My new normal

We all have this perception of what is normal, we have our normal work days, our normal routines but i realise normal is so relative to where we live, what our societies teach us, and what our families instill in us...

My blog posts have slowed right down these past few months. I wondered why this is then I realised, that throughout this year I have blogged about the new, the quirky, learning moments, cultural challenges and experiences and while there are still many lessons, cultural experiences and challenges they no longer seem new or unusual. I realise that Arusha Tanzania has become my home, it has become my normal.

Normal for me these days is dusty roads and dirty feet, people staring and calling out "Mzungu", being approached by strangers and asked about my marital status, for my number, for money, asked where I’m from and where I’m going. Overpacked hot and cheap dala rides, little

people running at me calling out “Teacher Rachel,” beggars, praying for strangers, having the title of missionary, Swahili lessons, Swahili greetings, living in community, missionary clothing, shopping at the markets, teaching Tanzanian children who answer my questions in Swahili, ask for things in Swahili and tell me their problems in Swahili! Double taking when I see another “Mzungu” especially on the dala, kids following me down the road. I now hardly blink twice when I see a man pushing a trailer down the road, or a motorbike carrying a couch, and live chickens in the dala.

Just like in NZ I have my weekly routine of teaching Monday-Friday, hanging out with friends in the weekend. We go shopping, we take turns cooking, we eat, we sleep, we have good days and bad day! I remember being in awe of missionaries but now I see that it’s not all that different and that wherever we are is our mission field. While I have gotten comfortable here I think it will hit me how extremely different my life has been here and in what ways this year has changed me and grown me when I return home. What has been “normal” my whole life will no longer feel so normal.

From little things like carpet under my feet, wearing jandels and not coming home covered in dust, driving myself around at any time of day or night, the price of vegetables and cost of eating out! Catching up with people I haven’t seen in a year and it will probably feel as if I never left. Going into a giant supermarket with so many options! Then also big things like everyone understanding me all the time! No language barriers, I am literally going to miss Swahili though! Also walking down the street and just being "normal" no one will be yelling out at me, asking me for my number, calling me Mzungu, staring like I’m from some mystical planet, asking me for money, wanting me to catch their bus!

Its crazy to think that these things have become my normal! And what was my normal will seem so strange. 

This year has been one of the most fun, challenging, rewarding, confidence and character building years of my life. When I first came, I felt so anxious going anywhere by myself. I felt overwhelmed by the attention we receive for being white, I worried so much about how to greet people and felt frustrated when I didn’t understand what people were asking me or saying about me! If I think back to when I first came small things like going on the dala seemed like huge accomplishments and greeting people in Swahili was a pat on the back moment. Now sometimes I just practice my swahili simply to make people laugh and smile. The other day I told the dala driver “si mzungu ninitwa Rachel” (I’m not mzungu I am called Rachel) which made everyone on the dala laugh but also meant I didn’t hear “mzungu” for the rest of the dala ride! Now I literally catch dalas all the time and when I go to visit my friend Lillia on the other side of town I even catch two dala’s walk 20 minutes and then ride a piki!

 I placed so many expectations and rules on myself in the beginning and I didn’t know how to respond to unwanted male attention. Now I walk to my swahili lesson with confidence and cross roads like a local. Around here if you hesitate crossing roads you will never get across that road haha! I have gotten really good at standing up for myself each time getting more straight up and direct. The other day I told a tourism guy who asked to meet for a drink “mimi missionary I’m not here to go on lots of dates, I am here to do Gods work” I would never say something like that back home. He then responded by saying that he is the lost sheep, hahaha.

There is a freedom that comes living in a new place a freedom to talk about God, to pray for strangers and to meet and befriend new people. I hope this same freedom stays with me when I am back on NZ soil, because God is literally the best thing that has ever happened to me and by not sharing him with others I am literally robbing them of the most purposeful, enriching, character developing life possible.

And while teaching here is so incredibly different to home it also has become my normal.

Things that happen here that I have never experienced teaching in NZ are things like kids missing school because they can’t afford school fees, not being able to help kids with their problems because I don’t understand what they are saying, and not being able to talk to parents because of language barriers, kids being fascinated by my hair, arm hairs and skin, they literally stroke me like I’m a cat lol. Not having to sunscreen 30 children every time they go outside during hot season is a definite bonus! and I never have to remind them to wear their hats either! Choosing books and realising how many are culturally irrelevant like stories about snow, santa, even the beach! Having someone translate my teaching and then translate what the kids are saying in response to a question I asked.

