"Ntampata Wapi?" The Tribute to All People of the Foundation Kiabakari

This song I wish to dedicate with all my gratitude and respect to the Chairperson of Foundation Kiabakari, the board and the council and all esteemed volunteers of the Foundation, private volunteers and of other organizations who came or are committed to the cause of Kiabakari and gave our people the greatest gift ever - their selves, their talents, time, love, care, kindness, passions, creativity and devotions...

PayPal

You may have noticed a new addition to this blog - on the right sidebar, just at the top of it. The donation button from PayPal. Some of my readers have been asking me how I can cope running this blog knowing the internet data packages charges in Tanzania and elsewhere. They suggested to place the donation button in the blog so people can donate a bit to help me to make ends meet. Moreover, I would like to use donations to enable volunteers coming to Kiabakari to have free wifi by purchasing a mobile wifi router which are now available in Tanzania and keep it running by purchasing voucher cards to top up credit in the router. So, if you feel giving us a hand in this, you are very welcome. I will appreciate greatly your kind support.

No Half Time

First six months of the year already behind us. Today marks the beginning of the second half of the year. Sadly, no half time in between as the steam roll ahead with full speed closing on the highlights of the Year of Faith in Kiabakari - ordination of our deacon Augustino Mapambano, his Thanksgiving Mass and other celebrations, events and function which are associated with these event. The development projects of Foundation Kiabakari are well underway as well and we are ready to put roofs on the new buildings. The end of this week will see the first volunteer arriving from Italy for one month voluntary experience in our pre-school. Later this year we expect a few more - Polish surgeons coming in August, then volunteers of Foundation Kiabakari. The second half of this year looks even more challenging than the first one. We need to stay focused, determined, committed, in deep prayer and trust, united in purpose and getting down to work with courage. Let us pray for each other!

First Aid Fiesta

Apologies for posting these photos late. On December 1, 2012 we had a special fiesta as the conclusion and finale of First Aid project of Foundation Kiabakari financed by Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs   program of 'Polish Aid 2012'. A lot of effort went into the preparation of this major event. I am deeply grateful to all involved in the preparation and the event itself. But all we did paid off as you can see in the pictures below (posted in no particular order). Enjoy!

Weekend? You bet!

Whenever I come across people excited by TGIF (Thanks God It's Friday) frenzy, I question myself if I am abnormal. To me, Friday is the beginning of the busiest time of the week. This 'weekend' is no exception to this rule...

Auf Wiedersehen! Kwaherini!

Time has come to say goodbye to Denise and Thomas. We wish them well! We pray for God's blessings in their lives - for their future family and good satisfying jobs. Till we meet again!

Our Kiabakari team at the moment:
Amon, Aurelia, William, Karolina, me and Agata

Herzlich Willkommen!

I guess Kiabakari is becoming an attractive tourist destination for German citizens. Since yesterday we welcomed parents of Thomas Back, our volunteer who together with his fiancee - Denise Carl, are getting ready to go back to Germany, after one year of voluntary work as teachers in our pre-school. When Denise's parents and relatives came, I was away in Poland. This time I enjoy the presence and visit of Thomas' parents, and am grateful for their coming, kindness and warm characters. So, before they live on Thursday morning for good, I say to them - Herzlich willkommen!

Time Flies By Fast

It looks unreal, but unfortunately it is real. One year has passed since Denise and Thomas arrived to Kiabakari as volunteers-teachers from Germany to work in our Bl. John Paul II Center for Education and Formation. And now time has come to say goodbye to them as they get ready to go back home and pave way for the next couple who will arrive next Friday from the same organization - Internationaler Bund in Germany. We will welcome them with open hearts and hands. But today it was time to bid farewell to Denise and Thomas. Check the pictures from the farewell party organized by the school community in their honor. The link to pictures on Facebook is here.

New Volunteers

I expect to welcome two new volunteers in Kiabakari, coming from Germany, through the same Internazionalen Bund organization that sent Denise and Thomas last September. Franziska and Tobias Breitfeld will replace Denise and Thomas who will be going back home after a full year of genuine commitment, hard work, dedication, going beyond their duties and showing remarkable talents, skills and sense of responsibility for our children and the ability to blend in perfectly in our parochial community. It is my hope that new volunteers will follow in their footsteps, building on the solid foundation of priceless legacy that Denise and Thomas will leave in Kiabakari.

Our new volunteers have just started blogging. This is their Kiabakari experience blog: http://breitiandfraegokiabakari.blogspot.de/

On behalf of the whole Kiabakari community I wish them God's blessings in their preparations and every success in their voluntary work for the benefit of the young generation in Kiabakari.

