The Day We Had All Been Waiting For

I have to admit I was a little nervous about this day.  You know that feeling when you build an event up in your mind.  You want it to be something wonderful and are nervous that it might not turn out the way you had hoped it would.  That was not the case today.  Meeting my girls, especially Mwajuma was everything I had hoped it would be and so much more.  I found myself trying not to show favoritism toward Mwajuma.  After all, she had been a part of my life for over 6 years.  But we quickly settled into comfortable conversation.  My translator for the day was great and help to make the day go smoothly.  I asked them more detailed questions about their families and they did the same in return.  Writing to the girls has been great, but I quickly discovered that there are some limits.  I began to learn more about my girls and their families in those few minutes than I had previously in all my letters. 

Mwajuma & Fadhila are about the same age.  Mwajuma is 15 and Fadhila had just turned 16.  They both live in Morogoro, but attend centers in different parts of the city.  I found out that as they were traveling together the kids began asking what each other’s sponsor’s names were.  The girls both said their sponsor’s name was Heidi, but they thought they were meeting 2 different people who happened to have the same name.  They did not know that they shared the same sponsor until I grabbed them both in a big hug when I saw them.

We shared a morning tea break and the girls got out the presents they had brought for me.  Mwajuma brought me a printed cloth that she tied around me as a skirt and another beautiful cloth that she wrapped around my shoulders.  She also brought me a elephant carved out of wood which is now proudly displayed in our home.  Fadhila brought me some bracelets.  Then she pulled out an envelope.  In it was a letter that her father had written to me.  It was hard to hold it together as she read such beautiful words.  He thanked me for caring for Fadhila.  He said that his children are like my children and my children are like his.  It was another moment of many that I experienced that confirmed that what we do as sponsors truly does make a difference.

I had brought them photo albums filled with photos of my family.  One of the photos was a map with the route I took to Tanzania mapped out.  They were surprised when I told them it took 4 different planes to get me there.  One of them stated that it must have been expensive.  I got to look both of them in the eye and tell them they were worth it.

Our day was full.  There was time for conversation, but there was plenty of time for fun as well.  The girls wanted to swim, but we ran out of time.  Instead we dipped our toes in the pool and Mwajuma quickly decided that the water was way too cold to swim in.  We kicked around soccer balls, passed the camera around and took a lot of photos, made bracelets together, and most of all we laughed. 

Later in the day I gave them the gifts I had brought.  For each of them I had a backpack filled with school supplies, some candy, a bracelet, and other items including a Swahili New Testaments that had been brought to Africa by one of our group members.

All too soon the day was coming to an end.  We took the chance to pray together.  After a group photo it was time to walk the girls to the bus and say goodbye.  I took a moment with each of them to hold them, look them in the eye, and tell them how much I loved them and that I was proud of them.  Fadhila first and then Mwajuma.  By the time I hugged Mwajuma, I was sobbing.  It was hard to watch their bus leave.  Probably the hardest part was knowing that more and likely I would not see them again.  I was asked by some in our group if I would be coming back.  Anything is possible, but the truth is that it is unlikely.  The girls are in their mid-teens and will age out of the program in several years.  If I am ever blessed with the opportunity to travel again with Compassion, I will choose to go to Thailand and meet our other sponsored child, Wannaporn.

However I realize what a gift I have been given.  Most sponsors never get to meet their children.  I had just spent an unforgettable day with 2 of mine.  I will hold the memory of that day in my heart for the rest of my life, and I will never be the same for it.

A day over 6 years in the making

Another day that merits more than one post.

First a little background….

A little over six years ago we choose this little 9 year old girl from Tanzania to be a part of our family. 

We wrote to her, financially supported her, and prayed for her.  I knew that I would love to meet her, but I really didn’t see that ever happening.  Instead we committed her to God’s care and trusted that our prayers, support and encouragement would make a difference in her life.  Yet through the years there was a small prayer in my heart, hardly ever verbalized….”God you know my heart on this matter, for this girl, for Africa….whatever your will is.”