Kids here do not have heaps of toys at home to play with, so I am having to teach them to share which is a universal concept for children but here it’s not because they are used to having everything but rather because they are used to having hardly anything and therefore get possessive over things.

But just like teaching in NZ, some days are so frustrating and other days I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else doing anything else. There are kids who are eager to please and those who push the boundaries, those who struggle and those who are miles ahead! Children everywhere want affirmation and love! Each day they run to me and greet me with a hug and then fight for the position ofsitting next to me on the mat. I literally am going to miss all the kids I’ve had the privilege of teaching this year and I still miss the kids I taught at Lilliput in NZ. I take that as a sign I chose the right career.

I am beginning to feel so many mixed emotions about returning home. Sometimes I think of all the things I miss; friends, family, the beach, understanding the culture, and the cleanness of NZ, driving and freedom to go anywhere anytime, to shallow things like takeaways and shopping malls. Then other times I am literally willing time to slow down, I get FOMO when anyway in the team talks about next year. I almost cried when I realised that the last day I’ll see my friend Lillia is the 4^th of December as she heads away on holiday. There are so many amazing people I have had the privilege of calling friends and family this year. Farewells are bittersweet but Gods plans are incredible. See you in just over a month New Zealand! 

50 first experiences! #missionarylife

It’s amazing to me how many situations I find myself in daily, that I have never and probably would never experience if I only ever stayed living in New Zealand. In just 4 and a half months, I will be back living in New Zealand, where life will be very different. So I want to remember all these quirky, amusing, and sometimes uncomfortable situations that I have encountered over this past year

1. Often having no idea what is being said around me and sometimes even to me. I literally sat in an hour long meeting the other day, before I realised they were talking about electing someone as a chairperson. In a Tanzanian church service I usually make friends with a child because I have no idea what the pastor is saying.
2. Learning Swahili and attempting to speak it which leads to some hilarious Swahili fails like: 
   Asking for books at a vegetable stand instead of potatoes Vitabu vs Viazi 
   Saying I need to go to the market to buy a buffalo instead of vegetables Mbogo vs Mboga (easy mistake)
   Answering a question like did you understand with good (nzuri) instead of yes (ndiyo). Not the best way to convince someone that I understood! 
   Telling someone I have been here 7 years instead of 7 months Mweze = months Mwaka = years. Then they really wonder why my Swahili is so bad!
   Singing worship songs wrong over and over again.
   

   
   Using you, we, he or she when I want to say I. It changes the meaning completely!
   Going to the toilet in a local food place and coming back out to ask if I am a mwanaume (male) or mwanamke (female).
   Having to write my daladala stop down on my phone in Swahili so that when the daladala conductor ask where I am going I can tell him! I have now proudly mastered that one and can say "Mwisho wa lami" (end of the tarmac) whenever I here "wapi" (where). My most amusing fail happened while in Zanzibar. At the place we were staying I asked the guy for some mugs and used words like maji (water) some hand gestures and charades to describe what I wanted. He went away for about 10 minutes and came back with a squeegee! The second time around he came back with a flask of boiling water and mugs…close enough.
3. Having to introduce myself in Swahili in a Tanzanian church. There’s no chance of going unnoticed in church!
4. Random compliments/ comment that I’ve never received before this year like: 
   “you look like a rasta” I am not sure why I’ve never been told that before? 
   “You look like a rock star” 
   “Mzungu, I love you” 
   “Are you German?” 
   “You look Scandinavian” 
   “Welcome to Tanzania” (just the other day)
   “I want her as my wife” (Old drunk Maasai man) 
   

   
   “Umependeza” you look nice
   “Give me your dog” while walking Lynda’s dog in the village
   My personal favorite “You look like Kim Kardashian” (while trying on a skirt)
   All from strangers and then from children...
   “is that your real hair” “when you get long hair will it be black”
   “are those mosquito bites (referring to my freckles) 
   “did you get bitten by a tetzy fly? (referring to a pimple on my face!)
   “wow nzuri” (while stroking my hair)
   “why does she have white hair?”
5. Class 2 kids answering the question “why is it important that we have a clean living environment with “because otherwise you will get HIV Aids” hahaha that is most definitely not an answer NZ kids would think of! 
   
