The Group

Aaron Franczek, Collin Hartman,Monica Kling, Sarah Meleski, Claire Pattison, Amanda Schmidt, Becca Scholz, Alyssa Stuiber, Becky Thorn, Ryan Treviranus, Gracie Ventura Haas, Marcie Weiss, Jenny White, Robert Bhatia, Jill Braasch, Jenni Herrick and Laine Philippa

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

What we want people to know about Tanzania

Hello Friends,

The students are packing their bags as they will be on a plane back home tonight.  They have some final thoughts to share with you.  Here is what they want you to know about Tanzania...

"This hasn't only been life changing, but soul changing.  I have learned so much about family, life, water and what I take for granted.  Thank you Tanzania!" - Alyssa Stuiber

"This trip has taught me many lessons about appreciation.  It has been life-changing and I'll never forget the people I met or the things that I learned."  - Jenny White

"Water is life, and not everyone in the world has the privilege to have it.  As an educated person, I feel I have more to give to the world and I hope others feel the same way." - Claire Pattison

"People are people.  Regardless of where you are in the world a smile is universal and the gift of life is precious.  Tanzanians, although they have less money than us, have far richer spirits." - Monica Kling

"Every time I visit a third world country it amazes me how easy life is back home.  It puts life in perspective and makes me appreciate my own life.  I hope to bring this simplicity home to help me stay grounded."  - Amanda Schmidt

"What Tanzanians may lack in material wealth, they make up for in the important things in life - family, relationships, and love.  I hope to remember the importance of these aspects of life when I get home." - Collin Hartman

"Poverty does not equate unhappiness.  The Tanzanians I met were all friendly, welcoming and joyful." Marcie Weiss

"The thing that touched me most was seeing the difference in poverty here compared to the US.  In the US, we have more options." -  Ryan Treviranus

"The people of Tanzania are the friendliest and most welcoming people I have ever encountered.  We are clearly foreigners and the people we passed on the road constantly waved at us.  Shopkeepers also were eager to ask us questions about ourselves and our home towns." -Aaron Francek

"The best part about this trip is that we were able to learn the culture of the people. Getting to know the people first helped us to understand and appreciate.  I hope to teach people more about culture." - Becca Scholz

"This trip is a great experience for people in all walks of life; students, teachers, professionals should all find time in their lives to come and experience the great adventures of Africa." -Gracie Haas

"My appreciation for things we take for granted (food, water, shelter and health care) has been increased and I would love to serve all people for the rest of my life.  So, Africa..."Kwaheri Tuta Onana - I will be back!"  -Robert Bhatia

"The relationships that were created and the interactions that I had with the Tanzanians was my favorite part of the trip.  My heart lies here with the people of Tanzania." Sarah Meleski

"This experience has taught me that as people, we all need to take care of eachother.  We may be different on the outside, but inside we are all the same. Here in Tanzania love and compassion reign. " Becky Thorn

"Tanzania is rich with human resources. It abounds with a strong sense of community which can be witnessed within a family, at a church service or on the side of a highway as they prepare food for themselves or for sale."  -Jill Braasch


We are all thankful that we had a wonderful, safe enriching experience.  We thank you for your prayers and support.  We want to especially thank Father Timothy Coday for not only being such a great host and teacher but for his great contribution to the people of Tanzania!

See you all soon! 




Monday, June 4, 2012

Photos


Elephant Crossing!
Aaron watches a giraffe

Safari by Becca Scholz

Everyone is having a lot of fun but it is getting to the point that we are missing our loved ones. Before we leave this beautiful country we visited Mikumi National Park. The best part about this national park is that you don't even need to really go in the park to see the animals. The main road goes right straight through the national park. Right away we saw baboons followed by elephants. Jenny White thought they were fake because they were standing so still and that they were an advertisement for the park. She realized that they were real once they started to move! All along the road we saw giraffes, gazelles, and zebras!!!!!!

Before we went into the actual park we stopped at our hotel to drop off our things. We got to the park at around 4:30 p.m. and had a couple of hours so we thought to look around. Turns out when we got there that we needed to be back by the gate by 6. The sign however said we needed to be out by 7? Well either way we had a guide with us in Bumble Bee our truck. Right away when we got in through the gate we saw a giraffe which was really close to the truck. Then we saw gazelles, water buffalo, warthogs, and zebras. We travelled around on the dirt road until we saw some more zebras and a few more elephants. OH BUT JUST  YOU WAIT!!!!! WE SAW A LION!!!!! OMG!!!!! We only got to see the ears, tail, and paw. We all tried to climb up the truck so we could see more but we couldn't because they were so far away. After awhile we headed towards the water hole. There we were able to see hippos and one opened its mouth. Since it was later at night the hippos were starting to come out of the water. Hippos hide in the water during the day because they get sunburned. Our guide was extremely nice we were in the park until 6:30. Some reason I feel like the rule about being out at 6 wasn't true.

