The Journey and the Angel Travel Agent

Hi everyone! It is 8:30pm and mom was expected to land around 6pm. Well.... she hasn't left Nairobi yet. I have very little information and it has been a hectic day. Here is what I do know...

Mom missed her flight out of Nairobi. We got an text this morning asking us to help her get out of Africa. We have been the middleman with the travel agent all day long. A few minutes ago he was finally able to secure a new itinerary for mom to come home. We now expect her home late on January 2nd. The travel agent was amazing and worked 8 hours past the time their office closed so that mom could come home. We are so grateful for his dedication.

Well, nobody can say mom's trip was dull :)

Gamasara Good-bye

Today was my last time to wake up at Gamasara. By 8:00, I'd gathered everyone who needed to go to town, and we were off!

I washed and hung my clothes while Bhoke and Amina cleaned up cat hair. The missionaries' cat is my #10housekeeping problem! We had tea and butter bread when Anna arrived, and then we set off to Sirari to exchange money and make our reservation for bus tickets to Nairobi tomorrow.

We were back in Tarime by 10:00, where we visited the bank, the post office, and picked up some chips for lunch. Before we finished eating, Teddy and her daughter, Happy, came to visit. They brought me a scarf/shawl which will be perfect for the plane and the winter weather. Just as we were ready to leave the mission house, the heavens opened up. So, I got out my computer and showed Tanzanian slide shows. (Rain often changes plans in a culture where cars are rare.)

When the rain stopped, we went by the Social Security office and then to town where Anna did some shopping. About 4:00, we returned to Gamasara.

As always, there were hugs and kisses all around. I set up the Gamasara Christmas slide show so the kids could see their most recent pictures. Meanwhile, Anna supervised the kids' work on a gift for Jocelyn, a recent volunteer.

Anna sat me down in the dining hall and escorted all of the kids to the boy's hallway. They sang me a song asking me to come back to Angel House and then filed into form a circle. Each Angel held a paper with a message to me. They continued singing as one-by-one each Angel presented his message to me. Then several kids spoke.

When Anna asked me to say a few words, I was overwhelmed with love. I told the kids they will always have a Bibi Bonnie who loves them very much. We will always be together in God's Spirit. As much as they wanted me to, I couldn't promise I will be back. God's plan is always a surprise to me. After all, I ended up in Tanzania on my way to South Korea!

I handed out small bags of treats to each kid. Anna read letter from Jocelyn to the kids. Then Rosie and William prayed.

I called Kennedy to drive me home. I'd promised to see him today. We needed to get a picture of the two of us on the pikipiki. We had a heart-to-heart conversation on the way to Tarime. I told him my idea of heaven is a place where everyone you love is, a place where you never have to say good-bye. I also told Kennedy what I told my grand kids just before I left them. "When you miss me, look at the sky and remember we share that same sky, our love for each other, and God's love. (I owe that thought to my brother who wrote it in a letter from Viet Nam.). Kennedy repeated what I'd said and thanked me for teaching him something today.

I asked Kennedy if I should email Holly and the new volunteers to have them sing to him. I thought maybe he wouldn't miss me so much if they did that. He was too polite to answer me, but he said he'd be at the mission house at 8:00 tomorrow to say good-bye.

I don't think I'm going to get much sleep tonight. The bus ride to Nairobi will provide plenty of time for that. Tonight, I think I better understand how Mary felt when "she remembered all of these things, treasuring them in her heart."
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Something's Up!

Today was my last Sunday at Angel House. During testimony time, I told the kids tonight would be my last one at Angel House. Tomorrow, I need to be in town so we can start the long journey to Nairobi as early as possible.

Some people stood up and thanked Grassroots and all the volunteers for their help and support. There were some tears, and the service went on.

Later this afternoon, I got a call from Anna. She said she needed to give me something and would come to Gamasara. She arrived with a charcoal iron for the kids and 2 new padlocks for the mission house. We are down to one house key, and 3 new workers will arrive next month. I will put the old lock on the well house.

The day was pretty laid back, and I even took a nap! Ten year-old Salome fell asleep in my bed before devotions last night and I didn't get much sleep. Bunks are pretty small, and my mattress rolls everybody toward the middle.

Anna and I went over finances and gave the kids the iron. Then she gave me some chips (fries) and left me in my room to eat them. When I came out, kids were running around with papers and mischievous grins. Something is up!
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The Day After

Christmas is over, and I just realized I will leave Tanzania in 3 days. The rain poured down again this morning, so I waited to take the boys who needed to go to town until they'd have a drier trip. I went to the mission house to straighten and pack everything possible. If anyone steals my suitcases, they are going to be sadly disappointed. I am only taking home items for my missions silent auction and clothes I had made in Tarime.

I'm having a terrible time finding cat food for the missionaries' cat who is staying at our house until June. Kennedy, my favorite pikipiki driver even checked 4 store is Kenya. We can find dog food but no cat food.

I spent most of the day straightening the house, leaving notes for the next team, and working on finances.

I can't believe it's almost time to leave. I pray I will be able to return to Angel House. I've made so many amazing friends here. One of the nicest compliments I've ever received came from 2 staff members. The said, "Bibi's not a Mzumgu (foreigner). She's one of us.". I will always treasure those words.
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Christmas Day

Christmas Day dawned cold and wet. The kids opened their presents and talked on the phone to previous volunteers the night before, but they were excited about eating goat meat and going to Goldland Hotel on Christmas Day.
I spent the morning getting kids ready for the Nativity play. Costumes and props were simple, but the kids seemed happy to dress up. I painted 8 little sheep's noses black and pinned white tails on their bottoms. I showed the kings how to adjust the fit of their crowns and used rope to tie left-over curtain cloth around shepherd's heads. Each angel received her red and white choir robe so she could practice flapping her wings. I helped Mary and Joseph wrap themselves in yards of fabric I found at the mission house. Everybody was ready by 8:00, when church was set to start.

The goat meat was being cut up, the chicken was squawking in the kitchen, awaiting its fate, and good smells enveloped Angel House. 9:00 came, and the staff came to work. Still no minister. Still no visitors.

Sheep's noses began to disappear. King's crowns were showing signs of wear. Everyone gathered in the kitchen, huddling around the fire and enjoying the aroma of spiced rice and the garlic embracing the meat. 9:15 and the minister, soggy and cold, arrived in the kitchen. Still no visitors.

Rain drenched the landscape, and we carried buckets of rainwater, dumping it into every clean bucket we could find. It is the purest drinking water available naturally, and capturing it from the roof saves a lot of steps during the never-ending task of carrying water.

9:30. The natives are getting restless. The minister supervises the placement of the giant pulpit to its place of worship. I repaint noses and adjust costumes.

10:00. The minister comes to say, "Madam, you have to get ready for worship. We have to start now.". I wonder what he thinks I need to do to be ready and marvel at the insinuation that I've been holding up the show.

Joseph, one of our more vocal Angels, begins the service with "Praise the Lord!" Which frankly sounds more like "God is a spirit" the slurs his Swahili. We settle in for a 2 hour worship service.

We stand up. We sit down. The choir is "welcomed to sing.". A few visitors arrive. They are welcomed. Worshipers are welcomed to share testimonies. We sing and clap, as Joseph selects Angels to led the songs.

Then, the Nativity play is presented. The sheep baa, the shepherds and kings touch knuckles and shake hands with the new father and fall to their knees at Mary's feet. The sheep baa some more. The holy family escapes to Egypt.

Then William and Mwita are welcomed to bring in crates of soda for everyone. My mouth is watering, since it's now after 11 and we have been tantalized by wonderful aromas since 6:00. I am thankful for the soda, and wait rather impatiently for the cap to be ripped off by a nearby Angel's teeth.

I am also thankful that the service appears to be over without the usual hour-long sermon. My soda drained, I walk to the kitchen.

"Madam! We are praying. We just gave out sodas because we need to trade the bottles for full ones. Welcome to pray, please.".

I guess my face did not hide my bewilderment because the minister repeated his request and I realized I was holding up dinner by not leading the congregation in prayer.

Several times during the next hour I asked Mary, actually now transformed back into Leah, if we were finished with the service. She just smiled and shook her head.

The sermon started. We were asked to put our hands over our hearts and repeat a prayer. I moved my mouth, but the Swahili words were beyond me.

Suddenly. the minister and Joseph were circling the congregation, shaking hands. We were joyfully released!

A feast was served. A few more guests arrived. Two kinds of rice, Goat meat, chicken, and a banana were washed down by sodas. Dishes were washed, and everyone got ready to go to the dance at Goldland Hotel.

I rode in the first truck load, 2 little Angels on my lap, and 13 more in the bed. We stopped at the big tree on the way to Tarime to fulfill my Christmas request. I wanted to have a picture of Angels dressed in their new clothes surrounding my favorite tree.

Wish fulfilled, we were deposited at Goldland just as the rain became a downpour. The small outside dance floor and a tarped sitting area were the only places that were covered, so we grabbed our littlest Angels out of the mob and sat them under the tarp. It sagged under the weight of the rain. Workers kept poking the canvas with shovels and poles to ease the strain. Then, desperate, they began slashing the canvas with knives. Too little too late. The tarp collapsed.

We grabbed our brood and sought refuge on the porch outside the hotel's lobby just as the second truck load of drenched Angels arrived. One of the workers ushered me inside the lobby where I checked my email and received a call from my daughter. For a moment, I was home sharing Christmas with my other grandchildren. I heard the voices of home and sent verbal hugs to my family.

The rain had slacked off by the time we loaded our littlest Angels back in the gari. Gamasara was a welcome sight! We changed to dry clothes and enjoyed a meal of chai and leftovers before having devotions and going to bed. But just before that, several jubilant teens hugged me and thanked me for making their Christmas so special. Talk about feeling humble!

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About that Goat...

I have really enjoyed watching the goats here in Tanzania. Many are given free range, and their antics are cute and comical.

