I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...

The little engine that could.... What a great story. This past week, I traveled to Kondoa where we have a project. Our school was being opened by the President of Tanzania! Can you believe it! How amazing! What an incredible honor! In meeting someone or even just in a greeting, you always say Shikamoo to an elder. It means I give you my respect. In a situation like this, a woman would slightly bend her knees and when shaking hands have her left hand hold her right with her palm facing up. And, then not only did I need to say Shikamoo, but I also needed to say Shikamoo Mwahashamiwa Rais. You see my problem. It means, I give you my respect, honourable President. I can be social awkard in America and now I am in a new country, new culture, new language and meeting the president of a COUNTRY! No pressure!

I am a big fan of Far side comics. Who wouldn't be? Their hilarious. One of my favorites is when Tarzan is preparing to meet Jane. It has several little windows that show Tarzan swinging through the jungle. He is practicing what he is going to say when he meets Jane so he can impress her. In the first one, he says, "Hi, I am Tarzan, the king of the Jungle. I am looking for Jane, are you her?" Next, "Are you Jane, because, I am the king of the Jungle known as Tarzan?" I can't remember the third but you get the idea. Finally, when he swings to the branch where Jane is standing with all of the anticipation building and all that practicing, he so elegantly says, "Me Tarzan, you Jane." The final caption is Tarzan with his head in his hands in complete disappointment.

So, now you might have an idea of my meeting with the president. I kept on practicing again and again. It was a little difficult to say and I kept on missing up so people would help so I could practice. When the moment finally came and we were all in a line and he walked down and greeted us, all I could think of was Hola.... I quickly recovered, said simply Shikamoo did not kneel and then hung my head in disappointment...

Apart from my social blunder, the visit was quite fantastic. We were able to share about our ministry and all that God is doing through this project and others. He loved meeting the children, especially when they sang for him. He was impressed by the school and all that was going on. What an unbelievable honour!

And at the end, he came up to me again and he asked how my swahili was. This time I was able to actually speak Swahili, and not Spanish or Chinese. He was very gracious and kind and I really enjoyed getting to meet him.