Support 'Rolki Bez Granic'

One week remains till the charitable challenge 'Rolki Bez Granic' sets off at the point where three borders meet - namely, Germany, Czech Republic and Poland. Our volunteer - dr Kamil Bekalarek with the support of his future wife - Katarzyna Nawrot - intends to ride roller-skates along the western border of Poland from that three countries borders meeting point till Szczecin (Stettin) at the north-western tip of Poland. All this trying to raise awareness of the healthcare problems in Tanzania and in my mission in particular, as they get ready to come to Kiabakari next July for one year to serve my community in our health center. They will speak about the moral and financial support. They will need your support. So, please join us as we try to raise funds for the new equipment in Kiabakari health center, in particular - a new dental unit - which is badly needed in our Mara region community.

400 kilometers on roller-blades is not a feat for faint-hearted. I salute our volunteers and thank them with all my heart for their noble initiative. And you, my esteemed reader, I ask for support. You may contact me via my email - lalafofofo@gmail.com or by visiting the blog of the challenge - Rolki Bez Granic - by clicking here. Check also the poster of the challenge which I encourage you to download and repost it on your blog, Facebook profile or your website. Thank you in advance for your kind cooperation. Let's all support our volunteers, pray for the success of the challenge and keep our fingers crossed for them!

Homing In

As the day wakes up, so are our expectations. This is going to be an interesting day, a homing in day. Our Foundation Kiabakari two new volunteers, Agata and Karolina, have arrived safely to Nairobi yesterday and were met at the airport by Sarafina, our 'envoy', escorted to the hotel and taken care of. Two visiting doctors from Poznań, Wiktor and Adam, arrived yesterday to Nairobi as well, in the evening, and were met by Sarafina and put in the same hotel. Today all five will travel by bus to Sirari border Kenya-Tanzania crossing and further on to Kiabakari. I will fly to Musoma from Dar es Salaam today and, God willing, will reach Kiabakari before the Nairobi detail to get ready to receive the arriving guests. Indeed, a homing in day for all of us. Prayers appreciated as usual for us so we can travel safely and meet happily in Kiabakari. God bless us all!

Fantastic Challenge

Please, share and spread the news on the challenge 'Rolki Bez Granic' (Rolls Without Frontiers) undertaken by two volunteers of our Foundation Kiabakari - Kamil and Kasia. More on this here. You may become our sponsor and supporter. Read their blog and join us!

Dividing The Time By The Spoon

Since my comeback to Kiabakari at the beginning of October, I have this prevailing feeling that the time has become densely congested, packed with numerous activities and challenges, all thrown at us at once. It feels like if the time has become a jelly which is so thick that one can divide it by the spoon...

Ordnung Muss Sein

The first two weeks after my return to Kiabakari were a bit stressful and overwhelming. The calmness returns finally and things look like they fall in proper places, with everybody busy in their field of responsibility. Denise and Thomas in the school, Agata and Zuza in the health center, working on the project. Myself busy with craftsmen and construction workers at the health center, the school and at home.

We meet at the table mainly, for meals and sometimes in the evening for a chat or to watch something - a movie, news on TV or a concert on DVD.

Dust settled down, calm restored, sense of purpose, sense of belonging, sense of responsibility of each one of us. There is time for everything now. Prayer, work, rest, moments together and seclusion. 

This is the way I like things to be. Ordnung muss sein!

Just a few quick photos taken today from my construction frontline. 

Busy Little Bee

Recalling words of Commodus from 'The Gladiator' movie, it feels like being a busy little bee these days (maybe not that little, but still busy!) with several things going on. I'm kinda disappointed that I cannot come here to post more frequently, as I would wish, but the reality is just this. No time at the moment...

Intense

The last few days have been a bit on a hectic and intense side. A couple of busy days in Dar es Salaam, then flight to Musoma on Sunday afternoon, first encounter with German volunteers who arrived to Kiabakari on September 19 and have been undergoing a crash course in swahili since then...

Picky

Went this morning to Tanzanian Episcopal Conference headquarters at Kurasini, Dar es Salaam. The mission objective was to hand over sealed envelope I was asked by sister-in-charge of immigration matter in our Diocese of Musoma to deliver to the Secretary General of TEC to proceed with the residence permit (for my incoming volunteers Agata, Denise and Thomas) procedure via persons in charge of these matters on TEC level...

Safari Njema!

Marjanna and Marija are at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, checking in for their flight back home to Split via Doha and London. On behalf of the whole community here in Kiabakari I wish them safari njema (bon voyage), safe flight and happy reunion with their families back home. May God reward them hundredfold for their selfless service and wonderful time we shared together here in Kiabakari and may their work bear long lasting and abundant fruit. Asanteni sana na Mungu awabariki sana! Kila la kheri!

Long Goodbyes

I don't like them. Don't like the outbursts of emotions, teary eyes, sobs, long stares and inability to let people go... So it was brief yesterday, to not let my emotions, tears and sadness to show. Just a few words and a quick embrace, and they were gone into the check-in in Mwanza airport.

Chakula

This is a word for 'food' in Swahili language. For those of you who would like to know what we eat in Tanzania, they may be very pleasantly surprised how diverse, tasty and fantastic our Tanzanian cuisine is in reality. Check this link on my volunteers from Croatia blog, who have just posted new item on their blog dealing with their Tanzanian cuisine experience. Buon appetito!