Tanzania 2010 - Farewells & Thank You's

Thursday, September 09

We spent the morning at TAFCOM saying goodbye. Nie and Jonas gave us both a beautiful piece of batik material and a card. I got a pair of moonstone earrings (from Haley and Reagen’s store) for Nie and wrote a note for her and Farryl.

Jonas,Me,Nie,Megan,Beatrice,Teddy

It was very kind of Ibra to take us to the airport and wonderful to see him again. I have worked out all arrangements necessary to return and may be able to work for him in exchange for room and board which would be awesome.

As always goodbyes are not easy. Knowing I will return to Moshi makes it a bit easier.  Again this has been a life changing event.

This trip would not have been possible without the love and support of my children. As children they each gave me a special gift. Neal taught me the true meaning of unconditional love and during my time in Moshi my heart just seems to open wider every day. The generosity of these people in spite of their poverty is awe inspiring. Their kindness comes from the deepest level and is part of who they are, not a random act on a certain holiday.

From Lee Ann I learned that life is meant to be enjoyed and to her I give gratitude for I never would have come to Africa if she had not had the experiences she had here. My first trip with her re-awoke the free spirit that had been subdued for so many years and gave me the confidence to know that I could take risks and enjoy the rest of my life feeling the wonders of truly being alive.

This place feeds my soul and I feel like I am becoming the person that I was meant to be. I am leaving a huge chunk of my heart here but know that I will return to reclaim it again in the near future. In Nie, Jonas and Ibra I have found 3 of the most amazing human beings I have ever known. I am so incredibly grateful...

Tanzania 2010

Wednesday, September 08

We wanted to end our time with the children so went to the Children’s Center this morning. I remember from last year how difficult it is to say goodbye to the kids.  I can still see them running after us down the road. Fortunately today we left as they were eating their porridge which made it a little easier. There were lots of kisses and hugs. We brought lollipops for the children which is a very special treat. We had a big laugh because in Swahili a lollipop is called a pipi!! (yes, pronounced pee pee)

I received a special gift today. When I arrived at the Children’s Center, Katherine told me that Calvin had returned. (I talked about him in my first visit to the Children’s Center). Calvin’s family had returned to the area. He remembered me which made the day even more special.

We are having a meal at Deli Chez as our farewell tonite but agreed to return to the TAFCOM office to say our goodbyes in the morning. We returned to our hotel, ventured across the street for lunch at the Petras Café. I then took a nap, went to the gym for the last time, met up with Danstan to buy some art and then went to Deli Chez for dinner. Nie and Jonas came with their sons, Jovin and Joseph. Farryl, Molly and Mona were also there. We had a wonderful time. After dinner, Mona, Megan and I went to the Kindoroko for a night cap!

Haria Hotel & Farewell to Pasua Families

Tuesday

We decided to spend our last 2 nites in a hotel and so will be moving over to Haria Hotel which is the hotel owned by our friend, Michael. They have guaranteed us hot water – we’ll see!!

We spent today doing home visits which were especially heart wrenching as some of these people may not all be alive by the time I return. We went to 3 families and took rice to all.

We visited Veronica who Lee Ann and I met last summer. She claims, jokingly, to be the oldest person in Moshi! She cares for 2 grandchildren of different mothers/daughters. Sara is 11 and Wili is 3. Veronica is unable to work and therefore has no income. She suffers from asthma and has been without an inhaler for over a month. An inhaler costs about $3USD. I just want to open my wallet to these people. I did give Nie money for inhalers. My mind set is so different in that I think about how inexpensively I can live at home and in Moshi when I return so that I will have more money to help these people.

We also visited Rehema’s family. She was not home at the time but her 4 children were. Rehema runs a laundry service for income. She is also supported by Megan P., a volunteer who Lee Ann became good friends with during her first summer here. Megan was back in Moshi but left before I arrived.

We again went to Pamela’s to say our goodbyes. Rajabu is not eating enough and Pamela is concerned. She says it is a burden but God brought these children to her so she will care for them. Some neighbors were sitting outside and the song; “We are the World” was playing. I came unglued at this point.

Tanzania 2010

Monday

Today we went to Arusha to visit a Maasai market and the Rwandan Tribunal court. We went with Farryl and Molly who has just arrived and will be spending 3 months at Neema orphanage. It was a 2 hour bus ride and Mt Meru was visible. It is the 2nd highest mountain in Tanzania (and the one I hope to climb when I return!)

The Maasai market is crazy. There are many very small shack type buildings on either side of a very narrow walkway. The vendors want your business desperately and are quite assertive. We did spend some money and made a few vendors quite happy. I bought some earrings from a woman named Lea and she was so overwhelmingly grateful. I didn’t even spend $10 and probably fed her family for a week.

