First week in Tanzania

So much to say... I don't know where to begin... so I will start with; I am safe and happy, here in Tanzania. Sorry for the posting delay... My computer is in the airport in Montreal. :( Long story, but Jim is working hard to try to get it to me... in the mean time I will be at the Internet, maybe once a week.

For now I am staying with a friend in Kigamboni, enjoying the mango trees in the front yard, the fresh fish of the Indian Ocean and amazing travels. I really do have so much to say but I will begin today with my most recent feeling of desperation and desire to make a change... I should say... I WILL make a difference in the remote village of Mnangole... an 8-hour bus ride from where I am staying now... and I will say, the bumpiest bus ride I have ever experienced... but it was worth every bruise.

It is a village of 900 all living in stick and red clay huts that they have built for themselves. These are some of the hardest working people I have ever met and yet have the least of any people I have ever encountered. There is no electricity or running water in this village... heck...running water ??? NO WATER at all... These women and children must get up in the early hours of the morning to trek 1.5 hours to the next village through hills and rocky terrain to gather water for drinking an cooking... water that is infested with baboon and turtle feces... and carry this water on their heads, for 2 more hours, back to their village before 7 in the morning so that they can feed their family and then head off an the next journey to the farm, an hour away, to cultivate and harvest vegetables. Then they often return to gather water again before the sun goes down at 6:30 pm. My journey to both of these destinations in one day wiped me out... and I did not carry the water, I did not have the baby on my back, I did not work the field in the farm. Just a leisurely walk to visit these places... for that matter... I didn't even carry my own backpack, my friend Bushman did that... and I was so ready to sleep at the end of that day.

Sooooooo, I'm sure you can see where this is headed... my first project WILL be to get these beautiful people the water they need and deserve as fellow human beings. There is so much more that this village is in need of... accessible health care... again they must walk 4 hours to the nearest hospital and if they need care the next day they must go home and return again the next day as there are no rooms for boarding at this hospital... children are lacking in education... the list goes on... but... Water... clean accessible water MUST come to this village. The other things will come in time.

So this is where I will leave you today. There is really so much more to say. I have been reflecting on many things during my first week here, but I will share those thoughts next time.

Tomorrow I will go to Bagamoyo to visit friends and do more research and continue to figure out my purpose for being here. I am excited about the prospect of helping the people of Mnang'ole and am confident that WE will make a change for these people.

I really am doing very well and look forward to hearing your comments, suggestions, and resources! Love to ALL of my friends and Family!