tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70995732213715123062024-03-24T23:23:29.880-07:00What's cookin' in Tanzania... and Uganda?A blog about our life and work in community development in Tanzania (and now Uganda). Living, learning and serving. Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.comBlogger460125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-9562816290353141452022-03-26T23:48:00.008-07:002022-03-27T11:24:47.147-07:00Mourning into Joy on Mothering Sunday<div class="separator">It has been such a privilege being with groups of mothers while I've been away. In Tanzania now, it has been wonderful to catch up with the group of mamas I know best! I will tell you more about the Upendo wa Mama group (with albinism or children who have albinism) and what they have been up to soon! But now I want to tell you a bit about the amazing group of mamas I met for the first time this week on Kome Island ...</div><div class="separator"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlJQwVr81CrMVNNqZ5XbHi9UNQJqJ0GFQAQ5FE5mZORaV_cTpP1Gqacc9ukhxDYWrH9mhwuozBNnhcSbi-HX_uYCHC_0qVK5xfqQ1SLrXG0x2uJXfLs83n_LBHgSZknAHQ3Uo4DbyEo4nsnnEc6Be7uzD8utxWqfNgwVjU_bkZrotGElaDBOWJiCKOQ/s1008/IMG-20220324-WA0002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="1008" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlJQwVr81CrMVNNqZ5XbHi9UNQJqJ0GFQAQ5FE5mZORaV_cTpP1Gqacc9ukhxDYWrH9mhwuozBNnhcSbi-HX_uYCHC_0qVK5xfqQ1SLrXG0x2uJXfLs83n_LBHgSZknAHQ3Uo4DbyEo4nsnnEc6Be7uzD8utxWqfNgwVjU_bkZrotGElaDBOWJiCKOQ/w400-h189/IMG-20220324-WA0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jikomboe Women of Nyamkolechiwa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator">The Jikomboe Women Beekeepers group is made up of over twenty women from the village of Nyamkolechiwa on Kome Island. Some of the mamas are there with their grown daughters carrying their grandchildren on their back. They are all farmers, working so hard to produce food from the land. They came together through the Emmanuel International Health Project started by Simon and Victoria Ewing a few years ago and formed a village savings and loans scheme. Recently, they asked if they could learn how to become beekeepers ... and so now they are! Emmanuel International and Bees Abroad are partnering to train and equip them, and Bhatendi and Justina are working with them to do this and so much more! They are such a lovely and very strong group of mamas ... and just so much fun! </div><div class="separator"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7aqFe83aH9NTfbzk2zLOctTf4twlG3YsLWhAbRYHY3Pj5oLK5uPp-lF0vzPob7gU8g6skSWrKGIvwICo_uR_6k5r9Oe6iehbONJMXT5_RbYbWEk4WvHLTOg_nKEvZWQBsPgeCjyYkh2jjR7hZfVzaUvGwrI17hUD3w0GncrDUJAQFfzFgvoaSMR8gg/s4353/DSC_0716%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="4353" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7aqFe83aH9NTfbzk2zLOctTf4twlG3YsLWhAbRYHY3Pj5oLK5uPp-lF0vzPob7gU8g6skSWrKGIvwICo_uR_6k5r9Oe6iehbONJMXT5_RbYbWEk4WvHLTOg_nKEvZWQBsPgeCjyYkh2jjR7hZfVzaUvGwrI17hUD3w0GncrDUJAQFfzFgvoaSMR8gg/w400-h230/DSC_0716%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some the group at their apiary</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF9bP-8z_5d3bnF2d0SmnAMyb88WFbZ3ZsC4Hc9GjRaxPdvzscZnKCcP4X8z9izCtP5Ob4no4LROqrsqhOtJr5meuQlIanwnIbDUXrg6KMYtH37ovJ6L0GvoGCcculcJ_ulFB7KUDWkUXg-Wt6QYUHWoAxiEv-Xq5ulM-eLO-z7rTS_-AiPsO6KJIyw/s6000/DSC_0676.NEF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF9bP-8z_5d3bnF2d0SmnAMyb88WFbZ3ZsC4Hc9GjRaxPdvzscZnKCcP4X8z9izCtP5Ob4no4LROqrsqhOtJr5meuQlIanwnIbDUXrg6KMYtH37ovJ6L0GvoGCcculcJ_ulFB7KUDWkUXg-Wt6QYUHWoAxiEv-Xq5ulM-eLO-z7rTS_-AiPsO6KJIyw/w266-h400/DSC_0676.NEF" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0s-UCWR2WOI4j4YFasrpbkDaIGATCu6Il1WSkAOmdIYZiUa72-N-VoTpGJft7V0Qd1eOEMOoWSwbusMP8JyFFP5Y5uS_cyllC11yw2aD0gbw-Xivxj9KKvWV5aaXSXqMOhFAQ2OM0xE1AwXOg4fuECcJdNsxq5mzM_1yCIS1ZViZ6eShq4qf3EefHA/s4496/DSC_0693.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4496" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0s-UCWR2WOI4j4YFasrpbkDaIGATCu6Il1WSkAOmdIYZiUa72-N-VoTpGJft7V0Qd1eOEMOoWSwbusMP8JyFFP5Y5uS_cyllC11yw2aD0gbw-Xivxj9KKvWV5aaXSXqMOhFAQ2OM0xE1AwXOg4fuECcJdNsxq5mzM_1yCIS1ZViZ6eShq4qf3EefHA/w400-h268/DSC_0693.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUTNy6pngU2TvqeFDHvFV4Fcgmw71Vo-NdnuiKWArOlXKvesV3zDFxfp9yZ1Iyk22bix3x26sXJuwxUlitWCGooW_AUrX-K4sUsFckSvVxuBIEB7YS3ItwH9UmtZwDOfCoQUiHZ_6isHrMAsYu38a51NU7GQ7GNLMGZ3zR-tJ2yxHRNFZodeuTNupYQ/s6000/DSC_0794.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUTNy6pngU2TvqeFDHvFV4Fcgmw71Vo-NdnuiKWArOlXKvesV3zDFxfp9yZ1Iyk22bix3x26sXJuwxUlitWCGooW_AUrX-K4sUsFckSvVxuBIEB7YS3ItwH9UmtZwDOfCoQUiHZ_6isHrMAsYu38a51NU7GQ7GNLMGZ3zR-tJ2yxHRNFZodeuTNupYQ/w400-h266/DSC_0794.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>There was so much laughter throughout the day that I spent with them. Plans were upset by a long rain in the morning, but as soon as they could, they worked together to produce an amazing lunch for all of us, laughing all the while! They laughed and sang as they came together for a meeting, peals of laughter as they presented me with (and wrapped me up in) khangas. They laughed particularly hard as they all tried on beesuits for the first time! Some mamas were struggling and the creasing up didn't help matters! For women who wear flip flops and khangas, suits with headveils, gumboots and gloves are all very foreign and difficult to figure out! Women were literally rolling on the ground in laughter! And then when they looked at each other in this new apparell ... well it was absolutely hilarious! