Twas the day after the day after Christmas . . .

Christina LOVES Christmas!!!

Liadi and our Christmas tree!

Connie got a new hat!!!

 

Neema and Glor received gifts from Southampton U.K. Rotary from the Dream Clinic here in Usa River!

Our prince . . . Francis!

Where to begin with our celebrations this year?  First of all thank you, sponsors and supporters of our precious children.  This is truly I believe, the spirit God intended for all of us when he told us to care . . . they thoroughly enjoyed Christmas #2 at Tumaini House!  Gifts, both given AND received by our children who decorated teeshirts as a gift for another child.  Oddo and I each received one, signed by all of the children!  Thank you Katy for that!!! 

Some of the children made personal gifts for family and each child who visited (if they had someone to) on Christmas day took a kilo of sugar as a special gift!  Our children are learning how to give, now that they find themselves in a position to do so, and although it is a new emotion for some of them, many of our little people are inherent givers, sharing from the moment they arrived at Tumaini House.  The act of giving allows them a sense of fulfillment and it makes them happy!  We see it every day in the cards they create for us and the letters and notes (In ENGLISH!!!) we receive!

Tumaini purchased a chicken and 1 kg. of rice for each family member of Mana OVC, our orphan outreach group of sixty and also for our AIDS support group Langa ya Iruva.  No one in our Tumaini circle went hungry this Christmas . . . thank you so much for that!

Latifa says thank you Jenna!

And we were busy!  Christmas for a family this size is a ton of work so sincere thanks go out to all of Santa’s helpers who wrapped, and wrapped and stuffed and stuffed (can you imagine 40 some odd stockings?) thank you Katy, Mathilde, Alison, Mama Lizbeth who not only brought gifts but prewrapped them and not only gifts but face paint and nail polish and some of the best chocolate I have ever tasted (Norwegian!)  And to Robyn who would not be outdone and gifted us with Timtams, an Australian staple, Koala bears and chocolate bears for the children!!! 



L/R Jon, Mama Lizbeth and Matz from Norway

To Jon for whipping up a workshop for Lohai and heading up the painting of our classroom, and Matz for spackling cement, sous chefing for Baker Rachel and for loving our children!  Matz joined us despite having been mugged just the week before he came and has travelled to Tanzania with a broken jaw and an immersion blender!  It has been an interesting eating experience for him.   We baked (gingerbread no less thank you Rachel) and Nana’s Christmas Fudge Pudding (Mama Rebecca, Michael and Rachel), and how do we thank all the McCann clan both here and at home in Australia for not simply embracing Tumaini but working tirelessly on an extremely successful fundraising drive spearheaded by Michael who left two days ago to summit Mount Kilimanjaro with us as his beneficiaries!  Asante sana to all of Michael’s supporters, to Mama Michael for organizing and supporting and to everyone back home who has so generously contributed to the futures of our children!!  Asante!!!

Michael, now climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on behalf of us, Mom Rebecca and Rachel McCann

Dave Egles of Home Energy Solutions checking our wiring

To David and Jackie and Jordan and Christopher Egles from Canada who took time from their holiday to visit Tumaini and organize the installation of our solar power system which will supplement our electricity which is, as so many people who have visited can attest to, intermittent at best, and for helping us fundraise to pay for it, how do we thank you?  Dave and Jackie’s solar business, Home Energy Solutions of Victoria, British Columbia and Barrie, Ontario discovered Tumaini just over a month ago and by accident.  We began talking about our need here for solar supplementation and, as it turns out, the family was coming to Tanzania on holiday over Christmas.  Being the remarkable people they are, the Egles, (all of them including Jordan who has committed to fundraising to help pay for the project and additionally, Christopher whose classes helped collect and assemble more than 100 pencil cases stuffed with all kinds of goodies for school) decided they had to help us help our children and Dave had his staff race around assembling the components we needed in order to allow them to be included in our container which ships this week!  Enormous Asantes to all of you for loving us!!!

Thank you to Dave, Jordan, Christopher and Jackie Egles!!!!

Oddo and his new tea set.

Bibi Pat is enroute home after a month with us at Tumaini and she will be missed.  She not only orchestrated our first Tumaini Christmas pagent, but made the costumes, doctored our sick (and we had some I’m afraid), and made some home visits, but additionally, lived amongst and loved every one of the children here at Tumaini!  We are so grateful for you loving us and karibu tena Bibi, welcome again!!!

Thanks also must be extended to Robyn, Rachel and Rebecca for paying not only for a Tumaini swim and picnic day but also for our sixty Mana OVC children!  The children LOVE swimming/paddling/playing and although I was home with a sick Glory who consumed either bad food or water while she was visiting her mother (who, by the way is doing remarkably well of late!) and spent the night and most of the next day vomiting up everything that passed her lips, the rest of Tumaini’s family had an absolutely WONDERFUL time and we must say THANK YOU!

