Unga Limited

Change is hard...

2008-01-29T01:09:00.000-08:00

I went back to Unga today, honestly a little heavy hearted. I was on a mission, to find Mama Diwani and Mama D. Mama D (Mary, the wife of the pastor of the church) still eludes me, but I did get to spend a good hour talking with Mama Diwani in her beauty salon. Fortunately for me I was also able to catch up with several of the ladies who attended the CHE training in November as they just happened to stop by.

Then the talk, my purpose today was to share with Mama Diwani and Mama D some changes that are going to take place pretty quickly. I learned, that as I wrestle with these changes, they do too as Mama Diwani and her daughter asked question upon question upon question of how these changes will affect CHE in Unga. I tried to reassure her that CHE in Unga will go on, that God is doing something miraculous in Unga and that CMF is thrilled about the future of this project. My heart grieves as I am not so sure she believed me.

Then my heart grieved some more as I learned life in Unga has gotten more difficult. water is only coming into the slum 2 days a week now, because apparently there is an extreme water shortage, which is odd since it has been raining. Mama Diwani also eventually worked up the courage to let me know that my friend Elizabeth had passed while I was gone. I was speechless.

I will try again tomorrow to meet up with Mama D. Pray this meeting can take place.

Return to Unga

2008-01-25T22:00:00.000-08:00

A lot has happened in the last month since my travels to the USA. It was refreshing to go back to Unga today.

I was jet-lagged, exhausted, and for a variety of reasons a little stressed, but it amazed me how just walking onto the church compound and being greeted by my old friends just restored my soul.

I tried to contact Mama Diwani and Mama D, both were not around, but the lovely ladies of the compassion project were there, and of course I had to explain my long absence. I realized I don't know the words for riot, war, etc as I was trying to explain my re-route and being in the USA longer than expected.

Standing Amazed

2007-11-30T10:43:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday Kendra and I returned to Unga to prayer walk and talk to some of those who attended the TOT last week.

We arrived at the church and there was a different seminar taking place, so we parked and talked to the pastor a bit. He raved and raved and shared that he had only heard good things about the TOT. That made me excited, to hear that people are sharing stories about what they have learned!

We then went and talked to Mama Diwani and she told us that they had selected a committee! This is the first step for them starting their own CHE program! It was exciting. She also mentioned they were gonna meet this coming monday to talk strategy and let us know what they want to do! You know what this means folks? It means that they get it. It means they realize this is theirs and that we are tools. This is totally cool.

On Thursday Tami and I went back for another walk. This time we went to a different part of Unga and visited some of the mama's that I had known months ago. Mama Jackson has still moved away but that doesn't mean I can't stay connected to those I met through her. We visited Mama Zumra and she insisted we eat. She through together some Ugali and some fish and we ate. I wrestle with this part of the culture. Regardless of who visits, they will cook, and well, knowing that I have just eaten lunch I hate for her to make a meal, as I am full, and i know there are days, many days that people in this community wonder what "to feel full" seems like.

On our walks this week we learned of a health concern for the kiddos. It appears that Chicken Pox is working its way through the schools. A few of the classes in the schools in Unga are just not meeting, because SO MANY kids have Chicken pox. Pray that they heal quickly, and that they can keep from spreading it. Pray for those kids who are HIV positive who are battling Chicken Pox, pray for those who aren't. I know this is a normal childhood illness in the USA, but any illness here is more dangerous because of the lack of healthcare.

Its only just begun...

2007-11-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the final day of our week long Training of Trainers for a new Urban Poor CHE project in Unga Limited. It was another good day with a lot of discussion, ideas, and inspiration as a group of people who have nothing want to use what they have to minister to others. I am floored by this group of women, and encouraged by the two men that also attended the entire week.

We ended our day asking them to develop a plan of action. We challenged them that if they want to start a ministry they need to be strategic and think it through. We gave them a few ideas and sent them off into small groups. I filled with excitement as those groups buzzed with energy about what they can do. We cam back together, and they shared, and they said they wanted to do CHE, and that they were ready to develop a committee and select trainers. We encouraged them to do so and told them we would help them in any way.

We then proceeded to close out the day, bless them, give our thanks and receive theirs. There was singing, dancing, gifts and prayer. It was precious. As we were closing out, I was encouraged as one of the key women in the group asked the others to stay late so they could select a committee and a group of trainers. I smiled huge.

A marathon day...but yet another good one!

2007-11-22T04:13:00.000-08:00

No pictures today folks, but then again, today was more of the same...small groups...short drama's, and discovery. I begged our other teachers to allow me to leave early today for a gathering of Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving...I got my wish, but that meant I did the opening, and taught both morning sessions, back to back. It was loads of fun to share with them the importance of prayer and how many people had already been praying for them, and to encourage them to do the same in their future ministry. Then we talked about mapping and discovering all there is to discover about their community. Ultimately we would like to know everything that we can know, what schools are there, how many, are they good, where are the drugs, where are the street kids hanging, which areas are most affected by crime, are their clinics? witchdoctors? you know...everything.

It was a fun, and like I said marathon day. I can't believe that tomorrow is our last day, and honestly, that I am done "teaching." for the week! My job tomorrow is not to teach but to spur on, and to develop a plan of action with the group. It too should be fun!

More pics from today

2007-11-21T06:25:00.000-08:00

What beautiful feet!