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="326" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UuACVgMsDsE" width="392" youtube-src-id="UuACVgMsDsE"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="326" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XwmZZ9V9e30" width="392" youtube-src-id="XwmZZ9V9e30"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>But for these mamas, life has not been easy or full of laughter. One mama, Nyabwire, shared her story of how as a child, she had to drop out of school due to constant illness. She entered a forced marriage at a very early age, but after the birth of her daughter, her husband died. Later she married again, but he also died before she bore another child. Her late husband's parents took everything from her, leaving her and her daughter grieving and destitute. With her daughter, Nyabwire moved to live with her brother, but then his house and everything in in burned to the ground. The sadness and grief she carried was so evident to Bhatendi and Justina, who are working with the group in so many ways. But to cut a long story very short, Bhatendi said she had never seen this woman laugh like she did on this day we shared this week. At the end of the day, she said to Bhatendi and Justina that she had never been so happy as she was this day. </p><p>Another woman in the group is a grandmother, and is struggling to care for eighteen grandchildren in her care ... life is not easy, and she has been tired and burdened. But she stood to speak at the meeting (in the local language of Kizinza, so it had to be translated into Swahili for those of us not from the village!), and her joy was in her smile! In coming together and learning together, they are finding joy! I shared Psalm 19 with them which was particularly appropriate with its' reference to honey! Sweeter than honey from the honeycomb is the word of the Lord ... and as it says in verse 8, it gives joy to the heart. And truly as these mothers ate together, laughed together, learned at the hive together, their deep joy despite circumstances and situations was so vividly evident! </p><p>I know many are finding Mother's Day difficult. But I hope, like these beautiful mamas, we can all be encouraged to find this joy that is deep and meaningful, as we say "Happy" Mother's Day!</p><p>And if you would like to support these mamas (and a new group of Kome Island women we will be starting with next month) in some way, please get in touch with me. Your prayers and support for this project make such a difference to each mama!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUon-hQ3nsPq4k62GAbmwKVWGsjj3NXj-EC--iBRRT25dgr6K3GkqMioam80JQWu946CWxvOkaBeIuiwLD5TD46KoVDzH2iSqrFQdKivXro-2_pLwV5wUI_FTVC1NJdmJX3-udSDj01g77opcmHBZYG2d_8HbjF81I0Dw9n0uy-DaWdtj94Um1zdIQA/s6000/DSC_0607.NEF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUon-hQ3nsPq4k62GAbmwKVWGsjj3NXj-EC--iBRRT25dgr6K3GkqMioam80JQWu946CWxvOkaBeIuiwLD5TD46KoVDzH2iSqrFQdKivXro-2_pLwV5wUI_FTVC1NJdmJX3-udSDj01g77opcmHBZYG2d_8HbjF81I0Dw9n0uy-DaWdtj94Um1zdIQA/w400-h266/DSC_0607.NEF" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing lunch</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3DSFTcYH_pvszzi82aP-MHLjVMjev8XAeZ75iYZdlIhF7p6kksmvPx_hHaaNWvryao43ubPAEbnoXA3JBNiybW30-Oo10T8avzsxWa1AGkjfT9PAJ8BpCpIdMZP8xdQLq8oyd8tP0L2ozXX89lafQYuUlrqHS6O61mwH7vsd1-1u-X9Fg2_23PyCBg/s6000/DSC_0558.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3DSFTcYH_pvszzi82aP-MHLjVMjev8XAeZ75iYZdlIhF7p6kksmvPx_hHaaNWvryao43ubPAEbnoXA3JBNiybW30-Oo10T8avzsxWa1AGkjfT9PAJ8BpCpIdMZP8xdQLq8oyd8tP0L2ozXX89lafQYuUlrqHS6O61mwH7vsd1-1u-X9Fg2_23PyCBg/w400-h266/DSC_0558.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGdVrzkabrCVDCtujxzSWNQopTnkwtb6iPYZmp034bm1JeBBcS2xQMwAgiHNccL3r_uaLOhvIW5hXYDS8pC8r5-CHIskIV2XWxEfwMw-FdG5h-5XBLPQOCbLQNQhq2TeAfpxS5AUsPwn-wgKebpMSlMa2G7H2jc46iUCfCCnOkA_QFNMEcM3nUzcUOA/s6000/DSC_0639.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGdVrzkabrCVDCtujxzSWNQopTnkwtb6iPYZmp034bm1JeBBcS2xQMwAgiHNccL3r_uaLOhvIW5hXYDS8pC8r5-CHIskIV2XWxEfwMw-FdG5h-5XBLPQOCbLQNQhq2TeAfpxS5AUsPwn-wgKebpMSlMa2G7H2jc46iUCfCCnOkA_QFNMEcM3nUzcUOA/w400-h266/DSC_0639.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating lunch together in the church<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG0CJ9I2dEP_dZDpWAOMoB5xXd1t4S3gSKY-9ko3z76a6YO91IPVbTzMX43hAOEa0EFVe4LTS6ODu5ebN7nBz-83EwYTqhcO8vrloYnv2RIOze6EAh-KGPV2OXwi8ZEYnED1aZWA2s3ZEK7hJupM9lqqU4tK88kZg_nPUI9qr2kyqmb9u1OODXHs5CQ/s6000/DSC_0640.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG0CJ9I2dEP_dZDpWAOMoB5xXd1t4S3gSKY-9ko3z76a6YO91IPVbTzMX43hAOEa0EFVe4LTS6ODu5ebN7nBz-83EwYTqhcO8vrloYnv2RIOze6EAh-KGPV2OXwi8ZEYnED1aZWA2s3ZEK7hJupM9lqqU4tK88kZg_nPUI9qr2kyqmb9u1OODXHs5CQ/w400-h266/DSC_0640.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing the dishes</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-73717148163306118332022-03-20T06:55:00.007-07:002022-03-21T11:01:43.647-07:00Wild Rat is actually very tasty!<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">One of my weekly activities in Bath now is with the wonderful kitchen team of cooks to prepare a mid-week community meal at our church. I think of them all on Wednesday's when I know they will be preparing and then serving the meal ... and think of the amazing oven and commerical dishwasher in the purpose-built kitchen! But I just love how the people here are even more hospitable with the limited equipment, ingredients and space they have! We have so enjoyed such amazing hospitality wherever we have gone. A warm welcome with food and so much singing and dancing!</p><p class="MsoNormal">It was such a delight to meet Beatrice (pictured below with the cow she purchased through the village groups savings and loans scheme) who was so proud to show us her fuel-efficient stove which allows her to cook with far less firewood and in a far healthier environment without all the smoke. She has also set up a wooden rack outside for solar drying her dishes, and a tippy-tap for washing hands. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BKXHL5w6TuSfffhpldUIPke0d2r6frSssGgXiIGZSMF25Ig-AI1JTxfx5ANXICFZ1r3pq9JpObVJIkNSRn11mfHbmOwvqtnZpNtMimsIH5yNXd1EJolNBMCib-6yeihUMfJVrOW5noo33O19KpLY-jVDdRzV0GNfDTq_vt1_IFA9XZLDwPtZh78e8g/s1600/IMG-20220310-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BKXHL5w6TuSfffhpldUIPke0d2r6frSssGgXiIGZSMF25Ig-AI1JTxfx5ANXICFZ1r3pq9JpObVJIkNSRn11mfHbmOwvqtnZpNtMimsIH5yNXd1EJolNBMCib-6yeihUMfJVrOW5noo33O19KpLY-jVDdRzV0GNfDTq_vt1_IFA9XZLDwPtZh78e8g/w300-h400/IMG-20220310-WA0000.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Beatrice and her cow!</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0y9hhnvVwyUKU0ao5Ndw6m1U4Uva4FaUogVBrpZjePxQ50w288sHOZGGVfKiRHo7c8JGgVHhLPWOjCXfvLD7o3LmE78ZOwe0jb7QgmQpUvKoorvG59152WnzmWkaRSdjlFJ80EN15NP13_XZat22tbPaOJOXoFndsGOrfeaNRA0MbqVWpNilwyMnyQ/s4128/20220309_125845.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0y9hhnvVwyUKU0ao5Ndw6m1U4Uva4FaUogVBrpZjePxQ50w288sHOZGGVfKiRHo7c8JGgVHhLPWOjCXfvLD7o3LmE78ZOwe0jb7QgmQpUvKoorvG59152WnzmWkaRSdjlFJ80EN15NP13_XZat22tbPaOJOXoFndsGOrfeaNRA0MbqVWpNilwyMnyQ/w300-h400/20220309_125845.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beatrice's fuel-efficient stove</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBeSSK_RJEcrzjSx54ESw1w9zYjdpfxgDTI38teF7ovJDetK1GjkLc8KA8DWhttmKpfbitYvC6W-LCqkxcJjN5chtHqdlBSNcvfU2cZNzg-KZGqN40mVoh7nccbMOKAFwhPAqgDLDZ0vQPotXEYgg2qQ3m9TK7bONTuQsTOmtlmxS_deEIzvCc36sEw/s5760/Tim%20trip%20(march2022)-117.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5760" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBeSSK_RJEcrzjSx54ESw1w9zYjdpfxgDTI38teF7ovJDetK1GjkLc8KA8DWhttmKpfbitYvC6W-LCqkxcJjN5chtHqdlBSNcvfU2cZNzg-KZGqN40mVoh7nccbMOKAFwhPAqgDLDZ0vQPotXEYgg2qQ3m9TK7bONTuQsTOmtlmxS_deEIzvCc36sEw/w400-h266/Tim%20trip%20(march2022)-117.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tippy Tap for handwashing</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">We have also really enjoyed the food ... I finally had my first Rolex! And the posho and delicious groundnut sauce! Amazing fresh fruits ...and another first for me was wild rat! I didn't know what it was when I ate it ... which was probably a good thing! But it was honestly really tasty! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI33aTZTsxjZzeg8fXIZ8MaNHxAlRRIdBQo-Yumfjr9cr4hnb2XmEv0y5v8j0tjlCGlGkj4MkJ0Nn3FxuOfy21jHwmPygOOB_o9DzHCPI1p9s4hlDL8q53huVlxYP5koccq1vOPciOxj7ht_rpnBwi956Sv4hmuEiFT_FwKKQq6WUE2BEI_lTbSs9dzw/s275/download.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI33aTZTsxjZzeg8fXIZ8MaNHxAlRRIdBQo-Yumfjr9cr4hnb2XmEv0y5v8j0tjlCGlGkj4MkJ0Nn3FxuOfy21jHwmPygOOB_o9DzHCPI1p9s4hlDL8q53huVlxYP5koccq1vOPciOxj7ht_rpnBwi956Sv4hmuEiFT_FwKKQq6WUE2BEI_lTbSs9dzw/w266-h400/download.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A giant wild rat<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfqRcsbWmxa9ACxBwparh-2Wi1MXrxTcaictoECMf7jDB_D-2u89cUwbcD7AcaOIgwScx4Un8CHYuVmblZlvbPyzZF-3zf-2Jq3ZTpzye8BQ4l58gEch8SCEdvCwxsTt3_1h17wOOO15PZYxeEZ3WEREIzaEad11m2YPkKu11p1Hq1QbaD-ZGxL8I5A/s4128/20220310_195644.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfqRcsbWmxa9ACxBwparh-2Wi1MXrxTcaictoECMf7jDB_D-2u89cUwbcD7AcaOIgwScx4Un8CHYuVmblZlvbPyzZF-3zf-2Jq3ZTpzye8BQ4l58gEch8SCEdvCwxsTt3_1h17wOOO15PZYxeEZ3WEREIzaEad11m2YPkKu11p1Hq1QbaD-ZGxL8I5A/w300-h400/20220310_195644.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy Rolex</td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsB5ZN1nVyyGOOzT-pNxzL5tl3dinngISyHCvasMO-qVFA8llenGnVDpH2JGiRcfkpx-0GQcuhw6Lp1wK1iwA3xJUAFDt9vXXwmUWmdUnRRNnGluISO9MeZfSvq_nHn4nTV0WxiQEFcWSKv5kDbsZkwBEX53ferlWqZfkvyFClGq-cnUBaldfvYkD9g/s6000/DSC_0123.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsB5ZN1nVyyGOOzT-pNxzL5tl3dinngISyHCvasMO-qVFA8llenGnVDpH2JGiRcfkpx-0GQcuhw6Lp1wK1iwA3xJUAFDt9vXXwmUWmdUnRRNnGluISO9MeZfSvq_nHn4nTV0WxiQEFcWSKv5kDbsZkwBEX53ferlWqZfkvyFClGq-cnUBaldfvYkD9g/w400-h266/DSC_0123.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the Ugandan trimmings! (posho, beans, cassava, g-nut sauce, matoke, millet bread....)</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">While we were in Gulu, Uganda, Tim and I were delighted to
meet up again with our friends Mike and Marianne and their son, Elias, working
there with Emmanuel International. We realised when we arrived at their home,
that they were just around corner from Titus’ home and the Amigos Gulu office! It
was great to introduce everyone as Mike and Marianne welcomed us and the guys
with us from the Amigos team when we arrived in Gulu. Tim and I were also able
to spend another evening with them over a meal and catch up with them. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTKDJXKEWLEjanXcHKHdzqc3JY-oubLpKXSA1PgxACjjqu6l0RNPUNXhvzszod0z1KJ3LWSg0uNNWK98aEvFzbu6E9Bn7viEykVkXFxmHq4q4DyGzXxa12JYYZxwhC1EtPmxX0MvZuF63XauZacGAZXkF1N6ehm7w6QY4oY8uhX93lMz-5gITGE5MPw/s1032/IMG-20220315-WA0004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTKDJXKEWLEjanXcHKHdzqc3JY-oubLpKXSA1PgxACjjqu6l0RNPUNXhvzszod0z1KJ3LWSg0uNNWK98aEvFzbu6E9Bn7viEykVkXFxmHq4q4DyGzXxa12JYYZxwhC1EtPmxX0MvZuF63XauZacGAZXkF1N6ehm7w6QY4oY8uhX93lMz-5gITGE5MPw/w400-h300/IMG-20220315-WA0004.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Amigos team with the Botting Family in Gulu</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUwfI1hCxmhXIV3dErcD_w0qHpZO3G3u_3zJBouVjwehjKbbmHxTyTRgFJdivJbao9az2PEZvsh-UaaPyssNvb8XIKNkZK6QSFCpGtGVgZRUQSJRe-5fgU26cA9ZedLiOd4ul09KUfGWEJk90GcDpZ_aC-9UYwo6xB4itksOMiG1K5H3cI9t3qZw1Ew/s1032/IMG-20220313-WA0002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUwfI1hCxmhXIV3dErcD_w0qHpZO3G3u_3zJBouVjwehjKbbmHxTyTRgFJdivJbao9az2PEZvsh-UaaPyssNvb8XIKNkZK6QSFCpGtGVgZRUQSJRe-5fgU26cA9ZedLiOd4ul09KUfGWEJk90GcDpZ_aC-9UYwo6xB4itksOMiG1K5H3cI9t3qZw1Ew/w400-h225/IMG-20220313-WA0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading a new book from Sue Fallon with Elias at bedtime!</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">The only frustrating thing about this wonderful visit is
that time is very short and we have such a full schedule of things to pack in! I
was disappointed to miss seeing good friends in Uganda while I was so close!