The next morning we woke up every early and was got to the park around 8 A.M. Again we were able to see gazelle, water buffalo, zebras. While on the road we stopped for a family of elephants. Peter turned off the truck and we were able to hear them stomp through the grass. My favorite part about turning off the truck is that you are able to hear the animals around you and hear nothing but nature. During the times that we saw nothing it was nice to experience the quietness that nature had to offer.We travelled through the park and saw a lot of the same animals we saw the night before. We stopped at a camping site where we took a break at a 300 year old Baobab tree.  Heading towards the other side of the park we encountered the same lions we saw the night before. Another truck passed us and gave us news of another lion that was closer to the road. We headed towards the other lion on the road and the lion was less than 100 feet away from us. Almost everyone freaked out!  The lion roared a few times and had its ears back. We were in her territory and she was not too happy. Since everyone was freaking out I feel that we were probably making her feel more uncomfortable. After seeing the lion we made our way back to Dar.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Message from Laine

After coming back from the town of Manyoni, students found themselves too busy to get their thoughts together for the blog.  Father Tim hosted a wood-oven pizza party in his home and good times were had by all. 

It is now 5:30 am and we are packing the truck to leave Dodoma and head for the Mikumi Wildlife Preserve.  Although it is a long drive, students know that by nightfall we will see elephants, giraffes and zebra.

We are most likely out of touch until we reach Dar-es-Salaam tomorrow night.  Everyone is happy and healthy and beginning to look forward to seeing their families and sharing their wonderful experiences.

Photos

Mama Moki teaches Monica, Gracie and Becky to grind garlic

Mama Moki's parents with group

Mama Moki's daughter, Mary (with Jenny)

Group on hill above town of Manyoni

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Message from Laine

Hello Everyone,

Just want to share that our group is off to the village of Manyoni for the night - out of email contact for the next 36 hours.  All the students are in fine shape - despite a couple blisters and sore shoulders from the physical work of erecting the windmill.   In just a few minutes we will be going to the vegetable market and purchasing foods for a meal we will cook over a fire - in the African way.  We will be directed by Mama Moki, an old friend of our Stritch groups.   We will let you know how it turns out! 

A Job WELL Done by Marcie

Yesterday we completed the windmill at the Rhema school, which was built to pump water out of a well and into a holding tank.  We witnessed the first drops of water flowing forth from the previously empty water tank together with the school's community.  We were relieved to have completed our labor, but even more than that we were overjoyed to see the school community's response to this victory.

When we began our workday, we knew that by the end of the day the project would be complete.  That morning we also found out that during the afternoon the school would present a program to us.  After lunch, our group from Stritch sat through the program while the Water Project's professional staff put the final touches on the windmill.  The first portion of the program consisted of professional Tanzanian musicians performing for us.  These musicians were of the Sukuma tribe of northern Tanzania.  They performed the traditional music of their tribe with remarkable enthusiasm- all members of the group played instruments, danced, and sang.  After a few songs from this group, student groups sang, danced, and put on a fashion show for us.  Then, they had a ceremony focused solely on us.  A group of four young women called us up one by one to thank us for the water we provided for them, give us a handmade card that said this, and give us each a hand-carved animal, each of which they described as beautiful.  After this, we danced with the students who danced during the program.  Once the dance stopped they walked around hugging us and giving thanks to us, calling many of us by name.

Shortly after that we unlashed the windmill so it could make its first revolution, and water poured freely from the faucet.  Neema, the woman in charge of the school, was overjoyed, and she laughed and cried while splashing everyone in the vicinity with handfuls of water.  By this time all of the students were very excited and running around to our group from Stritch saying "Thank You" again and again.

Then, we painted our names on the back of the water tank where a painter had already painted a beautiful scene of several students using this new water.  After that we each planted a tree which would be watered with the help of the windmill we had just completed.  I planted a guava tree, and others planted orange, mango, grape, or avocado trees.  We were told these trees would produce much fruit in the years to come.

It was amazing to receive this "Thank You" from the students we helped.  We could tell that the program they put together for us was very important to them and that they took a lot of time to prepare it.  This made it all the more special.  We gave them water, and they responded by giving us what they had- a very large amount of gratitude.  After the water was turned on, one girl held my hands and said "Thank You" repeatedly, then finally said "I don't know how to thank you enough."  I helped build the windmill to honor these children, but they turned around and worked to honor our group for doing so.

The day before we completed the well, we experienced sadness at seeing Tanzanians affected with HIV-AIDS.  It was educational, but discouraging, because we witnessed daunting world problems of a large magnitude.  I, for one, wished I knew what I could do to help.  Completing the water project at the Rhema school did not change the water problem around the world, but it changed the circumstances of an entire school of children.

