Top Kili

That was the subject line for an email my dad sent me as well as the only thing that will be running through my head until we summit early Monday morning.

We got back from the parks yesterday and saw every animal that you can imagine. Giraffes, lions, cheetahs, leopards, thousands upon thousands of wildebeests, probably just as many zebras (my favorite), jackals, tons of beautiful birds, cape buffalo, families of elephants (they come in a close second as my second favorite), warthogs, baboons, hippos, flamingos, rhino, vervet monkeys, byraxes (the closest relative to an elephant -- its about the size of a rabbit) and pretty much everything else.

We stopped at Oldupai Gorge, which was a lot cooler than I thought it would be, Shifting Sands, a dune that moves 17 meters a year. We visited a snake park (where I held two snakes and an alligator), then rode camels and visited a Masaai museum. The Masaai live as nomads and they're wealth is determined by the amount of cattle they have. Their food (except for the porridge that babies are fed) consists only of milk, meat and blood -- all from cows. Can you imagine? Can you imagine the faces we made when they told us? Haha.

We would all love your prayer for the climb and for our safety!
Feel free to email me! I won't have internet on the hike, but I would love to hear updates from you!
B

Safari!

(Did you know that "safari" in swahili just means "a trip", so technically I have been on safari since I left on May 11?)

But today we are officially going on Safari!
We will get to ride camels today and see an incredible sunset (think intro to Lion King in reverse)
We are going to NgoroNgoro crater and Serengeti National Park. I can hardly wait.
I have been on a safari before but I am really excited about these because (dorkily) our teachers are with us and we will actually be learning about what we are seeing rather than just seeing it!

If you have a second, I think all of us would appreciate prayers for our travels and things like that!
I am so thankful for those of you that have been praying!

I don't think we will have computers on this next portion of the trip, so next time you hear from me, I will have returned and will be preparing for the BIG CLIMB!

Happy Thursday!

I think I came off a lot more pessimistic than I intended in the last post. So sorry, I swear I'm not sitting half way across the world depressed. That was a lot of my general thoughts in terms of the "service-learning" portion of the trip, and I promise, they are not as pessimistic as they sounded, I am optimistically looking for a solution. 

Today was such a chill day. It was fantastic to have a day to do whatever and not worry about a schedule.  This morning we had no plans so Jessica and I went into town. She got her nails done with a flower on every nail for a total of 2000 shillings. That is less than $1.50. Can you believe it?!?! (I got my toes done for the same price!) In the states it is at least $15 with the designs and everything. 

Then we went to a tailor on the street. Earlier in the trip I bought some really neat fabric. It is purple with a teal and cream border and hot air balloons as the design (cuter than it sounds. I swear!) I am having it made into clothing and a pillow etc. :)

This afternoon we drove through 45 minutes of civilization and 45 minutes of wilderness to go to a hot spring. It was possibly one of the coolest things I have ever seen or done. The water comes straight from the snow on Kili (so it's not hot, but its comfortable) and it is crystal clear. We spent an hour just jumping in and out and swimming around. When we got out to leave, Kilimanjaro was out from behind the clouds. There are no words to describe and there is no camera to capture how beautiful and amazing the entire mountain is. We have seen the main peak (Kibo) before, but today was the first time we had seen Mwenzi peak. Too cool. 

Finally, as we were driving away, the other large mountain here is called Mount Meru. The sun was setting directly behind it and it was just AWESOME, AMAZING, INCREDIBLE. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful it is here, but the closest I can get is to say that it is either the best movie seen ever or the closest embodiment of heaven I will ever see. 

You can't save Tanzania

The hardest thing about being here is everything we have had to learn. The best thing about being here is everything that we have learned whether through experience or our discussions. 

