We are back at the New Safari Hotel for our last night in Arusha. We have had no internet access the last few days. There is so much more to tell you about these last few days, but today I wanted to keep my promise and tell you about our return visit to Selian Hospital on Wednesday.
The people of our Kijenge Lutheran Parish accompanied us back to the hospital. We met with Dr. Kipuyo, who is the "Medical Secretary and Head of the Department" for the ELCT Arusha Region. He explained the lack of health care in Tanzania and how they are making things work the best they can.
He then deferred the discussion of needs to the Chief Nurse, Christina. She named a few things such as linens, bandaging, heaters, and medicines and then became stymied to name more. At that, I asked her to take us on a more detailed tour.
She and I walked side by side "talking nursing", again realizing the many similarities in our profession, even though we work on different continents. She has been an RN for 25 years, just 2 years longer than myself. We compared notes on the shortage and retention of nurses--- they too have issues with both.
We first visited the ICU. They can accommodate 8 patients-- 4 beds in 2 rooms with the Nurses' station between the two. As I discovered in the rest of the hospital, the beds were old, rusted and non-adjustable with, at best, 2 inch mattress pads. There is no cardiac monitor, no defibrillator and..... no oxygen!! They simply cannot get it. The only oxygen would have been produced by an oxygen concentrator (a device that takes room air and turns it into concentrated oxygen)....... had the concentrator been working. It was the only source of oxygen in the facility less the two tanks sitting inthe operating theatre.
It quickly became clear to me that the reason the list had been so short while sitting in that office was because they clearly don't have any idea what they don't have.
So, we walked from ward to ward, seeing the discrepancies in our standards such as the 1 unit of non-functioning bilirubin lights that haven't worked for a long time, but for which they simply can't get parts.
We ended up in the area closest to my heart--- the Emergency Room. They call it the "Casualty Area", and it consisted on one small room with two beds (same rusted, white metals as the wards). There were a few bandages, one outdated IV pole, and a baby scale that was similar to the one we weigh our veggies on in the local Jewel. Again, no defibrillator, no cardiac monitoring, no oxygen, or any of the other things we know as essentials in our health care system. Again, they had no idea what they don't have.
Now, these are NOT stupid health care workers. These are hard-working, intelligent people who are just (as noted in a previous blog entry) persevering, doing the best they can with what VERY little they have.
I was truly humbled in their presence.....as I have been during much of our journey here these last 12 days. This has been a life-changing experience that I will be striving to keep alive.
I am anxious to share more with you when we return.
We board the plane @ 4;45 pm tomorrow (Sunday) (8:45 am Illinois time) after meeting one last time with Bishop Laiser. We will be arriving at 11;15am on Monday (a 26 hour flight). Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we return home safely.
Amani,
Cindy
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Homebound Communion continued...
I lost the rest of my blog that I wrote earlier so I'm going to try and recapture my thoughts...at the orphanage we visited first the infant room. Five cribs lined the room with an infant in most. The children reached out and cried to be picked up and held. About that time my eyes clouded over and I had to excuse myself...the impact was strong and painful for most of us, I believe. After that, we continued thru the different rooms by age (and divided by male and female once they got a little older. The director actually sleeps in the older boys' room on a single bed (this room houses 8 - 13 year old boys and they sleep two to a bunk). The director considers himself a father figure to the children and lives there 24/7 - except when he's out running an errand.
If an infant comes to them, without a name, they name the child and give him/her the last name of 'Samaritan'. The children appeared happy and eager to interact with all. They shared a few songs with us along with dancing. It was just one more example of amazing support provided for many by the people of Tanzania.
Kiss your children and your grandchildren and say a prayer for these children and the people who care for them. Their energy is unparalleled.
Peace,
Sue
If an infant comes to them, without a name, they name the child and give him/her the last name of 'Samaritan'. The children appeared happy and eager to interact with all. They shared a few songs with us along with dancing. It was just one more example of amazing support provided for many by the people of Tanzania.
Kiss your children and your grandchildren and say a prayer for these children and the people who care for them. Their energy is unparalleled.
Peace,
Sue
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Homebound Communion & Much More - 7/07 & 7/08
Hello, all!
It's been a very busy last couple days. Monday we got picked up at the Arusha Resort (they say it's a hostel, Steve says it more like boy scout camp...) by Pastor Solomon of the Kijenga Parish and immediately had tea (white bread, boiled brown eggs and coffee or tea - all in massive quantities). After that we headed out in two vehicles - 10 of us (Salem's five and then five more from the Kijenga Parish). We visited 6 homes of the homebound - mostly elderly but some just plain unable to get out (one young man - maybe 45 years old - was recovering from a gunshot wound from a thief that robbed him). The homes and the people represented various income levels - but each were first class people of God who welcomed us warmly. The first woman begged us to stay and have lunch - or at the very least, to come back and have dinner - we regretably declined all invitations. The roads to these homes, along with the steps after we left the vehicles, were very rough, uneven - by our standards they would be considered impassable. One time one of the vehicles got stuck but the guys quickly got out and pushed it out of trouble.
