An update letter from Dr. Margaret Thompson who will be serving along side the veterinarians in Tanzania for 3 years.  

 

Greetings from Tanzania! I have completed half of my language lessons! It is recommended that language learners take a break about half way through their classes. So I took a few days off (at my own expense) to travel to the north and east of here to a couple of national parks.

Here are some thoughts on my experiences here:

About travel:

I have gotten very used to being crammed into a dala dala (mini bus) with 24 or so other people in a 14-16 passenger vehicle.

I’d rather be in tight quarters in a dala dala for 40 minutes at a cost of about $0.70 than take a taxi and not be crammed at a cost of $12.00 for the same trip. (It costs Tanzanians $6.00)

One day going into Iringa there were 32 (!!!) passengers crowded into a 14 passenger dala dala. I wondered if the “conductor” was trying to set a record. I was smashed up against a window. I was glad it was a short trip.

About being different:

Though I’m sure I appear odd to the Tanzanians (I have met only two other white skinned women my age or older), I feel quite comfortable walking through the market and other streets in town.

A really cute little Tanzanian girl about four years old tried to engage me in a conversation, which was drowned out by the music in the church. She settled for feeling my hair.

About shopping:

 It is no big deal to go to town and to market alone.

The cost of most things in shops and the street market are not marked. So the price varies with the color of your skin and perhaps even which way the wind is blowing at the time. (OK, so I’m being facetious.)

About learning Swahili:

There are at least seven “noun classes” in Swahili, each with its own demonstrative &  possessive descriptors, adjective prefixes, subject prefixes, object infixes, words for “of”, “both”,  “all”, “any”, “many”, “another”-all of which depend on whether the noun is singular or plural.

It’s hard enough to remember the vocabulary without having to remember the class of each noun.

The easy parts of learning Swahili are that the letters are all pronounced just one way; I don’t have to learn a new alphabet or characters; and so far I’ve encountered only one sound that is foreign to the English language.

Its fun when, outside of class, I say something correctly in Swahili.

About fellow ex-patriots:

It continues to be quite interesting to meet and visit with campers and language learners from other countries.

Among the resident ex-patriots I have met, a frequent topic of discussion is how wastefully money is spent by churches and NGO’s. For example, the money spent on a building could have been used to help the poor nationals learn about nutrition or health care or to start a sustainable agricultural project.

Sometimes development projects are successful; sometimes not. Sometimes the funds for projects get diverted (disappear into someone’s pocket).

About living conditions:

Laundry service is available here at the campsite. But they iron everything, even socks and underwear, to kill any mango fly eggs that might have been laid on the clothes while they were drying on a line. Because I don’t like to iron, most of my clothes are made of material that should never be ironed or must be ironed on a low setting. When I was in TZ last year, the household helper tried to iron one of my camp shirts and put a few holes in it. So I choose to do most of my laundry by hand in the sink. I dry my clothes indoors so the mango fly shouldn’t be an issue. The camp owner says that there shouldn’t be any mango flies down here by the river because there are no mango trees here. Nonetheless, she has her clothes ironed.

The culture dictates that underwear should never be seen when out to dry. If you do put clothes out to dry, underwear must be put under another item so that the underwear isn’t seen by passers-by.

About my study break:

I traveled with another Swahili language student to Mikumi. . The first day after arriving in Mikumi, we went to Udzungwa National park and hiked to the top of the tallest waterfall in TZ national parks. The next day we took a half day safari in Mikumi National Park. Sadly, the next two days I spent in the motel dealing with GI issues. Now it’s back to more Swahili lessons.

I will try to attach a photo of the pregnant lioness that approached our truck and stood about 15 feet away looking at us for an uncomfortable (for us) few minutes. There were four of us sitting on an open platform at the back of the truck. I took the photo after she decided to walk away.

What is "Argoforestry Farming?"

That's a good question!  It's something new that Joseph and Marusu taught a group of 31 new families during agriculture and veterinary trainings in December. 

Joseph described it for families like this during the training:
These are the techniques which involve the intercropping of trees and field crops on the same piece of land.  The trees are grown to provide timber, firewood, fruits, and fodder for livestock.  An indigenous pesticide, trees end up improving soil quality.  The trees provide additional nitrogen for corn and other annual plants.  The main benefits from agroforestry are in terms of soil and water conservation. 

Families have already been taught to contour the land, that is make rows of hills and valleys with the soil, so that rain water collects in the valleys and crops are planted on the hills.  The trees would be planted along the contour lines.  In time, this practice would allow families to get timber, firewood, possibly fruits, and crops from the same plot of land.  Argoforestry also recommends using organic fertilizers such as from goats, which families are already doing.  This practice could open up many hours that are currently lost as families go in search of good land to find feed for their animals or collect firewood.  This time could be used in other income producing activities for families that already have several demands on their time and energy just to survive.

