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The news from Arusha and your trip sounds great! Thanks for all the information and anxious for an overview of what we were able to accomplish. Reinforces our efforts to move forward!

Lola Deane

home

After a week of sleeping much of the time and doing little or nothing, we are "back to normal".  You may take that any way you wish.:-) 

 So, people ask how it feels to be back home - it is wonderful to see family and friends, especially Jen, Jon, Sarah and Jack.

 It is very orderly here in the U.S.  People drive in the correct lane, no goats and cows are allowed on the roads, people stand in line in the grocery store - there IS  a grocery store, church lasts one hour, the lights work, the hotwater is always there, I can drink out of the tap, the roads are paved, there are stoplights, we drive our own car - and we have to cook for ourselves!

So, I miss the smiling people we met every day, the children who loved to"high five" and shout "good morning",  the daily walk to the school, the excited teachers and students with textbooks for the first time, the chaos of yo-yo's, kazoos, bagpipes, baseball, an auction with soccer balls and soccer shoes and cloth and school bags and Obama calendars, mornings, afternoons and evenings of conversation with wonderful people who gave of themselves for this project, an adventure a day! 

And, I'd like to have more order to the teaching, building, projects that we participate in at the school.

I think it would be good to have a more deliberate "debriefing " each day.  Random conversation is great, but maybe something more deliberate would be good.

We loved the group, the experience, not the heat ( altho morning and evening were great) and the people.

Salama, Mary

saying goodbye

How do you say goodbye? Emotions are running high as I pack to leave this wonderful place for home. I am excited to go home and see my family but will also miss the friends I have made here and faces of the people of Tanzania. The faces are beautiful and always smiling. I will miss the children waving and saying jambo(hello), how are you? I will miss seeing the women in their colorful dresses walking with unbelievably heavy loads on top of their heads. I will miss seeing the piles of fruit spread out on a cloth on the ground beside the road that are for sale to earn a few shillings for the woman who tends the "shop" each day. Children play beside her and easily entertain themselves for hours.

Exciting things are happening at the school which have been talked about in previous blogs and it would be good to watch the changes as they grow and develop. I will have to settle for reports and the next trip to satisfy my curiosity and my hopes for the future of the school.

This morning we said goodbye to eight of our members as they left for Zanzibar and a new experience. Two others left for a day trip to Arusha National Park. Six more of us leave for home tonight. Thanks for being with us on the journey.

Off to Z-Land

Africa rookies Katie and Bill blogging for the first time.  We are at breakfast now, soon to leave for the flight to Zanzibar.  Leaving many of the Merry Men and Women today who have been here for 5 weeks and are headed for home.

Just about all the superlatives about Africa have been used up.  Such extremes . . . the beauty of the Serengeti and Tarangire, the staggering poverty and squalor of much of Arusha.  The Maasai outside the city living in the mud bomas with the thorn corrals that they have lived in for thousands of years.  Once into the country, much of Africa is a changeless land 

The Milky Way still can be seen here in a vivid night sky.  And the birds and bird songs -- WOW!

This trip has to rank up there with the best of our lives...meeting new friends, laughing, drinking wine and bumping along dirt roads which seem to go on forever, until we stop to see some spectacular sight (animal, vegetable or mineral!)  Home Sunday

Words cannot express the incredible vastness and grandeur of the Tanzania wilderness and the elegance and beauty of the Massai people.  In spite of the base poverty of so many, so many that we have seen and spent time with are industrious, so welcoming and rich in their relationships.

The group with which we are traveling is wonderful. Great and generous people and so talented. We've really enjoyed one another. It helps that most of us are a bit off plumb. . .!

About half of our group fly back to Seattle today while the rest of us are off to the island of 

Zanzibar. Hi to our grandkids in Bothell, Bellevue and Portland!

Valentine's Day

We are already celebrating Valentine's Day here - red heart gummy bears, heart M& Ms and more to come, I hear. I tried to explain the significance of the day to the women here at the lodge, but I couldn't do it.
The auction at Ngateu was yesterday, our last day at the school. They raised almost $1000, an unheard of amount, with the help of many Safi group members. People would buy something and give it to a student or a child or an adult. It was great fun. Katie Collins gave away kazoos so the whole place was humming by the time we left. Bill Collins played his bagpipes and that attracted people from far and near. I think we'll have to start a kazoo bagpipe band.
We were given certificates by the school board and staff, officially stamped and signed. ( We have ones for you all -Jeff, Adrianna, Jenny and Larry) All of us agreed that more was accomplished during these 4 weeks than any of us dreamed possible - computer lab is now functioning, library has more shelves and more books ( that people use!), the new stoves for the kitchen will be in place in a month, the teachers will be trained, students helped by Mwangaza Center people, the staff is definitely more optimistic, the Rotary here has added our well project to their list, students have learned baseball, kazoos, yo-yos, sukoku, Scottish dancing, English, math - it's been a great time. (And as one person said, we must be really wicked because their is no rest.:-)
But we're off to Tarangire game park to rest and debrief, tough duty.
We are getting anxious to get home! M

Zanzibar Pictures

Safari - Kristina's camera

Ngateu Library pictures

The Library books get taped, stamped and shelved. Not only is Helen, the librarian happy but teachers are happy and students stop us and sya "Thanks for the books!" Can you imaagine having to take and pass your final national physics exam with never having access to a text book?

safari

The migration is as advertised. Wildebeest and zebra as far as one can see. Lots of babies, newborn gazelle being licked clean by mama, hyenas, lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes - amazing, amazing.
We were dusty, hot and happy - more pictures than we can count. Back to work today at Ngateu. Government inspectors at school, making people nervous. Meeting with Mwangaza to finalize our mutual commitment to a better education for the students. Baseball, kazoos, math games, sudoku - tomorrow we organize for auction and I'll talk with the computer person about new computers for the school.
Time for sleep. Lala salama. Mary

