Home with Watoto Wetu (Our children)

New Jackets were donated . . . thank you!

We have arrived!  Jet lagged and baggy eyed (carried thirteen hockey bags this time) and cleared customs without a shida.  (Problem).  I am struggling with getting on the clock here, something I normally have little trouble with but the kisses and cuddles from the children more than make up for it.

There were some problems waiting for me when I arrived (how could there not be in a family of fifty plus?) and we’re on them . . . working hard at resolutions so that we might proceed with planning a wonderful Christmas together.

Dada Tyra we miss you!!!

Thank you so much to family and friends who sent us (Mary, Reward, Lohai and myself) in such a loving fashion.  Thank you for all the hard work done in preparation for our departure.  And thank you to Tumaini supporters who, I hope, will find the time to come out and serve cider and donuts in our Tumaini Booth at the Christmas Panorama of Lights in Simcoe.  Please send an email to steve@mybrokersteve.com if you are able to assist and Ahsante!

Amani students (l/r) Daniel, Esther, Eliza, Francis, Gerehad, Harriri and Jenny.  Missing are Martha and Kelvin

The final week of school is approaching for our primary students.  They attend classes for three months at a time (the school year begins in January) and have one month holiday so are home in April, August and December and we are gearing up for some Christmas fun.

We store your donations and our food here.  Safi hmm?

Michael (Australia) is here and there are big plans to build a lava spewing volcano (do you remember junior school science?), the world’s largest bubbles (stay tuned for photos) and we are hoping to go swimming again . . . our Danish volunteers leave for home on Friday and we anticipate a pizza party Thursday night before they leave.  Everyone is healthy (thank you Lord), and other than a serious problem with electricity and water, we are well.

Christina is a happy girl!

Sponsors you will receive report cards in the next couple of weeks and I will begin posting updated photos.  Our children are growing and even after only 2 ½ months apart I see enormous growth and changes in their faces . . .

Harriri has a new hat!

And Karol has a new friend!  

I will be in touch.  I thank you so very much for loving each of us and for choosing to support Tumaini with your charitable dollars.  We are healthy and strong and looking forward to a wonderful Christmas.  I received every gift sponsors sent me and our youngsters will look forward to them on Christmas day.

Nasma sends a smile to Korosho!!!!

Toothless Tony is shy to smile . . . 

Tunashukuru Mungu kila siku, kwa bariki yetu . . . We give thanks to God every day for our blessings.  

Please know that each of you is an enormous blessing to us we remember . . . It is our hope that as you prepare for your holiday season you will pause and remember the goodness, the kindness you have shared with us . . . Ahsante sana . . . thank you very much!  Be well! 

And Wema and Ayubu are over the moon happy to be going to secondary school!!!  They passed!!!

. . . and the countdown begins

The days are numbered until our departure . . . just two weeks (November 22) until Mary, Reward, Lohai and I return to Tumaini to, first, help our children prepare for their end of year exams and then, to enjoy a safe and healthy Christmas together with a house FULL of volunteers new and returning!

Sponsors, should you wish to send a card or a (very small) gift to your child please get it to me as soon as possible as packing has egun.  Please start checking your mail for your Christmas gift from your child . . .

 The children are well.  Happy Birthday to our precious Mary!  Liadi has virtually no teeth in his mouth right now. 




Brother Ayubu and sister Wema have PASSED their national exams for class seven and as a result will need sponsorship support to enable us to find them good secondary schools.  We give thanks for their sucess because we

Wema

Ayubu

brought them to Tumaini to further assist them in preparing them as last year EVERY child at their school failed their exams.  These two young teens now have a real chance at a future and without parents to support them, Tumaini is all they have . . . one brother is in prison accused of murder and another is mentally challenged.  An older sister Glory was struggling to parent her three younger siblings but the task, in poverty, was daunting to say the least.  Tumaini has put Glory into a training program teaching her to cook and to wait tables so that she might find employment and youngest sister Carol lives with us at Tumaini house.  We have worked hard to give all four of these parentless children a chance and fundraising dollars have been applied to their care.  Thank you, thank you for that.

