My First Chapter

If you listen hard enough, you can hear the heartbeat of the land here in Tanzania. The stories trampled into the paths, the tales whispered into the air. You can feel the heart of the people and feel their blood pumping through the veins of Africa.
The Kuria people are truly something; they are crying out for a change, yet trying to figure out how to still hold on to their past. It has proven to be a difficult road.
We have seventy children now, and I am more sure than ever that I will leave seventy pieces of my heart in Africa. I am deeply saddened by the past they have lived, but ever optimistic about the future they hold. They are beautiful and strong. They have such a desire to learn and a plan to change their nation.
I have seen how AIDs, hunger and war have devastated this land, how they have wreaked havoc on the beautiful continent of Africa. In this, though, I have found beauty in the ashes, life amongst the dead and a sincere prayer among the godlessness. But most of all, I have found a people with hope in all the despair, a remnant refusing to give up.
After all this, I am truly content to close my first chapter here in Ntagacha. It has been long and full. I am content, only however, because a chapter is only a fraction of a book. Until next time, these have been my dreams from Africa.

I kissed a giraffe!

The Hospital

Lately I have been spending time sitting, thinking and praying in the empty hospital that will one day be full of men, women, and children. I sit and envision the people it will help and the lives it will change, for the babies that will be born and for the fathers that will be given another chance at life. I long to work there and to transform lives, but for now I am content praying for those who will walk through the doors. It will truly bring transformation to the village. Last week my pastor broke his leg and it took over an hour to drive to the nearest hospital. While there, he waited days for proper treatment and was kept in a small crowded room. His wife had to travel each day to provide food. How I am looking forward to bringing a change to that system. This hospital is the change this area needs and the children we are bringing up will become the doctors and nurses in that place. They will become the English teachers, the lawyers and the diplomats. They are about to change the world!
I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be a part of this project! The flags of different countries are flying high here and the hopes and expectations are just as lofty. I have already seen change in the children and even small changes in the surrounding area. I’m telling you God dances in the trees here; when he looks down on Ntagacha he can’t wipe the smile off of His face. He sees the potential and He is giving me eyes to see it as well!
May you set high goals, have big expectations and give God the freedom to work in and through your life. That’s what we are doing here and for now the sky is truly the limit. We’re reaching for it though, and I think we’re getting close :)

I'll miss the smiles

Once again I sit listening to the rain pattering on the roof and the calming hum of the generator. I believe that things are truly good here. As the rain falls, God’s grace falls along with it. How I love that God’s mercies are new every morning!
I still love each one of my fifty friends as much as I always have, more I am sure. I look so forward to them coming home from school each day. I love waiting at the gate to greet them, and by the look on their face, I think they feel the same. About a week ago I spent a few days in Nairobi, Kenya and I have to admit I couldn’t wait to come home to my village. I missed the smiles and the laughter. Oh how my heart will ache when I leave in two months to go back to school.
Truthfully enough though, I am far beyond the half way point of my trip and I am beginning to think about the importance of finishing projects and meeting goals. I am far from finished though, and my heart is still completely in this project, as it always will be, sometimes just in different ways.

Full Swing Ahead!

Things are going well and are in full swing at the City of Hope. I am falling more and more in love with the country every day. The last few weeks I have been concentrating on making relationships with the people in the area. Mwita and I have been visiting people in their homes and taking walks around the area on Sunday afternoons. This Sunday, we were two miles from home when it began to rain. It was cold, wet and muddy, but all we could do was laugh and say, "this is Africa"! Stories like these add to the experience.