6. Second hand clothes shopping which involves digging through piles of clothes to find some gold. It’s kind of like op shopping except wayyyy more intense because everyone wants you to buy from their stall. All you here is “rafiki, support me” “looking is free” and everyone is handing you things to try that they think you may like, such as a yellow jumper. I would literally look like a banana! Or skirts about ten sizes too big or too small! If I am looking for shoes there’s no way I have to bend down and try that shoe on myself! There is always someone ready to put shoes on my feet! 
7. Which then leads to my next point bartering for everything! There is no way I am paying more than 30c for that second hand top haha. Sometimes the price bumps up for mzungu but now we take our secret weapon Joseph, Emma’s fiancé, one of the first guys I’ve met who actually doesn’t mind shopping and always makes sure we get a good deal
8. Having people try and sell me stuff on the street constantly. The most random things being a live chicken, a $5 NZ note, and a lamp shade!
9. Being in a daladala (van) that’s so full that they can’t even close the door. I literally was holding on to both the inside and the outside of the van! Or sitting between 3 large
   mama’s on a two seater seat!
10. Sitting on a daladala and having some high school girls quickly touch my hair and start giggling
11. Strangers wanting to shake my hands as they pass me on the street
12. Eating dinner with a street kid at the local chicken place (instead of giving him money) and not once going to town without being asked for money
13. Staying at an orphanage and hanging out with some of the sweetest kids I’ve ever met with some of the most heart-breaking stories
    
14. Using some of the most horrendous squat toilets I’ve ever experienced and hoping that it’s water on the ground and not something else.
15. Running through the village
16. Being served a huge portion of rice and still managing to finish it (what can I say I have a gift). The day we were given two lunches however, really tested how much I can eat!First I ate a plate of ugali (ground maize) and then a large of plate of rice!
17. Sitting next to a man and his live chicken on the daladala and then realising there were about 7 more chickens tied together that were under the seat!
18. Having random children run up and hug me. This happens a lot working with kids in NZ but usually only with children I actually know!
19. Or having children terrified of my whiteness a simple glance and they run away crying!
    
20. Having a flash mob of children surrounding me in a village touching me stroking my arms, hair and even licking me!! As if I’m some celebrity or mystical creature!  It literally started with a few children but they just kept coming out of nowhere!
21. Camping in the Maasai bush and meeting people whose lives could not be more different to mine if they tried
22. Praying for a group of Maasai women and their children with a group of Maasai DTS
    
    students!
23. Watching a Maasai choir competition. Those Maasai men can jump soooo high!
24. Singing and dancing with Maasai children
25. Teaching Maasai children games like “crocodile, crocodile”
26. Being a minority! I experienced this to a small degree at my primary school in Rotorua which was 90 % maori but never to the degree in which people constantly stare
27. 12 hour bus rides with only one toilet stop!! And buying stuff out the window of the bus
28. No knees in 2016! With the exception of our trip to Zanzibar! That’s right modest is hottest haha
29. Teaching a class full of children where English is a second language and getting blank stares when I speak too fast or after 10 minutes of explaining a lesson. Also having an assistant teacher translate my lessons!
30. Being in a place where there is seemingly no road rules! Don't wait for a gap just push your way in! Also helmets are more of a suggestion then a rule when riding any form of bike
31. Greeting every single person at church with a handshake
32. Praying for people in the village and having the privilege of seeing them except Jesus or set free!
33. Having the neighbors child come to our house just to watch our washing machine go round and round! And entertaining children for hours with a front camera
    
34. Being stuck in a 7 lane traffic jam where technically there should only have been 2 lanes for at least an hour.
35. Doing extra jobs like filtering water through a bucket, boiling the
    milk that came straight from a cow, washing the fruit and vegetables we bought from the market, freezing rice, pasta and lentils just encase there’s any bugs in them!
36. Wearing gumboots to school in the rainy season
37. Weekly whole day power cuts
38. Being called “teacher Rachel” I have had many names as a teacher. At Preschool in New Zealand, I was Rachy-pooh. On practicums I was Miss Judd at kids camps I was “Aunty Rachel” but never have I been “teacher Rachel”
    
39. Going to town and back for less than a dollar!
40. Having a video I took of Tanzanian Joshua school children singing a Te Reo Maori song go viral in NZ! It even got mentioned on the news!
    