Another topic that was covered during the training was the planting of alternative crops that are more resistant to drought.  Sorghum and Sunflowers are 2 such plants. They don't need much rain and are prolific plants that are ready to harvest about 3 months after planting and offer high yields.  Lab lab plants also are high producers and are a good cover crop that play an important role in soil conservation measures.  Seeds for all 3 of these plants are distributed to families during their training time.  

    


 

2 Dollars

Wanting a snack in the middle of the day, I dug out two dollars from my purse.  Grasping the two crisp $1 bills I headed to the vending machine.  As I walked, an image came to mind.  One from our volunteers in Tanzania. 

This is Maria Qwardi from the village of Tloma in the Karatu Project.  When she is able to find work, what is her salary?  You got it, the equivalent of $2.  In the photo she is talking to our program manager Honorina.  Several things strike me about this photo.  The first is maybe the first thing you noticed, the gigantic load on her back.  I have carried heavy things on my back walking a distance: school books, a backpack during hiking or camping trips, but never has carrying large bundles on my back been a part of my job.  The second thing I noticed was her age.  Most women I know her age are encouraged to take it easy, let others do the tough stuff.  In Tanzania where there are no government led social services and no retirement funds, every member of the family works for as long as they are humanly can.  She is doing her part to care for her 2 children and grandson because she has no other choice.  The third thing I notice is that she has not set her load down while taking time to talk to Honorina.  I have no idea what it took to get the bundle on her back in the first place, but setting it down and getting it back up again doesn't seem like something she is eager to do.

I'd like to say, that walking to the vending machine with the $2 in hand and this picture in my mind made me pocket the money and turn around.  But it didn't.  It did, however, make me pause as I stood before the machine.  In the end, the light lunch I'd had and the call of the Doritos bag won out and reluctantly, I inserted the bills.  Walking back to my desk, I began to think more about Maria, about her life and her work, and earning $2 a day.  I can say that I earn...well...more than $2 a day for the work that I do.  Having visited Tanzania in 2011 and being immersed in the warmth of the African sun and African people, I was struck by the resiliency, joy, and peace of the people.  Everyone has their struggles to be sure, but not much holds a candle to their experience.  A new thought popped into my head as I headed back to work.  One of intense gratitude for the comforts that I have, and a renewed appreciation for the salary I receive and the work Food For His Children is doing in Africa.

Dairy goats seem like a small thing, but this small thing can make a huge difference for the families we serve.  The goats provide nutrition and hope for a brighter future.   

Written by: Joni Hoffmann 

Report from Tanzania: Family's goats attacked by bees

    
 On May 28^th Barikeli Basso, one of our goat recipients, came home to a terrifying sight.  Bees were attaching the family's goat in their shed.  Others said the bees had been chased from a neighbor’s property and had begun to spread over the area.  Barikieli, father of four from the village of Qurus, rushed to save the animals.  Barikeli's doe from Food for His Children, the breeding buck and two goat kids were badly injured.  A two month old doe was found unconscious and didn't survive.      

Barikeli's family with Honorina

The other three goats were treated by our veterinarian, Joseph Kwasalema.  The family was also visited by program manager Honorina Honorati.  To treat their stings Joseph carefully rubbed the goats' skin using a rough brush to remove the stingers.  He also administered a bee poison antidote called atropine sulphate.  For three days the goats were unable to eat their typical diet of grasses because their mouths were swollen.  They were fed milk by hand instead and monitored closely.  By the end of the three days the goats were beginning to eat soft grasses again and showed signs of recovery. 

Goats back in their shed

This was a fluke accident but we are so thankful to have Joseph working with us to help families provide care for their animals.  Barikeli sustained a few bee stings as he saved the herd, but thankfully the wounds were minor and no one else was hurt.  The loss of the baby doe was a blow to the family because they depend on the nutritious milk the female goats provide when they are older.  Please keep this family in your prayers.   

 

Transformation

(Adapted from an address to Messiah Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota by FFHC founder, Kerrie Holschbach.  5,19, 2013)

 

     



 









When I became a Christian in 2001, the Holy Spirit did a radical and miraculous transformation changing me from atheist to missionary.  The Holy Spirit filled me with a passion to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the poor in Tanzania, empowered me to share that passion with others and sent others to help build Food for His Children (FFHC) into a ministry.   

Each Food for His Children volunteer has different gifts and they all come together to form one body. God is always faithful to provide someone with the talents we need to take the ministry to the next stage in God’s plan.  As of this month, 182 families, about 900 people are involved in some stage of the program- starting training, preparing to get their goat, have received their goat, or have passed on a goat.  Were it not for the work of the Holy Spirit, Food for His Children would not exist.

Through the Holy Spirit, Food for His Children goat recipients experience Jesus’ love and go from hopeless to hopeful.  They are better able to meet their immediate needs and can make plans for their future.  For some it is to start a business, for others to send their children to school.  