There are always discouraging moments when you want to solve a problem, but there are victories as well.  Service seems to be a delicate balance between knowing that there will always be more work to do and knowing that every small victory counts.





More than a Windmill by Sarah Meleski

     Today was our final day to help finish up the windmill at Rhema Primary Academy.  All that was left on our to do list for the day was 1) Finish the deep trench we were digging for a pipe to go from the windmill to the water tank  2) help with the assembly of the fins and 3)help get the fins up to the top of the windmill structure to put on. I was very anxious and excited for the grand finale.  I was waiting in anticipation for the end product of all our hard work.
     Another really awesome aspect to the day was the interactions I was able to have with the students there at the school.  During break times (or recess) some of the girls and boys from each class would come and sit around at a distance, watching us work on the windmill.  They always seemed eager and ready to wave at us as soon as they found that they had our attention.  Today a group of girls and boys motioned me to come over by calling out my name.  It seemed as if they had a lot of enthusiasm to try to learn more about us and about wanting to get to know me better was very heart-warming.  I sometimes thought that they were more interested in the interactions they were able to have with us versus their interest in this windmill we were building for their school.  I am beginning to realize how much of an impact one little group of Americans can make on these students.  Even though probably a lot of students did not quite understand what we came to do, they still were excited and happy to know that a group of Americans wanted to come and visit and help out their school. You could see it in their faces.
     So when the windmill was almost ready and we were waiting for the windmill to generate the water from the well, the kids were surrounding the whole site.  One of the little boys told me that he would miss me.  I was heartbroken.  I then was coming to the realization that I may never see any of these kids again.  So from the three days of our group working at the Academy to build this windmill, we built so many relationships.  Ones that I hope never to forget. 
     I can't imagine what my life would be like had I not had the opportunity to come on this trip to Tanzania Africa.  It has changed me so much and has caused me to see the reality that we live in.  Tanzania is a very poverty stricken area and many live in homes that are no bigger than our kitchens back in the U.S.  It really hurts and I struggle with how much we have home, and how little they have here.  However, these children that we met were one of the most happy groups of children that I have ever met in my entire life and their faces always lit up for them to see and meet us. The Academy now has clean water for them, their school, and their families.  But hopefully most of all, they will cherish the few memories they created with our group.  This windmill will serve as a constant reminder of our love and care for these students and the people of Tanzania. 

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Big Questions by Graciela Haas

Today we were able to see the fruits of our labor. We saw and helped build the windmill in all it's grandeur. The day began sunny and only became warmer as the day continued. We began by loading, essentially, the whole windmill in pieces into the truck. Upon arriving we unloaded the trucks and the split into two groups. One group held the base of the windmill in place while the other bolted the base together. Soon after we began to realize that we were no longer any help because in order to help we would have to climb like monkeys higher on the structure and Laine would have a heart attack looked like we wanted to  attempt to climb the structure! So Father Tim but us to work building a  trench that would connect the windmill to the water tank (through pipes). By lunch time half us were dying from heat stroke while the half were roasting in our own skins.

After a lovely lunch provided by the Rhema Academy Nursery, we were split into four groups to visit the households of some of the students attending the Academy. For many of us this would be another experience that will stay with us for the rest our lives. My group, combined with two others smashed (literally) into a van. Since the houses that we were visiting were extremely small only four to five people could go in a house, and each group went to a different house. My groups family sounded like many others; the grandmother was taking care of her grandchildren who have HIV, and whose parents died from HIV/AIDS. They don't have any source of income and the Rhema Academy Nursery is really their only life line.

 I think the most touching story comes from another groups household in which the Grandmother's daughter was raped and infected with HIV unknowingly. Her daughter did not know she was infected, got married and became pregnant. She died during childbirth, the child survived, however was infected with HIV. The Grandmother raised the child but has never told him that he has HIV or that his mother died from it. At nine years old, he knows that he is sick, that he has to take special medications, if he gets hurt he has to take special precautions, and he knows what HIV is, but does not know that he has it. The stigma of having HIV/AIDS is very negative. May people state that having HIV/AIDS is not the worst part but the stigma attached to it is worse. The Grandmother seemed to want to spare the child of the alienation and harsh reality of having HIV, but has recently been struggling with the decision on whether to tell him or not. Many members of that group state this situation did hit them until the Grandmother turned to them and asked "What would you do?" and a minuet later Ariki (Eric) walks in.

Many other questions arose as the day continued. After dinner we all gathered around for our nightly guest speakers. Tonight our guest speakers included a gardener and a cook from the water project compound. We learned the many challenges that came with finding work in Tanzania as well as how education level severely limits your career options. But I think we learned this most not from asking questions, but when the tables were turned and they asked us questions. The gardener who had only finished primary school (grade 7) came out and asked us "Why is the U.S. so much more advanced than Tanzania?" We all looked at each other speechless for a minute. His next question was not any easier, "How can we lower the poverty in Tanzania?" Again everyone looked at each other and once again we were humbled by the Big Questions.     
    