2007-11-21T06:07:00.000-08:00

I know, I know it is so cliche' but really, these are beautiful feet! They are feet that desire nothing more than to know Jesus and follow Him, to bring Him to their community. These particular feet walked easily a couple miles today, just to get to the training...

Today was another incredible day! We had a guest teacher, for the whole day, which was good, as I was still tired from the last two days! I was amazed as I watched Dr. Declare share from his heart and with all of his being about how God has equipped them to change their lives, and how God views people with HIV/AIDS and about how they should. It was fun to watch their minds and thinking be transformed a bit...as well as to watch them continue to share and learn and grow together. Today we had more skits, more small groups, more lessons, and well just more of everything! It was another jam packed day of learning, and growing, and yes, it was so very fun! Who would have thought that sitting in a week long seminar could be so fun!

Can it get any better?

2007-11-20T05:55:00.000-08:00

Today was an AMAZING day!

We started relatively on-time, and I admit, that culturally, I was the only one who cared! I was excited as those who attended yesterday all came back eager to learn, eager to get started.

I love watching Lorivi teach! Lorivi is a Tanzanian who honestly knows more about CHE than I do, and he has an amazing way of reaching his own people. It is so refreshing to watch him teach and challenge and joke and celebrate with other Tanzanians. Lorivi is a key part of our ministries using CHE, such a key part that we are realizing we need another Lorivi as ministries expand and grow there isn't enough of him to go around!

It is also thrilling to watch the trainees break off into small groups and learn from each other, coming up with solutions on their own, without us having to feed them the information. It gives them great confidence in their own abilities when we pose a strange question to them and they come up with solutions...yes folks...multiple solutions!

It is also loads of fun to watch those being trained teach each other through skits, and sharing of what they have discovered in their small groups. This is fun because in their mind, learning is done with pen and paper, and the teacher just spoon feeds them, to have them encounter and embrace a new style of learning is fun.

I had the last teaching of the day, and I have to tell you I got goose-bumps as I noticed their eyes begin to light up. The lesson I was doing was a lesson of how to go about starting this ministry in their area, and they immediately sat upright in their chairs, and their faces woke up (it was after lunch, we were all looking a little tired up to this point) and as I shared I could feel the energy in the room increase. It was fun. Really fun. It was also really fun to see them understanding and asking, "so when do we start?"

Can tomorrow really be any better? Surely it will be, the entire day we will share with them how CHE can help them reach out to those with HIV and AIDS. It is a day of sharing how they can help transform the lives of those living with this dreadful disease, as well as those who are living with them. Pray for tomorrow, that they continue to get excited, that the momentum would continue to build, and that as we address a sensitive topic, that they would not shy away from the reality of many people suffering around them.

TOT Day 1...

2007-11-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

Today I experienced a little African Culture...rather a LOT of it!

First, we were set to start at 10:30 this morning. The attendees showed up at 11:30. Yep, an hour late, and yes, we waited, because that is what you do. People will get there when they can.

This of course presented a dilemma, as we are still expected to get them out on time, but we had an hours worth of info for the hour they were late. We hustled. We cut and chopped and we still managed to cast the vision. It was incredible.

It was a fun day, it was fun to hear them interacting with each other, and fun to hear their insight. I learned a lot about Unga today as we discussed from their perspective the problems that affect their community, and it was fun to hear them discuss, and disagree on why those problems existed and how they could be eradicated. I learned of new struggles, and other hardships that I assumed were there, but hadn't been able to confirm as of yet...

And, I learned how difficult it is to work with a translator. Yes, I can speak swahili, and yes I could probably communicate most of what I am teaching...but...I would get tired faster, and there would be some mistakes...so it is better this way. It wasn't so bad, really, it is just that so much gets lots in translation, the emotion, the tone of voice...SO MUCH! It made me want to master this language even more-so.

A few pics, and then I need to finish getting ready for tomorrow:

TOT week!

2007-11-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

In 2005 I met with many of you sharing the vision of reaching the lost of the slums of Arusha. I talked about poverty, without having seen it firsthand, and talked about the needs and the opportunities.

In December 2005 God provided the last of my support.

In January 2006 I spent a month in CO getting the last bit of my training that was needed before I left for Tanzania.

February and March I said my goodbyes and on March 22 I boarded that plane.

Thus started hours and days and months of preparation for this week. Weeks and months of courses to learn the language, the culture, and the ways of this foreign land. I saw the poverty first hand, I smelled it and in some cases...I tasted it. Countless hours have gone into building relationships and praying over this community...we have shared bit by bit and had the vision seminar and last week took the women to a rural community.

And here it is. The moment. The week long seminar that is the springboard for ongoing training. If all goes well this week, a committee of nationals will develop. This committee will be the heart behind this project, and in addition to a committee hopefully people will step forward to be the actual trainers of their neighbors. And lives will be transformed.

My life has been transformed in the last 20 months. Pray that lives will continue to be transformed, that those living in poverty will know the richness of Christ, and they will see how He can transform their community.

Unga goes Rural

2007-11-16T09:57:00.001-08:00

Today we took a group of women from the urban slum called Unga, to a rural project so they could "see" for themselves how CHE has changed a community. SO many things happened today that I can't even begin to put the stories down. A few things, I noticed:

A group of women was teaching another group of women about their ministry...not me.
A group of rural women (sometimes considered as less intelligent or less educated culturally) was teaching a group of urban women who were eagerly listening and asking questions...this in itself was amazing...I cannot put into words what kind of landmark it is.
I got to watch, learn, take photos and share, but it wasn't "my thing" it was theirs and they were proud to share it...that is what CHE is all about.
The women in Unga were dreaming of transforming their own community as we learned and shared experiences...and this...this is VERY exciting.

