Mission Accomplished

After a long week of travel and meeting thousands of new friends, our group has completed this part of our partnership and journey with our sisters and brothers in Tanzania. Words alone can not express the warmth and beauty of the villagers and the land. We have thousands of pictures and hours of video that will reflect what words are not able to. We will post many of these on our website in the near future. I hope that everyone will take the time to view what our eyes saw every day and see the true friendships that have been developed. The Tanzanians are beautiful, faith-filled people who are not looking for a hand-out, but a helping hand. I appreciate all the hard work that our team and the many supportive people that helped us prepare for the trip. The sincere drive and passion is greatly appreciated. I think each has been touched in a very special way and has a place in their hearts for the plight of the people and our many new friends. Without this commitment, the work we are doing would not be possible. I am also thankful to all the families who have allowed their loved ones to travel with the group. You also have made sacrifices, but I will let you know that you were with us every step of our trip. Lastly I want to thank everyone who prayed for us each day for safe travel and strength to do our work. As Sister Verona at Rhotia Health Center says, "little drops of rain will fill the bucket over time". She was referring to all the work that St. Joseph, Mercy and CHI has provided to the people of Tanzania. I can not find any better words to describe our work. God Bless Asante Sana John Tolmie

Hi, It's me Tony La Porta. All the others have gone on safari to the Serengeti and Lake Manyara. I have stayed behind to attend to loose ends before we leave Karatu on Monday morning. We did it! Nets have been distributed to Getamok, Ayalabe, Slahaamo, Kusumay, and Kilimatembo villages. Dr. Henry and Lucian are off and running to move the remaining nets to 16 other villages by the end of November. The weather has been hot and dry during the days and the nights tend to cool off somewhat. I do find myself sleeping under covers in the morning. Paul Neuman and I visited with Jolene Mullins, aka, "Mama Minnesota", the country director for Minnesota International Health Volunteer Tanzania. We spoke of the projects that each of us are undertaking within the Karatu district to get a better feel for the work that's being done by others. After the meeting, Me, Paul and Emanual stopped for dinner at Bytes, a really neat roadside eatery on the main road in Karatu Town. I had a cheeseburger fries and a "Chui" and the music was wonderful, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Willie Nelson! It doesn't get better than this. Earlier this week, my dear friend, Wolfgang Edrich, aka "Baba Nyuki" or Father Bee, arrived in Karatu. Wolfie has agreed to establish a viable and sustainable wild African bee project in the Karatu area as a joint project sponsored by SJMC and Mercy Regional Medical Center. We are excited that Wolfie has agreed to undertake this well needed project. This evening, we will all say farewell to our Tanzanian friends at a dinner at the Bougainvillea Safari Lodge just outside Karatu Town on the main road to the Ngorongoro Crater. I am anxious to return home to be with my family and watch the election returns. Remember, Tanzania, where water is scarce, goats are nervous, and every day is a bad hair day. Ciao/t