I was horrified to find out mbusi was on our Christmas menu. Since we have no refrigeration, I knew the main entre' would arrive here on hoof. Although the cooks assured me I could eat chicken, I felt bad for the goat.

Then our goat arrived. Honestly, I think the farmer must be glad to be rid of this belligerent animal! Every time I look at him, he's wrapped around a tree several times. When I go to unwrap him, he stubbornly insists on yanking me around the tree with him. After attempting to help him several times, I've come to the conclusion that this animal is too stupid to live.

Mimi kula mbusi leo! (I'm eating goat tomorrow!
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Gamasra Christmas Eve

I have been checking the post office every day for weeks, but it wasn't until today that the Christmas clothes arrived. I know my daughter will find this hilarious, since I ALWAYS have my Christmas presents ready early. Usually, I start shopping right after Christmas and wrap presents around Thanksgiving. I don't enjoy the Christmas rush.

So it was that over a month ago I sorted the first 6 boxes of gifts. As Christmas got closer and closer, I frankly began to hope the other packages wouldn't arrive until after Christmas.

Well, today I got the full Santa's elf experience. I opened the girls' boxes and sorted the jeans from smallest to biggest. Than I started adding tops and dresses according to size. I listed the girls from smallest to biggest and put each stack of clothes with the corresponding-sized girl. Then I put names in the backpacks and on each shopping bag. I repeated the process with the boys.

I had the girls sorted when Anna arrived to help. We boxed everything up, had the boys load the truck, and made two trips to Gamasara. We put the boxes in the kitchen store room where they remained locked up until after supper.

THe kids were thrilled with their gifts! We were able to trade back and forth until everyone had clothes that fit. I only need to buy one shirt for a boy who had one that as too small! I was so relieved!

I was so humbled when the kids kept thanking me for the gifts. I kept telling them Dr. Lisa and Jocelyn had sent the presents, but the kids just kept thanking me. Finally, I just started saying, "You're welcome!"

I also had a wonderful surprise today. Anna, the head matron at Angel House, had a dress made for me! I have been giving away my clothes in anticipation of my departure. It is exciting to have a nice outfit to wear for Christmas. I feel so kupendeza!

I hope your Christmas Eve is filled with love and joy. Thank you from Gamasara for making our Christmas special. Good bless us, every one! (He already has!)


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Christmas is Coming!

I spent the whole day at Gamasara yesterday. There's so much to do before Christmas!

First, all the kids except those going to St. Jude need to have their heads shaved for school. (Yes, even the girls!). The style is actually short anyway, so most of the kids wanted to get haircuts before the Christmas dance.

Obviously, 34 kids weren't going to fit in the truck, so I sent the ones whose haircuts were required for school first. That left the littlest Angels in tears, so I tried to explain in Swenglish that they WOULD get their turn also.

I decided the angels in the Nativity play needed to try on their robes and discovered the robes were filthy. Time to clean up our act! We filled the wash tub with soapy water and the robes. Then we took turns (Yes, your truly, too) stomping on the mixture. The kids had a ball! Tears were dry in an instant. As one kid got tired of stomping, another took over. Who knew being agitators could be such fun? Would you believe 4 of them took naps that afternoon?

After the stomping was finished, we started washing in earnest. Safeguard soap and lots of elbow grease had the robes clean in no time. Then with a kid on each end, we twisted the robes dry and hung them (not the kids) on the line to dry.

Later, after the rain, I had to re wash 2 fallen robes. My solo act wasn't nearly as much fun.

Soon the truck was back and the littlest Angel went to town for haircuts. When the truck returned, it was time to go get the goat who was donated for Christmas dinner. He was tired in the front yard, where I tried to avoid the rest of the day. If I wasn't such a carnivore, I'd be a vegetarian. I have difficulty looking my food in the eye!

When everyone was back together, we ran through the Nativity play again. Mary was advised to look more uncomfortable at the inn, and the results were hilarious. I'm so glad this is their play and all I have to do is costuming and assign roles! It's more fun to watch than to be in charge. I did put my foot down when they tried to add 3 cows to the cast 2 days before the performance. I've got my hands full trying to scrounge up gold, frankincense, and myrrh! I don't have time to costume 3 cows, too!

Soon it was time for supper, devotions, and bed. I can't believe Christmas is almost here!
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Dark Day

We got up late this morning (almost 6:00!). It was cloudy, and we don't turn on the generator on non-school mornings. I marveled at the quiet as I checked my email.

My first indication something was wrong was when I saw I had 2 voice mail messages. My brother had called, and Hospice predicts our mom has just a few days to live. We decided to go ahead with our Christmas plans and then see when/if we'll need to make funeral arrangements.

My mother has had dementia for several years, and she said about 6 years ago, "I'm ready to go to heaven. I'm just not ready to not see my (great grand)babies again.". I assured her it wouldn't be heaven if she couldn't enjoy her babies.

So, I am at peace with God's timing. Please pray for Mom's painless entry into heaven, for traveling mercies for our family, and patience and wisdom during this difficult family time.
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Emmanual Johnson

We had a nice surprise today. A former administrator of Angel House, Emmanual Johnson, visited Gamasara. We were very proud to show off our facility, and the kids were delighted to see him.

Emmanual is now an education director. When I arrived, Angel House sent students to 6 different schools in Tarime. School attendance was determined by a government lottery, and I think Angel House lost! Keeping track of attendance and school schedules, not to mention grades and attendance was next to impossible. Emmanual Johnson worked with Angel House to assure attendance at one primary school and one secondary school in 2010. This will greatly simplify life at Gamasara!

After Emmanual had toured the building, I introduced him to our two guards who were on duty. Then I gave Mwita, our day guard, the pleasure of showing Emmanual the shamba. The kids went along because they are as excited about the garden as Mwita. After all, each of them is responsible for a section, and they take pride in their weed-free plots.

Emmanual was really proud of the shamba and glad to see his kids again. He called us all together for a talk. Before he began, he said, "I don't have a lot to give the kids, but I'd like to give them hope.". I told him I thought hope was a priceless gift. I watched the kids' faces as Emmanual spoke to them. They listen to him talk about the importance of working hard in school and following the rules. Then he told them he and his wife loved them very much and encouraged them to share any problems or questions they might have with him.

As I watched the handsome young faces during Emmanual's talk, I thought how appropriately he was named. Like Christ, he made a special trip to give hope and express his love. His visit was a wonderful way to start the Angel House Christmas celebration!


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Two productive days in a row! Today I managed to meet with James about Serengeti pictures, meet with the landlord and get repairs made for the next team, witness to a neighbor, wash my clothes, and actually manage to offer hot tea to everyone who came to the mission house! (Tea's a must for house guests here.).

Only 2 days until Christmas! I'm pumped! No new boxes have arrived, but I'm satisfied with the wonderful assortment we've already separated for the kids. If more mail arrives tomorrow, that's great. If not, someone else will have the wonderful Santa experience I've enjoyed.
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Enjoying TZ

I've been enjoying my last few days in Tanzania so much I haven't taken time to blog. Sorry about that!

Yesterday, Anna and Marwa took me to Musoma. It is right on the beach of Lake Victoria and very beautiful (kupendeza!). We went to a little shop and purchased an animal batik and some cards made from fabric. I ate lunch at a buffet on the beach, feasting on the most delicious talapia I've ever tasted. We went to a flea market and then back to Gamasara. The night before was the first one had spent in town for a long time. When I arrived at Gamasara on Sunday evening, I received lots of hugs and kisses. It felt good to be home!

Today, I worked on finances most of the day. The fun part was paying the staff and giving them gifts from Dr. Lisa for their families. I was very popular!

I practiced painting sheep's noses, designed their tails, finalized Nativity costumes, and supervised the glitter painting of kings' crowns.

There's excitement in the air here at Gamasara! I love watching the kids get ready for the performance. An African slant on the Christmas story is very refreshing!
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Meanwhile, Back in Tarime...

I had made arrangements to meet with James, the immigration officer who orchestrated my safari, to share pictures today. I'd hoped to catch a pikipiki ride to town with Marwa when he brought Anna to work, but that didn't work out.

Kennedy, my favorite pikipiki driver, was in Kissi, so I had Teddy, one of our AH moms, call for my ride. This young guy was a bit of a maverick, and the road was really muddy. The ride to the pavement was peppered with breath prayers. When we got to the main road, I told him I needed to go to Hilltop. When we passed Hilltop, I searched my Swahilli memory for some word equivalent to STOP! Finding none, I kept tapping the driver on the shoulder while yelling "Hilltop" in his ear. Finally, I got him to stop and walked from town to the mission house.

James was waiting when I arrived, and we invited ChaCha, our day guard, in to view the pictures with us. I was struck by how special this invitation was to ChaCha. He kept asking to make sure he'd understood me. Did I really want him to come inside the mission house to relax and share a soda? Indeed I did! ChaCha's eyes shined when I told him he was my good friend.

We worked with the computer for a long time, and the electric went out shortly after we started. So, James will return on Tuesday to load his flash drive.

I spent a relaxing day packing some souvenirs and eating some canned food that I just received from home. Then it was time to go to town.

Anna had already checked the post office for packages, so I started to the bank to check for to see if our wired money had arrived. Halfway there, I realized the ATM was probably not working because of the power outage.

I had promised my girls I'd get them menstrual pads today, so I walked to the pharmacy where I knew the workers spoke good English. I could just imagine trying to pantomime what I wanted to someone who only spoke Swahili! I didn't realize the pharmacy was owned by a Seven Day Adventist, so it was closed on Saturday.

I searched the dukas for a woman worker who might speak English. I was in luck! The first woman I tried spoke enough English to get my point across. She even left her kids in charge of the store to lead me to a duka where I could buy pads. The worker there didn't speak English, however, so I scanned the shelves looking for the Always package. A man customer asked if he could interpret for me, and I must admit it was hard for a prude like me to explain my need. When he understood, he helped me communicate my request. With the problem solved, I was able to relax and thank everyone involved over and over again.

