Feb 19-28 Never A Dull Moment!!!

Monday, February 19 

In my efforts at organizing and educating the teachers on the use of the resource materials, it is necessary for them to have a cabinet. Cabinet space is limited and as a result, things are crammed, cardboard boxes are used for storage, and, ultimately, things are scattered and/or lost. I agreed when I first arrived that I would purchase a metal locked cabinet. It will be housed in the office of the Academic Teacher at Minnesota Academy. However, I learned, there is only a cut out for a window and no glass in the door of this room. So, getting this done has moved up on the To-Do list.

In the past TAFCOM has typically purchased wood shelving and cabinets. Wood has become very expensive, due in part to efforts to stop deforestation. Nie is involved with the Green Garden Women’s Group. They receive funds from the UN Development Program to provide special stoves for schools in the areas surrounding Mt Kilimanjaro. The goal is to reduce the deforestation that is taking place because of the use of firewood/charcoal for cooking. Anything that helps the environment makes my heart happy. I realize that selling firewood and charcoal provide needed income for many here. However, the government has initiated policies requiring a license to cut in certain areas plus designated some areas as preserves where cutting is illegal.

Nie dropped off funds to Chausiku so she could pick up her medications tomorrow. She has started her business selling vegetables and is very grateful for the income and TAFCOM’s help for her and her granddaughter.

Tuesday, February 20

I began my day riding the school bus to Minnesota Academy to observe grades 1 & 2 and to continue cataloging books and supplies. There is always a gathering outside before classes start for announcements. I noticed that Amina was not there. (She is the student I sponsor.) When I inquired about her I was told she was in her classroom crying because of foot pain. When Amina was very young (under 1 year old) she was involved in a house fire. Her lower leg and foot were seriously burned. The pigment is gone and the foot is tender and causes her pain. I went to see her and asked that she stop by the house after school. Ibrahim, the Head Teacher (principal), was to call her mother about having her see a doctor. Amina lives mostly with her aunt as her mother’s work is in Arusha.

After school, Amina stopped by and Nie and I checked her leg and foot. We had her wash her foot and put some Neosporin on it. I gave her a pair of clean socks. There seems to be some almost-raw spots on her leg as well as cracking of the skin on her foot. We asked her to follow a regular washing routine, using the Neosporin and always wearing socks. 

Wednesday, February 21

Clinic day at KCMC hospital was yesterday. Amina got some oral medication for her foot pain and will also continue with the Neosporin.

Chausiku received her meds and TAFCOM is looking for a sponsor to help with her ongoing medical needs.

Rukia came to the office as scheduled to discuss enrolling Safina. I want to repeat for emphasis that 5 other schools rejected this child and she will be 8 in June!  Because Safina has had no schooling nor understands any English, she will start in the younger pre-school which is half-day and move up as she is assessed and progresses in English and subject comprehension.

According to her mom, Safina can use her wheel chair or sit on floor. She crawls at home and can sit for up to 3 hours. For the bathroom she uses a potty chair. Rukia will have Safina in Pampers for school. Mom has been teaching her at home and she knows her ABC’s. Safina will ride the school bus and start school on Monday, 2/26.

Both Nie and Jonas spent time with Rukia. Before leaving she shared that no one had ever given her encouragement like this! 

Safina has her meds for the next month and will participate daily in Physical Therapy. We need to find several sponsors for Rafina as her needs are extensive. (Reply if you want to know how to help.) We have received donations to cover most of her school fees for this year, plus this month’s medication, and a few weeks of Physical Therapy. Additional donations are being used to pay for the ramp, and to purchase diapers and a potty chair for the school.

As if Rukia doesn’t have enough going on in her life, Nie learned that she also has a 9-year-old son. Because of the personal and financial hardships of the family, he has been living with his grandparents in their village since 2016. TAFCOM is hoping that Rukia might be able to start a small business while Safina is in school and then expand when her 3-year-old starts pre-school next year.

Another interesting aspect of all this – when a person or family member has a serious medical issue, they can go to the local government office with verification from the hospital. The government issues an official letter which legitimizes the condition and the letter is then used to “beg” for money. (Let that one sink in!)

Thursday, February 22

Work started on Safina’s ramp today. We went to town for several things and I found socks for Amina and some Nivea Lotion. She has been stopping by after school and is following her cleaning regimen 2-3 times per day. I enjoy visiting with Amina. She is a very sweet girl and is one of the top in her class.

Friday, February 23

My plate is full – and not just with the delicious food here! I continue to work on cataloging and labeling, plus lots of smaller projects that add a lot of variety to my days. Fundraising is an ongoing endeavor and the Clean Water Project has begun. Funds raised will be used to install water lines and tanks for clean, safe drinking water (Donations of any size are appreciated.). I enjoy not doing the same thing every day and nothing ever feels routine. I continue my morning runs and am even making time for some crochet.

Saturday, February 24  

Nie and Jonas’ son, Jovin, now attends Tengeru boys school in Arusha. (He is the equivalent of a high school freshman.) 600 students attend this all boys Catholic boarding school. He left for school in early January and today is the first day the families are allowed to visit. I know this has been very hard on Nie. She did manage two phone calls to one of the teachers to make sure Jovin was ok and to see what we could bring for him. The drive to Arusha is about an hour and a half. Jovin was all smiles as he greeted us. He is almost as tall as his dad now. He is doing well; the adjustment was not difficult for him; and he loves his school and classes. Joan was too sweet. She was attached like Velcro to Jovin the whole visit and cried when we left.

Sunday, February 25

Chill day – but not in terms of weather. It is still mid-80’s every day! Rainy season should be here soon. I spent a lot of the day reading about how to set up a library. A real cliff hanger that kept me on the edge of my seat…Not!

Monday, February 26

Safina’s first day of school was a success! At the end of the day I asked if her if she had a good day. The sparkle in her eyes and the smile on her face brought tears of joy!! I am so grateful to TAFCOM for not turning her away.

Tuesday, February 27

While in Rwanda we found these really cute heart-shaped zippered pouches that unfold into a tote bag. Katherine, the tailoring teacher is confident she can duplicate them so it was off to town to buy fabric. This is very dangerous because I could easily blow my budget in any one of the fabric stores. I love the patterns and the color combinations. I was able to stop at 7 pieces! (I can still take orders for heart-shaped or square-shaped.)

Wednesday, February 28

We have not been able to find a larger size potty chair for Safina. It was not until today that she needed to use the bathroom. Asha carried her over to my room to use the toilet. It was a bit awkward but will work as a temporary solution. I have been checking with her teachers each day and they report that Safina is doing very well, she participates, catches on quickly, and is doing very well with the other students. She seems genuinely happy to be here.

It is not helpful losing 2 days because February only has 28 days. I cannot keep up with the work here, let alone this blog! It is a good problem because boredom has never been part of my vocabulary. I apologize if this seems a bit rushed because it was!!!