More stories to come, and more thoughts later...but for now, just enjoy the view through my camera lens...it gives a glimpse of what occurred today.

Excitement welling up...

2007-11-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

WOW FOLKS! A week from now we will have finished our first day of a week long training educating leaders in Unga about transforming their community with CHE! I have to be honest, I am a little bit overwhelmed, but at the same time so incredibly excited! YIKES!

Here's a sneak peak of what we are cramming into the week:

the great commandment and the great commission
Urban CHE concepts (how CHE fits in an urban setting)
Roles of the training team
Roles of a CHE (a person who is using CHE to teach their neighbors)
Entering the Community
Finding out what their community needs
How God views the city
Urban CHE approach
Reaching out in ministry to people with AIDS
How does HIV affect our community
what God says about AIDS and what the church can do
Empowering the Urban poor, poverty and community organization
Paralytic and Development
Mapping your community
Praying for our target area
LePSAS learning techniques
Leadership
Understanding community car for the terminally ill
Counseling the AIDS patient

Again, I am psyched, but starting to feel the pressure, as I haven't looked at these lessons...well lets just say a really long time! I have some brushing up to do!

Pray for us as we prepare for next week. Pray for those who are attending, that they would not have things come up and get in the way of being there. Pray that those who need to be there, make it.

Wow. this is exciting.

A new view

2007-11-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

Every time I take someone new into Unga with me I see a new Unga. I remember the first time Katie and I went, and the Unga we saw, and the experiences we had, they were incredibly different from the Unga I saw with each of the REACH interns (those were all different experiences from each other even.) Taking Kendra brought out a new experience, as did taking Tami and even today as Scott and I walked and visited and prayed we saw a different Unga. It is the same place, but our encounters, the way we are treated, as well as how we walk out of there is different. All different...all beautiful and unforgettable.

Today I met some new mama's. After the harassment we received with Tami the pastor's wife of one of the churches is taking it upon herself to find us an escort everytime we walk. I don't complain, and actually I appreciate it, as we learn more and more and get to go a little deeper with these escorts. It was fun to take Scott Price (our TZ Team Leader) with me as I had never walked through Unga with him before. He had driven through and little did I know he knew some people who lived there. It was fun to share today with him, and to even hear his observations and questions.

Today I got a bigger glimpse of the problems in the local school. The guy who walked with us informed us that a classroom can have in excess of 100 students! And in typical East African public school systems there aren't enough textbooks to go around, as well as teachers. No wonder the students aren't learning! The Government is allocating A LOT of money to building schools, but I have to ask, is education improving just by having more school buildings? If there aren't enough teachers and materials (including desks) then how are these kids gonna learn anymore? I am walking a fine line here, I realize it.

In our walk we also got to meet a few more pastors, and a few more teachers, and I encountered another Compassion Project, the third in this slum area alone! I can see how Compassion is making a difference, and how our ministries are both changing this community and if we work together then we really can change this community.

We have set the final details for a CHE Field Trip on Friday Nov 16! A handful of people interested in learning about how to start a CHE project in Unga will go with me to one of our rural projects. They will see CHE firsthand, and also get to talk with those who took a leap of faith and are transforming their rural community with CHE! Pray for this field trip! Pray that questions are answered and people are challenged.

And things are taking shape for the TOT to be held the week of Nov 19! We have about 15 people who want to start a CHE project in their community and we are gonna show them how and get it rolling! I am thrilled and nervous at the same time! Thrilled as this was the goal in me coming in the first place, to help people transform their own community using CHE, and nervous as it is finally happening! AGH!

Its my last physical walk through Unga for the week, but in my mind and my spirit I walk through those slums every day. Pray for Unga, pray for us as we keep stepping out!

It's broken.

2007-11-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

Today I had some new experiences in Unga. I took teammate Tami Carter for a visit. It was so incredibly fun to introduce her to my friends and also incredibly fun to meet some new people with her! By nature Tami is a lover of people, and eagerly desires to bless those she meets, and she brought that with her today. It was so incredibly fun and eye opening for me.

We met several ladies I had not yet met, and it was fun to walk her around some of the old familiar places that Katie and I walked so many times. But even in all of this fun, there were reminders that we were in a broken place. For the first time ever, people were rude in their shouts and hollers after us. One man actually crossed the line with inappropriate gestures that I had never encountered in Unga before. Some of the women were demanding money from us, while others just hollered insults. It was disheartening, and honestly I still am not sure why today of all days. I remembered though, that we were there because people there don't know Jesus, they can't be expected to act like him! This is part of our task of transforming the community, that people would respect each other, as well as themselves. That people would have enough Hope in the Living God that they would not resort to demanding (way more aggressive than begging) money from passers by.

She's Back!

2007-11-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

And it feels good!

I went back to Unga today and met with Mama Diwani, Mary and the ladies who work in the local Compassion Project office! There were squeals, hugs, questions and laughter as I told them about the last couple months, explained why I hadn't been there but also shared with them that I was back...that's where the squeals came in...from all of us!

It felt so good to be back, to walk around Unga, and to see those kiddos and mama's that I have been getting to know the last several months. It was good to embrace them, to hear about life since my last visit and yet, it was even good to get my feet dirty.