We returned to the Pastor's office for lunch late afternoon and then went on to see Samaritan Village which is an orphanage sponsored by the Parish.
We got out of the vehicles and were quickly surrounded by children of all ages. All eager to touch and receive our attention. More than one little boy sounded out our names on our name tags - how impressive as they are all in English - not Swahili! We had time to visit with the children and then spent some time with the director so he could explain how the facility works. Their current capacity is 24 - maximum capacity is 25. They take children that have been orphaned for a variety of reasons. The children were all so happy!
It's been a very busy last couple days. Monday we got picked up at the Arusha Resort (they say it's a hostel, Steve says it more like boy scout camp...) by Pastor Solomon of the Kijenga Parish and immediately had tea (white bread, boiled brown eggs and coffee or tea - all in massive quantities). After that we headed out in two vehicles - 10 of us (Salem's five and then five more from the Kijenga Parish). We visited 6 homes of the homebound - mostly elderly but some just plain unable to get out (one young man - maybe 45 years old - was recovering from a gunshot wound from a thief that robbed him). The homes and the people represented various income levels - but each were first class people of God who welcomed us warmly. The first woman begged us to stay and have lunch - or at the very least, to come back and have dinner - we regretably declined all invitations. The roads to these homes, along with the steps after we left the vehicles, were very rough, uneven - by our standards they would be considered impassable. One time one of the vehicles got stuck but the guys quickly got out and pushed it out of trouble.
We returned to the Pastor's office for lunch late afternoon and then went on to see Samaritan Village which is an orphanage sponsored by the Parish.
We got out of the vehicles and were quickly surrounded by children of all ages. All eager to touch and receive our attention. More than one little boy sounded out our names on our name tags - how impressive as they are all in English - not Swahili! We had time to visit with the children and then spent some time with the director so he could explain how the facility works. Their current capacity is 24 - maximum capacity is 25. They take children that have been orphaned for a variety of reasons. The children were all so happy!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Good morning!
I'm writing to you from our new accommodations at the Arusha Resort Centre --- which was probably quite the place in its time. No matter, the bed is comfortable, the water's hot, the toilet flushes, and yes, as you can tell, they do have internet access!!
I bring you greetings from the your brothers and sisters at Kijenge Lutheran Church, Arusha: Pastor Isaiah Solomon and the 1100 who worshiped yesterday! We attended parts of both morning services. The first began at 8 (to which we arrived late) and lasted until 11 --- the 400 plus who came for the 10 a.m. service simply waited for it to be done. It was a high festival day.
Bishop Tom Laiser was the preacher for the occasion. Not only was our new partnership/udugu blessed and commissioned, but it was harvest thankoffering day and the new parish 4-wheel drive vehicle was blessed. (For those of you who are wondering, my prius would not make it on these roads!)
A couple of us were seated behind the altar at the first service, and from there it was easy to see that it was like the Easter crowd and then some at Salem: with not an empty seat to be seen in the place. The music, the singing, is like nothing you've ever heard. (From what I could tell, people carry their own hymnals, if they have one. Many just sing from memory.) All of the service was spoken in Swahili: we were grateful to have gifted translaters who helped us to keep up with the service.
Some highlights:
Our new relationship was 'commissioned' and we were warmly welcomed with a special welcome song which was sung twice during the service. We received grateful applause when we said we had been praying for them ever since we first heard their name. They especially loved the dolls and the banners! When I said "God Bless You" (Mungu a bariki) in Swahili I was greeted with laughter and applause... maybe I said it wrong? I hope not; I tested it on my hotel maid that morning and she said I had it right. But then they would not want to insult us here!
The harvest thankoffering included actual 'fruits from their labor' including grain, beans, fresh eggs, sugar cane, and four live roosters (whose legs were bound so they could not roam the sanctuary during worship.) All of these were auctioned off after each service.
While much was unfamiliar, we recognized "Faith of our Fathers" which was sung as the Bishop walked to the pulpit to read the Gospel and the cadence of the Lord's Prayer.
Between services we were treated to a feast of chapata (looks like lefse: every culture has its flat bread), bread, watermelon and ox liver -- evidently a delicacy served to special guests here. After the second service the meal was much less exotic!
Before returning to our hotel in the late afternoon they drove us out to their 'second site' where construction has been underway for a facility that will seat 1200 since 2002. With inflation doubling the cost of materials every few months, it was only prudent for them to move in stages: obviously very slowly. Many of their worshipers live on less than a dollar a day and their relatively generous offerings cannot begin to accomplish th is important goal. At their second site, they are currently worshiping 400 plus at two services in a classroom at a local accountancy college that seats 130.
We knew ourselves profoundly blessed yesterday. I wish you could be here to see and hear and feel and yes, even smell all of this (for that is different, too.)
Today promises to be full --- our driver comes shortly to take us back to Kijenge so I must sign off.
I say to you as well: Mungu a bariki (God bless you)!
Pastor Janet
I'm writing to you from our new accommodations at the Arusha Resort Centre --- which was probably quite the place in its time. No matter, the bed is comfortable, the water's hot, the toilet flushes, and yes, as you can tell, they do have internet access!!
