Just five weeks ago today, I was high above the clouds on a plane, looking out the window, shedding a few tears as I watched Tanzania disappear into the dark. I will miss my kids, my friends, my Tanzania family. It truly is my second home. I was only away from home this time for 17 days but it seemed like forever I was away and yet the time went so fast. It's funny how my time feels different when I'm in different parts of the world. Even though I was in Tanzania just 5 weeks ago, it seems like forever ago, like I didn't even go.
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| Calgary airport getting rid of a few nerves! |
I went this time with a team from Bridges of Hope. A team of three. Two sisters, Tina and Martha and her boyfriend (now fiancee) Henry. Three young, fun, amazing, big hearted individuals who I now have the pleasure of calling 'friends'. One of them, Tina, had only flown a couple times before and the other two ... NEVER! That's right... NEVER! Never been on a plane, NEVER been to an airport! WHAAT? And they choose to fly all the way to Africa for their first flight, just so they could do humanitarian work with Bridges of Hope.
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| Tina, Martha and Henry |
Wow! I was impressed yet a little worried at the same time. What was I getting myself into? What if they get sick on the plane? It's a long 21 hour flight! What if they don't like Tanzania, like I do and they want to go home? What if they don't like the small volunteer house with no hot shower? We are stuck with each other for 17 days? Lots of 'what if's' went through my head. But, it went like all my other 15 trips to Tanzania did.
Yup, it was simply Amazing! I couldn't have asked for three better travel companions. They were a bit nervous, of course, understandable. It was their first time going through security at the airport and who doesn't get nervous there? First time on a plane and A BIG plane too, like KLM. The taking off and landing part was a bit frightening and exciting at the same time. I was so excited for them, like it was my first time.
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| before... |
We only had 17 days and 3 of those were travelling days. So we had 14 days to get everything done. I did a lot of planning at home before we left and had each day planned out. First on the list, our Project. The second day we were there, we started our project at Sotwa Wilson School, a 'facelift' for the school. We painted the rooms of the School, and built a new tire playground at Sotwa Wilson School for the children.
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| ...after! |
We ran around with Teshi, in the big yellow school bus to purchase all our supplies. So we not only got some work done but they got to do some site seeing of the city of Arusha and the community. We needed tires! OMG that was a frustrating chore! Funny for me cause I'm used to it and a bit scary for the 'newby's when all the guys started fighting over the money we paid them for the tires. It was one of those moments like in the Walmart commercial when you jump in the car and yell "start the car!" Then we needed paint, paint brushes, shovels, concrete, sand and our big metal swing. Two weeks before we arrived, I had my Rafiki (friend) Sebastian start building a metal swing so that it would be done when we arrived.
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| the start..... |
Us three girls, with the help of Siah, a teacher at Sotwa and Salma, painted the rooms of the school a bright terracotta orange color with black trim.
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| Henry, wishing he had a shovel that worked! |
Henry, with the help of Teshi and Ernest, did a little bit more physical work. They dug the holes for the tires and got them planted into the ground so we could paint them bright rainbow colors.
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| Siah, Salma Martha and Tina |
After we got everything painted, we brought in a truck load of sand to finish off the playground. After four or five days of work and play and some great breakfasts and lunches made by my wonderful friends, Mama Edith and Siah, we had a bright new playground for Sotwa Wilson School. A place where the children could laugh and play. A place where school will be fun. To say the least, the playground was a huge hit!
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| our delicious breakfast that Siah made us |
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| Tina and Martha finishing up the painting |
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| the boys enjoying the tire playground |
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| ... the finish! |
Thank you Henry, Martha and Tina for funding this project. You did a wonderful, wonderful thing for the children of Sotwa Wilson School. The smiles they wore on their faces were priceless and the warm fuzzy feeling you put inside their hearts will never be forgotten. I also know that Mr Shange, Mama Edith, Siah and Teshi will forever be grateful for what you did and how you helped their school.