But I am looking forward to hopefully being able to come back before too long and
have some extra time to visit Jennie and Adrienne and also meet new friends
through connections in Monkton Combe!</p><p class="MsoNormal">So often in the UK, as in many places I am sure, we feel the pressure to have the perfect kitchen, the perfect dishes, lots of space, prepare the "perfect" meal ...or surely we cannot offer hospitality ... but here it is so simple. You just offer what you have and enjoy being with one another in whatever space you have. Life is meant to be shared in community!</p><p></p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-37775167109343147332022-03-17T11:45:00.003-07:002022-03-20T05:49:47.330-07:00Hot at the Hives<div class="separator">I am still blogging behind! But I have to tell you about the beekeeping we did in Olano village, about an hour outside Gulu (no elephants here!).</div><p>Amigos started this beekeeping group a number of years ago and we were delighted to visit and see how they were getting on! The women were as thrilled to see me beekeeping as I was to see them doing it (women beekeepers are in the minority here!!) We arrived in the heat of the day ... so had a meeting under the shade of a tree and then once again enjoyed some wonderful hospitality with posho and beans and meat in the slight coolness of the grass-covered mud hut. But still at 4pm it was pushing 36 degrees, so with my long sleeve sweater, beesuits and boots, I was sweltering walking across the scorched fields to the hives! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxbESJYRo1lW1d3JqzylPwaq-7yVJIAbZLqZ7nxuUtbjx4AsLj2djxLpgiclC8sbLwkTObtF6LdJF23ru-yLXf0qlOuin37wR450_skqMWaS3JzVTA7oEy3gxbUwWw8IbRwyV3oGB9XEIA-jeaKSIhyFrCZPJ24inmFZdkZAt4pSK3sDu4DkgTy-i58Q=s5760" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5760" data-original-width="3840" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxbESJYRo1lW1d3JqzylPwaq-7yVJIAbZLqZ7nxuUtbjx4AsLj2djxLpgiclC8sbLwkTObtF6LdJF23ru-yLXf0qlOuin37wR450_skqMWaS3JzVTA7oEy3gxbUwWw8IbRwyV3oGB9XEIA-jeaKSIhyFrCZPJ24inmFZdkZAt4pSK3sDu4DkgTy-i58Q=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg000nfRtt0mgsU6GiC8iMlglBke5oUA30FNukJe4iIywX4-EO83cJ9fTmShSVa7UuwR0Xu5h3m0E__z1MR6lKiSFwsDjAv61VINAmnVBDGVCcYNThGQxHZENYWw-EWR4gzd46pEYBHPBPCls41Mpmg9usqvR00imNHg0_Riv8sMM24VoOcIrcxqR8ilA=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg000nfRtt0mgsU6GiC8iMlglBke5oUA30FNukJe4iIywX4-EO83cJ9fTmShSVa7UuwR0Xu5h3m0E__z1MR6lKiSFwsDjAv61VINAmnVBDGVCcYNThGQxHZENYWw-EWR4gzd46pEYBHPBPCls41Mpmg9usqvR00imNHg0_Riv8sMM24VoOcIrcxqR8ilA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLmkhnervmEPwX_yNdOJbWDb9y5YS8PdqUFyQJ0h6Y3WBBLCXB0qByIp6KCGVDPXvuXET9-PXZINN9DkHSHW8m2okMSWgDIoDmDTrf_RKeF8F0amAlqwM15stN1GhuagCIGSWqXcnomnMXMizTAnHat_V_OJgRaqWs6-gBuccPoQJ_VURkbGejRwtc-Q=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLmkhnervmEPwX_yNdOJbWDb9y5YS8PdqUFyQJ0h6Y3WBBLCXB0qByIp6KCGVDPXvuXET9-PXZINN9DkHSHW8m2okMSWgDIoDmDTrf_RKeF8F0amAlqwM15stN1GhuagCIGSWqXcnomnMXMizTAnHat_V_OJgRaqWs6-gBuccPoQJ_VURkbGejRwtc-Q=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBSS7pHH9C8aN6knoOwOj2E0vcthr0m8nQFz9Pt621LQqG6rUhbM3L6CHACPC0lAbsbjACtIwDBbrSSUR7Pp3y4ldNjQjHFwCpyWNSpBAEdUD3E7ZUK_Hf-ANQyg_CnhBqgE6cAmEiwtaTJXPTYch5c31lRAVRq8Ea_qnuPLC5B5vonLI9MdduKxnCHA=s5760" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5760" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBSS7pHH9C8aN6knoOwOj2E0vcthr0m8nQFz9Pt621LQqG6rUhbM3L6CHACPC0lAbsbjACtIwDBbrSSUR7Pp3y4ldNjQjHFwCpyWNSpBAEdUD3E7ZUK_Hf-ANQyg_CnhBqgE6cAmEiwtaTJXPTYch5c31lRAVRq8Ea_qnuPLC5B5vonLI9MdduKxnCHA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to head to the hives</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXxvcCMPoNHTeDmr_aPxdq4WgCERD9UQlqfLxiTfzUCLEqiMcuHBFWlfneQXS5aicwMExEYHzjtBFNACwmnvqrqv1ecZroQt8SATAIBDi67EihXA3OzYVgGPwXodkEKXyZtdInihzXNR4gNHPXfOaUg2i96OLUTs9WRQ8lyPbmT_lvTz-Fh4tnMWEFOQ=s5520" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3680" data-original-width="5520" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXxvcCMPoNHTeDmr_aPxdq4WgCERD9UQlqfLxiTfzUCLEqiMcuHBFWlfneQXS5aicwMExEYHzjtBFNACwmnvqrqv1ecZroQt8SATAIBDi67EihXA3OzYVgGPwXodkEKXyZtdInihzXNR4gNHPXfOaUg2i96OLUTs9WRQ8lyPbmT_lvTz-Fh4tnMWEFOQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p>It was wonderful to see their 20 hives colonised and most with lots of honeycomb! We opened a few hives to have a look and were thrilled to harvest some good capped honey from one. We are still a little early for main harvest, but it is looking very good! We stopped working the hives a little sooner than planned as a lone bull was getting rather close and acting in a peculiarly agitated fashion ... and not wishing to see the bull stung for fear of what might ensue, it seemed wise for us to clear out! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBHz4jsf8fzkBlddQ1H99KVIngAQz-4VSypJahM_MiGchNMCwt4vwsF6HdpgKh53uuFDVTuQ_P0ROk9xjuro02XSJmbRX1c-LTyOAIs2sCsDa1s1HLMc59TNiZ7_OHvo_IkcLVV6gBwSTBvNNklgMkGVh4_XvxCyG5TTRGL-B6lF5TqH0VXMtzi998tg=s5760" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5760" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBHz4jsf8fzkBlddQ1H99KVIngAQz-4VSypJahM_MiGchNMCwt4vwsF6HdpgKh53uuFDVTuQ_P0ROk9xjuro02XSJmbRX1c-LTyOAIs2sCsDa1s1HLMc59TNiZ7_OHvo_IkcLVV6gBwSTBvNNklgMkGVh4_XvxCyG5TTRGL-B6lF5TqH0VXMtzi998tg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful honey ready to harvest!