I bring you greetings from the your brothers and sisters at Kijenge Lutheran Church, Arusha: Pastor Isaiah Solomon and the 1100 who worshiped yesterday! We attended parts of both morning services. The first began at 8 (to which we arrived late) and lasted until 11 --- the 400 plus who came for the 10 a.m. service simply waited for it to be done. It was a high festival day.
Bishop Tom Laiser was the preacher for the occasion. Not only was our new partnership/udugu blessed and commissioned, but it was harvest thankoffering day and the new parish 4-wheel drive vehicle was blessed. (For those of you who are wondering, my prius would not make it on these roads!)
A couple of us were seated behind the altar at the first service, and from there it was easy to see that it was like the Easter crowd and then some at Salem: with not an empty seat to be seen in the place. The music, the singing, is like nothing you've ever heard. (From what I could tell, people carry their own hymnals, if they have one. Many just sing from memory.) All of the service was spoken in Swahili: we were grateful to have gifted translaters who helped us to keep up with the service.
Some highlights:
Our new relationship was 'commissioned' and we were warmly welcomed with a special welcome song which was sung twice during the service. We received grateful applause when we said we had been praying for them ever since we first heard their name. They especially loved the dolls and the banners! When I said "God Bless You" (Mungu a bariki) in Swahili I was greeted with laughter and applause... maybe I said it wrong? I hope not; I tested it on my hotel maid that morning and she said I had it right. But then they would not want to insult us here!
The harvest thankoffering included actual 'fruits from their labor' including grain, beans, fresh eggs, sugar cane, and four live roosters (whose legs were bound so they could not roam the sanctuary during worship.) All of these were auctioned off after each service.
While much was unfamiliar, we recognized "Faith of our Fathers" which was sung as the Bishop walked to the pulpit to read the Gospel and the cadence of the Lord's Prayer.
Between services we were treated to a feast of chapata (looks like lefse: every culture has its flat bread), bread, watermelon and ox liver -- evidently a delicacy served to special guests here. After the second service the meal was much less exotic!
Before returning to our hotel in the late afternoon they drove us out to their 'second site' where construction has been underway for a facility that will seat 1200 since 2002. With inflation doubling the cost of materials every few months, it was only prudent for them to move in stages: obviously very slowly. Many of their worshipers live on less than a dollar a day and their relatively generous offerings cannot begin to accomplish th is important goal. At their second site, they are currently worshiping 400 plus at two services in a classroom at a local accountancy college that seats 130.
We knew ourselves profoundly blessed yesterday. I wish you could be here to see and hear and feel and yes, even smell all of this (for that is different, too.)
Today promises to be full --- our driver comes shortly to take us back to Kijenge so I must sign off.
I say to you as well: Mungu a bariki (God bless you)!
Pastor Janet
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Hope
We had a marvelous day today!! Not nearly as exhausting as yesterday-- but exhilarating? YES!!!
We traveled through rough terrain to the Massae Girls School today. It is a school that is for girls who achieve a certain level of academic level to qualify for the school-- in other words, it is by invitation only. The girls are all from local tribes (not just Massai). It is in the heart of some of the most beautiful country that I have ever seen.... Massai country. Quite a different look from the inner city, Arusha landscape!! Now, THIS is what I had imagined and hoped for in Africa!! We even saw camels on the trip to and from..
The girl's school is comprised of 275 girls at present enrollment. They have another 60 girls enrolled for the fall. The school is only 10 years old but has already done awesome work. Mama Jean has been the chaplain at the school for the last 10 years. What a strong woman, clear in her mission and goals!! However, today we also met the new Chaplain of the facility. This is a woman who began attending the school some 10 years ago (and was sponsored by Ron Henning from Bethany Church in Crystal Lake) and has now attended seminary and is taking the reigns of the pastorship of the school. The circle has been completed. So, as in true missionary form, Mama Jean is stepping aside and letting this new pastor take over--- How glorious to see that circle be completed!! Mama Jean thinks so too!!
We toured the facility and then gathered in the Chapel for worship--- there, we were greeted by at least 200 voices of the greatest, clearest African-based (and some not so African-based) music I have ever heard!! It was an awesome sound as these courageous young women stood up and sang for the glory of God! They clearly were pleased that we were there and this school has clearly changed their lives.
I was privileged to talk to a couple of the girls one-on-one. What clear sense of direction and the gift they have been given in being able to attend this school!!
So, tomorrow, we meet our companion congregation for the first time--- the Kijenge Parish. How great it will be to finally meet them. We will also be moving to the other hotel, so again, we will have to see how the internet capabilities are--- hopefully, we will be able to keep in touch.
More tomorrow after we visit our new friends of the Kijenge Lutheran Parish. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Cindy
We traveled through rough terrain to the Massae Girls School today. It is a school that is for girls who achieve a certain level of academic level to qualify for the school-- in other words, it is by invitation only. The girls are all from local tribes (not just Massai). It is in the heart of some of the most beautiful country that I have ever seen.... Massai country. Quite a different look from the inner city, Arusha landscape!! Now, THIS is what I had imagined and hoped for in Africa!! We even saw camels on the trip to and from..
