2009 Mission Trip Newsletter

It is now our third year traveling to Tanzania to deliver the goods and services resulting from the generosity of our donors.   This year five of us made the trip:  Jehane, Pam and Sherry (Sarah was unable to join us this year), Sherry’s husband Matt and good friend, Pat Lucas.  We again enjoyed the hospitality of the Apostolic Life Community of Priests in Sabuko and the Sisters of Our Lady of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kiraeni.  Our deepening relationship with our hosts allows us to learn more about the communities they serve and how we can effectively be of assistance.  As a result, we were able to broaden our efforts this year to reach many more people. Things we accomplished during our visit to Tanzania in 2009:

• -   Purchase of $3000 of basic food stuffs (corn, rice and beans) for three parish communities where the people are struggling with hunger in another year of inadequate rains
• -   Purchase of $8000 of medications at the government pharmacy for distribution to the three dispensaries together with the four suitcases full of medical supplies, instruments, and equipment we had brought with us
• -   Purchase and installation of a 10,000 liter water tank for one of the dispensaries
• -   Delivery of school supplies to three rural primary schools, one secondary school and a small independent orphanage
• -   Sponsorship of two nuns for training as laboratory technicians
• -   Selection and sponsorship of ten poor students in secondary education, ranging from the very poor government schools, to top notch private boarding school
• -   Sponsorship of two students at the Bomangombe Vocational Training Center, a young man studying mechanics and a young woman studying sewing
• -   Purchase of bednets for each of three dispensaries and for the dormitories at the Vocational Training Center
• -   Purchase of two sewing machines for the Vocational Training Center
• -   Sponsorship of the nursery school teacher at a parish school

We worked closely with the doctors, nurses, teachers, priests and nuns to purchase and deliver the various items as we visited with each of the communities.  People were very grateful for the lifesaving food and medications, and for the educational opportunities. We shared many wonderful moments with the people including reconnecting with the communities of Ngare Nairobi, the Massai outstation in Lekrumuni, and the Girls Secondary School at Kiraeni.  We enjoyed great hospitality at each place we visited with the “traditional” assortment of sodas and groundnuts.  We were honored to be invited to a community prayer meeting that was held in a very remote area in one of the member’s homes.  The humility of the surroundings and the deep faith and joy of the people gathered was very powerful. We departed our friends with lots of mixed emotions, only to remind ourselves that each year would bring us yet closer to one another in helping make a difference in the lives of the different communities we serve in Tanzania. It is thanks to your donations and commitment to help the poor that we were able to accomplish so much.  We thank you for your contributions and for helping us make this a reality to those who are less fortunate.