This past week I have really just been taking in the sights and sounds of the area. As I look out my window I see the beautiful pink, orange sunset and I hear the crickets chirping and the birds calling to one another. I never, ever get tired of hearing the children play and sing. It is one of the most beautiful sounds in the world. I have become wonderful friends with the lady who does our laundry, Mary. I love sitting with her and listening to her tell stories. The funny thing- she speaks no English, somehow though I can understand her Swahili. I understand her stories, her instructions, her needs. Somehow we communicate. Mary is a mother of at least seven children, though one has died. She was brought from her home in Kenya when she was about thirteen years old. She was taken to become a wife, the problem is, she is not the only wife. Mary has had a tough life, it’s written on her face with wrinkles, but she still holds an astounding amount of joy. She is beautiful in her own right and I love her dearly. Her story is just one of the many that has made me fall in love with the people of Ntagacha. I am beginning to know the village and the people. I cannot walk far without hearing my name called through the bushes or from inside a house. I love that very fact. They know me and I know them. Whenever I walk past a certain house, a little girl by the name of Lily runs out to greet me. I look forward to passing that house whenever the opportunity arises. It’s one of my favorite things and she is one of my favorite people.
Several times a week, Mwita and I have been getting up to take the children running and then walking them to school. It’s so fun to be a big sister to fifty beautiful children. Football, or soccer, is such a big deal round here. We play on a muddy rocky field without shoes, but it is so fun! Sometimes our construction workers, or fundees, will take time off and play with the older boys in the orphanage. It’s so fun to see them working together. This truly is a City of Hope! It is a city of unity, growth and beauty. I never get tired of waking up to see the hustle and bustle. Every part is so important, from the watchmen, to the gatekeeper, the cement mixer to the plumber and even the cooks and teachers. Without each part this vision would not be possible. When I sit down and think about where I am and what opportunity I am having, I feel so blessed.
Thank you for making this possible for me. You are helping to bring hope to a place where there was no hope and bringing change to a community in need. Thanks for being a part of the vision and for helping me to do so as well. Be blessed immensely!

I love the children!

The rainy season has set upon eastern Africa, and with it brings mud- lots and lots of mud. I found a pair of rubber shoes in the market and they are surely put to good use. The floor in my room is constantly dirty, but somehow I don’t care. My children are covered in dirt up to their knees, but I don’t mind. They are beautiful as ever. The more I get to know them, the more impressive they become. They have risen above the challenges that have been presented. This one boy, Musa, is especially impressive. He is twelve, but is mature far beyond his years. He helps in the daily running of things in the children’s home, and makes sure the other children comply. He is so willing to help and so eager to learn. He is surely going to become somebody and I am so proud of him.
The past few weeks we have had a team here with us. One weekend we went into the market so they could do some shopping. I was so ecstatic when I was able to do the translating for them. I was able to get what they wanted and bargain as well- all in Swahili.
Last week my good friend Perepetua went back to her home. I wasn’t expecting it when she told me the news. She sat me down to say she was leaving the next day. She has been my best friend, Swahili teacher and she has taught me about the African lifestyle. In the afternoons we would sit together under a tree and eat sugarcane and just talk or cut sukuma and wash rice for the next meal. I miss her so much, but her leaving has taught me a lot. I am reminded that my time with people is short, that it is so important to make the most of the relationships I have here. I don’t regret a single afternoon sitting with her or a single morning when I would go to her room and eat chai and porridge together. I am thankful for every memory I have with her. I challenge you to think on that this week. Don’t let life get so busy that you forget to cherish those around you. Today make time for friends and family. Relish each moment you have to just be together.
Today I made it a point to spend some time with each of the children here, and let me tell you, those moments are so fulfilling. You can’t imagine how excited they are to be loved. When I tell them my favorite things about them, they just light up! I love being their best friend, I love calling them to life and encouraging them. Today our youngest girl Dau fell asleep on my lap. Dau knows how to love and how to trust. I want to be just like her in that aspect. When she loves you, you know it. It’s in the way she smiles and talks and runs up to you. Sometimes I think we are so afraid to show the people we love, that we do love them, or we are so afraid to put our trust in people. I want to be like Dau, to lean on others. I think sometimes we become too independent and rely on ourselves far too much. But we are a team…pamoja.
Today as you go about your daily schedule…think of us out here in the bush. Send up a prayer for us and for our beautiful children. And today tell somehow how you truly feel about them…how much you care for them. And for once, let’s trust someone else and most of all…love. Love God and love others with all your heart.

Beans, Rice & School

I love this place. Though my departure is months away, I already dread it, but I know, in order to better help the people here, I must leave. Nursing is my calling. This past weekend we went hiking, just taking in the beauty of the countryside. It’s breathtaking, the rolling hills and the tiny huts dotting the land. Something about this place feels like home. Lately I have been cooking for the kids with the African ladies. It is so much fun. We sit on buckets outside and wash vegetables, clean rice and pick stones out of the beans. You have no idea how hard it is to cook beans and rice. They don’t come in a nice little box around here. Its work, but they eat sugarcane and braid each others hair and have fun. It’s great. Right now the kids have just finished eating dinner and I can hear them playing football outside. Their laughter fills the air. It’s my favorite sound.

