Day Fourteen: High School, Middle School, Godzone, Choir and more about snow

John made a snowball.

Mollie and John.

By midmorning, John had moved to a new home, with Bibi Joan and Babu Richard. Checking in with Addy is a priority.  [No baby yet.]

John visited Rosemount High School. One of his first days here in Minnesota, we had taken a quick driving tour of the town, going past the elementary school, then the middle school, and then as we approached the high school, John noted the size and asked, "Is it the university?"

John:  Visiting Rosemount High School was so exciting.  Things which I was so interested in were the library, having few books but many computers.  That sounds so interesting, it is like some Universities in Tanzania. The limit of the number of students is also so interesting because having only 2000 in a big school like that is not normal like the schools in Tanzania. The challenging issue in Iringa is having qualified teachers, but in this school, they have all the teachers they want.  Congratulations. Having different departments depending on the interests of the students is another new idea to me.

John wrote his name in the snow on a pole.

John visited Rosemount Middle School, where host Richard used to teach.

Fun in the snow!  John slid down the big hill of snow.

Fun!

Richard loves to cook.  John gets to assist.

Two hours of Godzone tonight.  John thanked the children for the Mbu [Mosquito Net] project, which helps many children!  Doctor Barnabas predicts that this will help kick malaria out of Tungamalenga!

Pastor John receives a mini piki piki from Shepherd of the Valley children with Mim Campbell, Director of Children's Ministries.  This motorcycle symbolizes the gift of funds from the children that will eventually purchase a real piki piki for the pastor at Makifu Parish.

Children continued into rooms where they learned about Maasai life and customs from Bibi Joan....

....and about Hehe tribal customs from Babu Lyn and Bibi Mollie.

The children learned a Swahili prayer, asking God to help them help others. 

Children tried out the drum from Misufi congregation. 

John commented about this girl: Godzone is the very interesting part of life.  Congratulation, you people of SOTV for teaching such wonderful things to those children.  They really have the heart of giving. One girl, after hearing the story of helping the Pastor to buy piki piki, she stood up and gave me money with great joy. Tears came into my eyes, Thanks be to God.  So nice.

John joined the Senior choir for rehearsal, seated next to Richard in the tenor section.

The subject of singing has come up a couple times in conversation.  Sunday evening, John described how Americans sing [he demonstrated someone standing stock still with only their mouth moving] and then showed how Tanzanians dance while they sing.

John: Singing, it is good, but this was a new style.  In Tanzania we don't use much reading when we are singing.  But in SOTV there is much reading on papers.  I am so proud to be part of the choir on Sunday.  I wish I will sing.

As we were leaving the building, Merilu Narum, our worship assistant, asked John whether he would like to assist with Holy Communion at the 11 AM worship on Sunday morning.

John: Thanks be to the coordinator of the Sunday service, I did not think she would ask me to help Holy Communion.  Thank you very much.  I feel as I am part of the staff of the SOTV.  I feel proud of being part of it.

Tomorrow:  John's schedule includes a visit to a construction site in Rochester (2013 TZ Traveler Kim Jensen is the architect on the project) and dinner at Joan and Richard's home.  There will be many precious conversations.

We are blessed to have him with us.