Preparing for Christmas!

Whew!  It has been a BUSY couple of weeks starting with volunteers from Holy Trinity Catholic High School and Delhi District Secondary School’s “Me to We” group (along with my sidekick John, daughter Amanda and girlfriend Joanie) who spent all day Saturday and Sunday sorting and packing clothes, shoes, toys, bicycles, desks, furniture, linens, medical supplies, etc. for our soon departing container!  Thank you to Bill H. for donating the shipping boxes!  We are still trying to locate a diesel generator AND if anyone knows where we might find a 40’ shipping container at a discounted price we’d be VERY grateful!  (If you don’t ask, the answer is ALWAYS No, right?) The price of a shipping container has increased shockingly since we purchased our last one! 

B.C., Asante for gifting us with a new LARGE screen television for our family to enjoy on weekends . . . We do not have television at Tumaini but on Friday and Saturday nights, IF we have electricity, the children get to choose between music or movies . . . sometimes there were upwards of 50 people craning to see a 27” screen.  Not anymore!

 
Soooooooooo many of you have worked so hard to help us get donations together and again, how blessed have we been to find a donor generous enough to help us get all of these new treasures TO Tumaini House?  Asante to you, friend!

Babas Steve & John and Kaka Luke

As if things aren’t busy enough around here, we have been welcomed to join the Simcoe Panorama of Lights with a Tumaini display booth where we will be selling Hot Apple Cider (Thank you Cider Keg) and cinnamon doughnuts (Asante The Apple Place) and we NEED YOUR HELP!!!  Local Tumaini supporters, the lights are being turned on in Wellington Park this Saturday November 26^th and will run through New Year!  We need volunteers to man our booth and serve our visitors from 6-9 p.m. daily.    You will be out of the elements but dress warmly!!  If you are able to help please email my husband Steve (steve@mybrokersteve.com) with dates of availability . . . high school students this will count as volunteer hours!!! 

And thanks must go out to Mennonite Savings and Credit Union (Aylmer) volunteers Libby Seitz, Elaine Cowan and Lisa Neufeld (with Jenna McDowell) for spending the day assembling ALL that remains of our Christmas Giving Campaign!  You will remember last year where we sold everything from chicks to cows?  Well we’ve assembled our remaining gift packs and they are ready for ordering.  If you’d like to purchase a gift for a teacher, letter carrier, mother inlaw, or spouse who has everything, please send me an email or, make a donation online at www.tuchifo.com request what you’d like and we’ll get it out to you! 

$10.00 - 12 chicks

$20.00 - one bag of Maize (a staple food source)
$30.00 - helping our garden grow (seeds, fertilizer and fuel for irrigation)
$40.00 - sorry, we’re sold out of goats right now.
$50.00 - one bag of beans (a vital protein source and staple food source for us)
$100.00 - towards the purchase of a new cow (two if we can sell our remaining 26!)

FYI – Our mama cow Ranger is sick and we are going to have to replace her.   We have spent hundreds of thousands of shillings on veterinarian bills this year.  Tumaini, the baby is growing and strong but milk for our children is the issue and Tumaini is a boy.  We estimate the cost to purchase one female (hopefully pregnant) cow to be around $1,000.00 and we have 26, $100.00 donations left to sell this year.  The sale of ALL our remaining cow gift cards would allow us to purchase TWO cows and build a needed addition onto our cow house!  Please help support us will you?

Finally, we have recently been in touch with a solar firm in western Canada who is working madly to include a solar installation for Tumaini in our container shipment.  For those “Tumainites” who have lived with us in Tanzania you know how challenging it can be to find the house pitched into darkness (sunset is 7:00 p.m. year round) or unable to keep food in the refrigerator because we’ve had no power for too many days, OR, the battery on our computer, cell phone, camera, or the HOT WATER HEATER (if we have water) depletes.  We have enough challenges at Tumaini House each day, loving and raising our children without trying to do it in the dark, hmmmm?