Feb 12 – Feb 19 The Challenges of Inadequate Health Care - The Needless Suffering

Monday, February 12
I started to tackle the mounds of mostly-boxed flash cards. As much as I like to organize, this is not something I could do every day. Fortunately, I am not at a loss for things to do. The Micro Loan workshop is Wednesday, so I spent the afternoon walking in Moshi and getting supplies.
It is such a treat for me to visit and reconnect with people I have not seen for 2 years. Chui Traders is one of my favorite stores/curio shop. The owner founded a workshop for those who are physically handicapped where they are employed and trained in arts and crafts. The store sells many of their items. I was so glad that he remembered me. BLOG
I stopped at the bank for funds for the Micro Loans and my rent. Seriously!! my card was blocked again! I knew my credit union would not open for another 30 minutes so I went to the stationary store.
I have been buying supplies from Jambo Stationary since 2012. Alice is the owner and is always in the most pleasant mood.  I walked in and surprised her. We exchanged lots of hugs and kisses. She shared that Stella, who has worked there for years had a baby girl yesterday!
At 8:20am (Ohio time) I emailed my credit union and got a message back before they opened at 8:30. Apparently, the credit card company only allows withdrawals for one week at a time due to the fact that so much theft occurs on debit cards in this area of the world. The card was activated and I withdrew funds. My choice in the future is to contact the credit union each week or use Western Union. Western Union is the clear, easy winner. However, I want to be clear that I love my credit union and their service has been superlative.

Tuesday, February 13
More fun with flash cards today. I actually finished cataloging and rearranging them. Nie shared that Neema, the mother-in-law that Rehema is caring for, had to go to the hospital. (We visited there last week.)
Also, Elly has some personal issues she needs to deal with and is no longer able to work with us. Asha, who helps with Nie and Jonas will take Elly’s place. It was agreed that Asha and I would work together on some of the responsibilities and I will eat whatever the family is having (minus the meat). I feel better about this arrangement because it is more comfortable for me.

Wednesday, February 14
Nie shared that Asha’s older sister has a disabled child whose condition is not improving. Nie invited Ruika and her daughter, Safina to TAFCOM today. Safina (8 in June) was diagnosed with Spina Bifida and underwent spinal surgery in Arusha in 2015. (A doctor from KCMC donated all the funds for surgery.) Following a 6-month recovery period, the surgery had not solved the problem. Safina is unable to use her legs. One side of her body and the leg on that side are also twisted inward.
According to doctors at KCMC, there is another issue farther up the spine. After a series of tests this month, it was determined that Safina also has Spinal Tuberculosis. She was prescribed 3 medications which will cost $145 per month. She is to have monthly visits at the clinic and be re-evaluated at the end of 6 months. In the meantime, Safina is to go for physical therapy every week. Safina had been attending Physical Therapy when her mother could afford it. Rukia would also love for Safina to attend school.
I am glad I was sitting down for this story. I really don’t like this theme of tragedies that continues to visit us.
The afternoon was certainly more hopeful as we were able to give out 10 Micro Loans. The recipients attended a training in business management and each was provided a small notebook to track income and expenses. This is one of my favorite programs and the repayment rate is always impressive. Nie and I will talk more about ensuring that this can be a revolving program.

Friday, February 16
I did not go to Minnesota Academy today. There is a teacher staff meeting tomorrow and I will be sharing my observations and recommendations. Nie and I had been discussing Chausiku’s situation (the 71-year-old raising her granddaughter). Before becoming ill, Chausiku had a food business. As she is starting to feel better she wants to start her business again as there is currently no source of income.
We decided because of her age and health, a grant would make the most sense at this time.
We stopped at Chausiku’s home. She was moved by the gesture of generosity and you could feel the energy of her gratitude when she received the funds.
Our intention was to visit Rehema and Neema at the local Pasua hospital. We were advised Neema had moved to St. Joseph’s, a private Catholic hospital. I have been there a number of times over the years and although the care is better than the public hospitals, it is still a difficult place to visit.  The room had at least 6 beds on each side only covered with sheets. It was a crowded room with people sitting on the beds of their family member. Visiting hours are scheduled around meal times because the hospital does not provide food. Rehema was also spending the night and sleeping on the same bed.
During our visit, a friend of Nie and Jonas’ walked by. His sister, Regina was also in the hospital. Regina had been the first tailoring teacher at TAFCOM. Nie knew Regina had health issues but was not aware of her hospitalization. We walked past the rows of beds and on the other side of a curtain were 2 beds. This was their ICU. Regina had been in the hospital for 5 months and was in a coma. Her eyes were open. It was a haunting look that showed no sign of life. She died 2 days later.

Saturday, February 17
Today was a teacher staff meeting. I had prepared a multi-page report of my observations at the pre-school and Minnesota Academy. Jonas asked me to share it along with recommendations. There will always be areas of improvement which we did talk about at length. The biggest issue is the lack of textbooks for each child. Because of the number of non-paying students, families cannot afford textbooks. Those with textbooks share with others.
I want to focus on the positive. I was most impressed with the ways teachers encouraged the students and the mutual respect between teachers and students. It was not uncommon for a student to correct a teacher if they misspelled a word or copied something incorrectly on the board. It was always done respectfully, with the teacher expressing their thanks.
What I realized from my observations is how challenging it must be for both teachers and students in an English-speaking school. The teachers are teaching in a second language to young people who must also comprehend and speak in a second language. One of several differences between the public and private schools is the fact that the private schools teach all their classes in English, where the public schools use Kiswahili and have English classes. When the students move to Secondary school, all classes, public or private, are taught in English. This gives the private school students a definite advantage.
I feel that the mutual respect grows from this shared experience of communicating in a 2nd language. The teachers know and appreciate that the student understands a concept or spelling of a word when a correction is brought to the teacher’s attention. During one class, the teacher remarked to his class, “I like students who advise their teacher. It shows you are confident.”

Sunday, February 18
The family had been planning a trip to Kili Home WEBSITE for today. Joan and Happy were super excited. It has a large play area with rides and a blow up jumping center. I had invited Amina  and we wanted to make sure she knew when to come to the house. A message was left with her older brother. As I left for my run at 7:15 this morning, Amina arrived. What kid gets up at that hour on a weekend morning? I am guessing she was pretty excited too.
It is so refreshing to see children playing, laughing and thoroughly enjoying themselves. I think it is something we take for granted. For me, it is these moments when I know that the poverty and hardships of their lives are left behind, even if for a short time.

Monday, February 19
Lots to discuss with Nie and Jonas this morning.
There are at least an additional 10 clients who need a Micro Loan. It is not an easy task deciding who to give the funds to because the list of potential recipients is always growing. Pasua is the 2nd poorest ward in Moshi. To make this a revolving program, TAFCOM will accumulate repayments and at regular intervals provide loans to 2 new people.
Chausiku and Rafina are priorities at the moment. Chausiku’s meds run out tomorrow. Nie has a meeting and will drop off the funds for a month’s worth and also check on her new business. Funds will also be given to pay a portion of the school lunch fee for Hadija.
Rukia approached 5 schools to enroll Safina. Because of her physical limitations she was rejected by all. She is almost 8 and has never attended school. We decided to have Rukia come to the office Wednesday morning to discuss Safina’s needs and the logistics of having her attend school here. Jonas said to build a ramp would be the easy part.

I researched Spinal Tb and was overwhelmed by what I learned. Here is a short excerpt from an NIH site. "The spinal column is involved in less than 1% of all cases of tuberculosis (TB). Spinal TB is a very dangerous type of skeletal TB as it can be associated with neurologic deficit due to compression of adjacent neural structures and significant spinal deformity.
Using multidrug therapy, the recurrence rate for skeletal TB is approximately 2%, although the relapse rate was much higher when a single drug regimen was prescribed. Long-term multidrug antituberculosis regimens will likely reduce the relapse rate. Spinal TB is the one of the most common causes for a kyphotic deformity in patients from many parts of the world, and particularly in developing countries."

I am going to take a wild guess that this reference to "developing countries" is directly correlated to poverty and their antiquated health care systems. Rukia’s mother expressed concern that Safina’s condition had worsened because she was unable to afford medication and physical therapy. It is impossible not to be angry about this. So many medical issues and even deaths could be avoided if there was access to quality health care like we are so fortunate to have.

