Sunday January 13th

What a wonderful wakeup call this morning! I “watched” on Fox Sport the 49 ers beat the Green Bay Packers. The arrows are not as interesting as the players on TV but……. I am beginning Week 3 of my Tanzanian assignment. I will leave for Kenya on the 22nd. My flights were superb. Delta upgraded my San Diego to Detroit and then, the Detroit to Amsterdam flights. The international flight was completely booked in coach so I was the lucky Diamond who moved up. Flat bed promotes wonderful rest. Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro was KLM and just fine. Arrived and was met by my friend and CNFA Program Coordinator, Anthony Kissinger. This is my 4th assignment with him and I am delighted. Two days in Moishi. Celebrated the New Year with a great dinner – Kissinger and Sebastian Assenga, my interpreter from the last trip. Ate outdoors in a “circus like” atmosphere: rides for the kids and all the waiters had on top hats and bright red vests. Traded a finished paperback on the street. Left on the 2nd for Katesh. The driver, Haji is new to me and excellent. In Katesh, I am staying again at the Summit Hotel which sits on the foothills of Mount Harang. Purchased training materials. Drove to USOMAMA, a cooperative that I had worked with on previous trips to deliver a banner celebrating their 5th anniversary. Leaving Katesh means leaving paved (tarmac) roads. 1+ hour later we arrived at Lake Bassotu. It is a beautiful area. I stayed at the Augustine Catholic Mission which has round guest rooms. Lovely quiet place of 7 nuns and 7 priests. The Church is beautiful. Hot water must be boiled for bathing. Food is very simple. Went to a regional open market with Kissinger and Haji – marvelous!! Cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs for sale. Household goods, fabric, shoes, school uniforms and anything you might need! Kissinger picked a goat leg which I had grilled for the 3 of us. I did not sample the maize or the banana “hooch” which is very alcoholic. The Takauma SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization) is only legally registered financial organization in the small town. There are groups that pool financial resources but on a very small basis. This SACCO negotiated a deal for 9 of its farmers to obtain financing from a commercial bank to purchase Massey Ferguson Tractors. My training with this group was bookkeeping, accounting, financial management, business plans/project proposals, and operating the SACCO as a profitable business. Full house every day of 20+. Graduation was on Thursday the 10th and I was given a beautiful shawl which the women had “beaded” including a map of Tanzania with a star for Takauma. Back to Katesh. Began the second training on Friday. There are 2 SACCOs – Hekima (Love) and Upendo (Integrity). We are meeting in a children’s church school room so the desks are very small! 20 people came on Saturday for bookkeeping and basic accounting. Monday we begin the other topics. Sunday I walked into town and went to the Lutheran Church – in Swahili. Beautiful and very simple building. Off to dinner with Haji for rice, beans and green vegetable with chili sauce. Did I mention that I have found Coke Light in both Bassuto and Katesh? Missing all of you but loving it here. I sing American songs as I walk every morning! I have just realized that I never posted during my November 2012 trip to Tanzania. I will try to download some pictures of that trip and this one.