While everybody has great intentions, there are very few things that actually are beneficial to Tanzania (or other African countries) in the long run. The US government built an entire factory, near Moshi, to produce mosquito nets for the community. Sound great? It actually does doesn't it? Building the factory gave people jobs, the factory itself gave people jobs. They made mosquito nets which are necessary here for malaria prevention, so that protected people. This entire project was funded by the US government, so unfortunately, as soon as the money ran out, the factory shut down. This ended the influx of money as well as the employment of everybody that worked there. 

The project had the best intentions, but was not sustainable. 

At home, we have so many extra clothes, and they either go to the goodwill or they get sent to Africa with someone going on a mission trip. Here, most of the clothing businesses are in selling used clothing. Most of the new clothing stores have been run out of business, because honestly, who wants to buy something at full price when you can buy it for a fraction of the cost and save the rest for their next meal. Through all of the clothes that we have sent over through the years, we have put a halt to their clothing development factories and stores. Through trying to help them, we hurt their economy in the long run. 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there are good orphanages here as well as bed ones. I truly feel that we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. The bad ones really are just playing on the fact that there is so much foreign aid poured into Tanzania. They get a bunch of street children, call it an orphanage and hope for funding. When they have gotten the funding, they use a minimal amount on the kids and use the rest on their own salaries. Seriously. Msamaria receives about $420,00 a year and only uses $80,00 on the kids. That is $340,000 to be used on the salaries of three people! (The average salary is $1,200 a year, the Msamaria people will be making $113,000 a year). 

As a service learning group we have seen a lot and we have learned a lot. My first tendency is to fix everything in one swoop, but as Mama Moshi and Dr. Whitney keep saying, "You can not save Tanzania". We can fix one problem at a time, but "You have to let Tanzania save itself". There is no project ever that will be sustainable enough to save an entire country or the entire Dark Continent. 

I have personally come to the conclusion that there are only a few things that are actually helpful when it comes to aid. Providing an education and providing health care. Both of these have to be done through the local people, teaching the children makes it possible for them to continue teaching and providing health care keeps the people healthy and makes jobs here. 

There is a lot more of all of this in my head and if I had a lot longer, I would edit this and make it more organized, but since I have to go to the orphanage, I hope you can follow my train of thought. 

Best wishes to you and yours! 

Love love love it here.

Yesterday we visited the Moshi Primary School. They only have one book for each subject and each class has about 50 kids. That is crazy. The kids are so sweet. They all wear uniforms to school. If it is government school, they wear blue uniforms and for private schools, we have seen green, maroon, black, etc. In my journal entry for yesterday I made the comment that I would love to come teach English here  -- maybe not at Moshi Primary, but just in Tanzania in general.
Yesterday we also dropped off the mats at Msamaria Center for Street Children and dropped of the guy to help install the floor in the girls room. Then, last night before dinner we went to Kilimanjaro Orphanage Center again. The kids are just too cute -- all kids are the same, they just need love and attention. We took drawing supplies for the kids to color. Two girls that I met on one of the first mornings here recognized me and so we colored together. Their names are Rebeka and Hawa. Rebeka is so smart. She drew a lot of different things and then read them to me in English and Swahili. When I asked her what she was studying, she ran to get her exercise books to show me. I just love her a lot.

Today we had an adventure since it is Saturday. We first visited Mama Moshi's middle school teacher. She runs a school in a little village near Moshi. You know how I said I would love to teach english here somewhere? Ding ding ding! I found it!! All of there subjects are taught in English since it is an English medium school. They take volunteers for 9 months or so at a time. :) It is so clean and well run and they are adding 3 more standards (or grades) to their school, so they will need more teachers :).  There is a German girl there right now who has caught on to Swahili rather quickly, and she seemed to LOVE it.
So as long as Mom and Dad are cool with it (and they should be since it is only 9 months), I'm totally in!

I am getting eaten alive by mosquitoes from sitting here, so I am going to leave it here for now.
Till next time :)

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men."
Ephesians 6:7

Prayer Requests

Hey!
I just thought since I had a minute and I am not too rushed, I would post the prayer requests I have had in the last few days.