 

Dorris, one of our new Christmas Cows!!!

We were not only blessed with one cow this Christmas but almost THREE!  We’re rebuilding our stable and will receive “Hold’em” once her new home is ready.  “Dorris” (see the photo) arrived just before Christmas.  Thank you again to the Fortsen grandchildren and to our other anonymous benefactors.  BOTH cows are pregnant and our little herd will grow again within the next couple of months.  We wait for our veterinarian to instruct us on how best to deal with sick Mama Ranger, but Tumaini may have some serious beef on its’ hands in the near future if the doctor says so!!!!

Loading the container with all kinds of goodies!

On its' way!!!!

Finally, on the home front . . . to everyone who has worked so hard to help us help our children, Asante!  In the U.S. for shipping your many donations, for working so incredibly hard and for your oh so generous donation OF the container and the shipping, thank you, thank you!  In Canada, for working so incredibly hard to get things together and on their way, and for staffing our little Panorama Park Cider and Donut booth, (thank you Cider Keg and The Apple Place) for expanding Tumaini awareness and raising much needed funds, thank you!  As I close, my husband continues to text me, teasing that the porch is filling with much needed towels for Tumaini so thank you for that also! 



Michael (l) with Gerhad & Mark with Liadi training for their climb

Pendo says thank you Mama Katie and Heidi!!

Tony loved his gift!!!!

Watoto making gingerbread

Glory improves, the children are well and we’ve got almost all of our fungal issues under control.  Evalin started antibiotics today for an ear infection and Raymond has come down with a sore throat and a thick chest.  Gerhad, Jenny and Martha still have ugly coughs and Mama Michael patched up what was left of the end of Zawadi’s big toe after he stubbed it and tore the skin off the end, but for the most part we are well and more than sated from holiday treats!  Dinner included chicken and goat, mashed potatoes (WITH GRAVY), a sweet banana dish which I love, and Oddo’s wife’s wonderful carrot vegetable dish!  We all sat around our new dining table(s) together, as a family!  It was glorious!

We couldn't eat our Christmas goat . . . had to choose another!

The weather is hot but it has rained nightly for the last three days. We wake to no water but it seems to return in the afternoons of late and the electricity has been “respectful” of the holiday season!  Oddo and I go to town tomorrow to purchase back to school supplies and we wait for our container to arrive.  How lucky are we to be loved by all of you?

Happy New Year Tumaini friends and family . . . we are so, SO very grateful to call you such!!!  Be well!!

Reward came home for Christmas!!!



Our very merry Christmas in Bethlehem . . .



Mary, Joseph, and the Innkeeper



Mary held Baby Jesus . . .

Baby Jesus!

Tony held the shining star

A choir of angels

Little Drummer Boy . . .

We three kings . . .

Our shining star

Christmas zawadis . . .

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . .

Twas the night before Christmas . . .

December 19th from under the net!

Mama Lizbeth from Norway outfits Wema and Winnifred, the Chikira sisters, with gifts from home

Evalin, Angela and Margaret with new dresses after a trip to town!

 It is 7:54 p.m. and I’m in bed watching Evalin wash her face with my clay cleanser (thank you Julie).  For someone so young she’s starting with pimples already and is self-conscious about it.  Aisha needs to watch her and Angela is watching Aisha watch Eva!  Glory just came for the company.  What is really happening is Glory, not wanting to go to bed (songs have just ended) is trying to stay up with the bigger girls but she’s caught!  Pendo gets to sleep with Mama tonight so she’s in their giving instructions to all her bigger sisters! 

Priska sends her thank you to Mama Cindy her sponsor

Angel & Glory say thank you to Mama Kathy

We’ll get our Christmas “shrubbery” soon and decorate it.  The volunteers have been incredibly busy preparing for Tumaini’s second Christmas and all of us are excited . . .

On the home front, pole (sorry) for all of the work being done both in the U.S. and Canada, getting our container together and ready to go.  Photos will follow but we here at Tumaini must thank all of you for your love, hard work and support!  We are so, very grateful. . .

Reward is responding to his meds.  He has a parasite in his brain caused from eating undercooked pork.  The treatment is almost as bad as the parasite, except we’re hoping he’ll heal and be well again.  Today we met a man who suffers terribly from elephantiasis, see the photo and requires surgery to drain it.  His name is David and Dr. Pat has offered to help him get the surgery he requires . . .

Volunteers Mark, Erica, Rachel, Michael and Jon paint our classroom with the children

Jon from Norway, never stops asking what he can do o help!

