Merry Christmas!

With just five days till Christmas, I sit at my desk and think about all that has happened so far. What a blessing friendship has been over the last two months. The Lord has provided for me in so many ways, I am thankful each and every day. I continue to develop a relationship with the Tans, volunteers with the CRWRC also living on the same compound, AICT. Yesterday we hosted a Christmas party for several young Tanzanian people that live on our compound. We had over 25 people in the house, singing Christmas carols, eating snacks and celebrating the birth of our Saviour. Developing relationships with people here in Mwanza has been a blessing. Language still remains a barrier, but a smile and enthusiasm goes a long way in creating trust in people. Sometimes coming from another country may seem as a setback, but I am able to walk around the Makongoro compound and from a distant I receive waves and smiles from young and old, knowing that it is Monica walking to work in the morning or out to the dala dala stop for a trip to the market. You may be wondering what I mean by Monica. Once I arrived in Mwanza, another CRWRC staff suggested to use my middle name instead of Erin, as it may be too hard to say for some Tanzanian people, and what a blessing it has been. The name Monica rolls off the tongue of many Nationals and almost sounds like people sing my name when they see me. Today, for instance, Margaret, Gordon and I went to the fundi (a seamstress) to pick up a few skirts that we got made and they remembered us, and had a huge smile on their face as they literally sang my name, “Monica, Karibu sana!” Even though my network here in Mwanza may be small, we walk down to the market and often find a familiar face and with the openness and welcoming attitude of so many of the Tanzanian people, a conversation begins and we exchange kind words! It is a wonderful feeling to be able to interact with people here, with people that the Lord has created to be unique and beautiful. As I get to know more and more people here, I am encouraged by their hospitality and generosity. Thank the Lord for the wonderful example that Tanzanian can be to everyone. This afternoon, the Tans and I were invited to a co-worker’s house for lunch. We had a great visit and were able to again experience the loving kindness of people here in Mwanza.
I want to wish everyone back home, friends and family, a blessed Christmas. This year will be quite different and I pray that the Lord will use this time to challenge me to really focus on the true meaning of Christmas, despite being away from family and loved ones. The Lord sent His Son to earth to save us all, so that we can share His Good News all over the world, stretching to each and every nation, each and every tribe, each and every people. This Christmas may you experience the gift of Jesus in your life, may you practice generosity and hospitality like many Tanzanian people do, and may you be filled with the love of the Lord. Blessings from Mwanza to you.
“For nothing is impossible with God,” Luke 1:37