Hi Folks,
Habari ya Assibui,
Had a very uneventful flight, arrival and the first 4 days at the village. Oh I should mention that the 30 hr flight was extended a bit due to the unexpected stop in Kenya to drop a man having a heart attack, behind my seat. A cabin search for a doctor was made and we dropped into Nyrobi as there is a better heart hospital there. There was no room for a gurney in the isle of the KLM flight to lay a man out so we elevated him across the seats. He couldn't turn the corner on the stretcher to exit the airplane door so that was interesting as well, Tipping the pour gent vertical almost gave me a heart attack. Back in the air after refueling I arrived at Kili airport to be greated by officials wearing face masks and official forms inquiring as to H1N1 virus and if we felt sick we should go back where we came from. I had no intention of THAT!!!!
This never happens - I was the first one to get my baggage off the claim area - YEAH. Wow!!!!! However, This is not always a good thing as I found out 2 minutes later. Being the first to Customs, they all were ready for Good old #1 passenger and they were going to do a very complete job. (Its best to wait a bit until there is a line and then when things get backed up a bit, you might get waved through without inspection). Well the nice man opened my 70 lb 4' duffel and proceded to remove washcloth dolls from First Lutheran Church, photos, button toys from my sister's classroom in Michigan, age 1 to age 6 shirts and pants collected in Milford, etc. all very expensive and then finally he hit pay dirt. TOOLS and Screws, hidden in the bottom!!! He said I would have to pay to take this bag out of the airport. I argued in Swahili for a bit (the baggage line now is starting to back up) I switched to English as I only knew how to say hello and coffee please, in Swahili. They started a second line and people were starting to be waved past and out to get transport to Arusha. I was taken to a back room where interagation of my need for dolls and button toys and screws were to be used. He said this was valuable stuff and that the Tanzania Government has to place a VAT tax on the bag of supplies. I continued to argue about them taxing the orphans in Tanzania - I thought I had a great argument - after all he was just trying to get a bit of cash for his CHI fund (his own use). He wanted 100 USD. I showed him my wallet, I had 7 bucks - the rest I had hidden. He was not happy. I ended up walking out into the lobby and getting $30.00 USD from My driver who was waiting for me. I exchanged it for 40,000 Shillings and gave it to the nice man back in customs. He gave me an unofficial reciept and I was good to go!! I was so thankful that the driver had money, that the line was getting hundreds deep by now and I was blocking trffic and that he didn't look in my other 2 bags which contained all my expensive power tools. T think I would still be there. God is good so keep me in your prayers, I almost needed a heart hospital myself after that!
Stayed only the first night at the lodge and the next day immediately purchased 30 sheets of 4 x 8' plywood stock to build wardrobes at the village. I ordered a pickup truck to haul the plywood from down town to the edge of town where we transferred it to a large truck to make the trip to Mbuguni. I paid for pick up, hauling - unloading, reloading, hauling and unloading again at the village site. I sure miss Consumer lumber in Spirit Lake with free delivery! This took all day. By evening I had the plywood stacked at the village and I took the first sheet placed it on the table to layout cabinet number one and proceded to cut it out. The power had been off all day so no time was lost there. I was like a little kid with a new power tool. I had enough to keep me busy for weeks. My joy turned to sorrow (just like the song) in about 2 minutes however. It seems the plywood manufacturer saves on cost by only gluing the edges of the sheet of plywood. When I made my first cut 10" inside my first sheet the plys opened up like a fan. NO GLUE THERE!!! I made a second cut only to have the 7 plys completely de-laminate. Time to rethink! You don't get refunds in Tanzania. I'm still rethinking and reordering, and re-praying, and wondering if STEMM in Sioux City will cover my $600.00 plus junk delivery. God is Good. This is HIS project I keep telling myself. I'm glad the Architect was with me so I had moral support and lots of laughter over (we'er not in Kansas anymore) I may have to organize a STEMM (TASTE of AFRICA Dinner) fund raiser back home to cover my blunders.
So I spent 2 days placing fence posts instead of cabinet work - was without a vehicle for the duration as the Architect was trying to solve problems of his own with the Government in Arusha - (This is hopeless). Walking to the site and back only takes me 1 hour in full sun at 95 degees F. I now have the skin color of a true Tananian as the dirt sticks nicely to my face and any exposed skin and along with the sweat plus the humidity which is increasing reminds me of a sauna gone bad. I gained back some weight the last 6 weeks but I think it all disappeared on me after two days in that heat. We had to move the fence twice - seems the villagers didn't like the location I started at and after a 1/2 day meeting with the Architect we moved to a new location right down the center of an old ox cart path. Nice and HARD and compacted soil to dig thru. God is Good. I think he must want to test something in the depths of my inner being. The men I work with are so happy to have me back. - I am called " REEE-CHARD! I look up when I am called every minute or so. That's it on the verbal communication end of things. We laugh constantly at the littlest thing especially at my practiced method of using hand signals to explain what is to be done. I have now perfected the art of arm, hand, leg, and finger signals to explain fence layout and construction. Laughter is always accompanied by a little hip action to music wafting thru the site.