 We need help . . . your help.  If possible, please consider making a donation to assist us in getting this system installed and working at Tumaini . . . our solar friends will contribute 25% of what we do so let’s please make this happen!

I am leaving in one week!  As my new Aussie sister Rebecca says, “Only seven more sleeps”!  I invite those of you who have not done so yet to get me your letters, photos, modest gifts for your sponsored child and as always I send out BUCKETS of gratitude for the love and continued support you show Tumaini. 

There are so very many people to thank for this year’s success.  To new friends and old, please know that our kids thrive today because of you.  Because of the dedicated support you continue to shower us with.  Because of your commitment.  There are so many charities to help . . . so many children requiring assistance and it is ONLY because of you that we continue to grow, that our kids are healthy, that they play and dream . . . and hope.  From the absolute bottom of my heart, for all of us at Tumaini, Asante.  Sana!  Thank you VERY much.

It feels good to help people in need doesn’t it?  I know that feeling and so do each of you.  I ran into Deacon Frank from our church this afternoon and we spoke about it . . . that feeling of purpose . . .  of fulfillment we discover when, thinking beyond ourselves, we reach out to someone else and give them what they need, be it food, medical care, a place to lay their head, or sometimes, just a hug. This is especially powerful when we’re involved with children, the sick and the elderly.  I do not know how to thank each of you for allowing us to be your connection to that feeling  . . .

We lost Bibi Bad Eyes this week and young Daniel’s mother has succumbed to AIDS.  Our prayers of peace are sent with them and our hopes for a full, healthy, love filled life surround Daniel.  He already shines . . . Happy Holidays!! 

Daniel when we first me him . . .

And our little man today!

A Message from Mama . . .

We lost a friend today . . . Bibi “Bad Eyes” a wonderfully old lady we’ve been providing aid to died this morning and we send her off with prayers of thanks for her life, her kind heart which she showed to all of us and her strength.  That she lived so very long under such difficult circumstances is a testament to her fortitude and to God’s blessing. 

My partner Oddo brought me to Bibi Bad Eyes in August of 2009 when he was made aware of her neglect by family. Homebound by virtual blindness, Bibi (grandmother) was not being tended by grandchildren whom, we assume, anticipated her death so they could take her “room”.

Bibi had lived a relatively successful life and had acquired a home “compound” with many rooms.  Each was filled with family or rented out to generate income.  As she aged she realized she would need assistance and thus, with no living children, bequeathed her property to her brother and retained a “life estate” on her one room.  Her brother immediately died and the property transferred to his children.

When Oddo and I met Bibi, she had been relegated to “the room at the end of the hall”, an unfinished brick structure with, not a STONE floor, but one made of boulders, loose boulders piled in to be used as a sub material for a future floor. It was neither smooth nor level.  The room had no window (the opening was covered over with a piece of roofing metal) and poor Bibi stumbled around in the dark, tripping over the unevenness of her floor and balancing her bed and a small stool on the boulders.  Oddo and I were ashamed to discover that the rest of the rooms had both windows AND smooth, cement flooring.

We got to work and hired some tradesmen who cemented her floor and installed a window.  We visited weekly to check on our Bibi and to pass money and small foodstuffs along to her to ensure she remained healthy.  She LOVED meat!  When she became ill we got her medical care.  She was a grand lady, tiny in stature (less than 100 lbs.) and reminded me of my own Nana.

I visited Bibi often and every time I arrived after my return from Canada Bibi would berate me for having been away too long.  She would then insist I sleep at her “house” (I never actually did but not because she didn’t try), and she would “bless” me for my goodness taking my extraordinarily large (for a woman) hands into her tiny ones (they too reminded me so much of my Nana) and pull me to her and then (brace yourself) spit in my face!  Definitely not an advisable practice but something she insisted be done and something I simply couldn’t say no to!  It was the only thing she had to give me . . . an African custom where an elder bestows an honor upon a subordinate!  Oddo, or Grace and I would joke with each other when we visited Bibi and I suggested it was someone else’s turn to be blessed, but it was always me, they argued, who should have the honor . . .