On the way down the street, I noticed people at the ATM at another bank, so I decided to check my own. The wire had been deposited! Eager to start sorting and distributing funds, I seized the handle of the door. The bank was closed due to the power outage. The ATM was running on a generator.

I called Marwa to see if he could take the pads to the girls. Luckily, he was in town with Anna and took care of that for me. Then I walked home.

The power came back on later, and I worked with James' pictures on the computer so they'd be ready for the kids to see tomorrow.

I spent the night at the mission house because Marwa is taking Anna and me to Musoma early tomorrow, and they're picking me up in town. Boy, is Tarime noisy after sleeping at Gamasara! There's a bar (Hilltop) that plays music late at night, and ChaCha, our guard, sleeps on the porch outside my bedroom window. Added to my excitement of visiting the museum tomorrow, I didn't get much sleep.

Sleep can wait until my trip home, however. I'm sure I'll find plenty of time to sleep through the turning of the New Year in several time zones!
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Constant, Continued

Sorry! I pressed the wrong key when my pikipiki arrived!

As always, God's timing for that card was right on schedule. I woke up to an email announcing my VISA card is one of the thousands which will be cancelled effective December 21. Since I am in Africa until December 31, there is no way I will have the use of my credit card while I travel. I have carefully planned my travel money, but I was hoping to use my VISA for my hotel bill in Nairobi.

Strangely enough, I didn't panic when I discovered this financial glitch. The words from TPDL came to me, and I was filled with confidence that God is in control of the situation. Several friends, African and American, have offered solutions for this problem, and I am confident God will help me select the best solution.

Meanwhile, I am rejoicing because the wired money for the Angel House budget has arrived and Anna and I can begin to sort and distribute it on Monday. That is my last big responsibility at Angel House, unless more Christmas boxes arrive before I leave.

I am amazed that I'm learning to take time to greet people, wait long periods of time to get what I need, and approach each day with a song in my heart (and often on my lips, which is often surprising to pikipiki drivers!). Living in Tanzania for over 100 days has really made me appreciate God's constant attention. Could anyone ever receive a better Christmas present than that?
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Constant Attention

Yesterday, I got a card from The States with this quote from The Purpose Driven Life:

GOD has focused His attention on you.
God pays CONSTANT attention to you.
He never takes His eyes off of you.
He never stops thinking about YOU.
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Hair

It's interesting how different people view the same thing. I was sitting in the bed of the mission truck while Anna bought some fresh vegetables for the orphanage. After I finally convinced the sellers that Anna had the money, we struck up a conversation in Swaenglish.

One woman pointed to her hair and said, "Wewe ya kupendeza." I couldn't believe she thought my shaggy, hair was beautiful! I thought of all the times the kids had petted my hair, surprised at its softness. I, on the other hand, love to stroke their coarse, short-cropped hair. It seems we often find beauty in things we don't have. Pity!

The other day, Vicent and I were talking. His perspective on life broke my heart. He told me Tanzania was bad, but American was good. We laughed at my patchy sun tan, and I said my sandals had made my feet look like zebra skin. Vicent's serious eyes turned even sadder. "White is better than black," he said. For once, I was speechless.

On the other hand, when I took the three girls to Lake Victoria, I was very impressed at how comfortable Rosie and Leah are in their own skin. They look life straight in the eye and carry themselves with a gracefulness Miss Universe would envy. What a treasure to have such healthy self-esteem!
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I had to confront a staff member about lying today, and it was not easy. We had just disciplined two Angels about lying, and I didn't feel I could let a staff member break the rules we expect the kids to obey.

I am not patient when someone lies to me. Frankly, it makes me downright livid! Often, I have to wait a bit to control my rage. So it happened today that I was ready to state my case. When the person smiled and suggested I had missed his meaning because of language translation, I raised my voice. I'm not proud of my behavior, and I got no joy out of seeing how the rest of the staff agreed with me. Why does being assertive have to be so hard?

Still, I am glad that I stood my ground and honestly stated how I felt. I've found that wherever I go, people are people. Some folks are honest; some aren't. Some take responsibility for their mistakes; others blame everybody but themselves. None of us is perfect, and we all need to learn from our mistakes.

It is amazing to me that God is so patient with us. I guess that's why God is God and I am not!
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A Calling

"Phone ringing!"flashed on the screen while I was reading my email this morning. I don't get many live calls in Tanzania, and I was excited to see my daughter was on the line.

"Mom, I just told the kids we are going to The Nutcracker tomorrow, and Zoe's hysterical. She says we can't go without Nana! It's way past her bedtime, and I can't get her to settle down. Would you talk to her?"

When I heard Zoe's sobs on the phone, I assured her I wanted her to enjoy the ballet and that we would go to a dance performance together when I got home. The sobs settled down to sniffles, and Zoe was sent to bed.

I thought about the wonder of technology which allowed me to dry one grandchild's tears half a world away even as I prepared to lead a staff meeting to benefit 34 other grandchildren right here in Tanzania. Isn't that just the way God is? When we follow His plan, He takes care of all the details.
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Tanzanian Food

Some people have asked me about African food. Actually, a lot of the common dishes are similar to Native American or Mexican foods.

Typically, we eat porridge (like Cream of Wheat), manasi (fried rolls), chapati (like a tortilla) or boiled potatoes with sweetened tea for breakfast. This is served around 9:00 or so, after we've worked outside for a couple of hours.

Lunch is served around 1:00 and supper is served shortly after the generator kicks in at 7:00. Some menus for these meals are dega (sardines cooked with tomatoes and onion) and ugali (kind of like homemade Playdough), beans and rice, beans and boiled green bananas (They taste surprisingly like potatoes). Since we've moved to Gamasara, we've supplemented our meals with crops from the shamba. Often, we have cooked salsa or green vegetables cooked with onions and tomatoes with our rice or ugali.

Sweets are rare. I am amazed at the amount of food these kids can eat! Even the little ones heap their trays, and nothing is ever wasted. When one person finishes eating, he offers any left-overs to someone else. Sometimes leftovers from one meal are saved for the next.

Wonderful insulated containers keep food and chai (tea) hot until meal time. Food is usually cooked over an open fire. Beans are cooked with hot coals over the lid as well.

My favorite meals are beans and rice and green bananas and rice. I don't care for ugali, but it is like soybeans in that it soaks up the taste of any food it touches. I can eat it, especially on the days it's served with meat (typically beef).

Dega is my least favorite African food, but it has more to do with the processing than the taste. The fish are dried. When it is time to cook them, everyone sorts through them, removing the tails. Often the sorting is done on the floor! This, on top of seeing the flies on the dega when it is on sale at the market make it difficult for me to eat these little fish.

Special meals such as weddings or Christmas include chicken, beef, or goat meat. The animals wander the streets or are herded throughout town where they basically have open range. If you order chicken at a restaurant in town, you are likely to hear its last swalk before you are served.

All in all, Tanzanian food is tasty and fairly healthy. When we visited Serengeti National Park recently, I was able to buy a Snickers and some Laughing Cow Cheese. The candy tasted too sweet to me, but the cheese was heavenly. The african adults with me wouldn't try the cheese, but my boys liked it.

Part of the adventure of mission trips is experimenting with local foods, but it's always important to make sure it is thoroughly cooked, peeled, and/or boiled before eating. I don't eat the ends of bananas grown locally because I got worms from them once. Mangos, watermelon, pineapple, and passion fruit are also available.
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Christmas Countdown

Today was a surprisingly quiet day at Angel House. Everyone is relatively well, and we didn't go to Tarime at all. Anna and I had planned to go to St. Jude today to talk to that ever-elusive headmistress, but Anna didn't come to Angel House.

We worked in the front yard cutting grass with a panga (machete), stacking bricks, and breaking big clumps of grass. This was all before a breakfast of porridge.

After breakfast, we washed clothes. When Anna hadn't arrived by 2:00, I decided to start assigning parts for the Christmas play. Surprisingly enough, everyone seemed rather excited about the play. Only a couple were reluctant. The most asked question was, "Who's going to be Jesus?". I assured them none of them would have to be a baby, and everyone seemed happy.

I wish I had a video camera to record the craziness of this Christmas play. I think the sheep will have the most fun, and I'm resigned to the fact this will be an original production, so I'd best roll with the punches!
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What to Do

Before I left for Tanzania, several people asked me what I would do at Angel House. I honestly didn't know, so I replied, "Whatever God asks me to do."

Now that I've been here almost 100 days, I have a better idea of my "duties".. Although every day is different, let me summarize a day I had recently.

I woke up before 6, and was greeted by 10 year-old Salome before I finished my devotion. We cuddled a little before nature called. When I came back from the choo, Salome was washing the floor of my room! She helped me make my bed and then washed the floor in the hallway. Such a worker!

I washed my clothes from my safari with the help of 5 year-old Nosi and her 7 year-old sister, Bhoke. We managed to get everything laid out to dry with few squabbles.

While I was washing, I heard Joseph vomit his medicine, so I searched for William to drive us back to the dispensary.

Before we left, Anna arrived with Marwa, and we discussed how to best install supports for the upper bunk mosquito nets. We gathered lumber from the shed, loaded it in the truck, and set off for town.

We dropped the wood off to be cut to size, took Joseph to the dispensary where he was admitted, and then Anna and I went to the mission house to work on finances.

Anna and I walked to town to get food for Joseph. (Families are responsible for feeding patients while they are in the hospital). Then I went to my ATM and met Anna at the bank where we needed to deposit money for St. Jude Primary School.

Around 2, we took the lumber back to the fundi, who began work. A unexpected rain storm had blown up just as we left town, so I was completely soaked when we arrived at Angel House.

