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| Waiting in the shade From Tanzania 2008 Photo Album |
As a child, do you remember what it was like to open your presents on Christmas morning? Well today, the children of Ruvu JKT, a small village 120 km north of Dar es Salaam, experienced Christmas in August.
Halfway through our distribution today, we were informed by Mama Wandoa that the second mattress truck had been delayed by the Tanzanian police, because the mattresses were piled too high. With a few well-placed phone calls, one to Mr. Gilbert, whom you will remember from Day One, the truck was released from custody and on its way, but at least three hours behind schedule.
Rather than wait for the mattresses to arrive, we decided to take the photos and give the children the bedkits “sans” the mattresses. We asked them to wait under the shade of a tree for the mattresses to arrive. Like children on Christmas morning, the look on their faces as they unzipped the bags to look at the contents, was one of wonder and surprise. Their smiles radiated joy and excitement, as they eagerly chatted in Swahili to one and another about the contents of their bags.
Each day we have wondered what the childern say when they arrive home and open their bedkits/bag. Today, we were given our own gift in their smiles, laughter, excitement ... now we know how important this gift is. Their happiness in finding school shirts and socks in their bedkits was particularly gratifying. Just a small reminder of how much most of us have and how this is so needed by these wonderful and lovely children.
We were the ones that really had Christmas in August.
Warren and Judy
for Team Tanzania
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