From Mama under the Net . . .

April 11^th from Mama . . .

Anna lost her first tooth today.  Actually, I helped her lose it with some dental floss.  She was very brave and said it didn't hurt a bit!!!

I came across a few giggle machines hanging out in my bedroom this morning!



Anna, Glory and Esther . . .

Pendo, Liadi, and Rashid have all been sick . . . Pendo with a temp reaching 39.7 at one point suffering a severe throat “infection”.  I’m thinking tonsils will be in order.  Liadi went down with a stomach virus which had him vomiting, Rashid with malaria and big Anna with typhoid, probably from unsanitary drinking water at Makumira Secondary School.  All are convalescing but Anna’s seems to be lingering.

Long time Tumaini supporters Ranger Safaris Ltd. (Josephat, Rwekiza, Marko, Yusuf and Georgie) stopped by to say hello and gift our children with Rotary dictionaries (illustrated no less!), and always appreciated footballs!  Special thanks to Abba Moledina and son Ali, (not pictured).

Mama Glory, 30 years old, is in trouble.  Having misused her first tier ARVS (and Glory’s), Mama (and Glory) found themselves in failure.  I have written about how, when Mama Glory is healthy she decides she no longer needs her ARVS and stops taking them.  The result is that she goes into failure (the virus mutates and is no longer recognizable as the target of the medicine), thus the ARVS no longer work to suppress HIV from blowing up into AIDS.  Glory and Mama were both moved to second tier, however, and here’s the crux of the problem.  Mama has now experienced failure for a second time and there is no third option in this country.  Her viral load is off the charts and her CD4 count is plummeting.  There is little to nothing Dream (the local AIDS clinic) can do to help.  Bringing a third tier into this country is simply too expensive.  I marvel at this fact because we have multiple tiers in the west giving us a plethora of options for treatment but not here.  The doctor explained that it is like watching a person drown while not knowing how to swim.   

Connie and Liadi surprised me with a gift a couple of days ago.  They have been “refreshed” every day since, and although I love it . . . . Things are becoming a bit more barren outside.

A certain, slightly crazy and often silly young lady (Evalin) is seen here talking on her “Blackberry”.  She dialed the “number”, and began “chatting” away with Baba Steve in Canada. 

Most of you know that Oddo has worked for over a decade helping street boys in Arusha.  I had the pleasure of meeting three of them this past week when they finally reconnected with Oddo after losing touch for a few years.  David Shabani is one of those young men.  Leaving home at just nine years old, (his drunken father kicked him out), David got on the public transit (daladala) and travelled from Manyara to Arusha.  The fare was free because small children travel for free on the bus.  Imagine finding yourself, at just nine years old, alone, on the streets of a big city, knowing no one and having not a cent in your pocket.  Imagine how terrible life with an alcoholic father (his mother and two siblings had left already) must have been to make him leave.

David slept on the street, under bridges and scrounged for food.  There are numerous “mamas” on the curbside who prepare and sell food to passersby during the day and David offered his services to these mamas, cleaning vegetables or washing dishes in exchange for food.  He survived that way for two years.  During our conversation David showed me a six inch scar running down his abdomen just below his belly button.  He was slashed by an angry older boy who wanted to take the food he had.  A kind Samaritan picked him, bleeding, off the street and took him to a hospital where he was stitched up.  They cared for him for a couple of days but then returned him to the streets.  David was rescued by a teacher, Mr. Mdaki who found him on the streets and brought him to a care centre where Oddo was working as a counsellor.  Oddo and David met and began making different choices.  A home visit was made but David’s father had moved away.  David witnessed a murder at the age of ten, while he was still on the street . . . a boy “Obedi” just fifteen years old was killed by an older boy and David witnessed it.

Asked if he ever picked pockets or robbed people on the street David vowed that he had not, explaining his fear that “something bad might have happened to me if I had”.

David presents as a kind and gentle person with an easy smile and Oddo declares him to be “quite a football player”.  He speaks nostalgically and with sadness when he remembers his buddies still on the street.  “They just don’t want to try.  They want to continue to drink and smoke (marijuana), or worse.  They’ve given up hope for a better life.”  David hopes to be educated in hotel management and then press his best friend to help him with a job.  He watched his house buddies leave home to return to school, but felt lost again, with opportunities for himself.  We’ll do what we can to help this young man get where he needs to go . . .

Enormous thanks to Mrs. Peter’s 5^th grade class for your letters and pictures.  Check your mail.  Ours are on their way!!!

L/R Neema, Emmanuel and Christina . . .

Harriri and Esther with their letters from Mrs. Peter's class . . .

A local Widow’s Group makes place mats and bowls out of banana leaves.  I’ve purchased a few and will bring them home and make them available to those of you who may be interested in purchasing them.

We barely avoided catastrophe.  Gerehad decided to snatch our iron, left cooling downstairs after one of the older children ironed their uniform, took it upstairs to his room, laid it down onto a foam rubber mattress covered with plastic (for a bed wetter) and plugged it in.  He couldn’t figure out how to work the dial to turn it on and finally abandoned it.  I found it and Gerehad spent the rest of the afternoon in his room thinking about the dangers of the choices he made.

