Thanksgiving Wishes from Mama . . .
October and November are traditional months of harvest and Thanksgiving in North America and I’d like to take a moment to offer my thanks for the continued love and support Tumaini receives the world over . . . to Michael (Gerehad’s sponsor) from Australia for organizing a second Kili climb fundraiser for us (thank you friend Mark for joining him) and McCann clan and friends for supporting him! We look so very forward to meeting you in December!
To Anna and Beth of the U.K., for continuing to love our children and working so hard to raise support funds after returning from your visit with us. Karibu tena!
To Pastor Terry, Terri, Jenny, Pam, and Springboro, Ohio supporters, thank you so very much for having me back to speak and share our story . . . awareness and support continues to grow!
To Debbie and Paul for sponsoring our newest Tumaini child Anthony (his story will follow) and for helping us investigate charitable registration opportunities here in the U.S. of A, Asante Sana!
This past week friends and supporters of Tumaini lost their son suddenly. Busy living his young adult life one moment, he was gone in the next. To his family and friends at this unimaginable time of pain, please know that each of us at Tumaini reaches out to you with heavy hearted, loving prayers for comfort and condolence. We are so very sorry.
This tragedy rocked me. I am reminded of the fragility of life at all ages and was propelled to my draw my children closer, both here and in Tanzania. I called Amanda and Stephen to remind them how loved they are, and I MUST extend my immeasurable gratitude to each of you, who continue to love and support our Tumaini children. I am painfully reminded of how different their realities might have been had all of our paths not crossed . . . because of you, they have lives, filled with health, happiness and “tumaini” (hope) and for that I do not know how to thank you . . .
Our volunteer house is finally ready (right across the street from Tumaini House) and has already welcomed new visitors Bonnie and Caroline and returning Tumaini family, Mathilde and Emily. Margaret and friends will arrive for an extended weekend stay and play with the children and dear Christina will return to us next week! Thank you dada Katy for your tireless work to get things ready!
And speaking of Katy, she had a lonnnnnnngg night this past week, up with Glory and Martha who suffered some sort of stomach virus . . . Glory’s situation is delicate because she is positive and already on her second (and final) tier of ARV’s so we become anxious when she is ill, but a visit to Dr. Lyimo, some meds and Katy’s and family TLC has brought all patients around.
I am departing for Tumaini on November 30th and invite sponsors wishing to send along a modest gift to their child, (the children LOVE photos and letters) please drop me a line and we’ll make arrangements to connect.
Thank you all . . . Thank you for helping us love these children so much. Thank you for caring and sharing so much of yourselves . . . Thank you for returning to revisit the children you’ve embraced and thank you NEW visitors for joining us at Tumaini. Oddo and I are working hard to expand our volunteer program to include foreign study, medical, spiritual, outreach and greater awareness programs. The need is genuine . . .
Finally, for our friends who are suffering so very much this week please include them in your prayers. Most of us cannot imagine your anguish, but please know that we care and are so very, very sorry for your loss.