    
    But even more impacting than what I have experienced is what I have learnt...

A week in Maasai land

As a child growing up in New Zealand I never gave much thought to how children on the other side of the world lived their lives. I never really appreciated all I had, all I was given and every opportunity I had and still have. But as I spent time out in Maasai land this week I couldn’t help but reflect on how different my childhood was to the children who live out in that village.

In striking contrast to the lives of many Maasai children my childhood was one where schooling was a given not a privilege, regardless of whether I wanted to be there or not. Many children don’t have that privilege because if they go to school there will be no one to take care of the many, laborious, time consuming chores, that need to be done in order to survive. My childhood was filled with toys. I had dolls, barbie’s and bikes, yet I still wanted more every birthday and Christmas, and I complained a lot if I didn’t get the toy I wanted. These kids entertain themselves by chasing cows, climbing trees, playing with sticks and stones, or in this week’s case by staring at the strange wazungu (white people) who entered their village. I grew up with many career paths in mind, my future was always one of possibilities and as a child the sky was my limit. As I grew older my choices were a little more limited and strengths based. I recall wanting to be a singer for many years until I realised that to be a singer you actually need some kind of musical ability, that dream was then replaced with wanting to be an actor (I clearly liked being the centre of attention) and eventually I chose teaching. I never had to worry about water. I just turned on the tap and it was there in abundance. I didn’t have to walk miles to get it, and not only did I drink it but I showered in, swam in it and played in it.  While I don’t blame my childhood self for being selfish, ungrateful and ignorant I no longer have any excuse to live this way as I am now aware.

This week I saw little boys covered in dust and dirt, with sandals made from old tyres and a stick caring for his families’ cattle, not just their cattle but their livelihood. This was in the middle of the day, at a time when many other children would be in school getting an education, dreaming of their future as teachers, builders, doctors etc. For this little boy his future is one of survival he will most likely grow up, marry several wives, have several children who will then take over his job of caring for the cattle.

We also had the privilege of being welcomed in to a Maasai Mama’s boma (mud hut). This lady’s name was Rose, she is one of two wives and has her own boma for her and her children. Rose is a special friend of Wendy’s and is a born again Christian. She had so much joy and held Wendy’s hand as they walked quickly up the hill to her boma together. I had never been inside one of these huts before and I was very humbled by its simplicity. It was a dark small home, made with mud walls, a stick frame and thatched straw roof, which probably would not keep the rain out in rainy season. In the corner where Lynda sat there were two small child sized beds made from Cow’s Hide and sticks separated by a few sticks. I sat on a bucket as Rose lit a fire to make chai (tea). The little house filled with smoke which stung my eyes and made it hard to see and talk, I tried my hardest not to let my discomfort show as I felt so blessed to be there sharing in a little piece of Rose’s world. Rose’s beautiful daughter of maybe 9 years old sat seemingly unaffected by the smoke and she watched me with curiosity. I remembered I had a small packet of jelly beans in my bag which I offered to her. She took them gratefully and ate them but was still too shy to talk to me, she continued to watch me intensely, returning my smiles then looking down to hide her face, by the time we left this little girl was brave enough to hold my hand as they walked us back down the hill and responded to my simple Swahili questions.

I was less effected by the simplicity of Rose’s house but was more effected by Roses joy and contentment, one that I have not seen so much in people in New Zealand. It seems the more we have the more we want, and the less satisfied we are. I guess we also grow up with so many expectations and dreams that when unrealised they can leave us feeling depressed. Rose laughed and chatted away to Wendy as one of the Maasai teachers translated for them both. It was easy to forget how little this family had and so many other families in that village have when they have so much joy and childlike faith.

This area does not yet even have running water and they have to walk miles to get water or wait until the local truck (that is literally falling apart) brings water in. There is now a well but they don’t yet have a pump. We brought all our own water in for the week and for probably one of the first time in my life I thought about how much water I used and made sure to use only as much as I needed knowing that it had to the last the week. How much more would they have to think about water?

One of the key leaders in this area has a vision of seeing this area developed through education and leadership. He wants to see locals trained as doctors, teachers, etc. so that they can come back and serve and empower their community. Already the process has begun with a small preschool and year one group of children being educated in the local church building. This is where we spent our time. The vision is for a Christian school to be built there with plans already being underway.

