Hello all!

Believe it or not, today is the first day Kasey and I have been able to spend the bulk of the day with just each other since we got here. We decided to go on a date in Arusha...i.e., eat some food, Kase got a $5 pedicure, and we did a little shopping. It has been great to just spend some time with each other. Even though we are always in the same place, it is almost impossible to find the time to regroup together.

Just a couple pictures this time. The first is of our dinner last night. Yesterday afternoon, we sent Amanda in to town to buy enough pizza for the kids and volunteers at Peace Matunda. Needless to say, it was quite the experience for the kids. We handed each of them a half a pizza, half a bottle of coke, and they split 3 tubes of Pringles. We then watched Curious George. If that isn't a traditional Friday night family experience, I don't know what is! The second picture is of Corfield and Kase. These two have grown quite close over the past weeks, and in this shot, they're headed down to the village to get the children's hair cut.

I unfortunately could not go get my hair cut on Thursday with the kids (had to stay close to the bathroom), but when I saw the quality of the kids cut and heard the price, I made a point to journey to Kimundo on Friday. Danny (a Canadian volunteer) and I took all the kids to get the 'mzungus' some hair cuts. We had Mery ask the barber if he had ever cut mzungu hair before, and I am proud to say I was his second ever! The most satisfying point of this little excursion however was the fact that I paid 500 shillings (40 cents!) for a cut that was superior to the $13 dollar Hair Cuttery treatment I got just before I left!

Last time I talked to my mom on the phone, I fear I might have left her a bit worried about me. We had just returned from Zanzibar where, over the course of the week, we were scammed about 100,000 shillings because we are mzungus. I was upset, I felt cheated, and I was beginning to hold it against the average Tanzanian Joe-Shmoe. On another discussion board which the Robertson Program requires me to participate, I even called the people here hopeless and parasitic to Tanzania's natural beauty. These words were harsh. Just like at home, you sometimes have to look hard to find the good, but it exists everywhere. The good that I think is most tangible is that which people like Kaaya are performing. Certainly, Kaaya is human and has his flaws, but he has dedicated his home, his wages, and his life's work to educating the children of his village. He is an inspiration to me because it is quite obvious that he lives to serve, but also he lives. He is an active participate in the social dynamic of not only Kimundo, but Tengeru, and even Arusha. I have had numerous people walk up to me in Arusha and immediately know that I was at Matunda and know what I was doing. Although Kaaya makes more of an income hosting volunteers than most make with their daily work, he does not flaunt that money, except when it comes to the children.

As Kase and I begin to see this journey concluding (we only have 2 more full weeks in the classroom), it is important that we begin to try and understand where this journey will take us from here. For me, I thought I would come to Tanzania, and my entire life would be completely changed forever. Actually, I feel a bit like the opposite has happened. This trip has allowed me to separate myself from the life I have at home, experience something new, and still know that my former life is there waiting for me. I have discovered that I am simply one of the luckiest people there must be. I am completely surrounded by people I love, and people who love and support me. I feel like the future holds endless possibilities, and that no matter what, I will always have more than plenty. This experience, more than anything else, has made me appreciate that and has also forced me to understand that there are so many people who need a helping hand, that it is impossible to help everyone -- you simply must give it your best, and simultaneously love HOW you are helping. We all have a responsibility to love, and there are so many ways to share that love with others. I use the example of Kaaya as a man who lives in his (often intangible) love, and yet also has a life of joy and freedom. I hope that I too will be lucky enough to live, serve, and most importantly, love.

I love you all.

- Michael