In the Lay of Things

    Engikaret Arusha, Tanzania     This past week has been incredibly challenging - but in all the best ways. As I reflect on the way the Lord is moving in the village of Engikaret, I feel an overwhelming sense of joy. My team had the privilege of serving in this community, focusing on meeting the needs of the people in the Maasai tribe. Tanzania is home to many tribes, with the Maasai being one of the most well-known. These people are gentle and kind, often first to give the shirt off their back. However, their lifestyle is largely nomadic and traditional, which leaves them significantly behind the rest of the population. In this tribe, it's normal for men to have multiple wives, often marrying young girls in their teens. It is also forbidden for children to attend school, as education is seen as a threat - something that could "take away their wives." The Maasai men view education as a risk; if the women decides to pursue further schooling, it would mean ...

     It's hard to believe it has already been a week since arrival - my eyes have taken in so much. My team and I have been staying at YWAM bases in Arusha and Singida, and one thing that has deeply impacted me is the extraordinary hospitality of the people we have encountered at each base. How is it that we came here with the intention to serve, but we end up being served in return? The majority of the workers here at the Singida base, for example, receive no financial support for themselves or their families - their position is entirely unpaid. Yet, they still serve with such joy. They simply rely on their faith to provide their needs, and somehow, every single time those needs are met. Whether it is preparing meals for us and waiting to eat until we've finished, driving long distances into town for water runs, or just pouring out their hearts into translating for us, they always give their all. The way the Tanzanian people serve is so significantly different than ...