After a short walk through the neighborhood I met with Mama Diwani and Mary and talked about the next few weeks. After the vision seminar a few of those who attended wanted more info. They wanted to see "CHE" in action, so we decided to plan a field trip of sorts, to one of our Rural CHE sites that is about 1/2 hour from town. So pray, as on Nov 16 we will take a small group out, to see CHE as well as hear from those who took the leap themselves and are ministering in their community! Pray that they get a picture of the impact they can have in Unga, and also embrace the idea of sharing Christ with their neighbors using this tool!

We also set a date for our first TOT! A TOT is a week long seminar, the acronym stands for Training for Trainers. This is HUGE! Several have already said they want the training necessary to do CHE in their neighborhood, so the week of Nov 19 we will meet with about 10-15 of them each day to give them the skills necessary to start a CHE project. I think this calls for a celebration dance! Pray as we prepare for this week of training, it will be my first time as officially training as well! Its a bit overwhelming, but very very exciting!

It was a good visit to Unga, and I must admit, that I am very tired but very excited. I am thankful for what God has done in my time away from there, but also very thankful that I still get to minister in the community! I also am very psyched that I get to go to Unga Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week! YAHOOOO!

Neglected

2007-11-04T08:47:00.001-08:00

Wow. It's been over a month since my last Unga update. I don't think I have left a blog sitting so long before! AGH!

Just because I haven't blogged doesn't mean nothing is going on. I haven't been into Unga very often as we were still trying to straighten life out since the accident, court, etc...you know the story.

In the last month, my life in Unga has changed dramatically...for the BETTER! We had our bi-annual team meeting where we review our goals, and talk strategy as well as share needs, dream, brainstorm etc... At this meeting I was able to share with my team the weight I was carrying for Unga. We are a unique team, in that we have two ministry focuses, and well, most of the people on my team are part of the focus that I don't have much to do with, and well, I felt like I was flying solo..in action, in dreaming, in decision making etc. I have such an AWESOME team that we made some changes, and now I have a committee of teammates who are coming along side me to reach Unga. I am thrilled. This committee will help steer the ministry, help me dream, go into Unga with me, challenge me, and well all around be co-ministers with me! I am so excited about this new change! I know that Jesus is the ultimate burden carrier for this ministry...but I was taking a lot of weight on as well...now we get to share it!

I have been in contact with Mama Jackson and Mama Diwani, and this week, with our new committee I will be able to start going into Unga regularly again, as my teammates have stepped up to a whole new level and are committing time in their week to go with me! Again, my team ROCKS!

Exciting news...we are looking at having our first TOT (week long training) where we will equip the leaders of the HIV/AIDS small groups to start their very own CHE project!!! THIS IS EXCITING! The group leaders caught the vision at our Vision Seminar a few months back, and have been begging for more! The accident and incidences surrounding slowed us down a bit, but we have it scheduled for the week of Nov 19! PRAY PRAY PRAY!

Also, some of those who attending the Vision Seminar had some unanswered questions, so we are going to take them to visit a CHE site just outside of Arusha on Nov 16! Pray for this day as well! I picture a beautiful sight as I envision Tanzanians sharing their ministry with others and encouraging them in the same path! BEAUTIFUL!

Thanks for praying, and thanks for your patience!

She walks!

2007-10-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

Today I was given permission to visit Unga. Permission is required as I am not working these days, until the team and I agree that I have recovered and been restored after all the events of the last month. I appreciate the care my team provides, that they would allow me to rather tell me I am not to minister until I myself am whole again, however, I have missed Unga! I have missed my friends!

But, Patrick and Joe were sent by CMF to get some pictures and video of what's going on here in East Africa. The poor guys have had a world-wind but I am sure life changing trip! They have visited nearly every ministry in Kenya and Tanzania! I can't communicate how much driving, early mornings, walking, and working they did!

Well today was my day, and although I am "not doing ministry" right now, I was allowed the exception to take them into Unga, visit my friends and share with them my heart, and they will hopefully be able to communicate that with you over the next several months! You will see some fruit of their work in upcoming newsletters and on the CMF Website and publications I am sure.

It was fun having them, but I have to be honest, it was even more fun to go see my friends! I was able to visit Elizabeth who shocked me! She was walking! Last time I saw her I thought it would be my last! She was so sick and well, she was dying. She couldn't lift her head off her pillow and she could barely speak, but today, she was radiant! Still skin and bones, and still living with AIDS, she is gaining strength. We joked and laughed and rejoiced on the sofa as she shared with me how she can now help sweep around the house, and do chores for her aunt (she lives with her aunt as her parents died of AIDS a little over a year ago.) It was a fantastic visit. She hopes to gain enough strength and find the money to return to school!

We went from there to visit another lovely friend of mine who is muslim, but attended our CHE vision seminar, who also has HIV. She had been sick too, but mentioned getting better and planning to return to work in the next week. It was a joy to greet her!

The last home we visited was the home of Mary, a little girl I have written about before. She is 11. She has HIV. She is an orphan who is trying so hard to live! She too lives with her aunt, who is caring for mary and her own daughter on her own after the death of her husband to AIDS a few months ago. Mary wasn't feeling well today, she not only has HIV, but Malaria as well. We made sure she got her malaria medication before we took off towards the church.

After our home visits we visited Mary Msuya, the pastors wife of the church we have been using to spread news of CHE. We also got to see all my friends at the local Compassion International office for that area of Unga. It was like a homecoming. I shared with them the challenges of the last few months, and explained to them my absence in the last few weeks and then made plans to contact them when all is well again, letting them know that even this hurdle is not too big for God to do BIG things!