Msamaria -- this is the sketchier of the orphanages. Pray that the kids are being taken care of and not simply used as a way of getting money (Foreign aid is huge here and it is common to start an orphanage with the sole intention of receiving foreign aid. While the children do receive a place to sleep, the director does not have the kids interests at heart. He does the bare minimum for them and keeps an exorbitant  amount of money.) We are not quite sure if that is exactly what is going on in this case, but we are fairly certain after years of us working with them. Pray that we can help the kids without enabling the director.

Kili Centre -- PRAISE!!! We are so thankful for their organization and that the kids are well taken care of.  Pray that they continue to get support.

Kilimanjaro Orphanage Center -- Here the kids are 3 to a bed. Pray that they can move to their new location soon. Also, they are in need of some organization skills in their rooms, office and storage. Hopefully, we may be able to help them with that, so pray also that we are effective teachers and that they are receptive.

Upendo -- I love love love this center. It is run by nuns and is done soo well. They really try to give every kid a fighting chance. They can only keep kids until they are 5 years old. After that, they are either adopted or sent to an orphanage. Pray that these kids find homes. I personally would adopt them all if I could, but you have to live in Tanzania for 2 years in order for that to be possible. This center also has several children that are both mentally and physically handicapped.  They are 11, 8, 7 and 3. The oldest have stayed because very few people want handicapped children. I am so thankful that Upendo has kept them and loved them, but pray that they may find a home or permanent place to live as they cannot live at Upendo forever.

Finally for our two groups.
The Maymester group left this morning to spend 5 days in Dar-es-Salaam and Zanzibar, so please pray for their safe travels.
Our group [Service Learning] is here with the orphanages, so please pray for our discretion when deciding what to do and what money to allot to each one.

Feel free to email me your own prayer requests! I would love love love to pray for you!
brookebethbutler@gmail.com

Bomba-bomba

(Bombabomba means I am ready foranything --a response to Mambo)

So much has happened in the last two/three days, i don't know if I can rememberit all let alone fit into words how much I am loving it here and everything I have already learned.

We have been to 4 orphanages. One is run by nuns and only has children that they rescued from the hospital (that were usually abandoned) between the ages 0-5. The kids are beautiful and so so so sweet. We getto serve there twice more while we are here.
One, Kili Centre, is run very very well. They have sustainable food and sellingprojects with their chickens and have plansfor expansion.
The closest one to us, the kilimanjaro orphanage center, is walking distance. There, i think, we are making cubbies for the children,as most of them do not have a place for their own belongings.
The final place, we still wouldlove to help the children, but it seems a little sketchy. They have chickens and eggs but the childrennever eat either. we have done projects for them in the past that have gone missing or gotten ruined too quickly. we probably are going to redo the floor in the girls room and also decide what to do from there.

In terms of sight-seening, today we went to a coffee farm. We picked the berries, watched them shelled, dried, shelled again, roasted and ground. Then we got to taste it. It was soo good! The trip to the farm was just as fun as the farm itself. It took an hour to drive there and then an hour to walk -- through the rain forest. It was beautiful, but I was literally wringing my skirt out by the time we got there. The hike was good practice for Kilimajaro!!!

Yesterday we went to a leather factory caled Shah Industires. They are one of the only companies that hires disabled people. It was a very interestng place to see!

We also went to the market yesterday. We each had 2000 tanzanian shillings (the equivalent of $1.33) to buy dinner for three people. Some people teamed up, so me and my roommate bought 4 fish, 4 carrots, 5 tomatoes, 6 onions, 8 okra and a 1/2 kilo of corn for 4000 shillings. We bought everything in swahili so that we would get a better price, but I don't think it worked! Oh well, more money for their families.

I think my 30 minutes of internet time are almost up and I still have to email my mom!

Baadaye! (Later!)

Mambo!