I became a volunteer Child Advocate for Compassion a little over a year ago.  Soon after I attended an advocate’s conference in Chicago.  I spoke with sponsors that had traveled to meet their children.  I saw the difference that it had made for them.  I realized the benefit to their advocacy by that “closing of the gap” between sponsor and child.  That small prayer grew stronger in my heart.

The next day after returning from Chicago I opened my e-mail to see a message from Compassion announcing the next round of sponsor tours.  Then there was another message that came from God and it was this:  “Last week during Compassion Sunday you stood before your entire church family and said that if I was calling them to do something then I would provide the necessary resources to accomplish it.  I will provid what you need to go see your child.”  After discussing it with my husband I moved forward and registered to go to Tanzania.  God (who’s word can always be trusted) through generous friends and family, additional photography jobs, and extra provision through Dusty’s work, did provide the money needed for the trip.  That’s how I found myself in Arusha on March 17th with almost 40 other sponsors eagerly awaiting our children’s arrival.

In addition to Mwajuma, I would also be meeting Fadhila.  Fadhila is my correspondent child.  She has a financial sponsor, but the letter writing and correspondence is my responsibility. 

Introductions were to take place one at a time to avoid confusion.  Our group wanted to be singing and clapping when the arrived.  We ended up in two lines and when the kids all arrived, they all began working their way down the line shaking hands. 

 I was near the end and I began to worry that I wouldn’t recognize them.  After all I received a photo from them about once a year and I really had no concept of how tall they were.  Children began to see their sponsors and grab onto them.  I was taking in the moment while shaking hands and scanning faces.  I caught a woman looking at me.  She held up a paper with Fadhila’s name.  She was my translator for the day, but I still didn’t see Fadhila or Mwajuma.  I waited as they made their way around the group.  Suddenly there was Fadhila right in front of me.  I joyfully embraced her!  When I let go I looked to my right and there was Mwajuma.  I couldn’t help but to exclaim her name and grab her tightly. 

I remember earlier in the week that one of the staff members at a center we were visiting prayed this prayer, “God, you have made our prayer a reality!”  There in that moment God had made a prayer over 6 years in the making a living, breathing reality.  

Tarangire National Park – Cue Up the Theme to “The Lion King”

*Warning - Photo-heavy post! 

After an incredibly rewarding week in Singida and a wonderful day in Katesh we arrived at Maramboi Tented Camp.  The place was everything that you think of when thinking “safari”.  We enjoyed dinner together and spent the time unwinding and decompressing from all that we had experienced.  We also had ventured back into the land of  wi-fi so I was able to Facetime with Dusty.  After about a week of not being able to communicate except for short texts I was very glad to see my family!

Thanks to the abundance of hot water and water pressure I had the best shower ever, collapsed into a very comfortable bed, and was asleep in no time.  The next thing I remember is waking up to the loud sound of something outside my tent.  Now these were permanent structures but they walls were still canvas.  I sat up in bed and listened.  The staff had assured us that everything was very safe, but I’m still thinking, “Great…I will be the first causality in the history of this place when this huge lion tears through my wall!”  Whatever was outside the tent kept moving around in the bushes and then it made a snorting sound like a pig.  A warthog had woke me up at 5 AM!  Now I was getting mildly annoyed.  I was awake and couldn’t go back to sleep because of Pumbaa.  I decided to just enjoy the experience.  How many of you can say that you’ve been woke up by a warthog?

Sunday morning dawned bright, warm, & beautiful.  We sat on the large deck overlooking the area.  Hundreds, possibly thousands of flamingos formed a pink line of the far side of the distant lake.  A warthog and her wartlets rummaged around our deck.  I told my new friends that I missed seeing my church family today, but what a treat to see God’s creation in this way!

We loaded up in our Land Rover’s and headed a short distance away to Tarangire National Park.  Immanuel, our driver, would help to make this day even more special.  He was so full of enthusiasm; as if he was seeing all of this for the first time also.  I mean you have to love a driver that will stop the vehicle and back it up just to show you a huge millipede on the road. 

