A bit about health care in Tanzania

First off, I bet you are wondering about the picture. It is of Sarah and myself at a crossing point of a lake (a shallow area where you can cross the lake to get to other villages). Behind it is a man made waterfall. We biked to this spot one evening and took some funny pictures. What we are wearing is called Khangas. It is two large pieces of decorated fabric that have a proverb written on the bottom. One covers your skirt and the other is worn around your shoulders and/or head. We always where the bottom khanga, even while at home, and when out in public, we must wear a head covering and also a top khanga.

So I have a story to tell you. I was made aware of a month old baby that was not thriving and losing weight. Another team member of mine saw her last week and wanted me to examine her. I went on Tuesday and was very concerned. Her skin was loose, she was lethargic, and only feeding two times a day. I was immediately concerned and knew action needed to be taken right away. Today we brought her with her mother to a clinic in town. We first went to the Disabled Children's Clinic because not only is she losing weight, but there are also other physical concerns. The doctor saw us right away and without examining the young baby, said all these problems were related to her mother. He saw charms, bracelets, and markings on her head (cultural thing here) and attributed all these problems to the mother because of those things. I was very upset as I knew this mother was trying her best. She is trying to nurse the baby every 2-3 hours, but the baby would not nurse and would fall asleep. The doctor also said he could do nothing since the baby had not been weighted since birth (they are supposed to be weighted every month, but said had not yet). So after I kindly asked if he would mind examining the baby and he did not, I decided it would just be best for us to leave. Clearly this man was not going to help and me getting frustrated with him would not make it better, so we headed to the hospital.

After a series of many lines as the hospital and me having no idea what is being said (just me, the mother, and baby) we finally got to a door that said "Dacktari Watoto," Children's Doctor, and knocked and because they saw a Mzungo, me a white person, we were seen right away. I was praying frequently that someone would take action for this precious little one. I am concerned her time on earth might be cut short if there is no intervention. I met two great doctors and they were also seriously concerned. They took much time to examine her. I even brought my stethoscope for them to use as I was concerned about a possible heart condition. She was below her birth weight, had a serious skin infection, and they were going to investigate more issues that could be going on to cause her failure to thrive. They agreed that she needed to be admitted to the hospital for intervention and thanked me for bringing her in. I will try to keep you posted on her status. What a blessing how the Lord got us to two doctors who cared and were taking action. Please continue to pray for this little one. I got the name of the two doctors and I am thankful for their service and am glad to know they truly care.

This is just a little bit about what I am facing here, but with action and passion we can help people. I visited another hospital my second day in the village and was brought to tears as they did not even have water for the patients. You cannot even imagine the site at that hospital, but the one I want to today is much better.

On a lighter note, we head to the beach tomorrow for a few days of rest. Then on Monday we begin a language course. This course teaches us how to learn a language using skills and strategies. Continue to pray for our work permits and visas. We need those as we want to start working as soon as we are done with language class!!!!!

Thanks so much for all the encouraging emails we have been receiving. Our time at the Internet cafe is very limited so we apologize if we do not get to get back with you.

A most important note is that in a village close by, 11 men have committed their lives to Christ. After much time of storying the Bible, these men have chosen life with Christ. Pray for them as they grow and mature and also that it is a serious commitment. Two of the men have been attending church the last two weeks. A joyous site.

Thanks for reading and continue to pray!

Blessings,

Emily

Village Life

Hello friends! We are in Tanga! We spent our first week in the village taking turns living with our team members Heather & Mary. They did an amazing job introducing us to friends and showing us the ropes of how to survive in rural Africa. We have cooked, cleaned, burned trash, and learned to sport a kanga and long skirt whilst riding a bike (an essential to life in the village). The rest of our team consists of a couple, Wayne and Joyce, and the pastor of the church, Matinya, and his wife Mama Sara. Matinya also runs the primary school, so both Emily and I will get to work with him closely. We are so blessed to have received such a warm welcome, and we have made many friends. Our second week in the village consisted of our home stay! Emily and I both lived with village families and learned the ins and outs of authentic life in the bush. We were both ‘adopted’ and well taken care of, though it was challenging and humbling to feel helpless in so many situations. It was a good test of patience and humility. Our language skills are coming along and we both look forward to our language workshop with Mary in Tanga next week. She is going to give us some important language learning tools and tips to apply to our time with our language helpers. We have had tea with both of our language helpers and we are eager to start our work together and build strong relationships with these women. I will start teaching in the beginning of August and Emily will do assessments on the kiddos at the school to track their health. She also plans to regularly visit families with children with special needs. She hopes to connect families with a disabled children’s clinic in town and help them to do exercises and physical therapy with some kiddos. She is eager to get started, and I am eager to get back in the classroom after visiting some classes and helping Heather teach English our first week here. Though we are still adjusting to life here while recognizing the beauty of the D people, there are so many needs and areas of the community to pour into. The Lord is active in this place, and we are excited to reach people for Him. There will be trials and struggles, but both Emily and I are so encouraged and humbled to be here in this place and at this time we know God is going to work mightily. We are doing a study with our team on Colossians and I will leave you with a little nugget that pretty much sums up our vision and hope for what God is going to do with our time here. Col. 2:6-8 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than Christ. Whether is be through teaching, nursing, or just spending time visiting and encouraging, we hope to build life-long relationships that have an eternal impact. Thank you so much for your love and prayers, and we will report back soon! Be patient with us as our Internet access is somewhat unpredictable! We miss ya and love ya!

Grace and peace,

Sarah Majino

Side note: I thought of home yesterday while I sat huddled and crammed on the bus with my home stay mama, Mama Bakari. We were packed like sardines with people shoving trays of anything under the sun in our faces asking us if we want to buy stuff... we were surrounded by chaos, and then I heard the faint, calming music of Kenny G. Yes that’s right. In the middle of the bus station, someone was serenading me with the musical talents of Mr. Kenny G himself. Oh how I love Africa. (Shania Twain’s “From this Moment On” followed it up and yes I did sing along because it was the only English I’d heard in a while).