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Photo credits: Joshua (Amigos)</div>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-67370433372992513442022-03-16T10:56:00.006-07:002022-03-16T11:11:48.322-07:00Elephants and Bees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Can you spot elephants in the background?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJRKJl1NaWr83e09p7FCdSVSdTHCXK13C5arweVUyhpSkr0EujstxKmWQLTrgl0tpKni4QNHMQehsgUVxrJsndGGX4D8LCt1pHLumDhvVI_wWcmYayM-6RJyqnQf9-KRY4QjMSeiFtVggTGa7xN-7TaX34DlYQ4D9ixY-TdsnSoMqUNo3pL6M_-UtBYg=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJRKJl1NaWr83e09p7FCdSVSdTHCXK13C5arweVUyhpSkr0EujstxKmWQLTrgl0tpKni4QNHMQehsgUVxrJsndGGX4D8LCt1pHLumDhvVI_wWcmYayM-6RJyqnQf9-KRY4QjMSeiFtVggTGa7xN-7TaX34DlYQ4D9ixY-TdsnSoMqUNo3pL6M_-UtBYg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>No, neither did we! But the bush you see in the background is in the Murchison Falls gamepark, and the big problem for Kigaragara village farmers is that the elephants come from that bush and destroy livelihoods as they eat and trample the crops from entire fields. Food for the year is wiped out in one night. This village community group have asked us to help them learn how to become beekeepers and have shown brilliant initiative to get this project started! The plan will be to establish a "bee-fence" (hives hanging on a wire that stretches across the length of the fields along the park border) that will not only bring in valuable honey, but will keep the elephants away. <div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyIuSrb9_QljgSZlh4BifgcBLe8QK52VBXDIqlaBjGJSZSHsxSM8O_lc1-5kFrfJjGc8dbTGsjraythgnoTNIt_70DuMKu2IqbhzLvMhBjoKquH8DwTQ_JPqGiF5m2uDX1ydmdQE38gp9Y6aDjuRQcGqCYloly0EYj_MbKXYIyY9NSVKlEdHH9xa4EbQ=s5727" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3681" data-original-width="5727" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyIuSrb9_QljgSZlh4BifgcBLe8QK52VBXDIqlaBjGJSZSHsxSM8O_lc1-5kFrfJjGc8dbTGsjraythgnoTNIt_70DuMKu2IqbhzLvMhBjoKquH8DwTQ_JPqGiF5m2uDX1ydmdQE38gp9Y6aDjuRQcGqCYloly0EYj_MbKXYIyY9NSVKlEdHH9xa4EbQ=w400-h258" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone is looking to the left corner of the edge of the field, <br />the usual point of entry for the elephants.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVNYuzYlc-UwwSgUuUfp2Kg2PUgrcR0f3ThxD_eaIAt63MzT_wjllgCK-NaooEYx2f_v-SwCadESxcTJu5nvQqUpkW0xQKUEAmWJmn3f3b5-H4ptzT25uHpcJ4v4bTz69UpTSODNzqL3gCA7ZrUf1ursQO447twnWmfGEx_e-GXuH8zCxRIAGUw5HxdQ=s6000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVNYuzYlc-UwwSgUuUfp2Kg2PUgrcR0f3ThxD_eaIAt63MzT_wjllgCK-NaooEYx2f_v-SwCadESxcTJu5nvQqUpkW0xQKUEAmWJmn3f3b5-H4ptzT25uHpcJ4v4bTz69UpTSODNzqL3gCA7ZrUf1ursQO447twnWmfGEx_e-GXuH8zCxRIAGUw5HxdQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irene (left) farms this plot of land at the elephant's entrance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhthgoCR_r5xjDUD8qFEjrs6Vu8UF3EdI5QVUkagIstN7gth7VMvnEI3cL3ulldfAqWCBz1V_H0HvA_ELRYMDGZgVRvECGWxveaG55hCxNjzeuN9pSGnPIEaT8eQb_qt-wWYsZgQBjHjHCqQCey52aV_OVrESpoxc9W7clAIKsiyOTlH3VJeZPUP1Xhwg=s6000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhthgoCR_r5xjDUD8qFEjrs6Vu8UF3EdI5QVUkagIstN7gth7VMvnEI3cL3ulldfAqWCBz1V_H0HvA_ELRYMDGZgVRvECGWxveaG55hCxNjzeuN9pSGnPIEaT8eQb_qt-wWYsZgQBjHjHCqQCey52aV_OVrESpoxc9W7clAIKsiyOTlH3VJeZPUP1Xhwg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irene's home<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>I will write more about this later (as I find it all rather fascinating!) but basically, elephants are terrified of bees and this project will protect the farms from mass destruction and the elephants from poisoning and shooting. It will generate income through honey and value-added products and be integrated with village savings and loans schemes and conservation agriculture. Win-win! </div><div><br /></div><div>During our meeting with the village group, the thunder rumbled and the heavens opened! Everyone dashed for shelter. After about 10 minutes, the sun was back out and we continued! And see the video to see how the meeting ended! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEcA910sA7zFlX9fWBEPW0gVCxH9UHueZdtqs2NVNdRUw0sgwxN98gqLx1S_jWEFvhyPp2XVHZ0Rc93K0HY4gtc0tPiHUC5zYPM8vUmc-oltXkdByFoszQ_g7OobeUjIMVgC038Noq5ZNPb9Gh_PHsqMDDyZMuevrTPQe2OsvrsyrfBtVWffLJAwUYNA=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEcA910sA7zFlX9fWBEPW0gVCxH9UHueZdtqs2NVNdRUw0sgwxN98gqLx1S_jWEFvhyPp2XVHZ0Rc93K0HY4gtc0tPiHUC5zYPM8vUmc-oltXkdByFoszQ_g7OobeUjIMVgC038Noq5ZNPb9Gh_PHsqMDDyZMuevrTPQe2OsvrsyrfBtVWffLJAwUYNA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="323" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xf7hLrmBHjk" width="389" youtube-src-id="xf7hLrmBHjk"></iframe></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVngrt08oNzWXXkdakcVG_OAfRaukFx6TND3OQ0sWaIqcvX8ZuudrDJJYGoFwKnjiQiCQlEDC7Vb_47qet2rn4VcxGXwqP6R5uxbY31s3fuc7X0Dg9pZ0Bac2jrlRMVG7uPf5Rqfua1b6JI-0ehdlsxSEGtLUA5LRa72s1dgBOQkKB5G3dVHSLaM478Q=s6000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVngrt08oNzWXXkdakcVG_OAfRaukFx6TND3OQ0sWaIqcvX8ZuudrDJJYGoFwKnjiQiCQlEDC7Vb_47qet2rn4VcxGXwqP6R5uxbY31s3fuc7X0Dg9pZ0Bac2jrlRMVG7uPf5Rqfua1b6JI-0ehdlsxSEGtLUA5LRa72s1dgBOQkKB5G3dVHSLaM478Q=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick tourist photo with Joshua at the park gate!