Feb 7-Balancing Sadness & Joy with Pictures

Chausiku outside the room where she and Hadija were staying

This is the foam piece that Chausiku and Hadija slept on.

Inside of the room

Current living space for Chausiku and Hadija.
(Neighbor boy visited us during our visit.)

Our Group at Chemka(L to R) Dennis, Happy, Asha, Joan, Nie, Sabato

Typical Scenery on Our Drive

On the drive we saw where this RR track had been uprooted due to flooding. Wow!

Chemka Hot Springs - see the guy on the swing?
My grand  entry is next!!

Camel having a drink poolside at Weruweru!

Munching on the trees at Weruweru

Joan & Happy

Feb 7-11 Raising a 9-year old Granddaughter at age 71

Wednesday, Feb 7
Home visits this morning.
Our first visit was to Chausiku, a 71-year-old woman raising her 9-year-old granddaughter, Hadija. Her daughter (the child’s mother) died of AIDS in 2017 at the age of 26. Both Chausiku and her granddaughter are HIV+. Chausiku became infected as a result of caring for her sick daughter.
We passed an open part of the building with the roof caving in. Inside were some bags and a piece of foam. Nie explained that when she first met Chausiku about 3 months ago, she and her granddaughter were living in this space and sleeping on the piece of foam. Chausiku was ill with a heart problem and Hadija was crying because she had not eaten for 3 days.
TAFCOM took Chausiku to the doctor and a volunteer paid for Chausiku’s first 3 months of medicine (approx. $40), She was diagnosed with an irregular heart beat and enlarged heart. She is to take the meds for 6 months and then be retested. She will run out of medication later in February.
Chausiku was able to move into her neighbor’s room and is now paying rent there. The neighbor is no longer living there and left her furniture for Chausiku.
Before becoming ill, Chausiku had a food business. She is feeling better and wants to start her business again as she has no other source of income. Hadija is in school, Primary-5. She has no uniform and until her lunch fees are paid, Hadija will be unable to eat lunch.
My emotions took a toll with this visit. I felt again like I did after the very first home visit I made in 2009. That memory and the emotions that arose within me are still very fresh. I know this woman and her story will occupy the same space. Chausiku’s biggest fear is leaving Hadija alone in this world.
I wish there were words that could bring to life the reality of this kind of poverty. I want others to truly, deeply understand. Even for me, seeing it first hand, it is so hard to imagine this day-to-day existence. It gives me pause and I question so much about life and the way we treat each other.
No one we visited has electricity or water. They must carry buckets to the closest spigot. This is impossible for many who are in ill health. Fortunately, the sense of community is strong in these areas and people look out for each other, sometimes doing without in order to help another.
As Nie explains it, “This is the life of poverty.”
I knew it would be uplifting to visit Mwamini and Jasmine. I met both of them in 2014 and feel a special bond with both, especially Mwamini. When I first met Jasmine, she defined depression. After giving her a Micro Loan, we observed her slowly lifting out of her depression (Blog reference). Jasmine has moved and although her housing is dreadful, it is an improvement from where she lived (and Francisca now lives). We had given her a micro loan several years ago so she could sell charcoal. She had to stop because the charcoal dust was causing lung problems. She is doing another business now but the income is very meager.
Mwamini’s youngest died of AIDS complications when she was 1 year old. I was here through her illness and death and it was heart-wrenching. (SEE BLOG) Mwamini is also very small and I leave my clothes for her at the end of each visit.
Her smile when she saw me could have lit up the world. My heart melted and I got choked up! One of her daughters is a student in our tailoring class. Another daughter has a baby who is HIV+. This, undoubtedly, causes Mwamini a lot of stress.

Thursday, February 8
My morning walk/runs are becoming more therapeutic than physically exerting. It is a good time to clear my head and set my agenda and attitude for the day.
I have my breakfast in my room each morning so I can eat while getting ready. Elly brings me a tray with a thermos of hot water for my coffee along with fruit. This feels very awkward as no one has ever “served” me food, cooked my meals, cleaned my room or done my laundry for me. 
The phrase “white privilege” smacked me in the face this morning as I walked into the kitchen to return the thermos.  Five 5 students were sitting on the kitchen floor eating bread and having tea. (They are waiting for the bus to take them to Minnesota Academy and don’t have breakfast at home.)
Office work today took my mind off the emotions of yesterday. I do love the feeling of accomplishment! Today I finished cataloging the large bookshelf in the office. Next, I will tackle organizing and cataloging multiple decks of flash cards. 

Friday, February 9
Off to Minnesota Academy to observe the P-3 class today. They were a more restless class than P-4. It fascinates me how classes take on their own personalities. Occasionally my mind would wander and I could see the clouds slowly rising to cover Kili like a blanket. I was most likely that child in school who didn’t pay attention and was absorbed in other thoughts. I realized I am not smarter than a 3rd grader! OR I can blame it on age. I would not have been able to answer the following science questions:
Heat travels through solids by way of what process? conduction.
Heat travels through liquids by way of what process?  convection.
Heat travels through air by way of what process?  radiation.
Are you smarter than a 3rd grader??
More accomplishments today as I finished the larger of the bookcases in the library. Also, Lillian and Jennifer stopped by. They were preschool teachers when I was here in 2016. Deciding that the walk to pick up the daladala was as far as I was going to travel in the heat, the three of us went together and had a nice time catching up. Both Lillian and Jennifer have returned to school to advance their early childhood education.

Saturday, February 10
Trying to get my blog out this morning and having it blocked was so frustrating. I ended up having to make 6 smaller email groups which took way too much time. I decided to “block” my frustration and went for a long walk/run.
All my frustration washed away at Chemka Hot Springs. I have been there in years past. It is tucked away off dirt roads that I would not have defined as a path. One of nature’s most beautiful places, indeed. It was crowded today but nonetheless a wonderful experience. I was the only one in our group to swim but I did get Joan to come in the water with me. I am hoping to give her swim lessons in the future. This is the place that has little fish that peck at your skin. Check out the video of my graceful entry in the water!

Sunday, February 11
Another fun afternoon for Joan and Happy at Weruweru River Lodge. This time the camels were roaming in the area near the trampoline, and where people were sitting. They were not shy about eating the leaves from the tree or taking a drink from the swimming pool. The proof is in the photos.

Jan 31-Feb 6 Baby Steps

Wednesday, Jan 31
Last night during dinner, Jovis (one of Jonas’ sons) stopped by and asked if I was running in the Kilimanjaro Marathon. He remembered that I had run the half in 2012. Regrettably, I told him I was not in shape nor prepared to do a half. He said he would be running and I could do the 5k Fun Run. Now this I can do! Elly seemed interested and we agreed to go on a walk/run each morning before breakfast.
The road I have run on in the past is bumpy and rutted, plus busy with motorcycles, daladalas and trucks whipping by, throwing clouds of dust. There is, however, a side dirt road that belongs to a company that grows sugar cane. There is a barricade and guards at the road entrance. I successfully used my Swahili (with a little help from Elly) to explain that I always exchanged greetings with the guards when I ran 2 years ago. It turns out the same guards still work there and it was fine for us to run on their road. And what a difference! There is only one pot-holed short stretch where we have to walk. There is also the occasional irrigation sprinkler that gives us a brief respite from the heat with its shower. The guard told us that it is 4K to the end and back. I love it. It is quiet and Kili is often out in the morning in all her majesty.
I squeezed in a 20-minute English lesson for the tailoring students. I am also revising and adding to my Swahilli guide. It has been interesting how some Swahili words just pop into my head when I need them. Not always, but it has happened enough times that it encourages me to keep studying a little each day.
Elly And I took an afternoon walk. We stopped by Bisura’s house but she was not home so we left a message with her neighbor. Bisura worked with TAFCOM for years and is currently in secretary school. As I was getting ready for dinner, Bisura knocked on my door. She is doing well in school and enjoys learning typing, accounting, internet, email, etc. She looked great and I am sure we will spend more time together.

