Wow. I can't believe it's almost time to return home. After weeks, months and over a year of working hard, missing family and enduring hardship, we have just three weeks before flying home to the States.
It's a good feeling I must admit. One filled with mixed emotion for sure. Almost a sweet and sour taste, but as my friend and mentor Dr. Derek once told me, "that's the best flavor."
Things are wrapping up nicely here, and after a year of pushing hard to overhaul the systems here at Wild Hope, things are finally beginning to pay off and show sustained improvement as a result of our work.
Faith and Philemon, our Office Manager and Operations Manager respectively, are taking on our duties with enhanced procedures, a more organized workspace and a fresh perspective on office and organization management.
In truth, we couldn't be happier. We feel like through it all we have been faithful and obedient to what God has called us to, not in every minute daily detail, but in the grand scheme of things - we came, we loved, we gave.
I think I'm most thankful for the friendships I've formed. After all, isn't that what we're always most thankful for? Cars rust and houses crumble, but relationship is the essence of all that becomes life.
As our time comes to a close, we are preparing to return home with our hearts filled - a mixture of joy and pain, triumph and suffering; for you cannot see what we have seen and not return brokenhearted.
Our deepest thanks go out to all of you who have supported us, both practically and spiritually, financially and relationally. Your prayers, phone calls, emails and letters of support have have kept us strong in the midst of the storm.
As we begin to embark on this great adventure home, we ask that you would be gracious to us as we take time adjusting. We are not coming home the same people we were when we left. We are different, you are different, we have both changed.
It may be hard for us to partake of, or even overhear, certain aspects of conversation that may seem trivial based on what we've been through. That does not change our love for who you are.
At times, we may need to talk; listen when you are able, and give a raincheck when you are not. We do not expect everyone to care deeply about our full experience - but we will need some close friends who do. We are weary soldiers coming back from war, and we have seen bloodshed.
In all things we care about knowing your stories, your trials and your joys of our time away as much as we want to share ours with you. Relationship is a two-way street.
We are looking forward to coming home and being with friends and family. If you are on our route as we drive cross country, we will send you an email and try to stop by - though we may not be able to see everybody, know that we want to.
With our deepest love, thanks and gratitude for all who read these letters. We love you deeply. Give our best to those you see and tell them we'll be home soon. With all of our love,
-The Roddy's
PS. A short note on timeline: We will be spending about four months in Atlanta before returning home to LA, except for a short visit in November. We will post a more specific timeline when one develops. Bless.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Interns, Electricity & Polo?
First of all, government negotiations with the Dala Dala drivers have apparently gone well; no further protests or riots have broken out and public transportation has now been restored. We have also had electricity almost this entire week due to a festival happening near our house (Nane Nane, or "Eighth of August"), but we do not expect it to continue much past this evening, since the festivities end today. And for those who have been praying about power, please continue to do so. We have heard rumors that Tanzania only has about 40 days worth of power remaining (they are at 14% of the water necessary to run turbines), and many factories might be shutting down as a result, which would mean loss of jobs and higher prices for goods.
Also, Tyler Ross, our newest Wild Hope Intern, arrived two weeks ago. He plans to work here for the next 9 months, overseeing a building project at a school in our beloved Maasailand. He is waiting for his visa to clear as the prices have recently doubled at the behest of the Tanzania Government. He is a recent graduate of Milligan University and an incredible addition to our team and you can check out his blog here at: Tyler Takes on Tanzania. He has been great to have around and has spent his first two weeks immersing himself in Swahili, studying up to 8 hours per day. We've enjoyed his humor, southern Tennessee accent and sweet tea to die for. Welcome Tyler!
Lastly, in expectation of bringing home our German Shepherd/Husky "Sequoia" we have been in the market for an extra large dog cage to fly her back in. Liz contacted a woman who had a cage to sell, and this past weekend she invited us out to her "estate" for lunch and to watch a Polo match at her club. What an experience it was…
At her estate we enjoyed lunch of roast chicken and veggies, while sitting out on her veranda overlooking Mt. Meru. We took a walk behind the house where we saw wild Zebra, Wildebeest, Impala and Grant Gazelle. Then we went to the Polo Match at the Clubhouse and were treated to a feast of barbecued lamb, filet, ribs, sausages, and salads galore. We met some lovely people, made some new friends and thoroughly enjoyed our time, but it was also strange to be part of this “other side of Africa.”
What struck Liz most was the remnant of colonialism that still seems to exist today. Here we were at a British social club staffed entirely by African servants. And while the staff are certainly treated well and paid fairly, it was disconcerting to her considering Africa’s history and the past relationship between whites and blacks in this country.
This experience also reminded us again that poverty and wealth are not based solely on money or possessions. The woman who sold us the dog cage is a 73 year old widow who hails from an aristocratic Irish family, and lived in Spain and France before settling in Tanzania.
We found her story to be both fascinating and heartbreaking. While kind and generous in many ways, she also seemed sad and lonely. Despite the eight staff who live in the servants quarters behind the house, she lives alone, and we left feeling a sense that though she had been quite wealthy, she was simultaneously incredibly poor.
“Quality of life is not based solely on our physical needs being met, but on the quality of our relationships.” - sdroddy
Also, Tyler Ross, our newest Wild Hope Intern, arrived two weeks ago. He plans to work here for the next 9 months, overseeing a building project at a school in our beloved Maasailand. He is waiting for his visa to clear as the prices have recently doubled at the behest of the Tanzania Government. He is a recent graduate of Milligan University and an incredible addition to our team and you can check out his blog here at: Tyler Takes on Tanzania. He has been great to have around and has spent his first two weeks immersing himself in Swahili, studying up to 8 hours per day. We've enjoyed his humor, southern Tennessee accent and sweet tea to die for. Welcome Tyler!
Lastly, in expectation of bringing home our German Shepherd/Husky "Sequoia" we have been in the market for an extra large dog cage to fly her back in. Liz contacted a woman who had a cage to sell, and this past weekend she invited us out to her "estate" for lunch and to watch a Polo match at her club. What an experience it was…
At her estate we enjoyed lunch of roast chicken and veggies, while sitting out on her veranda overlooking Mt. Meru. We took a walk behind the house where we saw wild Zebra, Wildebeest, Impala and Grant Gazelle. Then we went to the Polo Match at the Clubhouse and were treated to a feast of barbecued lamb, filet, ribs, sausages, and salads galore. We met some lovely people, made some new friends and thoroughly enjoyed our time, but it was also strange to be part of this “other side of Africa.”
What struck Liz most was the remnant of colonialism that still seems to exist today. Here we were at a British social club staffed entirely by African servants. And while the staff are certainly treated well and paid fairly, it was disconcerting to her considering Africa’s history and the past relationship between whites and blacks in this country.
This experience also reminded us again that poverty and wealth are not based solely on money or possessions. The woman who sold us the dog cage is a 73 year old widow who hails from an aristocratic Irish family, and lived in Spain and France before settling in Tanzania.
We found her story to be both fascinating and heartbreaking. While kind and generous in many ways, she also seemed sad and lonely. Despite the eight staff who live in the servants quarters behind the house, she lives alone, and we left feeling a sense that though she had been quite wealthy, she was simultaneously incredibly poor.
“Quality of life is not based solely on our physical needs being met, but on the quality of our relationships.” - sdroddy
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