The local Lutheran church, 30 feet from the fence, practices their music ministry and dance moves, outside with an amplifier that would make Bob Floss Smile. Their dance session is about 6-7 hours long. Of course, yours truely, stepped up to the challenge and tried to dig holes to the beat of the music with exagerated hip action. I had 100+ kids laughing and eventually got invited to dance with the music team. That really stopped all classes at the church as kids were hanging out the windows watching the muzungu make a fool of himself. I declined their offer of full time employment as a Praise and Worship team member and went back to digging holes for which I have been blessed by God in that fine art instead.
I arrived back in Arusha to go to church Saturday night and will be back at it on Monday Morning. God is Good.
Blessings,
The very tired Fundi Richard - but having a hoot of a time.
Richard
Monday, November 16, 2009
Richard Hildebrand's week 2 of 2nd trip
Hi Folks,
Habari za jeoni,
Had a very busy last week. Monday I proceeded to return the poor plywood (It was taken back in exchange for a higher quality product. Then I had the new lumbercore plywood delivered and had it by noon at the village. I had to be given a ride in a delivery pickup truck that carried the delivery to show them the location. It was a unique experience as the vehicle died after 10 feet or so and I pointed out that they were out of fuel as according to the gas gage. They said that E was for Enough and the problem was with a piece of chicken wire holding a lever under the hood. A bit of twisting and wiggling caused the vehicle to start once again and I was on my way for 30 miles in a most uncomfortable seat as there was nothing left of the cushion and the springs were all but shot supporting the vehicle. It took 2 hours! The Architect and my interpreter stayed back and I worked at the village until Wednesday when they showed up. They both only stayed one night with me so I had basically the entire week being the only Muzungu in the village. It was quiet but with all the villagers wanting to say Hi, I stayed entertained.
We have started the fourth and final side of the fencing project. We ran out of concrete poles and have ordered 120 more and will get delivery in 10 days. I found that with the poles lying on the ground on the fence line, a few of the villagers will come at night and break some of them to get at the steel reinforcement. They then sell the steel and make enough to get a meal. I tried to hurry up and get all that we had delivered into the ground quickly to save as many as possible. The men were very tired as we worked long days in very hot and dusty conditions. Not fun. My head spins at night from the heat and I have to sit for fear of tipping over.
I gave myself a nice break and started the plywood wardrobes for the children. Having cut out patterns and multiple pieces to make 24 on the first production run - I was in the shade, using power tools, and was once again in my element. I hired a local man who happened to show up who introduced himeself as a Fundi. I needed the help so gave him instruction on the use of my power tools. He had not ever used power tools but he quickly found out about saw kick backs, wearing safety glasses and using the drill too fast. I worked with him all day on Friday and Saturday and had a good time. He earned $10 USD for his efforts.
It happened that four Maasi guards stopped to visit me. I was treated to an interesting dance routine of HIGH jumping and deep bass sounds coming somewhere deep in the base of their throat. One offered me a tomato (nya nya) I said "Endio" for yes and off he went. He returned the next day with a 5 gallon bucket of tomatoes just for me!!!! I guess I should have tried to explain that I could use two or four for supper and I would have been good to go! He insisted I take all of them so any visitor passing by was treated to nya nya's. Actually I was glad to have something to serve guests.
Erick killed a rat in the courtyard of the place I am staying at - I left the premises when I realized it wasn't a dog. Also the ants found the kitchen and following their trail. I located a nest in the rafters of my bedroom. I called back to Arusha and had them purchase that "Doom" bug killer that landed me in the hospital on my August visit. It worked like a charm. I sprayed and stayed out of the kitchen for a full day. Not a cricket, june bug, grasshopper, rat, or ant was left. They returned in 24 hours but for a moment I was free of crawly things. A June Bug hatch occured this past week and they are everywhere. They get caught in my mosquito net at night and tussle around tring to get off and do the thing that June bugs do. I helped them off my net with a snapply finger flip with the aid of a flashlight to locate them. If I do it just right, they wack the concrete wall, land on the floor, turn upside down, spin a bit and die. I sweep them up twice a day now or I find that the crunching sound they make when stepped on is a bit disgusting. The Juicy ones (most are) that get the shoe, attract more ants and I really don't like ants.
