Trip to Tanga

Tanga is a Tanzanian town along the coast of the Indian Ocean, and it used to be a booming trade center from the English and German colonies.  Since WWII however, the town has lost its tourists and economic importance.  For the local Tanzanians though – it’s still a great vacation spot.

We had heard about the opportunity to take the kids on a trip the last time we were here, and this time, we wanted to make it happen.  They are pretty picky about which kids get the opportunity to see the ocean, and it’s generally new children to LIA, as well as kids from Mirerani – where the most water they have probably ever seen was in a five gallon bucket. 

Our journey started on Thursday and ended on a Monday, with a group of eight kids under twelve, one Mama, one Ramesha (one of the older kids who now works for them), and Abby, Sophie (another volunteer) and myself.  We took an “amazing” seven hour bus ride, stopping once for a bathroom break, and arrived that evening to a deceivingly beautiful mansion.  The hotel was modest, at best, with electricity, but running water only a few hours of the day (i.e. toilets didn’t flush – draw your own conclusions for those smells) and we paid only about $8/night for 13 people.  Hindsight – we probably should have sprung for an upgrade.

Ramesha shared a room/bed with the four boys (5, 6, 7, and 11 year olds), the Mama shared a room with Mary (12 years old), Sophie took care of the twins (6 year olds), and Abby and I were mamas to Ester, a very cheeky (it’s a British term, but the best word we could come up with) six year old. 

The main reason we wanted to go on this trip was because both of us remember how amazing we thought the ocean was (and still do).  Having the opportunity to watch a child’s face, who’s never been outside of their small, dusty, and dead world was something we had to make happen.  We were right, the bus ride and hotel were worth it, just to watch them see all that water and sand. 

They laughed and chased the sand crabs, held their breath and popped up out of the water with a proud (yet scared) expression, and wouldn’t come out of the water unless they were told.  The second day we took them to a hotel pool, and there they got even more comfortable in the water.  Almost every one learned how to swim (or at least kind of float and shimmy though the water), a few of them tried to give us heart attacks with their drowning attempts, and a few even got sunburns (yes, that black African skin can burn).

Being able to watch the kids experience something new for the first time was amazing, but the relationships we formed were priceless.  Most of the kids at Mirerani are so shy and quite (and they don’t speak much English), it was hard to tell if they were enjoying their time with us.  By the end of the third day in Tanga however, each kid had held each of our hand (even the boys!) and we had gotten to witness enough smiles and hear enough laughter to feel like we had done something special with them.  We told Mama Lynn when we returned it was hard not speaking the same language as them, and she replied with “You spoke the language of love darlings, and that’s the only language these kids need right now”.

Our Time at Light in Africa

After some issues arriving - like apparently cars hitting my plane in Nuremberg?! - I made with a grinning Sara and a grinning Paulo waiting for me. Then we got to a grinning Tati (our taxi driver from last time) and I felt an immediate sense of almost a - "wow, good to be home" - my third home that is :)

We got settled and saw the kids, the reasons we are here. My heart immediately filled with joy when I felt recognition on both sides. We remembered them and we are pretty sure they do too! The older ones definitely and the even sing the little song they have come up with Habby, Sarwa, Habby Sarwa (our names). So that has stayed the sames, tons of laughs and smiles just on bigger bodies! Otherwise, this is a different Light in Africa. It has grown and we even have hot water - but more on that later!


Mama Lynn got back from her travelling and we got out jobs for our time here. Because it is right up her alley, Sara will be organizing the sponsor lists digitally (as we mentioned before, it is the goal for every child to have a sponsor for monthly support and maybe the occasional gift) and I will be organizing to the gifts for Christmas. We will be helping eachother on both, but that will keep up busy!

As for now, we are headed off with 8 kids to Tanga on the coast. We are bringing kids from Mirerani (the mining town), who have probably never left there before and it will be the first time they will see the ocean or anything else for that matter! So we will be taking care these children 24/7 for the next 5 days a definite challenge and learning experience for us, but hopefully memorable and fun for the kids. We will update you when we are back on Monday.

