Dreadhead Me

a primary school in Chamwino, Dodoma

Sasa

Tuesday September 27, 2005

Visited Balm of Gilead Centre today—an orphanage that MCC helps to support…An amazing story and lady who started the place which now takes care of 21 orphans in Dodoma and a secondary school 35 km away for 50 orphans…After her own sister (who was mentally challenged) was mistreated and neglected by family that she had been staying with came to stay with her, she began to think about how many other orphans needed help and assistance, and then she did something about it…


Monday September 26, 2005

Took the MCC people on some home-care visits today. We went to four different homes. We had tried to pick people who were very open in sharing about their situation. All four women we talked to came from Muslim backgrounds. Some of them come to the church for services and also to receive help. Some of them expressed the church was the only place/people that was helping them…

Each had individual stories they shared with us, about their families, history. All of them seemed very happy today, they were so glad to have visitors. Some had even said they had given up all hope after the news of being HIV positive, but after the home-care visits they had received some of their hope had been restored, they knew they had people that were behind them…

Sunday September 25, 2005

Another little French baby enters the world…. Jillian Esther French! Got word from Jake and Sarah that Jillian was born on Saturday….she is beautiful and a big one: 10 pounds 9 ounces---1 more ounce than Rosie. In Jakes famous words… “In our family, we have beeeeg babies!” Ain’t that the truth….

Sunday September 25, 2005

MCC people arrived for a visit yesterday and came to the service today. It was a lively service, and I felt encouraged by the group of 4 that arrived, all very cool people. We had a meeting afterwards discussing what the health committee and HIV/AIDS committee are doing, so all the community members involved representing youth, elderly, men and women, widows, were able to share their experiences, struggles, thoughts and visions. I shared a bit about the home visits and what some of the needs were according to different
Situations. Have a report I am trying to write even now.

The meeting ended at 5, and later that evening we had some sodahs at the New Dodoma Hotel---not a place I plan to stay in. a little to luxurious for my taste. But they had a nice tv with a soccer match on so maybe Ill take some of the kids to the place to watch some games. Been trying to catch some of the world-cup qualifier games on tv, as well as champions league, and the premiership…take me back to the good old Kenya days where dad and I would stay up late make some popcorn and chai and watch a good football match on the ‘tele’…school nights and weekends…

Saturday September 24, 2005

The Compassion program at the church held a church service to pray for those who have suffered from Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The 230 kids and their parents were invited to pray for those who have been affected. It was one of the most touching things I have seen. It was very powerful. It was 3 hours long, lots of singing and praying, and tears shed. People crying out to God for his deliverance, mercy and provision…There are many sponsors who have been affected by the hurricanes, so that’s part of the reason why the children gathered to pray for those in need…it was very moving…

A log of Home Visits to those with HIV this week

I was congratulated for being the first mzungu (European) to enter a driver’s dala dala (matatu—taxi-van) today. Maybe some mzungu has discovered this phenomenom and have already tried to be great dala dala explorers trying to make a stake like Livingstone, seeing as much as possible, the sights of the “insides” for the “first” time.

Another guy commented the same day wondering why I was taking a dala dala…wazungus he stated didn’t like the problems of public transport and therefore didn’t know how to spend their money wisely, and so were bound to run out attempting to live more luxuriously…I told him well yeah, I definitely don’t prefer the dala dala. I’d rather go by foot because its free.

Wednesday September 21

The brother of a woman we visited last week who was in need of a CD-4 test showed up today to let us know she had gone to the hospital and was given a prescription for some medication (looked like the medication may have been for syphilis). We didn’t see and indication for the CD4 test although we know it was probably done. And we don’t therefore know if she received any anti-viral drugs, so we are going to visit her later this week. The medication she was prescribed required some injections and therefore someone with nursing background will have to assist her to inject the medication.

The brother looked tired and worn out. He was thankful to receive the help but his eyes looked so burdened. I was just remembering when we visited them last week, we walked up to his sister who was sitting beneath a tree on a mat sparing her from the dusty ground. She was brushing her short hair very carefully and gently. She was very thin, (in her late 50s) and lifted her long arms with each meticulous stroke. On the ground beside her was a neat pile of black hair. I wondered if she was saving hair that had fallen out, making the pile a little larger each day, but I didn’t for sure. Maybe they were from some extensions, but the pile of hair just looked so real I wondered if she was keeping it.

