my Tanzanian
friends. I want to be emotionally present and loving at times when things
simply don’t go as planned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-57266835520132059692013-03-19T11:16:00.000-07:002014-08-20T10:48:00.305-07:00What God Is Teaching Me: Giving Thanks On The Hard Days As Well As The Good Days<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable"><tbody>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">You may
have noticed on our Facebook posts that we will often share what we are
thankful for that day. We do this for good reason. Before we left for
Tanzanian, my mom handed me (Linda) a book that she had been reading with her small
group called </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">A Thousand Gifts: A Dare
to Live Fully Right Where You Are </i><span style="line-height: 115%;">written by Ann Voskamp. I read it
over the course of my first month. While I don’t think the book fully addressed
the problem of pain or the process of grief, it did provide some deep
beautiful insights. The premise of the book is that a friend challenged the
author, Ann Voskamp, to write down 1000 of the gifts in her life. As she
began to take note of and thank God for the little things, she experienced
a remarkable change in her perception of the world and her perception of
God. She chronicled her journey and revelations about God in this book.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">In the
book, Ann encourages the readers to recognize the gifts that God has put in
our lives as exactly that, gifts. She observes that in many of Jesus’
miracles, before the miracle occurred, Jesus gave thanks. She believes that
the “Eucharisto” (thanksgiving) is directly linked to the miraculous ways
God works in the world. Alternatively, she observes that “non-eucharisto,
ingratitude, was the fall— humanity’s discontent with all that God freely
gives.” (p. 35). We can find great joy if we take the time to notice and
give thanks for all the little things in life: the color of the bubble floating up from
the dishes, the full round moon, the freckles on a child’s cheeks, jam on
toast, mail in the mailbox… <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">She also
discovered in her journey that when giving thanks becomes a daily practice,
we are more prepared for the hard times— the times when we wonder if we have
made a terrible mistake, the times when it is difficult to believe that God
could possibly use <i>this</i> for good,
the times when God seems silent, and the times when it’s hard to believe
that God loves us. The lists of ways God has visibly made His presence known
can remind us of His presence when ugliness and pain invade our lives. We
can come to God, not as a being who is required to give us all that we
want, but as the Giver of all good gifts. God knows the whole picture, and
we know only a part. This is not to say that we should never feel hurt,
sadness, or anger at injustice in this world. Ann Voskamp encourages that
we come to God with our raw emotions, honest and vulnerable. She makes this
helpful distinction: “Lament is a cry of belief in a good God, a God who
has His ear to our hearts, a God who transfigures the ugly into beauty.
Complaint is the bitter howl of unbelief in any benevolent God in this
moment, a distrust in the love-beat of the Father's heart” (p. 175). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So how
does all of this intersect with my life? Life has not been easy since we
arrived in Tanzania. If you have not heard the term “culture shock” before,
it is defined as “the </span><span class="style31"><span style="line-height: 115%;">psychological
disorientation that most people experience when living in a culture
markedly different from one’s own.”</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=176596142434593631#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="style31"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Another definition of culture shock is “the anxiety that results
from losing all the familiar signs and symbols that help us understand a
situation.”</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=176596142434593631#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="style31"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Some of the potential
symptoms of culture shock are homesickness, loneliness, depression,
anxiety, irritability, excessive sleeping, lethargy, withdrawal, compulsive
eating or loss of appetite, and stereotyping of or hostility towards host
nationals. Symptoms typically peak around the third or fourth month of
being in a new culture, though they can reappear at any time. Since our
first three months in Tanzania were spent in language school surrounded
mostly by expatriates, our timeline was slightly altered. Around the time
we left language school, we were starting to feel the effects of culture
shock, and it has been a gradual incline since then. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="style31"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="style31"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thankfully, Eric and I have
not experienced all of these symptoms</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> as we step away from the familiar, and like
children, learn how to speak, live, and interact with people.</span><span class="style31"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Yet, culture shock is a present reality. As my body adjusts to a
new setting, sometimes I am sick of being sick, whether from </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">mouth sores, malaria, intestinal
parasites, chest cold, or some other unknown malady. Sometimes I’ve
wondered what else could possibly go wrong with or further delay fixing our