On our mission trip, the Holy Spirit revealed God’s truth to us during a visit to Esta Bura’s home.  Esta and Petro have 5 children under 10.  They live in a mud and stick home with a dirt floor in the middle of what appears to be a desert.  No running water and no electricity.  In fact, the closest water is a 4 hour walk.  Their 2 room home is about 5 ft by 15 ft.  As Jon and I sat in the fly infested home talking to Esta, one of the children carried in a dirt-covered toddler.  The flies swarmed around her immediately.  We were overwhelmed by the poverty and the stark contrast to American life. 

On the brink of tears, God gave me His eyes.  Instantly, I saw the blessing the Food for His Children goats were bringing to the family.  I experienced the entire scene differently.  I saw joy and love rather than despair.  We heard about Esta’s plans to sell goats and milk.  There was hope and promise here.  There was a smiling mother, loving her children and grateful for the promise her goats give her. Suddenly instead of being uncomfortable in the sweltering home, I was reveling in the God moment, the sights, the sounds, the feelings that I would treasure forever, the knowledge that God was making a difference here.  We allowed Him to use us to do His work and help His children.  The Holy Spirit opened our eyes and our hearts and showed us order in the midst of disorder, joy in the midst of material poverty, beauty instead of ugliness, freedom and peace instead of pain.  We saw Jesus.  We witnessed Holy Spirit transformation. 

With the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Food for His Children volunteers and staff come together to form the body of Christ.  Working together, God uses us to transform, not just individuals or families, but communities drawing together to help each other and share what they are learning.  The Holy Spirit is working through God’s people to be the hands and feet of Jesus and use their spiritual gifts for God’s glory.  As 1 Corinthians 12:11 states, it is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts.  Food for His Children starts with the individual and the Holy Spirit transforms generations.   

Of course, the Holy Spirit doesn’t just work in Africa.  This message would not be complete without bringing it home and talking to those who are going through or who have experienced transformation. 

Transformation is a process and often makes us squirm.  Holy Spirit transformation is almost never without some level of discomfort, or "stretching" as many say.  In fact, sometimes it’s downright painful, excruciating even.  Envision, if you will, sunburned skin.  First it blisters, then it bursts and peels.  Sometimes the layers just slough off like flakes, sometimes they peel off in painful sheets.  When we experience transformation, the Holy Spirit is peeling layers off of us.  He is peeling off layers for crying out loud, what do we expect but pain?!  But do you know what?  Under all those layers is something amazing and beautiful.  In fact, with every layer we shed, more and more beauty is revealed. 

We may have periods with lots of layers shed and periods of healing and rest. We can fight it and hold on to the dead layers and prolong the process, or we can choose to submit to the Holy Spirit completely, not just on our knees, but laying flat on our face at the foot of the cross in complete surrender, offering every bit of our spirit to Him to change as He wills.  When we do this, the Holy Spirit works miracles in us.

 Let’s talk about Jesus for a moment.  Jesus’s transformation certainly wasn’t without pain.  When He was being flogged and beaten, he didn’t fight back.  When he was they hung him on a cross he didn’t command them to stop.  He didn’t even speak.  He didn’t stop it Himself.  He didn’t ask God to stop it.  He submitted.  He surrendered completely to the pain, trusting that God the Father had it all under control and that something beautiful was coming.  He was willing to endure whatever he needed because he believed and trusted God.  And Jesus was transformed.  TRANSFORMED!  And look at the impact of his surrender, his transformation!  The savior of the world was revealed for all to see.  Unimaginable beauty.  Indescribable love and glory. 

If you are in one of those seasons, you need to hear that God has NOT forsaken you.  He has not left you.  He is right there by your side.  If needed, he will even carry you through the fire.  He will not let you perish.  AND He has a plan.  He will be with you as your wounds heal.  He WILL use this for His glory.   And He needs you to know He loves you so very much and can see how much you are hurting.  He has not missed a minute of it and there was not a moment that didn’t pain Him. 

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.  He will be waiting for you on the other side of the fire, mirror in hand, to show you the beauty that was revealed.  You will be refined, just like when precious metals are put through the fire to be refined.  We have seen the Spirit at work in Tanzania and in the lives of individuals. 

"Proclaiming" the Good News!

Proclaimer

Along with helping the people develop economically we also want to help them develop spiritually.  To that end we have partnered with a group called Faith Comes By Hearing.  This group distributed an electronic device called a "Proclaimer."  The Proclaimers play the New Testament in the local language.  In our case it's set to Swahili, the national language in Tanzania.  Last November we were able to bring a couple of these devices to be used in the community.  

 

Rev. John Safari with the Proclaimer at the canteen

 

Reverend John Safari is one of the local pastors in the Karatu District that we have had the privledge of partnering with.  He sends his thanks for donations that made it possible for the Proclaimer to be brought for him to use in his work at the Karatu Lutheran Hospital.  He is using it for the patients in the hospital during pray times, and at the canteen where patients, their families, and hospital staff gather for meals. 