Today I was thinking about how fortunate we truly are in the states, especially when it comes to education. Even though it isn’t the perfect setup, we have it far better than many other people. Some of my children are twelve and can barely write their names. Somehow they were passed on from grade to grade to grade without knowing how to read or write. They are far behind, and it will take much work. They are fortunate to have the teachers from the City of Hope in providing them the chance to learn. I look at some of the workers in this village. They are fifteen or sixteen, not in school. They carry heavy loads and do backbreaking work, they have to support their families. My friend Paulo is twenty, he has been doing construction since he was fifteen. He never finished school, but now he wants so badly to learn English. After working hard each day he studies an English book by candlelight. He is looking for a way out. He always wears a big smile on his face though, and puts his heart into everything he does.

This week, as you think about your kids, or your friends or yourself, be thankful. We have opportunities at our fingertips. Our biggest worry in the west is “which of the thirty shirts will we wear", and my friends here wonder “what will I eat tonight”. We dread going to school, but my friend Paulo longs for education. Look around and be thankful for what you have, and if you find yourself having extra-give it away. Simplicity is the beauty of life. I have seen no better example than my beautiful friends here in Ntagacha.

The simple life

Life is so simple here, yet so lovely. Passing a herd of cows pulling a plow behind them is no big deal, neighbors come by to offer their crops, passion fruit and avocados, their children roam the village, knowing their neighbors will look after them, grass is cut by machete and cisterns dug with shovels. Most of all relationships are more important than work. How have we missed that, how have we in the western work found that getting things done is more important that building friendships? Let me tell you, it’s not. I love nothing more than to listen to the stories of the villagers around me. I love seeing their faces every morning and greeting them in their beautiful language of Swahili. I love how they sit under the trees in the afternoon just to catch up, thinking to their selves…things will get done, but right now you are more important. I love how one stuffed animal given to the children today will make their week. Why is it that our bank accounts are full, our houses overstuffed with things and our children have 20 + stuffed animals, but we aren’t happy? It’s the simplicity I have found here, that I love so much. It’s the small things, you know, those little tiny representations of the goodness of human kind and the resilience of the human spirit. Though my neighbors have little, they love much. I think that’s more than having all the money in the world.

I can’t tell you how lovely it is to see fifty beautiful faces each night before I go to bed, and each morning when I wake up. I realize I can do nothing else; my purpose is to help children, I want nothing different. They’re so innocent, you know, they have such fresh ideas, hopes and dreams. Even though these children have lost mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, they are still thankful. Their smiles and laughter still fill the halls. They are so resilient, so adaptable; they are teachers in their own right.

Water!!!

Water, the giver of life! At home in the states, I don’t think we realize how precious water is, but here clean, uncontaminated water is hard to come by; it can mean the difference between life and death. The rainy season is over, and with our 50 additions to the housing here (the kids), our constant work projects and little rain, water is at a shortage. We are almost maxing out our well by pumping three times a day, and still we continue to run out. I can’t tell you what a relief the thunder clouds on the horizon were this afternoon; it meant the difference between getting baths and washing clothes and being dirty for yet another day. Every bucket, basin and wash pan was put out under roofs in order to catch all the water we could. Thankfully, now our cup runneth over. Tomorrow the children will be clean. The rain has not only refreshed the land, but our spirits as well. Our basins are full of water and our hearts are full of gladness. It is the start of another week at the City of Hope.

My children have come...

(This picture is compliments of Missy Murray)
My children have come. I can’t tell you how exciting it is that their beds are full and that laughter now fills the halls of the long empty children’s home. It’s so fun to see their smiling faces every morning when I wake up and every night when I go to sleep. They are beautiful each and everyone one in their own way. Their stories are heart wrenching yet some so exciting. They are resilient these kids.
Saturday was full of business, pain and joy. It was so exciting to have our kids, but unfortunately the need is so great that we had to turn some away. I wish we had the resources to take each and every one!
I am so excited to see these kids grow, have new experiences and learn things they never thought they would have the opportunity to have. Some have dreams of going to America to become doctors and nurses, others want to be village leaders in order to make a difference. I hope I can make their dreams come true. They are already changing the land you know, children from different clans sleeping in the same rooms, playing soccer together and sharing meals. They are the catalyst for change in the area. They are the ones that are bringing hope. These wonderful children are the beacon of light in a place that has been full of darkness for far too long. I am just happy to be a part of their lives, for I know they will always be a huge part of mine.

