Geyman Steps

Yesterday, I made a trip to the TCAA (Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority) in order to schedule my three aviation tests before we leave for Arusha in a month. As the TCAA is past the airport, it takes a couple of hours to make this trip. On my way back I snapped a few pictures with Carmen's phone. It is rather difficult to be inconspicuous when you are a white dude holding a big pink phone! One of the intersections on the main road has been undergoing construction for while. I wanted to bypass this and so I took what I thought may be a shortcut. There are a few main roads which intersect the city. Let's just say that when you leave these main roads driving can become interesting. You never know when you will have to turn around because the puddle is too deep or due to other complications... as a rule of thumb, we have learned to not be the first to make the tire tracks! Yay! Pepsi. Usually, it is Coka Cola With a population of 5.5 million p...

It was difficult to see Dinah go. In many ways, she became part of the family. To Jason, she was, "my Dinah girl." And we are proud of her because she accomplished what she came to do. What Dinah did was make this extremely difficult transition to Tanzania possible. She sacrificed being able to go to school or work at the hospital as a CNA. She exchanged family, a country she loves, and lasagna to change diapers and chase two energetic boys all day. Because on some days missions is an adventure, but on most days you find it is just this: Everyday life. And missions becomes what we ought to do anywhere we are. Serve God by loving Him and his people. And Dinah did this very well. The night before we had a surprise go-away party with the neighbours for Dinah. Both girls must have been thinking the same thing - where's the beard? All the children (three 5yr olds, three 3yr olds, one 2 yr old) lined up and told Dinah what they liked best abou...

This week Silas had his 5th birthday. We asked him if he wanted to have his cake at his school or at home. Of course, there was no doubt in his mind what he wanted. Silas thrives on friends and what better way to have a birthday than with as many friends as possible.  Carmen was able to catch most of it on video. Just as a disclaimer, I don't think this is a traditional Tanzanian birthday as the preschool is run by a British lady and there is a lot of English. We actually managed to find a game.  And an umbrella from Dinah! Just like the one she gave Jason for his birthday, only this time green. On another note, Jason received a letter from great grandparents for his birthday a few weeks ago. Do you notice anything suspicious about this letter? Notice the small cut on the bottom which was likely used to check if there was anything valuable to be had inside...

Changes Coming   Last weekend we visited Arusha in order to discuss future plans with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) and locate possible housing. We were pleased to come back home with the next three months planned and having found a furnished house to move to. New Schedule Highlights A lot still needs to happen before the end of August:  May - Dinah leaves and Jacob has to study for and take aviation written exams.  June - Full-time language studies end and we attend the annual SIL conference.  July - Before the SIL conference ends, Jacob will be flying to the UK for a week of MAF training. The day after returning to Tanzania from the UK, we plan to move to Arusha. Once in Arusha, Jacob will begin flying in preparation for a flight test to transfer his USA pilot licenses over to Tanzania.  August - Jacob will go back to Dar Es Salaam in order to take the flight test. Upon returning, he will start two weeks of ground and flight training w...

On Friday, Carmen, the girls, and I left for Arusha. We have some meetings with MAF regarding our future move to Arusha and scheduling. The boys are staying in Dar Es Salaam with Dinah. We plan to return to Dar Keshokutwa (the day after tomorrow) which will be Monday. We would appreciate prayer for the meetings on Monday with MAF. There are many things such as flight testing, Tanzania pilot certification, and our move which need to be discussed. Since Carmen and I have been carrying the girls with us wherever we have gone, they have been quite a hit. The Tanzanian women really love to hold them and are always asking if they can get selfies with them. They have been a great way to make friends and start conversations. The girls in the previous picture gave her back apologising because they got lipstick on her head. No, this is not Kilimanjaro, though Kili is nearby. It is Mount Meru at 14,692 feet (4,562m). It is a dormant volcano with its last eruption,...

This video highlights some challenges we have been facing along with important lessons God has been teaching us. We are not alone, as the other two families who began language with us in February have been facing similar life lessons while in Tanzania. Much of the footage is from our week in Morogoro during our language acquisition workshop as seen in the latter half of the blog post   Still Small Voice . I had planned to create this video shortly thereafter, however, life caught threw a monkey wrench into my plans and it had to be put off until now.

Born April 12, 2014, in Libby, Montana. Jason Timothy - Healed to Honor God One day old back in Idaho First birthday  Second birthday in Waxhaw, North Carolina He was so excited for his birthday (which is what he calls cake)! He begged to be the one to cut it... it's a butter knife.  "How old are you now?!?" "Two? Really?" "Yep! You are three!" His Dinah girl (as he calls her) helped make his birthday extra special by making him a gluten/ dairy free lemon coconut cake! With the rainy season upon us, this gift along with his new crocs will come in handy quite often :)