That didn't stop the hugs I got even before I dried off. I put on some dry clothes and set off again to talk with the head mistress of St. Jude. Every place we went , she had just left.

After returning to Angel House, I stole a few minutes to send some emails. Thank God for my Blackberry! It makes staying connected with Grassroots and friends and family so much easier!

I heard Majaliwa calling my name and was shown his broken bunk. Marwa had already left by that time, so I told Maja to put his sheets on Joseph's bed until we could repair the damage.

A howl greeted me as I returned to my room. Vero and Bhoke had been scuffling, and Bhoke's eye was hurt. I grabbed a wet wash cloth, sat Vero down while I attended Bhoke's eye. Then I took both girls to Abuid who interpreted both sides of the story. Fault was found on both sides, so the girls were forbidden to play together for a day.

While we were negotiating, a violent storm had begun. We grabbed every container we could find and filled theme with rain water. The roof and windows were leaking, and water was lapping at the front door. By the time the rain stopped and all the water containers were full, we sat down to eat rice and beans (my favorite!).

After cleaning up the tables and dishes, I had a little cuddle time with the littlest Angels and some time to practice dancing and karate with the older ones.

The kids led a short devotion before bedtime. I joined the rest of the staff in checking mosquito nets and saying good-night to our Angels.

Safe under my mosquito net, I used my flashlight to read my devotion and go to sleep.
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Good Morning

My favorite part of the day is waking up at Gamasara. Teddy's alarm goes off at 5:00, and there's time to cuddle with the kids before tea time.

We play a little game every morning. I lie in bed battling the need to visit the choo. (It's cold in the morning!). When I see the curtain at my doorway flutter, I close my eyes and act as if I'm asleep.

"Bibi!" A little voice will say. Sometimes several other little voices will join in before I welcome the girls to come in under my mosquito net. Then we cuddle and hug until the need for using the choo forces me to get up.

I doubt I could have survived this long without being with Zachary, Zoe, and Zane if not for the loving hugs of my African grandchildren.
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Best-laid Plans

It seems every Sunday we bring someone home from the dispensary. Today, I was determined not to miss church again. So, we left well before 7:00 to retrieve Joseph from the hospital.

As William and I walked out walked out to the truck, four little people followed us. I could tell from their eyes they wanted to go to town with us, so I told them anyone who had shoes on could go. It wasn't until we were heading home that I realized 7 year-old Bhoke was wearing shoes much bigger than mine!

When we got to the dispensary, Joseph was almost finished with his fourth IV, and the doctor hadn't arrived. I cleared the dirty dishes from the room Joseph shared with two other men, gave them to the little ones to hold, and sat them in front of the tv. They were happy!

We waited for the doctor for about an hour. Once he got there, things went a bit faster. He removed the IV and I paid the bill. When Joseph picked up his medicine, it was past time for church to start.

We drove home and were stopped at the police checkpoint. I was so glad I had bought a driver's license for William, but the officer said we needed insurance and two other official documents to be legal.

When we got to Angel House, the kids were still having tea and bread. I was glad we hadn't missed church. I ate a little and felt a bit dizzy, so I went to lie down. I woke up 2 1/2 hours later! So much for my plan not to miss church again!
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Water, Water, Everywhere

Today, I Lucy and I finished cleaning the mission house. We went through the food and dishes, washing and throwing out anything that looked buggy. Then we both enjoyed cool showers.

William dropped us off on his way to take breakfast to the dispensary and picked us up on his way back from taking lunch.

Then Lucy and I edited the pictures from the Serengeti and relaxed by watching Kung Fu Panda, which Nate and Kate had left at the mission house.

Shortly after we returned to Gamasara, a violent thunderstorm started. Rain was coming in some of the windows, and the roof leaked in several places.

Rain presents an opportunity to save trip to the well, we filled every container we could with water. The downpour was so intense that the front porch was flooded. Luckily, the door step was high enough to keep the rain out of the building.

Supper was a bit late tonight, and was followed by our warning to use mosquito nets or else!!! Marwa and Mwita just completed the supports for the top bunks' nets today.

After devotions, we actually tucked all the kids in under the nets. I hope they will use their nets faithfully. I'd HATE to see them sick for Christmas.




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There's No Place Like Gamasara

No matter where I travel, the highlight of my trip is returning home to those I love. It was the same when we returned from our safari. So many hugs and kisses greeted me! Everyone scurried to carry my things, and smiles were on every face. I can't wait to get the pictures on my computer to share them with everyone!

After the greetings, Teddy, one of our live-in staff members, told me Peter Michael was at the dispensary with a high fever, and Joseph Charles was very sick as well. William and I took Joseph to town where we were able to talk to the doctor about Peter Michael as well. Malaria was PM's diagnosis. (That is usually the case when we take our kids in. Although Mwita Magabe's most recent case was the worst I've seen.)Joseph had amoeba/digestive track infection. Neither boy had to be admitted.

I had a little time to visit with kids before the evening meal, but when we gave Joseph his medicine, the pleasantries ended. He couldn't keep anything down, including the pills. PM was able to eat a little supper, and the medication had an immediate effect his fever. (Praise God!)

We monitored both boys until bedtime, and I realized that even though I had 100 percent DEET on, I had a lot of mosquito bites that evening. So, when we tucked the kids in, I checked that everyone was using their mosquito nets. Only about 5 of our 34 were sleeping with nets!

The kids think it's uncool to use nets! It took me about an hour to locate everyone's net and get them under them. Today, I will have a kids'/staff meeting to talk seriously about using mosquito nets.

It breaks my heart to see how wide-spread malaria is here in Africa. Some people always seem to have it. High fever, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, all of the systems are alarming. Sometimes, as in Mwita's case, malaria can cause hallucinations and psychotic behavior. It's scary business. Please pray for a successful malaria vaccine and for the health of our Angels at Gamasara.
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S.W.A.T. Team

I have had two of the most amazing days of my life the past two days. James, one of the young men who rescued us at the border my first night in Tarime, arranged a safari for William, Frank, Emmanuel, and me. Being an Immigration officer has its perks.

We arrived at the gate about 9:00 and began scouting for animals. Before supper, we had found over 30 species and taken some great pictures. The boys stayed at a youth hostel, while I stayed at a regular hostel nearby. James and his driver, Kyle, (Yes, just like my dad and my nephew-James Kyle!) Stayed at staff housing, and our tour guide actually stayed with my boys. He helped them settle in and learn the ropes, for which I was really grateful.

Our guide is studying to be a tour guide at a university, but he knew every animal we saw in the park. I thought he was a biology major. I actually got tired of taking pictures before he was finished showing us wildlife. He even had answers to my off-the-wall questions like where the secretary bird got its name. (Secretaries used to wear black skirts and white blouse, the same colors as the bird.)

By the time we got to my hostel, I was exhausted. There was hot water for a bath and hot tea waiting for me. I was the only guest! I was in heaven.

I closed my door and went to bed, but I was too tired to sleep long. Besides, I heard animals (lions, especially) growling. How exciting!

I awoke this morning and went to open my bedroom door. It was stuck! I grabbed my nail clippers and tried to pry the latch open for an hour. Finally, I gave up and called James. Imagine my embarrassment when he climbed into my bedroom window to open my door!

One down side has been the tse flies. They are really bad here because of the animals...and they can cause sleeping sickness. We took turns swatting these persistent insects both days. At first, the guys refused to use my DEET, but finally today they gave in. Every book and notebook I'd brought was commandeered into the arsenal of our S.W.A.T. Team. I really hope there are no ill effects from these pesky critters.

I let the boys set the pace for today, and it seemed as if the animals were hiding. We spent quite a bit of time taking pictures at the Visitors' Center. The displays, art work, and video there are amazing.

Meanwhile, James and his boss were arranging a surprise for us. They drove us to a hotel owned by the Prince of India. The architecture is amazing with lots of wood carvings and traditional thatch roof. It was just as much a photo op as the Serengeti. We were told a room cost $600 a night, and dinner buffet was $60 per person. Imagine my surprise when James' boss treated us to sodas and then dinner! My heart melted when my boys asked me, "Bibi, is it Christmas?".

Before we finished supper, a native dance performance began. There were acrobatics, contortionists, Limbo (complete with fire) and hat juggling acts. Native instruments provided the music. I've never seen anything like it.

On our way home, we saw 3 animals we hadn't seen before in the park-hyena, rabbit, and porcupine. Who knew a hyena could outrun a car? And the quills on the porcupine were sticking straight out.

My 6 handsome escorts delivered me to my hostel after the power had been turned off. So, once again James came to my room to make sure the door was working. And once again I was the only guest in the hostel. A day wiser, I'm NOT closing my door tonight!
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S.W.A.T. Team

I have had two of the most amazing days of my life the past two days. James, one of the young men who rescued us at the border my first night in Tarime, arranged a safari for William, Frank, Emmanuel, and me. Being an Immigration officer has its perks.

We arrived at the gate about 9:00 and began scouting for animals. Before supper, we had found over 30 species and taken some great pictures. The boys stayed at a youth hostel, while I stayed at a regular hostel nearby. James and his driver, Kyle, (Yes, just like my dad and my nephew-James Kyle!) Stayed at staff housing, and our tour guide actually stayed with my boys. He helped them settle in and learn the ropes, for which I was really grateful.

Our guide is studying to be a tour guide at a university, but he knew every animal we saw in the park. I thought he was a biology major. I actually got tired of taking pictures before he was finished showing us wildlife. He even had answers to my off-the-wall questions like where the secretary bird got its name. (Secretaries used to wear black skirts and white blouse, the same colors as the bird.)

By the time we got to my hostel, I was exhausted. There was hot water for a bath and hot tea waiting for me. I was the only guest! I was in heaven.

I closed my door and went to bed, but I was too tired to sleep long. Besides, I heard animals (lions, especially) growling. How exciting!