Nelson left for Dar es Salaam yesterday, headed to school, Form V (11^th Grade).  He met up with brother Reward and sister Mary, who are each in university in the city.  They helped him shop for a mattress and blanket, and then escorted him to his new school, Minaki. Before he left Nelson brought his school form to me (in Swahili) and asked for a photo.  I initially thought he needed one of himself but he wanted a passport sized one of me explaining that I was to sign the papers as his mother, for that is how he regards me . . . there were no words for a moment or two while I struggled to swallow the egg in my throat . . . although it will be interesting his explaining how the woman in the photo is his mother . . .  

And speaking of mothers (and fathers) heartfelt thanks go out to Mama Teri and Baba Gary for embracing this most deserving young man in support.  There are few more deserving young men on this Earth than he, I think . . . Asante, Sana!

Babu Michael and Bibi Dorris, Dorris had her baby and it’s a girl!!  We are a bit worried because Mama’s placenta hasn’t released yet and mama won’t let baby near to nurse.  Her udders were about to burst and so we “cautiously” milked her, filled a soda bottle and fed our new baby FIVE small soda bottles of mama’s milk.  The vet is on the way . . . I hope . . . We’d like to name her Maziwa (for the MILK she’ll be giving us one day!)  Asante tena and remember that a second baby is due in the months to come . . . all we can say is thank you so much for helping us care for our Tumaini family!!!

I am hoping you are well.  The container has arrived and is in Dar awaiting clearance which will be Oddo’s work.  He leaves tonight with Bryson and Raymond and hopefully will be home by Friday with container in hand.  Wish us luck.  The corruption here is shameful with little regard for the care of orphaned or vulnerable children.  Say a prayer that we meet someone, anyone, who cares that we are working so hard to help little ones here in need . . . be well!!

Easter Fun and Special thanks!!!

Volunteers Milou and Ceri organized a competition where the children (teamed up with our older children as Captains) ran around looking for questions and then were given a clue to the next . . . SO much fun and at the end, with pipis (sweets) mailed to us from U.S. friends, (Juhrs family I believe), we worked hard on acquiring some interesting tongues!!!!  Thank you, thank you, to Ceri and Milou and to all of you for loving us!!!

Priska and her team trying to answer the question!

Team leader Nelson with help from Robinson organize their team!

Volunteer Milou, game organizer ensures there is no cheating!!!

A sun "kissed" Ceri, fellow organizer and volunteer helps the children!

 Look at the smiles.  Everyone had fun!!!

Bryson and his team build a strategy!!

Watoto listen to their leader . . . we hope!!

These team members are looking pretty relaxed don't you think? 

Volunteer Line joins in the fun!

And our Kakas played too!  Raymond above and Lohai and Jeremiah below!!!

 Hugs for the organizers!!

AND THEN!!! IT WAS PIPI TIME!!!

And somehow we ended up with some funny coloured tongues!!!



 

And to end our day, a game of football!  Thanks to Baba Bruce Veltri for providing uniforms!!!

Coach Raymond gathers his team and heads to the park!!

Happy Easter!

Wishing our Tumaini friends and family a love filled and peaceful Easter with our deepest gratitude for your continued support . . . kwa wote, Asante Sana!!

Bomb blasts Beasts and Blessings . . .

Bomb blasts, beasts and Blessings . . .

First of all I’d like to send all of you, each person who loves us here at Tumaini a joyous and peace filled Easter holiday.  For our part, we will enjoy “ugali Canada” (mashed potatoes), gravy, roasted meat, a sweet banana “stew” and a wonderfully delicious carrot dish followed by, Nan’s Chocolate Fudge Pudding, after church services tomorrow.  Thank you all for making our Easter celebration possible and a special thank you once again to Mama Karen and the Just Ladies Travel Club for sponsoring our Easter safari.  We went a little early to ensure our Katy could join us (we miss you terribly) and fun was had by all!

It has been quite a week.  Last week was election day in this district.  The M.P. of this area died, and, instead of democratically electing a replacement for him, the national ruling party “CCM”  (Chama cha Mapinduzi, or “The Revolution Party”) unilaterally appointed the deceased’s son.  Some believed it not the right decision.  The opposing party (there is an election every five years in Tanzania, with the last in 2010), “Chedema” (The Democratic and Development Party) has a bigger voice than it has historically and in the end, won the election by a small margin.  Now we at Tumaini had very little to say about things to this point, other than to grumble occasionally about the early morning music blaring from passing CCM vehicles as they travelled to their temporary headquarters at the end of our dead end street.  The parade was daily and loud but so be it.  Tanzanians like their music BLARING.  What did become an enormous issue for us was what happened when rumors of said ruling party spread about them stealing the ballots at a voting station while the police turned a blind eye.  All hell broke loose and the accused were just down the street . . .