house and making it our home. Sometimes I get weary of not being able to
understand what people are saying to or about me and weary of not being
able to get across what I want to say. Sometimes I feel very lonely when a
room full of people laughs, and I don’t understand the joke. Sometime my
plans go out the window due to unforeseen complications, and I feel like I
am simply treading water. Sometimes I crave the familiar foods of home and
the ability to cook dinner in less than an hour. Sometimes I desperately
miss family and friends back in the United States and grieve that I am not
there to share in their big life moments. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">To be
perfectly honest, there are days when if I didn’t know that culture shock
is completely normal…if I didn’t know that there are people both locally
and internationally that love us, care about us, and are rooting for us…if
I didn’t know that this is where God wants us right now… then I would toss
in the towel and book a flight back to the US. BUT, I do know all these
things, and as we look back on our day each evening, even on the toughest
days, we can see how God has blessed us. We are grateful for the people He
has placed in our lives, for the beauty around us in both the simple and
grand, for progress in our journey, for the opportunities God gives us to
minister to others. We have found that giving thanks to God— on the days
when we feel like it and on the days when we don’t—is one of our best
weapons against the advances of culture shock. I recommend the book <i>A Thousand Gifts</i>, but more than that
I recommend the act of writing down thanksgivings. It can reframe a whole
day—perhaps even a whole life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=176596142434593631#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a> <a href="http://www.oired.vt.edu/cesa/currentstudents/cs_culturalshock.htm"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.oired.vt.edu/cesa/currentstudents/cs_culturalshock.htm</span></a>
</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=176596142434593631#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a>
Kalvero Oberg, “Culture Shock: Adjustment to New Cultural Environments,” <i>Practical Anthropology </i>7, no. 4 (1967): 177.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-63077710858050030392013-03-18T10:02:00.002-07:002014-04-05T07:42:55.764-07:00An American Educator in Tanzania<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s about time that I (Eric) spend some time writing my own
reflections of what has happened here in Tanzania. I’ve realized that I have
not let myself think much about what has been happening, because I have been
just focusing on moving forward. Life has been very busy here. It seems that every
moment that we can, we catch our breath, only to dive back in. It has certainly
been that way with my teaching so far. However, reflecting is something that
all people should do on a regular basis, and I need to do it also.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Students<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Teaching here in Tanzania has many similarities to teaching
in the United States. The students are the same age. They struggle with
mathematics. There are strong students and weak students. Some students like to
talk with me a lot, while others don’t say a word. Some students fall asleep in
class. In other words, teenagers are teenagers no matter where you are on the
globe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One difference is that here the students don’t speak unless
I prompt them for an answer. This has caused me to change my teaching style a
little. I am used to having students state short answers or complete my
sentences for me in class, and I balanced this with raising hands. However in
Tanzania that generally does not happen. Typically, it is very clear who should
be talking in class, because when they want to ask a question or state any
answer any question that requires more than a single value, they are expected
raise their hand, wait for the teacher to acknowledge them (similar to the US),
and then <i>stand up</i> to ask or answer
(which was the new for me). However, the students are started to adapt to my
style and speak more in class, and I am adapting to theirs. Thus far, there has
been almost no unruly behavior in class. :-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I’ve noticed that the students in Tanzania also love being
able to use technology. They will gladly forego their other school work to sit
on the computer and learn how it works, play a game, click some buttons, etc.
Some of my students are learning how computers function very quickly.
Unfortunately, their curiosity has also led some of them to accidentally change
key system files. This meant I had to spend a few hours re-installing the
computer operating system and programs on a couple of the computers. However, I
am thankful for their curiosity, because curiosity causes students to enjoy
learning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Staff<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have found that the Tanzanian teachers are especially committed
to educating their students. Most are
willing to come to school in the evenings or Saturdays to teach and tutor the
students. At some schools Tanzanian teachers just use teaching as a stepping
stone to get a government position. However, the teachers at our school see
teaching as more than just a job. They know that educating children is
extremely important to the improvement of this country, and they want their
students to know this as well. Several of the teachers have also been extremely
supportive of us personally, even spending their weekends helping us shop in Shinyanga.