Hello!
Today is day 2 in Moshi, Tanzania. I love it already and I feel like my swahili has already improved leaps and bounds!
Yesterday we went to the market. The fish smelled awful, but it was very cool to see the entire market-- the locals market, not the "mzungu" (white person) market.
We also went on a nature walk (which sounds short and serene, but it was long and muddy) We walked for three hours through rice paddies and a beautiful forest. We saw a magic tree and we also were able to see monkeys, and actually get close enough to take pictures! I took about 200 just from that one walk! There were kids all along the walk. I told my parents I might come back with some adopted children and now I am seriously considering it. 
Today we are visiting a childrens center and we are leaving in 10 minutes so I have to run.
Kwaherini!

Greetings from Moshi, Tanzania!!!!

I'm here! After hours of flying, and very little sleep, our entire group arrived safe and sound.
I met some great people on the plane. One Indian girl, Salima, who is getting married in a month. We were fast friends. She was on her way to India to prepare for her wedding. The man in front of me was headed to Tanzania, so we stayed together and he taught me and Jake some Swahili during our layover.
It is difficult to type and I have limited time on the computer, so for now, I'm going to leave it at that.
I hope you are doing well and thanks for all your prayers!
Tutaonana.
B

Kwaheri Merikani!

(Goodbye America!)
I can't believe I'll be driving to the airport in three hours.
I can't believe I'll be leaving the country in six hours.
Whoa.
I can't believe that next time I sit in this room, I will be getting to know three great boys. The room will no longer be a girly lime green and purple but a masculine navy and forest green.
My packing will not be strewn across a queen bed, instead there will be three beds.

So much new, so much unknown, a little scary,
I still don't know exactly how I'm getting from Tanzania to Kisumu, Kenya.
I would love some prayers for safe travels and that everything will work out well.

Next time I post on here, I will be in Tanzania!
I can hardly believe it!!!
Till then, may God guide us both!

Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love ya tomorrow, you're only a day away!

I cannot believe that I am leaving tomorrow. I spent the last three days running errands and hanging out with my family. I had to get mothers day and fathers day squared away. I had to get sunscreen, bugspray, hiking gear, a camera, a big memory card, trail mix, power bars, money from the bank, copies of my documents, etc etc etc. Now, if I've forgotten it, it's either not important or (hopefully) I can buy it there.

Whats in my suitcase:
2 long skirts
2 pairs of pants
4 long dresses
2 sweaters
7 shirts (that cover my shoulders)
3 t-shirts
1 jean jacket
tennis shoes
chacos
hiking boots
socks
underwear
headbands
sunscreen, bugspray, shampoo, conditioner
towel and washcloth
1 pair of pjs
1 pair of nike shorts
hiking gear -- leggings, waterproof pants, base shirt, mid shirt, fleece, rain coat
trail mix
0 makeup
1 baseball hat

Hopefully thats everything I need!
I cannot believe that tomorrow is the day. My head is all over the place. I seriously don't know what I'd do if  I didn't absolutely know right now that the Lord has it all taken care of because I certainly don't. I am ill prepared for what lies past the plane ride tomorrow, but I pray that I remain in God's hands the entire time!

I'm tired, but I'm trying to hold out on sleeping so that I sleep really well on the plane tomorrow. I don't think I can hold out much longer!

