Northern Tanzania

Deb Schmidt spoke on September 18 about her trip to Tanzania in July 2010.  She went at her own expense with two sisters as part of the Lutheran Nebraska Synod Vision Trip.  She traveled with a group of 27 people for the two week trip.

Tanzania is a Christian country on the East coast of Africa.  It is winter now with temperatures in the 70s.  There is beautiful foliage, but the country has suffered a severe drought in the beginning of the 21^st century, which has severely hindered hydro-generation of electricity.  The rainy season is January until April.

People in the country are bi-lingual, with Kiswahili and English as the main languages.  Almost everyone who can afford one has a cell phone, because there are few land-line phones.  The food is mainly rice, bananas, and fruit.  Unlike many other countries, the youngest child inherits the family wealth.

Deb visited a variety of places during her Vision trip.  She showed pictures of a Houses for Health project.  The houses are built for families with long term illnesses, such as AIDS.  The houses are all the same to avoid contention.

At hospitals, like the Machene Lutheran Hospital, the family goes along to the hospital to provide food and clean clothing for family member in the hospital.  At the Ashika Parish she attended a feast in their honor.  Many people don’t have much money, so they donate gifts of food or other items.  After church there is an auction to sell the gift offerings.  Since the Have’s and Have-not’s live together in the communities, this works well.