Visiting the Children's Ward

 

The Proclaimer allows for dicussions to happen with patients in the hospital that may also spark conversations about faith at home.  The patients have commented that they enjoy hearing the scriptures and feel encouraged by it.  Because it has helped him so much in his work and many are asking for it, he has requested another one. 

 

Using the Proclaimer in the Men's Ward

 

 

The Heart of a Child

We received this email recently from 11 year-old Kiera.  Her love and compassion for the families in Tanzania is inspiring!  

December 16, 2012

Jambo (hello) Kerrie!

My friend, Rebekah, and I host a monthly Bible study for nine 11 year-old girls. We enjoy doing service projects, and thought raising money for Food For His Children would be a great idea. We decided to make our goal $200. That meant that each of us had to raise $25 on our own.

For our December meeting, we went caroling to raise even more money.  When we counted the donations, we had exactly $300! :) We raised $90 just while caroling.

The girls were really creative about how they raised the money. One of them did extra chores around the house, another girl held a class on candy making, and some gave selflessly from their own savings.:)

We hope the money raised can help families in Tanzania support themselves.

Mungu Akabariki! (God bless you)

--
Your Sister in Christ,
Kiera♥

A special Thank You to all the girls for their hard work and service!  If you or your group has a fundraising idea, we'd love to hear it!  Contact us by visiting:  www.FoodforHisChildren.org

Mission Trip 2012: Divine Appointments

November 5           

Honorina and I (Kerrie) headed out this morning at 9 so we could have time in the office and then meet with the District Commissioner and Jublate, the quivalent of our Mayor at 10:30.

Jublate was there waiting however the District Commissioner was not there yet.  We waited for almost 2 hours.

About 12:30 the District Commissioner arrived.   We waited a bit more and then were invited into his office.   He said he could not come with us to Bassodawish.  While I pondered other options for arranging this, Honorina (our Program Manager) respectfully tried to convince him by telling him about the people who were gathered there waiting for him.  He asked how many goats were in the project.   After hearing the number in Bassodawish, he said he would go and that he would bring his photographer and video man as well so it could be on tv.   Go God!

So we headed off to Bassodawish with the District Commissioner (DC) and Mayor Jublate.   There were 27 recipient families waiting for us with their goats.   What a sight to see!   I was able to hold a couple baby goats while there.  The DC spoke to the group and had each of us: Pastor Kessy, Honorina, myself and the village commissioner, speak as well.   All on video which will be aired on tv today or tomorrow.   Did I mention that already?!?

Pastor Kessy and Honorina told me that the DC had very good things to say about the program on the video that was taken.   It should be good publicity for us. He also mentioned that if anyone tries to come against us, we just need to inform him and he will take care of it.

After that Jublate wanted to show us and the DC his farm which was not far.   The farm has bananas, coffee and a fruit I have seen only once in the US.   He has a restal house, sort of like a country cabin, that he uses only on weekends. He said we can use it when we are in Tanzania for 2 weeks, free of charge.   Not sure if he was serious or not, but I’ll take him up on it!   It was nice with 1 or 2 bedrooms.

While we were at Mayor Jublate's farm, the DC invited Honorina and I to have dinner at his home tomorrow.   Not sure what the discussion will entail, but what an honor!   He also invited us to meet with him and the villagers on the 8th and mentioned that the President of Tanzania may be there.   Upon further discussion, it was decided we will not attend the meeting on the 8th because the President will likely not be in the Karatu district until later in November.   It sounds as though the DC wants to arrange for the President to be go to Bassodawish to see what Food for His Children is doing in Tanzania.   As part of that request, he would like all the recipients and himself to have a ‘Give goat, Pass it on" tee shirt.
 
Total time with the District Commissioner, probably 2 ½ hours- but very productive!

After leaving Jublate’s farm, Honorina and I went back to Bassodawish to meet with the families a bit longer.  In the Bassodawish Project only 4 families still need to complete their goat sheds.  Gwandu is the chairperson of the Bassodawich project's committee.  He and his 7 children are also goat recipients.  Gwandu shared that once he has more goats, he has 7 now, he will sell them and use the money to send his children to school and maybe help other families also.

After all the Bassodawish meetings, we headed back to Karatu and had a very late lunch at 5pm.   William, our driver while we are here, as it turns out, is the son of a member of Parliament, a politician in the Ngorongoro area and has a bachelor’s degree in Project Management and Community Development.   He previously worked for Willy Chambulo managing one of his lodges.   He decided to take a year off before he pursues his master’s degree in the above.
 
I watched God do many things today. He was in charge and we will continue to wait for him to arrange things.   We are praying that the District Commissioner will offer land to us for the Development Center that we can register in our name instead of having on loan.    