It was a fun day. I thanked Patrick and Joe at the end for giving me and my team a reason to allow me to go visit Unga. I look forward to being fully restored, and being able to fight the poverty that grips Unga in the future!

CHE Explained...somewhat

2007-09-15T04:50:00.000-07:00

I have received a lot of emails lately asking what in the world CHE is. I can't blame you really, its been months since I appeared at your churches and small groups sharing the vision for ministry here in Tanzania.

CHE is an acronym for Community Health Evangelism a method of wholistic ministry being used around the world by countless organizations as a method to assist those living in poverty and spread the Gospel.

This is where I cheat. Someone else has written it so eloquently, that I thought I would take the words straight from the Lifewind website, (formerly Medical Ambassadors) the developers of the CHE model.

Community Health Evangelism (CHE) empowers communities to overcome poverty, disease, and hopelessness by mobilizing their God-given potential and available resources. In a CHE program, local volunteers are equipped and empowered to:

evangelize their community, making new followers of Jesus
nurture disciples, strengthening the church
improve sanitation, preventing diseases
enhance agriculture, increasing food production
create new enterprises, overcoming poverty
utilize appropriate technologies, creating sustainability

How does it work? Yet again I will take the words of the creators...

CHE is initiated in a community by a two- or three-person CHE training team — dedicated Christians who speak the language of the community and live close enough to visit frequently.

CHE trainers may be trained, mentored and supervised by LifeWind, a local church, or another organization. (ie. CMF Tanzania) The training team builds relationships with local residents. As they spend time in the community, they assess needs and assets through observation, and develop trust. In due time, they provide information about CHE to members and leaders of the community. The trainers assure that community leaders understand CHE as a way they can address their physical, social and spiritual needs themselves, not a program that offers them money. The key to CHE is the community's willingness to take responsibility for addressing its own problems.Through a series of open meetings, the community decides whether or not to do CHE as a community.

If the training team has done its initial work well, most communities decide to do CHE. The community then selects people to serve as their local leadership committee, which is prepared for its work by the training team. Then the CHE program is officially launched by the community. The leadership committee selects other community members to be trained as volunteer CHEs (chays) — community health educators/evangelists. The work of these dedicated volunteers is crucial to achieving results. Through frequent trainings, the CHEs are equipped to implement health-improving steps in their own homes, and they learn how to pass along what they are learning in home visits with other families. The CHEs become health educators and personal evangelists to their community. The combined influence of the training team, the leadership committee, and the volunteer CHEs creates a dynamic process of learning and change in the community. Physical and social health improves, projects are accomplished, and spiritual growth occurs as people come to faith in Christ. The community changes from the inside-out. CHE works because it is the community's own program, with CHE trainers serving as catalysts for change.

So what does that all mean for us? For me? For Unga? For Arusha? For Tanzania?

It is common knowledge that people in Africa are suffering. It is also common knowledge that a lot of money and resources are being poured into this continent every day. But people are still dying of preventable diseases, people are still suffering under poverty, people are still unaware of Jesus even though missionaries have been coming here for countless years. I am reminded of this each time I walk out my front door.

When I first encountered CHE I was impressed that there was a model for ministry, that incorporated the physical, emotional, spiritual and social aspects of an individual, cause lets face it, each area of our lives affects the others. If we are physically ill, it can affect our emotions, which can effect our spiritual well-being, which can also affect our neighbors. We are a complex being, who live with other complex beings, and by addressing just one area, we can only have a small impact...but in equipping nationals to address all of these areas of life, with their own skills resources and abilities, we can have a much larger impact. Instead of me changing the physical life of one person, we want to train neighbors to change the whole person of their whole community.

The idea is fairly simple. The process is not too complicated. The results are astounding.

If you have followed either of the blogs, A glorious adventure or the Unga Limited Blog you will see that our strategy is similar to the strategy laid out by LifeWind, cause really, they have used it and many other organizations have used it all around the world.

We started with learning the language. We then started spending some time in the community. They thought we were just hanging out, but to be honest, we were doing a lot of praying too! We have observed the many struggles in the area, the oppression, the illness, the lack of education, the sanitation issues, and yes, the many spiritual struggles facing those living in these communities. We then share the idea of CHE, and hope they will want to learn more. We cast the vision, train trainers, and contine training them to train each other in areas of physical, emotional, spiritual and community health.

Then it gets a little different, our own little CMF Tanzania twist. We have noticed that a lot of people here are struggling with (now I know this is far out there for some of you, you may just have to see it yourself one day) demons, and bondages from the occult, witchcraft and witchdoctors. We can see how these are not just a symptom of their physical poverty, but possibly a cause, so our goal is to also walk them into not just knowing Jesus, but teach them how to walk in the freedom of Christ, the Hope of Eternal life, the Joy of our great Savior, and the Promise of the King.

The lessons. They are many. They are simple lessons using the resources found in their community, that are affordable. This is important, as this program is meant to be theirs, and the idea is that they could replicate it without us missionaries. Sure we could buy a bunch of Katadyn water filters from the US and have a mass distribution to decrease the prevalence of water bourne illnesses, but lets face it, they aren't cheap, if one breaks a Tanzanian will have to find an expatriate, and then somehow find the money or a sponsor to buy one, and then they will have to somehow get it here...and so on and so on...and then you have to also teach them how to use the filter, and keep it up and clean and lets just say...there are other options. In fact, there is a filter, that is fairly easy to make, that can be made with materials found right in their community, which, if they make it correctly, can decrease the prevalence of water bourne illness. The national is trained. He trains his neighbor who trains their neighbor, who trains theirs etc. They all have clean water, and where did it come from? Literally their own back yard. The only role of the missionary was to train the initial national. It not only cuts out the reliance on the missionary, but it also helps to restore the dignity of the people in that they are no longer reliant on someone else. They can do it themselves!

