Your turn.

Post your question, we answer.


Comments = good.

1-way blog = not as good.

So please, talk to us.

How would you choose?

Our orphanage is brand new. As far as my knowledge goes, we have yet to have permanent orphan-residents. What I've been told is that part of our job is to find and bring orphans to our center. So far, the only qualification is that they are truly orphans. Although this seems obvious, it is not all that simple. Many of the children our volunteers have met and have spoken to are street children, but not orphans. Many of them had left their villages to find work in Arusha. Some had even left orphanages in search for a way of life with less restriction and more freedom. As disheartening as it seems, I guess it was naive of me to think that our help would be in great demand by all.

After being sparked by Michael's question, hence the title of this post, I want to open up this question to all of you. How would you choose? What kind of criteria would you create?

The basics: Is this child an orphan (specifically, are both parents deceased)? Does this child want help?

Another thing I think you all should know. In the words of OHS...

The purpose of empowering education is to promote academic enrichment, life skills, and character development of the children to build effective lives and become potential community leaders, so that they may continue the cycle of positive social change.

Education is the way we choose to help.

Pioneers

So last weekend Sue and I talked to Mrs. Germeraad about her trip to Tanzania (as it turns out, she went with Mrs. Hinkle earlier this summer to help teach English in a village near where Sue and I will be). I learned a lot, about her personal experience and her take on the general situation in Tanzania. A very interesting comment Mrs. Germeraad mentioned was the hopelessness that native teachers in Tanzania have towards the deteriorating situation there. Mrs. Germeraad worked closely with several Tanzanian primary school teachers and told us that, despite their optimistic and welcoming appearances, on the inside, they are quite overwhelmed with sadness, depression as they watch the young be destroyed by violence, poverty, and disease. Although she tried to comfort her fellow educators, it is hard to give hope to those who have spent their lives seeing failure all around them.

I hope to those who I meet and encounter overseas, those who have given up all hope, those who are calloused from misery, those who believe that tomorrow does not bring a better future, I can show and prove to them that they are wrong, that in the end, people can make a difference, and that by helping one person escape this cycle, you have already changed the world.

Bloc Party - Pioneers

If it can be broke then it can be fixed, if it can be fused then it can be split
It's all under control
If it can be lost then it can be won, if it can be touched then it can be turned
All you need is time

Nothing is hopeless. Believe.

Per Jen's Request

This has absolutely nothing to do with OHS or going to TZ. However, it is entertaining so here we go.

Simba = lion. Creative, I know.
Nala = gift
Mufasa = named after a king of pre-colonial Kenya
Pumbaa = foolish or dumbfounded
Rafiki = friend
Sarabi (Simba's mom) = mirage

Scar = because he likes giving people scars?
Zazu = also just a proper noun.
Timon = see above



Bit of trivia: What was the Lion King's original title?

jungle juice

my mosquito repellent is called jungle juice. i believe that speaks for itself.

How to Donate

One Heart Source is the name of the organization Michael and I will be working with in TZ.

If you are interested in donating, first off, THANK YOU!! No joke, it is because of you people who have made this dream a reality for me. OHS is a registered non-profit, which means your donations are tax-deductible, if you so choose.

To make a donation, simply mail a check to One Heart Source at:
One Heart Source
PO Box 24293
Los Angeles, CA 90024

In the memo, feel free to put in the name of specific volunteer(s) if you wish to contribute to so-and-so's fund in particular. If that is not your cup of tea, you are welcome to leave it blank - this ensures that the money goes to the organization and straight to the children.

Now that it is September, counting down the days is a whole lot easier!



17 days...

GO BRUINS!

UCLA beats Tennessee(18) 27-24 in overtime in the Bruins' first game with Rick Neuheisel!!

Aside from this exciting game and good news for the Bruins...



Thanks, Jess, for your question! Here and when we're over in TZ, we would love any comments, questions, or suggestions you all may have. We'll do our best to respond to them ASAP.

And to answer your question, there IS internet in the town of Arusha. Mateves Village, where we will be centered, is a half-hour drive away from the budding town of Arusha and has no internet. However, we will be visiting Arusha (FYI, I tend to refer to it as "town" - and Mateves as "village") on the weekends for supplies, hot shower (if so desired), and of course, connection with the folks from home!


This weekend, Michael and I went shopping for supplies and got super-compact sleeping bags (for easy carrying) and LOTS and LOTS of insect repellent.

Malaria = bad.

That's it for now, thanks for reading!