Jambo! We miss you! Since we last wrote to you all, we have worked on the Hadzabe medical clinic, traveled to Singida, and begun working at the Children & Community Center.
Last Saturday, after we distributed the food packs at Chare De Leco, we hopped in the truck for another 2-hour ride from Nkungi to Singida, which has become our new home away from home. Although we loved being with the Hadzabe people, we were excited to begin the next phase of our trip in Singida. After arriving, we immediately started working at the Children & Community Center. The past week here has consisted of constructing a play ground, lots of painting, and serving food to the kids. Our work at the Community Center was put on hold on Wednesday and Thursday, however. We made a trip back to Nkungi for the night and spent the following day painting the Hadzabe medical clinic. We drove 3.5 hours back to Singida from the Hadzabe people.
Yesterday, we put the finishing touches on the playground at the Community Center and were able to see the joy on the children's faces as they played on the swings, monkey bars, and slide. This week we will be preparing the Children and Community Center for the ribbon cutting ceremony that will take place this Saturday!
Thank you for your continued prayer, love, and support!
AND, from Team Tanzania #9, which arrived on Tuesday:
Not a lot of news from the team's first day in Tanzania. They decided to stay the night in Dar es Salaam and then head to Singida very early in the morning (5am!). They got all their bags (a feat in and of itself) and headed to Coco Beach (see below) and a restaurant on the beach to allow everyone a chance to get their bearings, some fresh air and allow some of the team to pick up supplies. Although Tina didn't mention it, I expect that they went and changed dollars for Tanzanian shillings while they were in the city.
And then, a day later:
Well, as usual in Africa, the day didn't go exactly as planned. They had hoped to leave Dar at 5am but with the bus breaking down, they didn't get out of there until 11am. They went as far as Morogoro and had lunch. They stopped at the Glonence Hotel where we have stayed in the past and had a pb&j picnic. Later on, Tina texted that they had just passed the Children's Center which means they were almost there (minutes from the Catholic Center).
Please keep both Teams in your prayers as they continue their good work in East Africa!