I am grateful that my work colleagues are also my friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also have a lot of respect for Reverend Nzelu, my
principal and next door neighbor. When a student is sick, he will take them to
the hospital, night or day. He’s always on call and genuinely cares about his
students. He recently withdrew his name from an election to be assistant bishop,
because he felt that God has called him to this school. When a former student
was struggling to find work to care for his ailing mother, Rev. Nzelu hired him
to do work at their house. He is always willing to sit and talk with the
teachers about what is going on and the problems they are facing. I have made
the most of his wisdom on several occasions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Curriculum<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tanzania has its own national curriculum that I must follow
when I teach. However, the Tanzanian curriculum is easy to understand and apply
(from my perspective even easier than the U.S. curriculum). It follows a
logical pattern stating exactly what the students should know, how the teachers
can teach the material, and how much time for each topic to complete the
curriculum in one year. I have truly liked the way the curriculum is organized
and used. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Students take many different subjects every year – 11
different classes. This includes taking Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and
Mathematics each year while they are in Forms 1 and 2 (Freshmen and Sophomore
years). These classes give the students a basic knowledge of all core subjects
in the sciences, which I believe is extremely important. During their Form 3
and 4 years (Junior and Senior years) they are able to choose between the
science classes and other classes such as Commercial Sciences. However, their
choice depends on their grade from their national exams at the end of their
Form 2 year. If they do not get high enough scores in mathematics and physics,
they are not allowed to take physics as Form 3 students. I have only 24
students in Form 3 physics, compared to 80+ in Form 3 mathematics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>The Computers</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The school computers are both a joy and a challenge. This
school is one of the few in the country that has a computer lab. What a
blessing it is for the students and faculty! However, the computers I am using
are OLD. I have six computers from 1997 with 32 MB of RAM, 166 MHz Intel
processors (the original Intel, and yes, that is megahertz, not gigahertz), 3
GB hard drives, and can only run Windows 98 operating system. I have five
computers (I had dropped down to four since one computer’s power supply seemed
to have failed two weeks ago, but now I’m back at 5 since that computer decided
to start working again) that are from 2005 with 120 MB of RAM, Intel Celeron
processors, 20 GB hard drives, and do manage to run Windows XP. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It took hours and hours of work to get them to function and
to find programs that would work on those computers (and I am still trying!).
We considered finding donors for new computers, but we wanted to see the level
of interest in a computer class and make sure that it is sustainable beyond our
time here. We would hate to buy new computers only to have them sit in a corner
for 5+ years until someone with computer knowledge pulled them out again. This
was the situation before we came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the meantime, the students and I have managed. Yet, even
the kids who never had seen a computer before know that these computers are
SLOW. I’ve decided that I don’t even want internet access at the school, until
I can find an anti-virus program that will not slow the computers down even
more. The students are learning how to type and use programs similar to
Microsoft Office (we are using OpenOffice.org software, which is a free
alternative to Microsoft Office, though not without its own problems). Linda
reminds me constantly that even with the frustrations, my students are getting
more computer time than almost all of the other students in Tanzania.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grading<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The grading scale is much different than what I am used to.
Whereas students must get a 60% to pass in the U.S., here 21% is a passing
grade. The Tanzanian grading scale (which I do not like, but I’m sure many of
my former students would!) is 0-20% F, 21-40% D, 41-60% C, 61-80% B, and
81-100% A. As a result, students are not expected to know as much. Therefore, it’s
difficult to encourage all of the students to learn more than 21% of the
information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Teaching Style<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mathematics is feared here among the students, and their
national exams demonstrate this. The class that I am teaching had a class
average of 16% on their national examination in mathematics last year. That’s
right— 16%. So my challenge is that I am supposed to teach the national
curriculum, but I also have to teach the foundational concepts that many students
have not previously learned. It is quite a daunting task, but I keep reminding
myself that any improvement is good. I cannot teach them everything, even if I
want them to know it all. I can only pray that I reach more students than have
been reached before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most teachers here use lecture and notes as the primary, if
not only, teaching style. Most of them learned through lectures and notes
during their education as well. Therefore, other methodologies, such as the use
of group work, projects, hands-on laboratory activities, and research are
unfamiliar concepts. Generally, the students are given the material and told to
copy and memorize it. These notes are often extremely organized! But many are
not <i>learning</i> the material, nor can
they use it to problem-solve in math and science. I am beginning to use laboratory
exercises in Physics, and have been giving group-work in mathematics. However,
being able to understand a concept and apply it can only happen if you have a
