Water as a Blessing and a Curse

When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people. (Chinese Proverb)

JUNE 16, Monday

Today was non-stop until about 10pm. The event welcoming Lynn, and the Dedication and Blessing of the 1^st two classrooms of the Minnesota Academy was an overwhelming success. The food was wonderful, the children entertaining, and Joseph was truly a “Master” of Ceremonies. The Batik demonstration elicited all the “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” it deserved.

I seriously have no control over my emotions! I find it most difficult discussing my volunteer experience and TAFCOM without getting emotional. I was on the agenda today and could not get through my presentation without choking up. Fortunately I was not the only one. The passion of all involved with TAFCOM is so evident when we have a gathering like this.

At one point Jonas was discussing the building of the Minnesota Academy. He began to mention some of the problems (wind damage to the roof, stolen windows) and quickly corrected himself stating they were challenges and that TAFCOM’s focus is on strengths not weaknesses. I see this philosophy played out not only in the day-to-day operations of TAFCOM but also in how they approach their clients and programming.

A large group in 3 vans gathered at the Minnesota Academy where Father Bahati, a Catholic priest (who married Nie and Jonas) and Pastor Nixon, a friend of Lynn’s, conducted the Blessing of the classrooms. Holy water was sprinkled on us, the land and the classrooms. It was a somber and emotional ceremony. Even Kili presented herself along with the setting sun. 18 of us finished the day at one of the nicer Moshi restaurants, Indi-Italiano, the only restaurant I have ever known to serve both Indian and Italian food.

I also realized today that my time here is half over and I feel a bit more like a half empty glass than a half full one. I learn so much about myself each time I come here. I relish the expectancy of a new awareness and this time it relates to how very comfortable I am in this environment. I am surrounded by the constant activity of life. Every morning I walk out my door and know that I will engage in greetings and well-wishing with people, some I see daily and others who will be knew faces. Some of my neighbors know my name, others just call me “Bibi” (grandmother), and, of course, “Muzungu” is a common greeting. These encounters continue all throughout my walk to TAFCOM. I know there will always be groups of kids who run after me, hug and touch me, or just laugh and chatter as I walk along. I am surrounded by a raw and natural beauty. My sense of purpose has returned. A friend said it best: “My spirit soars.”

JUNE 17, Tuesday

Around 6:30am I heard unusual commotion from Neema and Mary who are the only quiet morning people around here. We have had a few minor issues with leaking faucets and pipes which the landlord said he would look at…a week ago. Sometime during the night water got into Mary’s room and flooded her floor to the point that there was enough standing water you could slosh in it. Fortunately her computer was on her bed but her school books and clothes were soaked through. (We do not have dressers or closets so clothing is kept in luggage or on plastic shelving.) We could not figure where it came from because there is no water source near her room.

Mary mentioned coming back early from school to clean her room. I immediately went into “Western Mentality” reactive mode and said she should not have to miss school; we needed to contact the landlord as he should be responsible for plumbing/water issues. You would have thought I was a comedian. Neema and Mary both burst into laughter. They assured me that this is not the norm in Tanzania. If there is a problem and the tenant doesn’t like it they can move elsewhere. This is not to say that the landlord would not fix the problem but he would not consider cleaning our flooded room. I offered to stay and help but Neema took care of everything and by the time Mary and I returned she had mopped up the room and washed Mary’s clothes.

My day at TAFCOM was much less eventful than the morning escapades. We reviewed Monday’s activities and everyone was pleased with how things flowed. My plan was to meet a friend for lunch in Moshi so it was a short morning where we set a plan for the rest of the week. It was also decided that the 3 tailoring students who are ready to graduate will attend a month long training in Finishing and Design with a tailor in Moshi. Donated funds will be used to cover the $15 cost per student.

I met Deb for lunch. She was working and living in Moshi in 2012 and has spent 3 years in Tanzania. Her fluency in Kiswahili is impressively the best I have encountered. Our paths crossed several times during my 2012 visit and we furthered our friendship through Facebook. A leisurely lunch and good conversation concluded with an invitation to join her on Thursday for lunch with 2 people who work with a local community of lepers. I naively had no idea that leprosy was still an issue so was fascinated at the prospect of learning more.

With all the water in our building the mosquito convention has reconvened. I am not an advocate of anything toxic but asked Neema if she would spray tomorrow after we left and before she went out. I do not want Mary or Neema contracting malaria.