</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-70246832030176742012022-03-15T09:13:00.002-07:002022-03-20T05:48:53.694-07:00Uganda: Village to Village<p>We have had an amazing week in Uganda! But my great plan to post all about it on the blog has not been so successful; we have had limited access to internet and without VPN's, no access to Facebook in Uganda. But we have been making the most of every opportunity which was far more important. I am now off to Tanzania and with a brief moment of power and internet access, I wanted to post a brief hello! I am on my way to Mwanza, leaving Tim who will stay in Uganda for another week. </p><p>We have seen so many wonderful people visiting community groups in villages around Masindi and Gulu, and heard so many stories, it is impossible to know where to start! </p><p>After meeting the current students (who arrived only a month ago) at Kira Farm, where the vocational training centre is, it was was really lovely to meet with previous trainees as we passed through villages in the northern regions of Uganda. The change in these young people is incredible and their testimony coming out of terrible pain and hardship is inspirational. They are now in their home villages again, and are bringing the same transformation they experienced to their communities. </p><p>Winnie, for example has become a seamstress and has returned to her village and set up her own tailoring business in a rented space. She is now training another young girl how to sew and seeking to buy a second machine. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd62lzq8aPas7qEifCJQIQdpxebfS7AOZol8gb2HqQTXMWhup9Rd-eAfwd8zOyXa2cC5tdNvWBTdAJjG4swrcn0TTYfDUeepBBgLyvN1yopxM8Gtai_KuOaCG5ZhDp_TZgvY5FKo-xuXE0kLneOL40fq7Y98sxPgz3vRQIE58Eu8vXGTC7TNrG74UK3Q=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd62lzq8aPas7qEifCJQIQdpxebfS7AOZol8gb2HqQTXMWhup9Rd-eAfwd8zOyXa2cC5tdNvWBTdAJjG4swrcn0TTYfDUeepBBgLyvN1yopxM8Gtai_KuOaCG5ZhDp_TZgvY5FKo-xuXE0kLneOL40fq7Y98sxPgz3vRQIE58Eu8vXGTC7TNrG74UK3Q=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p>Jimmy's is quite a long, traumatic story which I won't go into here. He and his family are not able to live in their home village and have struggled for many years. But now, after returning with farming skills and savings from his training and following internship at Kira Farm, he has been able to purchase land to farm and set up a pig project and is now supporting his mum, grandma and sisters. He and Winnie have started to bring young people together for a Sunday service each week. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpH5PqIA1TnBxT2G2hW2VZOdvLJc7MCpj2KLR_poXeh1Wn2Yhki90VTVeD80-ZpEaiGDGsuUnm4j2qDTF6cqUNeGXEJkqBLXvpdL0oQ_7mWEFaT3ldV0IA8QPvwBjL56tbyUfQIiMCWhA9jEQYQfMjq651Wtb4z15CglK8dFO5-4AHKfSQxrKo2JKETQ=s6000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpH5PqIA1TnBxT2G2hW2VZOdvLJc7MCpj2KLR_poXeh1Wn2Yhki90VTVeD80-ZpEaiGDGsuUnm4j2qDTF6cqUNeGXEJkqBLXvpdL0oQ_7mWEFaT3ldV0IA8QPvwBjL56tbyUfQIiMCWhA9jEQYQfMjq651Wtb4z15CglK8dFO5-4AHKfSQxrKo2JKETQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmy (centre) with Amigos leaders Godwin and Joshua</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Robert is the father of one of the boys currently in the Kira trainee program. He is in the conservation agriculture group. Not long ago, as he was working with some machinery, his entire hand was severed. This cheerful, gracious man welcomed us to his village on the edge of Murchison Falls National Park and is excited to be part of a new beekeeping group which I will have to tell you about next time!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi03CnOwU2Ab1iGfqplnOMqd9wITmj_4Flvq0wZ6mzvDZmtKkbBLREjWCBkwOOqqsQzCaf1PHYG4Q_2Cl1sjBl92YriaWs86ppIRX0beyL4l50pY-0I7-RyiEfMr9enSnUTK02M4IcfALOAVHza6eDNISW3qHl9uE6q3BLSeTX22Wjpayo9h0FWfQwVtw=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi03CnOwU2Ab1iGfqplnOMqd9wITmj_4Flvq0wZ6mzvDZmtKkbBLREjWCBkwOOqqsQzCaf1PHYG4Q_2Cl1sjBl92YriaWs86ppIRX0beyL4l50pY-0I7-RyiEfMr9enSnUTK02M4IcfALOAVHza6eDNISW3qHl9uE6q3BLSeTX22Wjpayo9h0FWfQwVtw=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Finally for now, it was wonderful on Sunday to be with the church in Kinene village. So much exhuberant worship under a shea nut tree! There was much singing and dancing, preaching and testimonies and prayer. And a farming meeting followed the service with a report on the conservation agriculture and water projects ... followed by a visit to the boreholes. This was followed by a delicious lunch cooked by the women. They have given me seeds to plant the delicious vegetable we ate as well as sim sim seeds and groundnuts. We really enjoyed engaging in cooking conversation in our stilted English/Acholi/sign language! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcUvF5vwViUcSGvGM5pVXhmM0jCkLAgYmyY54EFUw68pdzTbsIEgFJRYaThGJWlPAT_u3-nraC_jIwXpLyDUvjaTrnwDcKekEj7XqIqq-rsPGzF17SjfYlJNlHxu04OjDD1Cyudui9gXroM6rMHBF3jqDEC4PXsNcxLO-Ztd4l8QvWtEWv2vd-o9Sinw=s5760" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5760" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcUvF5vwViUcSGvGM5pVXhmM0jCkLAgYmyY54EFUw68pdzTbsIEgFJRYaThGJWlPAT_u3-nraC_jIwXpLyDUvjaTrnwDcKekEj7XqIqq-rsPGzF17SjfYlJNlHxu04OjDD1Cyudui9gXroM6rMHBF3jqDEC4PXsNcxLO-Ztd4l8QvWtEWv2vd-o9Sinw=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQFKkaEB-Kgxdx570ynauDP3ERm0noVRE-XAGI47IMcKUmf9wxypsaTnss4v-CqSKp_8G0c2aVp6z2jmXByMERFRDgn4EfGpkfAqEd0S-hkwM9-sa8RGfLIciwAop0hDZpltPFH8eF22JDcfA6dYozqGbi4yyJMqDsPA_EEBtsEI8SxMsNKVzZew1iQ/s6000/DSC_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQFKkaEB-Kgxdx570ynauDP3ERm0noVRE-XAGI47IMcKUmf9wxypsaTnss4v-CqSKp_8G0c2aVp6z2jmXByMERFRDgn4EfGpkfAqEd0S-hkwM9-sa8RGfLIciwAop0hDZpltPFH8eF22JDcfA6dYozqGbi4yyJMqDsPA_EEBtsEI8SxMsNKVzZew1iQ/w400-h266/DSC_0231.