Maria
It is not easy for me to describe my eight months stay here - in Arusha. To share with you my feelings, my thoughts and experiences. I will try, but let me start from the beginning.
Have you ever heard about Slovakia? If your answer is yes, congratulations! If you answered No, I totally understand because not many people know about this small but beautiful country situated right in the middle of Europe. Well, I come from Slovakia, a country of Eastern Europe that was a communist nation with no freedom for more than 50 years. The majority of people are Catholics so I grew up as one of them as well. In 1998, thanks to my colleague, I started attending some Bible lessons. God opened my blind eyes and I desired to become an Adventist after realizing how many silly things I had strongly believed in before. I was baptized 3 years ago but I still have conflicts with my parents back home who do not understand me. If I did not receive support from my brothers and sisters in church, I would be very unhappy.
You would like to know what I am doing in Tanzania, wouldn’t you? I am a volunteer - a home school teacher. In December 2003 I joined 7-member group of Slovak volunteers and we worked on a mission project in the north of Thailand for two weeks. After seeing so much poverty there I decided to quit my job as an English teacher at secondary school and I wrote to my division in Switzerland telling them that I wanted to serve in any place in the world. So here I am. They sent me here to be a home school teacher for two 11-year-old girls, Brianna and Sabrina. They are twins in 5th grade and their parents live and work here as missionaries. Our little classroom is on the ADRA compound. Our school begins every day at 8 a.m. We have 7 lessons - Bible, Arithmetic, Spelling, Language, History and Geography, Science, Health and sometimes Art. I enjoy teaching these girls and we have a lot of fun together.
And what do I do after school? I spend some time with 12 babies. Davona Church, the mother of the twins, has started Cradle of Love Baby Home for orphaned and abandoned babies and I go and help care for them. These little creatures are such a blessing for all of us. When I am with them, certain words always come to my mind. They are addressed to everyone. "Whoever welcomes in my name such a child as this, welcomes me," said Jesus.
So this is my short report about my life here in Tanzania, a country of many natural beauties, wild animals, but what is the most important- a country of friendly and hospitable people. It is great to be here!
I am leaving for home soon and I am going to miss the time spent with the Church family. I want to say thank you to them for their kindness and understanding. They will be in my prayers, may God bless them for everything what you are doing here. My time spent with the babies, the workers, the friends- simply everybody and everything- local food, traveling by dala dala, rainy season, Sabbath services... God knows me very well and I am convinced that He chose this position for me here. He gave me what I needed and also wanted.
So if you are thinking about becoming a volunteer, do not hesitate, just pray to the Lord and He will support you wherever you will go. This world needs your help and you will be surprised how much you will receive after giving.
Maria Turcanova - a volunteer - April 2005