Thursday, February 1
In 2014 I wrote an Orientation Manual for Volunteers. I will be updating some of the statistics and making welcome changes. I know statistics bore some people but when they show improvement and progress, I am filled with hope.
A total of 1.4 million Tanzanians (of 53 million) are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS and 54,000 new infections and 36,000 AIDS-related deaths occur in Tanzania annually. Although these numbers seem mind-numbing, the number of new infections and deaths continues to drop.
Maternal and Child health numbers are also improving. The mother-to-child HIV transmission rate has dropped to 3.6% at 6 weeks-after birth, and 6% at the end of breastfeeding. Infant mortality decreased from 68 to 43 per 1,000 live births between 2005 and 2015.
Medical technology is so advanced in the western world. It is shameful that more is not done to improve the lives of these people, many who die senselessly from preventable illnesses.
Improving the education is a priority of the new President (2015) and the Ministry of Education. More schools, especially secondary (high school) are being built. The Primary school student-to-teacher ratio was 43:1 in 2013.
The President has stated that no child is to stay home from school due to lack of funds or space in a classroom. In the past, students were sent home if they could not pay the “shared costs” charged by the schools. These costs might include the costs of desks and building maintenance. Currently there is a fee for lunches. If not paid, the student stays in school but goes without food.
Families are responsible for textbooks, exercise books, pencils, backpacks, uniforms. Many families cannot afford textbooks. I have observed classrooms where there are not enough textbooks to share with all the students.
Corporal punishment is against the law but not enforced until recently. There are certain acts where only the Head Teacher is allowed to use corporal punishment. It must be documented and officially recorded. The laws are also specific to what objects can be used to punish a student.
I visited the 2 preschool classrooms. I observed in the older class but when I went to see the younger kids I totally disrupted the class. The kids swarmed and each had to have a hug! After feeling all the love, I promptly left so the teacher could resume her teaching.

Friday, February 2
I rode the school bus out to Minnesota Academy. I divided my day between observing in P-4 and cataloging the contents of the cabinet in the Head Teacher’s office. I had decided to walk back to TAFCOM as I had been told it was 5K one way. I began to question the accuracy of this distance on the bus ride which took a lot longer than I would have expected for a 3-mile trip. I brought 2 liters of water and my running shoes so I laced up and headed back to TAFCOM in the middle of the afternoon with temperatures well into the 80’s. The dust adhered to my sunscreen for extra protection!  It took over an hour to get home; a cold shower was divine!

Saturday, February 3
Elly and I headed to Moshi for the day as we both had many errands. Our first stop was the Moshi Library. I wanted to see how their library was organized, how they check out books and if they had a children’s section. I met Kweka at the front desk and he was most helpful. He showed me the library cards, how books are checked out and how they track due dates. I was reminded of when I first worked at Fairbanks Elementary school library and they still used a card catalog. The Moshi Library’s system is very similar. I got a tour of the children’s room and an explanation of how the books are arranged. We also talked about furniture and the best shelving. There are only 3 small bookcases in the library area at Minnesota Academy.
I inquired about used furniture and Kweka explained that if someone is getting rid of a piece of furniture it is because it is no longer useful or not able to be repaired. My western mind had clicked in and I forgot that unlike folks in the US and elsewhere who discard items when they want something new, people here do not have that luxury.
I felt both elated and overwhelmed. I was thrilled that a simple system could be implemented at the primary school but overwhelmed at the daunting tasks that lie ahead. I want so much to have this done before I leave.
I had made arrangements to meet up with Mussa (my Kili Guide) at his new shop. When I called to let him know our arrival time he explained that he had to go to Arusha but his wife and children would be there. We had a nice visit and I got to meet his new daughter plus see his new and expanded stores.
I lived in this area the first few times I came to Tanzania. I loved going to the local fitness center and had become friends with two of the instructors. Since it was around the corner, we stopped in. I was sad to learn that both had returned to Kenya (their original home).
Across from the Fitness Center is an entrance to Memorial 2nd Hand Market. We found some running pants for Elly before heading back into Moshi.
We were too close not to stop at the best bakery in Moshi. It has been redecorated in red and black and looks awesome. I bought some cookies to share with the family.
I love mustard on everything I can’t put peanut butter on! No one here uses it but I found it at the supermarket and am wearing a big smile!!! Out last stop was at the open market for fresh fruits and veggies.
Our day was not complete without riding the daladala. Being the first ones on in the morning, we got the front seat which never has more than the driver and 2 passengers; unlike the rest of the bus which crams people in like sardines. The ride home we were squished in the back seat and the window was stuck shut. We had been walking around Moshi for 6 hours. Taking another cold shower and putting my feet up never felt so good.

Sunday, Feb 4
I enjoy the slowness of Sundays and typically try to catch up on things and play with Joan and Happy when they are around. Coloring is their favorite pastime. I have introduced Joan to Bob the Train, which is one of my favorite YouTube learning videos for kids. (Johanna, I hope your mom and dad read this to you!)

Monday, Feb 5
I woke up with zero motivation. I took 2 naps and was in bed by 8:30pm. I think it was heat exhaustion from all the walking and the heat on Friday and Saturday. OOPS! I think if I would look at my passport, I would see that I am not 20 anymore!
Before my first nap, Jonas, Nie and I talked about priorities, goals and visions for TAFCOM.  I love the progressive thinking of these two. Things move very slowly here and I admire their persistence and patience. Nie and I set Feb 14 as the date for our Micro Loan Workshop. We will be helping 10 new people start up a business. Between my first and 2nd nap I spent some time researching potential grants.

Tuesday, Feb 6
I felt much better today and my motivation and energy have returned. I can go back to pretending I am 20 again!

Jan 26-30 Back in the Thick of Things

Friday, Jan 26
Friends Together was founded in 1999 as the vision of Cathy Robinson Pickett and Steve Pickett of Florida. Within 10 years, Friends Together became internationally known for its work providing education, support, and a plan for living to families, particularly those with children infected and affected by HIV/AIDs. (https://friendstogether.org/)
Cathy was in Tanzania the summer of 2016 with a group from Friends Together. Their work brought them to Moshi and Arusha. Zara Tours has a charity it works with and Friends Together has been supporting some of their projects. Zara is located less than a 10-minute walk from TAFCOM. During her visit in 2016, Cathy asked about other organizations that might be working with people affected by HIV/AIDS.  A friend of Nie & Jonas recommended TAFCOM and a partnership was born.
When Cathy came to TAFCOM she learned of the sanitary pad project and immediately saw the positive impact for young girls and women. TAFCOM’s tailoring center sews reusable sanitary pads for distribution, especially to school girls. There is a huge problem of girls missing school when on their period. (Read more details in past Blog: http://connectingcontinents.blogspot.com/2016/01/one-big-happy-family.html )
Cathy is bringing a group again this summer. She is raising money for a classroom for the tailoring women which would move them out of their cramped space. In addition, her goal is to provide 1,250 girls and young women with sanitary pad kits not only in Pasua but other areas of Tanzania! The tailoring women are hard at work and although I cannot sew, I will help them attach the snaps. I see the potential for a new Guinness World Record of some sort!
Friends Together is sending funds for the purchase of material for the pads. Catherine, the tailoring teacher goes to Memorial, the 2nd hand market, and typically purchases flannel sheets which are the most absorbent.
Today, Nie and I went with Catherine, spending several hours and ending our shopping spree with 3 huge and heavy bags of material. Any local market is always an adventure and the Memorial is no exception. It is very similar to the market in Rwanda – large, colorful, crowded and loud!

