Jambo!!

Habari!
Well I'm back in the road again for a week or so this month. For those who do. It know I've started learning Swahili! It's been a safari for me here lately trying to balance pioneering, taking care of a home, working and learning a language. A journey well worked for though especially when you see the people hear you speaking their mother tongue even it's slightly off. 😜
I never thought of English as a fun or descriptive language but as I learn more and more words in Swahili I start to appreciate language more. For example the word for disappointment is literally translated to, have collapsed heart. And if you think about the feelings you have it makes perfect sense. Sometimes it is hard to find an equivalent in Swahili right off the bat so it takes a lot of thinking outside the box to find just the right descriptive word. At the moment my favorite fun word is Bwana thluji which translates to snow lord and basically means snowman. ⛄️ I think that's adorable. I'm still living by the phrase, "mimi hapa, nitume mimi!" Here I am send me! I will go where there is a need in this world.

I am currently in Austin Texas sharing in the Bible education work in English, Swahili and hopefully a little of Russian as well. This state, like many now a days, is a melting pot of many cultures and languages keeping us on our toes. I made the trip to attend a 6 hour bible seminar in Swahili, it will take place outside of Dallas and will be a real test to my language skills.

Tutaonana baadaye
See you later

Holiday Away

Hey Guys,
So i now it seems silly that I needed a holiday away, mostly because some you think this is one giant holiday away..(you know who you are)  NOT TRUE!

Granted I don't have the normal workday pressures or stresses. Stresses now have come from relocating myself, learning and keeping up a 3 new cultures, new ways of thinking and new ways of doing these are not always easy an easy task.

My brain needed a few days to not think, and my feet to not walk so I went up to Nyanga for the weekend. It was a nice 4 hour car ride past balancing rocks and small towns. We also took a small car ride over to Mutare which is a stones throws from Mozambique...it took everything I had not to try to cross the border to add another country to my list.

 Where is It?? Its Zimababwes' eastern highlands boarding Mozambique,  it holds some beautiful waterfalls, wild animals, mountain peaks and the coldest weather. (no snow but super windy and
it was at 5 C ( 41 F) the other night...and its NOT winter yet.. Yikes!

I happen to bump into the family that helps deliver the literature to the Shona & English kingdom halls up there. So I grabbed the chance to explore a bit more of the area, knowing my days are numbered here.

There is a small area called Mutasa, it lies between Nyanga and Mutare, it has the most concentrated witnesses there, every 3 miles (5Ks) there is a kingdom Hall! I had the pleasure to visit one of the 2 English halls this last Sunday, I think we had about 20 or more there and only 2 cars in the "parking lot"--technically it was the yard-- and no microphones, you had to use your big boy voice there. (I had no problems in that department :D)

Zumbane Lodge

It was a nice few days away in the wilderness, hiking a trail or two and staying at the Zumbane lodge. Of which I highly suggest that if you come to Zim you MUST see this place and might as well stay in a fully furnished home for a fantastic price. We did lose power but whats a trip to Africa with the full amenities of the 1st world counties? Zasa these days..haha I also may or may have not gone to bed with my winter hat on, and a towel as extra bedding..I found out later my extra blanket was being held hostage in the the other room. or....maybe I just forgot to ask for it...oops.





Now I am back home, with only two weeks left to go. These four months...man I tell ya..flown by.  The emails may be coming a bit closer together now, I have so much I want to share before I leave. Bear with me folks.

See some of you sooner then later.
Katie

Count Down

The countdown has began over here, not in a "YAY" kind of way, but in a "sigh" kind of way.
The other day I had a hard time telling if this was my real life and the one in the States is my "Holiday" life.  The friends here make me feel like I have always known them, like this is my congregation.  I know that might cause a bit of pain for some, but there is room in my heart for many these days.
I sadly only have just over 3 weeks to go, so those in Michigan awaiting my arrival it is close.

These last few days i have been helping the maids with the food preparation.  1st it was the sugar beans, setting them in the sun to dry them out then sorting the good from the bad. Then the other day it was harvesting pecans. Eish Hard long work, no wonder the cost is high in the shops. Good thing i only like them covered in sugar and maple syrup. :)

Nothing has been happening this last few weeks. The studies have been going well, they are progressing slow but sure. I had to miss rurals this last week because i needed to go to an immigration appointment, due to my ever growing visa issues. No worries we are good for the last month!

Katelyn helping Nyarai with the intercoms

 Here are some photos for you all, mainly because my stories this week are BORING. :)
This week brings Harare International Festival of Arts is here so hopefully i can grab a few artsy shows before i come home.


much love you all soon,
if something happens, I'll make sure to write it.

Kate

Heart Warming

Today was an epic day for me gaining new bible studies. I now have 6 regular ones, three youngsters and three adults. The kids i am working with rang from 10 to 13 years old, and speak and read English beautifully. Today was gift day, all the kids got their book or booklets either in Shona or English.

 We passed a few houses that they made gardens for, not something you see everyday in an area that they are struggling to get food in, but making the earth beautiful is something they value here.

I started playing the Caleb videos to four kids, before i knew it, there were ten and by the end I had 15!

 For the most part this is an email full of photos not much of the stories. I couldn't post all of these on social media so thought a little slide show would be good enough. :)  The father of the four just below, said thank you a few times to me for taking the time to sit with them and teach .




I take so many photos because when i get stressed or overwork myself back in the States I see these little ones and know that whatever pain I am enduring is worth every moment.

I can see that I am making a mark on them, they wont easily forget the murungu (white person) that sat down and read English and Shona to them. Thats what we want, to make sure people don't forget us and the deeds we do.




They start early being little mommies, strapping little ones on their backs. I offered to carry her but I think she was a bit nervous.
The one that is doing the work cant be over the age of 6, they build them strong over here.

Alright family and friends, I am bushed,a few miles walking was done and much talking (never new for me). Yesterday was independence day over here so we came a day late.

Cheers to all you readers. Keep traveling and I'll keep up the stories.