Children's Day Tanzanian Style

Recently, it was national Children's Day in the TAG (Tanzania Assemblies of God); this is a very special day. This is the one day a year that the children have the full attention of the church; in this society they are often overlooked and many churches have no ministry to children at all.

However, on this day they are given the entire day; all classes are taught by children, all music is provided by the children, preaching and all parts of the service are conducted by the children.

We spent the week before meeting in the afternoons to practice songs, skits, music and all facets of "our" day.
We had a glorious day! The children were dressed in their best, they were in the spotlight and they were remarkable! I wish I could share all the pictures and videos with you that I took on that day. What a celebration it was. What a day to show the people in our church that the children are able and willing to be an integral part of the church body.

After the services (two morning services with Sunday school in between) the church provided a meal for all the children (about 70) plus their teachers. Enjoy the pictures!

Short Safari Thoughts

Eight people, camping gear and luggage crammed into one Land Cruiser is the beginning of an adventure in and of itself.
Flashes of memory (to be explained in greater detail later): dust, animals, fear, joy, awesome animal sightings, unpacking at the campsite, squat toilets, cold water only, eating for two days with no cooking, borrowed hot water for much needed coffee, putting up tents, blowing up a full sized air mattress by mouth-twice, taking down tents, keeping warm at high altitudes, forgetting your camera, baboons who steal your bag of bananas, elephant in the camp-twice, blue sky, endless view from the edge of the crater, sleeping in the car when the air mattress goes flat, animals rummaging around your tent at night, wishing you had brought your winter clothes for the high altitude, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, driving precariously down a narrow road for steep ascents and descents, laughter, waiting while everyone gets the perfect camera shot, driving for hours and hours, sore muscles, seeing birds, plants and animals you've never seen before, making memories, and traveling on safari with family.
Did I mention eight people, camping gear, food and luggage crammed into one Land Cruiser?
More later!
Joyce

Things you WONT see on an American college campus...

This list could be VERY long; but a few sights this week at the Bible College made me think, "Wow, you won't see that on an American college campus".
1. You won't see students gathered around an outside spigot after meal times washing off their metal plates and spoons.
2. You won't see students washing their clothes outside in buckets and hanging them on the line.
3. You won't see students carrying their chairs around campus from chapel to the dining hall and back to the chapel and back to the dining hall...you get the picture.
4. You won't see students doing assigned work tasks around the campus in the afternoons.
5. You won't see students rushing forward to carry your briefcase for you as you go to and from the classroom.
6. You won't see students stand in class when they want to ask a question and preface their question with "thank you, teacher".
7. You won't see students lined up with their cups at "chai time" (morning break) waiting their turn for their hot tea.
8. You won't see the neighborhood children playing on the campus.
9. You won't see a registrars office with an old manual typewriter sitting on the desk that is actually still used.
10. And, lastly, you won't see 20-25 students sitting around tables outside helping pinch the heads off piles of small dried fish called "dagaa" in the afternoon so that they can have them for supper that evening.
In fact, there are many, many sights that we see every day that you won't see in America. We have grown accustomed to the many sights and sounds that shocked and amazed us when we first arrived here. We always enjoy watching visitors react to the sights and sounds of Tanzania.
Be blessed.

Facebook and Twitter!

Over the next few weeks, our daughter Jenn is going to be making some upgrades to our Web site.

As part of our effort to connect with our friends, family and supporters, we're expanding our online presence starting today!

We've launched a Twitter account, which will post an update when there is a new blog post or new photos added to our Web site. If you're a Twitter user click here.

We also created a Facebook page. If you're logged into Facebook, you can search for "Tim and Joyce Jarvis" and become a fan!

We want to use every type of technology possible to make you a part of our ministry and keep you included on our activities.

Thanks for your continued support!