I awoke this morning and went to open my bedroom door. It was stuck! I grabbed my nail clippers and tried to pry the latch open for an hour. Finally, I gave up and called James. Imagine my embarrassment when he climbed into my bedroom window to open my door!

One down side has been the tse flies. They are really bad here because of the animals...and they can cause sleeping sickness. We took turns swatting these persistent insects both days. At first, the guys refused to use my DEET, but finally today they gave in. Every book and notebook I'd brought was commandeered into the arsenal of our S.W.A.T. Team. I really hope there are no ill effects from these pesky critters.

I let the boys set the pace for today, and it seemed as if the animals were hiding. We spent quite a bit of time taking pictures at the Visitors' Center. The displays, art work, and video there are amazing.

Meanwhile, James and his boss were arranging a surprise for us. They drove us to a hotel owned by the Prince of India. The architecture is amazing with lots of wood carvings and traditional thatch roof. It was just as much a photo op as the Serengeti. We were told a room cost $600 a night, and dinner buffet was $60 per person. Imagine my surprise when James' boss treated us to sodas and then dinner! My heart melted when my boys asked me, "Bibi, is it Christmas?".

Before we finished supper, a native dance performance began. There were acrobatics, contortionists, Limbo (complete with fire) and hat juggling acts. Native instruments provided the music. I've never seen anything like it.

On our way home, we saw 3 animals we hadn't seen before in the park-hyena, rabbit, and porcupine. Who knew a hyena could outrun a car? And the quills on the porcupine were sticking straight out.

My 6 handsome escorts delivered me to my hostel after the power had been turned off. So, once again James came to my room to make sure the door was working. And once again I was the only guest in the hostel. A day wiser, I'm NOT closing my door tonight!
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A Little Too Much Excitement

Salma, our nurse, has Wednesdays and Thursdays off. Of course, kids usually get sickest on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Yesterday, our director took Joseph to the hospital with a urinary infection. Pascizia and Mwita Magabe didn't feel well, but Joseph seemed critical. Today, Pascizia felt better, but Mwita wouldn't eat. We kept an eye on him all day and decided if he wasn't better in the morning we'd take him to the hospital.

Just after supper, Mwita's sister, Bhoke started sobbing hysterically. She said she was afraid her brother was going to die. When we went in to check on Mwita, I couldn't tell if he was having convulsions or just crying that hard. I told Salma we needed to take him in right away. All of the boys wanted to go, but I grabbed 7 to help carry Mwita. Mwita is a tall 17 year-old.

As William raced to the dispensary, Joseph held Mwita while the rest of us froze in the back of the truck. It wasn't until we got to the hospital that we noticed William didn't have any shoes!

It didn't take long for the processing. Soon Mwita was in his room. The problem was he would not lie on his back. Every time the boys rolled him over, he would fight them. There was no way to get an IV in until he settled down. Finally, with 7 guys practically sitting on Mwita, 2 nurses managed to give him 2 shots to calm him down. I was invent ing the other boys to see if there were other injuries. We even had other men who happened to be at the dispensary helping. Arms and legs were flying everywhere! I couldn't believe how strong Mwita was when he'd been so weak all day.

We left Salma with Mwita, promising to send a replacement tomorrow morning. We're back at Angel House now, but it's hard to sleep with all the excitement. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a bit calmer.
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Panic

I couldn't sleep last night because I was worried about being "in charge" of the AH budget for the month. Once again, I was having a Moses-type discussion with God. "Are you sure I'm the one for this job, Lord?"

I got my answer at least twice today. During staff meeting, I admitted my doubts about my new role. Turns out, the staff rallied around my honesty. We agreed to meet every Thursday to discuss AH and to share our observations and opinions. We will follow that with a kid's/staff meeting so everyone's on the same page.

My other answer came tonight when Daniel asked me to preach at devotion time. I chose Romans 12:4-10 and talked about how we all need to work together at AH. I asked one of the boys to translate for me. The kids were dissolved to tears by the time we were finished. Who says worship can't be fun?

The second part of my answer came when Daniel hugged me and said, "Bibi, we love you.". I especially treasure those words when they come from a 14 year-old boy.

The Lord has seen me through 3 rounds of malaria and a bout with amoeba/digestive infection. What's a month of delving out funds compare to that? I've just a month left here, and I'm going to enjoy every minute!
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And Then There was One

Nate and Kate left this morning. They had gifts for the kids, and we danced the Macarana together last night. There were lots of tears and lots of hugs.

Today, Katherine, our housekeeper, and I buried our grief by cleaning. We took everything out of all the bedrooms on the cooking side of the mission house, sorted through things that needed to go to the orphanage, and put everything back. Then I moved my things into that side of the mission house. I will use my former side to sort Christmas presents.

There's one Angel I hadn't met yet. Charles Marwa, our trade school boarder, showed up at Gamasara tonight. I must say I sort of panicked. I had no Christmas plans for him, and he didn't bring any bed clothes home with him. I scurried around and found him a mattress and sheets.

I must admit I am exhausted! Teddy, one of our staff, said, "There's only Bibi here now, so everyone gathers in her room.

Financial matters are taking most of my time right now. (Not my forte'). I plan to sleep at Gamasara most nights so I can at least finish the day with the kids. Please pray for my patience. I'm spread a bit thin at the moment, and I've been a bit cranky.)


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Open House

Open House/Good-bye to Nate and Kate was Saturday. We had a nice turn-out, and in the African tradition, guests continued to arrive throughout the program.

There we're lots of smiles and tears, punctuated by speeches, music, and dancing. Everyone had a good time.

What a wonderful out-pouring of gratitude and love!

It's really starting to hit me now that I will have a month in Tanzania without native-English speaking support. Please continue to keep me in your prayers, and add travel mercies for N and K as they travel first to Bangkok and then to Australia.

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Shock

I was walking home from town this afternoon, feeling pretty satisfied. I had just eaten a Girango's, the restaurant where we recently celebrated Christmas. It was only my third time there since I arrived in Tarime. I was celebrating the fact that I actually have an appetite again.

Traffic is always a crazy mixture of cattle, people, and all sorts of vehicles in Tarime. I try to be defensive in my walking, but sometimes ADD kicks in. Today, I was trying to greet people I met while still walking to the mission house as quickly as possible when a white car went flying past me. I heard a sickening thud. Turning around, I saw what I at first thought was a dog lying on the opposite side of the road from the white car which was still racing toward town. Looking closer, I realized the "dog" was actually a woman. Her crumpled body lay motionless on the shoulder.

I was sick. I hesitated, not wanting to believe what had happened, and then slowly and sadly walked away from the angry, shocked crowd that gathered around the accident scene. The spring in my step was gone, and sorrow filled my heart.

Nate and Kate arrived at the mission house shortly after I did, and I told them what had happened. Then there was a knock at the gate, and Nate went out to talk to a visitor looking for a church.

I heard him call out to Kate, who then called to me. There over the mission house was a perfect rainbow! I thought what a great God we serve! He always finds a way to give us hope in the midst of our despair.

Please say a prayer for everyone involved in this tragedy today. I pray that the God of Hope will touch each one of them.
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A Gamasara Thnksgiving

I woke up this morning and ate a whole can of ravioli. Kate looked a bit surprised, but I wasn't sure when/if I'd eat lunch, and I knew supper would be at Gamasara. It's my night to sleep here.

I prepared English lessons and lounged around a bit. Then I caught the truck to Gamasara about 11:00.

I thought, as we arrived, how much I have to be thankful for today. Even as recently as last Thanksgiving, I would have never guessed that I would be part of Angel House. God has blessed and enriched my life with so many new friends and workers here in Africa.

I am thankful for my health. On this Thanksgiving Day, I will have boiled green bananas and beans, and I will share them with 35 of my closest family members.

They all humored me by yelling, "Happy Thanksgiving!" to my daughter and her family when she called today. More people to love and be thankful for...

I am thankful for God's direction at Angel House. He is the guiding force at the heart of Grassroots Ministry. Thanks to all of you who make Angel House possible.

"Wangu" (mine) is a word often used at Angel House. It is often difficult to complete any project because curious (and hands) want to inspect everything.
I must have told Nosi "wangu" a dozen times today. Finally, she crawled into my lap right on top of the curtains I was lengthening. She gathered me in her arms, hugged me tight, and said, "Wangu!". I'm thankful that Nosi thinks of me as hers. And I'm
even more thankful that God claims me as His own as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!
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Another Good-bye

Chris and Maggie, our friends from Australia who work with Goodwill Hospital Foundation, invited us to a farewell dinner tonight. Everyone agreed to meet at 5:30, but we all were running late. When we finally arrived at CMG restaurant equally late, we all laughed that we had officially grown accustomed to "African time".

In Africa, it's more important to take time to welcome people than to be on time. So, being late is not offensive. So it was that Nate and Kate had stopped by to visit a local leader and been delayed with coffee and treats. Even though they told their host they needed to retrieve the kids from school, protocol dictated no shortening of the visit until all the coffee had been consumed.

Chris and Maggie rely on the Goodwill ambulance for transportation, which was no where to be found at our pre-arranged 5:30 meeting time. It was much later when Chris was finally able to located their driver who had forgotten our appointment and was happily working away on another project in the ambulance.

These explanations began the story telling. Chris talked about the crippled man who had been given a hand-propelled bicycle by Goodwill. Since he was able to transport himself, he borrowed money from a local man to support himself. When the business failed, the man confiscated the bike in lieu of payment. Chris and his driver have spent most of 3 months trying to arrange for the return of the bicycle. After countless hours of negotiation, a deal was struck that Chris would give the lender $50 cash for the return of the bike and $50 more would either be paid by the borrower or Goodwill in 6 months. Of course, the exchange had to be "official", so a legal document was drawn up. Everyone, including Chris, had to sign this paper and be fingerprinted!