-Written from the Karatu District of Tanzania by Founder Kerrie Holschbach

Give to the Max Day Nov 15th

I know, I know, it's hard to believe that November is right around the corner! 

November in Minnesota means... cold weather... (ick!)...Thanksgiving (yay!)... But First... Give to the Max Day for non-profits! 

Allow me to tell you a little about it and why you should consider joining us online on November 15th. 

Give to the Max Day is sponsored by GiveMN which is an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to help organizations, from small organizations to large ones, even public schools and universities, connect with online donors, help spread the word about their work and raise money to be able to further their cause. 
Over 26,000 non-profit organizations are on GiveMN!

How great right?!  Give to the Max Day is an annual fundraising event for thousands to Minnesota based non-profit organizations.  It is THE largest one-day fundraising event in the world- according to Give MN.  This year will mark the 4th annual event. 

It gets even better... on this special Day- Give to the Max- GiveMN has partnered with other organizations like Target, The United Way, The Bush Foundation, and others to be able to offer prizes though out the day.  There are prizes for organizations that have the highest giving totals for the day.  Our category is for "Small Non-profits"  which means we have an annual revenue of under $100,000.  For our category the prizes are as follows:  1st prize is $12,500,  2nd prize is $5,000 and 3rd prize is $2,500.  There are also prizes throughout the day called "Golden Tickets."  Every hour throughout the 24 hour period one person's donation will be selected at random to have $1,000 added to it.  AND at the end of the day someone else's donation will be selected for a "Super-sized Golden Ticket" which will add $10,000 to their donation.  Last year it was a $25.00 donation that won the Rapture Center an extra $25,000!  Every gift is appreciated!

Wouldn't it be tremendous to be able to tell the people of Tanzania that we have raised money to buy more goats and move into more areas?!  And better still to have enough money to really get moving on the Development Center and Goat Farm!  But we need your help!!

Here's how it works: 
On November 15th from Midnight to 11:59pm (that's the whole day of the 15th!)  donations will be accepted at www.GiveMN.org .  Once on the page enter Food For His Children where it says "Find cause or fundraiser" on the upper right side of the screen.  This will take you to the Food For His Children page.  Select a donation level from the suggested donations or give an amount of your choice, then click "Donate."  This will take you to a page where you fill out your payment information and leave us a note if you wish.  Your donation will be processed and a tax receipt will be issued from razoo.com (the online fundraising platform). 

You'll be hearing about Give to the Max Day plenty as it approaches, and especially on the day of.  If you're at the Mall of America on that day there will be live coverage from 9am to 9pm with interviews from local non-profits (not us this time- maybe next year!) and performances by local artists and musicians.  You can also look forward to updates from us throughout the day on the 15th if you're our friend on Facebook.  Should be a good time! 

Help us help the people of Tanzania who are waiting for an opportunity to raise a dairy goat and improve their lives! 


All donations are tax deductible
Food For His Children is a registered 501c3 non-profit

What's the Difference: Relief vs. Development

 When Food For His Children is described as a Christian community development program it's not simply a matter of word choice. 

Though these two terms are sometimes used interchangeably there are many differences.  Both are necessary in certain situations but knowing which one to use over the other is very important to effectively meeting the needs of the people.

So what's the difference?

Relief efforts are needed in situations where basic needs for survival are not being met and the people in need are powerless to help themselves.  This includes situations such as natural disasters, food shortages, violent situations, where the needs are urgent.  The aid is given to or for the people, meaning the people in need are dependent on others to meet their needs for them.  The time committement on behalf the organization is more short-term and can be done by anyone without really getting to know the people.  The investment is often materials including food, water, clothing, shelter.  The results are often easy to track.  For example reports may list 200 recieved meals, 50 were given blankets.  The individual is impacted in the present time.  As long as the situation exists, the needs will exist. 

Development efforts are needed in situations where the needs are more systemic.  They may include issues related to extreme poverty, social injustice, or inequality, or issues of human dignity.   Development efforts rely on wholistic approaches that are based on relationships.  The time committement on behalf of the organization is more long-term.  Devleopment efforts are done with the people.  The situation, culture and people must be understood and trusting relationships must be established before change can take place.  Development seeks to empower the people rather than foster dependency.  The assets of the people in need are identified and built upon as a solution for their own situation.  The results of development efforts are harder to track in a tangible matter but the goal is transformation and self-sustainability.  The impact has the power to be generational.  When families who have been poor are given opportunities and their quality of life improved, their children benefit as well.  The cycles of poverty, injustice, violence, and addiction can be broken. 
Food For His Children (FFHC) believes that community development is what is needed for our field of work:  The Karatu District of rural Tanzania.  The people living in these rural agricultural villages live in conditions of extreme poverty.  They have many physical needs, but given opportunities and education, they have it within themselves to overcome their condition and make a lasting change in their quality of live. 

