Buenos Dias,
Well, another early start and another distribution. This time we stayed in the city but went to Desarollo on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa. We had 744 bedkits to distribute in one location for five different schools. Things got off to a slow start but sped up as time went on. We started shortly after 9 AM and we were done shortly after 2 PM. All went well. We then had a bite to eat which was provided by the wives of the Rotarians. We had a chance to chat a bit with all those that had helped out with the distribution and got to know each other a bit more.
We then were off to the hotel to freshen up. At 6:30 PM we met in the lobby and went out for supper at a reataurant across the street. We are certainly eating well.
The others are playing cards tonight while I am writing this report. I think most of us will be off to bed early tonight. Once tomorrow's distribution is finished we will be at the half way point.
Until the next email,
Harry from Barrie
Reporting live from Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Well, another early start and another distribution. This time we stayed in the city but went to Desarollo on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa. We had 744 bedkits to distribute in one location for five different schools. Things got off to a slow start but sped up as time went on. We started shortly after 9 AM and we were done shortly after 2 PM. All went well. We then had a bite to eat which was provided by the wives of the Rotarians. We had a chance to chat a bit with all those that had helped out with the distribution and got to know each other a bit more.We then were off to the hotel to freshen up. At 6:30 PM we met in the lobby and went out for supper at a reataurant across the street. We are certainly eating well.
The others are playing cards tonight while I am writing this report. I think most of us will be off to bed early tonight. Once tomorrow's distribution is finished we will be at the half way point.
Until the next email,
Harry from Barrie
Reporting live from Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Good Day,
I haven't been able to get an internet connection in the past two days. We have been on the road and have now just returned to Tegucigalpa. We completed two distributions, one in Manzaragua and another in Guinope.
We left Friday morning for El Zamarano which is an Agricultural University about 45 minutes from Tegucigalpa. We stayed there in the student living quarters (Hotel). We were given a tour of the facilities and told about this unique form of education. The students actually work in all facets of agriculture and produce products which are sold locally and in some cases internationally. Their products are sold under the name of Zamerano and include items like jalepino sauce, hot sauce and ketchup.
Jenny is shown to the right at our first distribution on Saturday morning. It was in Manzaragua, located about one hour from El Zamarano on dirt roads full of potholes and ruts from the heavy rains. The road was uphill for a few thousand feet. We handed out 393 bed kits, had lunch, and then were off to Guinope which is back in the direction of El Zamarano but forking off in another direction. It took about 45 minutes to get there on more rough and bumpy roads. We set up and gave out 384 bed kits and were on our way back to El Zamarano.
Sunday morning we went back off to Guinope to hand out bedkits again but this time in groups. This was a bit quicker process and we gave out 733 bedkits. It is always a wonderful sight to see the joy and excitement in the children's faces. It is a huge gift for them and they are extremely grateful. The members of the Rotary club and others involved in helping out certainly make our job a lot easier and it could not be done without them.
This afternoon we headed back to Tegucigalpa and checked back into the hotel we were in the first night we got here, the Honduras Maya. Tomorrow we are starting distributions in the city and surroundings and will be doing so until next Saturday.
I will send another report tomorrow.
Harry from Barrie
Reporting from Tegucigalpa, Honduras
I haven't been able to get an internet connection in the past two days. We have been on the road and have now just returned to Tegucigalpa. We completed two distributions, one in Manzaragua and another in Guinope.
We left Friday morning for El Zamarano which is an Agricultural University about 45 minutes from Tegucigalpa. We stayed there in the student living quarters (Hotel). We were given a tour of the facilities and told about this unique form of education. The students actually work in all facets of agriculture and produce products which are sold locally and in some cases internationally. Their products are sold under the name of Zamerano and include items like jalepino sauce, hot sauce and ketchup.