Duct tape goes to bed with me each night now. As the mosquito netting optains holes from what ever reason, I have a patch procedure that works. The mosquitoes are relentless so it's best to sleep with the roll.
No rain yet. The dust is like an Iowa snow storm. You can't see the next building when it gets flying around. Several times a day, I see heat twisters passing by with the cyclone winds picking up the ground vertically in a spiral for a 1000' or so and blackening the sky with dust clouds above. Drought issues are now critical here as well as most of Tanzania. Unicef and other aid organizations are overwhelmed with trying to supply food and water to remote areas. Beautiful farm land that should have Maze growing everywhere is scorched and crops dead on the ground. Here at Mbuguni, we have some irrigated farm land so the area that receives water is producing good crops. God is Good!
At church today in Arusha, an invitation was made to any and all to join the choir for the Christmas program on December 11th. Yours truely has decided to give it a go. I can't make any of the practice sessions during mid week, so they gave me a song book, a cassette of the music and told me I would be fine and very welcome to participate. After all, I will miss our own Christmas program in Milford and who knows, I may even be the only BASS in the choir. After church we headed to a weekend Christmas FAIR at a Safari company grounds on the edge of Arusha. Tents were placed in a huge circle and vendors were selling Art Work. I'm very fortunate that my dear Wife was not in attendance as I would have had to call the bank to cover the purchases. This was real fine art and carvings, furniture, paintings, hand crafted clothing and bead work with the artist present. I however, can make it thru without the temptation of making a purchase. What I usually buy is nails and screws and of course how can I pass up a good power tool but those things were not there.
Been blessed with good health this trip so far. Dean Van Roekel is leaving this Wednesday and I will hold down the fort for the next 4 weeks especially with the capable hands of Erick. Once Dean is gone, Erick will spend his time with me at the village. Dean has had a reaction to something and spent a day in the Salian Hospital as his legs were swelling so bad. He is surviving. For the most part, I have been alone these past two weeks so the change of having Erick around will be welcomed. Little Enoki is my companion now as his sister, Nora, is attending her first year in school. She came by one day only so I miss her. Enoki, age 3. received a pair of shoes and some clothes but he lays on the concrete and plays with that little match box bus toy I gave him. He has brought it with him every day. Finally, all the students at STAR school have gone home yesturday on 2 month summer break. It will be very quiet there for the remainder of my stay.
There is a local water pipe about a kilometer from us and Mama's are milling about with 7 or 8 children waiting to fill a bucket. I stopped and called a Mama over to the vehicle and handed her shoes and shirts and pants for about 10 watotoes (children). She was at first speechless - then the grin started. As we drove off, the sound of, Asanti - Asanti rang in our ears. I too was happy for a moment, then once again after the sounds faded, I started to reflect on my abundance, knowing I could do much more, if only I made the effort.
I pray all is well on the other side of the pond.
Blessings,
Richard
Habari za jeoni,
Had a very busy last week. Monday I proceeded to return the poor plywood (It was taken back in exchange for a higher quality product. Then I had the new lumbercore plywood delivered and had it by noon at the village. I had to be given a ride in a delivery pickup truck that carried the delivery to show them the location. It was a unique experience as the vehicle died after 10 feet or so and I pointed out that they were out of fuel as according to the gas gage. They said that E was for Enough and the problem was with a piece of chicken wire holding a lever under the hood. A bit of twisting and wiggling caused the vehicle to start once again and I was on my way for 30 miles in a most uncomfortable seat as there was nothing left of the cushion and the springs were all but shot supporting the vehicle. It took 2 hours! The Architect and my interpreter stayed back and I worked at the village until Wednesday when they showed up. They both only stayed one night with me so I had basically the entire week being the only Muzungu in the village. It was quiet but with all the villagers wanting to say Hi, I stayed entertained.
We have started the fourth and final side of the fencing project. We ran out of concrete poles and have ordered 120 more and will get delivery in 10 days. I found that with the poles lying on the ground on the fence line, a few of the villagers will come at night and break some of them to get at the steel reinforcement. They then sell the steel and make enough to get a meal. I tried to hurry up and get all that we had delivered into the ground quickly to save as many as possible. The men were very tired as we worked long days in very hot and dusty conditions. Not fun. My head spins at night from the heat and I have to sit for fear of tipping over.