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="301" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P6mJLXuytA8" width="362" youtube-src-id="P6mJLXuytA8"></iframe></div><br /><p>The Amigos team is doing an amazing job overseeing the training at Kira Farm and the community development across the northern regions of Uganda. It was such a privilege to see all they are doing and we have had so many good conversations about moving forward! </p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-47870130155400920402022-03-10T11:08:00.003-08:002022-03-11T11:32:53.473-08:00A Warm Welcome to Kira Farm<p>We arrived at Kira Farm in the early hours of Tuesday
morning and after a few hours sleep were roused by the drums and enthusiastic
singing from the students and jumped quickly out of bed for 8am devotions! What
a great group of fifty young people, mostly from communities in northern
Uganda. They are here for a year of training in conservation farming, business and
vocation skills and holistic life skills. The aim is that they return to their
village as “community transformers” working closely with the churches that we
are connected with there.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhshqmR97BTthLLOTz_lUTPfOySGfYpg1vhyhrx9EUCngzErX0Uoe73g7wejjhgSMZ67q_NYLMCNQuSO1L8Q8ihnUvsNSrJXcRml49XgfKUrkNTyXxTfzgqu25DG0KkZB0q_pN6B_wdnjgYm3yTRgEf5IquzBVFtigOdUacBxMIz3-N-wnNnMoE0xSSPA=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhshqmR97BTthLLOTz_lUTPfOySGfYpg1vhyhrx9EUCngzErX0Uoe73g7wejjhgSMZ67q_NYLMCNQuSO1L8Q8ihnUvsNSrJXcRml49XgfKUrkNTyXxTfzgqu25DG0KkZB0q_pN6B_wdnjgYm3yTRgEf5IquzBVFtigOdUacBxMIz3-N-wnNnMoE0xSSPA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Some Ugandan coffee and sweet pineapple later, we had a
guided tour of Kira. It was wonderful to see all that is happening … the
training in the tailoring and carpentry workshops, the conservation agriculture
in practice, urban farming, an amazing rabbit project and the goats.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyQM9m1SPdi1UAKdPA017GCBLNAE4zWI5oCGxyBx4f40tzEtujVMPv91QJw4lmSRMPktekRTB9PlNJpauHAvt8l6EnpEnUlIwsmCfNU9NdGfKIptI5NGBdpCY-EoZG6ZhjHxsF94E7cCOy265FkN1lQToJjaOADTk0loFa1L1Dy2QHSageDe5S1FrUwg=s6000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyQM9m1SPdi1UAKdPA017GCBLNAE4zWI5oCGxyBx4f40tzEtujVMPv91QJw4lmSRMPktekRTB9PlNJpauHAvt8l6EnpEnUlIwsmCfNU9NdGfKIptI5NGBdpCY-EoZG6ZhjHxsF94E7cCOy265FkN1lQToJjaOADTk0loFa1L1Dy2QHSageDe5S1FrUwg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the chefs cooking lunch on the fuel-efficient stove</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBmtpWukGn_La_-ehMpsyMexO1IolmkGo6sleEt2ks5DFgIJtwvGF7daPmwHQg2cDIdemDIy5ceaSD-UtkhGq_Smknk4YhgJ6usTACUs37b9Z-dQeoanzIwyUTGZqvEsBrLg4A3fV6pkw-51cURAadDNCYGevjyS1nUY3E5jc6v8aZGnXAZ14kbPr_pA=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBmtpWukGn_La_-ehMpsyMexO1IolmkGo6sleEt2ks5DFgIJtwvGF7daPmwHQg2cDIdemDIy5ceaSD-UtkhGq_Smknk4YhgJ6usTACUs37b9Z-dQeoanzIwyUTGZqvEsBrLg4A3fV6pkw-51cURAadDNCYGevjyS1nUY3E5jc6v8aZGnXAZ14kbPr_pA=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLics3wKsrwrqmqkT9KpzP7HKkKuhxZ3xAp7-b684L2wqtRnV_r0ixVr8VcZyMIf3SfDAEJGypjL9JKsfwvi5hpWGVXiBPSQcJOg2D_GkfqxIW8DtzVvIR0OenvFtQ4hkvSyjx3lsZBLA3q5F9VorM7s6ribXVYCft2eXYtL1CuNJuoxAhXhW3lI5hVg=s6000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLics3wKsrwrqmqkT9KpzP7HKkKuhxZ3xAp7-b684L2wqtRnV_r0ixVr8VcZyMIf3SfDAEJGypjL9JKsfwvi5hpWGVXiBPSQcJOg2D_GkfqxIW8DtzVvIR0OenvFtQ4hkvSyjx3lsZBLA3q5F9VorM7s6ribXVYCft2eXYtL1CuNJuoxAhXhW3lI5hVg=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students out early working in their fields</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">In the afternoon while Tim had time with some of the
trainers, I had an great time doing a beeswax workshop with 30 students and two
wonderful women who give hairdressing and tailoring training and are full of great ideas! They are keen to keep to develop the vocational training program at Kira, and as we start new beekeeping projects, it will be fantastic to develop business and generate more income through honey
and beeswax. The afternoon was a brief taster of some of the possibilities we
can explore! <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd4TxFc3Ig2MODDm8Qti6a1Uk2u9TSGxYtQY7yWue8jg_ozT4TZUw0ayRGyz67SOqkpsykZC_KKpr9ERoIqOusAcfxW4py6Zz9qhKa4p1oAZCDTkMyqpGzC63ZvhyrF5yXHVnvBMH_vPiqAZOk3ZMlQ8UGErpwmMuV1ftp3iOajU7tE6T8qTF2MDXiWQ=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd4TxFc3Ig2MODDm8Qti6a1Uk2u9TSGxYtQY7yWue8jg_ozT4TZUw0ayRGyz67SOqkpsykZC_KKpr9ERoIqOusAcfxW4py6Zz9qhKa4p1oAZCDTkMyqpGzC63ZvhyrF5yXHVnvBMH_vPiqAZOk3ZMlQ8UGErpwmMuV1ftp3iOajU7tE6T8qTF2MDXiWQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOU2Zygtu6KIFCzguqIIC7WO2sR0Rfm-IauM3ZbHSdWCCjwdw-2wu-la_DRHmneDsScq4CnVbr5zHuY49Nf_-3xl_K9OkfI3NAEAMT_oRn5wg5BkTsf3TR0D2Z-T9QNS044vZt3jxNLWgjjFVUtDMAXI0bnSd_rkZneemj3L858gjDXyEnmhyudXyXFQ=s6000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOU2Zygtu6KIFCzguqIIC7WO2sR0Rfm-IauM3ZbHSdWCCjwdw-2wu-la_DRHmneDsScq4CnVbr5zHuY49Nf_-3xl_K9OkfI3NAEAMT_oRn5wg5BkTsf3TR0D2Z-T9QNS044vZt3jxNLWgjjFVUtDMAXI0bnSd_rkZneemj3L858gjDXyEnmhyudXyXFQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students