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!

Itigi Day 2 – Compassion in Action

As part of our visit in Itigi we had a morning tea break.  The chai tea was wonderful!  We spent a lot of our morning playing with the kids.  There were a lot of kids that had come that were not enrolled at the center with Compassion.  They were from the village and I’m sure they were curious to see what the bus load of white people were all about. 

 Before lunch we walked a short distance to the home of one of the Compassion children.  We had just had a downpour and the ground was soaked.  While we stepped carefully to avoid slipping in the mud, we were led by this woman.

Not only was she balancing this heavy box of food, she was doing it sidestepping puddles while wearing dress shoes with a bit of a heel to them.  I had on hiking sandals and was moving with FAR less grace.

We were welcomed by this girl and her grandmother. I think not smiling in photos is partially a cultural thing because this grandmother was quite warm and friendly. The girl's parents had moved elsewhere and left her with the grandmother.  We visited for a while.  I asked her about her sponsor and if she received any letters.  Immediately the grandmother went to the other room and returned with a stack of letters, all in pristine condition.  They were a treasured possession. 

It was soon lunchtime.  I took my plate and sat down at a table on the porch to eat.  I absentmindedly waved at a little girl who was playing nearby.  She was not enrolled at the project.  She walked right over to where I sat and stood at my chair and stared at my plate.  I just about couldn’t handle it.  I would have given her the entire plate, but I knew that would have caused problems since there were A LOT of village kids there.  I looked at Tonya and told her that I simply could not eat in front of this child…I would not.  Tonya had some stickers and led the girl over to another area with some other children and passed out stickers as a distraction.  It was such a sad feeling to know how much need there was among these kids.  What happened next though left me full of hope and gladness.  After we had been served and after the Compassion kids had their plates, the staff lined up every village kid that was around the building, had them wash their hands and gave them each a plate full of food. 

 In fact, several of the center’s kids had tried to go back for seconds, but they were gently turned away until EVERYONE had a plate of food.  I was so glad to see this act of compassion and love in action. 

Even if resources and funds were many, there will always be more need.  However it was great to see this example of many of how the staff use their resources to the best of their ability to meet as many needs as possible.  I’m so proud to be just a very small part of such a wonderful organization.

Our day in Itigi left me a little emotionally drained but full of hope.

 **I’d like to make a little departure from my day to day account to share this.  When I returned from Tanzania I had two sponsorship packets waiting for me.  One boy and one girl from Tanzania needing sponsors.  One of them, Veronika, has a birthday tomorrow.  On April 2nd she will turn 7 years old.  I can think of no better birthday gift than to connect her with a caring sponsor. 

 Perhaps you’ve been thinking that sponsoring a child with Compassion might be a good thing for you and your family.  I can answer that…Yes, it would!   Perhaps you wonder if you can truly make a difference in a child’s life.  Again I have the answer….an unequivocal YES!  You can help change the world.  Sponsorship through Compassion costs $38 a month.  If you would like more information about sponsoring Veronika or have any questions about Compassion please contact me at hhackney@visithope.org  I made that decision over 6 years ago and I’ve never regretted.  In fact, now I know it was one of the best decisions of my life.

Tanzania – A Divine Appointment in Itigi

*Note – My day in Itigi was so rich in experience that it deserves 2 posts.  This is part one.

On this day we loaded onto our buses for the ride to Itigi.  We would drive for a couple hours further into the heart of Tanzania.  I had the wonderful experience of sitting next to Peter on this trip.  Peter is a staff member with the Tanzanian Compassion country office.  We spoke about the differences in our cultures.  I learned that Peter paid 2 cows for his wife.  When we asked him if that meant the money equivalent of 2 cows he said, “No!  I gave her father 2 cows!”  Peter is from the Maasai tribe.  Because my youngest brother’s name is Peter I referred to him as “My other brother Peter” or “My Maasai brother Peter” for the rest of the week. 

My Maasai brother Peter

Itigi was a noticeably poorer area than where we had previously been.  However as we pulled up to the project we were again greeting with more warmth and enthusiasm than you can imagine.  The children were clapping and singing.  We got off the bus and after the round of handshakes and “Jambo”s I was greeted by the project director.  This man took me by the hand and joyfully led me and another lady from our group to the church. 