 We entered Tarangire and for the next 4 hours I got to see wildlife that I had only seen in zoos.  It was incredible.  It may sound a bit cheesy, but the word I can think of to describe it was “glee”.  I was like a wide-eyed kid.  We saw more warthogs (or as Immanuel called them “lion sausage”) giraffes, baboons, zebras, lions, elephants, and so much more.  There were birds of all sizes and colors.  Immanuel was pointing out animals, looking up pictures for us in his guidebooks, and giving us all kinds of facts about what we were seeing.  All the time with that contagious level of joy and enthusiasm.

 We stopped for a picnic lunch and had even more fun.  If you travel to the beach you have to deal with pesky birds trying to steal your food.  Well on safari you have to watch the pesky monkeys trying to grab a snack.  Several of our group’s lunches fell victim to sneaky monkeys.

 The day was picture perfect.  The scenery was breathtaking.  Even though I tried my best there is no way to capture in a photo or on video the scope of the beautiful landscape.  Simply put it’s a day that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Just a few video clips from the day....including the naughty monkeys

Katesh - Eventually the Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya!

Saturday would be our last visit to a Compassion project.  We visited a center in Katesh.  The children in Tanzania attend school throughout the week so Saturday is a typical attendance day for the centers.  Where at previous visits there was a smaller group of children present, today would be a full attendance day.  We arrived at the center and were greeted by 175-200 children and staff. 

More wonderful singing by the choir.  It was interesting to see the difference at the centers in the dancing that the kids did.  Quite possibly that was connected to which tribes were prevalent in the area.  I remember at this center that it was especially spirited.  There were several boys in particular that really got down with it!

I had discovered that in the face of language barriers that smiles and laughter were a common bond.  There was also another common bond….music.

Our group would be leading VBS-type activities for the children.  We were divided into 4 teams:  recreation, crafts, worship, & bible story.  I was on the worship team.  We had several songs we planned to teach the children.  All the songs had motions to them, and since we had a language barrier,that’s what we were focusing on.  We taught the songs and of course being the person that I am, I made sure that I was doing the motions “over-the-top”.  I figured that they might not remember the song, but I’m sure they got a laugh about the silly white woman.  In fact, at one point, I was leading a conga line of 30 Tanzanian children through the church while waving rhythm shakers around singing “Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe”!  There may or may not be a video of this.  I’m sure if it does exist it’s quite special.. HA!

We shared lunch, toured the center, and were presented with a DVD of the choir to take home.

Again there were a couple of girls that stayed with me most of the day.  One of them was Ana.  I had a few bracelets with me that our pastor’s daughter, Lauren, had made on her Rainbow loom and sent with me.  At the end of the day I thanked her for being my friend for the day and slipped one of the bracelets on her arm.  I managed to quietly hand out a few more of the bracelets without causing a riot. 

We said our goodbyes and made our way to Maramboi Tented camp, where we would spend the night before the much anticipated safari.  We arrived to a wonderful resort that almost seemed like Eden….but not before we dealt with this!

Singida - Rock Climbing and a universal language

The 5th center that we visited was a very short drive from the hotel and would be our last center in the Singida region.  We hopped off our bus at TZ-123 Jerusalem Student Center to be greeted with all the warmth and enthusiasm that we had experienced all week.  What I remember about this day was that is was fun and relaxed.  There was no “over the top” emotional moment, but it was just a day filled with laughter. 

 We listened to their wonderful choir and heard a testimony from one of the older girls.  I do remember that after she was done I would have liked to looked her in the eye and told her that even though I wasn’t her sponsor, I know that if her sponsor had been there they would be so proud of her.  In a way, I hope that is something all of the children took away from our visit.  We may not have been their particular sponsor, but we were proud of them, we loved them, and we wanted the very best for them. 