Jenny is shown to the right at our first distribution on Saturday morning. It was in Manzaragua, located about one hour from El Zamarano on dirt roads full of potholes and ruts from the heavy rains. The road was uphill for a few thousand feet. We handed out 393 bed kits, had lunch, and then were off to Guinope which is back in the direction of El Zamarano but forking off in another direction. It took about 45 minutes to get there on more rough and bumpy roads. We set up and gave out 384 bed kits and were on our way back to El Zamarano.Sunday morning we went back off to Guinope to hand out bedkits again but this time in groups. This was a bit quicker process and we gave out 733 bedkits. It is always a wonderful sight to see the joy and excitement in the children's faces. It is a huge gift for them and they are extremely grateful. The members of the Rotary club and others involved in helping out certainly make our job a lot easier and it could not be done without them.
This afternoon we headed back to Tegucigalpa and checked back into the hotel we were in the first night we got here, the Honduras Maya. Tomorrow we are starting distributions in the city and surroundings and will be doing so until next Saturday.
I will send another report tomorrow.
Harry from Barrie
Reporting from Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Hello All,
We just got into Honduras today. Here are some pictures. We had a great day. It started at 1 AM for me. I had to get up and get transportation to the airport at 2 AM. There I met up with the other people travelling: seven of us including Dave Dryden.
We left Toronto at 6:30 AM and arrived in Houston at about 9:30 AM (all times Toronto time). We left there about 10:30 AM and arrived in Tegucigalpa at around Noon.
The Tegucigalpa Rotarians met us at the airport and we proceeded to our hotel to freshen up. We walked around a bit in the afternoon and then tried setting up the bedkits the Rotarians had left for us -- getting ready for our distributions.
At 6:30 PM the Rotarians picked us up for supper and we had quite a feast.
Tomorrow we are off to an agricultural college about an hour and a half from Tegucigalpa where we will start our distributions on Saturday and Sunday.
I will get an email out again whenever I can.
Harry from Barrie
Reporting from Tegucigalpa, Honduras
We just got into Honduras today. Here are some pictures. We had a great day. It started at 1 AM for me. I had to get up and get transportation to the airport at 2 AM. There I met up with the other people travelling: seven of us including Dave Dryden.We left Toronto at 6:30 AM and arrived in Houston at about 9:30 AM (all times Toronto time). We left there about 10:30 AM and arrived in Tegucigalpa at around Noon.
The Tegucigalpa Rotarians met us at the airport and we proceeded to our hotel to freshen up. We walked around a bit in the afternoon and then tried setting up the bedkits the Rotarians had left for us -- getting ready for our distributions.
At 6:30 PM the Rotarians picked us up for supper and we had quite a feast.
Tomorrow we are off to an agricultural college about an hour and a half from Tegucigalpa where we will start our distributions on Saturday and Sunday.
I will get an email out again whenever I can.
Harry from Barrie
Reporting from Tegucigalpa, Honduras
We woke up this morning to the realization that this was our last distribution in Tanzania for 2006.There were mixed feelings in our group. We were happy because by the end of the day a total of six thousand Tanzanian children will have received some much needed help for themselves and their families. We were also sad because it was our last distribution and we would soon be going home. The day began later than usual as we would be in the Vigina Cultural Centre in Dar es Salaam so did not have far to drive.
The children who are to receive bedkits today included albino children, some severely physically handicapped children, children who have HIV/AIDS or have lost their parents to the AIDS virus, some blind children, and some who are just needy.
The day started slowly and progressed slowly as the children came in small groups from different schools. We had some breaks when there were no children available. Apparently some of them were writing examinations which had to be completed. This was our longest distribution as it was not completed until 3:15 PM.
The weather was very hot and we were in the sun when the distribution was going on. The temperature in the sun was probably as hot as 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
We were all very tired and worn out when we were finished. What should be a celebration was a bit of a letdown. There was no power when we reached our apartment but we all sat down and had a cold drink, (nobody opened the refrigerator while we were away}. After a cool to cold shower we decided to go out to eat. By that time we are somewhat refreshed and had a good time and talked about all our experiences.
It has been a wonderful experience working with Tom and all the other friends that I have lived and worked with during the past two weeks. I think we have made a very good team and worked together well.