Since everything was negotiated and written in Swahili, Chris had to rely completely on Abdella for guidance. When prsented with the ink pad, Chris got very nervous. Abdella assured him that he had NOT just put up his wife and daughters as collateral for the bike!

Life in Africa has called for many adjustments to the culture, but one thing has been universal. Time spent to cultivate friendship is always worthwhile.
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The days at Gamasara always start at 5:00 when the generator kicks in. Since I'd just decided to sleep here at the last minute, I really wasn't prepared. So, I was very unkempt when I jumped in our Nissan Sunny with William to take the kids to school.

Honestly, I didn't know a man could be as patient as William! Kids were jumping in and out of the truck while he was trying over and over to start it. Finally, he calmly wrestled the wired-together hood open and removed the fuel line. He siphoned a mouthful of gasoline and spit it on the air filter.
Wiring the hood shut again, he returned to the driver's seat which was occupied by 2 wanna-be drivers. He calmly pointed to the bed of the truck, got in, and started the truck. I clapped. The truck died.

William got the truck started again, and I began counting kids. It took at least 10 minutes to get everybody in the truck. Meanwhile, William kept his foot on the truck so it would keep running. And we were off!

After dropping kids off at 4 schools, we met Nate on the way to the mission house. We traded places because Nate and William needed to pick up the painters and take them to Gamasara.

I'd just walked in my door when I heard a quiet but insistent knocked on the gate. Who should be there but Bibi Leah! What a nice surprise!

But her face soon fell. She told me she came to say good-bye to Nate and Kate. There was a sick baby in her family who she needed to go take care of. That meant staying in another town until the baby was well. She wouldn't be able to come to N and K's party on Saturday.

Well, throughout the mixture of Swahili and English, there were lots of tears shed when she told Kate. We hugged and cried and hugged some more. I wasn't sure if I'd see Bibi again either, since I only have 5 weeks left in Tanzania. But if I get another chance to say good-bye, I wouldn't change a thing. "God bless you, my Sister," said it all.
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Net Ball

Ever heard of net ball? Several of the girls here at Angel House list it as their favorite sport.

I've asked questions, seen the basket, and surmised it must be something like basketball. But I wasn't sure. So my ears perked up yesterday when our secondary kids mentioned a net ball tournament that started today.

I had several errands to run this morning, but I was able to ride to Gamasara with Nate. We met an Angel group on the dirt road to Gamasara. The kids said they were headed for the net ball tournament, so I hopped out of the truck to go with them.

We walked and walked until we got to the paved road. Then we walked some more until we got to the turn-off to Tarime. We kept passing school signs, and any number of times I was sure we were there, but no such luck. I found myself wondering again how I got myself into these messes!

Was I ever glad when Nate came by in the truck, taking our last 2 school kids to class! He dropped us off at Tarime Teacher's College, and I was sure we'd arrived. Wrong again!

The kids turned around and starting walking back the way we'd come! I heard school kids ahead, so I figured Nate had just overshot the target. There was a soccer game going on at the school, but I was ready to sit down anywhere to watch anything (or nothing!) by then!

But the kids turned down a goat path next to the soccer games and kept walking! I was beside myself by the time we finally arrived at Tarime Secondary School and sat in the grass to watch the game. Turns out, net ball is tomorrow at a different school! We watched soccer! Do I dare do this 2 days in a row?

Oh, well, I'm at Gamasara tonight. I should sleep well, if my "dogs" aren't barkin' too loud!
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Nate and Kate Christmas

Since Nate and Kate are leaving Tanzania in about a week, they wanted to celebrate an early Christmas with Angel House. They planned a party at Girango's, a local restaurant, and the kids got all dressed up for the occasion. We feasted on chicken and chips (fries) and even did a little dancing. While we ate, Anna (our AH mama) and Kate were putting presents out on the kids' beds. Each Angel received a towel, bed sheets, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and some clothes. Nathan also distributed candy while we waited at the restaurant for the sneakiness to be completed. Then Nate took one load of Angels back while Kate and Anna ate.

When I arrived at Gamasara for church the next morning, I was struck by the fact that this was Nate and Kate's last worship service with us. Tears filled my eyes as I watched Kate juggle Nosi and Kevin on her lap during the service. When Kevin fell asleep, Nate held Nosi while Kate took him to bed. Nosi dozed, but she seemed to realize this was a time to be cherished. She didn't sleep.

The music was even better than usual during worship. The little kids sang 3 songs, and I couldn't help thinking how our older girls reminded me of Job's daughters (Nowhere in the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters). Worship at Angel House was especially joyful that day!

Soon Nate and Kate will be off on their next adventure, but a part of them will always remain at Gamasara. And I know Angel House has captured their hearts forever.
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Window Washing

As we've said many times, you never know what each new day will bring when you wake up in Africa. Living here has taught me to take life as it comes, letting each day set its own pace.

So it was that I began today with only one item on my agenda: visit Nkende Secondary School to check on attendance. I arrived by pikipiki shortly after 8 and was greeted and seated in the headmistress's office immediately. It was the last day of school and final test day. I was surprised she had set our appointment for such a hectic time, but the headmistress calmly distributed tests to her teachers while we talked. That also gave me a chance to meet teachers I hadn't seen during my first visit.

When the tests were distributed and the students were in their classrooms, I was handed the attendance roster for the whole school, and we reviewed Bhoke, Emmanual, and Joseph's record together. I found out the kids had perfect attendance since we moved to Gamasara! I also saw their mid-term exam grades and was able to discuss concerns we had about each student. It was different for me to be on the parent side of such a conference, but I left satisfied we'd communicated well and that my three grandchildren were enrolled in a school represented by caring professionals.

The morning was beautiful, like most in Tarime, so I decided to walk to the paved road before calling Kennedy, my favorite pikipiki driver. Just as I picked up my phone to call, Kennedy appeared to take me to Gamasara! How's that for Tanzanian luck?

My jobs for the day were to move everything out of the office so the floor could be painted and to start washing windows. I managed to slice my toe open on my first trip out of the office, but several strong grandsons continued the work while we stopped the bleeding and bandaged my toe. Luck with us again, as it didn't rain while the office supplies were outside.

Washing the windows was a daunting job, since Gamasara has A LOT of windows, so I decided to concentrate on the ones in the entrance area which are most visible to visitors. Rhobi (11) helped me for a while, but soon just Nosi (5) and Kevin (4) were the only ones washing" with me. I experimented with handmade ladders and finally decided standing on the dining tables worked best for me.

Kate arrived from town with a Coke for me, so I took a break to drink it. I'd moved the furniture out to get to the windows, so I didn't see Vero, our newest Angel, take a swallow of gasoline from a bottle behind the coach! I heard her gagging and saw her run outside, so I ran after her. When I reached the coach, I realized what she had done and called Kate for help.

She took Vero out to the new deck, where we forced my soda down her and managed to get her to vomit. Meanwhile, all of the Turwa Primary kids were patiently waiting in the truck for their ride to school. Kate got Vero stabilized and then calmly drove to school. I was not so calm and continued to check on Vero all afternoon. She said she thought the petro was juice, and she was thirsty. I couldn't believe the smell alone didn't keep her from drinking it!

All's well that ends well, I guess. Vero is fine and a little bit wiser. The front windows at Gamasara are washed, and the other dining hall windows are washed on the inside at least. Tomorrow, we plan to assign windows to pairs of Angels to get the job done faster.
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Just Another Morning

I slept at Gamasara last night, but caught a ride back to town at 6:00 am, when William drove the kids to school. We dropped the first group of at Nyandoto Secondary and the second group off at St. Jude's Primary. All was going well until the clutch went out on the truck. I was thankful we were only about 1/2 mile from Nkende Secondary and also that I had a cell phone to call for a pikipiki for our 2 remaining primary students. I left William with the truck and started walking with the rest of the kids. Just as the secondary students turned to go down the road to school, we saw Kennedy, our favorite pikipiki driver. I paid him to take Grace and Chuchu to school and started walking to town. When another pikipiki driver offered me a ride, I took him up on it. Kate was home when I got there, but Nate was on his way to meet William on another pikipiki. Kate called Kennedy, who took her to meet Nate. Eventually, everybody got where they needed to go. Nate hired a taxi to take the workers, William, and him to Gamasara; and the truck got to the shop to be repaired. I, being a bit older and less patient than the others, took 2 Aspirin and went back to bed!
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Thankful

I thank God every day for Goodwill Hospital, Tarime. It is an amazing place, and without it I would never have been able to stay in Tarime.

Dr. Mynani founded the hospital, and his daughter, who is a doctor in Australia, recruits visiting doctors to supplement the staff. I have been seen by all of the doctors on staff, and I've been very satisfied with their diagnosis and treatment.

The neatest thing about Goodwill is their lab. After seeing the doctor, I take the request for lab tests to the lad tech. She always let's me look through the microscope to see the critters who are causing the problem. Worms and amoeba look just like the biology showed. Interesting.

I must admit I get a bit nervous when everybody tells me they are very sorry just before they give my diagnosis! I always reply by asking, "Can we fix it? If there is a treatment, let's get started!"

So far, I've had worms, malaria, and amoeba/digestive track infection. I've also, on the other hand, been able to discontinue my blood pressure medicine because my pressure regulates itself here. With medication, it is too low.

I have so many blessings to be thankful for this year, and the opportunity to be a part of Angel House is a huge one. So it is as I eat my canned ravioli on Thanksgiving Day, I will praise God for good health care, hugs and kisses from the Angels, and the joys of family and friends around the world. Who could ask for anything more?
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Bibi Leah

We just found out Bibi Leah, our night matron, has decided to retire instead of moving to Gamasara. She recently had typhoid and more recently pneumonia and malaria at the same time. Bibi is 62. We will sorely miss your twinkling eyes and smiling face, but I do hope to see her at SDA services on Saturdays.

Kate has been surprised at what close friends Bibi and I have become despite the language barrier. However, everyone is drawn to Bibi from the first flash of her 1000 kw smile.