Bagpipes, baseball, blogs, and babies

Bagpipes, by bill Collins was the event of the day - followed by baseball. Dictionaries with bagpipe and pictures, discussion, performance , participation by students - and then the baseball finale , complete with Scottish dancing, led by earla, and kids and exhausted wazungu (that's us)
AND We had a great meeting with \mwangaza Center- an organization dedicated to improvement of education in Tanzania. They have agreed to provide resources for our school. We have agreed to pay for their help. More to follow. It appears to be a match made in heaven.
Today was a visit to neema Ndooki Swai,pastor, new mother, new masters' student. It was wonderful. We have pictures of each of us holding baby Noela, 2 months old, and many of Babu David I. holding a sleeping baby Noela. What a gift it was.
and then the orphan project, the adorable children, singing, and counting and healthy.
and then back with the great group who are here. Tomorrow we leave on safari. Home on thursday, Maybe we can email on the way.
It will be good for a break. \\m

more baseball

The pictures posted for the baseball game were great and captured the excitement that was present! Yesterday Form III had a chance to duplicate the experience. The class was divided into two teams with Marilyn as captain of the Serengettis and David J(as opposed to David I) leading the Lions(simbas). David I was the pitcher and I believe that the Serengettis won! The highlight was the concept adopted by some of the girls that when your friend ran the bases you ran with her to give her support(usually four at a time). Of interest was the group of goats in the outfield!

One of our members had an opportunity to speak with her Form IV student and learned a great deal about commitment to education. When describing her day she said that when she returned home she did a few chores on the small farm but that her main job was to study. She would study in the late afternoon and evening and go to bed around 9:00p.m.. She would arise at 3:30a.m. to resume her studies before getting ready for school. She is why we are here! She is why we ask for support to continue our work here.

We are back at school today for more desk building and book cataloging and teaching. I am full of renewed excitement as we discuss the future of the school and ways that we can help.

Faces from Tanzania

Faces

Return from Zanzibar

Last night saw the return of the Zanzibar travelers and the arrival of the second group to work at the school and experience Tanzania. Conversation is high and excitement for the new arrivals is explosive as they see, hear and smell a different culture.

This was my first trip to Zanzibar and it too is different than the mainland in culture and climate. It is tropical and Arab infuences are everywhere. The people are 87% Muslim so the clothing reflects that also. We enjoyed a relaxing time at the beach but my favorite experience was the tour of a spice farm. We took a guided walk thru a plantation/farm where the spices are grown. We were able to see the plants, trees shrubs, roots as they were growing. We saw lemongrass, peppercorns, vanilla beans, ginger root, tumeric root, iodine tree, cinnamon trees, clove trees, cacao, nutmeg shells, cardamom pods. There were also many fruits which we tasted at the end before having the opportunity to purchase spices.

It was good to be back at the school today and continue our work with the students and staff.

A few of us stayed at the lodge this afternoon while the majority went into Arusha to see the sights and shop. Tonight we have dinner with the British student volunteers and say goodbye to Kristina and Mary's brother Wayne.

Greetings to all! Earla

back to Freedom Lodge

We are now back at Freedom Lodge, our "close to Ngateu "place to live. the new group is on their way, the Zanzibaris are on their way back tomorrow and work resumes. My brother, Wayne is with us here and that's been good. He's with Operation Bootstrap and it's good to share stories.
BUT the exciting thing for us, we stopped at Ngateu on the way back to Freedom Lodge - and they were so excited about the "initiative" they had taken. And we are excited, too.
It is unusual for this school team - like unheard of- to do the things they did while we've been gone. They had tables built for the teachers - a suggestion at the board meeting, they took out the "carpet" ( linoleum) in the computer lab and washed the floors carefully, they put tinfoil on the new shelves, so the wet wood would not ruin the books, the new books are on the shelves, the have made a list of books that should be purchased with the next bit of money, they are whitewashing the staff latrine - amazing number of "initiatives" in this week. I am thinking it's a miracle. And they had someone take out all the computer junk. ( I hope it went to recycle, but it's gone and they were very pleased.)
Hot days, cooler nights , full, amazing moon, great people - such a life. M

Pictures

We have so many pictures. They will be appearing as we get them organized.

Zanzibar

This trip I added Zanzibar to the end and it is wonderful. I don't think I've ever sweated so much before in my entire life, and that includes child birth. But, like childbirth, it is worth it. We had one day of down time on the beach and Paige, I finished your book. Today we toured a spice farm which included a feast of fruit afterward including jack fruit (looks like bread fruit). The pinapple was better than the best I have ever had. Now we are in stone town. Very different than Arusha. I've lots of pictures and I will add them when I get to a computer that will let me do so. We're about to grab a bite and then shop - Elizabeth's favorite spot. Again....we find that the people are wonderful.

all your comments have inspired me to write again - even though you may be getting too much of me. We're saying goodbye to Jenny and Larry and Adrianna and we will miss them!! The rest are in Zanzibar - larry and David and I are at the safari lodge. No blogging from Zanzibar as they haven't had electricity for 6 months. ( There are generators)
My brother comes tonight to the lodge with the OBA group and Jean and Marv will come in also - to eat, chat and shower in our room.( no water in Monduli for about 6 months.)
Haldor is visiting the Hadzabe - a hunter gatherer tribe south of the Serengeti.
We've talked lots today about the school and what to do and how best to help. Mwangaza Center is a huge part of what will help, I think. We're excited to talk to them again. It's still hot here, but the mornings and evenings are lovely - clear, full moon, still, flowers everywhere - not bad. And we have water and electricity!
M

Back in Arusha

We're all together again, sans Jeff, and in Arusha. What a welcome we received at the Safari Lodge. By now I have grown accustomed to the staff recognizing us from previous years and the hugs and warm welcomes. I say that I'm accustomed to it but I admit I am in awe of the warmth. I want to carry it with me always. Tonight we will have an African dinner and then many of us are off to Zanzibar. We've been hot for days and the only thing I hear about Zanzibar is that it is HOT! I promise not to melt. I really missed blogging while on Safari but it just was not possible. When I get back to the states I promise to add pictures. WE HAVE GREAT ONES. I've never seen so many baby elephants. Stay tuned.