Helen Ruth Brown,
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
Three new items were included in our itinerary. There were the ferry, photographs of multiple groups of children, and a visit to the Canadian Embassy.Today our team leader, Tom Belton, drove our van on to the main floor of the ferry “Sea Breeze” around 6 AM. We all stayed in the van as passengers stood to the right and in front of us. On our left was a jeep with six men in uniform with “Tanzania” stitched on to the lapels. Within a few minutes we were on our way across the harbour. The ferry was large enough to hold about one thousand passengers on the main level. The ride was smooth and slow. We reached our destination in about 15 minutes.
For the first time, we arrived at our distribution site before the truck which transported the bedkits. Therefore, we took extra time to find the most suitable location for the bedkit display. We discovered a lovely view of the Indian Ocean behind the school. Unfortunately, we could not use that area for the display because there were many trees and not enough open space. A suitable location was found and soon we were ready to say "Yako" as the children were given their bedkits. Tom played a soccer game with a few students while others gathered around to watch with delight, before the school bell rang.
The team members were eager to experience how the photographs of multiple groups of children would work. We completed the sets of threes at about 10:35 AM, then took about one-half-hour break to change the bedkit display and talk with the parents who had assembled to watch the distribution. In the previous distributions, there were ten children in each group photograph, whereas today, threre were two groups with nine children in the photograph, one group with eight, fourteen with six, seven with eleven, one with thirteen, and seven with ten. It was more challenging to organize the children but the team members all worked together to finish the task in record time.
Although we were sweaty, grubby and unkept we headed to the Canadian Embassy. We were going to meet with Mrs Jennifer Wood, the First Scretary (Senior Trade Commissioner). We were delighted! Mrs. Wood was very pleasant and seemed genuinely interested in our organization and what we were doing in Tanzania. She give us good wishes and took photos with us.Just before we left the embassy, there was a peacock proudly stepping around around the parking area. This was symbolic of the pride we felt: to be Canadians and to have made a difference in the lives of 600 children today.
Grace Wood,
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
On the way to the distribution this morning at 5:30 AM we were travelling in the dark. There are no street lights and it is almost impossible to see people riding bikes, or deep potholes or "caution bumps" with no paint on them. Driving is definitely a scary experience!We arrived at 6:30 AM to find the truck carrying the 600 bedkits stuck in deep sand. Rather than unload and reload the truck the volunteers dug down and placed two-by-eights under the rear tires and pushed and pushed until they were able to move it.
Today was the hottest day we have experienced yet, with temperatures reaching close to 46 degrees. All of us felt the heat today but how could we complain when we found out that one hundred children had walked ten kilometres today to get their bedkits! On the way home the empty bedkit truck loaded all of them and their bedkits on the truck and took them home. Smiles all around.
The volunteers from Tanzania are awesome. On April 6th the school had received a well from a church organization and it was great to see them filling their cups and pumping the water -- certainly a real luxury for all of them.
There were so many thank you’s and curtsies when the children received their bedkit.
We came home hot and tired to no power again but most satisfied that SCAW has once again made a difference!
"Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile."
Thank you SCAW.
Gail Duncan,
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
On Sunday we had big plans to return to Kisauke, where we did our first distribution to see how the bedkits were being used in the homes. This was accomplished by a bumpy ride on the last half of the journey and a meeting with the elders of the community as a courtesy. This was quite an adventure, going inland via foot paths to visit the selected homes. On our way home we visited the first Prime Minister of Democratic Tanzania, Mr. Kawawa. What an honour that was for the Team.Further on we stopped at a restaurant to have cold refreshments, to beat the heat, and to be treated to a meal of BBQ goat ribs, chips, and bananas. Later in the evening, we had dinner with a Tanzanian family. The home was right on the Indian Ocean, no less. Throughout the day we experienced real Tanzanian hospitality. We had great meals and good fellowship.