One last thought, when you are reading this. I was walking around yesterday with one of the Mamas and she told the cook Babu - Pole Pole - and he just had the greatest laugh and just a voice of happiness. Pole Pole means to take it slow and easy. I got a huge smile on my face once again. These people are happy - remembering to take it easy and enjoy life.

We're Heeerrreeee!

Sunday, 11/25/12

I’ve been here less than twelve hours, and already, I feel right at home.  I say “I’ve been”, because Abby’s flight to Amsterdam got cancelled and she had to catch a flight out later Saturday night, and wouldn’t be arriving until this morning.

So…I spent my first night back at Light in Africa alone, and as much as I was dreading my first night here by myself, I was so excited to be back.  Paul (used to be in charge of the boys home, Pilgrim) now handles the volunteers and runs Torchbearer (more on that later), and when I saw him at the airport to pick me up, I gave a small skip, even hauling the 200 lbs of luggage with me. 

As soon as we started talking, the laughter and smiles were immediate (it’s hard to not smile when you’re around people who are pumping out pure joy with every breath)!  Paul said he was afraid I’d be shy and quite this time, but he had no such luck.  I may have even clapped about three different times on the drive to Tudor Village from the airport. 

As soon as Paul got done showing me Abby’s and my new home for the next five weeks, (yesss – didn’t have to stay in a tent at all this time!), I took an amazing cold shower and slept for the first time since 7am Friday morning.  Thanks to some very friendly birds, I was awake at sunrise.  I said hello to a baby lizard next to the light switch in our room, walked around the volunteer area of the village for a bit, saw Mt. Kilimanjaro, and did everything I could to not go running over the kids area.  I heard them laughing while I was eating a solo breakfast, and couldn’t quit grinning from ear to ear.  I’m sure the very nice man who cooks for us thought I was crazy.

Paul and I (and Tatti – our familiar cab driver) went to pick up Abby from the Kilimanjaro International Airport this morning, and now that she’s here too, this place got even better.

Tanzania - What's it Like?

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Like Abby said in her last post, trying to explain why we’re going to Tanzania for five weeks is hard, but if you’ve seen the video (from her last post), you can hopefully understand the why a little better.  Besides the “why” question, we also get the “what’s it like” question, so I thought I’d give a quick geography/demographic lesson about Tanzania, as well as a little about what our day-to-day lives will look like while at LIA.

Tanzania is an African country located along equator and the East coast.  Their main tourist attractions are the Serengeti National Wildlife Park and Mt. Kilimanjaro.  The country is technically a tropical climate, but as Light in Africa is located at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro (bit of a higher altitude), it is closer to a desert in my opinion.  It is hot hot hot and dry during the day, and cools significantly at night.  There are technically two rainy seasons, but with the recent droughts, they have made much of an impact.

Tanzania has more than 100 different tribes throughout the country, but everyone speaks Swahili.  We were told by one local, the reason his country doesn’t have all the political unrest/tribe wars like many other African countries is that everyone speaks the same language.  He knew he had brothers all over the country if he ever needed anything. 

Almost half of the Tanzanian population is under 15 years old, and the leading cause of death in its population is malaria, followed by pneumonia and rotavirus (diarrhea).  The HIV/AIDS epidemic is still a serious problem in the country, as there are estimated 1.4 million people (out of almost 47 million) in the country living with the disease.  Without Light in Africa’s support of the health clinic in Mirerani, the multiple heath dispensaries funded by LIA volunteers for the Maasai, and the countless medical bills Light in Africa has covered – the area would be severely worse off. 

Looking back on how our time was spent the last time we were at Light in Africa, our days were generally pretty different.  We did get into a bit of a routine, but we had our tasks to take care of, and when they were done (or if we could push them off), we’d spend the time hanging out with the kids.  I’m assuming this round, our time will be spent pretty similarly, except this time – we’ll be there for Christmas.  We’ve been told we’ll help make sure each kid at Tudor Village (around 200) will get a Christmas gift, (which knowing how things go in Tanzania – those simple shopping trips will generate numerous challenges and ridiculous  stories to share), as well as making Christmas gifts for the kids in Mirerani.  The kids in Mirerani generally receive a school book (schools require they provide their own), some candy, and pencils.

