our tanzanian journey
TRANSCRIPT
TanzanianJourney
Praise God
Prayer Requests
Teaching the Leaders of Tomorrow at Haven of Peace Academy in Dar Es Salaam December 2014
Our
• For a wonderful holi-day break and once in a lifetime safari!
• For a great first term for everyone in the family: students and teachers!
• Our health, especially that Josh is doing so well following his surgery.
• Financial support: our giving is behind where it was last year at this time.
• Decisions about the next steps of our journey
• That Steph can con-tinue to learn Swahili
• That our eyes be opened to ministry op-portunities
• Protection from crime and malaria.
(Well, warm may be understating the situation). We wanted to send out one last newsletter this year, and what could be better than a family Christmas letter, year-in-review style, with a hint of the British phrases we’ve been learning whilst abroad.
Charlotte recently discovered she is a touch scared of lions, but fascinated with hyenas. She continues to be chuffed about school, and loves third grade, her teacher, and her mates. She is certainly not afraid of water, and continues to impress on the school swim team. Charlotte finds read-ing smashing, often disappearing into her room and coming out later with her nose in an almost-finished book.
Josh, as a true 10-year-old boy, has kept us busy at hospital. First was the (negative) x-rays on his hands which he injured in football and general tomfool-ery. This was followed quickly with his appendicitis. He discovered that hospital care here in Tanzania is OK, but sitting around healing is universally rubbish. Now he’s back to running around like nothing ever happened. Josh continues to master his lessons without much fuss.
We just gave Emily a mobile for Christmas, so she can get on with her busy schedule at school, where she too masters all sub-jects. She continues the violin (she ex-celled in her Cam-bridge exams in May and will have a go at a higher level this year). Emily
also found a shooting touch on the football pitch, as well as a knack for us-ing her shoulder to give larger-than-her opponents something to think about.
Tim continues teaching computer classes, playing board games, probably wasting too much time with gadgets, and trying to keep up with Mizzou football, which seems to do better the farther away from Missouri he travels. His Computer Science (grades 11-12) class has been a real highlight for him this year.
Steph’s new job as Service Learning teacher has been a good adventure. Collecting and grading journals hasn’t always been fun, but working with students as they build relationships with the community around HOPAC has
A Warm “Happy Christmas”
with the Steens
continued on back
~*~*~Kid Report~*~*~
End of Year Giving • • (more Christ-mas letter...)
Yes, there are only a few days of 2014 left, but if you are still look-ing to make a charitable contribu-tion, we would appreciate your consideration. (We also wouldn’t mind being your first 2015 gift, either!)
As with most Missionaries, we find that the longer we are “out in the field,” the harder it becomes to both ask for and receive sup-port from back “home.” Up until now, we’ve always had a good surplus of giving to rely on. But looking ahead to the last 6 months of our financial year, we still have some work to do to meet our bud-get.
You’ve probably heard us say
DONATE ONLINE! http://www.crcna.org/pages/crwm_donate_online.cfm
DONATE BY MAIL! Send a check to Christian Reformed World Missions, 1700 S
28th Street, Grand Rapids, MI, 49508-1407. On the check you can include our missionary ID number, 803894
this before, but your contributions make a real impact on the commu-nity around us here. Our school is able to provide affordable, high-quality education for missionary families by asking their teachers to find support. And as we spend money on our every day needs, we build relationships with local shopkeepers, who greet us and talk about their lives with Steph in Swahili as she shops.
Your donations are making an impact, and your continued sup-port will help us tremendously. We know there are a lot of good ministries and organizations com-peting for your donations. Please prayfully consider us, too!
“Getting a family iPad and play-ing SimCity and Clash of Clans. And sleeping in a comfy bed with a hot water bottle on vacation.”
What was the best part of your Christmas Break?
Josh Charlotte
“Watching a group of hyenas playing in the mud after a big rainstorm. They were so funny!”
What was your favorite memory of the safari?
“I liked seeing the baby cheetahs with their mother, eating a gazelle. Another family was snuggling in the shade.”
EmilyWhat was the best part of the
safari trip?
definitely been rewarding. And in one year’s time, her Swahili has gotten quite brilliant.
As 2014 comes to a close, we hope and pray that you and your families are enjoying celebrating together, and basking in the great gifts that God has given to us all: the renewed hope, life in abun-dance, and everlasting joy that we receive through Christ Jesus!
So Happy Christmas and new year, and blessings on you wher-ever you are! Cheerio!