She was a lovely, gentle, kind lady and we did all we could to allow her comfort in her final years.  We are grateful to have known her, hope that she rests now and send our prayers of thanks to God and ask that He receive and welcome her into her new home . . .

A GOD TESTIMONY

Click here to See Liadi's Boogie, Woogie "Super Boy!"with thanks to Emily O'Keefe

November 6th from God  . . . and Mama
First of all the children are fine after a number of them “poisoning” themselves (think diarrhea and vomiting) from eating green mangoes from a nearby tree.  Children kept falling ill, leaving us all confused until the beans (or green mangoes) were finally spilled.  All are well on the mend.  Unfortunately, hot on the heels of the mango mystery, Katy became very sick with a bacterial infection but she too, with a dose of antibiotics and some clear fluids and time, is healing also.

An enormous thank you to our new printer "Stan" and company.  It is only with help like yours that we are able to send 100% of every dollar donated to Tumaini, TO Tumaini.  Asante Sana new Tumaini friend (who declines recognition).

Only 21 days until Dr. Pat and I leave and I encourage all sponsors/donors to send me some recent photos, and a letter or two for your child (along with a VERY modest gift if you choose).  I will share your cards, letter and photos with your child and this year many of them will be conversant enough in English to respond!  With that I send, as always, my heartfelt thanks for your love and support of these oh so very deserving but needing children!  Asante!

And now a GOD story . . .
Many of you will remember I was in Ohio about a month ago updating my sister’s church Springboro United on what has transpired since our last visit in late 2010.  Thank you so very much to Pastor Terry, Dane, Terri, and of course my sister Pam for reaching out again in love and support of our kids . . . While I was there Pam arranged a casual breakfast with some of her girlfriends and asked me to share Tumaini’s story with them.  You might remember the carload of donations I brought home from that trip . . . the soccer challenge, etc?  Well, Jenny was at that breakfast meeting and after hearing how Tumaini came to be and what we’ve accomplished in two short years, she insisted I come and share my story with her adult Sunday school class and so I returned to Ohio last weekend, shared the Tumaini story and, well, have been completely overwhelmed with what has transpired since . . . anyone looking for God’s grace and a miracle or two, (or three) need look no further . . .

After my presentation, and questions, Jenny’s parents invited me to join them for lunch so we could continue our conversation and get to know each other better.  I sat across from Jenny’s mother.   At a point in the conversation she asked me what immediate needs Tumaini has and I shared with her that we desperately need a “heavy duty washing machine”, as our mamas currently do laundry, for up to 45 people daily, in buckets.  It is just too difficult.

Her eyes got big and her mouth opened in that silent “o” of amazement, and then she said, “Cherie, we have a heavy duty washing machine and we aren’t using it!”  Now I ask you?  What are the odds that the one, rather unique item I present from our needs list would be exactly what they possess and do not need?   GOD - +1.  (To explain further, Jenny’s parents, in their “retirement”, decided to open a bed and breakfast and minister to pastors and missionaries who could go and stay, rest and recharge for the work they do in their own ministries and the washing machine they had acquired for the job was simply TOO heavy duty for their needs.)

You can imagine our marvel at this “coincidence”, hmmmm and Jenny shared in the excitement also!  Jenny works for her brother’s manufacturing company which ships all over the world and she offered to speak to her brother and ask if their shipping guru could work his magic and try to get us a good price on getting the machine to Tanzania.  We finished our meal (I was too excited to eat much) and said our goodbyes . . . Jenny promising to be in touch.  I came home last Monday morning.