This is also true in lessons on church planting, discipleship, lessons on freedom in Christ. Our goal, is that as we train the trainers, they would learn the lesson so well, that they can train each other, and multiply throughout Arusha, Tanzania and East Africa. The hope is that in time, Hope would be restored as people recognize they have a loving Father who cares for them, that they would also see a physical change in their community as a result of the physical lessons they are brought, which also impacts their emotional and community relationships! WOW!

And I can't fail to mention teaching them how to meet their own needs through gardens, training in agriculture, small business development etc! Seriously folks, its exciting stuff, there is so much in this little acronym!

So this is a long post, and really you can't get all of CHE in one blog post. Even now I am thinking of a specific track of home based care designed to help those suffering with HIV and AIDS! Just think about it, a community of people suffering with this dreadful disease, on top of the already prevalent diseases that can be prevented, toss in not knowing the love of their Creator, who weeps and sings over them at the same time, mix in the dire physical conditions and you get a recipe for hopelessness. They just wait to die.

But imagine a different story. A community of people who have HIV/AIDS who know how it is spread, and also know how to maintain and LIVE with this disease. Who have discovered a Savior and the promise of Eternal Life beyond what they are already experiencing, toss in education on ways to care for each other, provide for each other through small businesses, and home based care...and you have a much brighter picture! Hope is restored. They have Life.

So back to CHE. It is simple and it is complex. There is so much to it, that like I said, one post won't suffice. In Unga we are looking at the HIV/AIDS curriculum and also looking at helping them start small businesses that will help them provide for their families, and teaching them how to have healthy churches, and discipleship programs. It's insane. It's fun. It's full of Jesus and I am excited.

So I don't know if this post has helped you to better understand CHE, or if it caused more questions and confusion. I hit lightly on a lot of things. If you have more questions, comment or use the envelope to send me an email.

8 going on 16

2007-09-10T11:35:00.001-07:00

After walking with Jenelle I returned to Unga for an already scheduled walk with Mama Diwani to visit some people suffering with HIV/AIDS.

I was under the impression I was going to see some mamas today, but when I walked into the first house I was surprised to find the body of a little girl laying curled up on the couch. She couldn't have weighed any more than 65 pounds, her skin hanging on her bones, lacking in color, and peeling. She tried to greet us, but you could just tell by her voice that it hurt to do so. We talked with her aunt, and learned that she is on ARV's and is doing better on them. She has been taking them since February. All the while I am thinking that this poor little girl has had such a rough life. I eventually work up the courage to ask this little girl how old she was, and I know my expression was filled with shock as she replied that she was 16! 16! I was floored. How could this frail, shockingly small creature be 16! Easily, she is battling TB and AIDS. Pray for Elizabeth. Pray she would find comfort in Jesus. Her parents both have died in the last couple of years of AIDS as well, and she is living with her aunt. Pray that her aunt would find stamina and perseverance as she cares for an extra child.

Our second stop was to visit a grandma. Grandma had TB and HIV as well. She poured her heart out to us and her struggles. Her main struggle was the infant she was caring for. Or at least he resembled an infant. He was 3. He also had TB and HIV and a terrible cold. Grandma was caring for him, and herself, because his parents took off a few weeks ago and haven't come back. Grandma is also taking care of his 3 siblings. Pray for Grandma. Pray for people to step in and help her. Pray for strength, encouragement and healing.

Pray for us. I know that the home health care modules of CHE can dramatically improve the lifes of these patients. Pray for those relationshpis to be built and for lives to be transformed.

Tea, Mandazi and Golf Courses

2007-09-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

Today I met Jenelle in town for tea and mandazi, and then we headed for some prayer walking in Unga. Today was actually the first day in a really long time that I was able to pray and walk, as most of the walks we have taken lately have led to someones home and us visiting with them, which isn't a bad thing, but today it was quite refreshing to do a little walking.

And, shockingly, we found more new terratory! I literally thought that I had walked every road, path, alley, ditch in this particular part of Unga, but today it was fun to say Jenelle, I have no idea where we are, but I know how to get back to where we came from! Lets keep exploring!

We encountered mamas who were as always gracious and smiling and shocked to see us white girls trampsing through their village. We played an new version of Red-light Green-light as kids would run up behind us as long as we weren't looking but then if we turned around, stopped in shock not sure if they should run away or smile! It was precious.

Our walk was amazing, the new sights and the new sounds, and yes there were new smells too, were invigorating as I thought and prayed over the vision of Unga. We identified many possibilies, including an area that I thought looked like an old golf course, Jenelle wasn't so quick to agree, but was willing to oblige my randomness!

A full tour of Unga

2007-09-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Today Kendra and I went back to Unga for a lunch we had been invited to, and to catch up with some other ladies.

Our lunch was with Mama Ibram who says we never eat lunch at her house because we are always too full...which is the truth, we are always given snacks along the way (the africans are so generous!) and there isn't possibly any room left by the time we get to her house. So we made arrangements when I went by last tuesday to eat at her house today.

