So Far....

My work thus far has been busy. We arrived to Singida after our 13 hour very wet, muddy and bumpy ride in our Land Rovers. The country we saw on our way was so beautiful. As we left the Arusha area we began to see more Masai their home made of grasses and the many cattle they would be herding. There hasn't been much change with that since I was here last year, but a reminder of their simple living. There were many coffee trees and farms just outside Arusha which was very interesting to see. As we began to go further south there was less and less to see outside of the beauty of the land, the mountains, the beautiful trees and the much needed rain which was also a hazard on our travel. The Road to Singida became unpaved just about 30 minutes outside Arusha. So you can imagine, the dust, the mud the slipping and sliding was something I had really never experienced. We had a wonderful driver and we were escorted in Government vehicles so we were very safe. I imagined that anything less than what we were in may have put us upside down or tipped over like we saw time after time on this muddy roadway.

We arrived at the Catholic Social Center Compound late in the evening. It is a wonderful place to stay. The sisters are most gracious to us and are so Thankful that we have come to help in their community and beyond. We have very wonderful accommodations and feel very safe.

Yesterday we began to sterilize and clean the facilities in preparation for the rest of the medical team. Floyd and Kathy taught me how to convert unsafe water to bleach for cleaning. He had a small chlorination machine that when hooked up to his small truck battery, makes bleach water. After I had accomplished this task we began to clean our kitchen area so we could prepare for safe eating and drinking.

I had the wonderful opportunity to go the Singida Children's Feeding Center and met Sister Hilda who runs this center like a tight ship. I was able to participate in helping to feed the over 500 children that were there with their hungry bellies. It was very emotional for me as all of you know, my heart and compassion to help feed these children means so much. The children sang and danced for us and I feel so blessed to be there to bring them hope and love.

Today we visited the Regional hospital where I will be working next week. We met the eye team, the surgeon the director and the nurses. It was overflowing with patients and I do know that my help with carry them through better than ever. Dr. Peter I will be joining me on Sunday and he will help those with more specific troubles. It will be an intense week but one of hope for so many.

I must leave for now. I am ready to go back to the Feeding Center for some play time with the children. They are anxiously awaiting.

Thank you for your well wishes and many prayers and blessings. I feel everyone of them as I am here in Africa.

Until next time~

Cheers!

Safe in Africa!!

I have arrived safe and sound to Tanzania. We are waiting to depart for Singida region today which will be about a 10-12 hour journey over land. We were most welcome upon arrival in Tanzania. My work awaits when I arrive in Singida...the hospital and others we will visit.

I will post more as I have time, but please know all of your well wishes, prayers and blessings brought me here safe and sound.

Until next time~

Cheers!!

Prayer Shawls.

What a wonderful collective effort with the many dozens of prayer shawls I will deliver in Tanzania. These mean so much to the ones that receive them. A prayer shawl is hand knit or crotchet with the serenity of knowing that the person receiving them will feel the love and warmth of the many prayers that were knit into each shawl.

I assure everyone that has so kindly donated their time and talent with the prayer shawl that I will wrap and assure the recipient that prayers were said with each stitch.

They are all so beautiful, thank you for allowing me to share your love~

Until next time~

Cheers!

SOTH ~ Thank you!!

I want to send a very sincere Thank you to my Mission Dada (sister in Swahili) Karen and Pastor Jay for the wonderful love and commissioning Blessing you gave to me/us today. I was in great hands knowing that you blessed and prayed for our entire trip.

The service was heartwarming and it felt like home for me.

Thank you so very much and we will return to be better servants with enriched hearts.

Until next time~

Cheers!

EUMC ~ Sunday School/Confirmands get a lesson on life in TZ.

Asking the question to 75 enthusiatics listeners at EUMC Church today, "Have you ever been on a vacation or trip and when you've returned home you wanted to share every detail about that trip?" One little boy probably age 4 or 5 looked at his Mom and said: "Mom, what trip did I like?" and she said, the Brewer Game? He replied No Mom, the other trip....she said "The waterpark?" he replied "No Mom" the other one...she thought for minute and said the "train trip" He stood up and said "YES MOM finally that was the one" and he began to share all the details about his trip to Chicago on the Metra. Listening to his recollection about this trip was my purpose for being with this wonderful group of children today. I went there to share about a trip I took over a year ago and what was placed in my heart to share. There faces and great listening ears made my heart sing. They learned that the children/orphans in Tanzania are not as fortunate as the children are that were sitting in front of me today.

This wonderful church sponsors a World Vision Child in Tanzania. I am able to connect them to this brother of theirs and they were so excited to hear about where Johanes lives, how he lives and that he is a child just like they are!! The 75+ children that I had the honor to teach today, showed me that the little things we can do here; will make a huge difference for him and others. The gifts I will take with me are precious because they were made with love. The prayers for Johanes, his family and his village were heard....he will sleep just a little better tonight knowing so many care for him.

