First full day in Iringa

11-05-2015

Tom & Beth Hansen, Michelle Snider (Bo's Sister),
Bo & Juli Skillman, Chavalla, Rachel & Adam Fausch

Today started out early again, as I got up with the roosters.  I learned a lesson with the shower:  turn on the hot water switch well before getting in.  As it turned out, I showered first and it was pretty cold.  Adam slept in a bit and got a nice hot shower.  We had breakfast here at the Lutheran Center and Tom, Beth, Michelle, Juli and Julia joined us.  From there we walked to the Diocese offices where we met Bo in the St Paul Partners office.  We walked over to the chapel where we listened to General Secretary Chavalla speak of the Bega Kwa Bega relationship, which was quite interesting.

Drilling at Ihemi

From there we went to Ihemi to check on the progress of a well that was being drilled.  When we got there, they had drilled down 130 feet.  We watched them drill an additional 25 ft, I think.  We were there probably a couple of hours at least.

There were children coming around to watch;  whether it was to watch the big machines working or to watch the Americans watch the drilling, I'm not sure -- probably a bit of both.  These children were so cute, looking at us shyly, giggling and covering their mouths.  We said hi to a few of them and shook their hands, though they didn't speak English.


There are amazing women here, carrying all sorts of stuff on their heads.  Toward the end of our visit at that well, a couple women came and each picked up a 55 gallon drum to take back to wherever they'd gotten them a couple days ago - filled with water.  It's the women who carry the water, on their heads, and some while carrying one in each hand and also a child on her back!  After we left, I saw four people walking across the road - three males and one female.  The female was carrying a huge bag of rice or grain or whatever on her head and a baby in a sling around her front.  One man was carrying a briefcase, and the other two men were empty-handed (and I'd say empty headed, but by that I only mean that they weren't carrying anything on their heads).
We drove back to Iringa from there to pick up some gifts and headed over to the orphanage that was in town.  The road to the orphanage was really rough and Bo's driving was accommodating to each of the bumps, it seemed.  His sister Michelle had an open cup of coffee in her lap and it was in danger of being all over her lap by the time we got there.  :)  Most drivers here, although crazy, are very courteous.  It seems like they use their blinkers not to tell someone that they're moving over, but instead to tell the person behind them that it's ok to pass,  There's also a lot of honking.  The honking I think is more in a "hey, I'm here" kind of way instead of a "move over, dummy" way that I'm used to at home.
At the orphanage, we met Mama Chalewa, who has run it for 20 years.  She was a very nice lady.  I had some diapers to donate to them and she said that although they didn't have any infants now, they are expecting three in January, as they also run a daycare facility and there are a couple of women who will be having babies and bringing them for daycare.  She thanked me very much for the diapers and said they will be greatly appreciated in January.  (Thanks, Star!)
They take children over five years of age at the orphanage and there are 36 there right now, but that number fluctuates.  The daycare has like 13 that they're serving and they're hoping for more, as they can take care of 40 there.
Mama Chalewa gave us a tour of the grounds.  We saw the kitchen and one of the girl's dorms.  The children there were also very curious about us and they would shyly look at us as they played their games of throw the rock or jump over a stick.  It was amazing how happy they seemed although it appeared as though they had nothing.  There was a guest who arrived while we were there.  He is a son of a preacher and a friend of the children.  He brought them treats and the children sang a song for him in thanks.  I loved hearing their sweet voices and clapping and I got closer to get a video of it.  They sang again for us and I'm hoping the video will upload either here or on Facebook, as it was so cute.

The children at the orphanage

After the orphanage, we went back to Bo & Juli's apartment to decompress a little bit.  There's no sitting around for long though, as we decided to walk down to a little bar/restaurant and have a beer.  It was very pleasant sitting outside eating pork bits and "chips" (french fries) and visiting.  Then a girl came up to us and said something in Swahili.  I could have sworn she was like 13-15 years old, but everyone else at the table said she was older.  "Definitely a mama," Bo said.  I thought no way could she be old enough to have children, but we think she came over to beg for food for her children,  Bo offered her some meat, but she wouldn't take any of it.  He thought maybe she was Muslim.  The proprietor came up and brought her back to the kitchen or somewhere.  She must have gotten what she wanted from him because she came back with a sack in her hand and went on out.
We met up with Julia, Tom & Beth for supper and we went to a vary nice Italian restaurant back by the orphanage.  So it was over those bumpy roads, except this time there were eight of us in a car (that seats five) and three of us were in the back (where there were no seats).  They don't have the same seat belt laws here as we do at home.  :)  Everyone had pizza except me - I had ravioli - and everyone who had been there before said this was the best meal we'll have in Tanzania.  It was after 9pm I think before we left there and bounced on back home.
It is now after 11 and we have an interesting couple of days ahead of us.  We will be checking out of the Lutheran Center and head on a five-hour road trip to somewhere where we'll be dedicating ten wells.  We'll stay in that village (I'll get the name later) for two nights, I believe.  I was told to leave my computer at home so I may not write again until Monday.
Have a great weekend!