On Monday, August 28th, we had the seventh distribution at Chamazi. We were also hosting a guest travelling with us from Togo: Mr. DEKALIKAN Kouma. He is observing our activities as we do the distribution. The distribution went well and as usual the children were very happy to get their bedkits. The smiles on their faces and the many expressions of "thank you" and "asante" are just thrilling.
Each distribution has it own character and we never know what to expect, but we are always amazed by the special things we observe. The children of the Chamazi school keep four cows on premises as a project. It was interesting to see them bring bundles of grass that were laid out in a row for the cows to eat. The cows were let out of the shed and had their grass. They mooed all day so we could not forget them.
We had yet another mother of twins visit. We were delighted to see them.
On behalf of the children of Tanzania, thanks very much to all the donors. We have the wonderful previlege of seeing all the happy faces on a daily basis. This is an unforgetable experience.
Maxene Henry,
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
Friday night, we were kept awake until 3 AM by the thunderous vibrations of an outdoor rock concert just a block away. Then, at 4 o’clock our canine friends next door began their barking. Wake up call was at 5 AM! With next to no sleep we set off in the dark for our Saturday distribution.I was on hand-out duty -- the enviable task of actually handing out the bed kit. After handing them their kit and saying "yako," each one of the children smiled and curtsied and said "Thank you." They are so happy with their gifts that all our donors have given them. I only wish that you all could have the pleasure of seeing their appreciation. But you will with the pictures you receive.
We all want to thank our many friends back home who most generously donated baby and children’s clothing for us to hand out to the many needy mothers in Tanzania. We'll be bringing back photos with us when we come home.
After the distribution, it was back to Dar over spine-snapping roads and through unbelievable traffic. Our trusted driver, Tom, knows the intricacies of managing the roads and he always returns us to our home away from home safely and happily.
We were tired when we arrived back home and slept soundly. Hopefully, our new little friends had as good a sleep as we did.
All for now.
Laura Belton,
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
We started our morning at 5:15 AM -- a half hour later than usual. Everyone got their own breakfast, made their lunch and we were off to the distribution site by 6:30 AM.The traffic was busy but moved right along. The amount of exhaust fumes from the numerous diesel is unbelieveable. The roads -- even the paved roads -- have huge holes big enough to damage your car. It seems that in Tanzania, if you want to avoid the holes and rough areas, you have to move into the oncoming traffic lane when it's clear so that you'll miss the trouble. Everyone seems to take it as normal and slows down or moves over. We have not seen any road rage here. There are also occasional speed bumps -- you must slow right down for these or you may be launched into space.
The distribution was at a school at Mzambarauni which is very close to Dar es Salaam. The schoolyard was rectangular with buildings on three sides. It had many trees with lots of shade to protect the children while they waited to receive their bedkits. The only place to take pictures without shadows was an open area in the centre of the yard. The distribution went extremely well and we finished as heavy clouds started to move in.
All the children were beautiful. Many of the children attending could understand enough English to follow our instructions.
Several physically disabled children received bedkits. Although these children were unable to communicate with us verbally, their smiles showed their pleasure.
During the last two distributions we have had several albino Tanzanian children. These children have very white skin and white hair. It is difficult to see their eyes as they are always squinting since the sun hurts their eyes. These children face a bleak future as they may go blind and they almost always develop multiple skin cancers due to the sun damage. This condition seems to be very common in this country, much more than we would ever see in Canada. There is a great need for these children to have proper sun glasses, wide rim hats, and strong sun screen, but many of them cannot afford such luxuries. During these distributions we have been able to give some of these children baseball caps. They should have hats with wide brims all the way around but a baseball cap is a start.All the children were very appreciative of the articles they received. They showed their happiness by their wonderful smiles and thank you's. We feel very honoured and humbled to be able to accept these children's gratitude on your behalf.
Thank you for the support for the children.