    

Raising the Tower by Ryan Treviranus

This morning we worked on raising the tower that will hold the motor and fins for the windmill. While the legs were being attached to the foundation, we dug a trench that will hold the pipe that carries the water from the well to the holding tank. This was a bit harder than it sounded. We had to first dig down to the entrance valve to the holding tank, which was about three feet down. Then we proceeded digging the same depth all the way to the windmill (about 20 feet). Before I knew it I looked up and noticed the top layer of the windmill's legs were being attached. We then worked together to help the motor get up to the top of the tower using a pulley system. Tomorrow we will finish putting on the fins and hopefully get to see the first drops of water come out of the pipe.

After dinner we got a chance to hear from two Tanzanian workers, a cook and a gardener. The gardener works in the vegetable garden for the school that the water project is connected with and the cook is a cook for the school. It was interesting to hear what the career world of Tanzania is like compared to our country. We learned yesterday that your education in Tanzania pretty much sets where you will end up for a job, whereas in the states we still have a chance to gain experience elsewhere to change our career goals. At first this saddened me to hear these stories of hardship but I realized there is something greater there than just laborious work. These men have learned what it truly means to work for your gifts. I feel as though in the states we sometimes take our jobs for granted and don't truly appreciate the effects of a hard days work. We have luxuries of two week paid vacations, and options for new careers when we get bored with our old one. Here a man or woman works hard just to get a job whether or not it is of his or her interest. I can tell they have hopeful spirits as well and don't look down upon their careers but appreciate that they have something. Our country could learn a lot from the Tanzanians' work philosophy.

This experience so far has been heartbreaking for me. Today we met a family with a father and daughter who are both infected with HIV-AIDS. The man's wife left with their other children when she found out the two carried the disease. After the meeting I felt guilty for all I worry about in my life. I worry about which career to choose or what state to move to when these people are simply worrying about how to live. I was having a rough time with this thought but then I realized that there was a purpose for this experience. It just made my want to serve even stronger. Yes there are great issues going on in other countries around us but taking advantage of opportunities such as this water project will hopefully enlighten more people to give any way possible to others. Our only way out of such darkness is to come together as a community to share our gifts.


Monday, May 28, 2012

Windmill Project: Work Day 1 by Jill Braasch

Tanzanian students share academic experiences

While you may have enjoyed a relaxing Holiday with family and friends, our group put in a full day on the job.  We were quite excited and ready to begin the work that brought us here.  The above ground water tank and below ground water pump had already been installed.  Our job started with shovels, picks, and hoes as we dug holes a cubic meter (39 inches).  The next stage in the process was moving rocks of ALL sizes, hauling water in buckets (not on our heads),  and mixing and dumping cement.  So in essence, we dug holes that by the end of the day we filled!  In the center of each cement cube a pipe was placed, which will hold the legs of the windmill tower.  Despite the physical exhaustion and dirty appearance, we are eagerly looking forward to the next days of construction.

As in previous days, our tangible and intangible rewards for our labor were abundant.  Mrs. Neema Peter Majule, Director of Rhema Academy Nursery, Primary, and Secondary Schools, expressed her genuine appreciation of our work. It was a sad story that she related about the first well drilling experience that they had encountered:  A well had been drilled for the school, but had not been dug deep enough.  Water ran for a short time after the well driller accepted payment and left.  Their gratefulness for our efforts is beyond words.  We were treated to an authentic and filling Tanzanian lunch during our break.  At the end of our work day, Mrs. Majule and her entire staff formally met with us to inform us of the school's history and student population and to collectively share their thanks.  The students are adorable!

Upon returning to our Tanzanian home, we showered and got ready for an extra special meal as we were entertaining guests.  Five young Tanzanian ladies joined us and later shared their experiences regarding their education.  The panel represented diversity in the ways of grades, ages, religions, as well as academic and professional goals.  In turn, they posed questions to our group.  We learned from each other.

Rest assured, our students are developing new skills and gathering more stories to be offered on their resumes and during future job interviews.  Stay tuned for the next report on our progress of assembling the windmill!









Today we dug one meter holes for the foundation of the windmill.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

"Unforgettable Experiences" By Collin Hartman

     To be honest, I have been a little hesitant to blog because I didn't think I could describe my experiences in a way that would even come close to comparing to our journey in Tanzania... but I just couldn't resist talking about my experience today.

