2nd week in Tanzania

Hi Guys,

It has been an awesome 2nd week so far for me. It has been a bit trying because God has designed a very unique situation for me to grow in an area that I didn't know I needed more growth in. You know how sometimes you want to meet people's expectations of you by doing what you think they would like for you to do... Well, it's kind of difficult to meet some one's expectations when you do not know what they are... Now that I am in Tanzania and I am in a culture that I am not familiar with, I can't try to meet any body's expectations but God's. You see, because Tanzanians have a different worldview than my own, things that generally matter to Americans may not matter to Tanzanians and vice versa. Because I look like I am African, they automatically expect me to speak Swahili and to understand their culture. So when I start speaking "baby" Swahili and I don't understand all of the cultural nuances, they are a bit shocked. It's not a great big deal but it still matters. I didn't realize why I was somewhat frustrated by this expectation until I talked to someone about it last night. I realized that the reason I was disturbed was because I wanted to meet their expectation. To be honest, it is impossible for me to meet that expectation. I will not be fully fluent in Swahili in three months, I will not fully understand the culture in three months and... I am not a Tanzanian. :o) Anyone who knows me well, knows that I can sometimes put too much on my plate... :o) I'm the type of person that will try to meet expectations that are too high... Does anybody know where I'm comin' from? I know I'm not the only one! :o) Though I was hoping to speak fluent Swahili so that I can begin to understand the culture more and the people for that matter, I can not do it right now...well not using that method.

I trust that the Lord will give me insight in ways that I never imagined. So that is my expectation though I still expect to speak fluent Swahili by next week!! I'm just kidding...

I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you... Keep me posted on what's goin on in your neck of the woods... and I will keep you posted on what's going on here...

Ubarikiwe (oo-bar-ee-kee-way: Be Blessed),
April Nicole