First Days of Teaching

Monday and Tuesday were our first two days in the classroom with the students at St. Philip’s.  They have their provincial exams coming up in a few weeks, so Mark and I are team teaching Acts to first and second year student to help prepare for their exams.  The school day is broken up into five fifty minute periods with a tea break from 11:00 to 11:20.  These first two days Mark and I have had double periods before and after tea, so four fifty minute periods out of the five.  That is a lot of time for the students to listen to Mark and I, but that is what they asked for.

Our class is made up of 24 first and second year diploma students.  They come here to St. Philip’s from all over the country from many different dioceses.  After two full days of teaching, we are exhausted, but so energized by these students.  They have such a beautiful thirst for knowledge and are so enthusiastic about learning.  They do not miss one thing that is written on the board.  My spelling has been corrected twice in two days by different students.  It has been a joy teaching them and walking with them through the book of Acts.  There have been such lively and fruitful discussions about Paul, the church, and the movement of the Holy Spirit.  There is also such an unbelievable amount of chalk dust all over me at all times of the day.  Today I wore black pants, which was a terrible choice when working with yellow chalk.  For future travels, do not bring black pants to Tanzania, they will just be constantly covered in yellow hand prints.

We have also been attending Morning Prayer with the students.  The Monday service is Morning Prayer in Swahili while Tuesday morning is Morning Prayer in English.  Swahili is written in English letters, so it is not hard to read, but I have such a great appreciation for these students who are learning in what is for many of them a third language, with their tribal language first, Swahili second and English third.  The words from the Swahili liturgy are clear as day in front of me yet they still feel strange as the work their way past my tongue and fumble out over my lips.  The prayers are read so fast.  Pretty much the only thing I can do in Swahili liturgy is sing songs, and the songs are so beautiful.  There is no musical accompaniment.  Just the voice of a single student starting each line with the correct words and tone and everyone else following along.  The tone of their voices when they sing in so unique and calming.  It brings you to such a meditative state right as you walk in the chapel, since the singing always starts before the service.

Right now I am sitting outside trying to find wifi, listening to the strong dry season winds blow overhead and typing by the light of a full moon over the Kongwa Hills.  It is so beautiful here.  There is so much joy and love in everything that goes on.  In every smile and handshake.  Every moment of teaching and learning.  Every spoonful of instant coffee and powdered milk.  It is so amazing to be in this country, it is no wonder Jacques has been coming back for fifty years.  I wish you all a good night.  And I will see you all soon.

RDT