Thursday evening Jenny called and said, “Cherie its Jenny.  Sit down.  I spoke with my brother and he gave me permission to ask our shipping manager to look for decent fares to ship to Tanzania.  Wellllllll . . . he cc'd me a copy of his email to my brother outlining the cost of shipping the washing machine in two methods . . . nestled nicely inside a 20’ container, OR, a 40’ and”, (get ready for this!) “my brother has offered to pay the freight for whichever size container you can fill! (Jenny had shared with her brother that here in Canada, we’ve been collecting all kinds of donations from YOU and that our dream was to afford to ship them over one day.  Jenny’s brother has made ONE day, TODAY!  I was ecstatic, to say the least and once I’d regained my composure . . . dried my eyes and said my thank yous and goodbyes to Jenny I ran to share the news with my husband Steve who was equally amazed at the generosity of “strangers”, people who don’t know us, but trusted in Jenny’s appraisal of the situation, of our need and our vision!  God - +2!

In the ensuing discussion, (and more since, trying to decide what is priority?) Steve paused to remind me how expensive it will be to get our barn of Tumaini goods TO Ohio in order to take advantage of this incredible opportunity . . . wait for it . . . the phone rings WHILE we’re discussing this issue.  It’s Jenny (AND GOD) saying, “Cherie, sit down again.  My brother just called me and asked, ‘where does this woman live?’ and I told him, Ontario.  He said, ‘we purchase raw materials for the company there . . . ask her if a transport can get into her driveway and we’ll stop there and pick up her goods and bring them here to warehouse and then ship them on . . . GOD-+3 . . . tissues two . . .


It has been such an incredible few days around here.  Truly shocked at how blessed we are to be the beneficiaries of such kindness and trying so very hard to use this gift most efficiently to benefit our kids has had us VERY busy!  We are trying to send a tractor, (we have one to donate), a plough and disc which will be used not only for our own gardens but will become another "business" a funds generator in Tanzania!


I knew I needed to share this story with you but didn’t write it until now, after attending church with David and Sherry, friends of ours and Tumaini’s (sponsors of Jenny in fact).  We followed them to their church and met Pastor Marc Bertrand.  His sermon took the GOD count up to SIX!


Knowing neither what we do nor that we were coming, Pastor Marc spoke about two things:  ministry to ORPHANS and how important this ministry IS (+4) and worry (+5)!  Many of you who know me, know how haunted I have been with worry about not being able to sustain the “tumaini” the “hope” we have brought to our children.  Worry has brought me insomnia, ulcers and this year shingles and I struggle every day to be satisfied with doing the best I can and “hoping” that it will be enough and our  kids will not suffer again.

God laid his hands ALL over Tumaini this past week (he has done so often in the past), and reminded me yet again, that HE is here, in this, with us.  Pastor Marc’s words are inscribed into my brain forever and motivation for me to change . . . “when we worry, we declare GOD incompetent”.  Noooooooooooooooooo, thank you!

Finally, because I can be a bit “thick headed”, or perhaps to show me HE does have a sense of humor, GOD +6 was driven home to me with a report delivered to the congregation on an outreach program the church supports called  H.O.P.E.  Helping Other People Eat, (remember folks that Tumaini MEANS “hope” in Swahili). 

And, so.  Here we sit with an incredible opportunity to get things needed in Tanzania TO Tanzania thanks to the power of GOD working through new friends.  We are SO very grateful (I am told that our kind sponsor declines recognition) but we DO give thanks . . . to him and to HIM and to you who continue to make this possible.  Our wish list follows:

A 36-42” flat screen television (on movie night we may have as many as 45 people squeezing around our set)
A diesel generator  (a supporter donated two gas units but we are working them too hard)
Heavy duty sofa and a couple of easy chairs
End tables
Classroom furniture (especially chalkboard or chalkboard paint)
Solar lighting/panels, etc.

This is without a doubt a lofty wish list.  I am wondering if, because this container will leave from Ohio, some of our U.S. supporters might join together to help us acquire this equipment and fill our container.  Please, if you can help us help our kids in one of these special ways, please email me at your earliest convenience.  Cheriemszucs@gmail.com and to each and every one of you, for loving us, Asante!

Inspired reading to the church groups inspired to reach out to us:
“Radical” by David Platt and “Mile 1” by Paul Carter.