May 22, 2008
Dear Supporting Congrgations,
Greetings to all of you! While many of you are welcoming spring/early summer we are just marking the end of the rainy season. It was a good stretch of heavy rains and farmers are pleased – but it did a number on our dirt roads (like the one that leads to our house) which are nearly impassable in spots – happy we have four-wheel drive!
It’s hard to believe that we are looking ahead at just six weeks remaining here in Tanzania. We fly out on July 2nd and arrive in Minneapolis on the 3rd. Between now and then however, we have many celebrations, farewells and move preparations. In a few days we will be celebrating Jesse’s high school graduation from the International School at Moshi on 24 May! Jesse has ordered a 3-piece tailor made suit and plans to graduate in style! We look forward to celebrating the weekend with friends who also have graduates in their family – it will be a special and memorable time. Today he finished his last exam.
The celebrations will continue with barbecue and potluck farewell gatherings with friends; a send off at Heifer for Dennis before his contract ends June 30th; Kari’s mom’s return visit to Tanzania and celebration of her 50th wedding anniversary; Jesse’s 19th birthday on June 19th; and our first wedding anniversary on June 30th! And we’ve just come off celebrating Kari’s birthday – so we’re not suffering for lack of excuses for dinner gatherings, cakes and toasts!
We’ve been busy since December trying to get in “one last trip to…” and so that has added to the memory making of this very special year. On the list yet to be planned is one last farewell to Heifer SE zone in Dar es Salaam, and a visit to the Dareda Agriculture Center near Babati where Dennis and Meredith first worked. In between the fun stuff, we have continued to work, finishing up projects, and beginning the transition process at our respective jobs (Kari resigned from Yale effective July 1). Kari has also been busy applying for work with a focus on NC. Nothing definite at this stage but lots of feelers are out. We came across one job as Asst Dean of Service Learning at a small liberal arts college in Asheville, NC in the heart of the Appalachian mountains. We decided to apply for it together – two for the price of one! We have yet to hear from them – so it doesn’t look encouraging – but it’s perked our creative streak for thinking more broadly about future job options.
Returning to the US
Although there remains much uncertainty about our longer term future work and where we will live, we at least have a vague idea about our first two months back in the U.S. Following the Murnyak tradition of years past, we’ll head to our A-frame lake house in Maple Lake, MN upon arrival. This will give us the chance to decompress, relax, and visit with family and friends. We particularly look forward to seeing Chris who is living outside Minneapolis whom we haven’t seen since last summer (though Kari saw him in November briefly). He’s now working at an Erik’s Bike shop and loving the work environment and colleagues.
Maple Lake will be our home base for the months of July and August though we expect to do some travel in and out of state. The major focus of August will be preparing to send Jesse off to his first year of college at Minnesota State University at Moorhead. It will be another big transition time for all of us! In the fall Dennis will visit our supporting congregations.
It is a time of transitions and changes. Kari’s cousin sent us a prayer she learned at Holden that we have found helpful during this time. I would like to share it with you:
Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are counting on His leading and support in these coming years just like He has done during our 25 years in Tanzania. Knowing this we are feeling little anxiety.
In the meantime, here’s how to reach us:
US mail for July/August: PO Box 271, Buffalo, MN 55313
Email: kahwig@yahoo.com and dennis.murnyak@habari.co.tz
Telephone # to be determined!
Love and peace,
Kari and Dennis
