Goodbyes are Hard!

Two weeks ago we made our last visit to Kayenze. The road to get there is so beautiful, right beside the lake. It is even more right beside right now, so much so that the road is almost in the lake with all the recent rains! Amisadai took so many photos as we drove ... it's like we are trying to fix all these precious memories and appreciate everything here we love all the more.

Kayenze was the first village we visited when we arrived in Mwanza. Our first visit was for the village seminar where there girls were doing the SODIS shake!

Amisadai (10) and Louisa (7) teaching on clean water on our first visit!

It was the first village we started an official Emmanuel International project ... Tim and I with Peter and Esther working with farmers on Conservation Agriculture. Since then so much more has happened. The church, which back then was just a handful of people, is now overflowing outside the building walls. And it was such a privilege to worship one final time with them all. Tim preached and we and group members all shared a bit ... I literally got one sentence out before I choked up! It was special to have all the beekeepers there too and although hard, so good to be able to say goodbye.

Louisa shares her farewell ... rather more grown up now! 

The Kayenze road

Last week, the four of us went overnight with Bhatendi to Malya and Ngudu. Our first visit to Malya was on a Sunday back in 2014. And it was there the vision for a beekeeping project began! Little did we know then as we walked through the cotton fields, how popular Malya cotton honey would be!

We were warmly welcomed once again this time by all the beekeepers and mamas together. Back in 2014 none of knew anything about beekeeping. And now we all have so many crazy beekeeping memories together ... and a bumper crop of honey! It was a good time together! We were able to update them on the progress on The Hive and the processing room ready for them. And also about the high demand for honey in the shop there. They were happy to know that as we leave, in no way does the project stop here! It is exciting to look ahead to all that God will do in these groups and this community. After a time of sharing and praying together and Tim sharing a word we had years ago about God's goodness in a promise of a land flowing with milk and honey, it was time for a farewell feast! The mamas group had prepared a lovely lunch for us of rice and beans and meat and fruits which we all enjoyed together with cold sodas!

Talking about testing honey with the refractometer 

Time for lunch!

Photo shoot and selfies with everyone took ages afterwards!

With Bageshi, the beekeeping chairman and his children

Our next farewell was with the beekeepers at the church in Ngudu. We arrived in time for the mid-week service and Tim was promptly asked to preach. After the service, we had a meeting with the beekeepers. They had done a great job harvesting their first honey on their own and had some buckets for us to buy and take back to Mwanza! It was great for them to test it with the refractometer and see some quality honey proven (it's already all sold out!)

And after the meeting all the beekeepers were invited to Pastor Emmanuel's house for another farewell feast. A special evening together with all of them, again so sad to be leaving, but with hope and expectation for all that is still to come as they expand their beekeeping project. At the close of the evening, we sang together and prayed ... and it was hard to keep the tears from spilling as my throat was too choked up to sing! We have been so incredibly blessed to walk a journey with this group of people!

Tim preaching in Ngudu

More farewell speeches

At Pastor Emmanuel's house

With Mama Deborah (Pastor's wife)

I am so thankful we were able to say a good goodbye to these three beekeeping groups! This beekeeping project has been one of the hardest things ever. But the time spent with these people has been such a blessing! We have all struggled and learned together ... and then rejoiced together and leaving them now is terribly hard! But there is also joy in the sadness ... particularly all the honey that Malya harvested after our time together. But that is a blog for next time! 

Made to Shine

Today is International Albinism Awareness Day! And this year the theme is "Made to Shine." I want to take this opportunity to celebrate and recognise the amazing mamas (and their children) that I know, who have persevered against adversity and are changing the way many think about people with albinism here in Tanzania! Made to shine!

Upendo wa Mama Group

This year on Albinism Day, Upendo wa Mama is celebrating the upcoming opening of The Hive! With the generous support of Under the Same Sun, the Upendo wa Mama group now has a shop in which to sell their beeswax products!

The Hive taking shape!

Hard at work cleaning at The Hive 

The Hive will also be a Honey Centre, a place where rural beekeepers can bring their local honey for processing, bottling and selling. The women will manage this work alongside Bhatendi, the Emmanuel International beekeeping trainer.

Honey Pressing Station

With additional space for a small workshop, the women can continue with other work there, freeing up their Isamilo workshop for more activity. There will be an office and storeroom, making this a base from which to send products farther afield. The group also want to find ways for The Hive to meet other needs in the Mwanza community and are working with Mavuno Village (a children's home outside Mwanza, with a great agricultural program) to get their fresh organic produce available to people in town. They are providing a coffee order service to supply a variety of good Arusha coffee to people in Mwanza! And they will soon be stocking some beautiful products from Neema Crafts, Iringa, a centre for people with disabilities. And as they work in the Mwanza community, we hope that they will raise awareness for people with albinism in Tanzania, promote the work of Under the Same Sun and Standing Voice and also find new ways of supporting and encouraging others with albinism.

Working with Neema from Mavuno sorting the produce

Delicious organic produce straight from the farm!

Sourcing and stocking some good coffee!

COVID-19 has certainly made things difficult for the group. As the world shut down, so did their business selling beeswax products. So without the regular group income and also with the economic struggle at home with increased prices, it has not been an easy time. They have also missed the support and encouragement gained from meeting regularly all together, a huge part of what this group is all about. But again, they have been resilient and persevered! Monica has started planting and harvesting moringa herself. Laurensia, Jeni and Saidati (Zuena's daughter) have worked incredibly hard sewing over 1000 masks! Penina has been making and selling liquid hand soap, a much needed product during this pandemic. And Zuena has been dying and making fabrics for masks. Three of the women have been able to take business loans from the group for rice projects to profit from.

Colourful masks!

Moringa Powder

Liquid handsoap

And so as we celebrate these women and their children and their achievements today, I pray for their continued success. Made in the image of a caring, loving Creator, truly they are made to shine! May their light shine in this community … to the customers they serve and to the albinism community they support. May the favour of the Lord rest upon them and establish the work of their hands.

Aikande, the group's new facilitator!