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new school bags for all the children
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After the Project was complete we had time for so much more. We visited Intel School, where all our children from Karim Children Care Centre, go. We spent hours passing out new school bags and school supplies to our kids, new pyjamas, new socks, new chupi's (underwear) and the cute pillowcase dresses, that some Lethbridge ladies made, were a hit. And lots of time to play with the children.
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| Hassani showing us his great skills |
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Mwana, with the giggles
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Mama Linda, Alex and Tina
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| the boys..... Hasani, Henry and Samwel just chillin |
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our walk to church
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We went to church with the children a couple of Sundays. The children love going to church and when they get to go with guests, its even more special. It was a half an hour walk with the children through the village until we arrived at Church. A little bit different than our kinda of 'church day' but all in all the same with singing, dancing and praying and a great meal of 'pilau' which is fried rice and beef, that we enjoyed after and ate with our hands.
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| the awesome singers and dancers |
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| our delicious pilau (rice and beef) after church |
We were very grateful to have Thanksgiving Dinner, African style, at a neighbours house with a gathering of four different families. What a fun day, with great company and delicious african food. We had 'mchoma mbuzi' barbecued goat and 'mchoma ndizi' barbecued banana and some soda's. Mmmmmm so good!
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| our delicious Thanksgiving Dinner |
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| our neighbours and the happiest people ever... Sara, Mama Ellie and David |
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| Johanna and her sister Mama Elly, Elly and Ernest |
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| the whole gang |
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bbq'd goat and roasted banana, seriously, an African treat!
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| Ernest and Henry |
Henry, like every other person that has visited Tanzania, fell in love with that smiley neighbour guy, we all love so much, named Ernest. They hung out A Lot! They became quite good buddies and would take off, in a blink of an eye to town on Ernest's 'bodaboda' his motorbike that we bought him last year.
In fact Henry fell in love with Ernest and his family so much, he decided to pay for their 3 year old daughter 'Upendo' to go to school. We were all so excited and of course, Ernest, always so grateful for everything, shed a few tears. But no one was quite as excited as little Upendo. I love that chubby cheeked little girl.
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| our littlechubby cheeked girl Upendo |
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| Brenda and her little princess, Nahla |
I was in on a very special secret with Henry before we left Canada. Henry told me he wanted to propose to Martha while in Tanzania and was bringing the ring with him. Whoa! Fir
st time flying, first time to Africa and now this guy is going to propose. I was so excited to be a part of all of this. To get to plan this special trip for them and now I get to plan this special evening, an engagement party! My very good friend, Brenda, who I stayed with one night while the three were away on safari for two nights, decided I should come stay again and bring the 3 volunteers. She has the most beautiful place ever. The perfect place to get engaged. So I let her in on my secret and we made plans.
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| Martha and Henry right after he proposed |
I let the three know I was taking them somewhere very special for a night away. I did get Henry alone to tell him "this is the place you are going to want to do this! Bring the ring!" When we arrived, we sat outside, had a glass of wine and some conversation before Henry said "would you mind if Martha and I went for a walk before dinner?" I had a real hard time keeping a straight face. So Henry got down on one knee to propose only to find out he was kneeling on an ant hill! But she did say 'Yes'! Brenda cooked the most amazing, most delicious, traditional African meal we ever had. I brought the wine and champagne and we celebrated African style. It was the perfect end to a perfect trip.
I know this will be journey they will never ever forget. It was their first trip to Tanzania but I know it won't be their last trip to Tanzania! So many first's for them. So many things they did to help others. So many people they made smile. So many new friendships in a far away place.
Thank you Tina, Martha and Henry for allowing me to go on this journey with you and for including me in on your special day. Thank You, for being so kind and warm hearted and for truly changing peoples lives while you were there. Pat yourselves on the back and smile big cause you did Good! When you do Good, Good will always come back in your life. And Thank you, for the kind words that you said about me to Bridges of Hope. I truly Love what I do and am grateful I made your journey memorable. I am forever grateful to have new friends.
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| the whole gang.... and yes the rooster wanted in the picture! |
Love from Mama Linda