Weekend of  Jan 27 & 28
It was a restful weekend spent catching up on emails, taking walks with Elly, and napping - which is one of my new favorite pastimes!

Monday, Jan 29
I will not bore you with details but I will be developing an inventory of all the books, reports and supplies at TAFCOM and Minnesota Academy. Everything will then be organized and distributed so that each school has adequate supplies and grade appropriate books. I cataloged many of the books last time I was here. Some of them are now at Minnesota Academy since there is now a designated space for a library. Suffice it to say this is going to be a monumental task. I am probably in the minority of those who enjoy this kind of work. Those who know me well are probably chuckling as you know this totally appeals to my sense of order and organization!
Nie was going into Moshi so I tagged along to go to the ATM. For a 2nd time, my card was blocked! "Nime tulia" means “I am calm”, and is fast becoming my mantra. I emailed the credit union as soon as I got home; they resolved the issue within 30 minutes – woohoo!
We are visiting an orphanage tomorrow and taking a number of items. I brought 2 adorable pieces of fleece with children’s patterns donated by a friend. (Thanks, Kim) I was able to cut 4 blankets out of each piece and spent the rest of the afternoon fringing the bottoms. I found this to be quite therapeutic in alleviating my heightened frustration over the blocked credit card.

Tuesday, Jan 30
Home-based care is an integral part of TAFCOM’s work and the foundation of the organization. Today we visited 4 families. I love the home visits even though they are emotionally difficult. Each visit presents a reality check of how much I have to be grateful for, as well as a reminder of the significance of humility and compassion.
TAFCOM maintains a profile on the families and individuals receiving home-based care. It includes family and health history plus how TAFCOM can be involved. For me, the most poignant question is about their personal wishes. There is not a family on the entire caseload that does not express a desire for a good education and better life for their children.
Our first two home visits were in the same divided house. I have been here many times before. It looks ready to collapse. The floors are dirt and each rental has one room with a small window, dirt floors, no electricity and no running water. There is no ceiling and the sun shines thru the holes in the exposed metal roof. The rooms are very small, usually able to fit one double bed, a few chairs or small couch, and minimal storage space.
Mariam is a new client to TAFCOM. She has 2 daughters from her first husband who died of AIDS in 2015. She remarried and they had a son. When Mariam discovered she was HIV+, her 2nd husband left and has had no further involvement with the family. Her young son is also HIV+. Sadly, this is very typical and a story I have heard far too many times.
I noticed some crocheted and embroidered pieces and asked if these were her work. When she answered that she had made these I commented that I had some donated craft kits that I would be happy to give her. We suggested that she could sell them as extra income. (Of course, Nie translated. My Swahili is nowhere near this level.) Mariam is Muslim and cooks and cleans at the local Madras which is a center/pre-school for young children.
Our next stop was to visit another new client who lives in the same building. She rents the space where Jasmine used to live. (We will visit Jasmine next week.)
Francisca’s husband passed away in 2016. She has 3 sons. Both Francisca and her youngest son are HIV+. Her husband’s family is unable and unwilling to help her and she is requesting a Micro Loan from TAFCOM as she currently has no income. She would like to set up as a local food vendor and has already secured a spot.
We also stopped in to see Rehema and Fatuma. I have known these two families for close to 10 years. I met them on my first visit in 2009! They have both received Micro Loans in the past. They definitely struggle and their housing is only a minor improvement over the first housing we visited. Both women are single moms and have worked hard over the years to make ends meet, ensuring that their children will finish school and have a trade. Rehema recently took in her oldest child’s grandmother (on her father’s side). She is 92 and very frail.
The stigma around HIV/AIDS is slowly improving but is still a very heavy burden, especially for the women who are single mothers.
It does not matter how many times I come here but every home visit impacts me emotionally. The feelings of unfairness that people in this world have to live like this never leaves me. I am a strong believer in paying forward. Those of us who live with so many of life's comforts have a responsibility to give in whatever way we can. Nie and Jonas are dedicated and passionate, working tirelessly to empower families and children to know their worth and to inspire them to move forward in spite of all their challenges.I am so grateful to be a part of their mission.
On our way to the orphanage in the afternoon we stopped at an ATM. With fingers and toes crossed I inserted my card and Voila, Tanzania shillings appeared!
Upendo Orphanage (https://upendo-childrens-home-cps.jimdo.com/) provides a home for up to 60 children. From age 3 onwards the children go to the nursery school, then to the kindergarten located on the premises. The children get a head start on reading, writing, math and English skills before entering a primary school.
I visited Upendo several times when I was here in 2012 with Amanda, another volunteer. I have never forgotten one young girl who was severely handicapped.  She was unable to walk or speak and had minimal movement. She had to be hand fed and required constant care and attention.
Meeting first with an administrator, we delivered crocheted baby hats (Thanks Barbie), blankets (Thanks, Kim) and some children’s clothing (Thanks, Chris).     
We were then escorted in to the play area where the children were enjoying themselves on a merry-go-round. The young girl was still there. It felt good seeing her and knowing that she was still alive but it is heartbreaking to see someone so handicapped. She is being well cared for and is now 15 years old.
There were a number of adults in the play area. Some were staff and others were interns studying Social Work at a university. The children swarmed us, climbing on us, clinging and yearning to be held, not wanting to share us with the other children who were also trying to scramble for a spot on our lap or some physical contact. I am sure the children here are loved but there could never be enough staff to offer the 1-on-1 love and contact that is so nourishing for young ones.

An emotional yet very fulfilling day.

Serendipity

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23
This morning I put my culinary skills to work and demonstrated how to make deviled eggs. We decided to call them Angel Eggs to be more positive! Eating cold eggs in any form is not part of the Tanzanian diet. I assume this is because refrigeration is fairly uncommon coupled with the relentless power outages. I mixed the yolk with avocado, lime juice and onion. Everyone enjoyed them. Lunch today was another traditional cooking lesson - Banana (plantains) and Bean Stew with Peanut Sauce. It was bona fide comfort food and something I can easily make at home.

Ellie not only cooks but cleans my room. She regularly folds my bath towel into a duck and places it on my bed. Yesterday she folded my cover sheet in the shape of an “M”. Today I reciprocated and made an “E” for her. This form of amusement could really stretch my artistic abilities!

Speaking of towels, mine are white which, of course, shows all the dirt. The dust here is brutal. When I return from my morning runs there is a definitive line where my sock stops and my leg begins. I don’t use sunscreen in the morning but as the day heats up it is a necessity. The dust clings to the sunscreen adding another layer of protection. It is astonishing to watch the stream of brown flowing to the drain when I shower.

This evening I accompanied the whole family to La Fuentes. It is a newer Mexican Restaurant in the upscale neighborhood of Moshi known as Shantytown. The grounds are beautiful. There is indoor and outdoor seating plus a playground for the children. Nie and Jonas like to eat there occasionally but tonite we went for the playground and just had drinks. The weather was perfect and a gorgeous full moon shone overhead.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24

Ellie has truly outdone herself. Today not only did she make my sheet into a heart but she sprinkled flowers around the bed and formed another “M”, this time with flowers.

