Sunday February 20th

I am now back in Babati after several days 2+ hours away in Katesh. The purpose of our trip was to meet and explain CNFA to the District Executive Officer, Goody Pamba, in that region. She was a very impressive woman and Anthony Kissinga (CNFA Program Manager) and I were also introduced to the Community Development Officer and the District Officer in charge of Agriculture, Dr. Maeda. Dr Maeda is very interested in conducting my Business and Financial Management program in Katesh for many cooperatives so Kissinga will follow up with this District during the coming week while I am conducting the program in USOMAMA Cooperative.

Before we left Babati on Thursday, it was necessary to again obtain a short term work permit from the regional Immigration office. As you may recall from my previous trip, this process is ineffective and inefficient. The good news is we were successful! The other good news is that there is a 2-year work permit which can be obtained only at the Immigration Headquarters in Dar es Salaam. Kissinga will follow up with that possibility. Also on Thursday we had a brief meeting with the Board of Directors of Gendi Cooperative. This was my client during my last stay in Babati. What a delight to see them again and to see the successful conclusion of the Warehouse Receipt System! The warehouse is 2/3 full and the process (involving NMB National Microfinance Bank, the District Government, and the Cooperative) is in place. Gendi invited us to their annual Assembly on Saturday February 26th and we accepted. In addition, Bahati Nzunda the CNFA Country Director will come from Dar es Salaam will attend as well as meet the USOMAMA Cooperative at the final debriefing.

The drive to Katesh from Babati is 2+ hours over dirt roads. It is now the rainy season in Tanzania and the roads require 4 wheel drive. The CNFA drive, Evance is superb and we arrived safely at the Katesh Guest House. An interesting place – formerly the housing for the staff of NMB. It is similar to Kai Guest House in Babati – beds are firm, fans in the ceiling, and a slight flow of hot water in the shower. Kissinga lived in Katesh as a young man and met his wife there. She is a medical doctor and was posted to the clinic in Katesh while Kissinga was the Agricultural officer. Now they reside north of Kilimanjaro with two teenage sons and one nephew.

RAIN!! I had forgotten how fast it can appear and how strong it can be. Most buildings have tin roofs so the rain sound at night is wonderful. I remember that from my years in Athens, OH. Electrical power is rationed throughout Tanzania and on Friday the region that Katesh is in had no electricity. I paid the Guest House for the petrol to run the generator for 4 hours so that we could get some computer work accomplished.

Saturday we drove back to Babati and the Kai Guest House. Most of the staff are the same as my last trip so all of the “crazy American lady” requests are automatic. Coke Light, scrambled eggs with brown toast, a cup in my room for my early coffee and soup. I walked into town and said hello to many of the Gendi farmers as well as the store keepers from my last trip. There were 4 white men – 2 from Scotland, 1 from Wales, and 1 from England who are in Babati for a month-long school project. They are staying at the Khembe Guest House which is directly on the main “square” and is the bus center. Noisy!

As I walked today, I went to a Pentecostal church and stood outside. For some of the service, it was very similar to my experience. However, the congregation began to speak in tongues which is not part of my religious background.

Off to Babati for another adventure. Wishing all of you a wonderful Sunday!!