Again we got the privilege of hearing some beautiful singing courtesy of the choir.  They broke into harmonies and I started recording some of it.  I was sitting in my chair thinking, “This is one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard!”  As I was recording I began to notice some of the children.  They were singing with such intensity and emotion.  I looked closer and noticed that some of them had tears streaming down their faces as they sung.  As they continued to sing you could sense the Spirit in the room.  I switched off the camera and just took it in, committing it to memory.  As I wiped tears from my eyes the song concluded.  Our translator wanted to explain the meaning of the song.  The theme was that parents should lovingly watch after and take care of their children and not abandon them.  He went on to explain how the children were not sad, but the deep meaning of what they were singing about.

Not for one moment did I believe that what I had just seen was an act.  It was too real, too intense.  Those tears did not just switch off for the kids after the song was over.  I had to believe that some of them had experienced or closely knew someone who had experienced just what they were singing about.

The “God” moment was just about to get bigger.

A girl came up to give her testimony.  As soon as she began I could tell it was very emotional for her.  As she spoke she became visibly more emotional.  Joseph, our translator told how that when her dad found out that her mom was pregnant, he left them.  Then at some point he sent someone to kill both of them.  They were unharmed, but her dad returned when she was 3 and kicked her and her mom out of the house.  She spoke a little more and then began to tell of the difference Compassion and the church had made in her life.  By the end she was on her knees, sobbing.  She was so thankful for Compassion and the church for the change in her life.  As you can imagine we are all a wreck at this point.  As she made her way back to her seat several of our group jumped up and embraced her....sobbing.  I was sitting next to Keith, our team leader.  Joseph turned to Keith and asked if someone would pray for her.  Keith turned to me and asked if I would.  I stood up and walked to her.  I put one hand on her shoulder and the other in the air.  Our group gathered around her and I prayed.  I can't tell you what I prayed, but I know that I have rarely prayed with that much force in my voice.  You could feel God's presence.  I know that the words coming out of my mouth were not of my doing.

But this story gets even better.  At each center it seems that a certain child or group of children would hang around with one particular sponsor.  On that day this beautiful child seemed to spend a lot of time with Stephanie.  I even have a photo of them together.    Sean our other team leader had brought several child sponsorship packets with him from Tanzania.  Two days later, Stephanie was flipping through the packets and she saw this beautiful girl’s face!  She was unsponsored.  Stephanie had traveled to Tanzania with her grandmother, who is a sponsor, but Stephanie herself did not sponsor a child.   Immediately she grabbed hold of the packet and as of today Stephanie is the brand new sponsor or this precious girl in Itigi! 

God knew this beautiful child in Africa before she was born and had a plan for her.  God knew Stephanie would travel to Africa.  On a warm African day in March 2014 he brought them together….and 2 days later He would show us why!  I’m just so happy that I got to witness the moment.

Tanzania - Amazing where life will take you!

Our 2nd full day in Tanzania found us visiting Compassion centers in the Singida area.  Since our group was so large we divided into 2 groups with each group visiting a different project.  My group would be visiting TZ-901.  But first, we organized all of the supplies that our group had brought.  We were able to give each center we visited a suitcase full of school supplies, craft items, and toys.  

Again we were treated to such a warm welcome when our bus pulled up.  The children were singing and clapping.  After getting off our bus we were immediately led to the office to sign the guest book.  Then we greeted the children with plenty of “Jambo’s” and “Good Morning’s”.  At each center we visited we would sit mixed in with the children.  It was always fun to see which kid would gravitate toward your chair.  The kids that would sit around us would tend to stay near to us the entire day.

The choir performed and again we got to enjoy some of the most wonderful singing and dancing.  At this point I’m beginning to wonder if we might need to institute a little dancing at my church.  It sure does add to the level of sheer joy!  Testimonies were given and reports were presented.  I was beginning to understand how important our visits were to the centers we went to, not only because we were the first sponsors to visit these projects, but we were also joined by staff from the country Compassion office. 

We toured the grounds and saw the classrooms, computer lab, and offices.  As in each center a detailed binder of documents was kept for each child.  I loved to see the amount of care that is poured into each child.

We spent the next hour or so just playing with the kids.  Bubbles and stickers were a big hit!  We had stickers EVERYWHERE!   On the hands, faces, and arms, everyone had a sticker on them.  My camera was again popular.  I had quite the little group of photographers before it was over.  Girls or boys…it didn’t matter…everyone wanted a photo.