     This morning, we attended church at a community about ten minutes from where we are staying. As our "bumblebee" headed down the bumpy road, Laine informed us that today was special because 5 couples were getting married. Our group was really excited-- especially the girls! When we pulled up to where church was, and we were welcomed by people reaching out their hand to greet us with "Karibu", which means "Welcome" in Swahili.

    We sat among the Tanzanian people and I was surprised to see that church was very similar to my experience attending mass at Stritch. It was really cool to worship in a similar way even though we are so far from home. After the couples were blessed by the priest and mass ended, some of the women in the congregation began dancing.  I remembered the last wedding reception I went to (JulieAnn and Jacob) and suddenly this wedding didn't seem so foreign. The group of Stritch students watched closely... and some of us wanted to join. Laine led some of the group near the ladies drumming. After a few minutes, we slowly started to immerse ourselves among the dancing. Let me just say that the smile that spread across each member of the group is something I will never forget. I stopped for a second and every worry or concern I had about this trip stopped. Seeing Stritch students dance and laugh among the Tanzanians was an incredible experience. We may not speak the same language, we may live on different continents, but in that moment we were united, we were one people.

     After the wedding we had the chance to eat at a Tanzanian family's house. Father Tim knew them because he had helped cement the floor to their house in the rainy season. He told us that the family had to us all their clothing to put on the floor of their living room because water was seeping through the floor. They welcomed us into their home and we crowded around their small table. It was refreshing to enjoy an authentic meal with this family.

     We then walked to where the children collected water. Although I didn't expect the water to be clear or clean, the hole where they filled their buckets with water was much dirtier than I expected. The water was infested with bees and bugs. I had no idea if they drank this water or if they were able to boil it to drink. It made me think to the work we will be starting tomorrow with the water well and windmill. I felt a struggle between being comforted that we are able to help a small community and upset that there are so many more people that need help.

     I talked to Laine to reflect for a minute. It was my initial reaction to feel bad for the family that we ate lunch with because of what Father Tim said. We agreed that they didn't have much, but what they didn't have in material possessions, they made up for in love and care for one another. The bond of each family member was easy to see. Sometimes I get so caught up in material things that I lose track of the things that really matter-- family, relationships, and loving one another. This qualities were prominent in this family. They seemed to function like a unit, they all worked together. The children were hard working and responsible. Maybe the  "unlimited opportunity" where we come from doesn't necessarily equate unlimited happiness. This family seemed to have it figured out.

     Thanks for following the blog!
         Collin

 p.s. I love you family!

Pictures of Mass and Lunch with a Tanzanian family

Attending Village Church Service including 5 Weddings!

Sarah, Claire, and Becca carrying water

"I do!" by Jenny White

Earlier in the week we were told that we would be going to one of the villages near by for Sunday mass, so this morning we all woke up and put on our nicest outfits and had breakfast. The unpaved roads on the way to the village made for an interesting and bumpy ride! As we drove through the village, we came to a very large group of people that were heading to mass. Laine turned to us in the truck and informed us that this morning we would be attending a wedding! We were all delighted and some of us girls even got tears in our eyes (girls will be girls!). This is the first time that a group of Stritch students were able to witness a Tanzanian wedding.

When we got there they all greeted us with "Jambo" (hello) and "Karibu" (welcome). The people of this village did have a church but unfortunately it fell to the ground. Until they are able to build a new one, they met outside in a nice area underneath a big tree. While we were there we found out that there were FIVE couples being married today. Father Tim explained to us that 4 of the couples were already considered married in the community but their marriages were being blessed by the church. After the ceremony, the women brought out the drums and started to play traditional tribal music. They were singing and dancing around and we decided it looked like a lot of fun so of course we had to join in! There had to be about 300 people there, all gathered in a circle around us watching us dance around like fools. It was awesome because everyone was able to let loose and not care about looking stupid. I was out of my comfort zone but I'm so happy I joined in because that was the most fun I've ever had! The amount of kindness they showed us was overwhelming to me. I think it's safe to say that we were all honored to be a part of such a special day.

After mass we made our way to another village to have lunch with a family who kindly invited us into their home. The family was made up of a husband and wife and their 6 children. The two oldest girls were the only ones who were able to communicate to us in English. The oldest one told us that she is getting ready to take the national test for seniors in high school tomorrow. After chatting for a bit, the 18 of us piled into a very tiny living room. There were not enough seats for all of us so most of us sat on the floor for our meal. They had prepared a lovely meal of rice and beans for us. After our meal, the girls and some of the younger siblings showed us where they go to collect water. On the way to the water, one of the girls told me that sometimes they have to walk as far as 2 hours one way to get water for the day. This takes away from their study time and their time to just be kids! We filled large buckets about halfway full with not-so-clean water and took turns carrying them on the top of our heads like the women here do. We did okay, but usually the buckets are full to the top and the women here don't have to use their hands to hold the buckets in place like we did. I couldn't imagine ever having to do that every day. Back home when I'm thirsty all I have to do is walk to the kitchen and turn on the faucet. I live a very blessed life and take so much for granted back home. The short time that we have been here has already opened my eyes and changed my perspective on so many things. I can't thank God enough for giving me such a great opportunity!