Tuesday September 20

Had a long conversation with the pastor today about some of the community groups working on HIV care and prevention. He had just come back from visiting on of the groups that was recently started this last year in May. Members of the community that were suffering from HIV formed a group, and appointed a man to be the communications/spokesman etc. They want to focus on community-based care, income-generating projects (livestock etc.) to increase their economic standing---specifically so they can support themselves and obtain the food and nutrition that they need, and hopefully the medication they need. They are just starting and are looking for funding in order to start projects. After Manesseh told them about the prevention programs and home-based care program we are trying to get going, he expressed his interest in obtaining more information and training, stating that they would be ready to help mobilize their communities in HIV aids prevention and awareness.

One extremely sad story that Manesseh just informed of was that the chairperson of the group he just visited this last year committed suicide in July because she had been rejected by her family, stigmatized by her community, and was not even able to buy food she needed to stay as healthy as possible. She had even come to the church seeking for help at one time. She poured petrol on her clothes, entered the circle of clothes than lit a match. He just found out that it was the woman who had visited with him once who was the chairman of the group, and who had committed suicide due to despair and alienation.

There is so much that needs to be done on reaching out to people suffering so that they do not feel abandoned and rejected. We need to help break the barriers and walls that perpetuate judgment and shame, when we should be offering hope, encouragement, acceptance and downright love.

There is lots to figure out: increasing access to medication, anti-virals, food, prevention programs in schools, using- mobilizing those in the community (getting those who feel strong and compelled enough who are HIV) to teach and educate others to help prevent the problem, and so much more. Many people will start to come more who are just in need of food, because its hard enough finding enough to eat to feed themselves and anyone they might be taking care of.

There are a few people within the church who are HIV + but they are silent about it, afraid of speaking out and being judged, although many have informed the pastors but ask them not to share the information. The pastor talked about how he had an idea for increased awareness through a community crusade-like gathering that would attempt to attract and inform people in the community, doing dramas, singing, speaking etc.

I am amazed at how much initiative and action people have taken here. Of course to them its plainly a simple responsibility because people are dying and they want to prevent it. I have already been touched by the people here who are resilient, compassionate and determined to reach out, and I feel honored to be able to work with them.


Monday, Septermber 19.

I went on another home visit with Mrs. K today. A woman came to the church yesterday who was seeking some help for her friend who has HIV and needs some help. So we went this afternoon to the home of her friend, Asha.

Asha and her family greeted us warmly when we came through the door inviting us to sit down. She showed us her book which gave the list of medicines that she has been taking. She has been on the medication for about a year. Her husband passed away last year, and then she went to the hospital to obtain some anti-virals. After her C4 count jumped from the hundreds to the thousand bracket. She said she knew she was positive since 2003 but I think she implied her husband had not allowed her to go receive treatment, for her or for himself, denying the problem.

I asked her what symptoms she had suffered from and she stated that she had chest problems mainly, but she didn’t have enough money for any of those medicines, that could help her cough. She was receiving the anti-virals for free from Tumaini clinic. (The government has tried to supply the medication free for patients). The governments has also tried to give free medication for home-care givers, nurses, who treat HIV patients, for many of their symptoms and ailments. Mrs Kenyunko has a number of families that she visits and helps take care of their symptoms. Its crucial that patients have access to other medication because what people die from are the diseases that are caused by a low immune system such as typhoid, malaria, TB, etc. And every patient looks different, meaning they often have different symptoms from HIV—aching legs, chest pains, the list goes on.

But she has received no home-care visits, so we are going to do an investigation to see why she has received no help at home. Mrs. K stated that there should be home-care givers designated to assist in her area. But offered her to come in and visit her at her hospital like many other patients do.

Asha stated that because she did not have enough money, she could not buy the medicine, or all the food suggested for increased nutrition, pay rent, and pay the fee for her 16 year old son to transfer schools from the village to a primary school in Dodoma. (I believe his level was primary 5).

I tried to ask what she needed help with most, sort of implying a “priority list” to try and see what other ways we might be able to help her, and she said there were just too many needs it was impossible to make some kind of list! Yeah, I needed to eat that comment.

And so, I suggested to Mrs. K that we bring some people to visit her next week to give them a picture of people who are in need greatly, in multiple ways. Asha was very open to this idea and so she will be a great person to have share about what she is going through openly, and hopefully we will be able to help her more. This project is starting out small but will hopefully increase its capacity in the next year or few years.

I talked to Baba last night afterwards, explaining about how much need there is here. He talked about how we will be figuring out how much we can do for people and help. He said he would rather “wound many, then kill a few” meaning (and it needs to be understood how he meant it) that we (people) need to share their resources and give a little to the many that we can, instead of draining them into a select few, because we are unable to help with everything or solve all problems. He stated this year we will probably be assisting about 20 families or so, and then increase that as the project capacity increases, with more funding, training, etc.