Before our lunch we made our first home visit.  We divided up into smaller groups, and my group walked a short distance to Kassima’s home.  He was a 15-year old boy who attended this Compassion project.  He lived with his mother.  His grandmother lived nearby and she joined them for our visit.  We filed into a very humble home that was made of simply made bricks and a metal roof.  Even though the floors were dirt, they had been meticulously swept as had the area around the home.  We sat on a mat and some chairs and stools.  There was very little light and after a few minutes our translator suggested that we might move outside and sit in the shade.  It seemed a bit awkward.  Here was 8 white Americans asking questions about this Tanzanian woman’s life.  She seemed a bit shy or possibly overwhelmed by it all.  The boy’s grandmother was quick to jump with with conversation.  We talked for a while, asking Kassima about his goals and challenges.  We presented the family with a box of food and some gifts for their home.  Before we left we asked how we might pray for them.  As we began to pray, the local mosque began broadcasting over their speakers. 

There would be several moments over the course of this trip that would just hit me, and I would ask God to burn them into my memory.  This was one of them.   Here I was, a farm girl from Southern Illinois, and I was sitting on a mat in the shade of a African tree.  I was sitting outside a home the was so simple and humble by American standards.  In fact I’m sure most of you have sheds and outbuildings that are fancier.  While Muslim prayers were being broadcast loudly, I joined with people from different parts of America that up until 3 days ago I had never met, and we prayed for this beautiful family. 

I was amazed at where life had taken me!

After our visit we had lunch at the center.  This day we went through the line with a plate in each hand.  Then we served those plates to the children.  You would not believe the food.  I counted no less that 11 different items that were piled onto those plates.  To the best of my memory it included:  white rice, pasta, boiled potato, mashed potatoes, rice cooked in a broth, chicken, spinach, a meat curry, vegetables, plantains, fruit salad.  It all got piled onto the plate.  By the end I was starting to have trouble balancing my 2 full plates.  When it was our turn I asked Sean, our group leader, if there was a polite way to decline an item.  I didn't want to offend anyone, but there was no way I could eat all of that food and I didn't want to be wasteful.  I was assured that I could just say “No, Thank You” and move on. 

....and this was my "pared down" version of lunch!

We had our lunch and the little girl next to me did take down all that food!  We were then each presented a gift from the children.   They brought a scarf to each of us that they had made.  They were precious to us!

 

We left with plenty of smiles and joy in our hearts.  We would share our day with the other group in the evening and hear their stories.  I did my best to write down those things I wanted to remember.  Then it was time to collapse into bed and do it all again the next day.

Tanzania - On to Singida

After two full days of travel we caught a night’s rest then we were up and at it early the next morning.  Our hotel had a box breakfast for us to take with us, so we hit the road.  Breakfast was interesting.  I ate the banana, hard-boiled egg, and croissant, but decided to skip the package that looked like a hot dog.  I figured the protein from the egg would be enough.

As we drove through Arusha the thing that stood out to me was that there were people walking everywhere.  Such a contrast from suburban America.  We get in our cars, back out of our garages and drive wherever we need to go, even if it’s just down the road.  Here if you needed to get there, you walked.  I also was struck by how colorful the women’s clothing was.  Bright colors everywhere!  America is a drab place in comparison (clothing-wise). 

We left Arusha and drove toward Singida.  This would take several hours.  We were stopping at a Compassion center in Katesh on the way.  As we drove we passed many Maasai dwellings.  My parents live near Amish territory in Illinois.  Amish compared to the rest of the residents of Central Illinois is what the Maasai seemed like compared to the other Tanzanian people.  More primitive.  Their homes were mud huts.  They could be seen herding their cows and goats; sometimes right along the highway. 

After a while our buses pulled to the side of the road and our leader said that we were going to take a quick bathroom break.  All of us laughed…..and then realized he wasn’t kidding.  I decided I could wait.

We arrived in Katesh at the Compassion project.  There were the children dressed in their best.  They were clapping and singing as we pulled up.  What a greeting!  We were all smiles as we were welcomed.  The children sang “This is the Day” as we walked toward the church.  Then they led us to the building. 

We were treated to the first of what would be many beautiful choir performances.  After the beautiful singing and spirited dancing, we sat down to lunch.  This would be the first of many meals that would look a lot like this one.

The food tasted good, but we would see a LOT of rice in the next week.

We spent the rest of our time playing with the kids and touring the center.  Our cameras were a big hit and the kids loved taking turns posing and then snapping photo themselves.  Even the staff got into the spirit.

