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. 

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.

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.

"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