Over the past several years relationships have been formed in this area between FFHC leadership and volunteers, and community and church leaders in Tanzania.  FFHC is working to enlist the skills and knowledge present in the local communities, empower the people to use the skills they have for the benefit of others, provide more opportunities, and empower the families to be able to meet their needs.  The catalyst for all of this is the dairy goats.  In this region livestock, especially goats, provide a source of nutrition and income.  Those who have livestock have a higher standard of living than those who don't.  it is through their own efforts of raising the gaots that families are better able to provide enough food for their children and afford medical care and education.  When these needs are met, they begin to dream and hope again.  New doors of opportunity are opened.  We have had families with dreams of starting small businesses with the proceeds from their goats, others see sending their children to higher education as an attainable goal.  The goal is that each family and each village would be able to provide for their own needs without any additional help or funding from Food For His Children. 

To read more about this topic please read the book: 
When Helping Hurts:  How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself  by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

Celebrating Strong Fathers

FFHC seeks to serve the poorest of the poor in their community.  This often includes women who have been widowed or abandoned.  But we are also proud to serve and work "bega kwa bega" (shoulder to shoulder) with Tanzanian fathers.  These men stand by their families and are assests to their communities.  As we in America celebrate fathers and men of character here, we also we also want to recognize the fathers in Tanzania.  They are each from the Bassodawish project, one of 4 project areas Food For His Children serves in in the Karatu District.

Gwandu Tlemu has 7 children, 4 girls and 3 boys.  He earns the equivalent of a $1.00 a dollar a day.  In 2009 Gwandu and his family were given a hybrid dairy goat.  He said now the future is more hopeful for his family.  They are getting about a liter of milk a day from their goats.  The family's health is very good now, the children are happy and playing thanks to the nutritients found in the goat's milk.  They are also using the manure to fertilize their crops.  He says Food For His Children is the "grace of God coming to me."  When FFHC leadership visited his home in November 2011, Gwandu was proud to show off his family and growing herd of goats.  He is a leader in his community and a champion for Food For His Children.  He serves as chairperson on the FFHC committee in the Bassodawish project.  He wishes to thank the donors who have helped his family and hopes the program will be able to expand.       

Barnabas Safari has 2 daughters.  He earns 20,000 Tanzanian schillings a month, roughly $20 making shoes out of old car tires.  He is only able to do this when is can find tires to use.  Before recieving a goat the family didn’t drink milk.  Now they have it twice a day.  The family is healthier now.  His wife had been sick but after drinking the milk is doing well.  FFHC leadership have been able to visit Barnabas twice during the last couple years.  Each time he has taken the time to make shoes for any who are interested.  The flat handmade sandal-type shoes are actually quite comfortable and are sturdy in the rugged and dusty terrain.   

Pastor Calvin Kessy and his wife  has a son and another child on the way.  He has a degree in theology and is pastor in charge of the Bassodawish parish.  He joined with Food For His Children in 2009 when his village was approached for partnership.  He says that he wants to be "a voice for the voiceless,"  "FFHC is one particle of being the voice."  Each project has a committee made up of goat recipients, community leadership, and pastors.  Pastor Kessy serves on the committee for the Bassodawish project.     

Agriculture Training

Did you know....
Food For His Children is so much more than goats!

Meet Mohamed Marusu.  He is a resident Tanzanian who has been in leadership with FFHC since 2008 as Agriculture Specialist.   As a community development organization, our focus is on improving the whole community by enlisting local residents.  In addition to dairy goats we also support families through veterinary and agriculture training.  Our goal is for families to be able to fully provide for themselves apart from assistance.   Marusu is well versed in modern agricultural practices and conducts trainings for residents so they can learn ways to improve crop production.  In this rural society families live off the land, that is they eat what they are able to grow.  Frequent droughts have made growing crops more difficult.  When this happens families have to purchase high priced foods from the market.  For widows, the elderly, disabled, or orphaned earning the equivalent of a few dollars a day this poses a great hardship.  The dairy goats provide needed nutrition in the form of milk and the agriculture trainings will help their farming more effective.  Strategies being implemented are land contouring and fertilizing with goat manure.

In March 2012 Marusu led trainings for each of the 10 villages FFHC serves.
In the village of Karatu land contouring was demonstrated.  Contouring the land reduced erosion and improves crop production.  This contour was constructed on the grounds of our of our church partners.  Elephant grass was then planted.  The grass is a hearty plant that is food for the dairy goats.  By working together, the information the people learned at the training will enable them to improve their farming practices at their home farms.     

In addition to contouring demonstrations the villages were also given seeds to plant.  45 families were in need of seeds and were able to begin planting.  We pray for plentiful rains and a bountiful harvest this year.   

Happy Mother's Day!