As much as both of us love Christmas with our friends and family, we’re excited to be a part of an African Christmas, not only because I know there will be no Hallmark BS to swallow, but also, because spending the holiday with the ones you love is important, and we love those kids. 

"Life is life. It is our duty to help anybody and everybody"

Junior

Last week, I spent an evening telling a new friend about my experience in Tanzania. I was immediately encountered with a problem - where to start? How to truly convey why Tanzania? Why there? and Why am I going back? Truth is - you can't explain it.
On the way home, I found myself stuck on a late train - again! Irritated, I decided to google some more information for my friend about LIA and came upon this video - a documentary about the organization. My irritation quickly grew to tears - joy - and finally extreme anticipation.
Also, excitement that I could better show people why we're going back. Please take a look at the video and experience what we did. Experience:

• Junior, the boy at the beginning who came to our birthday party last time
• Mama Lynn, the inspiring women whose word we clung to - the Angel of Kilimanjaro
• The beautiful children at Tudor Village, whose faces, laughs and songs are permanently engrained in my mind
• A dispensary in a remote Masaai village, which we also ran with the raised funds in 2010, where we gave medicine and washed many infected heads
• The food kitchen, that feeds a community in Mirenai - a city without banks or post offices

Hope you like it as much as I did! And if you would like to support, please visit our Fundly Page

Generosity is a Verb

I’ve been meaning to write a post about generosity, and how giving is so simple, and yet so easy to put off.  As I’m attempting to put my mess of thoughts on paper however, I quickly realized my thoughts on generosity really had a lot to do with action.  A generous spirit is only impactful if you take the action required to give. 

My parents taught me at a young age to help those who need it, and give without wanting anything in return.  I’ve tried to follow those guidelines throughout my life, and when it comes to giving my money to Light in Africa, for me - it’s a no brainer.  Giving to a charity you’re invested in is easy, you know that the money is going to a great cause and supporting some amazing people.  You also know the people behind the scene are squeezing every last penny out of each dollar they get, which to me, matters a lot as well.

The last time I got back from Africa, and I was struggling with the guilt of being back home, and with how I’d be able to afford to get back to Tanzania, I was asked why I felt like it was so important for me to get back.   Why didn’t I just send LIA in the $2000 I would spend on flights, the $25 a day I spend to stay there (+/- $800), the $300 in visa fees, etc., rather than wanting to spend it on myself and “waste it”.  My answer was these kids need support of all kinds.  They need arms to be held with, legs to run around with, smiles to encourage, and laps to sit in.  Feeding these kids during their current drought situation is incredibly important, but also making them forget for just a few minutes a day what they’ve been though, and they are genuinely loved, is a close second in my opinion.  Don’t get me wrong, being with those kids was the most rewarding and perma-grin experiences I’ve ever had – being there is a selfish move.  It is certainly no vacation, but I’m absolutely getting something from my giving.   My hope is that through our experience, our friends and family back home are also getting something.  Through Abby’s and my stories, I hope you feel connected to this organization and these children. 

My wish is that our experiences affect you, and that you feel compelled to do something.  Whatever your “action” is will be impactful to those who have so little.  My amazing parents were the ones I talked about in my last post who gave $1000 to Light in Africa early.  As Mama Lynn and Abby each discussed in their last posts, through their incredible generosity, the food kitchen Light in Africa runs that feeds 300 street children, 5 days a week is able to stay open.  Every time I even think about how amazing and life altering their donation was, I tear up.  Like Abby, I remember those faces in the food kitchen, and I feel so proud that my parents were willing to support these kids they’ve never met so generously.  They literally saved some starving orphans in Africa, whoa.

Clearly a donation of that quantity is not common, but the reason I shared their generous story, was because I want people to remember that their money is a tool.  The selfless people who run Light in Africa save their kids daily, but without our support, their hands are tied. 

Please consider giving something to these kiddos we love so much.  You can donate directly to the organization here, sponsor a child here, or donate online through Abby & I, and we can use your money however you’d like.  If you’d like to buy some Christmas gifts for the kids, we can do that.  If you want to pay for some food for the food kitchen, we can do that.  If you want us to find some mother who needs help with her bills, we can do that.  We feel so honored to be a part of the action behind your generosity.  

Video of Light In Africa

Video of pictures from our 2010 trip