This is from the 25th

Great day! Serengeti. My third visit and each visit outdoes the previous visit. On this green savannah, the wildebeest and zebra outnumber any possibility of counting. Imagine driving across Montana on a dirt road with no fences and seeing the land covered in cattle and horses. It’s impossible to take a picture or describe the numbers of bio mass that we saw. The elephants gathered to an extended family of 75 that I could see and you could probably add another 20 who were too bunched or too young to show. Then later….. the leopard! There were also lions, ostrich, impala, grants gazelle & tommys, hartebeest, topi, springbuck, waterbuck, vultures, eagles, giraffe (not as many as the 50 plus we saw yesterday), hippos, wart hogs (pumba), jackal, hyenas, even the little dik dik, and I can continue……

I sit now in the yard beyond Ndudu’s lodge. A nearby knocking tells me that a pileated woodpecker knocking the acacia tree to my right. Between my seat and the blue lake, (yes it has water!) stalks a marabou stork on its long stilt legs. A lodge worker comes out to begin the evening fire. The hat is not needed but the smoke keeps down the flies. Eight superb starlings are curiously checking me out. Oh look, zeebra. What a trip of contrasts. Just this morning I was discussing water filtration systems with a man working with another NGO. Issues of sanitation, implementation, maintenance and cultural necessities blended into sanitation and hygiene. His most stunning statement was that in places where these are used, the locals say they use it because “babies are not getting sick,” Can anything be more sublime.

Tuesday - me again

Since I'm not looking for animals, I get to blog. Elizabeth took David to Rotary so he can talk to them about the water project. David and I first went to the Mwangaza Center to talk with Shoonie, from the u.S. , John and Salome, from Tz. Mwangaza is a center for education of teachers and is walking distance from Elizabeth's. They have done an assessment of all the Lutheran Church sponsored schools in Tz. , including Ngateu. We rank near the bottom of all of the schools. (ranking is based on performance on the national exams.) That's the bad news, which we kind of knew. But the good news is that they are going to help! A proposal is being pressented to us next Thursday for the cost and the scope of their involvement with teachers and headmaster at Ngateu. It is very exciting. They have done their homework. They were excited also, to hear of our ideas and assessment of the school, teachers, facilities, etc. Books, library and working computers delighted them as MANY schools have none of these. There's so much to tell that I can't do it here, but I will write it up and share the highlights. After we had talked awhile, and we realized what their involvement would mean to Ngateu andour involvement, David tried to tell them what it felt like for us and he got all choked up. It was an amazing meeting!!!!
The Tanzanian teachers also gave me advice on various questions we've had and that is so valuable. One question was whether sponsors should be able to buy a set of textbooks for their student,or if other students would be left out. The answer was please buy the textbooks, maybe not all of them ( 8 or 9), but maybe 4 or 5 that the student really needs. That way, some students will have their own textbooks in class, so the school books will spread farther.

So, I feel hopeful and excited. Now I will walk back to Elizabeth's and tonight, the 3 of us will try out a new restaurant to see if the group would like it. (Somebody has to do these restaurant checks.:-)
We will be glad to have the rest of our friends back and hear their tales. m

Monday evening

Elizabeth and David and I are now alone with the dogs, Sinde and Cheza , in Ilboru. Jeff left tonight and we will miss him!!!! He will add pictures when he gets home. The safari group reports the migration of wildebeest and zebra is at Ndutu ( where they are), 20 lions, 3 cheetahs next to the vehicle, leopard, etc.

We have visited the school, eaten about 5 times, driven up and down the lovely roads, had the best "chilly" cashews ever, and Indian food for the second day.

Friday was dinner at friends' Farida and Saif's home. It was delicious and lovely and they are the most gracious of hosts. Sat. we had a school board meeting that was good. They are very grateful for books and 11 working computers and sorted parts in the computer lab, and people to talk to and teachers in the classes and baseball and baseball hats.
My favorite baseball game story was of Mr. Mosha, who is the Swahili/english teacher - and a delightful man. He wanted to bat and had no idea what to do. So he missed the ball several times - everyone laughing with him, hit it and ran to 1st - with some direction from the "coaches". Then the next student hit the ball and I told Mr. Mosha to run to second base, which he did, but then he ran off into the field, caught the next hit ball and threw it somewhere. He finally ended up at home, where we retired hiim for the day.
Sunday was church at the International church where we saw many friends, lunch at Ilboru Safari Lodge, then the curry and movie. We're eating too much! Elizabeth promises that she won't cook for us, but then she usually doesn't:-) .
Lots meetings this week, so it's good to be here - but I do miss the safari!
Enough- it's still warm and humid, but we sleep comfortably. Mary, Elizabeth, and David

Winding down

Tomorrow morning will be my last trip up the hill to the school. I have an evening flight first to Dar es Saalam, then to Amsterdaam, then back to Seattle.

At the beginning of the trip I had a difficult time articulating what it is like here, and I still have not made any improvements. There are just so many contrasts. Often I see something that makes me laugh and smile and something else that makes me want to cry. It can be quite a roller coaster. I think that the work at the school is an example of this. The staff has been very very happy and appreciative about the 600+ textbooks that we bought them. They say that this will fundamentally change things at the school. Then you look next door and realize that at the primary school, the class size is over 100 kids per teacher and see that there is no way for those kids to be successful. We feed the kids at the school lunch, but outside the school there are still many hungry faces. We stay at a nice place and enjoy the company of the group in the evenings, while in the distance in the dark, we can sometimes here the sounds of domestic violence.

So it has been a little bit like drinking from a firehose. . . it is a whole lot all very quickly. But it really has allowed me to regain the perspective that I once had while travelling years ago. This is a fantastic place, and if you would like to gain some perspective on how incredibly fortunate we are in America, I'd encourage you to sign up for the Safi trip next year.

-Jeff-

Sat.

David, Jeff, Elizabeth and I are in town at Elizabeth's office. Jeff is "saving her life". ( computer problem with her credit union.) We've decided that Jeff has to be a permanent part of the trips - he is amazing and insightful and fun! The rest of the group left on safari today and it was hard not to go, but we'll go on the next one.
This has been a great group - we hate to have anyone leave. But we are excited for the new 6 to arrive, also.
School board meeting this morning - went very well. They are so thankful for everything - books, shelves, computers ( 11 now working), teachers, baseball, - it's good.
I'm out of time - more tomorrow. Mary

Thursday, by Marilyn

Thursday, 21 Jan. we taught the form 4 class the basics of American softball.