We then met Will, a friend of Farryl’s, who is a lawyer with the International Criminal Tribunal Court. This court was set up by the United Nations to try cases involving the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide which claimed 800,000 lives in 100 days. The Hutu tribe massacred the Tutsi (see the movie Hotel Rwanda) 5 times faster than Hitler killed the Jews. The Kagera River is in NW Tanzania and flows from Rwanda into Lake Victoria. During the genocide 1,000 bodies per day were thrown into the river and flowed down river into Lake Victoria.

We were able to observe a small portion of 2 trials but very little transpired. It is an extremely slow process. The first trial we observed was hearing a witness agree to waive protective custody. During the second trial the lawyer, who was totally unprepared, tried to accuse the witness about lying about whether certain vehicles were in a particular area.

I only have 2 days left and am not looking forward to returning. 

Tanzania 2010

Sunday, September 05

To Neema orphanage with Farryl and Mona today. We took 1.5 liter water bottles for bowling plus bean bags. We played with the infants first. I have become attached to Deborah and spent most of my time with her. I fed her again and she was far more comfortable with me this time. We ate a delicious lunch with the sisters and then spent the afternoon playing with the 2 year olds. They were too young for organized play but enjoyed filling the botles with dirt and rocks and then shaking them like musical instruments.

We rode back to town (45 minutes) in the back of a pickup truck with a priest and 2 nuns in the front!! Kili was out today and was the clearest I have ever seen. Words cannot define how majestic this mountain is.

We all went to Nie and Jonas’ for another amazing meal. Jonas’ mother is visiting and remembered me and Lee Ann.

Tanzania 2010

Saturday

Today Megan, Mona and I spent the day with Ibra on a Marunga educational tour. We first went to the Makundi Village and watched the blacksmiths and carpenters. We got to try and use the bellows (I think that is the right word) to blow on the fire. It was much harder than it looked!! Blacksmiths are an integral part of traditional Africa and date back many centuries to the Iron Age.

We met up with a friend of Ibra’s named William Makundi, he is a former professor at Berkeley and is one of the top in the field of climate change and a Nobel Prize winner. We visited his home and met his brother and wife.

We then walked thru a forested area of banana and coffee trees. It was absolutely gorgeous and felt like you were in the jungle. We stopped at the 7Up Pub nestled in the forest and watched how coffee is made. The outer layer of the coffee bean is removed and then the bean is ground down to remove another layer of skin and exposes the actual coffee bean. These beans are then roasted. When they are almost done a little sunflower oil is added. After roasting, the beans are ground to a fine powder. They put the coffee in a strainer, poured hot water over it and served us the freshest made coffee ever!! It was delicious.

We continued in the forest to an area of homes and a cave that was used in the 17th century as an escape route for slaves and a hideaway from enemies.  We got to go in it but only part way as it originally extended to a river about a quarter mile away for the entrance.

We also visited a Chaga tribal hut. I think it was over 100 years old – can’t remember for sure. It had a thatched roof. The father’s bed was at the entrance so he could provide protection for his family. The wife’s bed was behind his. The children slept in a corner. There was a very small eating/cooking area and the rest of the hut was an area for the cow and goat plus their feeding area.

We visited the local market and then had lunch before hiking to Ndoro Waterfall. On the way we passed the Kibo hotel where Jimmy Carter stayed when he visited as president – not very plush for a presidential stay!

The hike to the waterfall was rustic, steep and slippery. The waterfall was absolutely gorgeous. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the people who discovered this area because I can’t imagine paradise being any more beautiful.

Nie's Words of Wisdom, Home Visits & Fabric Purchasing

Friday

We took beans to Pamela and her family today. She is so grateful for what we have been able to do.

We also visited Madina who is an older woman who lives with her granddaughter in a building with 7 rooms of which she rents one room. The room was crammed with 2 beds, a dresser and a chair. She sells charcoal to support herself. Of her 5 children only one is living and the other 4 died of AIDS.

We visited the public water tap where the families get their water. It costs 10 shillings (1 cent) for a bucket of water which they then carry on their heads to return to their homes.

The women do so much of the work here. Their lives have such a routine around cooking, cleaning, washing, getting water, selling their wares and on and on. This is repeated day after day. When we visited Madina, Nie reported that she said she was very happy. I asked what made her happy as I am seeing a life with no joy except what the children may bring and for those children with AIDS it can be short lived. Nie said that when she and/or the volunteers visit it brings a ray of hope to the people. It also provides comradery and a change or distraction from their daily routine. They are happy to know that people care about their plight and provide much needed sustenance even if it is sporadic.

After the home visits we returned to the office and then went to purchase fabric. The tailoring center will be making 30 bags/purses and I am bringing them home to sell. We had talked about the most efficient way to sell the items made by the tailoring center. I had initially thought we could have a “Store” link on their website which could feature material and various items but unfortunately because of the high cost of shipping this is prohibitive.

I am sad to report that there were no recognizable songs at the gym today but I had another good 30 minute workout.

When we went to bed Friday night it started to rain and did not quit until about 5am – highly unusual as it is winter and “too cold” to rain!!