Saba Saba ("seven seven")

Today is Saba Saba for Tanazanians so they all have the day off...I haven't figured out yet what the holiday is for though. This week has gone by so fast! Sunday I went with the Americans from TN to teach Sunday school at Pilgrim. We did a short skit about Paul and the lame man. I formally met Jack there. He has been working on the Pilgrim renovation and I knew of him but didn't think I had ever told him my name. He helped us translate and the boys really enjoyed it I think. Jack asked the boys for prayer requests at the end of the skit and the boys were very thoughtful. One asked to pray for Innocent who was sick with severe malaria (he is better now) and one prayed for the renovation and another for a volunteer who is sick as well. I was touched by their kindness. It's difficult to get a matatu back to Boma so we all walked from Pilgrim (about 45 min walk). Jack and I had a wonderful talk on the way (he was going to visit Innocent in Boma). He is from Kenya and speaks English very well. We talked about all kinds of things: politics (Bush of course), oil, Israel, families in the US, New York City, and such. He was inquisitive but not judgemental about American culture. I truly enjoyed out talk!

On Monday I went to Malika and discovered that some more beds were done! So Antony and I hired some fundis and had the beds transported, the old ones taken down, & the new ones put together. When the girls saw them they were so thankful. It really makes the room look nice and gives it more space because the metal ones take us a little less space. Four more bunk beds have been made and will be taken to Pilgrim once that dorm is done--which should be tomorrow! I have been truly impressed with how quickly the fundis have worked. I think a lot of that is because Jack has been overseeing the renovation and staying at Pilgrim. The fundis have also heard rumors that there will be more work after this-which is true because I am going to fund the start of building a preschool at Pilgrim. Currently, the preschool is held in the dining room. Monday night I went to Mama Gemma's for movie night with the other Americans, her children, and some LIA kids. (She lives close to Malika). We watched Ghost of all things but it was nice to relax and play with the kids outside of Mailisita and Malika.

Tuesday I waited all day at Mailisita for a caregiver to interview for taking care of the disabled children. She didn't show up but I enjoyed having a relaxing day reading. Then the next morning she showed up around 10a and said she had been by the day before but hadn't seen Mama Gemma and left--didn't ask anyone about it. But anyhow, Mama Coupa helped to translate and we asked about her experience and education. She has no experience with disabled children or children and no secondary (high school) education. But she did come at the recommendation of Heavenlight who was an OT that had a placement with LIA who Mama Gemma adores. I took her to see the disabled children and she did not interact with them but I think she may have been a bit nervous and such. So, Mama Gemma and I decided to have her volunteer next week with the children and see how that goes (we would cover her transportation costs). She should come on Monday so we'll see how that goes. I headed to Malika and helped Ninka paint and then I headed to Pilgrim to see how things were going. Jack and I helped the fundis push up the timber walls while they attached the roof frames (are those called trelleses??). It was fun actually helping out and Jack said it was much easier with my help (I think he was probably exaggerating=)). Antony showed up later and parked his car in the back with the music playing. All the kids starting dancing especially Felix & James who I adore (they both have Down Syndrome and are very sweet). Felix was even shaking his booty and watching himself in the reflection of the car!! I truly love being at Pilgrim!

That night was 4th of July so we had Godson blow fire. He works with LIA and LIA has funded at least 6 operations for his leg because he has osteomalicia (sp?). So after dinner we went out back and he blew kerosene out of his mouth and lit a match! I was a bit concerned for him but apparently he does this often. It was really neat and I have a great picture of it! Happy 4th!

Thursday was one of the TN volunteers birthday-Josh. They planned a BBQ for his Bday at Mama Gemmas. Before that, I helped out at Malika and paid the fundi for the desks being built (out of Jess T's money). They looked great and Mama Gemma was really pleased with the fundi which is not often the case. In the afternoon, I went with Carolyn and Mama Gemma to mark out land for the new school! It is close to Pilgrim and absolutely beautiful. Mama Lynn, Antony, the architect, and foreman were there. They used stakes painted yellow or white to mark the borders! We had sodas with some local children and talked about LIA. Mama Gemma and Mama Lynn often disagree and I have witnessed many of their arguments. They both work so hard and are very stressed and tend to take it out on one another. Then we headed to the BBQ around 430p. Mama Gemma, Carolyn and I had a nice chat outside on her porch and she showed me a photo album that Jake had made her. (Jake goes to my church back home and has been to LIA several times). The photos were beautiful--lots of black & white. Then Mama Alabrique (sp?) came with her disabled child and two other children (older daughter and infant son). She was upset and said that she had been to KCMC with Alabrique who has cerebral palsy and they said he needed to be admitted but that she couldn't stay there with the infant so they left since there is no one else to care for the children. The doctors at KCMC said Alabrique would probably die. So Mama Gemma, Carolyn and I along with the mom and Alabrique went to Dr. Casey (LIA's full-time doctor). He said that we could just give him some antibiotics and phenobarbitol (for CP) tonight and see about things in the morning. The family stayed at Malika. We will most likely keep Alabrique. He is 5 1/2 but if I had to have said I would have guessed no more than 2 1/2yrs. He is malnurished and has severe contractures. Sometimes I see things here and I just can't even believe it. You would think you would breakdown and cry but it's all too surreal most times. But it certainly gives me confirmation that I need to really focus on this respite center for disabled children on the mountain and figure out what LIA is going to do with the disabled children. There is no easy solution and I am finally at peace with that. I came here thinking that I would be able to do so much and help so many--I think I have some but now I see that disabled children are my focus and that it will be a long-term goal.

Thanks again to everyone for emails and comments--they really lift me up and I look forward to checking the comments and emails!

One more thing: I'm going on safari this weekend!!! We leave tomorrow early morning and get back late Monday night! I'm going with 5 other girls and I am super excited! We're going to Ngorogoro crater (think lion king with all the animals in the crater!!).