africa--some details

The wonderful director of Mission Doctors Association, Elise Frederick, went on a site visit to Tanzania early last month to evaluate whether a hospital community there might be a good place for us to be stationed.  During her two weeks overseas, we prayed often for her, wondered what she was seeing and thinking, and hoped that she would be able to answer at least some of the questions on our "what is it really like over there?" list.  When the date for her return came and went and we hadn't heard anything that weekend, or for the week after, we almost couldn't stand the anticipation.  And by "we," I really mean "me."  My husband has the patience of a saint and would likely be quite happy still waiting for an update.  Anyone who knows me well, however, must know that I operate not just on a need-to-know basis, but on a need-to-know-right-now thankyouverymuch basis.  Anyway, all that to say, once Elise got over some of her jet lag and reacquainted with her life in the U.S., she and I sat down for a wonderful phone reunion and I learned more than I anticipated about our likely new home for the next three years.  Here are some of the pertinent (and I think interesting) details:

• we will be living among a Benedictine community of brothers and sisters (monks and nuns), roughly two hours from the southeastern coast of Tanzania.  On that campus there is an abbey as well as living quarters, and some shops where the brothers train local people on various trades (woodworking and metallurgy are two that I remember).
• the Benedictine church there is over 106 years old and apparently beautiful and somewhat contemparary in its style and artwork
• because we will live in that community, we will have some exposure to other international volunteers (I'm not sure of the number, but I know that Elise mentioned a family from Sweden and both Dutch and Swiss doctors, and possibly another doctor from the U.S.)
• also because we will be part of the community, we will have access to a swimming hole that is a mile or so up a hill from the hospital.  Swimming?  Really--in Africa?  She said that every afternoon at about 4pm, she'd see a contingent of people heading up the hill, each with a towel under his/her arm, for an afternoon swim. Wow.  Didn't I just say something about Joshua having to hang up his goggles for three years?
• the hospital there is a 300 bed facility with a large range of departments, with a busy outpatient clinic, and serving a wide catchment area.  She mentioned that they somehow manage to treat around 400 patients in that 300 bed hospital.  Clearly, a busy place with many needs.
• she also shared that since Swahili is the national language, MDA would be sending us to language school for six weeks upon our arrival in Tanzania.  That was completely unexpected, but very good news for us all.  We're excited at the opportunity to immerse ourselves with the local population whom we will serve, and we trust that having some fundamentals of the language will go a long way towards helping us truly become a part of that community.
• she described the housing as simple and clean--cinder block walls and cement floors, and she was so excited to share that electricity is reliable and the water is wonderfully clean ("good enough to drink right from the tap!").  That is huge news, as we had been advised earlier that we'd likely need to invest in a water filter for our time there. 
• and most significantly (for me anyway), she shared that there is no primary school in the immediate area.  I've since wondered (and had friends ask) where the children of all the patients and hospital workers and the surrounding community get an education, but all such questions are really moot, in light of the fact that there simply is not a school option for our kids.  Now the old me (that is, really just a year or so ago) would have balked at the fact that I am about to turn into a homeschooling mommy.  The new (and I hope improved) me is honestly kind of excited.  This has been a transformation that has been ongoing for some time now.  Having done lots of reading, asking questions, researching, meeting wonderful examples of both homeschooling parents and children, and attending a great homeschooling conference with my husband this summer--all have worked towards preparing me to not only accept, but to welcome, this new phase.  The kids reactions have been split--Madison is over the moon excited, Joshua is withholding judgement until we get started (but I think secretly kind of pleased), and Caroline hasn't really had the chance to hear or grasp the details.  We know that the options for homeschooling curriculae are seemingly endless, and we've got lots of legwork ahead as we navigate this new course.  But the bottom line is that we are doing this--we're saying yes to the many unexpected challenges and joys, and in return we get much more time with our precious kids, get to take part in their education, and get to serve God in a way that we've not had the opportunity for in the past--and we are thankful for every part in the process.

So, reliable electricity, clean water, a swimming hole up the hill and homeschooling everyday for three years.  All good news, but who could have predicted it?

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)