Goodnight all!
B

Athens, I love you

I love the people, the places, the community, but I hate the goodbyes. This time tomorrow I will be in my bed in Atlanta mulling over what I need to get at High Country or REI on Tuesday, hopefully mentally gloating over how well I did on my French exam (while most likely, I will be wishing I had studied more). This time tomorrow I will hopefully have stopped crying over the fact that I won't see my best friends for about two months and other friends for about three months. I have written them each letters in my head about how much each of them means to me, only to start writing them out and feeling like the lamest person ever, knowing I could never give them such an emotional letter that can be read and reread making me sound sappier with every rendition.
For the next two months I am going to miss the dryer shaking against my bedroom wall, the air-conditioning that goes from 50 degrees to 90 depending on its mood. I might even miss the perpetual mess in the kitchen, the mess that I've given up on after trying to clean it and coming home an hour later with it worse than before. I'll miss my roommates, I'll miss the neighbors, both the immediate and those in the whole of Pineview. I'll miss the bad drivers, the awful parking jobs, the buzz of the Loop right outside my window. I'll miss trying to study until friends call me up and ask me to slack off, I always say yes.
I'll miss my comfort zone, I'll miss the familiar. The good news is this, I will be back. 
Where I am going this summer is not familiar.  Moshi and Kisumu are NOT Athens. The people I am going to meet are not "my" people, no Hailey, Jess or Jessie. They are strange, foreign, new, different, scary but they are my chance to reach out, to burst my own bubble, to test my boundaries, to rely completely on God and to let myself go and let Him do. This is the chance of a lifetime and I would not change it for absolutely anything.

So goodbye Athens, I love you and the treasures you hold. Keep them safe until I return and think of me halfway around the world, as I surely will think of you.

          Study party at Panera Bread. I'm reading the Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-burglar, but I can't focus. All I can think about is what I haven't packed, what I need to buy, what I need to do and get done this week while I'm at home. I'm studying French grammar and vocab but focused on packing lists and medications for Tanzania.
         I need to be focused on being here, but here right now is studying... Not exciting. I'll probably write another post when I need another (probably longer) study break.
        Most recent prayer request: that I will remember everything I need to pack and bring and do, etc.

Isaiah 40:31 
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint

15 days.

Can you believe it? I'm leaving in 15 days! I feel like the trip is forever away because I have so much going on before then, but 15 DAYS from today I am leaving for Tanzania. That is TWO WEEKS from tomorrow. Whoa!

I am getting more excited with every passing second. Today I'm wearing one of my long dresses I bought specifically to wear there :) Also, I have been working on some of my readings for the trip that are due on Monday. I am figuring out my transportation from Tanzania to Kenya and I need to be wearing my hiking shoes to break them in!

Reason why I can't believe it's so close:
I have a French paper due tomorrow.
I have a Swahili presentation tomorrow.
I am going camping tomorrow.
I am going kayaking on Saturday.
BYX has their Island Party on Saturday.
We are going to the fair on Sunday.
I have a quiz on Monday.
I have two SAO exec meetings on Monday.
I have two exams next week.
I am going camping again next weekend.
I have another exam next Monday.
Then I go home.
Then I can start worrying about Africa.

But yet, I AM SO EXCITED. Like a little kid at Christmas excited.

If you have a minute, I would love prayer for the leaders of both of my trips. That they both go smoothly and that the leaders keep a level head at all times (which can be hard handling a large group of students!) and pray just for their leadership.

Thanks!
And as my co-workers and I say
Peace and Chicken-grease, my friends :)

Happy Monday!

Hey hey hey!


I have been so so at peace. God is good all the time! I am ahead when it comes to my homework and school and I am fairly caught up in terms of what I need to do and to have done for my trips. 


It's a super short blog post of the day, but my favorite verse (or one of the many :)) is John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

 Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

How cool is that?!? How cool is our God! He gives us peace. It surpasses ALL understanding (Phili 4:7). He doesn't give to us as the world gives (temporarily) but ETERNALLY. He also doesn't want us to be troubled or afraid. He is our Comforter, our Counselor, the Prince of Peace.
John 16:33 says  

            "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation. 

But take heart; I have overcome the world."

I have nothing else to say. He has overcome the world. We can rest easy in the arms of our Lord and Savior. 

Happy Monday and last full week of classes! 
Rest in His arms :)

Love, B

Peace

Here is the blog post that I had started on Monday.

