Pity the Poor Traveler

I have missed a couple days. Despite the American clock being irrelevant in Tanzania, things can move fast. Or not....

We are now heading to Zanzibar for rest and relaxation. We left Iringa Wednesday morning with our planned 90 minute stop at Ruaha Mbyuni. Pastor David Mapepele, my friend who has just finished at Tumaini, starts at his new congregation this week, will graduate in October and be ordained in January, is the son of Dr. Jairhus Mapepele. We arranged this visit in part to discuss what has become a mutual dream. But you cannot discuss the details of a dream of establishing a hospital in 90 minutes. David had written not only the words of his dad detailing the dream, but a minute-by-minute American agenda, adhering to our timeline. There is a Wazungu phrase here that is a common explanation for the way things are. (Wazungu refers to white people. It isn’t really derogatory, depending on inflection.) The phrase is “TIA.” “This is Africa.” Well, TIA.

We ate breakfast at 7 AM before we left the Lutheran Center. That was punctuated by many heartfelt goodbyes and a very nice send off from our new and dear friend Brian Peterson. I am quite sure our paths will cross again, I just don’t know how or when.

The first agenda item at Ruaha Mbyuni was breakfast. It was acheduled 10 to 10:15 AM. Then we were scheduled for lunch at 11:15, so we could leave at 11:30. The schedule started to fall apart quickly, since breakfast took about 40 minutes itself. Exchange of gifts David had scheduled for three minutes, lasted 20. You get the picture. The whole visit was three and a half hours. Birdie put this in perspective for me. We were worried about missing a sunset in Dar. This was a presentation on helping and changing the lives of some 40,000 Tanzanians in the surrounding area.  I guess we could afford the time!

But I do not know what I can really do. I have never attempted to get funding for some project on a grand scale such as this. I committed to do three things. First, I will touch base with Ilula Task Force. I do not want to dilute the efforts they have made in any way. We have 7 of the 85 dispensaries built in the Kilolo district villages. The government’s goal is to have a dispensary in every village. Since Ruaha Mbyuni has a dispensary, it is down the list in priority for expansion. Dr. Mapepele has political connections and pull. So the community support is already there and land has been designated and donated for the new hospital. There is strong potential for a model for the country. Ilula has built up from a single building to multiple buildings.  So I wonder what is the best building plan.

So second, I will find an architect to discuss this with. (Think Paul Dahlberg.) Lastly, I will investigate fund raising for such a project.

We left full, no, stuffed, with food and ambition.

We arrived in Dar. Peter paid a price driving in the dark but got us to our destinations without incident.  We totally missed David’s brother John who was to dine with us. We had a great evening but a short night.  The food at Sea Cliff was again delicious. Peter got us to FPCT. We got up in time to make our flight and are now enjoying a Caribbean-like atmosphere on Zanzibar.  Sunset was beautiful. The moon is nearly full. Food was great. I napped for three hours and am refreshed. You are in the middle of your Thursday afternoon. It is still the same moon over us all. When we awake, it will be Carly’s birthday and we are thinking of all of you, especially our daughter.

A photo or two tomorrow.

Ken