September 14, 2005

Yesterday I went on some other home-care visits with John and Mrs. K. We went to the area of town where John lives, for he knew many families and neighbours affected by HIV/AIDS.

We met a family within whom both daughters were infected by HIV. The mothers name was Mora, then her daughter Mary, but I just forgot the other daughter's name. They had three children. One of the husbands had died from AIDS. One of their sons was very sick as well, whom also might be infected. They mentioned they had suffered from Typhoid or TB—often a killer disease when linked with HIV.

The second family we went too a woman was there named Amina who was being taken care of her brother. She had tested positive for HIV in Dar es Salam and was told to get medicines in Dodoma at one of the hospitals but when she came here they wouldn’t give her the medicines until she took another test measuring her C-4. She didn’t have the money to do it (8000 shillings=8 $) so she went back home. We helped her out and are she plans to go to the hospital today, take the test and then start to receive the anti-virals from Tumaini clinic (which I guess is taking care of many patients, orphans and children—and is struggling to have enough resources to do it all). She was very open in sharing about her situation, living with HIV.

While we were there a woman named Asha came and asked to speak with us so we went to here house…She began to tell us of her ailments, aching legs, skin diseases, abcesses on her body etc. Mrs. K was counseling her that she needed to go to the hospital and be tested, Asha looked down and said she didn’t want too. She was afraid. Probably afraid that she would test positive, people would find out and look down on her….she had been married or with some others before, and lost two children to sickness. He last husband complained of aching legs too. He died last year. Now she is married to an older man, and he was encouraging her to go to the hospital as well even though she was very scared. After the counseling she stated that she would go to the hospital where Mrs. Kenyunko works.

That night after the service I went with Maneseh and the Mrs.K to visit the home of a Muslim woman, also living with HIV. She had helped Manesseh’s household get access to a water pipe in the neighbourhood. She was very receptive to the help we could give her, some rice, beans, and ugali. It definitely seems like there are good relationships between Christians and Muslims here. Many are working together. She had someone who was doing some home care for her, but she said she would be happy for more visitors and assistance.

There is some cooking oil also available at the church Three families we visited the day before came to get the oil in the morning. They also can get milk every day. (many of them being the affected families whose children are sponsored by compassion).

The poverty level here is extremely high in Tanzania. And this region is the poorest in the country of Tanzania. poverty has and is impacting people’s ability to get access to health-care, nutritious food, etc.

I am starting to become extremely burdened by what is starting to sink in. And the challenges of what lay ahead, and I have only been here for a week and a half. (language, the huge amount of need, helping to figure out how we will be structuring all the multi-initiatives in the next few months). The people here are amazing because they have taken so much intiative and are ready to help people suffering from HIV/Aids, as they are doing already.


Tuesday September 13
Went on my first home visits today for some families affected by HIV/Aids. Veronica and I, and Mrs. K—head of the community health committee (including the HIV aids initiative) measured the 4 kg of maize, 3 kg of beans, and 3 kg of rice, for 5 families. Mussa and Mrs. K and I then went to visit some of the families with kids sponsored by the Compassion program who are living with HIV, have lost parents or have a parent with HIV.

Mussa is so loved and trusted though, we were all welcomed and asked to come again. The first visit, was the family of a kid named Lucas who has HIV. Hes 12 years old. We were sitting in the living room when he walked in. My heart broke when I saw him instantly. Because he was acting and smiling like any other kid would. But he had some skin diseases and rashes and his eyes looked really yellow. He would smile with a big grin when he would say something funny. His father has HIV but was not there at the time. I just wanted to hold him. I had to suck up the tears that started to come whever I looked at him… it killed me. That a child suffers from HIV….that millions do…that here was a real face of a precious kid, living with this disease…and there are so many other women, men and children.

We visited a few other families. A woman named Bahati (means “Luck” in kiswahili).who had been confirmed HIV (she takes care of one of the sponsored children) and she showed us her anti-viral drugs which she received from the government hospital free of charge, although only two hospitals provide them and don’t have enough for everyone because there are too many people infected/affected, and not enough to go around. The church provides 2 L of milk per day for the families we visited and others. So everyday the children or their family members go to receive them. I met Bahati in the office a few days ago, and started to talk to her, but I didn’t know she had HIV before I saw her this afternoon.