Helen Brown,
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
Today we went to a different municipality from the previous sites. We went to Mvuti in the municipality of Ilala. The previous three sites were in Kinondoni. Although we left at 6 AM there were many Tanzanians with the same idea. The vans were packed with twice as many passengers as there were seats and the children were neatly dressed in their clean blue and white uniforms. Some people were wearing laced shoes with socks, slippers, or fancy shoes with one-inch heels -- some were bare footed. Groups of two or more were holding hands as they walked through the grassy fields to school.
We passed a few bicycles -- not as many as one would expect. A few riders had one or two passengers. There were more bicycles carrying coal than there were carrying people. We saw wheel barrows with -- on average -- six white plastic twenty-litre containers of water being pushed through neighbourhoods and along the roadway. One stopped at a school where the driver delivered a container to the staff office. Many schools collect the water from the roof in large plastic tanks. One school had a 3x3x1 metre open concrete tank in front of it. The tank was dry.
We arrived at Mvuti just before 7 AM. The children lined up with their coconut straw brooms in hand and started to sweep the leaves from the sandy ground. They tried to move together as if in a chorus line.
Many children travelled to school with containers filled with water for the trees and plants. This municipality did not seem as dry as the others we visited. Today for the first time during our distribution, it rained. We were delighted and thankful for the cooler moment. It lasted for two minutes. There were sixty children selected from Mvuti to receive bedkits, the others were travelling from other schools in the same district -- sixty from each of ten schools. The truck used for the bedkit delivery was sent to pick up other children who lived too far away from Mvuti to walk and had no other means of travelling to receive their bedkit.
Today was special and heartwarming. There were a few sick children: one very weak, another who left the hospital so she could receive her bedkit, one in a wheelchair, and three albino children with special needs. All the children were delightful. One said "I love you," in English.
All 600 children showed up and each received a bedkit donated by you kind people.
Thank you.
Grace Wood
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
We passed a few bicycles -- not as many as one would expect. A few riders had one or two passengers. There were more bicycles carrying coal than there were carrying people. We saw wheel barrows with -- on average -- six white plastic twenty-litre containers of water being pushed through neighbourhoods and along the roadway. One stopped at a school where the driver delivered a container to the staff office. Many schools collect the water from the roof in large plastic tanks. One school had a 3x3x1 metre open concrete tank in front of it. The tank was dry.We arrived at Mvuti just before 7 AM. The children lined up with their coconut straw brooms in hand and started to sweep the leaves from the sandy ground. They tried to move together as if in a chorus line.
Many children travelled to school with containers filled with water for the trees and plants. This municipality did not seem as dry as the others we visited. Today for the first time during our distribution, it rained. We were delighted and thankful for the cooler moment. It lasted for two minutes. There were sixty children selected from Mvuti to receive bedkits, the others were travelling from other schools in the same district -- sixty from each of ten schools. The truck used for the bedkit delivery was sent to pick up other children who lived too far away from Mvuti to walk and had no other means of travelling to receive their bedkit.Today was special and heartwarming. There were a few sick children: one very weak, another who left the hospital so she could receive her bedkit, one in a wheelchair, and three albino children with special needs. All the children were delightful. One said "I love you," in English.
All 600 children showed up and each received a bedkit donated by you kind people.
Thank you.
Grace Wood
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
On our way to the Mtambani distribution at dawn, we pass many, many people walking on the side of the road. Men ride bicycles with baskets at least three feet wide loaded with charcoal to be sold. Elegantly dressed women in long dresses and head scarves walk with jugs or baskets on their heads.The dala dala mini buses, which in Canada would hold nine passengers have as many as twenty people travelling to work.
The river beds are almost dry as Tanzania has been experiencing a drought -- so we have electricity only every second day. All of us have to plan ahead for cooking our meals and for hot water for showers.
Arriving at the Mtambani site over very bumpy stretches of road, our first order of the day is to select the best location to take the pictures -- according to the rising sun. Then the trucks with the 600 bedkits are unloaded.
Mama Wandoa's volunteers look after getting the children dressed in their new colourful pajamas and then away we go!!!!
