7 days at Shukrani - Sunday

Worship at the local Corps commenced about 10.30 a.m., but we arrived about 15 minutes early. We were the only mzungu present (not a surprise!), and were helped by two Shukrani students. It meant that Beth and I had a translator each. With the Captain Samson Ngotcho away at the outpost a young man, Moffat, preached, and preached well. The singing and dancing of the three singing groups was enjoyable, even if we didn't understand the words.

After the service we headed off to lunch in the home of the CSM (the head security guard at Shukrani). The Corps Treasurer (also a security guard) and his wife live nearby and joined us for the meal. We then moved houses and had coffee and 'bumunda' at the CT's home. It was good to see these men and their families in their homes, and to meet their families.

It was about 1 p.m. when we left Shukrani, and about 30-40 minutes later we were at our destination. We walked. Walking is the main form of transport in Mbeya, with daladala in second place.

We began our walk home at close to 6 p.m. Rain during the afternoon meant we did not take the short cut, but were guided along firmer paths. It was a longer walk home through streets alive with people. There are no street lights here, but there is certainly more street life that we see in the suburbs at home.

One of the great privileges of our stay here has been to visit and share a meal in peoples homes, to meet their families and to learn about their lives.

For them our visit is costly. They provide special food, and there have always been at least 4 or 5 dishes provided, together with sodas (soft drink). Since they would normally only have two, at most three, dishes (rice or ugali, and a dish with vegetables or fish) we are greatly honoured by their generosity. They have graced us with their hospitality, yet express profound appreciation that we would come and visit them. It is at once a humbling and gratifying experience.

That was our week, or a glimpse of it.

7 days at Shukrani - Saturday

A day of rest!

The plan:

9 a.m. A session with teachers on Quickbooks

10 a.m. Two students booked to reply to emails

11.00 a.m. Visit market with a student for meal preparation

1.00 p.m. Computer room open for practice in QuickBooks

6.00 p.m. Meal with student

Nothing ever goes quite to time, or to plan. Not all teachers turned up, those dealing with emails were 20 minutes late, we didn't leave for the market until close to 12, and the meal was prepared and eaten during the afternoon.The computer room was open from 1-5 p.m., and then we went to the market again to buy a gift (a basket and fruit/vegetables) for our hosts for Sunday.

It was interesting to see that most of the time at least eight students were present and using the computers - and up to twelve at times during the afternoon. May activities are group activites - and even working on the computer takes on a group dynamic as they share information and try to work out how to deal with a particular process.

During the afternoon we enjoyed our meal - ugali and daga. Ugali is a stiff porridge of maize flour, and daga a dried sardine like fish. Beth helped in preparation, I stirred the ugali (briefly) and we ate a pleasant meal with a couple of students mid-afternoon. Daga may never become a personal favourite, but at least it doesn't have the smell of canned sardines.

By the time we had made our second visit to the market I had enough of the day and was happy to rest. I had also paid more than we wanted to for the 'gift baskets' which we took to our host. My question (Ngapi - how much) was answered "Elfu mbeli" - and I thought he said "Elfu mia mbeli". 1200 Tshs seemed like a good deal.... Elfu = 1000, Mia = 100, mbeli = 2. It was 2000 Tshs, and I learned that my grasp of Swahili number words needs work. In A$ it was $2.50, not $1.50 - but when you use such big numbers for money it seems like a lot. My words now when someone fires off a number in Swahili at me is 'pole pole' - it means gently, or slowly. Sometimes it even works.

7 days at Shukrani - Friday

A solid day - but without classes. The morning was spent in preparation.

First, a memo for my students. When we know they have receive a reply to their email they will be given a memo from me, and are to make an appointment to use the Internet and complete the communication circle.
Then, a couple of pages of exercises for entry into QuickBooks.

After lunch the memos were distributed. Three students responded within about five minutes, and made their appointment for after classes. A brief chat with Mr Ojwang followed. He teaches entrepreneurship. He runs his own business, and has lived and worked overseas. Our brief discussion focused on what he sees as a major problem - English. It is the language of commerce, but politics here still sees it is a remnant of colonialism. It is taught in secondary school, but not used much at all. Even in Universities the English is often poor.

Next - a few hours were spent auditing. When you are accustomed to working in dollars, and begin dealing in Tanzanian shillings the numbers are huge. $100 is 80,000 shillings, so the salaries and wages here are in the order of 1.8 million or more a month. They are big numbers, but individually it is not much money at all. And or course, with such big numbers, being added manually, there is scope for errors. An error of 3,000 sounds big - but is only $4!

After class three students became four - and an hour and a half was spent on the Internet, responding to two emails and spending a little time on a web search. Given that it was the second time they had used the Internet they did OK. Media rich websites might be fine in Australia - but five minutes to load a picture here is a waste of time, and money. At an Internet cafe it would have cost about 1500 Tshs - and for that amount you could buy food for a day (or more). For us it was about 8mb of downloads/uploads - around 1000 Tshs.

In the evening we dined out. Friday night in our area the power usually drops out - so we eat out. It was raining a little, and there was a traffic jam. This was unusual, but a few times a year the President or Prime Minister comes through, and it is a case of 'make way for the king'. Preparations were being made, and traffic congestion ensued. To make matters worse, after getting fuel we had to return to Shukrani, and were ordered on to stop on a side road. About ten minutes later the official motorcade sped down the highway and we glimpsed the flashing lights in the darkness are they charged past. Normal service resumed - but bank up of traffic took a while to clear.

Our meal was at the Sombrero restaurant, and we chose from the menu (as usual). Here however, you make your choice, and then ask if it is available. Often it is not! SO the menu is what they can offer, not what they do offer. A selection from ten dishes listed may end up being a choice between two!

The meal was good, and so was the company. We dined with a lady (an ex-pat) who is a missionary here. She visits the remand prison, and works with the children in one of the poorer areas of town. Apart from housing seven children in her own home, she runs an inner city educational program teaching about 60 kids. After Easter she is going to commence a breakfast program for school children. In the area where she works many children are from one parent families (Dad has disappeared) or may be cared for by grandparents. Why does she do it? Because God directed here to come...How is it funded? God provides. She does not ask for money, but somehow the money comes. Sometimes there is not much of it, but God provides.

She is working in an area where we have not been, and with people we would not notice. Our knowledge of the place, and the people, is not yet enough to see the layers of poverty and suffering that are in this place. Some of the children she works with are physically and mentally disabled. There are few services for them. Around the local market we see kids playing, but do not know whether they are orphans or not. We know that some are, and one local pastor is challenging the ward officials to do something to help them.

The challenges that face this country are great. There are many things that need to be done - and few resources to do them.

There is a 'vibe' about this place - but there is also ongoing tragedy.

Earlier in the day we had met a representative of the Catholic Social Justice Commission here in Mbeya. One of his areas is the childrens remand prison, and a visit is being arranged for Good Friday. That will give us a glimpse at another part of life here.