Saturday, May 26, 2012

It Will Get Done by Becky Thorn

Life in Tanzania is a refreshing step back from life in America.  There are no time limits, no deadlines, and generally no rush for anything.  As a matter of fact, I have only seen one clock since I've been here which was on a clock tower of a church.  I doubt it was of much help though, because on each of the three sides I could see there was a different time shown, none of them being correct.  Time seems to never be an issue or a concern with the Tanzanian people.  The market shops open in the morning after the owner has had breakfast and they close when there are no more customers.  Lunch will be served once everyone has worked up an appetite, and we will sit, eat, and chat until everyone has had their fill.  Even here at the mission, some of us on the trip were ready to "rally the troops" and get everyone ready to load the truck and tackle the day.  When we proposed this idea to Laine, she responded with, "don't worry about it. Relax. If it needs to get done it will get done."  We had to then take a deep breath and let the day take us wherever we were to go.

This schedule (or lack thereof) has been quite the transition from life back at home.  Today after touring the mission, visiting with the children, and shopping at the market for fabric, we had a two hour break until our next activity.  Many of us (myself included) felt quite lost as far a what to do.  We are so used to our "go go go" schedules at home that we didn't know what to do.  After about a half hour of sitting in my room with my roommates talking about our experience at the market, we decided to venture out of the room.  I think that was about the same time that many other people ventured into the common room as well.  Within minutes we were cutting up a mango, drinking tea, trying to figure out how to say new words in Swahili.  This is when I realized that one of the most important values to the Tanzanians was to take the time to create new friendships, and that was exactly what we were doing.  We had officially been accustomed to the "no rush" lifestyle. 

Later in the evening after dinner, we had the pleasure of listening to Father Tim speak.  He told us about his journey to where he is today and the many bumps in the road that he had to overcome.  His story was so inspiring and rejuvenating that we all responded with and enormous round of applause.  He has done so many wonderful, miraculous things, and he has looked rejection, doubt, and fear in the face along the way.  None of these set backs stopped him, however, because he had this feeling with him that if things were meant to be, they would get done.  He definitely has the mentality that you should do the best you can in this world, and everything else will work itself out.  I think we should all adopt this idea that when you try your hardest and let the forces of the world work themselves out, everything will get done.  So if you are reading this, I invite you, please, to sit back, relax, take time to build friendships, and know that everything else will work itself out.  If it needs to get done, it will get done in time.


Message to All from Laine



I just want to reassure everyone that the group is doing fantastically well.  Everyone is healthy and spirits are so high they can hardly be contained.  I am attaching some pictures from the market today.  Thanks for joining us on our journey.

Picture Perfect by Monica Kling

Father Tim explains how the windmills are made.

School children sing us some of their favorite songs.

Last night when I was looking back on my journal, I saw that there were only a few entries. At first I thought I had been majorly slacking on my recording duties, but then I realized that we have only been here for essentially 3 days! It blows my mind to think of this because I feel like I've been here for 3 weeks. This brought up the question: Why does Tanzania feel like home?

The answer is actually quite simple: our lovely truck "The Bumblebee." We have all spent a lot of quality time on this truck, and when I say quality time it's not just with each other, but with the people. Having an open sided truck where we are facing the side of the road makes it so that the walls disappear and we are able to interact with people who are on the side of the road. Also the fact that 18 white people are in the back of an open bright yellow truck makes us quite noticeable... either way, we have all mastered in these past couple of days the art of nonverbal communication here.

One very important lesson that we are all learning here is the lesson of when it is appropriate to take pictures. Like our waves and thumbs up, us putting our camera in front of our face speaks a thousand words, and not all of them are very nice. In America, we are so used to the tourist idea of getting the perfect picture, when in reality it just puts up a wall which distances ourselves from the people around us by, quite frankly, insulting them. I mean if a truck of people drove down my street taking pictures of me doing yardwork I'd be pretty annoyed too. However as our 8 hour trip to Dodoma passed yesterday (which was nothing short of an adventure), I noticed that my traveling companions were catching on to this idea as well. By the end, cameras were on the laps and hands were waving and giving thumbs up.

Today we got to meet the 4th and 6th graders who go to school here next to the water project, and I think it was really a turning point for everyone. Rather than taking pictures, a lot of us held hands with the kids and danced in a circle or played ball, or even had the kids use the cameras. We as a group put the cameras away in order to better experience the culture and make some new friends, something which I am very proud of everyone for. In the end, it really is better to experience things firsthand then have the perfect picture, because our memories are what this trip is all about. Who says a memory can't be picture perfect?