First we handed out baseball hats for them to decorate and keep.

Thanks to my son's family we had new baseballs, bats, gloves and base pads.

Jeff, Kristina and I instructed them on the proper grip and we rolled up newspaper into round balls to show them how we use the bat and the ball for the game. We were inside a classroom and it got a little wild. Some of the boys as well as the girls caught on quickly.

Friday, at 2 PM we went across the road to the primary school's field and played.

We divided the students into two groups and made two makeshift baseball diamonds.

One of the groups had lots of room. Ours, however was ringed with at least two hundred primary students, other form classes and interested people walking by.

Needless to say, we were a little concerned someone might get hit by the ball and do some serious harm to them. Jeff cautioned the eager boys to hit the ball softly. There were at least 4 home runs, and no injuries. The game was a big hit....

There will be some pictures posted soon..

We were so lucky to get our baseball game in as the sky darkened and a few thunder booms started and a few rain drops...but, we were not to be denied this wonderful opportunity to bond with the students and the surrounding neighborhood youngsters.

All the balls, bats, gloves and base pads were returned to us after the game..A miracle!!!

We will have two more sessions on Fridays (P.E. day) according to government, and instruct the other forms...at least forms 2 and 3. (these students range in the age of 14-18....my guess..)

hello all my friends and family...thank you all for the great support.

Marilyn

Blog from Jenny Jan 21

Thursday was a day of contrasts. We started the day with a magnificent breakfast of omelet, toast and fruit, served on the verandah at the Freedom Lodge. The morning was spent once more at the school. Ngateu Secondary School is without doubt one of the poorest of schools, but the students are bright and fun and eager to learn. Marilyn and Larry split form four into two groups. While one group learned how to play softball, the other group learned how to yo-yo. Larry had to explain to the kids that yo-yos are just meant to be for fun!

After lunch, several of us drove to the USA River project orphanage. We were greeted by singing, smiling pre-kindergartners, all of them orphans, many picked up off the streets, and some HIV/Aids infected. Crispin, the director has made the orphanage his vocation. He, and the other volunteers, receive no government funding. The whole project relies soley on donations. The children are cared for in a small building, with two rooms that double as classrooms and dormitories, and two outside rooms plus a kitchen. There is also a garden area where the volunteers grow vegetables to supplement the children's diet.

Our next stop returned us to the luxury of the bar at Arusha Hotel. We finished the day eating at Hahn's Barbecue, an auto parts store by day, and a street vendor by night, the closest thing to fast food to be found in Tanzania.

Making headway.

Over the last few days, we have been able to fix a number of the computers in the lab, bringing the number available to the students from 4 up to 9, and Larry Bona and I think that we will be able to fix one more this morning. We paid for the new internet HF radio from Arusha Node Marie, and now are going to schedule the technician to come up. We were able to show Lembras how to open up the computers and poke around. He was swapping components and hard-drives with us as we cannibalized broken computers to make working ones. . .a bit of technology organ donation.

Last night we went into Arusha and had dinner at Khan's BBQ place, which is an auto parts store during the day. It was all cooked on the street over charcoal grills, and we sat at tables put onto the sidewalk. . .it was fantastic. It was in the muslim area of Arusha, and during our meal, the evening prayer was going on. I thought it was the coolest thing. It reminded me of eating incredible street food in Mexico in the small towns.

Everyone has been busy, from building shelving for the library, to organizing and covering books, teaching classes, helping teachers, working on the sponsorships, and fixing computers in the lab.

Asante sana, Ken

Dear Ken,

I am so sorry that you aren't here. This is a great group. Work is progressing--slowly, for the lumber people. Worked on books yesterday and will pick up rest and process them this afternoon. Lunch yesterday was fantastic Tanzanian cheese and fresh avacado. Thank you so very much for providing the avacados!

Off to school and town for books.

Thanks again,

Nancy

The knitting Maasae, by Adriana

Today on the walk back from the school, after buying a couple of yards of cloth from a local vendor, we were stopped by a Maasae woman who noticed my knitting in my handback. She pointed at and and I pulled it out and asked if that was what she was looking at. She took the needles and amazingly began to knit! So I told her " WOW. . .you can knit!", then Christina asked if she could take her picture, and she said no, and stopped knitting. In order to get my knitting back I said that I had a gift for her. . .and handed her a finished dishcloth that I had finished knitting earlier in the day. She thanked me profusely, saying " Asante sana"(Thank you very much) over and over and displayed the dishcloth as if she was going to wear it as a piece of clothing or a hat.. . .which made us all laugh. She thanked me again as we were leaving.

Adriana

Customs issues, by Elizabeth

Yesterday, Elizabeth "the coordinating goddess" met with the Tanzanian ambasador from the US to discuss the difficulties that Safi (Mary) encountered at the airport. She then had a follow on meeting with the Security Officer of the American Embassy as well. Navy Seal teams are now inbound to neutralize the "uncooperative" customs agency. The Seals will also work through the local agencies to get the 230 dollars we paid in duty reimbursed. Actually, they recommended that we contact the local government, contact the airline, and contact local business people to lobby the customs agency to quit being so difficult. . .apparently we are not the only group that has had an issue with them recently.

Elizabeth

Books, by Mary

Wednesday, Mr. Mao, the assistant headmaster and us went to town to pick up the books that had been purchased by our group, we went to a tiny store where 5 of us couldn't fit and 2 of us were asked to sit outside. We actually found a guest house across the street for the Martins to stay in. The books were not all in stock as planned, so we paid for all of them and will pick the rest up tomorrow. They loaded all of the books (about a 1/3 of the total 640 books we ordered). Mr. Mao smiled all the way back to the school because of the riches that it represented. We brought them back to the lodge so that we could tape the edges and label them and get them into a state for the kids to use. The assembly line took about 2 hours to get the books done (which means about 6 hours are left). During the course of the book taping, the heavens opened up and rained harder than many of us had ever seen. Much running to close windows to our hotel rooms took place. The rains subsided and the sun returned and now the everything smells wonderful.