There are so many people to thank for help this year . . . first and foremost our sponsors, new and old for continuing to love and support us . . . you will receive your child’s report soon and please know how grateful they are for having you in their lives . . . we’ve been gifted this Christmas with not one but TWO cows for Tumaini and should have them this week . . . thank you donors for making this enormous difference in the lives of our children!  Milk!  Every day!

The children read . . . Glory, Harriri, even Latifa basic words.  Jenny too!  Some of us are struggling . . . Evalin, Athuman, Vitalis, Paskaly and Kelvin, but for the most part their difficulties surround language and reading and that takes practice.  We continue to work on that also.

We enjoy fresh bread every few days because of our oven.  A new dish added to our menu includes potatoes, green beans and meat mixed in a light tomato sauce . . . it’s delicious and nutritious.

Angel and Margaret wrapping gifts for volunteers.  They are so happy to give back

Eva and Francis busy wrapping . . .

To each of you in the bustle of Christmas we say thank you, so very much.  There is so much we do here every day and when I look around I reflect upon how little we would actually be able to do without you and your help. . . to Osteroya Kindergarten in Norway, Mama Lizbeth and Matz and Jon thank you so much for your kindness, your incredible donation, support and your hard work here at Tumaini.  To kaka Michael and the McCann (Rebecca and Rachel) clan here AND at home in Australia . . . how do we thank you for embracing not only Gerhad but all of us here at Tumaini and gifting us with your presence, your incredible fundraising efforts (follow Michael McCann on his Kili climb for Tumaini) leaving Dec. 26^th, to Erica who will leave us on the 21^st but must return, for loving Athuman, to Robyn and Mathilde, Alison and Katy, day after day after day . . .

From Oddo and myself, to each of you.  Our sincerest thanks for helping us help our children to enjoy a second Tumaini Christmas . . . to God for keeping all of us safe and together . . . our condolences to good friend and Tumaini supporter Blair D. on your loss, our prayers are with you, to our mother Margaret, you also at this time of concern, and to each and every person who has reached out to us at Tumaini, Merry, Merry Christmas to you and yours with wishes for peace, health and happiness in the year ahead.

Happy Birthday Harriri!!!

A wonderful sixth birthday for Harriri, was had by all today!  (Harriri and little brother Liadi)

December 11th from under the net . . .

December 11^th from Mama under the net . . .

Lying here at 10:00 p.m. with Harriri asleep beside me. It reminds me of our shared time together in the hospital! We will celebrate his sixth birthday tomorrow and he has chosen to come to town with us to provision to Tumaini House . . . I've been wanting to catch you up a bit but the internet has been terrible. Burger night was an absolute blast and we threw in ice cream! It is unusually HOT, the hottest I have ever experienced and with limited refrigeration, to say the least, very little of our food is ever COLD! It was a nice treat . . .

I am enclosing Mary, Neema’s and Glory’s clinic cards with their CD4 counts . . . Mary was in failure when we met her an a VERY sick little girl, her CD4 at just 21 . . . amazing what a little TLC and proper adherence to one’s ARV’s can do!

We’ve been busy! Christmas preps are on the go and I continue to enjoy Xmas carols from the children. I think we may be having a pagent or something, but I’m not supposed to know anything . . . something is in the works!

Our most amazing volunteers Rebecca, Michael and Rachel from Australia, along with Erica and Robin who has just arrived . . . Mathilde, Katy of course, and Alison has come “home”to her Tanzanian digs for the holidays! They and the children have been BUSY with crafts of all kinds! The house is being decorated, tshirts are being painted, I heard a threat of a gingerbread bakeoff upcoming and we still read and practice our “maths”. The children are spectacular . . . I’m washing heads morning and night with antifungal shampoo and Rebecca laughed because every time a new child with ringworm enters my site line, a tube of antifungal cream instantly appears! Thank you again, Dr. Rob and Dell Pharmacies in Burlington, Ontario!

I am hoping there is not too much chaos at home with respect to the container shipping and truly wish I could be there to help, BUT! Honestly! I’d so much rather be here! Please, all of you doing all of this work to help us help these little ones, thank you so much!

You will remember Reward, our university student who fell and hit his head when a munitions depot began exploding and has experienced continued blackouts, pain and dizziness? Well, we'll have the results this week!

Sending so much thanks home to everyone who embraces us here at Tumaini House and especially our hardworking bunch trying to get the container shipped . . . although I must confess I'd rather be here with the children, I am so incredibly grateful for your love and incredible generosity . . . Asante. Our children are thriving because of your love and I am ruefully aware of how very different their little lives would be without your continued support . . . Asante kwa watoto Tumaini! Thank you from the Tumaini children!

I’m enclosing a few more fun shots for you to enjoy . . . be safe and happy with your holiday preparations! Badaye! Later!