It was very relaxing hanging around Pasua all weekend. Jovin ran with me this morning. After lunch we all watched a video documentary about the animals of the Serengeti. I had promised Jovin he could use my camera so we went for a walk along the railroad (Relini). Passing by the area Waste Water facility, I asked if we could go inside; I have been curious to know more about the water system and waste management. The guards allowed us in to walk around. The area is open to the public as it is a thruway for the farm laborers who work in the surrounding areas. The outlying scenery was beautiful and Jovin found many photo opportunities. On our way out we asked about a tour and were told to come back tomorrow afternoon and a guide would take us around.

MONDAY, JANUARY 25

Nie is part of a government committee on HIV/AIDS and had a meeting this morning. Before leaving, Nie shared that the woman with the shop in Arusha reported that many women responded favorably to the sanitary pads and she would like to sell them in her shop. This is incredible news and could turn into a much needed income-generating project for TAFCOM and the Tailoring program.

The volunteers and I rode out to Minnesota Academy for Jasmine and Selam’s first trip. They were not used to the bumpy roads and Elizabeth commented that this route was far better than the way she came the first time. Walking around the grounds I explained about the future plans for the school. Ibrahim, the head teacher was teaching a math lesson and invited us to watch. After the lesson, the children worked on a series of assigned number problems. Each child had or was sharing a textbook.

For private primary school, it is each family’s responsibility to buy textbooks for all subjects. Most private schools will not allow a student to attend without them. Minnesota Academy is allowing children to share. The curriculum includes textbooks covering 6 subjects: Swahili, English, Math, Science, ICT (Information, Communication & Technology) and Personal Development Studies which combines sports and character building. All textbooks must be purchased at the beginning of each school year which for many parents is quite a financial burden.

The children emptied the classrooms for a short break before porridge and wanted to perform songs with us. (See video: )

 

This afternoon, Nie, Jovin, Joan and I walked over to the Waste Water Facility for our tour. I offered my camera to Jovin and I could tell he was pleased. As usual, I had a bzillion questions; Nie and Jovin translated for me. The facility services all of Moshi. The men who led the tour commented often about the lack of technology. There are 2 dumping areas, one for sewage brought in by trucks and one connected to the town’s drainage system. The men use a type of rake to drag out the solids. There are at least 7 filtering ponds for the water to flow through. No chemicals are used and the water ends up back in streams and for farmland irrigation. There is a large rice field next to the facility. In the distance is Njoro forest. Nie asked about the forest and one of the men said he could take us on a hike there some weekend. It was agreed that this would be a great adventure. Njoro forest has monkeys and some very large trees worth seeing.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

One of the Minnesota Academy students, Amina, has always been special to me. I met her along with all the other pre-school children in 2010. I felt an instant connection with her then that was out of the ordinary. Although totally understandable, I remember feeling a little disappointed in 2014 when I returned and she did not remember me. However, we lived close to each other during that time and would often walk home together after school. This time she did remember me. We both make an extra effort to give a special wave to each other in the classroom or from the bus. Yesterday as we were in our circle for songs, Amina came over to be with me. Looking up at me she said, “I miss you”.

I have resisted sponsoring a child because there are so many who, along with their families, need support. I believed that my funds and donations would be better spent serving many through specific projects and for the emergencies that predictably arise. I am adjusting that attitude. I will not stop supporting projects and emergencies. But after a restless night I woke up knowing that when someone remains in your heart for this many years they are in your life for a reason. I have decided to make sure Amina continues to receive a quality education by becoming her sponsor.

I am such a sap. I entered Nie’s office and before I could get a word out about sponsoring Amina I got all choked up. I could see the instant relief and gratitude in Nie’s demeanor and expression when I told her. Nie then shared that Amina’s mother, Rachel, had come to Nie in December crying. She had a local charcoal business and there was some kind of crackdown on those businesses that are causing deforestation. She spent 3 months in jail and Amina, age 8, and her older brother had to stay with an aunt. Rachel is a single mother. She left her husband because of his abusive behavior and the risk to the children. When Rachel got out of jail she was homeless. Nie’s mother lives about a 5 minute walk from TAFCOM. Nie & Jonas decided to wall off a room at her house and are renting it to Rachel and her children. TAFCOM also provided Rachel with a Micro Loan. Now I understand that Nie’s display of relief had a deeper meaning. Nie & Jonas’s generosity never ceases to amaze me. I am christening Nie as the Mother Teresa of Pasua!

Nie scheduled 3 home visits for the volunteers today. We discuss expectations prior to visiting a family for the first time. Pictures and verbal descriptions help but the emotional reaction is what I look for. I can still feel the emotion and see the mental pictures from my first home visit in 2009. The volunteers know that Nie and I will be a listening ear and help them process their feelings.

During our visit to an elderly woman we were shown a spot on her arm that requires medication. After paying for her clinic visit she did not have enough funds for the cream prescribed. We each chipped in to help.

Curiosity got the best of us while talking with another woman whose source of income is derived from making and selling local brew. It is typically made with sugar, yeast and a flavoring of some type (coffee is one example). She agreed to show us how it is made next time we return. Jasmine (visited with Steve-1^st blog) was our last stop. Because of her long hospital stay for her leg issue she is currently without income. Nie had talked to her about a Micro Loan and she had honestly stated that she was too destitute to be able to pay it back. I agreed to buy her first two bags of charcoal to restart her business. I was able to use my Swahili and told her I missed her smile and wanted to see it return again soon!

My afternoon plans included a trip to Moshi in order to copy and purchase what we needed for the Micro Loan workshop on Thursday and go to the bank. Ellie was gone this afternoon for her son’s 3 year birthday. He is staying with the child’s father in Moshi until I leave. Ellie talks to her son on the phone daily. I had no idea until 2 days ago that she even had a child. I don’t know if I could make the kind of sacrifices these women make, always being in survival mode. The women here have a fervent sense of responsibility when it comes to taking care of their children. Communal support also plays a major role in making sure children always have a safe place to go and someone to look after them.

I rode the daladala home and one of its stops is the former bus stand. After people exited at this particular stop I was the only one left. The two gentlemen working the daladala turned and stared at me. I tried to explain that I wanted to go to the new bus stand. My Swahili completely failed me but it became obvious they were not going to take me any farther. I could hear the laughter in the background as people noticed the silly Mzungu (white person) who wasn’t getting off the daladala. Fortunately, I remembered the way home. I later learned from Nie that if there are not enough people left on the daladala it is not worth their time to return to the bus stand so they restart their route from the old bus stand. Another day wiser!!

I Believe in Miracles...

MONDAY, JANUARY 18

Elizabeth and I are still plugging away on categorizing the Resource books. This afternoon I am going to town for labels so each item has its own identity. I enjoy the trips to Moshi. It is an obvious change from the country to the city. Moshi is teeming with people walking everywhere and vendors selling everything you can imagine from food to luggage. Some vendors are polishing women’s nails, others offer scales so you can weigh yourself for a fee.

The driving is insane. Bicycles, cars, daladalas and motorcycles weaving in and out of traffic. Men pulling large carts of produce trying to maneuver the traffic. Horns are always honking, not out of rudeness but to advise that a vehicle is moving through. It is constant noise. Music is blaring from stores. Tanzania has a music style called Bongo Flava which is a cross between Hip-Hop and Rock. In addition, Justin Bieber, Celine Dion & Britney Spears are the American pop favorites - quite a diverse combination.