Dust on my feet

This place has a way of getting to you…a way of making you never want to leave. I heard once that when you get the dust of Africa on your feet, you will never get it off. I never knew how true that was until now. The people here are so beautiful. The way they give, even when they don’t have. One day I went out into the village, we were looking for orphans to bring into our children’s’ home. This one lady had next to nothing, but she was so excited to see us that she gave us each a bunch of bananas. That’s probably all she had to eat for that day, but she insisted, that we, her guests, take them. I’ve also seen some hard things, some things I wish had never happened.
Amongst the pain and poverty, there is much beauty though. The smiles on the children’s faces, they way the people worship at church and the sunsets as I sit on the water tower and watch the stars. It’s everywhere really; sometimes you just have to look for it.
This Saturday our kids come to live in their new home. There has been so much work, but now we see our end in sight. This is what it is all for. We are expecting about 300 people. We are killing a cow, having plenty of rice, soda etc. These things are such treats for most of the people around here. Though I eat rice almost every day, for most people it’s kept for holidays. This place is busy…it’s dark and 8 o clock and the workers are still building. We have to be ready for the kids.
Soon the generator will go off, the skies will release and the rain will fall on the tin roof and I will fall asleep knowing all is well. That I am supposed to be here, and that the God I serve loves Africa like I do…and even more.

"Muzungu, Muzungu"

Everywhere I go I hear the words muzungu, muzungu…which just means "white person". People would ask me if I was Obama’s sister or if I would stay and live with them. It’s funny to get all this attention…but at the same time I get tired of being the foreigner.

Here is a small Swahili lesson:
Jambo-hello
Karubi- welcome
Habari- how are you?
Pole pole- slowly
Mzuri-good
I am trying to speak as much Swahili as I can…but it’s kind of a difficult language to learn. I will keep working at it though.

The internet here is sooo slow…it’s kind of hard to communicate with the outside world. That’s kind of good- but kind of bad. It helps me to really be here…but then I’m not sure what’s going on outside of my little village of Ntagacha.

This week I have been helping get things ready for the kids. Everything from helping build bunk beds, processing children and organizing kids clothes. There is a lot to be done…and only a few weeks to do it all. Yesterday I was able to go in town to Tarime with Lucy, a local woman here. We had so much fun. We went to the butcher, the meat market, the vegetable stand and bought eggs, bread and milk. It was cool to see where everything came from. However, when I saw that fish market…it made me not want to eat fish. It smelled horrible in there and there was fish juice and scales flying everywhere. We also went over the border to Kenya to buy a few things that we can’t get here in Tanzania. Here it is so easy just to hop from country to country…I didn’t even have to show ID. That would never happen in the states!

I have been doing a lot of cooking here. I like it a lot…but it’s a little tougher. We have to haul in our water, and we don’t have the conveniences like a microwave etc. Things are simpler here, and it makes you all the more appreciative.
The other night our generator broke, and we realized how much we rely on it. We couldn’t use our power tools, our computers ran out of battery and had to do everything by candlelight. It made for a long evening, because it gets dark at seven.

Last week I went out to the village to interview children. There were some heartbreaking stories. There was one boy who has living with his 80 year old grandmother. She was so thin and feeble and could hardly walk. His dad died of cancer and his mom left right after that. He was abandoned and his grandmother can hardly support him. I like to go out to see these children, but it is so hard for me not to bring them all home with me. There are also children as young as eight left alone to care for their siblings all day. It is too much responsibility for a young child. You almost feel helpless, there is no way our small orphanage can help every needy child in the area. That is the hardest thing of all!