Friday, May 25, 2012

It's Getting Raw - by Amanda Schmidt

At home I never really think about where things come from.  We look at a shirt and often times see "made in China" on the tag.  What about things like bricks, gravel, and lawn furniture?  I'm sure we get these tings from large companies who mass produce them but not everyone else does.  As we've been traveling around Tanzania, we have seen bricks being made by hand, rocks being crushed into gravel by hand, and bags of homemade charcoal sitting on the side of the road for sale.  Just watching people work as we drive past has really opened my eyes.  I do not think about how readily available things are to us until I see others doing the work to make them.

I have also realized that a lot of things we have imported are naturally grown here.  Tanzania has 52 different varieties of bananas.  I didn't even know there were 52 different kinds of bananas!  Papayas, mango, and cashew fruit all literally grow on trees here.  There have been teak trees all around us, which a lot of our outdoor lawn furniture is made of.  Even dried hibiscus flower petals are used to make tea (it's actually pretty good, too!).  There is just so much around us here that is used so often, but I never thought about where it came from.

It amazes me that we have only been here three days.  We have already experienced and seen so much.  We are so blessed to have all of you following us.  Thank you for your support, well wishes, and prayers!  Can't wait to share more!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

New Friends - By Alyssa Stuiber

Close your eyes and picture blue skies, wind blowing in your hair, the smell of food, people waving to you with big smiles. This was the start of our day in Dar es Salaam. We were headed to beach for R&R. It was beautiful. The Indian Ocean, trees, and the warm weather. We spent a good part of the day there. After lunch we headed to some local market shops. It was exhilarating!! Shop keepers calling you, welcoming you, and shoving goods in your face. many of us knew the routine and bartered until we got the price we wanted.

In the market, I met a young women named Sonapie and her sone Mohamed. She was selling earrings. I didn't have any money, so I couldn't help. However, we talked about her and her life. She was born on May 23, 1980 and her son was born November 21, 2011. She even showed me her son's birth certificate. It's funny because when she first approached me, I didn't even realize she was carrying a baby on her back. He was a beautiful baby; short hair, chubby everything, and beautiful eyes that would melt your heart. In the mist of the conversation she told me "I want to be your friend." Now I could be cynical and think she was just trying to sell you something, but I am going to think that "yes, I want to be your friend too."

In the end, it was a wonderful beginning for my journey in Tanzania. I will never forget you Sonapi and Mohamed. You will always be my friends from Tanzania.



First day, by Claire Pattison

Hujambo. Where to start, these last few days have been a whirlwind all thrown together. We don't know where ion edays ends and the next one starts, because Africans don't really go by a clock. They wake up when they want to, go to work, get some stuff done, go home, and basically go through life on what they feel. It is so foreign for 17 Americans to not go by a clock and have scheduled plans, I hope we get used to it though.

Since Tanzania is 8 hours ahead, our bodies haven't fully adjdusted yet, so eating and sleeping are still a little off. Last night when we got into the compound with Father Tim it is a custom that they feed their guestd, even thought it was past midnight. We ate some amazing ethnic food, and passed out soon after. I woke up at 5:30 am (their time) fully rested and irritated by the free roaming roosters that have the natural call to howl with the sunrise. The shower in the morning had hot water and I thought it was a blessing. My day was just going to get better.

I walked around the compound while everyone else was sleeping in till the very last second before we would leave at 9am. I stumbled into the kitchen area where two women were preparing breakfast. We began to talk, and they pulled me into the kitchen. I soon was sucked into being a cook with Regina and Beth, two women that wake up at 4:30am every morning to travel by bus to work at the compound. We began to cook food and set tables. The fathers and other staff ate at 7am, which is a normal time for them. The three of us women talked and laughed about anythgin and everything. they spoke english well but didn't know how to translate everything they wanted to say to me. We spoke with our hand and made due, it was an experience I will not soon forget. We laughed and goofed around for over 2 hours before the rest of our American group finally rose. The group was very confused why I was going in and out of the kitchen so much and talking to staff, I explained that getting up early is the best way to get more out of your day. Good thing I didn't sit in bed, otherwise I would have missed out on a great bonding. Regina said that if I show up tomorrow she is going to get me a uniform (they are brown habit looking dresses, not my color).

Soon after we loaded up our open air bus that we call "Bumblebee", and we were off to the beach. Not any beach, a private beach at a resort on the Indian Ocean. Our eyes lit up getting to the beach as if it were Christmas morning, like we have never seen water before. Becca and I ran through the sand to get to the ocean as fast as we could. The water was warm and perfect.

