From Tanzania, with love

My niece Joanna is spending the semester in Tanzania. This is a pretty raw email that speaks to some of the neo-colonialism that still exists in Africa. You could also remember her in prayer as her journey continues with an 8 day village homestay visit coming up.





"We only have one month to go, and it is going to fly by. Next week begins our 8-day long village homestay, afterwhich we will still be visiting Lake Malawi and a tea plantation, leaving just one week for academics/wrapping it all up.

These past two weeks have been very full. Last time I wrote an email it was about the cultural experience of the Maasai. Recently, we have been learning about development and politics in East Africa, which has been a mix of depressing and encouraging stories. Either way, it has intimately proved that we are in need of a God who can overcome complicated issues.

We've been studying the gory history of East Africa in class, and the issues that have resulted from the slave trade and European control. I never realized that Africa suffers not for want of basic necessities, but from access to their own resources. Politics is in a messy and corrupt state for many countries here, mostly resulting from deeply embedded racism and church politics. Tanzania is one of the most peaceful and stable due to intermixed marriage in tribes and agricultural choices.

However I found out during my Town Homestay that Iringa is struggling deeply with HIV-AIDS. One entire village was wiped out, and driving by the empty, decaying houses was a harsh reality check. Another complicated issue is alcohol abuse, which results in physical abuse and pregnancy and abortion.

Needless to say I was getting a little depressed. All of these things are complicated and tied to economy, and it goes in circles. We've had a number of missionaries visiting us this week, though, and their honesty and faithfulness have been a balm to my heart. We also talked to a brilliant couple who work with villages in small projects, giving disabled people jobs and providing clean water to locals-all without spending any money. The villages raise any costs themselves, which in turn gives them pride and independence from western politics. I have heard stories of redemption, and I hold onto these. The church is a powerful presence here, and it is the only way that people turn away from alcohol and start taking care of their children.

So with all of this (and more) going through my head, we leave for our 8-day long village homestay next monday. I'm feeling a little nervous, unsure of what I will see and feel. I would appreciate your prayers for God's light to shine in my heart and in these people's lives!"