Raining....again

The rainy season is upon us here in Tanzania…and it is very evident. Today we had a flash flood…the whole garage was full of water and the water came half way up the tires in the van. It ran through the fields and make waterfalls down the banks. It makes a mess! It also hailed for a while…just imagine that under a tin roof. It’s almost more than your ears can handle. Every afternoon you can see the dark clouds floating in ready to bring a downpour.
This week I have been doing some odd jobs again. I helped organize the storage room that holds all of the orphans clothes, sheets, toothbrushes etc. That was quite a task, but I got it accomplished. I also helped fix the bunk beds, put grout around the tiles and did my best to assist in fixing the generator. Tomorrow I will be going out to a town called Borega to meet some children. We are in our final stages of interviews and are searching for the right children to bring into the City of Hope on opening day. The time is coming near and we have lots to do. I am sure I will be busy in the upcoming days.
I have greatly enjoyed playing with the kids that live right beside my house. They are so cute and even though they speak Swahili, and I English, we have so much fun playing together. Their favorite game is chakula, simba…which means food, lion. It’s a game of tag- and they spend hours playing it.
I also like the evenings with the team. After dinner we often play games and then sit around and tell stories. It is so interesting to hear different experiences from people in all walks of life. It really is a sense of community here and I love it.
Even in this short week Tanzania has begun to feel like home. There are things I miss about my life in the states, but because things are so different here and there are always new experiences, I don’t think about the things I miss. The people here are so friendly and welcoming. I am lucky to live with those that I do.
Food… The food here is simple but good. We often have rice and beans, tomatoes and sometimes beef or chicken. I actually enjoy the food a lot more than I thought I might, which is good.

Life in Tanzania

It has been raining about everyday which makes the evenings cool, but the afternoons get pretty hot, especially under the tin roof. The local people have been fighting. Cows and land are being stolen and so they go to “war” with their bows and arrows. That, more than anything, makes me realize I’m not at home. I’m not worried because they are glad to have us in their village and have nothing against us, but it is still strange.
I love the food here- though we have some American staples; we eat a lot of rice, vegetables and fruit. Every afternoon we eat mango, it is so..o..o delicious and usually we have pineapple or bananas for breakfast as well.
In the mornings I have been helping Hannah feed the animals. We have dogs, a pig and chickens and roosters. I have been enjoying just doing the little things to help around the house. I have also been helping put up tile this week- we need to get everything ready for when the kids come. The tile makes a mess and there is dust everywhere. It’s a little harder to clean here. We take advantage of our vacuum cleaners, outdoor hoses and just things that don’t easily clog.

This weekend Mwita and I stayed back with the kids while the rest of the team headed off to a town called Mwanza. I had fun being a mother of three . :) We played lots of games, ate candy and watched movies on our laptops. I really like spending time with the kids. They are so much fun and have such imaginations. What a childhood they must be having! They get to have new experiences every day.

This week I will begin to help get the place ready for the kids. We need to get their rooms ready, and make profiles for them so they can be sponsored. I am so looking forward to meeting these children and to help give them hope of a future. What an opportunity I have right now. I am experiencing new things everyday in a wonderful place with beautiful people. I am so happy to be in Tanzania!!!!

I've arrived!

Here I am in the beautiful village of Ntagatcha Tanzania. It took a few days to get here…three airplane rides and a couple of vans and trucks- but I arrived. It’s amazing here. You can see the green hills roll on for miles and miles and the blue sky seems to never end. Donkeys, cows, dogs and roosters are common background noise here and they roam around freely. At night it is pitch black - you can’t even see your hand. I don’t have electricity yet, but it’s coming. The children here are beautiful and so loving. As soon as you walk outside, they flock to you.
There are bugs of every kind here. Mosquitoes are everywhere, as well as moths, cockroaches, ants and flies. There are also bats in my ceiling and lizards walking around. I am so thankful for my mosquito net at night. It keeps the creatures out and away from me! Somehow though, I don’t really mind. I did however get about 50 flea bites when walking through the grass. My legs have huge red dots all over them. But hopefully they will heal up just fine.

Tanzania...here I come!

Two weeks...

It's down to two weeks before my departure. Every day I become more and more excited at the opportunity I have to travel to Tanzania and help the people there!!!

If you are interested in finding out more information about what I am doing, or the City of Hope visit http://www.teamworkcityofhope.com/ !

Also...a BIG thank you to all of you who have donated and made this trip possible for me. I truly could not have done it without you!