The girl's school is comprised of 275 girls at present enrollment. They have another 60 girls enrolled for the fall. The school is only 10 years old but has already done awesome work. Mama Jean has been the chaplain at the school for the last 10 years. What a strong woman, clear in her mission and goals!! However, today we also met the new Chaplain of the facility. This is a woman who began attending the school some 10 years ago (and was sponsored by Ron Henning from Bethany Church in Crystal Lake) and has now attended seminary and is taking the reigns of the pastorship of the school. The circle has been completed. So, as in true missionary form, Mama Jean is stepping aside and letting this new pastor take over--- How glorious to see that circle be completed!! Mama Jean thinks so too!!
We toured the facility and then gathered in the Chapel for worship--- there, we were greeted by at least 200 voices of the greatest, clearest African-based (and some not so African-based) music I have ever heard!! It was an awesome sound as these courageous young women stood up and sang for the glory of God! They clearly were pleased that we were there and this school has clearly changed their lives.
I was privileged to talk to a couple of the girls one-on-one. What clear sense of direction and the gift they have been given in being able to attend this school!!
So, tomorrow, we meet our companion congregation for the first time--- the Kijenge Parish. How great it will be to finally meet them. We will also be moving to the other hotel, so again, we will have to see how the internet capabilities are--- hopefully, we will be able to keep in touch.
More tomorrow after we visit our new friends of the Kijenge Lutheran Parish. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Cindy
Friday, July 4, 2008
Makumira University
Hamjambo!
One of our destinations on Friday, July 4th, was Makumira University College where we witnessed 6 different musical compositions of very powerful and beautiful music full of sounds from all over the world. Many of these were written by the students (some of which will be graduating this semester that just ended!). These students were taught by Randy and Carol Stubbs who are missionaries of First Lutheran Church in DeKalb.
After a short tour of the campus, we were invited by Megan (the Stubbs' older daughter - because she had cleaned her room for the occasion!) to come and see their home. It has concrete floors, mosquito nets and 110 and 220 voltage. Melissa played the harp for a few of us and Nathan showed us the back-up battery system. They hang their clothes in the attic to dry as it's away from mango bugs. It was a lovely home!
During our short tour of campus, we learned that Makumira is the largest theological university in Tanzania. With possibly the largest theological library in all of Africa. The enrollment was formerly 100 students and now is around 950 - growing pains are evident but being addressed!
The Stubbs are looking forward to some down time over the summer. All are very busy and I believe some respite is well needed! They have done amazing things with very little resources - as Randy mentioned, you can't go to the store to get sheet music or guitar strings or music stands....but that hasn't stopped them from creating a successful program. Keep them in your prayers.
Asante (thank you),
Steve
One of our destinations on Friday, July 4th, was Makumira University College where we witnessed 6 different musical compositions of very powerful and beautiful music full of sounds from all over the world. Many of these were written by the students (some of which will be graduating this semester that just ended!). These students were taught by Randy and Carol Stubbs who are missionaries of First Lutheran Church in DeKalb.
After a short tour of the campus, we were invited by Megan (the Stubbs' older daughter - because she had cleaned her room for the occasion!) to come and see their home. It has concrete floors, mosquito nets and 110 and 220 voltage. Melissa played the harp for a few of us and Nathan showed us the back-up battery system. They hang their clothes in the attic to dry as it's away from mango bugs. It was a lovely home!
During our short tour of campus, we learned that Makumira is the largest theological university in Tanzania. With possibly the largest theological library in all of Africa. The enrollment was formerly 100 students and now is around 950 - growing pains are evident but being addressed!
The Stubbs are looking forward to some down time over the summer. All are very busy and I believe some respite is well needed! They have done amazing things with very little resources - as Randy mentioned, you can't go to the store to get sheet music or guitar strings or music stands....but that hasn't stopped them from creating a successful program. Keep them in your prayers.
Asante (thank you),
Steve
Hamjambo!
(Hello to all!) Life here continues to amaze and intrigue me. Life here is always busy. Locals are working or sweeping or hawking their wares - all quite busy but yet at a controlled, easy pace (except for the street vendors - they are quite focused ALWAYS!).
One of the stops we made yesterday (July 4th) was at a facility called Peace House Africa. It is a residential secondary school outside the city of Arusha. This is a new project of the Arusha Diocese and the initial phase has just been completed. While the Tanzanian government donated the land, the Peace House is totally supported by the Lutheran Church in Tanzania. (Many, many services which are typically provided in the U.S. by the infrastructure of our government is provided by a church - or else it is not available to the people.)
Several buildings house 210 children ages 13 - 19; with most of those being ages 15-16. Nearly all of the youth have been orphaned due to the AIDS virus. These children are at the highest risk of not succeeding in life - intense screening is completed to ensure they have no other viable means of sustaining themselves in the immediate future without Peace House's help.