Mothers of the children come to help them carry their precious gift home. Some of the children come from neighbouring schools and have walked up to eight kilometers to receive their bedkit. One mother arrived swaddling 3-month-old twins. She was HIV positive and had four other children as well. Unfortunately, her husband had passed away recently. There are a lot of sad stories -- but many joyful moments as well -- during the distribution.
To all SCAW donors we want to express to you the joy we feel when a child receiving a bedkit says "Thank You" or "God Bless You." We know how privileged we are to accept their gratitude on your behalf.
Gail Duncan
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
The SCAW team arrived in Salasala shortly after 7:00AM, to a beautiful, picture-perfect, sunny morning with a back drop of the Indian Ocean in the distance. We were pleasantly surprised to see that many of the students were already present. It seems they were so excited in anticipation of our visit. They smiled and and many greeted us very respectfully in English.In a short while we were in attendance at the morning’s assembly. The students sang songs, ending with the Tanzanian anthem, accompanied by a small band. Then Tom Belton, our team leader, greeted the children in Tanzanian, with the help of Mama Wandoa. The children and faculty were delighted.
When the distribution commenced, it was so pleasing to observe how orderly and well behaved the children were.They waited patiently in line all dressed up in the colorful, new pajamas they were given as a part of their bedkit. Although some of them were a bit shy, the expressions of joy on their faces when their pictures were taken, and when they received their bedkits, were priceless.
The distribution of 600 bedkits went very smoothly. We even surprised ourselves as to how timely we accomplished this rewarding event. We are now getting ready for our third day of distribution.
Maxene Henry
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
The Flavour of Tanzania 2006Hello Everyone,
We were up and ready to roll at 6AM, full of anticipation -- a bit nervous, but nonetheless looking forward to the day that lay ahead for us.
With four people who have never been to Africa and with two of these on their first SCAW Distribution, I felt a little apprehensive. It usually takes several distribution days before the team begins to function properly. On this, our very first day, it didn't take me long to realize that we were going to be all right. We have a special group here.
Kisauke School was like any other Tanzanian School. It is located just outside of Dar es Salaam and is a cluster of five buildings, with a square in front of the buildings where most of the activity takes place, and the playing fields behind the school proper.
Tanzania is spending its "debt forgiveness" on education and health care. We could see the beginnings of a new building here as well as a general sprucing up of the buildings.
For a first distribution, it didn't take long for everything to begin running smoothly despite the heat and the unmerciful sun. The temperature was in the low 90s. The sun however, beat down on those of us who were unfortunate enough to have to spend much of the time in it. It was draining; it was tiring; it was strength sapping. I have never drunk so much water in my life. With all the water consumed, one would expect to have to run to the washroom often -- but not so. Your body uses up the moisture at a rapid rate.
The one constant was the children. To describe a Tanzanian child one uses words like: dignified, patient, mannerly, and well behaved. What a delight it was for us to witness their singing of the Tanzanian national anthem with heart and gusto followed by their school song.
I had the privelege of giving a talk in my broken Swahili to the kids, telling them who we were, that we came in peace and love, representing other people in the world who cared very much for them. It was well appreciated judging from their reactions.
This year SCAW has instituted a survey in an effort to find out as much as we can about our recipients' reactions and opinions about the usefulness of our bedkits. I spoke through a translator with about eighty people with a bedkit spread out before them. It was an interesting exchange. I used the opportunity to deliver the message that many of these bedkits were donated by children the same ages as their children, by churches, by service clubs, through "In Memorium," and by the average person. The parents indicated very strongly and unmistakably that they appreciated this help from overseas. It was heartwarming to see their reactions, all the while thinking of those children in our schools who so actively support their own SCAW projects.
We were spreading goodwill and happiness wherever we went and enjoying every minute of this precious time of sharing. Upon completion, we got into our van, waving goodbye to teacher and child, shouting out Kwahari -- Good bye -- to the sea of happy faces that surrounded us.
It is burned in our memories --- and another day is awaiting us with more joy, peace, and love to spread.
Until next time,
Tom Belton, signing out.
