Blogs from Usa River, North, Tanzania, Africa - page 5

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Africa » Tanzania » North » Usa River October 2nd 2007

I've been here for about two weeks now. Something very sad happened here for my family. My grandma died. It was so unexpected, and it was so hard because we didn't expect it to happen so soon. We all thought that she would be there for Christmas when we got back. It was also hard for me because we didn't get to go to her funeral. I thought we would have at least gone home for that. My dad called my grandpa and my grandpa didn't think it was a good idea to spend the money to come home for that. It felt like I didn't get to say my final good bye to her. It was hard on everyone. There is a new volunteer coming from Spain today. She is twenty-one and her name is ... read more

Africa » Tanzania » North » Usa River October 2nd 2007

Last weekend we went on a climb of Mt. Meru with Davona and her family. There are pictures of all of us on the baby home website: www.cradleoflove.com. Check the entry titled "Weekend Wonders" for Sept 30th. We also went to Christ Church (Anglican) in Arusha for Sunday worship and enjoyed it so much. They had three choirs and I loved the youth choir from Moshi who sang African songs and danced--MoTown style or perhaps MoTown copied African style. It was so joyful. We also meet Bishop Simon Makundi of the Mt. Kilimanjaro Diocese who rode back with us to the baby home. It is amazing the synchronistic connections of people in this world. In our conversation he asked us if we knew someone named "Meredith." I asked him if he meant "Meredith from the U.N?" ... read more

Africa » Tanzania » North » Usa River September 29th 2007

Tom's mom passed away Saturday, Sept 29th at 10:14 am. She died peacefully and Tom's dad was with her when she died. We are all very sad. Helen Keller died at the age of 82. She is survived by her husband Fred, daugthers Kathy and Peggy, sons Bill and Tom. She had many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be missed. Please pray for our family.--Tom... read more

Africa » Tanzania » North » Usa River September 28th 2007

Today I had my first dala-dala ride. The dala-dala is large mini van with over 20 tiny seats in it. It pulls over on the side of the road, you pay a sort of conductor who rides on the side of it, and either find a seat or squeeze in, and I mean squeeze in. You tell the conductor where you want to get off and they make your stop. I feel very accomplished having done this. Of course Tom was with me but I still feel I passed a hurdle of being here and using the transportation system. We walked down the road to Usa River today after lunch, and I am getting used to cars, trucks, buses and dala-dalas being on the "wrong-side of the road" although it is a little scary crossing the ... read more

Africa » Tanzania » North » Usa River September 26th 2007

We recieved very sad news from home in the last week. My mom, Helen, who has had lung cancer for the last year and a half took a turn for the worse last week. She had been diagnosed with pneumonia right before we left but when we visited her a week ago last Sunday she was being treated and seemed very strong. All three of us said our good byes thinking that we would see her when we returned at Christmas time. Since she had lung cancer we discussed the possibility of her dying while were away but she seemed so strong just a week and a half ago. She had just returned from a trip to Portland to celebrate the wedding of her granddaughter, Lisa. She was tired when she returned but seemed to have ... read more

Africa » Tanzania » North » Usa River September 25th 2007

When we began this journey many of our friends called this an adventure but feeding thirty some babies and toddlers at the same time is an adventure in itself. Lunch time is crazy...the older toddlers come marching in and sit at a wooden table and a bowl is placed in front of them and they feed themselves. The younger toddlers are put in a row of high chairs and are feed one at a time by a nanny or volunteer. And the babies that are just starting solid food are put in a large table with holes cut and bucket seats. Surprizingly most of them don't scream and will wait but there are always as few and the pitch and volume is ear splitting. Each of us trying to feed one and get on to the ... read more
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