Tuesday, July 2

The group at FAME Clinic.  Front – Meshach, assistant principal at Banjika School.

Front row (L to R):  Grace, Caroline, Ashley, Sarah, Casey, Alexandra.

Middle row (L to R):  Abby, Sally, Madison, Devo, Susan Lambert, WLS instructor.

Top row (L to R): David Braemer, Ensworth Headmaster; Greg Eubanks, Kari Leah, & Brooke Morgan, Ensworth teachers 

Not pictured:  Tim Midinka, WLS in-country coordinator

Today we spent time visiting local leaders. Our first stop was Shalom Orphanage where we spent time listening to the story of the orphanage and meeting its leaders. A lot of the children are there because both parents died of AIDS and no other family members could or would care for them.  Some were abandoned, some were left outside to die, and some were neglected. We also got to meet some of the children, who were the most precious things ever. We got a tour of the buildings and got to play on the playground with our new friends. 

After the orphanage, we went to FAME Clinic, one of Karatu's medical facilities. It was started by a couple from America and they've lived here in Tanzania for around ten years. We learned it was started after a doctor almost died climbing Kilimanjaro.  He was convinced that more doctors are needed in rural Tanzania then in California.  Before FAME there were3 doctors for 220,000 residents.  We got to tour the facility and according to the previous visits, it is continuing to make improvements to provide better care for its patients.

The last leader we met was Angela, an HIV/AIDS victim after she was raped. She started an organization with other women who are also victims. They raise money by doing things like making sweaters and cooking food to support awareness groups. Angela told us her story, as Tim translated, and we got a tour of her buildings before we headed out.

Then we decided to take a little stop at the local market and just walk around. If you've ever been to Chinatown, it is exactly like that. Vendors come up to you and insist on you buying something from them. A few of us got some bracelets and necklaces, but most of us didn't buy anything. We left the market and went to our new hotel, Sunstar Resort. It was such a culture shock because we have not been used to a place this nice. We will spend three nights here before heading back home.

Alexandra