Steve and Barnabas in Tanzania

I remember growing up that occasionally a group would visit our farm like my class (I think it may have been kindergarten) to see the farm animals.  I would always be curious why everyone got so excited, they sure would not have been so excited if they had to feed and water them every day.  I think the kids here at our preschool probably feel the same way when we use farm animal images or talk about planting something for them to grow.  They are going to be herding their cows, bulls, sheep, and goats right after school ends.  Every rainy season their entire family plants crops and grows them until harvest season.  Things that would be a big deal to most USA kids their age are just life to them.  Now cars, computers, video games, cartoons those are a big deal to them.  I believe they would still get excited by safari animals like lions, elephants, and giraffes.   Imagine this guy all painted up with golden yellow body and burley brown spots. ...

Before I actually get started this week I am going to deviate-I know I do that a lot- and make a request for assistance. Rev. William Makali and his wife Martha would like to come stateside to see their daughter graduate college.  This is not an FDM USA sponsored trip so he has to raise his money for the tickets.  He currently has raised $1200 and needs $1800 more.  If you can assist, please arrange to give your money or check to William while he is in the USA from May 12 to Jun 10.  Thank you in advance for your generosity.  Just because they are not on an official FDM USA trip they would still love to meet with friends and groups that have supported them in the past, just contact me to see what we can arrange.   One of the fun parts of my life here in Tanzania is the visa process.  You cannot get a residence work permit in the USA, you have to apply for it in Dar Es Salaam which is no where near where I am.  I have found out recently you can h...

This one is going to be very different.  Because Blogger will not allow me to post a PDF file, I had to do this kind of weird.  So Barnabas' newsletter is on Facebook in two image files.  I am posting the main article here but if you would like the count in Kiswahili, games and other fun items you will need to follow the link to download the two images.  The answer to the crossword puzzle is also there in image file and I have given a link below. Page 1 of Newsletter Page 2 of Newsletter Answers to Crossword Puzzle A Kid's Life in Tanzania-School Since I spend more of my time with the kids in Tanzania than I do with adults, I thought it would be good to tell you a little about what their life is like.   Let’s start with school.   Pre-Primary is similar to kindergarten and is for children 5-6 years of age and normally lasts 2 years.   However it is normal in rural (outside the city) areas for there to be no pre-primary type school and i...