my first school:)

within the first two weeks of arriving in Arusha we were in intense training. Everyday for a week we had Swahili lessons, history lessons, geography lessons, and then we moved onto teaching lessons! There was about 15 of us. 5 or 6 of us were americans and the other were tanzanian "counterparts" meaning they were there to help teach and translate as well(they actually worked for Global Service Corps). The second weekend we were there we left Arusha for Monduli, which was about an hour and a half away! There we all stayed in guest houses which were actually really nice:) we were all broken into small groups and then placed at different schools to teach for the next two weeks!

i was placed with two tanzanian counterparts, Helen and Immanuel at Orkeeswa

words could never be enough to describe their selfless loving hearts.

these were some of our students.....

it was such an amazing experience. Very HARD, but amazing. I have never met children so hungry for knowledge that they would walk for miles to get to school. The school its self was a good hour (driving) away from our guest house so some mornings we would pick up our kids on the road as we passed them. Some days a few of the girls would have to leave early so they could make it to the water hole and back home before dark. I have never known such pain and hard work....my heart broke for each one.

One student that really touched my heart was Lucas:) he was not much older than 16 and he was considered a man in his tribe. His hands were callused from the hard labor. His joints ached after we came in from free time from walking such extreme distances and lack of adequate food. And his faced showed the scarring of his tribe where he had been circumcised. He was so smart and sweet. i miss Lucas and our talks very much. i pray for him daily.

another student was happy. She was about 15 and had 12 mothers and one father which was the norm for her tribe. We use to sit under the boubou tress and lay in the grass as the other students played basketball. She had this laugh that could make the harshest man melt:) Happy had 72 brothers and sisters.....i pray for her everyday.

this was our last day at Orkeeswa

the class graduation picture with their certificates 

i will never forget these faces:)