Wednesday was a very exciting but very full day.
In the morning the women drove by van to a nearby elementary school in the village of Nyharo for our next Days for Girls distribution. Leisha had chosen this school as 8 girls had shown up pregnant at the school last year. It was her hope that having some education would provide opportunity for intervention and prevention for other young girls and of course give them each a kit.
Mama Ellen and Grace accompanied us once again. We were also joined by the 3 MHA's assigned to this area on behalf of Mama Maisha. The tone of this school was very different than Tuesday's school. We were not met or welcomed by any school administrator and the two female teachers who began sitting in on the presentation walked out during the talk. While every girl had shoes on and wore the mandatory uniform, many of them had ripped stained shirts with missing buttons and very tattered shoes. The girls there however were much more animated than those the day before and gave us an impressive large group spoken thank- you after the distribution followed by spirited hand clapping!
When Leisha asked if there were questions after Jane presented the components and directions for the Days for Girls hygiene kits( w help from Mama Ellen as translator), one older girl asked what they should do if they had no water to soak or wash the pads when at school. This question was also asked the day before as it appears that not all schools have a water supply of any kind.
Water is indeed a prized but limited commodity here and must be walked for ( sometimes it is miles away) and gathered in pails from a river or water hole usually by the women or girls. But many of these water sources are dried up this year due to an extreme drought. It was a sad reality for us as visitors to learn about the lack of water at these schools.
After the traditional handing out of the kits to each individual girl ( which went much faster than the day before!), group photos were taken. We are learning that ceremony for these events are very important.
The drive to the location of the hut build was unforgettable. At one point our driver had Grace phone Stephen a diocese worker who was already on location withTerry, Fred, Anson and Zach to get directions which seemed funny to us as there were very few discernable land marks anywhere!While we started driving on a main dirt road, we eventually turned off onto a cow path full of stones and brush, then spent the remainder of the bumpy drive moving through a dry grass field! Thank goodness Stephen took his piki and ended up meeting us to show us the way. ( see pics!)
Upon arrival at the hut build site we were surprised to see the entire sisal frame already been completed by the men. A 'fundi' ( hired construction worker) spent his day working on preparing the roof despite the hot sun. The rest of us spent the remainder of the day doing the mudding alongside other community members, from time to time taking breaks to hold a baby , play with the children or simply chat with others in the shade.
The hut was being built for a widow named Sarah who is terminally ill with four children ages 12 and under. Widows in Tanzania are usually not cared for by anyone after their husbands die, and so Fred felt that it was important that she would be given quality new lodging before she died.This would also bring the community together and make them aware of the need for someone to possibly step up to take care of the children after their mother had passed away and provide a dry place for them to live.
A large water holder was brought by the diocese truck and a special blend of ground gathered by several women throughout the day in bowls was mixed by two men with their feet and some shovels to create just the right texture for sticking in between the sisal poles.
After the entire hut was completed we were all offered porridge from their few cups. We were all touched and humbled knowing that this family who had so little was giving us what they had in friendship. We also provided everyone involved a cool soda, picked up by one of our drivers but paid by our team. We then took pictures of everyone involved before heading back. The men took the diocese truck loaded with community members who were dropped off at various places en route. Because many walk miles to get anywhere an opportunity for a ride is accepted whenever possible.
Connie from our team spent some time sitting with Sarah a few times throughout the day and before we left, and gave her a blessing ( with the help of Leisha's translations). In it she wished her peace, told her she had a lovely family and reminded her that she was loved.
Our debriefing and devotion time before supper was a time of much discussion and emotion today. We had been touched by the contentment and bond we had shared through a common task and we were so blessed in return.