Like many private schools, the students wear uniforms and their hair is cut the same. There are separate dormitories for the girls and the boys. Eight students (4 sets of bunk beds) share a room and each gets a bunk, mosquito netting, a pillow, a small blanket and a very small wardrobe with shelves for their few possessions. A 'matron' or 'patron' live with the youth and are responsible for 60 children each.
The students study many subjects from the 9 teachers there and appear very happy and eager. They were well mannered and enjoyed the chance to speak with each of us and were eager to answer our questions.
The atmosphere was positively amazing. It appeared that Peace House is performing a vital and so important service to these children. The environment was clean without being sterile and everyone seemed so happy to be there - as were we!
Two more phases are scheduled to be constructed - with the final capacity of 2,000 students the goal. A follow-up piece is more technical, on the job training for a myriad of occupations to help the students actually learn a skill or trade - even the knowledge to start their own business! University is also an option for students at that point.
Want to learn more? Please go to: http://www.peacehousefoundation.org/. It is an amazing project that will indeed change lives - one child at a time!
Thanks!
Sue
(Hello to all!) Life here continues to amaze and intrigue me. Life here is always busy. Locals are working or sweeping or hawking their wares - all quite busy but yet at a controlled, easy pace (except for the street vendors - they are quite focused ALWAYS!).
One of the stops we made yesterday (July 4th) was at a facility called Peace House Africa. It is a residential secondary school outside the city of Arusha. This is a new project of the Arusha Diocese and the initial phase has just been completed. While the Tanzanian government donated the land, the Peace House is totally supported by the Lutheran Church in Tanzania. (Many, many services which are typically provided in the U.S. by the infrastructure of our government is provided by a church - or else it is not available to the people.)
Several buildings house 210 children ages 13 - 19; with most of those being ages 15-16. Nearly all of the youth have been orphaned due to the AIDS virus. These children are at the highest risk of not succeeding in life - intense screening is completed to ensure they have no other viable means of sustaining themselves in the immediate future without Peace House's help.
Like many private schools, the students wear uniforms and their hair is cut the same. There are separate dormitories for the girls and the boys. Eight students (4 sets of bunk beds) share a room and each gets a bunk, mosquito netting, a pillow, a small blanket and a very small wardrobe with shelves for their few possessions. A 'matron' or 'patron' live with the youth and are responsible for 60 children each.
The students study many subjects from the 9 teachers there and appear very happy and eager. They were well mannered and enjoyed the chance to speak with each of us and were eager to answer our questions.
The atmosphere was positively amazing. It appeared that Peace House is performing a vital and so important service to these children. The environment was clean without being sterile and everyone seemed so happy to be there - as were we!
Two more phases are scheduled to be constructed - with the final capacity of 2,000 students the goal. A follow-up piece is more technical, on the job training for a myriad of occupations to help the students actually learn a skill or trade - even the knowledge to start their own business! University is also an option for students at that point.
Want to learn more? Please go to: http://www.peacehousefoundation.org/. It is an amazing project that will indeed change lives - one child at a time!
Thanks!
Sue
Smiles to brighten our day
Hello everyone,
Today was a very interesting and hard day, we went to several places to visit.
The first was the new Arusha Diocese 4-star hotel, then we went to Peace Home andSecondary School, we visited the Makumari University and ended our day at the Happy Watoto orphanage, were we saw some beautiful children. The orphanage has 4 or 5 buildings and one more under construction. We spoke to a woman named Joyce and a man named Matthew who was the director.
Joyce told us a little bit of the history of the orphanage, It has a capacity of 60 children, and at this time they had 90, with the ages ranging from 3 up to about 18. The kids were wonderful to watch as they posed for pictures with great big smiles, and the smiles grow bigger when we turned the cameras around so they could see themselves in the display.
The group presented the directors with several gifts, from Salem we gave the little kick balls that we had from the Tanzania dinner back in April. Everything was accepted with great joy and thanks.
It is truly amazing that they have so little but are so positive in life.
We got to the orphanage at the end of a long day, but we all were captivated by the big smiles. They very much enjoed seeing us and having some company for even a short time.
It was a nice way to end the day for us.
In Christ,
Scott
Today was a very interesting and hard day, we went to several places to visit.
The first was the new Arusha Diocese 4-star hotel, then we went to Peace Home andSecondary School, we visited the Makumari University and ended our day at the Happy Watoto orphanage, were we saw some beautiful children. The orphanage has 4 or 5 buildings and one more under construction. We spoke to a woman named Joyce and a man named Matthew who was the director.
Joyce told us a little bit of the history of the orphanage, It has a capacity of 60 children, and at this time they had 90, with the ages ranging from 3 up to about 18. The kids were wonderful to watch as they posed for pictures with great big smiles, and the smiles grow bigger when we turned the cameras around so they could see themselves in the display.
The group presented the directors with several gifts, from Salem we gave the little kick balls that we had from the Tanzania dinner back in April. Everything was accepted with great joy and thanks.
It is truly amazing that they have so little but are so positive in life.
We got to the orphanage at the end of a long day, but we all were captivated by the big smiles. They very much enjoed seeing us and having some company for even a short time.