Marko!  Some of our older children have struggled in their life choices and two have, unfortunately, needed to leave Tumaini and our support, a result of their repeated decisions to steal . . . from us, from each other, from strangers.  We did all we could to help them make better choices but in the end have had to cut Yusuph and Josephat loose.  It is a heart wrenching decision, for Oddo and I are well aware of what lays ahead for them, but what about MARKO!  Marko who has suffered a life so ugly that at the age of nine he decided he would fare better with a life on the street.  Oddo discovered him and got him into a boarding school and once Tumaini was born he joined us and has excelled!  He earned his way into a fine, technical secondary school near Moshi and after a rocky start (he initially ran away), has knuckled down and studies hard.  For Marko though, the problems at home continue and Alison, a returning volunteer for Tumaini and “big sister” to Marko, and her family are working to raise money so that Tumaini can build a small home for Marko and his mother to share (his uncle facilitated the purchase of a small plot of land) allowing them much needed breathing space and peace, away from the cruelty of other family members.  Please keep Marko, Alison and this project in your prayers.

Raymond

Reward, Mama, Mery

Reward is investigating a master’s degree in Information Technology and Mery will return with me to apply for her masters in education administration and planning and we hope she will run our Tumaini school one day very soon!  Raymond, as I mentioned earlier, has begun his second year at university in Dodoma, studying Administration and, will train to replace me at Tumaini . . . poor Raymond!  Just kidding!  Nelson will finish secondary school in June and has BIG dreams for his post secondary education . . . we will keep you posted!

Volunteer Teacher Ms. Hoey and Class I

Our first and second graders are working with our wonderful volunteers to prepare for examinations.  Our class three and up students study in order to ace THEIR year end examinations and the rest of us will prepare for a very special Christmas celebration for about 80 people and that is just family and December volunteers.  Whew!  We will have visitors from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, (I am certain I am missing a country or two so will update you soon) and with everyone home for the holidays, things will be a tad “CRAZY”, but, for those of us who have experienced it, we wouldn’t have it any other way at Tumaini . . .

Our website is (hopefully) just days from launching. . . our land negotiations continue . . . and our 2013/2014 Giving catologue is going to print.  I should have a report for you in the next couple of weeks and of course it will be available on our website.  Please do keep us in mind for your Christmas giving list . . . everything from $10.00 to “buy a brick” for our building fund, to the payment of school fees for one child, to a child sponsorship is available so let me know how you’d like to help and we’ll mail out a Christmas gift card on your behalf!!

I would be remiss if I didn’t take just one moment to say thank you.  For the continued love and support you show us.  For your sponsorship dollars and fundraising efforts and donations (thank you to Mrs. Lingwood and church friends for their stash of socks and chupis (underwear) for our little ones . . . thank you to sponsors who have stayed with us for up to four years now and to new sponsors this year.  None of what we do could happen without you and your support so thank you, thank you.

12 days and counting . . . I will return to Canada in May as God wishes but first I will carry all of your love and well wishes and gifts and cards and donations with me.  Water has been scarce at Tumaini for more than three weeks now . . . Teacher Winner was just tested for malaria (negative thank God), but the network and electricity are undependable . . . please keep us in your prayers and once more . . . thank you!!

For those "local" supporters, we will host a small open house this Sunday (17th) from 2-5 p.m. at our home 857 Norfolk St. S. Simcoe . . . Mery, Reward, Lohai and Tumaini friends will be here to visit and to say thank you and goodbye . . . if possible please join us and please, PLEASE!  Remember that my husband Steve will be looking for volunteers to sell apple cider and donuts again daily this December.  Should you be interested in helping us out (thank you) please email him at steve@mybrokersteve.com and once more . . . thank you so, so very much for your continued love . . . and be well!