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!
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| 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 26th 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?
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!!
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| Daniel when we first me him . . . |
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| And our little man today! |