 Singida had some very unique rock formations.  There were huge rocks and boulders that covered the landscape.  It was quite odd since there were no mountains nearby.  Just random rocks.  After the formal presentations we went outside to spend time with the children.  They led us behind the buildings to climb up some of these rocks.  Now those of you who know me know that I have a reputation for being able to fall and mess up my feet and ankles quite easily.  I’ve tripped over sidewalks, rolled my ankles, and on one occasion slipped out of my own sandals and fell off the stage at church.  (Fortunately it was during practice before church and only the band witnessed my spectacular tuck & roll maneuver.)  I just knew I was going to slip and roll to my demise!  I slowly made my way and was rewarded with a view overlooking the lake in Singida.  In all reality we weren't that high up, but remember I’ve injured myself over a 1/2 inch difference in a sidewalk.

 Photos were popular.  Especially photos with Barbara.  Everyone wanted their photo with “bibi” which means Grandma.  I know Bibi was enjoying it.  

We played games and laughed.  You know, we didn’t share a common language, but a smile and laughter are universal.  It was amazing how much could be communicated with just those things. 

 We shared lunch, photos, smiles, and fun.  We said our goodbyes and returned to the hotel.  We had spend 5 days in Singida and would start our return to Arusha the next day.  It had been such a full and rewarding trip to this point, and it was only going to continue.

Tanzania - Lightness & Loveness

Today would be a special day for us.  Our entire group was off to a center in Singida that featured a Child Survival Project.  The CSP focuses on mothers who are pregnant or have babies and toddlers.  Mothers enrolled in the program receive health care, education, and nutritional assistance.   The mother’s choir performed beautifully for us.  The project report was given and I’ll have to admit it was a little hard to focus with little faces like this one.  There was so much cuteness! 

We toured the project and learned about programs that were designed to help the mothers become economically self sufficient.  They were being taught sewing, weaving, and batik making.  Batik is a dyeing process that resulted in beautiful clothes like these.

  We found out that we were able to purchase them directly from the project.  I bought two to take home.  I was looking to bring some cloth home from Africa just like this, and I was glad to know that I was helping to directly support these wonderful women.  By the time our entire group had made it’s way through this part of the center we had completely bought them out. 

After touring the facility we divided up into our groups for home visits.  I had a special item tucked into my backpack just for this day.  My mother makes cloth dolls that she packs into her shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  She sends some with me every year to place into the boxes that I pack.  Last year, after the boxes had been packed and shipped off I found one of these dolls.  It had managed to get left behind.  I decided to pack the doll in my suitcase.  I didn’t have a specific plan for it, but I just figured that I would know when to give it away.  I thought that this would be the perfect day because we would be visiting with younger children. 

I hoped that we would visit a home of a little girl.  As we walked the short distance to the home I realized that there might be a problem with that plan.  We were headed to the home of not one, but two little girls.  We followed these sweet little twin girls and their mother to their simple home.  

I turned to my friend Tawnya with a worried look.  “I only have one doll….what do I do now.”  I then said that maybe I was letting the American way of thinking get in the way.  You know, where everything has to be equal and fair.  I decided to play it by ear. 

Through our conversation we learned that the twins were only 2 of the 8 children in the family.  A relative also lived there as well which equaled 9 kids to 3 beds.  After visiting with the family and presenting them with the food gifts I quietly told our translator Joseph that I had a doll to give, but I only had one.  I asked him if it would still be appropriate.  Joseph assured me that the family would be grateful and I should go ahead.  I pulled the doll out of my bag and explained, through our translator, that my mother had made this doll and that it was given in love.  I handed it to one of the girls.  Her name was Loveness.  She intently looked it over.  Then the doll was handed to the other girl.  Her name was Lightness.  She stared at that little doll and even pulled it up to her face to feel it on her cheek.  Her mother explained that Lightness really loves babies, more so than Loveness.  Sweet little Lightness latched onto that doll. 

 I began to tear up.  This was affecting me in a way that I didn’t expect.  I knew that my Mom would be so happy to see this precious little girl with the doll.  I also was struck with the fact that I got personally hand this gift over.  I’ve packed many boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I pack them up and send them off with prayer.  I often wonder what the reaction was when it was opened up.  Was the child excited?  Did they smile?  Did they laugh and squeal with glee?  It was no small thing to be able to kneel down and hand this gift directly to its recipient.

I asked Tawnya to take a photo after I pulled myself together. It was just another highlight moment of many!