For the First Time: Part Mbili

My firsts for October!

First time drinking coconut juice, from the coconut.

First time teaching abroad!

First beach party.

First time living on the beach

First time riding a bijaji.

First send-off party.

First time adequately French-braiding my hair.

The beach near my house.	Another view from the beach.
Some teachers at the grade 7 beach party.	With Teacher Agness at the send-off party.

The B-I-B-L-E

Part of my placement in Dar Es Salaam involves working with the youth group at a PCEA church (Presbyterian Church of East Africa). Each week we have been reading a book of the Bible, and on Sundays we share which verses were our favorites. Last week we read Ephesians; I enjoyed reading the book, especially the fourth chapter. Some verses just stuck out to me, while others have deep connections to things happening in my life right now.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places – Ephesians 1:3

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the house-hold of God – Ephesians 2:19

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-19

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love – Ephesians 4:1-2

as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 5:19-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. – Ephesians 6:10