Monarch Hotel & Beach Resort Mwanza

... in the Serengeti office I had discovered how inexpensive it is for Tanzanians to enter the National Parks. It would cost less than fifty cents for most of the children’s entrance fees. Outside of school and church, the children rarely leave the orphanage and I wanted to give them an exciting experience. Although other resources were scarce, I could justify spending a couple hundred dollars on a stimulating adventure. Gloria and I had spent some time during the week trying ...

... searched for other items. The supplies Leah and I bought would last a couple of weeks, and I wanted to really stock them up before I left.<br><br>I decided this time to bring Gloria. She could do all the dirty work and I could just fork over the cash. So late Wednesday morning, I met her for a giant shopping trip. She expertly navigated the market, searching for the best quality food for the price. When she found the desired good, we would pay for it and ask ...

... next round, we were laughing and talking and when Leah threw the bucket down the well she forgot to stomp on the rope. We all gasped and bent over the well to watch the rope and the bucket fall about thirty feet down the well. Although I have been concerned with the diminishing water supply, this proved to our advantage as the bucket caught on the edge of the rim that has begun to emerge on the bottom, Usually whenever we have a crisis, we call Ema for help; however, we had sent ...

... has in the third grade. We rode bicycles, played with bows and arrows and giggled over the silliest things. This summer my knowledge of Swahili has greatly increased and just like the orphans, Ema has learned a lot of English over the last year. He and Leah have developed their own method of communicating, which I have coined Lemish, mixing English, Swahili, and other phrases unique to them. As there is a lot of repetition in Swahili, this too exists in ...

... adults in the surrounding community. In fact, as I have struggled to accomplish simple tasks like shopping at the market or picking up a package, I see the stress, arguments, and unnecessary expenses that sometimes accompany daily activities. Although much of this is exacerbated by my foreign status and skin color, I do question that some of these challenges, such as bribing a post office official to obtain a package, must also be suffered by the local population. Several ...

... br><br>Last Tuesday when we arrived after lunch, we discovered Joel had returned. Unfortunately this has not resulted in improved conditions for the children and caused a lot more drama for us. We are attempting to convince him to set up a Board of Directors to help monitor the money. Although he agrees that this may encourage more donations and eliminate accusations of financial mismanagement, he resists getting a ...

... none were in priv*te school) *nd then return l*te in the *fternoon to meet the other children *fter school. On J*mes's l*st d*y, we decided not to hold * tr*dition*l nursery cl*ss *nd spend the morning just pl*ying with the little ones. Unfortun*tely their *ttention sp*ns were sm*ll *nd *dmittedly I think ours were too. An org*nized g*me seemed out of the questions *nd the children seemed content to just pl*y *mong themselves. Angelo is not only Glori* *nd Joel's youngest child, but ...

... a way, it almost seems impossible that a year has passed. Then they begin to talk. I am so amazed at how much they have learned in the last year. The private schools and this year's volunteers have worked wonders on the children's ability to communicate in English. Last year Happy and Joy barely knew any English, they now know complete sentences. It is so much fun to have little conversations with them. The biggest change I have yet to observe is with Ceci (last year we ...

... to establish a business allowing the orphanage to become self-sufficient. Unfortunately, Joel focused more on "get-rich schemes" while Jo pushed for more sustainable enterprises. Unfortunately, this private orphanage is still dependent on volunteer fees today. As the global recession stretches to this far corner of the world and as more children arrive each year, Hands of Mercy &#8216;s resources shrink. Joel has also temporarily relocated ...

... to recognize me. She shouted my name and ran full speed at me jumping into my arms and straddling my waist. It was a short-lived, but long awaited hug as she ran away embarrassed. I was soon surrounded by all of the children, rushing to hug me, grab my hands and say hello. However, I watched Margreth then Happy and Joy thinking of the news I had learned earlier that afternoon. Perhaps this subject is too personal for a ...