Africa

Last January my son, Doug, and I traveled to Tanzania as part of a mission team from our church. 

We were bringing needed school supplies to one of our mission partners, The Faraja School. It was late in the evening when our plane settled onto the tarmac at Kilimanjaro International Airport and when we disembarked into the darkness I heard a cacophony of new sounds. It was then that I knew, that we had entered a very special part of the world.

And, in the bright sunlight of the following morning, as we traveled to worship with a congregation from a local Maasai Tribe, I began to see the needs of the people all around us.

With so much need, it was tempting to try to quickly alleviate my discomfort by jumping into a “doing mode” to try to “fix” things. But over the days that followed, I learned how to sit in stillness and contemplate this beautiful country with equanimity.

Africa is the only place, where I have met so many people, who literally changed their lives after visiting – who have embraced the uncertainty of an unexpected future.

The first such person I met was a hospital administrator from Nebraska. He had visited Africa with a group seven years ago, only to return five years later and take up permanent residency to work at a hospital deep in the countryside. As we toured the hospital and observed the harshly austere reality of the physical surroundings, we were also met with a kind and dedicated staff of physicians and nurses. They helped to remind me that life is made up of both.

At the end of our trip we had the good fortune to meet Joann and Don Tolmie. Joann and Don toured Tanzania 15 years ago (in their late 60s) and saw a need to provide quality education for children with physical disabilities. At a time in life when most people of means are headed to the golf course, Joann and Don headed back to Tanzania and founded The Faraja School. During the last 15 years they have been back and forth over 35 times to oversee administrative issues, attend graduations, and meet with students and staff. They have also raised enough money to build the school that now houses over 90 children.

When I asked Joann if she had any idea that this was a part of God’s plan for their lives, she just laughed and said “No.”

As I talked and met with more and more people, who had made such changes in direction, I kept thinking, “Who does this?” Eventually I came to realize, that in the silence they not only listened, but also heard “the call.”

We spent the next few days at the Faraja School. It was such a paradoxical situation: so many obvious challenges, yet so much laughter. It seemed that living in such tenuous circumstances offered an opportunity to create a deep connection with the present moment, and a rich faith. As I watched the children play, many lacking one or more limbs, their disabilities seemed to disappear and the unique personality of each child came through. The vibrancy of their art and the passion of their play were not complicated with the knowledge of “what they were missing.” In spite of their lack of material possessions, there was so much delight in simple pleasures.

I remember watching Rebecca, one of my favorite young friends, carefully open a pencil case we had brought from church filled with a few pieces of candy, a toothbrush, and markers. Her face had filled with excitement, when we passed them out one evening.  As I sat and watched her carefully examine each item from the case, I was so touched by her obvious gratitude.  I began to wonder, who was the recipient of the greater gift: Rebecca or me?

That stream of thought continued as I worked alongside the children during our stay. I kept thinking “who is giving the gift of serving?”  I left the school feeling so blessed to have experienced a place with so much love, honesty and care. The children sang prayers each and every day before meals. They were absolutely joyful on the playing in the field with just a few soccer balls. With no cell phones or televisions, the simplicity of their life made their daily activities seem so much more intentional.

As we enter into this season of gratitude, I think of those days with such fond memories. I am reminded to be still and listen.

Author’s note…

This month we will be celebrating you, our Zen Friends! Jane blended extra mulling spices, so for anyone who is ordering holiday gifts during November, please put “Zen Friend” in the space for notes, and as long as supplies last we will enclose one of our hand crafted mulling spices for your enjoyment during the holiday season.

Zen Moment

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes.”  Marcel Proust