I gave myself a nice break and started the plywood wardrobes for the children. Having cut out patterns and multiple pieces to make 24 on the first production run - I was in the shade, using power tools, and was once again in my element. I hired a local man who happened to show up who introduced himeself as a Fundi. I needed the help so gave him instruction on the use of my power tools. He had not ever used power tools but he quickly found out about saw kick backs, wearing safety glasses and using the drill too fast. I worked with him all day on Friday and Saturday and had a good time. He earned $10 USD for his efforts.
It happened that four Maasi guards stopped to visit me. I was treated to an interesting dance routine of HIGH jumping and deep bass sounds coming somewhere deep in the base of their throat. One offered me a tomato (nya nya) I said "Endio" for yes and off he went. He returned the next day with a 5 gallon bucket of tomatoes just for me!!!! I guess I should have tried to explain that I could use two or four for supper and I would have been good to go! He insisted I take all of them so any visitor passing by was treated to nya nya's. Actually I was glad to have something to serve guests.
Erick killed a rat in the courtyard of the place I am staying at - I left the premises when I realized it wasn't a dog. Also the ants found the kitchen and following their trail. I located a nest in the rafters of my bedroom. I called back to Arusha and had them purchase that "Doom" bug killer that landed me in the hospital on my August visit. It worked like a charm. I sprayed and stayed out of the kitchen for a full day. Not a cricket, june bug, grasshopper, rat, or ant was left. They returned in 24 hours but for a moment I was free of crawly things. A June Bug hatch occured this past week and they are everywhere. They get caught in my mosquito net at night and tussle around tring to get off and do the thing that June bugs do. I helped them off my net with a snapply finger flip with the aid of a flashlight to locate them. If I do it just right, they wack the concrete wall, land on the floor, turn upside down, spin a bit and die. I sweep them up twice a day now or I find that the crunching sound they make when stepped on is a bit disgusting. The Juicy ones (most are) that get the shoe, attract more ants and I really don't like ants.
Duct tape goes to bed with me each night now. As the mosquito netting optains holes from what ever reason, I have a patch procedure that works. The mosquitoes are relentless so it's best to sleep with the roll.
No rain yet. The dust is like an Iowa snow storm. You can't see the next building when it gets flying around. Several times a day, I see heat twisters passing by with the cyclone winds picking up the ground vertically in a spiral for a 1000' or so and blackening the sky with dust clouds above. Drought issues are now critical here as well as most of Tanzania. Unicef and other aid organizations are overwhelmed with trying to supply food and water to remote areas. Beautiful farm land that should have Maze growing everywhere is scorched and crops dead on the ground. Here at Mbuguni, we have some irrigated farm land so the area that receives water is producing good crops. God is Good!
At church today in Arusha, an invitation was made to any and all to join the choir for the Christmas program on December 11th. Yours truely has decided to give it a go. I can't make any of the practice sessions during mid week, so they gave me a song book, a cassette of the music and told me I would be fine and very welcome to participate. After all, I will miss our own Christmas program in Milford and who knows, I may even be the only BASS in the choir. After church we headed to a weekend Christmas FAIR at a Safari company grounds on the edge of Arusha. Tents were placed in a huge circle and vendors were selling Art Work. I'm very fortunate that my dear Wife was not in attendance as I would have had to call the bank to cover the purchases. This was real fine art and carvings, furniture, paintings, hand crafted clothing and bead work with the artist present. I however, can make it thru without the temptation of making a purchase. What I usually buy is nails and screws and of course how can I pass up a good power tool but those things were not there.
Been blessed with good health this trip so far. Dean Van Roekel is leaving this Wednesday and I will hold down the fort for the next 4 weeks especially with the capable hands of Erick. Once Dean is gone, Erick will spend his time with me at the village. Dean has had a reaction to something and spent a day in the Salian Hospital as his legs were swelling so bad. He is surviving. For the most part, I have been alone these past two weeks so the change of having Erick around will be welcomed. Little Enoki is my companion now as his sister, Nora, is attending her first year in school. She came by one day only so I miss her. Enoki, age 3. received a pair of shoes and some clothes but he lays on the concrete and plays with that little match box bus toy I gave him. He has brought it with him every day. Finally, all the students at STAR school have gone home yesturday on 2 month summer break. It will be very quiet there for the remainder of my stay.
There is a local water pipe about a kilometer from us and Mama's are milling about with 7 or 8 children waiting to fill a bucket. I stopped and called a Mama over to the vehicle and handed her shoes and shirts and pants for about 10 watotoes (children). She was at first speechless - then the grin started. As we drove off, the sound of, Asanti - Asanti rang in our ears. I too was happy for a moment, then once again after the sounds faded, I started to reflect on my abundance, knowing I could do much more, if only I made the effort.
I pray all is well on the other side of the pond.
Blessings,
Richard
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