Mary

Today, by David

Blue Sky today- it may be quite warm. Yesterday decided we have to build book shelves for the library as we go to town and buy FAR more books than they have ever had - sudden wealth! So a few of us planned the independent standing shelves. I went with David Mtui and the Fundi (carpenter/laborer) to pick up the material. An interesting process. . .first we go the the "lumber yard", agree on a price, go to the ATM, let the fundi off with the money to get /rent a pick-up, get the lumber, bring it to the saw mill and cut it in the correct sizes. We have an English to Swahili conversion as well as an inches to metric conversion. . .but we are hopeful. I can't wait to see what we discover when we get to the school. I figure it will be a miracle if the wood is cut in any way close to the size planed.
But all is well - good group, good place to stay, friendly staff, and plenty of cold beer (but lousy wine). Peace, David.

Today, by David

Blue Sky today- it may be quite warm. Yesterday decided we have to build book shelves for the library as we go to town and buy FAR more books than they have ever had - sudden wealth! So a few of us planned the independent standing shelves. I went with David Mtui and the Fundi (carpenter/laborer) to pick up the material. An interesting process. . .first we go the the "lumber yard", agree on a price, go to the ATM, let the fundi off with the money to get /rent a pick-up, get the lumber, bring it to the saw mill and cut it in the correct sizes. We have an English to Swahili conversion as well as an inches to metric conversion. . .but we are hopeful. I can't wait to see what we discover when we get to the school. I fugure it will be a miracle if the wood is cut in any way close to the size planed.
But all is well - good group, good place to stay, friendly staff, and plenty of cold beer (but lousy wine). Peace, David.

18 months, by Nancy

I think that the biggest surprise for me was the feeling of coming home. Back to family that I haven't seen in 18 months. The girl that I have sponsored is now taller than I am and very self-assured. . .she speaks beautiful english. Quite a contrast from four years ago when she wouldn't even raise her eyes when we spoke. Leaving Ngateu and driving down the road to town, we passed a girl that Marilyn and ken have sponsored for two years, and I recognized her. ..we stopped and hugs were all around. she has turned into a very beautiful woman. at the same time, a grandmother with children wanted us to give a ride into town, but we couldn't because we were full. I have noticed tremendous changes here in Tanzania. Many cars, lots of construction. Even with a suffering economy, there seems to be incredible progress and changes in 18 months.

Nancy

An afternoon walk, by Haldor

Yesterday we walked from where we are staying down to the Ilboru Safari Lodge in the hopes of seeing some old friends that we have made over the years. We found two of them and caught up with them over some beer and chips. Mary was looking for Tinga Tinga art, which is a very specific type of painting which she wanted to have on a bunch of jar lids. We saw people that our group has known for many years, the receptionist, the maintenance person, and the main hostess. The lodge is closer to Arusha and is very beautiful. That is where we have stayed for many years, but it is very far from the school. The walk down was very hot and lots of downhill. The walk back was EXHAUSTING. It was about 90 degrees and it must have been 100% humid.

Haldor

Meeting my Student, by Adriana

It was very exciting to meet the student that I sponsor. I brought a gift for her, and she was so shy that she didn't know what to say when I gave it to her. Her english is poor so she had to have the headmaster speak for her, but she was able to say "Thank-you" in english. I told her that as long as she studied hard and passed her tests, that I would continue to sponsor her through all of her forms. . .and she smiled. I also taught her class Sudoku, which was a little confusing for the kids and not very easy to teach with the language barrier. We wrote all of boxes up on the board and were filling them in when we made a mistake in our numbers and some of the kids pointed it out! On the way back from the school, one child followed me back to the lodge yelling out "see you tomorrow" in Swahili "Tuta Onana Keshu". Our entire conversation consisted of saying "Tomorrow!" back and forth to each other.

Adriana

Work Begins

This morning we arrived at the school around 9am and immediately split up. Larry Bona and I went to the computer lab and talked with Lembras about what he thought needed to happen at the lab. His concerns were focused on getting sustainable internet and getting the computers in the lab fixed or replaced. Out of 20 donated computers, there are currently 5 working. We started out by checking ALL of the computer gear in the lab to see if it was any good. There were 4 big boxes that we found that were full of absolute garbage computer stuff. Old cables(from Australia), old modems, sound cards, power supplies, mother boards, and a big pile of hard-drives were apparently donated by someone last year, but I think that 'dumping' would be a better name for it. Larry Bona was the bulldozer and tested each of about 40 computer mice, and then with the help of Kristina, tested upwards of 50 keyboards. During that time, Larry McGlamery and I were checking to see how many of the monitors worked .. .which were fortunately most of them. It took over 6 hours to get things sorted to the point were we can start to figure out what is wrong with the current systems. My goal is to have 10 systems running and connected to the internet by the time we leave.

-jeff-

Downtown Arusha

Yesterday afternoon, the group headed downtown to go to the money exchange, to get quotes on items for the school, and to go shopping at the Maasae market. After first talking to the people at one of the computer stores about the price of power-strips for the computer lab, I was assured by our local Project Manager, David Mtui, that those prices were 'tourist' prices and that we could get them for much better deal if he (a local) were to go into the store with me and negotiate in the local dialect (Kiswahili). The group then went to the market to buy art, and I hijacked David's brother Luther and one of the vans and we headed out to the AICC(Arusha International Conference Center) in the middle of town to speak to the company that provides the long distance HF Radio internet to the school, Arusha Node Marie. It turns out that Node Marie offers free internet to schools in the area, as long as they purchase the radio equipment. The school has a version of the equipment that is going to be discontinued, so they are sending me a quote for what the new antenna and radio will be to install. . . .which we believe to be around $500.

-jeff-

Ken - I just want to thank you for the scotch. It was really smooth.

Thanks, ken for the wine tonight. it was wonderful! We miss you - \mary

Greetings from Earla

Returning to Tanzania brings up a host of memories that involve all the senses. Alarm clocks are not needed because the Tanzanian Serenade consists of roosters crowing, cows mooing, birds singing and the Muslim call to prayer. The air is filled with aromas that are earthy, floral, and modern pollutant automobile fumes. This time of year the vegetation is lush and green. The gardens are beautiful with flowers and new growth of vegetables. Emotions run high as we greet friends, see the charming adorable children and the faces of the people.