We visited the home of another child, who may be HIV positive, but its just not known for sure yet. Her grandmother is taking care of her because both of her parents died. The little house looked like it could fall down at any time…had two beds, no mosquito nets, and a jiko in another room. Her grandmother bibi was small and wiry, but kept on saying her thanks/shukuru to God that we visited and said how she was so thankful the church was providing some things to them, a bed, food, school stuff, the milk…every bit helps…

I went to Musa’s house afterwards and hung out with his family. Then returned home to find Peace and Nema at the house, and wanted to sit on my bed with me. They are so funny. After Peaces bath, I sprayed her neck with some body spray that I had with me and she immediately lifted up her arms for me to spray her armpits…and then she proceeded to eat all the grapes/zibibu that I brought home. She always want to eat, and she is such a little thing. Anything I have, she'll take it out of my hand and declares she’ll finish it for me. I have had to become less possessive any time I have my favorite soda bitter lemon.

There is this girl I met on the street walking to the church one day named Aisha. She took my hand in mine and decided she was going to come to church with me. I guess she had no school that day or may have been returning from a visit to the hospital. She wanted to accompany me later on starying that she loves wazungu. She came back again today to visit. Right now, her mom and step dad don’t want her to live with them (she is 13) and was beaten by her stepfather. She wanted to see if I could help her. Pastor Manesseh counseled her for awhile and my Swahili teacher…May God give her strength and courage each day to live and desire to find peace… guide her to your feet. Feet of love and arms of grace, may you bend over and pick her up and may she feel you completely.

mimi itwa jojo, ninakaa dodoma

Arrival
In the beginning was a blog, a blog from Dodoma. I have been in Dodoma for a week now and am still taking it all in, the last week has felt like a month...

Arrived in Nairobi on a Sunday night. I stayed at the Mennonite Guest House for the night, which brought back lots of memories from childhood, playing on the old tire swing, eating playdough with Gretchen in her den, sleepovers at Beth’s house, playing ghost and the graveyard, and all that. I was sad to not spend some more time in Nairobi but hope that I will take a trip to Kenya this year. The early shuttle didn’t come like it was supposed which made me slightly grateful cause Nick and I were able to go to Sarit Centre (oh mall of the past). Nick is the other person working in TZ this year. He is working in Mugumu, teaching English, and science classes to nurses and doctors there. One of the first question Nick asked me in Dodoma was, "Do you bird?" and I was like "What!?" oh, birding of course. Yes I have a pair of binoculars ductaped to my body everywhere I go (or not soo much). He is a passionate “birder” so spotted many new birds everywhere we went and has about 4 books of birds with him. I actually think I could get into it (surprisingly). It’s actually a great way to enjoy nature and East Africa is a bird paradise-- in the words of Ron, "It dont get no betta than thisss!" So while at Sarit I thought about going up to Nargis at the salon and showing her my new dreads. I know she would have remembered me because of my mom and probably flipped out.

Arusha—
Took the shuttle to Arusha at noon and enjoyed the African roadside. It took about 6 hours till we arrived near the base of Mount Meru. Arusha is a pretty place. We were picked up by our country rep Rodney who took us to his home where we met Barb, the other rep, and their three little kids Janae, Trevor, and Levi who all know Swahili. The following night we were able to go to Nyantito’s house, meet his wife Winny and little girl Prisca. We went with some other missionaries Christopher and Rebecca. Ugali and sukuma wiki again at last…and great people...

So we hung out in Arusha for the next two days, getting to know the place a bit. Nick and I went to watch the International tribunal for Rwanda which has been taking place in Arusha the last 6 years. There were three court cases going on and we sat in on one of them. Just going to sit in for a couple of hours was pretty intense. A witness was being cross-examined on an event in which people (Tutsis) had been ordered to leave the hospital by a certain doctor and were then killed by Hutus in the surrounding area. It seemed to be a very slow process. There was a lot of confusion in the translation of the statements that the witness had given (which had been translated into French from his own Rwandan language/dialect a couple times slightly differently). The defender had a different interpretation than the prosecutor. One translation suggested that he had said the doctor had “released” or “discharged” those hospitalized before they were ready to go. Another translation implied the Tutsi patients were “chased” away from the hospital only to be murdered later. It was all so crazy to think about.

It was also fascinating to get a glimpse of how people are trying to restore justice in some way to the horror that happened. It is still an immense wound that will take decades or longer to heal. The court is supposed to continue for 5 more years. And of course that is only part of the process for healing the peoples of Rwanda deep pain and tragedy. How can we truly begin to comprehend the immensity of what happened? Its heart-breaking.