The challenge is to be aware of your surroundings so you do not run into anyone or any vehicle; do not trip over a rock or rut in the sidewalk or road, and know your directions, while warding off the occasional “artists” who attach themselves to you persistently trying to sell their work. Like the daladala, visiting Moshi is an experience I welcome with an upbeat anticipation.

My mission this afternoon was to go to Halotel and get new internet service. Ellie accompanied me as she also had errands. Waiting in line for extended periods of time is the norm. Ellie went to the market, bought her produce and returned to Halotel before I was finished. We accomplished all our tasks and then stopped at Abbas Bakery to buy treats for the family. Abbas Bakery is written about in Trip Advisor and they never disappoint. We chose a variety of goodies that will certainly satisfy everyone.

Jovin brought his English textbook home from school today and we had an English/Swahili lesson. It was probably much more helpful for me than Jovin. He is a very good student who reads and speaks English exceptionally well.

Among the items Lynn brought were some Choose Your Own Adventure books. I was ecstatic. When I worked at the library in my kids elementary school these were among my favorites. They are especially good for motivating non-readers. Fortunately Jovin likes to read and is eager to read these books.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19

Now that we have labels, Elizabeth and I made great progress on the books. We also took time to go over how best to use Facebook and Linked In. I am grateful for her knowledge on these topics because I realize there is much I do not know. More importantly for TAFCOM, increasing our involvement in social media allows us the capability to increase awareness and support for TAFCOM.

The internet has been working beautifully. Today, however, when I tried to get on the internet I was told that the driver was not working. I tried the other internet stick and it also failed. I learned early on from my son not to be afraid of computers so I was opening all sorts of things struggling to find anything that made sense. Jonas repairs computers with his brother so I decided to put all my confidence in him. Since he was gone most of today I also had to practice patience. That lifelong challenge was temporarily halted when Nie gave me her computer to use.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

First thing this morning there was a friend of Nie & Jonas’ in the office who runs a retail clothing store in Arusha (one of the larger cities with a population over 700,000). The tailoring students were working on the sanitary pads and she was curious to know more. As Nie explained, she offered to display them in her store as she felt certain there would be a market for the pads. She would then give us feedback and we could talk further about a collaborative partnership with her store. If I had my daughter’s gymnastic talents I would have done backflips all over the place! This was incredible news and the wheels in my head started to spin with all the possibilities.

When Elizabeth arrived today she announced that two social work students arrived at Hostel Hof yesterday from Sweden and indicated that they were assigned to TAFCOM. As with Elizabeth, she knew in October she was volunteering with TAFCOM but Nie and Jonas were not notified until two days prior to her start date. It turns out that the Swedes are here on an internship which typically includes paperwork, placement expectations and assessments, plus communication with the University advisor. I thought Nie’s head might crack the table when she heard this news. A previous internship involving a different university was not a good experience. I put on my Positive Polly face and said we would just intend that the girls would be understanding, flexible and enthusiastic, bringing minimal paperwork! Plus we had such good news about the sanitary pads nothing was going to dampen our spirits!

I spent some time in the youngest pre-school class observing and taking notes. It is heartbreaking what they lack in supplies. I witnessed a lot of good work but so much more that could be done. The teachers are eager for help and have ample potential.

Jonas fixed my computer!!! I promised I would keep him supplied with avocado juice. It is his favorite drink.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21

Elizabeth arrived with the Swedish students, Jasmine is of Egyptian descent and Selam’s parents are from Ethiopia. They were both born and raised in Sweden and attend University there. Nie and I performed our tag team orientation. Both girls were very sympathetic to the situation of our not being aware of their arrival. A very good discussion took place and all agree that this will be a very good fit for everyone.

Meanwhile Elizabeth is entering the school registry into Excel and finishing a budget spreadsheet that was started by a previous volunteer. The current registry is a handwritten document and even though it will continue as such, Elizabeth will be able to provide Nie and Jonas with a tuition tracking system, and an easy glance at all items related to TAFCOM’s budget. I have shared with Elizabeth my appreciation for her interest in the behind-the-scenes organizing of an efficient and well-ordered bookkeeping and data collection system. This is her area of expertise and the timing of her arrival could not have been better.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22
This is Elizabeth’s day to work in town. Jasmine and Selam arrived in time for the Healthy Smiles program. Dental health has been the Science topic for the pre-schoolers this week. Healthy Smiles provides a large mouth and toothbrush for demonstration purposes and then each child is given a toothbrush and toothpaste to practice proper tooth brushing. 60 children participated, Jasmine and Selam demonstrated and I worked with one of the teachers to explain dental care.

Jasmine and Selam brought their school’s paperwork so we could review the expectations. Nie was quite relieved as it became apparent that there was a lot of flexibility and minimal paperwork. One issue that was a sore point from the last internship was the matter of a stipend which goes to the supervisory organization. This was never received and it is likely it went to the volunteer house. The girls are planning to email their advisor to clear up any misunderstanding and provide the proper contact info.

We had some time at the end of the day to observe in the classroom and sang Head & Shoulder, Knees & Toes with the kids.

I did not run this morning. I take a weekly malaria medicine on Thursday evening and it makes me a little dizzy the next day. I opted to run this afternoon around 4pm. It was in the high 80’s, hot, dry and sunny. When I got back I took a shower and proceeded to sweat profusely for about the next half hour. I drink plenty of water but had evidently overheated myself. I won’t be doing that again.

Lynn and her group came off the mountain today and we met up with them for dinner, again at Indo-Italiano. All successfully made it to the top. There were plenty of stories and lively discussion while we feasted on a variety of pizzas which would rival any in the US. They fly home tomorrow evening.

Overall, this was a week where everything fell into place with very positive results, our expectations were exceeded, and even some unexpected surprises came our way!

One Big Happy Family

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 (Happy Birthday, Neal!)

Besides the Micro Loan I am beyond excited about the startup of a new program. Like many developing countries, Tanzania’s young girls have many obstacles to overcome in order to finish their education. One such impediment is the lack of sanitary pads. It is a complicated matter involving hygiene issues, sanitation and waste management (Click Here for Blog with Details ). Girls miss school on a monthly basis when they have their periods which puts them behind academically. At the end of Primary School all students take a National Test which they must pass in order to continue on to Secondary School (similar to high school). Many of these girls are unable to pass the test and their education ends at this point as they are not given a second chance.

Through the efforts of friends in the US - who I am so indebted to for their sewing, cutting and donations - I was able to bring 50 reusable sanitary pads plus patterns and material to make many more. Prior to leaving Tanzania in 2014, the tailoring women had made a few samples to try and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The tailoring students started sewing yesterday. (Some of them even miss tailoring classes because they cannot afford sanitary pads.) A workshop on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) will be arranged and each participant will receive a determined number of pads. Those young women interested in sewing their own will then be trained by TAFCOM tailoring students. Nie has an appointment set for Friday to meet with UMATI, the national SRH and family planning organization. It is hard to contain my excitement as I begin to comprehend the potential for this project and the far-reaching impact it will have on young women.