good foundation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Language Barriers<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Language barriers cause a problem here. Secondary school teachers are required to
teach in mostly English, which isn’t a problem for me, since my Kiswahili is
quite limited. As expected, some students are better at English than
others. However, many students are not
fluent <i>enough</i> in English, and I know
at times some information is lost. If they are struggling with English, it
makes it even harder for them to learn math and physics. Recently, I asked my
students to write what they wanted me to do differently in my teaching. Several
said, “Teach in Kiswahili.” Even if I could do this, I’m really not supposed
to. I do look up words in my Kiswahili
dictionary occasionally and incorporate them into the lesson. The students get
a big kick out of it when I try to speak in Kiswahili. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When the language barrier is combined with their fear of
mathematics, it is easy for students to become overwhelmed and give up. I can
understand this, because there are times when I really try to understand what
people are saying in Kiswahili, and then there are times when my brain is tired,
and I zone out. Because of the language struggles, many students do not do
their homework or take notes consistently. Sometimes students cannot follow
what I thought would be simple directions. Again, I can empathize, because
sometimes I cannot follow what Tanzanians think are simple Kiswahili
instructions. To make sure that the students are trying to keep up, I am now
beginning a weekly check of their notes and homework every Friday morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Class Size<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, one of the big questions I get often is, “How many
students do you have in your class?” Well, the answer is… 80. Yes, my math
class has 80 students. My computer classes also had about 80, but I had to
split them into two classes. Thus, they only get half the time on the
computers, but at least they can see a computer. Of course the numbers vary if
students are sick, working with another teacher, skipping class, etc. The classes
are so large that I have had an extremely difficult time learning their names,
and still don’t know them as well as I would like to. I do not have the opportunity
to spend one-on-one time with them, which is how I learned names in the US.
Amazingly, even though the rooms are crowded, the students generally are very
focused on what I am doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With such crowded rooms, cheating is especially problematic.
I have made multiple versions of exams to avoid this, but it still happens. It
is pretty easy to spot though. A couple of students have managed to have the
right answers…for the wrong version. Of course, that means they generally don’t
get many (if any) questions right, and we have a talk about it later. On their
midterm tests, I made 5 different versions of the test to completely eliminate
cheating. The ones I suspected of cheating previously did worse, but many of
the students did better. Even though the class average remained the same, I
consider this progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Discipline<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My biggest struggle at school is with the widespread use of
corporal punishment. It has been discussed many times in staff meetings and in
my own conversations with teachers. We have talked about the need to counsel
the students and to find other means of discipline. However, as one teacher
told me, it is just easier to use a stick to punish the students than to
discipline them in other ways. Again, for most teachers, this is how they were
taught, and they have had little to no experience with alternative forms of
discipline. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One teacher even suggested that I would not be able to teach
my students without using a stick in class. My response: “I take that as a
challenge. If my students have learned by the end of the term, I win.” I hope that the teachers will be able to see
through my example that it is possible to teach students without using corporal
punishment. One of the fall-outs of using corporal punishments, especially when
it is for a genuine mistake, is that students are afraid to try. It also can
damage the relationship between a student and teacher if it is overly used. If
students are hit every time they make a mistake, you can imagine how many times
they will be hit in a math class. Instead, I have modeled more positive discipline,
such as encouragement through rewards, and have used other forms of punishment,
such as standing up if they are sleeping in class, writing sentences when
homework and notes are incomplete, and not being allowed to use the computers (which
is a big one, since the students really love to use them).This is one of my
biggest prayer requests – that God will use me as a light for change at the
school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whew! This grew very long very fast. I suppose I have had a lot of things
on my mind. I don’t know yet how the school year will continue and how it will change.
Yet, I do know that God has put me here for a reason – to be humbled, to learn
to be grateful and thankful in all circumstances, and to be His servant for His
plan, not mine. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-21763885672162729212013-02-23T11:26:00.001-08:002014-04-05T07:43:46.354-07:00What God is Teaching Me: Trusting God With A Smaller Safety Net<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">We have now been in Tanzania for almost 6 months. One of the joys and challenges of living overseas is
that it enables us to examine our character and culture through a new lens.
Aspects of who we are, which may escape notice in our home setting, become very
apparent in this new setting. For example, a fish may not realize that its
environment consists of water, until it is no longer in water. God is
definitely using this time to teach me valuable lessons. In my deaconess
community, we use the term “growing edges,” places in our lives where there is
room for growth. I might have discovered these growing edges even if I hadn’t
left the U.S., but for me they have taken on a new intensity here in Tanzania.