Arrival in Dodoma
It takes 12 hours to ride from Arusha to Dodoma! I was accompanied by Margaret, a social worker for Compassion, which has a site at the Kanisa la Mennonite (Iringa Rd). Had a lovely little girl sit on my lap part of the way. We had two stops and I didn’t meander at all. Carla and Kurt I remembered your bus story, which made me bust out laughing, but I really didn’t want to take the risk of being left behind and hopping on another bus to chase down the other one!

Arrived in Dodoma and went to Pastor Amos house for supper. I have received such a warm welcome from everybody here. The next day I visited the church and met people who work here. Our office for programs on HIV/AIDS will be ready in a couple months. Amos' wife Esther is studying in Zambia for another two months and she will be the HIV/Aids response coordinator, and I will be helping and supporting her as best I can as a "facilitator". Right now I am studying Swahili so have a couple months to immerse myself in it before really helping.

New Life Choir
That day after hanging out in the office I went to the New Life Choir practice—the youth Choir (teens-30’s…). It will be very fun to sing with them this year. The next day I had to peform with them at a wedding. It was pretty hilarious. I didn’t really know any of the words but enough rhythm to move with them and mouth what I think they are singing! Because I have joined and have to go up there with them, I have had to try and follow the steps and sing when I hear it all for the first time (on stage or whatever). Yeah, it’s a little nerve wracking, cause I don’t really know what song we are singing until its over. But its all cool.

It must be a new form of impromptu dancing…. I was telling my family I think the African choir exposure from the time of the wee babe stage has been entrenched in my memories growing up, sort of lying dormant until Lisa Woolsey began to inspire it up again (along with Aimee, Carla, Anne G.--and Karin dear) into a goofy, cool, but slightly cheesy dance style of our own. I sort of get the African choir beat.

The wedding was cool, but super long (that is to me--I'll adjust). I was about to fall out of my chair seriously. It was very interesting wedding though, will post some pics and thoughts later…

Goat Feast
Went to a goat feast on Saturday night of a family from the church. For starters we had goat soup…that stuff is potent! I am sure if you drank a bucket you would start to grow goat fur on yer chest. Almost made me want to go gnaw on some clothes on the line or rummage through some taka taka (garbage). Not quite. Anyone recognize this line? “Nothings as good as our goat’s soup grandfathaaa!” then pilauf, ugali, more ugali and you guessed it. Ugali. And some salad to add some balance, and I forgot the goat meat.

It was a beautiful meal to share with such beautiful people in a little open air courtyard on a cool night with some Tanzanian music blaring out.

My New Home
I am living with Jane, sister of Esther (wife of Amos), father of Amiinidab, son of Josiah…not quite. That sounds a bit like Matthew 1.

Jane is 25 and an accountant. She is super funny. She also speaks some English. My other housemate in Veronica who teaches nursery school at the church. It’s a small little place which I have already grown to be quite fond of. It’s got plenty of dudus, cockroaches, some lizards plastered between the shirati and my window screen, and a nice mouse or rat went straight up my wall last night into a hole in the ceiling. Oh, but the best part is that we are right by a disco, a large one, so I fall asleep to the disco beat every night. (just like Eastleigh—a bar on every side. Easteigh was the area we lived in Nairobi). Yeah, I still like it. It’s about a 40 minute walk from the church, which I will continue to venture until I get a bike. Veronica hardly knows any English, except for, “I am not feeling very tiired!” I am enjoying them a lot, but looking forward to the day when I will be speaking and communicating in swahili a lot more than I am able now.

Our house is in the back of another house so we have quite a few neighbours. Nema who is 12, burst into my room the first day sat on my bed and decided to become my best friend. I bought a jump rope one day so I can exercise some more if I want to outside, and so we have a little competition going on every once in awhile between a few of us. Jane was so excited after I got the jump rope, she went out and bought a pair of red shorts that matched mine at the market the following day! Ah, so funny reminds me of elementary school and Kristen Koski (Now Unger) and myself having matching roller skater outfits…aye yayae.

It took me two days to get hooked to this South American (dubbed in English) soap opera called “The Revenge.” It’s horrible but now I have to watch it with Jane every night or I feel like something is missing in my day. Its just awful how they twist you like that and make you "crave it fortnightly"! But, I just discovered that Sky news from UK comes in fairly late and BBC is on in the morning—other than that I don’t have much news source, which may be a bit hard…lakini nitatafuta radio moja… I was shocked to hear about Katrina. I can't comprehend how devastating its been...Many of my new freinds here have shown a lot of sympathy...


Kanisa La Mennonite
The church is so lively and charismatic. Very lively. Its been pretty refreshing thus far to be with people who are so alive and expressive in their dancing, singing. Will definitely be writing about experiencing this community and church more in the future.