While we were there we worked with 6 local teachers. Wendy and Lynda taught them how to bring bible stories to life and involve children in the process through storytelling, acting, retelling charades etc. I also taught a few simple learning games that require no resources that the teachers can use with the children. The next day I had the privilege of then teaching and playing one of these games with the children. The church classroom was very basic with the only resources being a few chalkboards, lesson books and pencils. But despite not having much the teachers were full of joy, enthusiasm and love. 3 of the teachers will hopefully be training through Joshua teacher’s colleges this year, they will then be able to use their training to mentor and empower other teachers in their community.

It’s exciting to see this taking place. While it’s only early days I know that great things will come out of this community and that children will have opportunities and lives that they never would have had otherwise if it wasn’t for education and knowing God.

It is clear that life in this village is very simple and the people live with the bare minimum including only having one meal a day, it is also clear that God has a plan and a purpose for the village. You can see the joy and love in the locals they have literally been transformed by the love of Christ and because of it their children now have a brighter future. Girls are being educated rather than married off and circumcised.  No one could ever convince me that there is no God I look into the eyes of people whose lives have been transformed and see light, joy and love and I know without any doubt that it is the work of God in them.

   

 

Perception vs Reality

Do you ever wonder why we act the way we do and how our cultural upbringing influences our perceptions, thinking and choices? Or why certain things annoy us or matter to us so much?   I find it so fascinating especially living in a culture that is so different to my own. I am daily faced with my cultural prejudices and biases. So much of my thinking lately revolves around how I should respond, dress, speak and act in culturally appropriate ways.

There are certain situations that offend, discourage or annoy me about being a minority in Tanzania. But today while talking to my friend Lulu about these things I realised that my annoyance comes down to perceptions of events rather than reality.

An example is being greeted in a high pitched voice by males and youth. To me this feels like being mocked. Lulu offered a different perspective on why this happens. She said that the reason

they do this is out of shyness and not wanting to be shamed. Because if they say "hi" and then we do not answer then they can make out that it was just a joke. Lulu said she often will hear the youth daring each other in swahili to say hi to the wazungu.

Another situation where I felt I was being mocked was in the daladala (public transport), some high school girls were sitting behind me and touching my hair then laughing. It made me feel like some kind of freak show. I shared this with Lulu and she said that they are just amazed by me, because my hair is so different to their own. She explained that it’s not that they think i’m weird but more that they think of me as some kind of mystical creature.  Hearing this made me feel different about it, it’s kind of cool to be a mystical creature... I always wanted to be a mermaid as a kid :P.

My third example is being laughed at when I attempt to speak Swahili. Again I think I am being laughed at because I am saying it wrong. But Lulu explained that they are laughing because they are happy. It means so much when we speak their language. One thing I do love is the smile it puts on people’s faces when I do speak Swahili. It also makes me smile when an old bebe shakes my hand after I shikamo her (shikamo is a term of respect given to older people, it translates to “I kiss your feet”).

One day I’ll be back in NZ and no one will stare at me because I am different, no one will yell out to me “Mzungu,” or say "Hi" in a high pitched voice (unless that is actually how they talk). No kids will greet me with "good morning" when its actually the afternoon, in fact I probably won’t get greeted by kids at all! Unless they know me, and you know what I’ll probably really miss it!

It’s a weird paradox of wanting to blend in here but also kind of enjoying the fact that I am different and that everyone wants to talk to me. I am extroverted at heart so I love meeting and getting to know new people, some days more than others though.

While reflecting on all this, I realised that our western culture is one of mocking each other and that is not really the case here, so much so that sarcasm is often taken literally because it’s not a form of humor the locals use. And if you think about it the root of sarcasm is mocking.

Lulu surrounded by her fan club ;)

I truly love living in a different culture and feel so blessed and privileged to be spending a whole year in Tanzania. It is so easy to get caught up in our own little worlds and think that our own worldview is complete and accurate, but in reality there is so much to learn. I have also been thinking a lot about the way so many of us live life in New Zealand. Just because we have always done something a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the only way or even the best way. Why do we feel the need to mock each other? Why do we spend more time working and trying to get rich then we do with the people we love and care about? Why are we always so busy? Is this really the best way to live this life? And why if we are doing everything right, getting a career, having a family achieving goals keeping busy, why are so many of us still so unhappy? Why is the suicide rate so high in New Zealand? Why are there so many cases of domestic violence? We are so privileged yet it’s all not enough.