Ellie is not only helping me with Swahili but also teaching me to cook some Traditional foods. Today we cooked Mchicha greens (similar to spinach) in oil with carrots, green peppers and onion. In addition, we had boiled sweet potatoes which are delicious and taste nothing like ours. Grated tomato, carrots, curry powder and coconut milk are mixed together as a sauce for many dishes. Today I put it on the potatoes. Lastly, some vegetables mixed with mayonnaise. I am not crazy about the mayo and most everything is cooked in oil. For example, the vegetables were first boiled then cooked in oil. Ellie is very accommodating so we are using a lot less oil and salt (my feet and hands swell) in my food and it is still delicious. I especially enjoy planning my meals with Ellie. The food is always fresh and I am able to eat so healthy.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15

Nie and I left this morning to pick up Elizabeth in Moshi and meet with the folks at UMATI. Nie shared that her uncle was the first doctor hired for UMATI’s northern region of Tanzania in 1959 when UMATI was first established. We met with 3 women who were very enthused about our program. A facilitator from UMATI will provide a 2-3 hour presentation covering topics related to young women aged 12-20.  A fee that approximates $40 USD will be charged and TAFCOM will also cover the copying costs of materials.  An overview of UMATI’s programs was fascinating. They have many varied and formidable programs throughout the country. We talked about future collaboration opportunities. They have a Youth Club in the 5 primary schools in Pasua which could develop into a partnership with TAFCOM. UMATI receives funding from some worldwide organizations and governments but many of its programs, like TAFCOM’s programs, are donor dependent.

The three of us ate lunch at Milan’s, my favorite Indian restaurant; and it is all vegetarian! We reviewed our work plans for next week. Nie called Joseph, who will conduct the Micro Loan workshop and he will stop by tomorrow morning. We returned home and I took a much-needed nap!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16
I have known Joseph since 2010 and find him to be one of the most fascinating men I have ever met. He is highly educated and his knowledge of history and current world events would put most people to shame. It is my hope to do a story on him.

It is impossible for politics not to come up when you tell someone that you are from the US. In past years there have been very enjoyable conversations with locals and other volunteers comparing different countries. I am very grateful that I am not living with a group of volunteers this time because I strongly desire the distance from US politics. However, I must share Joseph’s first comment to me after we greeted. He said, “So, Americans feel that they must all carry guns now. There are so many shootings. What do you make of that?” Part of me feels I should just end here…but I must say that I will always share my opinions if asked; I also express a caveat that my opinion is just one of many and others may think differently.

Joseph will only be in the Moshi area until the end of January and then is off to Dar es Salaam for a couple months. He is pleased to teach the Business Management portion of the Micro Loan workshop. He left it to us to figure logistics and let him know the date and time. Nie and I will coordinate what needs to be done on Monday and discuss prospective participants.

I tried to call Mussa several times since my arrival. He will be my guide when I climb Mt Kilimanjaro. Note to new folks: He was my daughter’s guide in 2008 and he took Lee Ann and me on a day hike in 2009. ( Click Here for a heartwarming story about Mussa. ). I was able to reach him by phone today and he was in Moshi. I quickly got ready and rode the daladala to town where we met up. I got a huge hug that lifted me off the ground! We then drove to his shop in Soweto, a part of Moshi on the west side, where his wife, Shaila, and son were waiting. Mohamed, Moody for short, is 14 month’s old and adorable.

I stayed in Soweto for 6 months in 2012. Mussa and I walked over to the volunteer house where I stayed so I could surprise Ibrah and his wife, Debra. (Ibrah runs AfriShare, a tour company, and a house for volunteers. On our way we actually ran into Ibrah who was driving to the Mosque and would return home shortly. I woke up Debra who was so surprised. They have 2 boys, Rahim & Nasri who are the spitting image of Ibrah. We had a wonderful visit and I was invited to spend a weekend soon so we could all get together and play games like we used to. There are 2 students who also have lived there for many years but they were in town. I have so many fun and fond memories from my time there and am very much looking forward to my next visit.

I walked back to town on a road that is now paved. I have noticed several newly paved roads which is the kind of progress needed. I decided this was my day for reunions so I turned to go to the Jambo Stationery store where I have done all my copying and purchasing of office supplies for many years. Before I could walk in the door I heard Alice, the owner, say “Bibi Is back!” (I acquired the nickname, “Bibi” - which means grandma in Swahili – when I lived with Ibrah & his family in 2012 and spent lots of play time with their 1 year old son.) Stella and Eunice are still employed at Jambo and we exchanged lots of hugs and kisses. 

I was so filled with joy as I left. What an amazing feeling to have been able to visit with so many of my favorite people in one day!

I stopped at a small grocery and treated myself to a jar of mustard, which is not commonly used here. I especially love mustard on eggs and mixed with greens. I continued into the main part of Moshi and was wandering around when I noticed the sky darken. Within minutes the wind increased and I could feel a sudden cooling. Abandoning my plans for an afternoon stroll I headed to the daladala. As I waited for it to leave, I watched swirls of wind picking up dust and blowing everywhere. Then the rains came. The windshield wipers were broken on the daladala and the potholes and ruts on the dirt roads filled quickly with water. As always a memorable experience! It was actually a refreshing walk from the bus stand to home as the rain had eased and I do not have far to travel.

“Hamna umeme” is commonly heard and means, “There is no electric.” Our electric has been out for 9+ hour stretches the last two days and my internet service has become hopeless. Even here, the dependency on the computer and internet is evident as it is crucial for much of what I am doing. I shared my internet concerns with Jonas. He informed me there is a new internet provider, Halotel, which he uses and is much faster than Zantel (which is what I have). He let me borrow his internet stick and I thought I died and went to heaven! It was as fast and efficient as in the states.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17

One of the things I love about where I am staying is that there is always a lot of activity. Life happens here; people coming and going. Background noises are a mix of roosters, birds, goats, laughter, and the joyful sounds of children playing.

Joel, who teaches one of the pre-school classes, was one of our visitors today. I enjoy walking in the afternoon so he accompanied me today. His English is very good and Joel is a very genuine, kind soul.  He showed me where he lives. It is in the same compound as Ellie, Josephine and Happy. (Josephine is Jonas’ younger sister who runs a small store next to TAFCOM. Happy is her daughter & Joan’s playmate). We followed a route that took us to the road I lived on in 2014. I walked this road several times a day for two months so was quite familiar with the families and vendors. I heard a woman call out “Marian” and was so pleasantly surprised to see one of the women with whom I always exchanged a daily greeting. Another woman who we bought a lot of produce from also called out my name. I was flabbergasted that they remembered my name. Joel helped me with my Swahili and I reassured them that I would be back to visit.

Joan & Happy visited my room today. I would like to say they came to visit me but they are very shy around me. I gave them a few books to look at and read to them. Mostly they chattered to each other, rolling around on the bed giggling. I always travel with Phase 10, a small dice game that is easy and challenging at the same time. I taught Jovin (Nie & Jonas" 10 year old son) how to play today. As we talked he expressed an interest in learning how to use a camera. We agreed to spend an afternoon taking photos. He would like to have his own camera someday.

What a joyous weekend for reconnection. It is at the same time uplifting and humbling to share an experience of harmony and connection that allows one to know that we really are not all that different…that we are all one family.

Minnesota Academy Pics & More

Lynn with the Kids



The 2nd Building at Minnesota Academy



Jonas, Lynn & Nie

TAFCOM Staff

 Tailoring Students

 

TAFCOM Children Singing About Tanzanian Flag

 Click on link to hear the kids' song about the Tanzania Flag.

"Green is Vegetation, Yellow is Minerals, Black is People. Blue is Ocean."

 

 The Blackboard at Minnesota Academy

 

 Lynn and Group with their Guide, Eric (who is Jonas' Nephew)

 

 Marketplace - inside area

 

The Road I Run On



An Off-Road Trail that is a loop I run

Another part of the Off-Road Loop

 The Stone I Use for My Stair-Stepping Exercise

I need strong quads for the Kili climb!

 

 A Hearty Healthy Breakfast