by Pidge Morgan, G4TZ Director
I first met Johnson Lyimo, the visionary whose dream was the Door of Hope, when I traveled to Tanzania with Discovery Safaris in 2004. Johnson is the father of three of my godchildren. When I met him, I knew I had met a very important person in my life and after a short time I knew that I had met my true brother. We all know that God works in mysterious ways to bridge people and cultures, but connecting two people thousands of miles apart and from totally different cultures is hard to explain.
Johnson's dream for many years has been to construct a residence for Maasai girls so that they might have an opportunity to attend school. Most Maasai girls are never given the chance to receive an education. Johnson feels a special calling to help Maasai youth and Door of Hope is a way to do so. From our first meeting, I knew I wanted to help him bring his dream to fruition. Construction on the residence began about two years ago. Last summer, we dedicated the first buildings, but there was yet much to be done.
Kristin McFarland, administrator of Godparents for Tanzania, and I were fortunate to take a special trip to Tanzania this past February and were very pleased by the progress at Door of Hope. When we arrived, I was, as always, amazed by the progress. When I visited in July 2007, the dining/kitchen area had only one wall. In February, the building was totally enclosed and only the interior finishing needed to be completed. The cattle shelter was finished and the cattle are now in residence at DHM (cattle are a very important part of Maasai life). It was decided that a wall needed to be constructed to keep the neighbor's roaming goats and cattle away from the yard area that will eventually be gardens where the residents will grow some of their food. As with construction all over the world there was a problem. The cost of cement used to stabilize the wall rose from about $8.00 per bag to over $20.00! The builder decided that was too much and constructed the wall using clay. When we arrived the wall had become weak and part of it had fallen down. The wall was torn down and, with a contribution from Trinity Ecumenical Parish, it is now being rebuilt properly to enclose the compound.
The plan is to have Door of Hope become totally self sustaining. We are looking into solar panels that will provide energy to power the lamps for the girls to do their studying and will help power the stoves that will heat the water for cooking. The girls will raise their own maize and beans and keep chickens that will provide eggs for them and for the neighbors. Both projects will produce income for the girls. There is water on the property that will be channeled to irrigate their crops and provide water for the cows to drink and for the grass to feed the cows.
The girls who will live at Door of Hope should arrive in June and their arrival is much anticipated by all who are involved in this project. Their dormitory is finished, the matron is secured and it will be a wonderful place for these girls who will not only attend school in Moshi but will be nurtured in Christian love in an environment that will encourage them to be strong in their faith. They will have the opportunity to become young adults who are examples to their tribe as women who will make a difference, not only for their tribe, but for their country.
Tanzania is an amazing country and the soul of Tanzania is her people. I have learned much from our brothers and sisters there and their faith is amazing. Through my association with them, my own faith has grown to a place where I never I imagined it would be. Johnson Lyimo and his family have brought me into the dream of Door of Hope and I am committed to helping the girls who will live there. It is a dream that will benefit all of Tanzania, but it could benefit you, too. I invite you to join our effort, come to Tanzania with us and see what you will learn!
Please, drop me a note anytime at: pmorgan@godparents4tz.org.
