Purchases, purchases!

Jeff and I went shopping today!  REI, Costco, Sports Authority, Best Buy.  I think we are getting really close to being set.  Got hiking pants, rainboots, mosquito nets, money belt, deet, sunscreen, iodine tabs (just in case), binoculars, magic jack, webcam, mini tripod, bigger SD card.  We almost got hats at REI, but they were fleece-lined.  Apparently the Seattle REI has ones without fleece that will be much better for HOT TZ.

Jeff is going to see if he can clean out my old laptop and make it functional to leave in TZ with Aunt Nancy.  When we're there we are supposed to go to the Zantel store straight away and buy a portable receiver and a month's worth of internet service.  Then we should be well-connected for our stay.  I just hope we can make it to Zantel sooner than later after arriving!

We still have really no idea how exactly we'll be spending our first two weeks there, but somehow it will be spending time with Aunt Nancy and helping where able.  We are ready to be flexible!

Then the last week - the "vacation" portion - is still up in the air as well.  Safaris, we've found out, are EXTREMELY expensive.  But apparently while we're there it may be possible to book a last-minute trip at a reasonable rate.  I'm really hopeful; especially since it will be low-tourist/rainy season.

FIVE WEEKS TO GO

Getting ready - countdown is on

We're starting the packing process.  Trips to REI, Costco, and Fry's are in order.  I think we're taking more electronics than underwear!  In addition, we are going at the start of the rainy season so will definitely need rain boots, rain pants, rain coats (I think we have the coats).  I'm still figuring out the portable modem/internet connection thing while we're there.

Aunt Nancy recently had a fire in her apartment!  A candle was left briefly alone by a window and the curtains blew into the flame.  Thankfully everyone is ok, but her room is a bit charred.  She assures me our trip is still a go and our room is ok.  :)

My mom made me a quilt for Christmas to commemorate the trip.  The back paneling (Safari Lager) is fabric Aunt Nancy brought to the states from Africa years ago.  She did a beautiful job!

Donations have been gradually rolling in and we are so thankful!  People amaze me with their generosity!  More to come soon!

6 weeks since last post???

Oh my goodness, how have six weeks gone by since we posted here first?  I ran the half-marathon (Jeff wasn't able to - had a bad cold!) after Thanksgiving and was able to run the whole thing, thankfully.  It took a little longer than expected (2:36) but I did it!  My big supporter on the route was my Aunt Polly who was able to take this photo at mile 11:
She brought me orange slices by request!

Jeff put his passport application in the mail a couple weeks ago; and then we just have to get visas.  I've been to a travel clinic (Jeff going soon) where I had to get hep A, polio booster, and typhoid pills.  The hep A  shot was a whopper!  I got the whole lecture on safe food and water etiquette and what kind of mosquito repellant to use.  Trip is 8 weeks away!!!!!!

Fundraising Kick-Off!

In the late 1980’s, people in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, began noticing unattended children in the streets.  Where were they coming from?  A child uncared for was unheard of in TZ.  It didn’t take long to figure out this was a manifestation of the AIDS epidemic sweeping Africa.  A pastor from a Lutheran church brainstormed with a pastor from an Anglican church to decide what they could do to help.  Thus began the formation of Tuamoyo (aka St. Alban’s Street Children Society and the Mama Mkubwa program), an NGO that advocates for orphans of [usually] AIDS victims, in the district of Temeke.

Tuamoyo supports a child failing to receive basic necessities and therefore needing help: school fees, uniforms, shoes, books and other expenses so the kiddos can go to school; and organizes educational programs to help the child succeed in school and life.  Currently there are 123 children supported by the program.

Why am I bringing this to your attention?  My very own Aunt Nancy, born and raised in Washington State, has lived in Dar for 37 years and is on the Board of Governors for Tuamoyo.  She has devoted her life to the success of the program, and Jeff and I are going to visit for three weeks in Feb/Mar 2011!!!

We are hoping to help in any way we can, from tutoring the children in English, to doing manual labor, to providing computer equipment, to building a website for the program (they don’t even have a website!!!) and hopefully much more.

How can you help?  Jeff and I are running the Seattle half-marathon on Sunday, November 28, 2010, in support of Tuamoyo.  We would love your monetary support.  The money we raise will go towards school supplies for the kids, computer support for the board, and possibly the salary of the soon-to-be hired director of Tuamoyo: $10,000/yr (up to now, all the hard work has been done by volunteers).

As there is no official website to donate through, if you’d like to contribute please make out a check to Mary Brim or Jeff Cole.  If you need our addresses, please ask!  Check out our blog: tanzaniaadventures2011.blogspot.com.  Look here also for pictures in the future!

Thank you for your support!

Mary and Jeff