I had the pleasure of seeing an orphan girl named Salome that I have known for five years and could see changes in her that have come as of result of counseling she has received to help her through difficult times in her life. She does not know her father and her mother and siblings have died of Aids. There are services available to her that have made a huge difference in her life.

Today we will buy books for the school at Ngateu as our work continues. I am being filled with more memories of good work and friendship.

Sights from Africa

This place is an amazing collection of sights and smells and sounds. We all feel as though we are using our senses more than we ever need to do at home. On Sunday, we heard the amazing sound of the girls singing. Later that day we visited the Masai market, and later still, ate barbecue lunch at the Snake Pit, with a tour of the reptile house thrown in.

Monday morning was spent unpacking the trunks of supplies, with a little time off to try out some of the equipment. And today, Tuesday, the first day of school for the students at Ngateu, we started working at the school. I spent most of my time working in the library, accompanied by the sounds of the children in the classroom next door, and the smell and sound of the cow in the field outside the window.

First day at the school

Today was the first day up at Ngateu. Mary, Haldor, and I walked up the hill to meet with the Headmaster Seth. We got our plans sorted out and then I met with Lembras, the computer lab manager. We started going through the computers one by one and identifying which ones are working and which ones have issues. Tomorrow we are going through each mouse, keyboard, montior, and computer to sort them and see if we can bring the number of working ones from 5 up to 10. We just had lunch down in Arusha are about to be led by Mary off to parts unknown in search of something important. . .i am sure.

Never did I think that going to Africa would mean I would have to figure out yet another computer thing. Everything is green and we ended our day activities with a thunder storm. The Maasi girl's school Sunday service was as wonderful as I remember - beautiful voices, beautiful girls. Mostly today we are tired; long flights, long wait at the airport, late night, early morning. Saw ostriches on the way to Monduli.
Pat

clarification of " discussions"

So, the trip went fine - good company, some sleep, some turbulence, interesting people -long, but good. And then we got to customs. We all got our luggage and people went out as soon as they had everything - which left a few of us, with my new favorite customs agent. The discussion went from bad to worse - and it wasn't even all me! David Mtui, David Nelson, Elizabeth, Larry, with his lists of every item - noone was able to make any sense to Mr. Customs. So we got my other new favorite customs agent and ended up paying 250,000 TSH --$200 + . Mtui and Elizabeth and I all had some parting words for our new favorites and finally got out of the airport and to the lodge about 1:30 a.m. A LONG event. Mtui will take the receipts and our complaint to the customs people on Monday. But, I'm happy to be here and our reception at the Freedom Lodge made up (well sort of) for the Customs fiasco. They are delightful and helpful and smile all the time!
Mary

This is an amazing place

We are here and we are all doing well. It is 7pm on Sunday, and most of the group is taking naps after a long night and a packed day. We arrived late last night and had a few issues getting all of the school supplies through customs. Lots of discussions over the course of a few hours led to us finally paying a few different taxes. We were on our way by 11:30pm and were here at the Freedom Safari lodge outside of Arusha by around 12:30. Everyone was pretty jazzed about making it to our 'base camp' and a few celebratory beers were had. Bedtime around 2am was shortly followed by waking up at 6:30am to have breakfast and head out to the Maasae Girl's School, about an hour away. There we were welcomed by the most incredible singing and attended their Sunday service. We were given a tour of the school and many of our group caught up with friends at the school. Then quickly off to the Snake Pit BBQ, where we had a real South African Braai (BBQ) and toured the collection of really poisionous snakes. Then back to the Lodge where we are planning tomorrows trip to the school and what we are going to be doing once the real work begins. The Lodge is up on the mountainside, about 4500ft and is incredibly green and lush. The birds singing in the morning were beautiful(except for the neighbor's crow). We just had an intense thunderstorm and rain that passed after about 20 minutes and now it smells just like warm potting soil in a greenhouse.
Everyone is still slightly jetlagged, and I am slightly overwhelmed at the intensity and amazing diversity of this place. I hope that I will be able to find more adjectives than 'amazing' over the next few days, but it really is hard to put into words.

Ready, set. .. go!

A friend of mine is on the way to pick me up and take me to the airport. I have one bag of clothes, and one big bag of things we are taking over to the kids. . from baby hats to pens to soccer balls to school bags. I have iPod charged, and a new book ready for the flight. I have lots of shots from the Travel Medicine clinic, and some 'just-in-case' prescription drugs. I think that I am ready. . .we will see shortly.

Having never been to Tanzania, I don't know what to expect. I am incredibly excited about seeing a new place and a new culture. I have traveled before, but never with the kind of purposeful intention that this trip has.

Hopefully we will be able to scavenge up some internet while we are there. I am going to encourage everyone to send lots of updates about what they are experiencing and feeling.

Okay. .. I think my ride is here, and it is time for this adventure to officially begin.

Purposeful Travel. . .Safi style

Jambo! We are off (on Friday). The first group of 16 travelers will be arriving in Tanzania this weekend! Group 2 will be traveling February 1st. Foremost in the many things that we will be doing are:

• Buying $3500 worth of classroom text books (to be specifically assigned and collected back for next year)
• Installing the first 5 energy efficient and dust proof Computers
• Moving on the new Latrine (bad pun intended)
• Hopefully finding a more energy resourceful stove for the kitchen - they are burning way too much (green!) wood
• Diligently continuing the work to move the well project forward and meeting with Arusha Rotary so we con build a well and bring water to Ngetau
• Meeting our new sponsored kids, getting pictures and sharing news
• Building Desks - with solar powered power tools that we will bring :)
• Sharing the many gifts donated
• Serendipitous teaching - and yes, a softball game is planned too (believe me this will be interesting)
• In addition we'll be visiting the Maasae Girls School, a Maasae Market, Safaris at Ndutu, Serengeti, and Tarangire
• Some will go to Zanzibar and some will visit the Hadzabi tribe (very primitive)

Whew. And wait....there's more.....there is always shopping.