It was a nice way to end the day for us.
In Christ,
Scott
Persevering
July 4, 2008
What an amazing (and exhausting) day. We had so many stops and saw so many things that we decided to split up the blog-writing for the day. You will see an entry from Scott about the orphanage we visited, Sue about the Peace House, and Steve about the University. I am writing you tonight about two other stops of the day.
We boarded the bus and drove first to a 4-star hotel that is being built by the Arusha Diocese, due to open in August. You probably are asking what a Lutheran Diocese is doing getting into the hotel business? Well, much like the New Safari Hotel that we are currently staying (and is owned by the ELTC) it has proven to be a good revenue-builder to help fund other missions. What struck me most about that stop was the contrast. As we were stepping out of this 4-star hotel, we encountered a group of approx 10-12 Tanzanian locals manually moving a large pile of broken tiles and other building remnants into the back of a pick up truck 20 feet away. I spoke to one of the workers and told her taht the reason we were intrigued by this act was that in our country, we would be using a large motorized piece of equipment and had this job done in minutes--- that we admired that even in the face of not having the same equipment to get the job done, they persevered and forged ahead to attain the same goal. She giggled. (by the way, OSHA does not seem to be alive and well here as there was a very large, very deep open elevator shaft without any gate or protection to guard its vast opening!)
The second stop was at the Selenian Lutheran Hospital. But first, I must set the stage; We re-boarded the bus and drove approx 10 miles on a paved road. We then turned down a dirt road and drove another 5 miles, bouncing along through and over crevaces left by the pounding waters of the rainy season. Along this road, our eyes were opened wide!! We had seen some of the the day before, but there, along the sides of this dirt road were the many homes and businesses of many Tanzanian locals. The homes were primarily shack lean-to's with an occasional "upscale" brick, open building--- no windows, most had no doors. It truly was something out of a movie--- the conditions were extremely poor, but still they smiled and waved and persevered!
We turned onto the final 1 mile approach to the hospital, still dirt road. Somehow one thing that surprised me was how far off the beaten path this hospital is located.
Upon arriving at the hospital, a closed gate is your first glimpse with many locals standing outside the gate, waiting to get in for their turn at health care. There were a dozen or so buildings with painted blue trim. Much of the cement is cracked and chipping.
The front of the grounds has the opening to an open-air, outpatient clinic. We were led to the chapel on the back of the grounds where Dr. Mark Jacobsen, a doctor who has been at the hosptial for 20 years spoke to our group. He talked about how the church in Tanzania has taken a "3-legged stool approach": those three legs being Evangelism, School Education, and Medical needs of the people. He further discussed the major areas that this hospital focuses on: birth defects, obstetric fistulas, children, AIDS treatment and a large hospice program. The church provides approx 50% of the nation's healthcare. Again, they persevere.
We did take a quick tour of part of the facility, but i have asked to go back to get a more detailed tour and assess the conditions and needs more fully, and will do so sometime next week. I will write the specifics of that visit after that visit.
For now, I will say good night and I hope you all are going to enjoy the fireworks tonight. We will miss seeing the display that celebrates our nation's independence--- it is becoming more apparant each day here how very blessed we are in the USA!!
P.S. We move to another hotel on Sunday afternoon and we are not sure of the internet access there, so don't be alarmed if we don't write for a few days after that.... we hope to have the access, but don't want you all to worry if we don't.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers as we continue to form relationships with our brothers and sisters here in Tanzania.
Cindy
What an amazing (and exhausting) day. We had so many stops and saw so many things that we decided to split up the blog-writing for the day. You will see an entry from Scott about the orphanage we visited, Sue about the Peace House, and Steve about the University. I am writing you tonight about two other stops of the day.
We boarded the bus and drove first to a 4-star hotel that is being built by the Arusha Diocese, due to open in August. You probably are asking what a Lutheran Diocese is doing getting into the hotel business? Well, much like the New Safari Hotel that we are currently staying (and is owned by the ELTC) it has proven to be a good revenue-builder to help fund other missions. What struck me most about that stop was the contrast. As we were stepping out of this 4-star hotel, we encountered a group of approx 10-12 Tanzanian locals manually moving a large pile of broken tiles and other building remnants into the back of a pick up truck 20 feet away. I spoke to one of the workers and told her taht the reason we were intrigued by this act was that in our country, we would be using a large motorized piece of equipment and had this job done in minutes--- that we admired that even in the face of not having the same equipment to get the job done, they persevered and forged ahead to attain the same goal. She giggled. (by the way, OSHA does not seem to be alive and well here as there was a very large, very deep open elevator shaft without any gate or protection to guard its vast opening!)
The second stop was at the Selenian Lutheran Hospital. But first, I must set the stage; We re-boarded the bus and drove approx 10 miles on a paved road. We then turned down a dirt road and drove another 5 miles, bouncing along through and over crevaces left by the pounding waters of the rainy season. Along this road, our eyes were opened wide!! We had seen some of the the day before, but there, along the sides of this dirt road were the many homes and businesses of many Tanzanian locals. The homes were primarily shack lean-to's with an occasional "upscale" brick, open building--- no windows, most had no doors. It truly was something out of a movie--- the conditions were extremely poor, but still they smiled and waved and persevered!