One time I asked Bibi about her family. I knew 4 of her grandchildren were orphans at Angel House. I also knew 3 sets of parents were represented by these kids. Bibi told me she'd mothered 7 children and buried 5 of them.

Shocked, I exclaimed, "Oh, Bibi! I'm so sorry!"

Bibi replied, "If I only had one child left, that would be enough for me." That is our Bibi. She doesn't have time for self-pity because she's too full of gratitude.

Bibi faces each situation with faith. One Sabbath, I told her my back hurt and I was having trouble sitting in church. She is an RN, and wanted to take me to get a malaria test immediately. I told her I couldn't go to the doctor without my medical paperwork, but I'd go soon. Several days later after I'd been diagnosed, Bibi said she'd known what I had, and she'd been praying extra hard for me.

When I told Bibi that her granddaughter (and namesake) had called for my help when she got into deep water at a swimming pool on our Mwanza trip, tears flowed down my cheeks.

As I struggled to keep Leah from pulling me under, I kept thinking, "How can I tell Bibi that I've lost her granddaughter?"

Just as I thought I was going to have to knock Leah out so I could rescue her, I was able to put my head above water and choke out, "Help!"

The next thing I knew, I was at the shallow end of the pool with Leah
and 4 people were telling us to take big breaths.

Bibi just smiled after she heard my story, saying, "God is good. He heard your prayers."

You never know who you'll meet when you go to a new place, but I can tell you this: My life would have been incomplete if I hadn't met Bibi Leah. I want to be just like her when I grow up.
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Gamasara Night

I spent my first night at Gamasara last night. The kids are amazing! They take so much pride in their new home. It's great to see the maturity they're showing, seeing things that need to be done and taking the initiative to do it. The shamba is yielding tomatoes now, with lots of other vegetables soon to follow.

Our staff really has stepped up to the plate, too. The kids get up at 5:00, and many are on the way to school by 6:00. They insist on keeping this schedule even on non-school days. They get up, straighten their rooms, wash and dress. On Saturdays, they work in the shamba for 3 hours before breakfast. The rest of the day is free. Sunday afternoons are set aside for big cleaning jobs. Every evening from 7:00-9:00 and every morning from 5:00-6:00, the generator runs. Just before lights out, one of the Angels lead the group in a devotion.

I know I'm prejudiced. These are my grandchildren, after all, but I think these kids are on the path God has planned for them. Best of all, three of the kids who were major behavior problems in town have really turned over a new leaf at Gamasara. I thank God for answered prayers!
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Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Yesterday, a local newspaper reporter arrived at Gamasara while Kate and Nate were busy buying supplies in town. Anna, the Mama at Angel House, and Abuid, our pastor, picked 2 kids to be interviewed. They introduced me, and I thought I was off the hook. Not so!
After Anna, Abuid, Bhoke, and Joseph were finished talking, the reporter called me over. He asked me why I had come to Tanzania and what my duties are. I enjoyed talking with this young man until he started taking pictures! How I wished Nate and Kate were there; they're much more photographic than me, and they deserve the credit for Gamasara, not me. ( I haven't had a haircut since August, and my shirt was so stretched it would fit a gorilla!)
I began grabbing Angels, strategically placing them in front of me as much as possible. I'm excited the newspaper is interested in Gamasara, and I hope to have Marwa, a local fundi, make a frame for the article with the picture of all of the Angels in front of Gamasara. I just wish Nate and Kate were in the photo, too.
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Gamasara Family

The kids and staff are working together as a united family. We are really proud of the way everybody has been pitching in and taking the initiative when they see something needs to be done.

Our littlest angel, Nosi, has been sick. We took her to the dispensary today. She was NOT happy when they gave her an injection for malaria. We hope we'll have a strong, healthy Nosi back really soon.

I must say medical care here in Tarime is impressive. I've never had a doctor see a child as quickly as this was got Nosi in. Everything was finished in less than an hour.

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Scholastic Adventure

Sometimes I think God sent me to Africa so He could have some good laughs. Today was one of those days.

I am the self-appointed truant officer now that we have moved to Gamasara. Today, I visited the last 2 schools where our students attend to schedule a time each week when I can check attendance. We are driving the kids to Tarime from Gamasara, and I want to make sure they actually attend school once they get there.

Nate and Kate dropped me off at the road for the first school after they picked up some staff members at our old building. The walk was pleasant, with frequent greetings by the locals. When I got to Nkende Secondary School, I was able to talk with several staff members, including the head mistress. I took photos of the school and even got help translating some Swahili I needed for my English lessons.

I called my favorite pikipiki driver, but the connection was bad. I thought he repeated the name of the school and said he'd come, but he never showed. Finally, I asked one of the teachers to call another driver. This one came right away, but he spoke no English. We were able to get a price on the trip to Nyandoto Secondary, I paid the driver, and we were off.

Turns out, there is a very good reason Nyandoto's school motto is "Climb to the top!". As I clung to the back of the pikipiki seat, I pictured God having a good belly laugh. The washed-out road was filled with puddles, and oft time the driver had to put his feet down to ease us through the worn path. Honestly, if I hadn't seen the school sign when we left the paved road, I'd have though the driver was going to leave me in the middle of nowhere or worse!

When we finally made it to the top, I received the wonderful news that my three Angels had perfect attendance, and it wouldn't be necessary for me to make weekly checks. I spent some time taking photos of the breath-taking campus and visited with the staff and students. The head mistress then told me she was taking a piki piki to town and would be glad to share a ride with me. Since I was going to Gamasara, that wasn't possible. Before she left, however, another driver showed up, and one of the students helped me secure a ride to the orphanage with him.

We traveled all sorts of back roads and ended up at a primary school which I swear had no name on the building. To top if off, there was absolutely NOBODY there. So, here I am in the middle of nowhere with this motorcycle driver I don't know.

Thank goodness for ATT! 2 phone calls and 2 different translators later, I handed the driver a huge tip and kissed the ground at. The orphanage.

I guess the pikipiki made it back to town. The driver only bought $1 worth of petrol when we started our odyssey.

I am so thankful God takes care of me, especially when I am scatter-brained and ignorant!
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Sleep in Heavenly Peace

We did it! The last truck load of stuff is at Gamasara. As the truck came down the long driveway, a joyful cheer echoed across the Tarime Plateau. Tonight, Nate and Kate are sleeping with the kids and staff at Gamasara. Me? After visiting the headmasters at 2 elementary schools and loading and unloading the truck, I just went back to the mission house to soak my feet. (I bet I get more sleep tonight than the residents of Gamasara!)
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Rewarding Day

I'm feeling very satisfied with the way this day has gone. First thing this morning, we picked up the fundis and went to Gamasara. I spent the cool hours of the morning moving office items into the office and cleaning out the dining area in preparation for the painting of its floor. The septic system is all but completed, and the rooms have beds and curtains. I had some time before going back to Tarime to teach English, and since the rain started pouring down, I decided to prepare tomorrow's English lesson. Unfortunately, it's impossible to get a pikipiki (motorcycle) to drive in the rain. Besides, it's really not safe.

The rain lasted for 2 hours, and by the time I was able to my ride, I was late for class. I still needed to take my suitcase to Angel House so Teddy, one of our cooks, could use it to move her things tomorrow.

I imagine the locals thought I was absolutely crazy dragging my suitcase and dodging mud puddles from the mission house to the orphanage. I didn't think too much of it until 3 young men stopped and stared at me. Finally, one of them asked me why I didn't take a taxi! I pointed to my legs and said, "I have two good legs. I'd rather tembeo." They shook their heads and walked off.

When I got to Angel House, I realized our littlest Angel, Nosi, was nowhere to be found. I sent the other Angels to search and they found Nosi at a friend's house. I got to thinking about how hard moving from town was going to be for the kids, but especially Nosi.

We sat down to andika Nosi's name and several other kids wanted to draw or write. So, I gave each a pen and paper and we had a little quiet time together.

I looked up and realized Robinson, a man I'd met at Angel House church service was greeting me. He asked me to come visit his wife before we moved to Gamasara. I always take an Angel with me when I visit in a home; and Nosi was looking pretty miserable, so I took her. Little did I know Robinson had invited me for supper! We feasted on ugoli (sort of like homemade Play Dough) and cooked spinach. It was surprising tasty, and the conversation was lively.

When we finished, Robinson said he wanted me to meet his sister who taught in a local school. We walked through the maze of Tarime's back streets until I was completely lost. Then we saw her coming out of the church that housed her school. We walked to her house, met her husband and son, and enjoyed sodas. All of the sudden, she looked at Nosi and said, "I know Nosi! I as the one who saw her mother leave her and her sister at the dump. Nosi was so little, maybe 18 months old. I took her to the police and then to Angel House."

I thanked her for bringing Nosi and Bhoke to Angel House. I told her she had saved their lives and given the girls a chance. I thanked God for this encounter with someone who was instrumental in the miracle that is Nosi.
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Organization and Management

Today Kate and I sorted through Angel House items and planned where we would store them. WE discovered many things we didn't realized we had and purged any damaged or unnecessary paperwork. We were almost finished when an Angel arrived on a bicycle and announced Anna was walking to Gamasara with all the big kids! Three other Angels arrived on bicycles before we could properly burn everything we's pitched, so Kate went into bulldog mode, telling the kids NOTHING out of the fire pile was going back into the house.

When the others arrived, they helped us clean and organize the office, pick (almost ripened) vegetables, and organize all personal property in one storage area. By the time we loaded 14 of us into our little truck, we were one tired group.

We were greeted at Angel House with the news that our pet dog, Blackie, had died. The kids took the news pretty well; they have all experienced death and/or abandonment already.

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Finale

We are moving into the home stretch at Gamasara. All the big stuff is moved, and the kids plan to sleep there Sunday night. They will each be assigned a section of the shamba (farm) and be expected to work in it and share the food with all of Angel House. Thanks to seed donations from generous people in The States, many new types of food will be eaten by our Angels in the coming months.