We love our Mothers! 
We were invited into their homes and warmed by their smiles.  They shared their experiences, their challenges and dreams with us.  Like every mother, they want their children to be healthy and worry over them when they were sick.  They want their children to be educated and have a better life.  They work hard everyday doing whatever it takes to provide for them.  We are so honored to have met, and be able to serve these wonderful ladies.  Their strength, courage, determination, and joy despite hardship are nothing short of amazing.

Meet three of our mothers:  Elizabeth, Bernadetha, and Agricola. 

After a long drive over bumpy dirt roads, through brush and a few sparse trees we arrive at a home and meet Elizabeth Boay.  She is the mother of Elibriliki (6) and Godlisn (4) with another on the way.  She gives us the tour of her property.  She has a few chickens which provide eggs and the goat provided by FFHC is tied to a tree.  She unties it and brings it over to show it off.  Before receiving a goat she explains there was not enough food to feed the children and she had to rely on her neighbors to share what little they had.  Now the goats provide nutritious milk for the family and the children are healthier.  She uses the manure from the goats as fertilizer and her crops are doing better.  Through the goat program she has also been connected with other recipient families lessening her isolation. 




Bernadetha Emmanual, is the mother of three beautiful girls:  Magdelena (13), Filmina (8), and Dorthy (5).  When we visited her home Bernadetha welcomed us and showed us around.  When asked about the large flat stone in front of her home she gave a demonstration.  This how she grinds flour.  One stone in hand crushes the millet seeds into a fine powder.  We try, it is hard work in the hot sun.  The local pastor traveling with us whispers that she is really in a rough spot.  Her husband abandoned the family leaving her to provide for the girls.  Some men from the village are helping her build a shed for her goat today.  It is a prized possession that has the power to change her circumstances.  To protect it from thieves and roaming hyenas she has kept it inside with the family.  The next day we see Bernadetha again.  She has come to our community meeting learning about upcoming trainings and planning for the future of the project in her village.  Though visibly tired, she listens intently.  After the meeting, she and the others walk home.  

We were greeted with a beautiful smile as we arrived at the house of Agricola and Raphaeli.  Agricola bounced and swayed with 2 year old Bennedict while Domiano (7) and Eriliana (10) clung to her skirts. Their home being too small to accommodate visitors inside, Agricola and her husband brought out their only seats, small wooden stools, for us while they stood.  When they get enough money they have hopes of expanding their home, Agricola is expecting their fourth any day.  When asked what life was like before they got goats they simply responded that life was hard.  They had never had milk in their life but they have already seen how healthy and strong the children are getting.  Their eyes and smiles are brighter.  They tell us Eriliana is doing well in school but they are worried about having enough money to pay the fees for her to continue her education.  As their herd grows and they will able to sell some of the offspring and will have enough to make their dreams come true.    

A New Vision: Development Center and Goat Farm

Not far from the famed Ngorogoro Crater, one of the premier safari stops, and down the road from the tourist resort called The Farmhouse, lies a 40 acre plot of land.  It lies uselues... for now.

Imagine…  Sheds built by community members will house goats in one corner of the land.  These sheds will serve as models for families waiting to receive their goat.  They will learn what is needed to build a proper structure.  The goats will be raised in a controlled environment under the care of a skilled veterinarian.  Breeding the goats onsite will eliminate travel time needed to purchase goats suitable for program recipients.  FFHC is introducing a pure hybrid dairy goat that is capable of producing twins and 1 1/2 liters of milk each day when properly taken care of.  The goat farm will serve as a model for others to learn from.     

Imagine… part of the land cultivated for farm land where food for the goats will be grown.  Those who work the land at the farm will be taught modern farming practices by the agriculture specialist which will improve crop production and reduce harm to the environment.  This knowledge they will be able to take back to their personal farms. 

Imagine… a guest house containing where visiting missionaries can stay in the midst of the action.  FFHC offices will also be located here so program leaders will have a home base.  

Imagine… a building with large meeting rooms where people from different villages and of differing faith backgrounds could gather together to learn about basic veterinary care and breeding for their goats and attend bible studies to hear about Jesus, maybe for the first time. 

Imagine…  another building housing a a dairy processing plant where families can come to learn new ways to use the milk they are getting from their goats such as cheese, yogurt, and soap.  These items would also be for sale to the passing tourists- chai tea made with goat milk is delicious! 

Imagine… a gift shope where place where villagers could come to sell their handmade products such as pottery, jewelry, baskets, mats, shoes, and other items. 

These are just a few dreams FFHC leadership have been dreaming for the last year and a half.  Many of these things are happening on a smaller scale right now.  The location of the proposed land is in a location central to all of the project sites and will allow for trainings and modeling to be available to a larger number of people.  The idea was met with applause in meetings with local leaders and program recipients alike during a November 2011 trip.  Tired faces perked up, ideas began to flow.  A perfect solution for some of the challenges that are being faced.  