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
We send greetings to you from Tanzania. Our time here thus far has been very rewarding, and very busy. At times it is very challenging to get Internet facilities.The team is pictured from left to right: Grace Wood, Tom Belton (Team Leader), Maxene Henry, Gail Duncan, Helen Brown, and Laura Belton.
After literally months of preparation and the uncertain travelling climate after the events in England the week before we left, our team of SCAW travelling volunteers met at Toronto Airport at 11:00 AM on August 16th, all primed for what might lay ahead of us in the next three weeks plus. We had prepared as best as we could over the previous five and a half months ... and then we were off.
Fortunately we were not flying through Heathrow, but through Washington Dulles Airport. It took us a little over an hour to get to Washington and then seventeen long hours to Addis Abiba, Ethiopia through Rome. And that was a long day of flying -- fully twenty-five and a half hours. Our stay in Addis Abiba, although short, was very interesting since we met very interesting and friendly Ethiopians. They were most welcoming and graciously friendly. It kind of made us wish we were going to be staying there longer. Next time we will have to make a longer stopover.
We arrived in Dar es Salaam at noon on Friday, August 18th to be met by our hosts Mama Wandoa and her son, Alfred, and his three children: Junior, Annette, and Pee. They took us to the apartment we are renting where we rested up for dinner.
It wasn't long before I was behind the wheel of our car taking my team out for our initial dinner. Fortunately I was able to remember where the Slip Way was -- even after dark.
Saturday night we attended an AIDS Awareness meeting that Mama held with a youth group, detailing the topic of AIDS and AIDS prevention.
On Sunday we attended church with Mama where I gave my first try at Swahili, telling the congregation who we were and what we stood for -- yes, all in Swahili. It was a grind, but I was able to get through it in an understandable manner to the delight of the parishoners. After the service I presented a copy of the Ottawa Citizen's extensive coverage of AIDS and the recent AIDS Conference in Toronto to Mama and the Pastor. It was appreciatively received.
In concluding this first of what I hope will be many interesting reports detailing our experiences and adventures here in Tanzania, I wish to lay out the format for future reports. Each member of our team will try to send at least two reports so you can see our trip through their eyes. I want them to be as open and frank with their own analysis and descriptions of their experiences as they see it.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy and learn about our important work from these reports.
We send you all our best wishes and love.
Cheers,
Tom Belton, Team Leader
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
Dear SCAW friends,We made it back to Colombo last night after a 9-hour bus ride on winding roads.
To date we have distributed 4,500 bedkits, many in the agricultural area of the country where tea plantations are plentiful. The last two distributions will be today (Sunday), and then we go off to the airport tonight.
We got to some really remote parts of the country where the children were very needy.
Daily, we run across a number of the children that we would love to take home with us. It is not uncommon to hear a team member shout "suitcase child" meaning: "Can we take him or her home with us?"
The team has stayed healthy with only a few upset stomachs mostly caused by motion sickness from all the travelling.
Knowing children are the future of any country, you donors should feel good about doing your part to help these children get a good night's sleep, thereby being able to be more attentive in school so that they can get their education.
SCAW travelling team in Colombo
Dear SCAW friends,Sri Lankans say, ‘’If you can drive in Sri Lanka, you can drive anywhere in the world."
We wholeheartedly agree with this statement! The road is shared by pedestrians, cyclists, motor bikes, "iron buffaloes", 3-wheeled tuk-tuk’s, cars, vans, buses, trucks, transport trucks, dogs, cows, and goats.
We have experienced this because of our extensive traveling to our distribution sites. Although the distances are not long, there are no highways, therefore it takes a long time to travel short distances.
Each day, we have been traveling to two different distribution sites, for an average of more than five hours of travel time. We would rather travel to the childrens’ villages, than have the kids walk or travel extremely long distances to the distribution sites.
We are excited to be heading off for five days into rural areas to continue with the distributions — but we will be without the convenience of internet correspondence.
SCAW Sri Lanka Team