I was frustrated, I have to admit. But I am getting ahead of myself. Mama Ibram has got it pretty good. Her husband makes good money, so even though they live in the slum they have cable television! I don't even have cable TV! Anyhow, she sat us on her couch, turned on the tv so we could watch some indian soap operas, and disappeared for about an hour. Kendra and I kept looking at each other and laughing not sure what we should do. That and the volume was so incredibly high it was piercing the ear drums.

She came back with lunch, and for the first time ever in all the meals I have eaten in Unga I was nauseated. Ugali, not so bad, I like the stuff, but todays was different, local fish (I don't even want to describe them too you...but I will anyhow)...they are about 4 inches long, and come whole, heads and tails, and you pick it apart by yourself, but really there isn't anything left to the fish so you are eating the skin, and well for some reason, even though I survived the dagaa experience today was exceptionally hard for me to swallow (literally and figuratively!) We ate, and I nearly gagged the whole time, but it didn't really matter cause after she brought us the food she left again! I thought we were having lunch TOGETHER! She did finally return for a bit, but we were running late and had a few more people to see, so we bid our farewells and headed towards where mama Omari sells her green bananas.

I met mama Omari several months ago when Katie and I were walking. She is in the middle of the slum and she and her friends would always greet us warmly. 2 weeks ago I passed by and they stopped me, asked where Katie was, and then asked if I wanted to buy green bananas. I told them Katie was at home but surely says hello, and declined cause I don't know how to cook green bananas. They all laughed I laughed, and then said, "mama, if you teach me how to cook green bananas I will come back and buy them!" That really got them going, so we made plans to have a cooking lesson last thursday.

Well, you know all about last week, and obviously because I was in court the cooking lesson did not happen, I couldn't even get there to tell them I wasn't coming, because I can't go where she is without someone. It is too dangerous for me to go alone.

So today I finally made it by to say hi to Mama Omari. I begged for forgiveness, and yes, retold the story again for the millionth time about court, the accident, the police etc and she said she forgave me and still wanted to give me a lesson. I told her I was game but needed to find someone to come with me, got her phone number and told her to would let her know when I could come. She seemed pleased.

We headed on our way, and picked up a few kiddos as well. I saw a woman selling some traditional bites so bought the bites for the kiddos when Mama Omari's friend came running up to us telling us Mama Omari needed to talk to us. We went back, and found out we have friends everywhere in Unga now. Two boys had just walked by and Mama Omari heard them talking about the two white girls (us) who had walked past, and their plan to mess with us and steal from us. She called us back to give us an escort. We were escorted to safer ground. I felt priviledged to know that someone would go to those lengths to protect me. I have friends in good places.

Then we stopped by Mama Diwani's place. Like I said, we had a lot of people to check in with. She too asked where we had been and wondered if I was ok. I filled her in and heard about their family and their week. I was then asked, "Pam, I talked with all of the group leaders of the HIV/AIDS group and they want to go to the next level of CHE training!" (at this point all readers rejoice, do a dance, and sing a song and celebrate!) The next step is a week long seminar where they are given the basic tools for starting a CHE program! I was floored by this, and I must say I am impressed by what God can do when I am kept out of the slum.

Pray for the leaders of the HIV/AIDS groups. Pray that they would stay focused, as they are reaching some 600 women who have HIV/AIDS who desperately need to hear the gospel and who could benefit from the physical and spiritual benefits of CHE! This is so cool. I don't know how to tell you how cool this is!

Mama Diwani also mentioned their desire to start another set of HIV/AIDS groups, one of them in the neighborhood where Mama Jackson used to live! HA! I wanted to say I told you so to satan, he kicked mama jackson out, but Jesus is still coming in!

Pray. Pray hard. The enemy is trying to keep us from spreading the gospel!

Return to Unga

2007-09-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

Today I went back to Unga for the first time since the car accident. It was nice to be able to get back into the swing of things, and honestly it was really nice to visit some old friends!

I went back and found that I was not the only one who dealt with troubles last week. Mama Jackson was kicked out of her home. Her landlord is muslim and Mama Jackson says her landlord was kicking her out because she had brought praying people to the neighborhood. I knew about this because a friend of mine had spoken with her the day before, so I made sure to catch up with her before I went to the old neighborhood. She is doing ok. Staying with a friend and searching for a new home. We prayed with her, and honestly I broke one of my rules and knowing that any new landlord would want 3 months rent and she wouldn't have it gave her a little financial gift, some help to get her and her two kids back under a more permanent roof.

I was at first feeling really defeated. I was feeling like her being kicked out was our being kicked out, and I realized, no, it wasn't...it was an open door for opportunity. She is a friendly lady, makes friends wherever she lives, so her moving across the river to the other slum we have already talked about targeting is also a blessing. Unfortunately for her it brings some upheaval, but even she is praising God for her new ministry opportunities, without me mentioning my thoughts on the whole ordeal.

So after visiting Mama Jackson and coming to realize that I had not yet been kicked out, I went and visited my other friends in Unga. I was greeted with cheers! It was so fun to enter into their homes, they had been worried, after all for the last two months I stop by 2 or 3 times a week and they hadn't seen me in over a week. I relayed the story of the previous week and it was then that I realized, that my treatment, was just what I had asked for. In one of my blog posts I mentioned just wanting to be treated like a tanzanian, and I was, any tanzanian in my shoes would have been treated poorly, yes the treatment may have been different, but they too would have been harassed. The whole ordeal with the accident honestly ignites a fervor in me to stand taller and love deeper, and get Jesus into the hearts of the people of this city.

