No one panic I haven't completely lost my art to tell time or calendar month! July is over but the school visits, planning, and curriculum writing hopefully will live on! So, what was started in July hopefully will not be over for a long time. It has been an interesting month, hard, but stimulating as well. The additional piece to my assignment here in Tanzania was to take a look at the educational system. And, I will say that I have indeed taken a look but left with saddened eyes. Children are crammed on benches lined up in classrooms that look like prison cells. The kids are well behaved and enjoy guests. If you saw these rooms they probably would be just as excited if a bug game in to entertain them! There is no other way to learn than by rote for only a Chalkboard is a tool no matter the age. After I blink back the tears however, I pull up my skirt climb back into the car and my mind goes wild with all the things that we can and could do. My eyes are not sad because of what I know in the US and pressing that the images there be here it is a matter of taking a hold of where you are and molding young minds to want one needs to learn and make a difference in the world that they live in. So, how do we help do that? We have a school just down the road with over 600 kids in it 130 in their Kind. Class and only 14 teachers but I only saw half of them. They really don't want to be there anyway since they bailey are paid and many are just above the age level that they are teaching.
Hang on though this is where my July is not over and your prayers are needed. I now have been made more aware of the desire to better the education system in Tanzania. My eyes can't just turn away. What this means, however, I am not sure yet. Which is where as partners on the journey I ask you to be praying. I am excited to begin right here on the Center tomorrow with our new structure and curriculum with the kids as training starts! If one thing on my lesson gets done it will be a grand day! Between the language, kids being not at home, or left very often to a school type setting, and then on top of it all being left with this "white woman." It will probably make for a festive first day! Hopefully with some time, patience, TLC, and prayer we will make progress everyday in learning Spiritual Truths and establishing some foundational educational goals for the kids we currently have on the center at this time.
Praying!
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