Here comes the spoiler, not to get anyone saddened by this post. I stepped on a jellyfish in about knee height water, by accident of course. It instantly felt like fire and swelled up. I hobbled out of the water and was taken to the nurses office on the resort. the man gave me creams to make the burning stop, and now \i feel great. Kind of scary at first, but now everything is fine.

Right now we are waiting on Father Tim to arrive so we can eat lunch. he is on Afirca time. I am being summoned for lunch right now, so hopefully someone will write a little later on.

Kwa heri!

The Trip to Tanzania by Aaron Franczek

Our plane to Amsterdam
We were scheduled to leave Cardinal Stritch University at 12:30 in the afternoon. However, we had a situation that delayed us approximately 15 minutes. Collin Hartman realized that he had accidentally taken an old, expired passport instead of his current one. After several minutes of searching for it in his luggage, it could not be found. Because the group needed to get to the airport in Chicago soon, Jenni Herrick decided that Collin would have to go home to find his current passport, and meet the group in Chicago. After only about five minutes after the group left, Collin called Jenni, informing her that he had now found the proper passport. So the shuttle to the airport took a quick detour to the Home Depot on Port Washington Rd. to reunite with Collin. The group arrived at the airport at about 2:20 p.m. on time and with no other situations. When asked to comment about the incident, Collin said he was nervous about not finding his passport before the flight left Chicago.

At 3:20 p.m. we all began boarding the plane to Amsterdam, Holland, where we would have a layover before another flight to Tanzania. On the plane, we met some interesting people with interesting stories. Some Stritch people were surrounded by students from Viterbo University, another Franciscan University near LaCrosse, Wisconsin and a soccer rival of Stritch. This group, we discovered, was traveling to Italy for a service trip. Collin sat next to one of these students. She was a young woman who had never flown before. She told Collin that she had recently had a Rosary tattooed on her body. Her parents did not approve, but she remarked that the tattoo was a good decision because if the plane went down, at least they would go down with Jesus. I sat next to a college student from Iowa. She was traveling to Madrid for an internship for a Spanish fashion magazine.

At 6:44 a.m., or 11:44 p.m. Central time, we arrived safely in Amsterdam. We had a two hour layover at the Amsterdam airport. Many of us took the opportunity to go shopping at the airport shops. Marcie Weiss found some Mars Bars. This was special for her because her friend Ryan Treviranus, who is also a participant on this trip, calls her "Mars Bars" as a nickname. The two decided that, because of this, they would have to eat Mars Bars together sometime, but could never find any. Now she finally had, and she and Ryan finally were able to eat them together.

We boarded the plane to Tanzania in two hours. I couldn't get to know the people next to me on this flight because they only spoke German. The trip continued with only one more minor incident. I don't even think many people know that this happened. The plane landed in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and then was scheduled to continue on to Dar Es Salaam, where we would disembark. I didn't realize this and accidentally got off the plane in Kilimanjaro. Unable to find any Stritch students once I got off the plane, I panicked, then realized Stritch was supposed to get off at the next stop. With a little embarrassment, I reboarded the plane only a minute or two after I got off, hoping they would let me back on.

Eventually we landed in Dar Es Salaam and disembarked. I lost track of time, so I have no idea really at what time this was, but it was in the early night. The air was hot, but not uncomfortably so. It had a distinct scent,--sweet and spicy. It sounds weird, but the best way, I think, to describe it is as mildly spicy pie dough.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Safe Arrival Message from Laine

I just wanted you to know that all of our students arrived safely in Dar-es-Salaam last night.  Although they had sleepy eyes, they were in great spirits!  They were welcomed by Father Tim Coday at the airport and we loaded up our bags (which ALL arrived with us!) and jumped into our new truck (which has yet to be named by the students).   After driving about 45 minutes through the city, we arrived to the Mission where a nice welcome meal awaited us.

By midnight they were all lodged into one of the mission cabins in the compound.  Although the internet office was locked up, fortunately the showers were not.  Within a few minutes they were all sacked down.

I got up early to reassure you that all is well and I have 15 wonderful participants who will soon be adding their more interesting words to this blog.  But now...breakfast awaits me.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

On Tuesday, May 22 a group from Cardinal Stritch University will be traveling to Tanzania to learn about Tanzanian culture and provide service to those in need.  We will be hosted by Father Tim Coday, a Stritch graduate who directs the CPPS Mission Project in Dodoma, Tanzania.  The CPPS ministry provides fresh, clean drinking water to remote villages through the installation of wells and windmill pump systems.  Recently, the project also opened St. Gaspar's Primary School which will be educating 1000 children!

Our Stritch students have spent the year fundraising to travel to Dodoma, Tanzania to help install a clean water system for the Rhema Foundation Education Centre, a preschool that serves AIDS orphans and HIV/AIDS positive children.  Our fundraising efforts have raise $9,500 that will pay for the components of this water system. 

We hope that you will join us on our journey.