Please visit www.safischoolproject.org and follow our blog. We will do our best to keep you informed (when the internet is up and there is electricity :)

If you wish to respond to the blog, please send it by e-mail to info@safischoolproject.org and Mary, Nancy, Earla or Kristina will respond. We will all be there.

Kristina

Tanzania - Jan. 16th

The first group of 15 leaves for Tanzania on Jan. 15th!  The second group of 6 leaves on Feb. 1.  

Eleven of us will stay for the entire time.  We're excited!

We will spend half of our time working at Ngateu Secondary School - computers, building desks, teaching, facilitating English-speaking groups, kazooing, organizing text books,  learning to know the students and the teachers.  And we will visit some local projects, Heiffer Project, Aids orphan care facility, Selian Hospital ..  And we will go on safari, hopefully to see the migration of zebra and wildebeest and accompanying lions, etc. Going in January is a new experience for most of us, 

and it will be different- hot and humid, more animals in the Serengeti - who knows.

And we will be changed by our experience, I'm quite sure.

We'll try to keep up the blog through the trip.

Mary

Computers for Ngateu

I have been talking with the people at Kicheko Ltd in Arusha. They are the local representatives of www.inveneo.org , the makers of the computers that I think are best suited for this application. Here is a document from Inveneo that is a primer for these kinds of projects. I found it to be incredibly helpful, and I would really like to discuss many of the points, especially the parts about local ownership, community buy-in, and expectations.

The computers take around 10-14 days to arrive in Tanzania once they are ordered. I have sent a quick rough sketch(that I will clean up) of what I think the system would look like and I hope to hear back shortly. I personally think that the incremental, phased approach is very wise. I feel like we can identify critical infrastructure while we are over there and create the foundation for a system that can expand easily when funds become available.

I would really like to hear everyone’s personal views on this project. For our projects at my company, we try to get all of our own assumptions out on the table so that we can get the expectations of the participants aligned. However, we don’t have any representative of the customers of this project, and I think that we need to be very careful that we are meeting their needs, not meeting the needs that we think they have.

-jeff-

inveneoNgateu.pdf

Thanks to All - The Auction Was a Success!

We were worried. This was Safi School Project's first big time auction event - and we did aim big. Lola worked her magic and asked Bill Gates Sr. if he would grace us. He accepted! Now, not only were we worried about a big event but we wanted to return Mr. Gate's acceptance by showing that we were serious about our goals and not just swatting at them. He could see that. So did all the people who came. On a Thursday night in Olympia every table was full. We had displays and banners, decorated tables, lots of donated auction items, food, refreshments, fun, a great message. With all of that, we raised $14,700 from those donated auction items! Economic times are tough but hearts and minds are stronger.

How wonderful to see all the people that have opened their hearts to help in their many ways of helping. Thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, from all that have been building and supporting our mission, we thank you.

Who knew that from just a few years ago that we could do this? Who knew that when I sponsored my first student, a girl, an orphan, that she would now be a second year university law student? And her's is only one story of many students we help, and now you help. Haba na haba, hujaza kibaba (Little by little fills the pot)

Sneak Preview of our Auction Items!

It workeed! not only did I post the the sneak preview of the catalog but I also just now updated it. Please click on this link to see the Catalog for our auction to be held at St. Martin's on October 22, 2009. There are lots of pictures of the items available for bidding. Please click on the link below. I'll see you at St Martins. If you can't make it, send a friend with your wishes.

Link to Auction Items

Safi Auction Ticket Sale ends 10/12/09

Join us at the Safi Foundation’s Fall Auction to benefit the Safi School Project

When: Thursday, October 22, 2009 - 6:00 p.m.

Where: at St. Martin’s University, Worthington Center, Lacey WA

We are pleased to welcome special guest Bill Gates, Sr., co-chair of the Gates Foundation, who will be speaking and signing his new book Showing up for Life, Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime.

Wine, non-alcoholic beverages and hearty hors d’oeuvres provided

Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple

Please Contact kmahlf@comcast.net to be placed on the guest list. Seating is limited.

Ticket sales close on 10/12 or when sold out.

It will be a great evening of food, fun and wonderful items available for your bidding. We will have both a silent and live auction. Please see the attached auction catalog to see many of the items that will be available to bid on. The list is still growing!

Kristina Tamm-Finnerud

Secretary, Safi Foundation

(CFD #1465786)

Safi Foundation Auction

We're really excited about our fall fundraiser! We're aiming for around 60 items for the silent auction that will include many African items. The live auction plans to have 10 paintings, 10 experience items, and 10 Tanzanian items plus lots of fun. But wait - that's not all - We are pleased to welcome special guest Bill Gates, Sr., co-chair of the Gates Foundation who will be speaking and signing his new book, Showing Up for Life. Awesome!

When: Thursday, October 22, 2009 - 6:00 pm at St. Martin's University, Worthington Center, Lacey, WA
Wine, non-alcoholic beverages and hearty hors d'oeuvres provided.
Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple.
Please e-mail info@safischoolproject.org for availability of tickets or call 360-413-0246. Seating is limited.

Updates and pictures of auction items will be posted periodically on this website. Stay tuned!

Safi to be at Thurston County Fund Drives

For those in the Thurston County area, here is an easy way to see what Safi School Project is all about. Stop by our table and say Hi to Marilyn, Earla or Mary. They put up a great display!

This year, we are again participating in the charity fairs in Olympia and Tumwater to increase CFD charities’ visibility to state employees in Thurston County. Come and be a part of the more than 700 state employees who come out each year to kick off the Combined Fund Drive!

2009 Charity Fair Schedule
September 15, 2009 (11:30AM - 1:30PM)	East Capitol Campus Plaza, Olympia	Map
September 16, 2009 (11:30AM - 1:30PM)	Tumwater Farmers Market, Tumwater	Map

go to http://www.cfd.wa.gov/county/ThurstonCounty/CharityFairs.html for more information

Safi Foundation fundraiser

                                                               SAVE THE DATE!