I’ve been reflecting on these things a lot lately as domestic violence stories full my homepage. I think a lot of it comes down to our perceptions and expectations.

For example, what is our perception of God? Is he only good when life is good, is he only worth living for when it suits our lives or is he good regardless of our circumstances? This year my conviction of God, as a good father has increased so much, it genuinely grieves me when I realise so many people don’t fully believe in the goodness of God. Believing God is good doesn’t mean I don’t get mad at God or have doubts at times it just means that I have an assurance that no matter what comes my way that my God is a good Dad and he is worth living for. He is all

 knowing, all powerful, all loving and even though I don’t always understand what he’s doing I’ll choose to trust in his goodness.

 At the same time though a good Father doesn’t get mad at his children when they are struggling, or doubting, a good father loves us anyway, and that’s what makes doing life with God a truly beautiful thing.

Finding my passion

There’s something truly awesome about finding your place in the world and the role that truly satisfies, finding your passion… I realise more and more that for me that place is found in teaching. I cannot think of anything I’d rather do than work with kids.

Whether it be working in a preschool in NZ, leading a cabin at Riversdale, children’s camp, or teaching in Africa, I simply love it. We can learn so much from children. They are genuine; what you see is what you get. They love and trust without fear, they don’t hide away what they are feeling and they show affection freely. Whenever I go down to school the children in the class where I spend most of my time come running over to me, to hug me, greet me, hold my hands, carry my bag etc.
 If I’ve been away in Magugu they get so excited to see me as if  iv'e been gone for about a year! The other day a little girl said to me “Teacher Rachel, I love you.”
Imagine if we as adults greeted each other like that when we arrive in an office, at a law firm, in a shop, or at the hospital, it just wouldn’t happen! And to be fair it would be a bit weird if an adult greeted us that way! 

That does not mean that at times children are not frustrating, disobedient or exhausting. But the beauty of children is that even when you growl them or give consequences they still love you and are quick to forgive. It also doesn’t mean that I am not excited for the upcoming holidays.

A few weekends ago we made a trip out to Falco’s Children’s home in Karatu, about two hours away from here! It was honestly one of my favorite weekends to date. Hanging out with the kids, playing volleyball, soccer, playing on their playground, having cuddles with so many gorgeous kiddies, watching their very amusing talent show that they put on. And talking to Tammy and hearing all her amazing stories about how they ended up where they are, doing what they are doing and how God provided and also some of the heart-breaking stories about how some of the kids ended up there including the story of miracle Moses. It’s amazing that Moses survived as he was placed in a plastic bag and buried in a shallow grave as a new born baby, and then was found about 12 hours later by a shepherd who just happened to be walking in the area. Tammy and Her husband then felt to adopt Moses and now he has a hope and a future!

Nothing breaks my heart more than the thought of children without parents, but it warmed my heart to hang out in a place like Falco’s children’s home, where the kids are loved, they are confident and they are happy. The children’s home is down a long dusty track in a village with one of the highest orphan population in Tanzanian which is largely linked to a high rate of prostitution.

A few years ago I read the story “Kisses from Katie” about a young American girl who went to Uganda on a short term trip and then through a series of events and over several years, ended up adopting 14 orphaned girls. She has since started up a ministry that helps feed, and educate thousands of children (Amazimia ministries). This book was very inspiring but it’s easy to think that I could never do anything like that and to put Katie up on a pedestal. But then to go to a place like Falco’s Children’s home and see first-hand the way that Tammy and Jerry have allowed God to use them to bring hope to many children’s lives, and to see the result of their love and commitment and hear the story of how they were literally given 70 acres of land, by the locals! It just makes my own desire and dream to work with and help orphaned children even greater. It makes it seem possible, achievable and real.  We will definitely be visiting their again!

I love that plans change! If I had stuck to my plan I would already be back in NZ recovering from jet lag, but instead I am sitting in my lounge in Tanzania writing this blog about what I love, following an awesome weekend of hanging out with the friends I have made, feeling totally content and grateful to God for this opportunity. It’s now been 3 months since I arrived and I can honestly say It’s the people you meet and the connections you make that make a place truly feel like home.

I am excited for what this year has instore, right now I am mostly working with the children who are struggling with reading, which I am loving :D 

If you want to know more about Falco’s children’s village check out their website: http://www.falcoschildrenvillage.com/