Donations and people

I managed to meet Esther and Nona at Operation Bootstrap Africa, where we picked up a thousand pencils for distribution in the schools we visit. Deanna Miller also gave us several blankets and a bunch of crayons as well. We will be at Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School (coincidentally) for their Form Four graduation, a monumental achievement for each of them. Deanna will be there too, not so coincidentally!

Esther had compiled the devotional booklet and Nona got it printed at Zion Lutheran in Anoka. Thanks to the people who wrote a devotion for us. We will enjoy thinking of you at home each day we are gone and your thoughts for us.

Besides the 40+ book bags, several baby blankets, Zion donated $500 for Dr. Jacobson at Selian Lutheran Medical Center for scholarships or other discretionary projects., all thanks to Esther and Nona.

At St. James, we sold some great T-Shirts and wrist bands, but even better, through the generosity of our membership we have nearly a $1000 to donate too, probably for use in our sister congregation, Idunda. The Idunda congregation is planning to rehab and reopen the dispensary there, closed for several years, lacking the staffing and funds to rehabilitate the building. Now we believe there may be staffing available soon. Dr. Saga is helping with this effort, so it is official.

On the left is the logo we have used for two St. James trips (designed by our friend Leanne Benson). It is on the T-shirts we will wear and give away.

There are countless others who have wished us well or have helped in some measurable way. Amber Larson and PNC Eagan, thanks for arranging the trip to the warehouse for donations from the clinic for Global Health Missions. Deena, thanks for updating my first aid kit! I got everything in. Now I hope it won't be confiscated or stolen from the luggage.

I think our group is well formed and solid. We will be able to support each other as we travel. It has been great fun meeting beforehand, talking smart and laughing a lot, all culminating in this adventure so close at hand.

Another day closer...

I awoke to thunder and lightening and some rain. We need the rain.

It is the dry season in Tanzania (TZ). In Iringa today the temp is 82 degrees F and humidity 35%.

Today I will pick up some pencils to take to the school kids in TZ. Deanna Miller, Director of Operation Bootstrap Africa supplying the pencils, told me that many of the students have never had a new, unsharpened pencil with a new eraser.

Last night at our SPAS cluster meeting, we found out that our six SPAS sponsored schools need $60, 000 worth of books. The sponsorship of a student has risen, as virtually all costs in TZ have risen, to a whopping $350 per year (but still up significantly from $300 as it was). St James sponsors 22 students each year. I hope we can also work on the book need. We take so much for granted here!

We take our medical care here for granted and our dental care as well. What a privilege for me to get my teeth cleaned today.

Dr. David Johnson, an ophthalmologist, recently spent time treating cataracts in people from miles around Iringa. He noted also that many people who thought they could no longer see to read simply needed what we derogatorily refer to as "cheaters." We have a bunch of 'em stationed around the house for mere convenience (not to mention forgetfulness).

Today think about how happy you are to live here and what a privilege it is to help someone across the world!

Ken

Hi! This is a little about our trip to Tanzania. There are seven travelers. From left to right, standing: Ken and Birdie Olson, Sandy and Bob Sokolik; seated: Judy Wolfe, Nona Nelson and Esther Olson.

Birdie and I, Sandy and Bob are members of St. James ELC in Burnsville, Minnesota.
Judy is my maternal cousin and Nona and Esther, my mom, are good friends who belong to Zion Lutheran in Anoka.

We have been planning this trip for over six months.

Birdie and I are making our second trip. We are going on what I refer to as an "ambassadorial trip." Some will call it a mission trip. I guess we do too. In fact, we will be visiting St. James' companion congregation at Idunda in the mountains outside Iringa town, the city where we will be staying most of our time. The roads are barely trails to rural Idunda and perhaps only a dozen vehicles get there each year. In 2006, the roads were muddy and we did manage to get mired once requiring help to get out. We are following Michelle and Kennon Wales and Julie and Jenna Rogness and company who visited in July, and if I recall, managed to get stuck again. They told of kind Tanzanians who arrived on the scene and pushed them out. We will be there in the dry season so I am hopeful we won't get stuck!

We are visiting under the auspices of Bega Kwa Bega or in English, "Shoulder to Shoulder." Bega Kwa Bega (BKB) is the bridge organization between the St. Paul Area Synod (SPAS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT), Iringa Diocese (DIRA). About 350 visitors have traveled through BKB in 2008.

Here is our itinerary, details subject to change, at least in Iringa:

September 2008 Itinerary

1. M Labor Day in the US; us madly packing
   
2. Tu Leave Minneapolis: NW 42MSP/AMS 310P – 630A next day
3. W Arrive Dar es Salaam: KL 571AMS/DAR 1020A – 940P to FPCT
4. Th Iringa (by bus) and arrive at Iringa Lutheran Center (ILC), 6PM
5. F Rest and relax in Iringa
6. Sa To Idete School, then Idunda, overnight in Idunda
7. Su Worship in Idunda, visit dispensary; return to Iringa
8. M AM Tumaini University tour; Huruma orphanage
9. Tu Travel to Ruaha, Mwagusi Camp, afternoon Safari.
10. W Safari and overnight at Mwagusi
11. Th Morning safari.Back to Iringa.
12. F Illula Health Center tour
13. Sa Isimila Stone Age Park walking tour; Pommern School and Clinic
14. Su Worship in Iringa at Cathedral
15. M Cooking School, Naama Disabled person’s store and coffee shop
16. Tu In Iringa; pack for next morning departure
17. W To Dar; visit Dr. Mapapele at Ruaha Mbyuni ; stay at FPCT; dinner at Sea Cliff
18. Th AM flight to Zanzibar; stay at Mnarani Beach Resort.
19. F A day at the beach; dinner and overnight at Mnarani Beach Resort
20. Sa AM at MBR. PM flight to Kilimanjaro; stay at New Safari Lodge.
21. Su Worship at Monduli and MGLSS.Overnight at New Safari Lodge.
22. M AM devotions & tour at Selian Lutheran Hospital. Olchoki Primary School.
23. Tu Leave Arusha area: KL 569JRO/AMS 840P – 700A next day
24. W Arrive Home: KL 41AMS/MSP 1040 – 1245P

It's pretty packed. We are excited! We have daily devotions thanks to friends and family. We all will share the journaling duties. My hope is this will be devoted to stories and experiences more than travelogue. I invite comments and thoughts or questions!

Ken