Thank you children at EUMC , Miss Karen and Miss Sandy. You are a truly Special group!!

Until next time~

Cheers!

Living, Learning, Caring and Sharing.

What a wonderful afternoon ~ Thank you Mrs. Block and Mrs. Piper for allowing me to borrow to students to share with them how others live in our world. The simplicity of a handmade book is a difficult thing for a 9 and 10 year old to wrap their head around. Explaining that most children in Tanzania don't get to go to a store and ask their Mom's and Dad's to buy them that favorite toy or game for the Wii. First of all there is no store, no money, where would you plug your Wii into if there is no electricity?? These questions weighed heavy on the 50+ children I spoke with today. Life is not easy, but with their love and thoughtfulness, there will be that glimmer of hope for many who will receive these special books!!

I am so thrilled when I can share just a little bit with the young children here in the USA about life in Tanzania. It doesn't have to be a big splashy presentation, but a simple grab a spot on the carpet sit in a circle with the children share my stories, answer their great questions and plant a seed that someday might sprout!!

This was the perfect way to end a great week!!

Until next time~

Cheers!

Thank you St. Paul's Church!!

Today was a wonderful day. I got to be a part of a "mission" morning with my friend Dorothy!! We were able to share our passion for mission and to plant some seeds!!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to talk about our wonderful and nutritious "Kids Care Food program" and to talk about the various packing events we have coming up in the next months. It is always interesting to share with people of any age that a daily nutritional meal is "not the norm" for over half of our world's population!! That most people eat only once a day and that would be considered a luxury. I love to share that with little expense for us, we can pack our nutritious meals and change the world!!!

It was a pleasure to meet so many kind and caring people at St. Paul's.

Thank you for inviting me to share my mission with you this morning!

Until next time~

Cheers!

Thank you Mary Beth!!

I want to Thank Mary Beth for our wonderful breakfast meeting on Saturday. Your prayer shawls, knit sweaters and hats will BLESS so many in Tanzania. I also want to let you know that your Crayons and coloring books will be another wonderful blessing to those that have never
received a special present in their lifetime.

Your prayer shawls are so beautiful. I have been showing them to everyone I see. Your work is beautiful and please know that everyone who receives one will feel the love and prayers you have put into these!!

You are such a blessing Mary Beth and I am so lucky to know you!! Thank you for helping me to help others. It is people like you that make this world a happier place.

Until next time~

Cheers

Special Thank you to Emily, Rachel, Kelsey and Taylor!

The Episcopal Church of Mukwanago deserves SPECIAL recognition for their call to help the orphans in Tanzania. The put together a fundraiser that had so much love and meaning behind it. Their donation to help with my mission work was a wonderful surprise!!! I promised Amy that I would keep track of all my work in and around Tanzania and I cannot wait to meet this wonderfully kind and generous group when I get back.

I look forward to sharing with you what I learn on this mission trip. I will bring back stories, photo's and video...and please always remember that your help is so appreciated. Please keep in touch either with email: simplehope1@gmail.com or post a comment on this blog!!!

Can't wait to meet all of you!!

Until next time~

Cheers!!

NEW EMAIL...

Please use my new email going forward: simplehope1@gmail.com.

Thank you kindly.

Until next time~

Cheers!

Blessings and Miracles.

I just received word that my friend from Kenya will be helping me with my eye clinic. He is an eye doctor who teaches and the University and has an eye clinic of his own. This will help me in a greater way because he can identify eye diseases and also can help me with kiswahili. Since I am learning and am a beginner, this will help our clinic be full of more meaning for those that come to receive their donated eye glasses!!!

Thank you Isaac for connecting your brother to my work. This is simply a miracle!!!

Until next time~

Cheers!!

Progress Progress Progress!!

My dear friend Karen is joining me on the mission to Tanzania trip. I am blessed to have her with me. She is a deeply compassionate about Africa and we will be a wonderful team helping so many that need love and hope.

We have prepared our eyeglass clinic and we are keeping our fingers crossed that our friend from Kenya will join us for the clinic. We have collected over 2000 pair of eyeglasses, we have had extensive training with a local eye clinic and we are learning to speak and understand Kiswahili with the help of a wonderful tutor.

I can't wait to share my journey with you this year. We have many meaningful things planned for our mission trip and with the help of my partners Outreach Int, we will accomplish that and more.

I want to let everyone who reads this know that I could not do all I am doing without your love and support. Each and everyone of you are important to me and my work. Even if you stop in for just one visit or many, its those moments that you are not thinking about anything else but the poor lonely, hungry, sad and sick children and adults in Tanzania. That thought can make a
difference ~

Until next time ~

Cheers!