Tanzania: Day 8

Click on the link below to see more photos in the Tanzania 2009 Photo Album

Hello All,

We are not going in the direction that we wish with our waking time, as we were up at 5 am. However, motivation is high, as we are completing our mission with ease and care while seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. On the road by 6:02 am and we drove a bit further to our distribution site but with little traffic early in the morning, we made good time. We arrived just after 7 at our site and were witness to a handful of local children cleaning the schoolyard with their home-made fagios (mini-brooms). Before long, we were in the middle of a sea of small faces and smiles, many of them eager to be in close proximity to us.

From Tanzania 2009 Photo Album

Gary and Lisa lead the group in a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday." Two of these voices were singing in English, but these two were outnumbered by the 50 Swahili versions. We then entertained the kids with our version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" but were on our own for that one.

Before we started our distribution, we were graciously welcomed to two local homes of children who had received bedkits last year. It was rewarding for us to see all of the items still in use and in good condition. We were impressed at their resourcefulness in using dirt and water to make mud walls for their homes. While their homes are much more simple and space is tight, the locals still take great pride in welcoming guests.

Mama had sent two trucks to go to some outlying villages to pick up some children to receive bedkits. The numbers flowed smoothly, and as usual we started with the individual shots before moving to the group photos. We helped organize and stack the mattresses in our own creative way. This task made us appreciate all the hard work that the overseas volunteer team does to make our job run as smooth as possible. Asante sana!

From Tanzania 2009 Photo Album

We have learned that counting to ten in Swahili is very helpful when lining up the children and the overseas volunteers are very patient with our learning.

Tomorrow is Day 9 and to use some hockey terms familiar to a certain someone, we are in the second half of the third period before heading to overtime. We then look forward to a much-deserved day off and a day-trip to Zanzibar.

Our team is committed, energized, and still talking to each other.

Love to all,
Team Tanzania 2009
(Bob, Dave, Gary, Linda, Liz and Lisa)

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