“Hey y’all. I would just like to say that I am officially spread too thin. My mind is all over. French, Spanish, Swahili, SAO, Kenya, Tanzania, getting forms, working, spending time with the Lord. And then sleeping, eating and going to the gym go by the wayside. Seriously, today I ate my juice plus vitamins for breakfast and a bag of chips and large cup of coffee for dinner.  Quality meals, let me just tell you.

I am getting more and more nervous that I don’t have it all figured out. I leave for Tanzania in less than a month. Crazy. I still have to figure out how I’m going to get from Tanzania to Kenya. I am waiting for my Kenyan Visa to come in. I need to pay for my travel insurance. I am waiting for the travel agent to get my ticket to me. I need to pack. I just found out that I had readings and a summary due yesterday… Luckily, I got to extend that date until to Friday. “

How things have changed. My life has calmed down. The Lord has given me peace, His peace and oh how sweet it is. Right now I am sitting in at my favorite coffee house about to work on the readings for my study abroad, try to get ahead for my French class, and if all goes well, go to bed before midnight because I agreed to work from 7-9 tomorrow morning… What was I thinking. Haha. I have been so blessed and I am so thankful for what the Lord has taught me in the last semester, the last month, but especially the last week.

Psalm 139 is pretty much what has gotten me through the whole week, so I’ve included it so that it may bless you as well. 

You have searched me, LORD,

   and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

   you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 You discern my going out and my lying down;

   you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

   you, LORD, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before,

   and you lay your hand upon me.

 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

   too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

   Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

   if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

   your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

   and the light become night around me,”

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

   the night will shine like the day,

   for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;

   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

   your works are wonderful,

   I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

   when I was made in the secret place,

   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

   all the days ordained for me were written in your book

   before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!

   How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

   they would outnumber the grains of sand—

   when I awake, I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!

   Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

They speak of you with evil intent;

   your adversaries misuse your name.

Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,

   and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them;

   I count them my enemies.

Search me, God, and know my heart;

   test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

   and lead me in the way everlasting.

Acts 14

In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are worshipped as Hermes and Zeus in the city (town?) of Lystre. They tear their clothes trying to explain that God, the one true God is LIVING. We (especially I) have heard this phrase too many times to count. So many that I have lost most of the meaning that went with that phrase.
In Acts 14:14-17, they explain that our God is a living God. The people of Lystre are so set on worshipping stone gods and sacrificing to things without ears to hear or hands to help. Our God is ALIVE. He has ears to hear. He not only hears us, he LOVES us and wants what is best for us. What a stark contrast to the stony gods of Ancient Rome and what a revelation this must have been. No more useless sacrificing, only answered prayers and fulfilled lives in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Moja (one)

   In case you didn’t know, I am trekking to Tanzania this summer.  I have wanted to go on this trip for the last year and half and I now have a billion different things that I want to say in one blog post.

    My heart for Africa, specifically the Swahili people, began after my junior year of high school when I went with 410 Bridge. I fell absolutely head over heels in love with the people of Kenya. At UGA, I picked up a minor in African Language and Literature (basically Swahili) and heard about an opportunity to study abroad in Tanzania as well as climb Mount Kilimanjaro. No joke, I was ready to go RIGHT THEN. I told dad and made a deal to pay for half of the trip. I now am happily employed at Chick-fil-A, it is truly my pleasure to work there J. I have saved up, applied and been accepted to the program.

  Two weeks ago, a classmate messaged me and asked if I would be interested in extending my trip by two weeks and hop on over to Kenya. I jumped on that bandwagon as fast as I possibly could. Prayed, asked dad, boom, done.

  Lately, I’ve been finishing paying for my trip, buying my plane ticket, getting vaccinations, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Prayer requests:

1)   That I may be a light for Christ to the people on my trips and those that I encounter while I am overseas.

2)   For money to pay for the new addition to Kenya

3)   That my vaccination appointment on Friday goes well

4)   For travel from Tanzania to Kenya. I have yet to figure that out.

5)   For school. That I remain focused while preparing for my trip.