Blessings

We had begun our day with Harriri’s and Liadi’s Lutheran baptisms at our local church. We gifted them each with their own children’s bibles (which they haven’t put down and ask me to read regularly).   Our own Nelson and Mary have become God brother and sister to Liadi and the headmistress of our local public school, Kilimani, and her husband Mama and Baba Makawa sponsored Harriri.  It was a wonderful service, a wonderful morning and we all returned home in high spirits.  I had to run a quick errand afterward and when I returned, volunteers Milou and Ceri greeted me at the gate with solemn news.

While I was gone, rioters had marched up the street, past our gate, headed to CCM headquarters.  Hostile, angry, frustrated rioters with sticks beat people unfortunate enough to have crossed their paths and initially, our children witnessed the chaos from our front porch.  I was out and Oddo had gone to Moshi to attend a funeral.  Our volunteers wisely collected the children, brought them inside and inserted a video into our DVD to distract and settle them but everyone was fearful.

 

The rioters protested about how the government had allowed the ballots to be stolen and how they were refusing to announce Chedema’s victory on television.  We heard gun shots and what we would later discover to be the explosion of “smoke” bombs which continued  well into the night.  Everyone was concerned the riot would escalate and larger, angrier crowds would come to CCM headquarters.  If they did they would have to come right past Tumaini House.

At the service, a visiting preacher was speaking and we had permitted Kelvin, Neema, big Anna and Mwajuma to attend.  After the rioting began Raymond, Lohai, Jeremiah and I took the truck and rushed down to get them.  As we turned south from the main road to head down into the older part of the village, we came face to face with a massive crowd of angry protesters and realized immediately that the truck wasn’t going to get through.  The boys felt that perhaps I or the vehicle might be targeted and urged Jeremiah and I to come home.  They thought they could “blend” into the crowd, sneak past them and get to the church and get our children and that’s exactly what ended up happening.  It was a frightening night as we hunkered down, unable to escape the sounds of shouting crowds and explosions.  This continued into the night until a ferocious rain began which finally dispersed the crowds.  It was announced that Chedema had won and Usa River settled down.   

Eliza

Oddo’s daughter Eliza has experienced another episode where she can’t remember what has happened, where she sort of “blacks out” but is mobile.  I hesitate to share this but many people here (a surprising number) suspect it is a “possession” of some sort and she was taken for prayer.  There were no physical post episodic symptoms other than her inability to remember.  She initially complained of a headache, then rose and left the house, running all over the village until, exhausted, her family finally caught up with her.  She had no memory of her experience complaining only of being “tired”.  Following up the last time it happened Oddo discovered there were three other girls at school with Eliza waiting for their parents on the day he ran to pick her up, having experienced the same thing she had.  It keeps coming back to some sort of toxicity but . . .

Lohai and Liadi have completely recovered from malaria and Reward, although initially struggling with recurring dizziness after finishing his dawa (medicine), says that most recently he is feeling better.

For your information, the photos (not the baptismal ones the safari ones) I’ve included with this letter are taken by Kelvin (12 yrs. old) while attending safari with Baba Dave and Dadas Jordan and Connie.  They are spectacular hmmm?  We’d like to produce a “Kelvin’s Calendar” for 2013 with all proceeds coming to Tumaini of course!  What do you think?

I hate to ask, knowing that you are busy with Easter and our approaching spring, but, our car needs new tires and I wonder if someone might be willing to help us out by organizing a fundraiser specifically focused on generating approximately $1,000.00 so that we can purchase new tires.  For those of you who have been here you know how hard the “roads” are on the car.  The old ones are simply worn out. 

The rains have come.  Daily and nightly we experience a deluge for usually an hour at least.  Things are green.  We have water.  There is no dust.  We do struggle with the Nairobi Fly, a tiny, ant looking insect which when squashed on the skin (a natural tendency once discovered) emits an acidic body fluid which, within a couple of days causes the skin to blister and peel, like a streaky burn.  It is not too painful, simply uncomfortable.  Malaria will become more prevalent in this weather.

Welcome to new volunteer Line (Denmark) and thank you for running with our older girls.  Other than complaining of aching legs they are loving the attention!!  Thank you Mama Teri for visiting and caring and sharing and to Stine and Anna for your time here with us.  To Mama Teri and Baba Gary thank you so much for sponsoring Nelson.  As you know he is a very deserving young man who truly needs our help if he is to succeed in his studies as he so obviously intends to.  

Please keep Baba Raymond in your prayers as he has been diagnosed with throat cancer and is fearful of “modern” medicine, opting for “traditional” cures.  We are arguing with him now to come for proper treatment.  Also, please pray for one of our Mama Mzungu who is struggling with recently diagnosed cancer.

There is some chance the container has arrived already although we have no confirmation of that and it is not expected until next weekend.   As soon as I hear, you will.  We wait patiently for its arrival and I now intend to return to Canada on May 2^nd.

 

Your Tumaini children are well.  We are all home and busy and having fun “on holiday”.  The children watched “Home Alone” last night and Liadi does “the scream” perfectly!  It is hysterical!  Be well, God bless you and Happy, happy Easter!