This post is only part one…more reflections to come:-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span>
<br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">----------------------------------------------------</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom
shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be
afraid?” Psalm 27:1. This is both my and Eric’s confirmation verse. It was sung
at my deaconess consecration and at our wedding. These words are far easier
said than lived out. In some ways, it was easier for me to say them in the
United States, because I had a huge safety net.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the United States, if I got
sick, I went to a doctor I knew I could trust. I knew that doctor would have
access to the latest advances in medical equipment. If something went wrong
with my teeth, I had a dentist I could trust. If I had financial problems or
computer problems, my family was right there with assistance. At the pharmacy,
I knew I would get what was described on the label. For my car, I had a trusted
mechanic and AAA. If I went to a restaurant, I could be reasonably sure that it
had met certain health/sanitation standards. If there was a fire, the fire
department was right around the corner. If I was in a car accident or was the
victim of a crime, the police were a phone call away. Things are very different
now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having lived in Papua New Guinea, I
am somewhat accustomed to a reduced safety net. However, I have noticed one
significant difference this time around: In Papua New Guinea, I lived with an
American missionary family who had lived and thrived there for over 25 years
and my father-figure in that family was a surgeon. While we didn’t have all
modern medical equipment at our disposal, I knew I could ask him any question
and he would find me an answer. He was personally invested in insuring that I
would return to the U.S. in one piece. This gave me a measure of comfort.</span><br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Tanzania, I find that whenever I
get sick, I am terribly afraid. Since there is a lack of diagnostic tools, a
lot of medical practice here seems to be throwing several different medicines
at the problem and hoping that something works. Additionally, each medicine has
its own side effects, so it then becomes a question of “What is symptom and
what is side effect?” This is not a criticism of the Tanzanian doctors or
nurses, because they are doing the best they can with the tools and information
available. It is, however, an adjustment for me. I am learning to trust that
while I may not have the safety net to which I am accustomed, my God has not
changed. I am never outside of God’s reach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also realize that I am not devoid
of a safety net. I have access to a significant amount of financial resources.
I have cataclysmic insurance. There is a network of Lutherans across Tanzanian
that would immediately come to our aid if ever we should need it. We have
Tanzanian and ex-patriot friends who offer wonderful advice and encouragement.
The fact is that most Tanzanians have a vastly smaller safety net than I do,
and yet they are not paralyzed by fear. They live and trust God, perhaps with
an even greater intensity thanks to their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lack</i>
of safety nets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe this is what Jesus is
addressing when he talks about the difficulty of the rich to put their faith in
God. I find it ironic that we Americans put “In God We Trust” on our money. Is
it God we trust, or our resources? I’m not saying we should abandon our safety
nets as a society, and I think we should try to improve the quality of life for
others. I agree with Bono that “where you live should not determine whether you
live.” I am just wondering where we ultimately put our trust. How much is our
worldview shaken when the safety nets disappear? I can only speak for myself,
and these last few months have left me with the disconcerting realization that
I am not as brave as I once thought I was. My confidence in God’s benevolent
love is weak, but this reality was previously veiled by my habitual reliance on
my safety net. Praise the Lord that He can still do mighty things with faith as
small as a mustard seed. I am praying for growth.</span><br />
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Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176596142434593631.post-40985462605317356162013-01-03T08:08:00.001-08:002014-04-05T07:46:27.177-07:00Malaria 101<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ever since my battle with malaria, we’ve been getting many
great questions from friends in the U.S. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those who are curious, here is a brief introduction to
malaria<span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prevalence: </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unfortunately, malaria is very prevalent here in
Tanzania, which is why the Lutheran Malaria Initiative is very active here. Malaria
is most dangerous for pregnant women, children under the age of 5, elderly and
those with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV. Malaria causes about
60,000 deaths in Tanzania each year. About 80 percent of these deaths are
children under five years old. When I got malaria, I joined the 14-18 million
clinical malaria cases reported by Tanzanian public health services each year.</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=176596142434593631#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" title="">[1]</a><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prevention:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We sleep under a bed net every night and try to
avoid mosquitoes by using bug spray and spraying our room periodically. Yet, despite
our best efforts, sometimes they still get us. The malaria parasite is carried
by the female anopheles mosquito, which is not longer found in the U.S. This
type of mosquito was eradicated in the U.S. in 1949-1951, mainly through the
use of DDT. It was only later that people began to realize the negative effect
that DDT has on the environment, and its use is no longer recommended. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prophylaxis: </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many people have asked “How did you get malaria if
you were on prophylaxis?”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prophylaxis is not the same thing as a vaccine.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Prophylaxis is basically putting a little bit of the treatment medicine in your
system over time so that if you do get the parasite, your body is better able
to fight it. It is not a guarantee that you will not get malaria. Prophylaxis <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can </i>help a person avoid the most
dangerous form of malaria called cerebral malaria, and it greatly reduces the
chance of getting malaria. For example, the prophylaxis I was on, Malarone
(atovaquone-proguanil hydrochloride), is typically 95-100% successful at
keeping the malaria parasite from running rampant. In spite of my getting
malaria while on prophylaxis, I would still highly recommend prophylaxis for
those taking short-term trips. It’s not a guarantee, but it does help. Just
remember to also take steps to avoid being bitten in the first place.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is a possibility that the prophylaxis I
bought here in Tanzania might have been a different concentration than what I
purchased in the U.S. </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are three standard options for prophylaxis: atovaquone-proguanil
hydrochloride (a.k.a. Malarone), doxycycline, and mefloquine (a.k.a. Larium).