                                                              OCTOBER 22,2009

           6 P.M. AT ST.MARTIN'S UNIVERSITY WORTHINGTON CENTER, LACEY,WA.

           SILENT AUCTION

           LIVE AUCTION

         

           BILL GATES,SR. SPECIAL GUEST    (speaking and signing his book)

If you would like an invitation or more information, please call 360-413-0246

or email info@safischoolproject.org

There will be more information on the website soon.

And a child shall lead them.

Several weeks ago, an 11 year old young woman named Zoe Chapman, gave Safi School Project a check for $200.  For her birthday this year, she asked that if anyone wanted to give her a gift it should be a donation to the Safi School Project.  Hence the $200 check.  Last year Zoe did the same thing - her gifts were donations to Safi.  We'll be able to buy a number of textbooks for a school with very few textbooks!

And we have Dorree Ndooki, who is 9, and Harrison Newman, who is 12, who are working to raise funds for the water project that Safi School Project is sponsoring for our Ngateu School. They have had a "table" in Great Barrington, MA. to talk about the project and raise funds - several hundred dollars so far.  

And, Harrison asked that the gifts he received for his Bar Mitzvah go to the water project for Ngateu - over $2000 so far.  I'll let him tell you his story.

"Dear friends,

       I am very proud to be helping the village and the school by contributing to the Safi School Project.  This is the first BIG installment of many more to come, as I will be continuing this work to build this well!!

       My torah portion talks about the poor and the stranger; and The Holiness Code to care for others.  My ancestors, many many thousands of years ago, walked the desert, hundreds of miles in the heat, searching for water to survive.  It is because of this connection and my friendship with Dorree that makes this project meaningful.  I hope to visit one day.

      Shalom and kind regards,

      Harrison Newman  "

And a child shall lead them.

Mary Nelson

Response to Ketumbeine area Famine In 2009

We have been contacted to assist in relief of the current famine "crisis" in the Ketumbeine area of Tanzania. This famine is due to late long rains that did NOT come to many areas. The government did deliver some lorries of maize last month but supplies are depleted. There are no cows in the northern Masaiiland region ( they've shifted them in search of water). Goats are producing milk, but Dr. Friberg, of the Arusha Community Church (ACC) who is assisting to get emergency funds to the area through special offerings, feels those goats will dry up shortly due to lack of "green" grazing areas. There is a request for assistance to get money to be used for maize flour enriched with soy/peanuts and milk powder, which is a good supplement for malnourished children.

This is outside the scope of Safi School Project’s mission but Safi members feel that we should not ignore this request if we can help. Some students sponsored by Safi members come from this region and their families and consequences of famine will impact them. Please help if you can.

For tax exemption you can send your check to;

ELCA Global Mission

Attention: The Rev. Twila K. Schock

8765 W. Higgins Road

Chicago, IL 60631-4101

Write your check out to "The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America"

On the memo portion of the check write “Famine Relief Arusha - Global Gift."

Write a letter including name and address of the donor, amount of the gift and “Famine Relief Arusha - Global Gift." - Thank you for your consideration.

Annual Story now online

The details of the last year have been released onto the website. Click here to download the Safi Foundation's 2008 Annual Story.

Dinner and a Play!

We filled the theater after our wonderful dinner which filled our bellies. We also went with full hearts. The auction and ticket sales raised $3000 towards the water project, sponsored another student at Ngetau and sent off $400 to the Thurston County Food Bank. We met some new friends, greeted our old friends and told our story. Could it be any better?

Many thanks go to the Carelli's and crew that helped plan, cook AND clean up while the rest of us trooped over to Capitol Playhouse to see "Jesus Christ Superstar". I heard that the clean up committee had a blast too. Thank yous also go out for all the donated auction items. With all the Africa items snatched up we'll have to replenish our supply before our big fall auction. In addition to African art, the fall auction will again feature a number of local artist's work. It will all be great fun, don't miss it.

March 22 - Dinner and a Play plus Auction

On March 22nd we will host another FUNdraising event. Capitol Playhouse will present "Jesus Christ Superstar" for Safi School Project. $30 will get you a wonderful, served dinner and into the play. There will also be a silent auction, preceding dinner, featuring African items and paintings by local artists. Some examples are shown here. For individual images, you can go to our fundraising page. Dinner starts at 5:00 and will be served at St. Mark in Lacey. The silent auction will begin at 4:30 and end at 5:30.

Come and join us. If you can't and want to get in on the auction, please e-mail info@safischoolproject.org with your bid before 7pm on Saturday 3/21.

Solar lights

A recent blog entry on the New York Times talks about the fact that many rural villagers in africa have no access to electricity, and rely on kerosene lamps to light up the homes. A major technology company, Philips, has teamed up with a non-profit in Ghana(KITE) to address this problem. Other non-profits are also working on the same issue. Lighting Africa is helping to promote markets for modern and efficient lighting technologies in Africa. Sunnightsolar makes flashlight/lanterns specifically designed for use in sub-saharan Africa. The Safi Foundation took a handful of these flashlights over to Tanzania last year, and they were very well received. It is important to remember that something that we take so much for granted. . .light. . . is a luxury in so many parts of the world.

safi presentations

Kristina, Earla, Nancy and Mary have presented the Safi story in Milton, Wa. and in Longview, Wa. and will do so in Lakewood, Wa. in March.

We have our powerpoint- thanks to Kristina - and slide show , we talk , tell stories, answer questions and meet people.

It's been good! People have lots of questions about this country that is so far away, but where students still want to learn and need our help.

We encourage people to think about supporting a student for $400 a year.

We have "piggy banks" for people to put in "change for change".

And we talk about "purposeful travel". More on that next time.

Salama, Mary Nelson

WOW!!!!!!!!!!

And I mean WOW! ALL FORM 2 STUDENTS PASSED their exams and are now Form 3 students! The entire class passed. This is exceptional. We were hoping for a 75% pass rate. It gets even better. The top 9 students are all sponsored by Safi School Project members....that's YOU! If you want to know if you make a difference this is proof extraordinaire. There are more students who need sponsors. If you want to help them get a full education and work towards success please go to our donate page and make a difference in a student's life. ~Kristina

January Newsletter

Be sure to checkout the latest newsletter from Safi School Project(link).