We turned onto the final 1 mile approach to the hospital, still dirt road. Somehow one thing that surprised me was how far off the beaten path this hospital is located.
Upon arriving at the hospital, a closed gate is your first glimpse with many locals standing outside the gate, waiting to get in for their turn at health care. There were a dozen or so buildings with painted blue trim. Much of the cement is cracked and chipping.
The front of the grounds has the opening to an open-air, outpatient clinic. We were led to the chapel on the back of the grounds where Dr. Mark Jacobsen, a doctor who has been at the hosptial for 20 years spoke to our group. He talked about how the church in Tanzania has taken a "3-legged stool approach": those three legs being Evangelism, School Education, and Medical needs of the people. He further discussed the major areas that this hospital focuses on: birth defects, obstetric fistulas, children, AIDS treatment and a large hospice program. The church provides approx 50% of the nation's healthcare. Again, they persevere.
We did take a quick tour of part of the facility, but i have asked to go back to get a more detailed tour and assess the conditions and needs more fully, and will do so sometime next week. I will write the specifics of that visit after that visit.
For now, I will say good night and I hope you all are going to enjoy the fireworks tonight. We will miss seeing the display that celebrates our nation's independence--- it is becoming more apparant each day here how very blessed we are in the USA!!
P.S. We move to another hotel on Sunday afternoon and we are not sure of the internet access there, so don't be alarmed if we don't write for a few days after that.... we hope to have the access, but don't want you all to worry if we don't.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers as we continue to form relationships with our brothers and sisters here in Tanzania.
Cindy
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Another full day
Greetings from Arusha!
Today was a typical 'first day' of visits for travelers visiting the church in Tanzania. Much of the morning was spenet hearing from Bishop Thomas Laiser at the offices of the Diocese of Arusha. Of special interest to many church people is the fact that the church is organized into parishes --- with an average of 10-12 congregations per parish: each parish being served by one pastor. This would seem an insurmountable challenge, except most congregations also have a trained evangelist who can and does do most anything an ordained pastor does except officiate at weddings and communion. Bishop Laiser was quick to point out that 'everyone is considered an evangelist' --- which is why the church here continues to grow at such a remarkable pace. In fact, he spoke of a 'new mission' here which recently celebrated 965 adult baptisms in one day!!! One can't help but think of the growth of the early church in the book of Acts with numbers like that!
For lunch we were treated at the Mwangaza Center. Mwangaza is the Swahili word for enlightment. It is a cooperative venture between the 20 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Dioceses and the 20 companion synods in our ELCA. Its mission is to further equip teachers here for their very important and challenging work; especially given the sparse resources. They speak of there being entire classrooms without a single book, for instance... and of children using stones as desks. In recent years the mission has expanded to include working with mothers and daughters --- especially because of the low graduation rate of girls --- and of focusing on holistic community health in all of their programming.
This afternoon we spent time at the Headquarters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Much of the staff was away today as they had spent the last week hosting a meeting of the Lutheran World Federation. However, we were blessed to hear from Pastor Sabina K. Lumwe, who is the Deputy Secretary General of Social Services and Women's Work of the Church. Part of her work includes overseeing all of the hospitals (of which there are 20) and dispensaries, of which there are many more.
I was especially pleased today to reconnect with Mary E. Laiser, who heads up the women's work for the Arusha Dioeces. Mary is one of the most courageous, faithful women I know whose story I'll share in detail at another time.
Everywhere we go we are greeted with a warm welcome, and plenty of wonderful food (for those of you who thought we might lose weight on this trip!)
Tomorrow promises to be another full day --- thank you for holding us in your prayers. Know that you are in ours.
Pastor Janet
Today was a typical 'first day' of visits for travelers visiting the church in Tanzania. Much of the morning was spenet hearing from Bishop Thomas Laiser at the offices of the Diocese of Arusha. Of special interest to many church people is the fact that the church is organized into parishes --- with an average of 10-12 congregations per parish: each parish being served by one pastor. This would seem an insurmountable challenge, except most congregations also have a trained evangelist who can and does do most anything an ordained pastor does except officiate at weddings and communion. Bishop Laiser was quick to point out that 'everyone is considered an evangelist' --- which is why the church here continues to grow at such a remarkable pace. In fact, he spoke of a 'new mission' here which recently celebrated 965 adult baptisms in one day!!! One can't help but think of the growth of the early church in the book of Acts with numbers like that!
For lunch we were treated at the Mwangaza Center. Mwangaza is the Swahili word for enlightment. It is a cooperative venture between the 20 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Dioceses and the 20 companion synods in our ELCA. Its mission is to further equip teachers here for their very important and challenging work; especially given the sparse resources. They speak of there being entire classrooms without a single book, for instance... and of children using stones as desks. In recent years the mission has expanded to include working with mothers and daughters --- especially because of the low graduation rate of girls --- and of focusing on holistic community health in all of their programming.