Eric is currently taking the Doxy, but it isn’t an option for me because it
interferes with my other medications. I tried mefloquine when we went to
Nigeria, but I had too many negative side effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That left me with Malarone. Unfortunately Malarone
is terribly expensive in the United States. Because of the expense of Malarone,
we only bought 3 months worth of it in the U.S., and then bought another month
here in Tanzania. It is impossible for us to tell whether what we bought here was
the same as what we bought in the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Regardless, prophylaxis is not a
long-term solution. We won't be able to stay on it forever, because it isn't
good for the body in the long term. Our initial thought was to stay on it for
our first 6 months, so that it could help our bodies start fighting the malaria
as we are building up antibodies. Then we will determine how best to proceed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Types of Malaria: </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are five different kinds of malaria
parasites-- P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. Of
those, the most common in Africa and unfortunately the most dangerous is the P.
falciparum. Of all the African malaria, about 80% are P. falciparum, 10% are P.
vivax, 8% are P. ovale, and 2% are P. malariase.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We aren't sure what type of
malaria parasite I got. The good news is that if it was P. faciparum, then it
probably isn't still living in my liver. However, if it was the P. vivax or P.
ovale, it can live in the liver and pop out again at any time (i.e. I could
have a malaria relapse). If it does seem that I have recurrent malaria, there
is a medicine called primaquine that can be used to clear the malaria out of
the liver. It's not something one wants to do unless necessary, because it is
hard on the liver and has unpleasant side effects. However, it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is </i>effective at eliminating the malaria
parasite from the liver.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Treatment:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The symptoms of malaria are very similar to the
flu—fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, aches, etc. The fever was our first
sign that this was, in fact, malaria and not just some stomach bug. A classic
feature of malaria is that the fevers and symptoms will often cycle. Therefore,
someone with malaria may feel significantly better one day and then feel wretched
again 24-48 hours later.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After I was diagnosed through a
blood test, I began a three-day combination treatment of artemesinin and mefloquine.
Unfortunately, I had some of the same negative side effects to the mefloquine
treatment that I had when I was using mefloquine as a prophylaxis in
Nigeria—anxiety, insomnia, depression, heart palpitations, etc. Next time (if
there is a next time), we will try to get a combination treatment that does not
use mefloquine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After the three-day treatment, I
was still becoming severely dehydrated, so we made a trip to the hospital for
IV fluids and an antibiotic called ciprofloxicin (often used to treat
traveler’s diarrhea). Since this was my first time to have malaria and I had no
natural immunity, I required a second treatment course. Therefore, I followed
up my first round with another five-day artemesinin treatment. It seems to have
finally kicked the malaria</span><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
more information about malaria</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, Wikipedia has a pretty
extensive page on the subject (</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaria"><span style="color: blue;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaria</span></a>
)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you want to help keep the malaria death-toll down, especially among
children</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, please go to the Lutheran Malaria Initiative
website (www.lutheranmalaria.org). LMI is doing great work here in Tanzania and
in other parts of Africa! For just $10, you can buy a bed net that will protect
a family and reduce their chances for getting this terrible disease.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=176596142434593631#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://pmi.gov/countries/profiles/tanzania.html">http://pmi.gov/countries/profiles/tanzania.html</a></span><br />
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Eric and Linda Funkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041283009633456955noreply@blogger.com0