God has already put things in motion to make this dream a reality.  Watch for updates and ways that you can be involved!

I Walk for Water

 

I get up in the morning and turn on the tap.  Cool, clean water comes pouring out.  I take a shower, I brush my teeth, I make breakfast.  This is just the beginning of a day's use of water.  Water is so essential to our everyday activities and indeed our survival.  But many of us take it for granted.  What if you couldn't just turn on a tap?  What if we lived like so many in our world today who lack access to a safe water supply?  The United Nation reports that this is the case for 800 million people.  That is why safe water is one of the Millennium Development Goals.  It states a goal to "Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. 

FFHC went along with one of our program families in Tanzania as they made their daily walk for water.

The donkeys are loaded with empty containers.  Each person also carries a container to be filled with water.  They set out on together with their children and some neighbors.  Some families have to walk up to 2 hours to get water.  This family is lucky, the stream is less than a mile away though the road to get there is not an easy one.  The trip takes about an hour. 

The smooth dirt roads give way to more rocky terrain.

They make their way down the steep embankment to the river below.

The animals are watered before going further up stream.

Streams such as this one, provide water necessary for survival.  Unfortunately, it also harbors parasites and harmful bacterial.  Children are especially vulnerable to waterborne diseases.

The women fill their buckets from the same stream that watered their animals.   

 

 

 

 

 

 Children as young as 7 years old learn to carry water on their heads.  A 5 gallon bucket can weigh 30 pounds.   

 

 

The trip back home is more difficult due to the weight.  On this trip, one of the donkeys, which was pregnant, collapsed from the weight.  With no other choice, the precious water had to be dumped out. 

Villagers like this family make similar trips to streams several times a week.  Those that can afford to, make trips to community wells but must stand in long lines and pay for the water they use.  Today on World Water Day please be grateful for clean, safe water if you have it and join us in prayer for those for whom getting water is a constant struggle.  You can read more about World Water Day at www.UN.org/milleniumgoals

 

 

That's a good question! Why Goats?!

Food For His Children raises money to give dairy goats to widows, orphans, the elderly and disabled in rural villages in the Karatu District of Tanzania.  But why Goats?!  What a wonderfu lquestion!  Veterinarian Joseph Kwaslema explains.              

           There are several reasons why goats make sense in this area.  The society is an agricultural society.  Most are substistance farmers.  In addition to growing thier own produce, livestock provide needed nutrition for the families.  Several animals have been considered.  First chickens, which FFHC origionally offered.  It was quickly observed that chickens need a high level of care and maintance.  They are highly suceptible to to illnesses which can, and has, wiped out entire flocks.  

          How about cows then?  While it is true that diary cows put out a lot more milk, they also require more work to maintain.  They require special feed, more water, and supplements.  When they are not properly maintained, they produce very little milk and can become a burden to the family. The target population for FFHC recipients are the poorest in their communities. Most are women, sometimeselderly or disable women. Cows are often more than they can take on.

        

             Dairy goats make sense because they are hardy creatures. They are easy to take care of and can eat a wide variety of foods. The hybrid goats that are given to program families are a special breed. They do well in captivity. A goat shed that is off the ground, to prevent hoof rot, vaccinations once a year, food and water is all that is required. Elephant grass, a hardy grass that requires little water to grow can be grown by families meaning that they no longer have to spend time grazing their goats, as with the smaller African goats. When properly fed and watered, the hybrid goats are able to produce 2 liters of milk a day, in comparision to the 2 cups produced by the local goats. Hybrid goats also produce twins when they are bred in captivity in comparision to single births by the local goats.

A New Year, part 2

                     A New Idea

                       "Pass Back Goat"

The goats are doing well in Tanzania despite the drought! The goats are getting established in the households and family's herds are multiplying!

When families are given a dairy goat, one requirement of Food For His Children is that that family gives the first born goat to another family in need.  This is called a "pass-on goat." This requirement is one that families are easily able to meet.  In empowering families in need to in turn help their neighbor, the program is also able to make steps towards becoming self-sustainable in the area and has a multiplying effect.

A new idea has surfaced from the Central Committee in Tanzania and has been quickly adopted. It is the idea of a "pass-back goat."  A "pass-back goat" is another baby goat that families will be required to give back to the program. This goat kid will be sold in the local market.  Proceeds from the sale of these goats will cover the expenses of the core of volunteers in TZ called the Central Committee.  Like the US committee, the Tanzanian committee holds monthly meetings. The meeting site is quite a distance for some of the volunteers making attendance difficult. The sale of the pass-back goat will cover transportation fees and other office related expenses to keep the program running smoothly.  Implementing this idea is another attempt FFHC is taking in order to make the program self-sustaining and empowering local leaders to engage in community development. 

 To donate towards the life changing gift of a dairy goat for families in need please visit.   www.FoodForHisChidlren.org/give