This afternoon we spent time at the Headquarters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Much of the staff was away today as they had spent the last week hosting a meeting of the Lutheran World Federation. However, we were blessed to hear from Pastor Sabina K. Lumwe, who is the Deputy Secretary General of Social Services and Women's Work of the Church. Part of her work includes overseeing all of the hospitals (of which there are 20) and dispensaries, of which there are many more.
I was especially pleased today to reconnect with Mary E. Laiser, who heads up the women's work for the Arusha Dioeces. Mary is one of the most courageous, faithful women I know whose story I'll share in detail at another time.
Everywhere we go we are greeted with a warm welcome, and plenty of wonderful food (for those of you who thought we might lose weight on this trip!)
Tomorrow promises to be another full day --- thank you for holding us in your prayers. Know that you are in ours.
Pastor Janet
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The drive to the hotel
We made it across the world and thru several custom checks. We stayed Monday nite at a hotel in Ethiopia and got a taste of some much needed sleep.
This afternoon (Tuesday) we climbed aboard a bus while our luggage got tied to the top with hemp rope . Here they drive on the other side of the road - it was strange to see the driver's side spot completely empty. People were walking and riding bikes home from their day - lots of parcels or bowls on top of the women's heads. Lots of small herds of goats and cattle and a few burros loaded down. The homes are cement blocks or mud brick or even regular brick - many without a roof as the owners are trying to wait for the $ to buy the materials - most with galvanized roofs - at least planned for! 40 minute ride - arrival intact with all of our bags still on top! Tomorrow we begin meeting with a variety of people from the Tanzanian Evangelical Lutheran Diocese - it'll be good to begin the day rested!
We ran into a gentlmen at the Kilimanjaro Airport from our companion congregation - just by chance!
More to follow - thanks for reading!
Sue & Steve
This afternoon (Tuesday) we climbed aboard a bus while our luggage got tied to the top with hemp rope . Here they drive on the other side of the road - it was strange to see the driver's side spot completely empty. People were walking and riding bikes home from their day - lots of parcels or bowls on top of the women's heads. Lots of small herds of goats and cattle and a few burros loaded down. The homes are cement blocks or mud brick or even regular brick - many without a roof as the owners are trying to wait for the $ to buy the materials - most with galvanized roofs - at least planned for! 40 minute ride - arrival intact with all of our bags still on top! Tomorrow we begin meeting with a variety of people from the Tanzanian Evangelical Lutheran Diocese - it'll be good to begin the day rested!
We ran into a gentlmen at the Kilimanjaro Airport from our companion congregation - just by chance!
More to follow - thanks for reading!
Sue & Steve
It's All in the Details
We have arrived safely in Arusha. 24 hours of flying time later, with a stop-over for re-fuel in Rome and an overnight stay in Ethiopia. Stayed in a quaint hotel last night. We then boarded a plane for Kilamanjaro. The trip so far has been long, but the company of fellow travelers has been great. So, on very little sleep, I write you to tell of the beginning of our adventures. By the way, Pastor Janet's ear is making the trip well--- not much pain from the flights and actually? The change in cabin pressure may have actually helped. Ethiopian Air food has been tolerable at least so far, we can identify what has been placed before us.
So, about these details..... as we were sitting in the Washington Dulles airport awaiting our group check-in to Ethiopia, we noted a woman that stood out in the crowd. She was a stately woman, apoprox 65 years old, adorned in a long, flowing yellow with small blue flowers dress and head dress. Even though she sat very quietly, her presence was noted by many. she was that one person in a crowd to which your attention was drawn. As you got closer to her, your attention was drawn to the more specific: she had tatooed on her forehead, a traditional Ethiopian cross. her presence was quiet, buther message was loud and clear. She was a woman of faith. She was not afraid or ashamed to shout it out in her own, quiet way.
How willing are we to put our faith out there for all to see? Like this woman, finding a way to shout it from the rooftops, even if it is in our own quiet way, would be a wonderful goal, wouldn't it?
I suspect that we will see a lot of this quiet proclamation of faith in the next two weeks. Ours is to observe and learn and not miss the detailsthat could become our own.
Peace to you through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Cindy
So, about these details..... as we were sitting in the Washington Dulles airport awaiting our group check-in to Ethiopia, we noted a woman that stood out in the crowd. She was a stately woman, apoprox 65 years old, adorned in a long, flowing yellow with small blue flowers dress and head dress. Even though she sat very quietly, her presence was noted by many. she was that one person in a crowd to which your attention was drawn. As you got closer to her, your attention was drawn to the more specific: she had tatooed on her forehead, a traditional Ethiopian cross. her presence was quiet, buther message was loud and clear. She was a woman of faith. She was not afraid or ashamed to shout it out in her own, quiet way.
How willing are we to put our faith out there for all to see? Like this woman, finding a way to shout it from the rooftops, even if it is in our own quiet way, would be a wonderful goal, wouldn't it?
I suspect that we will see a lot of this quiet proclamation of faith in the next two weeks. Ours is to observe and learn and not miss the detailsthat could become our own.
Peace to you through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Cindy
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