JUNE 18, Wednesday

Nie was not feeling well so was going to rest at home and meet me later for our home visits. I had scheduled a meeting with the teachers to go over their lesson planning. It was agreed that I would teach with them on Tuesday and Thursday of next week. I also spent time with Sigrid, one of the German volunteers, who teaches English to the Tailoring students. I will spend time with her and Marcel so that I can continue English Lessons when they leave on July 3^rd. I am very much looking forward to both of these activities. I enjoy the planning and relish the interaction.

It is hard to choose a favorite among the TAFCOM programs but the home-based care is what makes it real for me. I feel that until you move among the people and spend time in their homes you are missing an important element that connects you with the realities of their lives. Part of my comfort level is the odd feeling that I am “used to” the way people live and their surroundings. The dilapidated housing and deplorable living conditions no longer shock me. Sometimes I feel too insulated.

Setting out with Nie I was most excited to visit Jasmine. She is the woman whose husband and young daughter died of AIDS and she was blamed and ostracized by her husband’s family. Jasmine has a daughter in Secondary School and they rent one room in a mud building with dirt floors and no water or electricity. The only light is provided by a small window. This is typical of the housing where the poorest in Pasua live.

But first we were to visit Fatuma and Rehema. Both received Micro Loans and are families we visited regularly in the past. I was thrilled to learn that Fatuma’s granddaughter, Salma was doing well. In 2012 she was pursuing a degree in Hotel Management and Fatuma and Salma’s mother had made many sacrifices to ensure that she would complete her studies. When we arrived Nie told me Salma had a baby, Derek, who is 6 weeks old and they were visiting for a few weeks with her mom and grandmother. Salma finished school, got married and is now living in Dar Es Salaam where she has a job in her field. To hear this success story was music to my ears.

Rehema is a single mother of 4 children. Her husband died of AIDS. Rehema and her 2 youngest children have tested positive for HIV. The kids have grown so much. I took their picture so I could make a copy for Rehema. I also save my water bottles because she sells cooking oil and divides it for sale into the small and large bottles. Rehema gave me an orange as a thank you which was so sweet and generous.

Next stop – Jasmine. She did not know I was coming so it was a wonderful surprise. She was so happy to see me. I am not sure if she might have even had tears in her eyes or it was the mist in mine that made it hard to tell. Her broken leg is healing well and she is walking daily for exercise. I brought her some body soap and paper-stuffed toilet paper tubes.

Volunteers go through a lot of water bottles and toilet paper so when I was here in 2012 I saved them for reuse. The water bottles were used to make toy cars as I was unaware at the time that they could be used for bottling oil. The stuffed toilet paper tubes are used as fire starters and save on wood and charcoal. During a presentation to my neighbor’s 4-H group, the Ohio Helpers, it was decided that they would save the tubes and stuff them for me. We are using some at TAFCOM for cooking the children’s porridge and I gave some to Jasmine.

Our final home visit was to meet Grace’s father. Grace is 18 months old and comes to the TAFCOM pre-school with Katherine, one of the tailoring teachers. Grace and her dad, Hendry, live in the same building as Katherine. Grace’s mother is an alcoholic and when Grace was 6 months old she left her in a bar for 2 days. The father was away from home working on a farm. He is not skilled or educated so he does day labor. The father returned home and the mother has not been seen since.

Hendry shared that he has worked in the Mbuyuni market in Moshi and would like to rent a space to sell fruits and vegetables. We plan to provide a Micro Loan for him to start a vendor business. He agreed that I could take a picture of him and Grace. He commented that he has no pictures of her so I will also make a copy for him.

The saddest part of the day was not being able to see Veronica. She was a favorite who I loved to visit. She had a beautiful spirit and always made us laugh. An elderly woman raising 2 grandchildren, Veronica claimed to be the oldest woman in Moshi. Her health was never good in the years I knew her and she regularly used an inhaler. She died April 24^th. A couple of the volunteers were able to meet her and shared that she had asked about me. I was so touched.  Veronica had asked for a picture of the two of us during my last trip. I made one for each of us and will always treasure this picture and the special way she made me feel.

Nie and I concluded our day by visiting her mother who lives one road over from me. Nie’s aunt recently had a partial leg amputation due to diabetes and was being cared for by her daughter and recovering at Nie’s mother’s home. They invited me to stop anytime. Nie also pointed out that I could come anytime for mchaichai. This is a plant that looks like tall grass but when boiled makes the most delicious tea I have ever tasted. I googled it and discovered it is a type of lemongrass that grows in tropical climates. I so want to smuggle some back with me.