Today, I took Nosi, our youngest Angel, out for lunch. She has been working very hard during the move, and the best way to thank Nosi is through her stomach. You may recall she was left at the garbage dump as an infant and brought to Angel House by the police. No one expected her to live, but Nosi is a survivor! Her mischievous spirit and playful humor are evidence of that. She doesn't have an easy role as the youngest Angel but Nosy carries it off with grace beyond belief.

One of our new angels arrived today! Joseph Hula, 10 year-old brother of Rosie and Mwita, was sitting at the entrance when I arrived at the orphanage today. As soon as he told me his name, I saw Rosie and Mwita's reflections in his face. If he acts as much like his siblings as he resembles them in looks, we have a wonderful new addition to our family.

Every day, I thank God that I am here during the move to Gamasara. I also praise Him for the wonderful Goodwill Hospital in Tarime. They have treated me so often for malaria that they now call me "Mother Africa"! I suppose they think I'm a blood relation with every mosquito in Africa.
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We're on the Move!

We started packing and moving furniture to Gamasara yesterday, and we are SO excited! The kids have been great! Everyone, including 4 year-old Nosi has been helping pack, clean, and load the truck.

Today, we had a staff meeting during which we had to dismiss some workers. Presently, we have 2 sites, one for the girls and young boys and the other for the big boys. At Gamasara, everyone will be at one site. So, some workers will not be needed. It was hard to break the news, and there were tears at the meeting this morning.
Tonight, we met with the kids and explained their new schedule and responsibilities at Gamasara. We will be adding 2 new angels on Tuesday, a younger sister of 4 of our kids, and a younger brother of two others. It will be exciting to get to know these new Angels!

I have been watching the boys, trying to decided who will go on the safari with me in December. So many hard-workers without warnings to choose from! What a nice problem!
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Lake Victoria

I had a wonderful weekend in Mwanza, where I took 3 of my hardest-working granddaughters to see Lake Victoria. We were able to sample American and Thai food and take a ferry to Saanane National Park.

We saw herons, Agama Lizards, a snake, a family of monkeys, a Rock Hyraz, and impala. We climbed giant rock formations and viewed Lake Victoria from all sorts of perches. It was beautiful!

On the bus ride home, we saw herds of zebras, water buffalo, and a baboon. There were lots of mosquitoes, too, so I'm going tomorrow for another malaria test. I needed a follow-up this week any way.

The network has been down for almost a week, and tomorrow I reach the half-way point of my stay in Tanzania. Hopefully, ATT will have things up and running so I can send this long before I return.

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Kissi

We went on an all-day adventure to Kissi yesterday. That involved crossing the Kenyan border (where everyone is related to President Obama) and travel by a variety of transportation. We started in a taxi, continued in a bus, rode piki piki (motorcycles) and also used motato (a crowded van filled with commodities and people).

It was my first real look at Kenyan countryside, since I was a bit preoccupied during my initial trip in from the airport. We took our oldest Angel, William, with us. It was his first trip to Kissi, too, and we enjoyed sharing our comments about the sights.

Our final objective was to get to Nakumatt, a sort of Kenyan Wal-Mart, to get a few things not available to us in Tarime. We also wanted to price bedding items for the kids' Christmas presents.

At the entrance to Nakumatt, a statue of an elephant greets customers. The first floor is general household appliances, and food. We even got fresh veggie pizza at the bakery! It wasn't Pizza Hut, but it really hit the spot. I also picked up some cheese to avenge my craving for something different to eat.

Meanwhile, William priced bicycles. A quite conservative young man, he decided they were too expensive and he would just continue to walk. I went into Grandma mode when he said he wasn't hungry and insisted he choose something to eat and drink. What 19 year old isn't always hungry?! If there's such a thing as being too polite, William is just that.

We loaded our purchases on a bicycle at the border and walked to the motato. There the bickering over price began. My job during this procedure is to put on my teacher frown and pick up part of our purchases like I'm going to leave. I'm taking notes from Nate and Kate, however, so I'll be able to negotiate my way back to Nairobi when the time comes.

We were hydro-planing down the pavement accompanied by the stacatto beat of the driver's horn when a rear tire blew. We pulled over, a man went to the offending tire and managed to strip the loose rubber off. We went another quarter mile or so before the driver conceded the tire needed to be changed. They must have had a lot of practice because we were once again flying down the road in a matter of minutes.

We arrived in Tarime and were greeted by James, one of our favorite piki piki drivers who had supervised the repair of the mission house truck while we were gone. We got to see the kids at Angel House when we dropped off William, but it was getting dark when we got there.

It was good to be home at the mission house! I slept like a baby last night.
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Emotional Time

We were told in training that somewhere around 6-8 weeks into our mission, we would hit a crabby period. I am just finishing my seventh week, and I'm an emotional wreck!

I suppose the facts that I've been fighting malaria for several weeks and that my mom has been put on Hospice since I arrived in Tanzania might have a lot to do with my feelings. However, I also know I've never in my life been so far away from the people who love, support, and (in my grandchildren's cases) downright adore me. It hurts to be away.

And so, I'm going through my crabby time. At times, I think I'll never go on such a long-term mission trip again. It's just too heart-wrenching. But I also know I don't regret coming here and being God's hands and feet at Angel House. What a humbling realization it is that God's plan for Africa could involve crabby old me!
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Election

Well, the election is over, and the "Thumbs Up Party" won. I found out yesterday in a rather frightening way. Nate and Kate had taken the tutor back to the orphanage, so just the night guard and I were at the mission house. I was reading when I heard yelling and screaming, reminiscent of the riots of the sixties. I was glad I had the curtains drawn, because I really didn't want to be seen at least until I figured out what was going on. The road was filled with people running and shouting. I thought they sounded happy, but I wasn't sure. At the of the "parade" came the car with the political party's flag. Even though I was relieved to discover what was going on, I kept a low profile. :-)
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Africans Politics

Apparently, there are two major political parties in Tanzania. One uses the "thumbs up" symbol, and the other, the "peace sign". I didn't realize this until someone at the orphanage told me. As a teacher, I often used the "thumbs up" to confirm a student's understanding of instructions. Now I have to be careful not to make a political statement.
Often, cars with loud speakers cruise through Tarime blasting the praises of one or the other party. I was walking home one day last week and realized there was a political rally going on in a field near the mission house. I scurried indoors until it was over. It was a bit intimidating to hear Swahili speakers all riled up. Politics is bad enough when I know what is being said!
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Names in Tanzania

Tarime and the surrounding are has some traditions about naming first-borns. Typically, the first son is named Cha Cha or Mwita, and the first daughter is named Bhoke. I can only imagine what nightmares this must cause in classrooms! Just at Angel House alone, we have two Bhoke Mwitas! The father's first name becomes his children's last name. Thus, both of these Bhokes had fathers named Mwita. Lucky for us, each of our kids also has a Christian name. Thus, one of our Bhokes is "Bhoke" and the other is "Lucy".
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Malaria Update

We went out for supper with our Aussie friends last night, and after several trips to the choo, Dr. Maggie asked me how I was feeling. When I told her, she recommended I return to the hospital today for another blood test. Turns out, the malaria is better, but I need another round of treatments. By the time my test results were in, I was unable to get started on the oral medication or the shots. So, first thing tomorrow we start daily shots and 2 pills 3 times a day...and more rest. I have read just about everything I can get my hands on and am even doing several Su Doku daily, trying to be a good patient. I'm afraid I'm not a patient patient!
In a week, we will be packing up the older boys to move them to the new building. I told the doctor I had one week to get well. He just smiled. Do you think he knows something I don't? :-)
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Faith

We usually try to be back at the mission house by 7:00 in the evenings, but lately it seems just when we get ready to leave, something comes up that needs immediate attention. So it was, I found myself watching Kate struggle to reassure Samson, through an interpreter, that he will be able to continue to attend St. Jude English Medium School even after she and Nate leave Tanzania next month.
"Have we ever lied to you?" She asked. "We love you, and we will continue to pay for your education even when we are not here. If you don't believe me, there is nothing I can do to convince you. You will just have to wait and see."
I watched the anguish in Samson's young, handsome face. He and Angel are the first Angel House kids to attend St. Jude, which has the highest test results of any primary school in Tanzania. They attend school all day, twice as long as the other primary students. Classes are taught in English, a big advantage for Tanzanian students. He wanted to believe all of his work hadn't been in vain, but he was so afraid.
My heart broke as I struggled with the truth I could not reveal to Samson yet. For Christmas, our main benefactor, Dr. Lisa, is paying all of our primary students' tuition to St. Jude's for next term. So, not only will Samson get his heart's desire, but all of our youngest Angels will, too.
How often must God go through this same thing with us! Knowing His plan for each of our lives, He watches us struggle to believe. What a lesson in faith!
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Malaria

Nate says 50 percent of the serious illnesses with our kids are caused from worms and 50 percent are due to malaria. Stomach problems are very frequent here, and many people have malaria and keep going about their daily business.
So, even though I have been very careful, drinking Dasani water and using my mosquito net, I began to feel sick last week.
At first, I was dizzy, and I talked with our Australian friend, Dr. Maggie. She suggested I cut down on my blood pressure medicine, which I did.
I have been resting more and drinking all the water I can keep down, but I was still sick today. I had lab tests done at the hospital which diagnosed stage 3 malaria (serious) and worms.
The medical staff here was very knowledge and helpful. I'll have shots today and tomorrow and oral medicine for 5 days. If that doesn't do the trick, they'll admit me.
I told them I'm not a very good patient, but I am good at following directions at home. I also Nate and Kate nearby if I need anything. They have both had malaria.
So much for the threat of malaria being low at altitudes above 5000 ft. We're as high as Denver here in Tarime.
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