All in all, it was a good day in Unga. It was good to be home.

Sunburns, exhaustion, and new experiences

2007-08-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I think it is safe to say that winter is ending and summer is quickly approaching. I failed to put on sunscreen today, and after 6 solid hours in Unga (which is way too many by the way) I am burnt. Not terribly, just a little pink. I will say I am proud to say that this is my first sunburn since arriving in Africa. I usually wear sunscreen everyday, however it has been cold lately and I got out of the habit.

6 hours in Unga. Has many results, one of which is exhaustion. Even as I write this I am having a hard time thinking straight. It doesn't sound so bad, until you think of 6 hours of swahili, 6 hours of taking in the smells, the sights, the poverty, the looks in the eyes of those who are suffering, the hollaring of "mzungu" and the hollaring of many other things that are better not written here. The first half of the day was walking and praying. It was good, but it is still hard. I don't know that I will ever get used to the feeling that comes upon me as I walk into Unga. I am thankful for it, as it reminds me of the necessity of what we are doing, however it leaves me so tired. And to think, I don't live there. Those who live there have to experience it day in and day out. It isn't a wonder to me that they don't move forward.

During our walk I stopped to talk with some of the ladies who came to the vision seminar. They loved it! However, they want to know more! This is good. We are arranging to take them to a nearby village where CHE is being used first hand, so they can talk more with those who are doing CHE and hear how lives have been changed. Pray as we arrange this time.

The second half of today was introducing Peter Russell to mama Jackson. It was a lovely visit, which included a new meal to add to my list of Tanzanian foods I have eaten that I wish I had not! Dagaa is a tiny little fish. I used to alternate these fish with meat when I fed my dogs, Dagaa one night, meat the next, but I discovered my dogs would rather eat every other day than eat those little fish! I stopped giving them fish and now they eat meat every day.

Now those of you who know me well, know that I like seafood, and fish, I love sushi and will eat most any fish, but something about eating fish the size of goldfish I kept as a kid, whole, just grosses me out! So of course, I have never willfully planned to eat some. Mama Jackson knew we were coming and cooked us lunch. And yep, she cooked us dagaa. Mixed with some cooked veggies and of course partnered with Ugali.

We all ate it, and we all survived, and we can say we had a new experience, although I will say it challenged each of us. All of us have lived in Africa for more than a year, and had managed to avoid it, not so today!

Bibi wengi (grandma many)

2007-08-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

Last friday I took a few girls into Unga the first time. They had never been in or around Unga but had heard about it. They asked if they could join me on a walk. I hadn't planned on walking, but instead had planned on visiting the homes of those who attended the vision seminar, so instead I invited them on the home visits.

We stopped at the first house, and I am shocked by the welcome, and the greeting we received. yet again our visit to Unga was like a progressive dinner. This is always joyous, as I know that it is how they share their joy of your presence, but at the same time, I hate that I am eating food that they work so hard for, and know that even though it is ok to bring gifts, it is offensive for me to do it every time. We visited each home, talked with the ladies and got feedback from wednesday. The overall impression, it was a great seminar, but they all had questions and wanted to talk some more, but not in front of the visitors. They wanted to visit instead.

After visiting all the homes, Mama Jackson asks if we are heading home, I tell her of my plans to walk around with the girls for a little bit. She then invites us to visit Bibi.

What a treasure! We walk in and Bibi immediately starts praying! It was unlike anything I have ever seen in my life, the Spirit of the Lord was definately present, and I couldn't understand everything she said because it was a mix of Kimaa and Kiswahili, but I knew she was covering us with blessing. Here we are, three women and a little girl, who have everything we need, walking into a home of an elderly woman who has nothing, and she jumps to praise and bless. Wow. It is no wonder, when you hear about her life, that she is a prayer warrior.

She discovered Jesus when she was around 40. She is now 87. She has 7 kids, and each of her children has multiple children. Her first, has 10, the second had 5 the third 7 and I honestly lost count after that. She also has about 20 great grandchildren. She also boasts, that all of them know the Lord. She continually states that God saved her, and then saved her family. What a joy. I like surprises like these!

Now we wait.

2007-08-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

Well folks, its all over. Our first Urban Poor Arusha Vision Seminar finished about 4 hours ago, and I must say I am rather amazed. In traditional African fashion, we started about an hour later than we planned, because people weren't ready yet.

My role today, was that of connector, everyone invited knows me, but since I had not yet done a vision seminar in Africa, Annelle and Lorivi were the actual facilitators. As I watched and observed, I was amazed at how this group of people were so enraptured by the material, by how they participated, and by their willingness to learn more and ask more questions. Lorivi is an amazing CHE instructor, he truly is a gift to our ministry, and does an amazing job of explaining CHE to the audience, regardless of who the audience is, he adapts, and does so rather well.

So now we wait. They know the vision of CHE, they know the ideas, the main concepts and the philosophy. They know that if they want to take it further, and want to form a CHE team we are willing to help them use CHE to transform their community. Now we wait. We wait and we pray for hearts to be called to use this tool. Waiting is hard. I am hoping I don't have to wait too long!

Pray that the men and women who attended todays seminar would hear the voice of God in the coming weeks. Pray that those who need to use this tool would step forward, and those who need to be supporters would support them. Pray that God would be glorified and that Unga would begin to be transformed.