Soon it was time to go.  We were each given a DVD of the choir as a gift.  We said our goodbyes and we resumed our drive to Singida.  We arrived at the Aqua Vitae Resort in Singida later in the afternoon.  My room resembled more of a small dorm room.  However this is Africa after all.  If anyone was expecting the Hilton then they really had checked their sense of reality at the door.  This trip really wasn't about our personal comfort anyway, and in reality these accommodations were so far above what the majority of the people lived in.  I was a little disappointed that there was not internet access, only because this was the means of communication that I had with my family back home.  Fortunately a generous woman in our group lent me her phone every evening to send a quick text message to my husband that I was alive and well.

The next day would bring another visit to a child center and another full day of unforgettable experiences.

Tanzania – Part 2, Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore!

I had a non-eventful flight up to New York, landed at Kennedy and caught a glimpse of the Manhattan skyline.  We landed at terminal 4 and we were leaving out of terminal 7.  Fortunately I just followed Harlan and Terry and didn't have to over think the process.  We met up with our group headed through security.  At this point I’m realizing that a carry-on with wheels is a genius idea that I did not happen to have before I left.  My carry-on is quite heavy.  (A point that will come back to bite me later as I board the plane)  After security our entire group congregated at the gate and we spent the time getting to know the people we would spend the next 12 days with. 

We were flying KLM to Amsterdam and apparently they have carry-on weight restrictions.  Most of the others in the group had their carry-ons weighed when they checked in.  Not me.  I was pulled out of the line to weigh my bag and purse.  I use the term “purse” loosely.  It was more like a small overnight bag packed with ipad, documents, wallet, snacks, a book, camera, and anything else I thought I might need on the flight.  Needless to say I quickly went over the 26 lb. limit and my carry-on had to be checked.  I was told I would see it in Kilimanjaro.  Not being convinced I made a mad scramble to grab anything necessary in case I ended up with no luggage.  I managed to pull a ziploc bag with some clean socks and underwear.  Hopefully my luggage makes it to Africa or things were going to get real interesting, real quick!

There’s nothing like the feeling of screaming down the runway on a Boeing 777.   Loved every minute of it.  We settled into our overnight flight across the Atlantic.  I was in the middle seat of the side section.  I quickly discovered two things.  Sleeping on a plane, at least in the economy section, is almost impossible, and if you have personal space issues the economy class is not for you.  I was sandwiched in between 2 wonderful people in my group and we became quick friends.  We had to out of necessity!  We landed as the sun was coming up in Amsterdam.  My body said it was still 1:00 AM.  Time to find some European coffee!

After stretching our legs for a couple hours we were on board for our longest flight.  Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro would take about 9 hours.  Sean our trip leader suggested that we try our best to stay awake so that we would adjust better to the time difference.  No problem….we’re still in economy, there will be no sleep for me. 

I managed to either be assigned or trade for a window seat on all of my daytime flights.  The aisle seat makes it easier to get up and move around, but again, taking into account I’m a traveling newbie, I loved being on the window.  During the course of the day I saw the Alps, the Pyrenees on the Italian coast, Sicily, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Sahara desert.  It really puts into perspective how beautiful our world, God’s creation, really is.

The Alps

Sahara Desert

The sun set and we landed in Kilimanjaro.  The song that KLM played on board after we landed… “Happy” by Pharrell Williams…and we were!  This was a smaller airport and we had stairs to get off the plane.  Stepping outside we were hit with a warm wind.  Palm trees were swaying and the excitement was evident!  We walked into an airport with no air conditioning, but full of ceiling fans that keeping the place cool.  The floors were wood.  The entire place screamed, “You are not in America anymore!”  Miraculously both of my bags appeared on the carousel.  We headed out to 2 buses.  Our luggage got strapped to the top.  I had visions of my suitcase flying off into the unknown, but credit to our drivers, they knew what they were doing.  We made the 45 minute drive to our hotel.  I remember even the air smelling different, like burning wood.  I’m sure due to the fact that this was how a lot of the cooking was done.  We unloaded at the hotel and sleepily made our way to our rooms. 

After a cold shower (hot water would be hit and miss) my roommate and I opened the window, turned on the fan, crawled into bed, lowered our mosquito netting and collapsed.  Sometime in the night a bird or something that we don’t have in Indiana made a noise outside.  I woke up a bit disoriented and had this very real thought, “Whoa!  You’re in Africa!”