Update on Tanzania Trip

I'm learning that when God plants desires in my heart, he infuses within me a dream that seems far beyond my reach. I know that in myself I cannot achieve such a goal. Thus begins my journey of profound reliance on Him. It is a faith walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Him as much as I need. Not always successful, but nourished by increased reliance on Him. Lord, help me enjoy the blessedness of the victorious life, through deepening my dependence on you. ~my translation from Jesus Calling.

I'm ready for a growth spurt. A faith-deepening growth spurt. And I'm getting very excited about the upcoming trip to Tanzania. I've gotten a long list of projects that the teams will be doing, both in January (now) and in June. There is also a separate nursing student team that is going in May. How fun would that be, to go on a mission trip during nursing school!

The STEMM Children's Village is the orphanage and the first phase of the building projects is complete with four buildings that house a main office, the Head Mama's home, guest rooms, library, and classroom. All of the food is stored in one of these buildings. Two of the homes are for the Mama/Auntie's who live with the children. Currently there are 11 orphans living at the Children's Village. They will soon be admitting more children. They are also starting to fund raise to build another home and a volunteer home. The teams have also built a building where the Maasai guards live and a chicken coop for chickens by the Drake football team! They have planted banana and other fruit trees and raising vegetables. The goal is to become self-sustaining and then get other animals.

Some of the potential projects include:

• Painting the inside of the children’s home.
• Planting and agricultural work.
• Painting at the local Mbuguni Health Center along with some assistance with health care there. This is a very poor village where we have our orphanage.
• Lining up to do projects at the local primary school…painting, building of desks, etc.
• We will go to the market and buy food for two other orphanages and bring to them. We will do bible studies with all the kids at the various orphanages. We will have some children’s bible designed and written in Swahili and English.
• We will buy food and prepare the food at a compassion international project. Last May they fed 250 kids. Again in a very poor area. We will then have bible study with these kids. These kids get to keep these bibles…for many it is there first book ever…pretty precious.
• Will go on Hospice home visits with a nurse who is a friend of mine. {Isn't it great how God's plan unfolds!}
• HIV teaching at a secondary school…depending on if the students are there during June.

· The physicians will be doing some orthopedic surgeries and having some clinics at a couple of different hospitals. We bring medical supplies and medicine and donate to these facilities and bring our supplies we will need to do this work.

· We might be building a fence at this other orphanage. They have had some break-ins and not safe for kids…STEMM will be fundraising for this project.

· One of the teams will be doing growth and development assessments on the orphanages that we assist and then we administer worm medications to the kids. We bring the medication with us because its hard to get there.

· Will visit a Maasai village and see how the Maasai tribe live.

If you like their page on facebook, STEMM (Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministries), you will see some of the pictures of the kids and the Children's Village. These pictures really got me excited.

God has put me in places where my own strength is irrelevant and my weaknesses are glaringly evident.

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, Here I am, send me!

Send me.

Compassion International highlight on Tanzania today. :)