cutting beeswraps</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgr5sAUhS3Y_YpmDlo-kgw13rEUtuGWfD8exAErJwe_hS9-Chwd0P3hiER5og1No-LaGrPupqOe8M5XvKwb4-l-Xr8p6XkpG3fv93akTq3g65jLZgau1QXWrGtyxlCYj9UXdEUo0jzppnhvL7ObiwlhLuaP9FRCSKVhGjOq-H5aXVQEUk0iIGMVDej7Q=s1008" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgr5sAUhS3Y_YpmDlo-kgw13rEUtuGWfD8exAErJwe_hS9-Chwd0P3hiER5og1No-LaGrPupqOe8M5XvKwb4-l-Xr8p6XkpG3fv93akTq3g65jLZgau1QXWrGtyxlCYj9UXdEUo0jzppnhvL7ObiwlhLuaP9FRCSKVhGjOq-H5aXVQEUk0iIGMVDej7Q=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the trainers, Lydia and Mwajuma</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfTJbsjtIDzJK3hT4eUzwVolnDYJdqUJziUDG3fCRdXOC3WF5fmjQL1J7IYSiHm2Tdm4cXkjtG6NU7_TxBHW7ec5avzdQ1_AkKZ7-bKZQ_y89gXSCyMBqOZ2oAmCzHHMb4dqXxM3KP8yJZKh_3O2lqbUJRYtf_6v1MtCIyvg_Qk90KiWMYIQRnU8u77g=s1008" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfTJbsjtIDzJK3hT4eUzwVolnDYJdqUJziUDG3fCRdXOC3WF5fmjQL1J7IYSiHm2Tdm4cXkjtG6NU7_TxBHW7ec5avzdQ1_AkKZ7-bKZQ_y89gXSCyMBqOZ2oAmCzHHMb4dqXxM3KP8yJZKh_3O2lqbUJRYtf_6v1MtCIyvg_Qk90KiWMYIQRnU8u77g=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">Before dinner, we were treated to a cultural performance where students presented
songs and dances from their tribes! Such a warm and enthusiastic welcome ... I will share the videos when I can! And the cultural learning continued after
dinner, late into the evening with fireside talks and dramas about their local
area customs and traditions. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPOFSdhsLBn71_M9mcEXvdGYCSLlVDMNwscrdqCApmA96l7Pv3gt1qX9sOPBMUGlna1pTCnWP_ZacsEmGd-5cpcx2cvRXz918fyfTGDOdcchUXeko5ucaPiXxVUd9fJxGEcyHGZxdSdq1mRum15lBTrsRDuuqmQSL93BHUi7FHnotOXNMXGZD_N_ujkA=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPOFSdhsLBn71_M9mcEXvdGYCSLlVDMNwscrdqCApmA96l7Pv3gt1qX9sOPBMUGlna1pTCnWP_ZacsEmGd-5cpcx2cvRXz918fyfTGDOdcchUXeko5ucaPiXxVUd9fJxGEcyHGZxdSdq1mRum15lBTrsRDuuqmQSL93BHUi7FHnotOXNMXGZD_N_ujkA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We have had two more incredible days since then but no
electricity or internet! We were up at the at the crack of dawn the second
morning to travel up to Masindi and have since had some really wonderful
community visits. So many encouraging stories and exciting plans … we have just
returned from a village on the edge of Murchison Falls National Park troubled
by elephants destroying their crops. If you know me, you will know how very excited
I am about this amazing group of people setting up a “bee fence”! But more on
that next time…</p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-3703549875727307092022-03-08T01:51:00.002-08:002022-03-21T10:57:47.884-07:00On African Soil Again<p>Tim and I are on African soil again! And so I am temporarily
reviving the blog to keep in touch with you all on what’s cookin’ not just in Tanzania…
but also in Uganda!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii8vGDl_8D09TCR0IsJk-9-Mkb87wsvKG1-j9gJ0TYrG6zGnnYiCp9nAOs6cFBkCLPsTtRl-v8i8NU-C7iyi8zp_lRtM4ioZXRsCdD4zKeqvmGIlaFoxg-O-lVvNCdM52JfE0OpO8ZRaZPTFzW3-Z9I939yqQxkQSb4M8IeIvAIihnaeKe6KVtkVFTcQ=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii8vGDl_8D09TCR0IsJk-9-Mkb87wsvKG1-j9gJ0TYrG6zGnnYiCp9nAOs6cFBkCLPsTtRl-v8i8NU-C7iyi8zp_lRtM4ioZXRsCdD4zKeqvmGIlaFoxg-O-lVvNCdM52JfE0OpO8ZRaZPTFzW3-Z9I939yqQxkQSb4M8IeIvAIihnaeKe6KVtkVFTcQ=w400-h266" title="Kira Farm" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs7XkWOjqCFYnu-3ZFIxL8bBnZSEXH-eLRi-NeJqZDzWKBlchTUfz0Tic1gD80bCx7Ft_hlMOyuakhX7UclxHUgpNJIQif4toUAyG8hNdUHNAPH6hS6LEAF2OppV0Md6S3hzUufHurW1vMrvDcOWySZe5GbdMOvG7bGfYLjt2intR37mKDIsk_iMiR4g=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs7XkWOjqCFYnu-3ZFIxL8bBnZSEXH-eLRi-NeJqZDzWKBlchTUfz0Tic1gD80bCx7Ft_hlMOyuakhX7UclxHUgpNJIQif4toUAyG8hNdUHNAPH6hS6LEAF2OppV0Md6S3hzUufHurW1vMrvDcOWySZe5GbdMOvG7bGfYLjt2intR37mKDIsk_iMiR4g=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I feel I owe you all some kind of epic catch-up! Since returning
to the UK after living in Tanzania and blogging regularly, it has been a
strange matter of starting a new life. Lockdowns and also not being able to get
back to Canada didn’t help matters… and this has all meant there are so many friends
and family that we just haven’t caught up with yet. We had hoped to send out a
Christmas newsletter... and somehow didn’t get round to it. And then there was
the other strange matter of deleting our email list for GDPR reasons when we finished
our “role” … a list of precious names which was a source of life and love and support
for so many years, just suddenly cut off in the click of a button. Even though
we know you are all still there, it was an incredibly lonely and bereft moment!
Somehow staying “in touch” with people far away while trying to make new
friends with people geographically close seemed a very difficult thing. All
this to say, as I revive this blog, we would love to get back in touch and this
is a way of finding you all again! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now skipping the epic catch-up (which would take the whole
flight to relate), here in a nutshell is what’s cookin’ right now … <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With Tim now CEO of <a href="https://www.amigos.org.uk/" target="_blank">Amigos Worldwide</a>, we have come to meet the Ugandan team for the first time. We are very thankful for the girls’ school
and have left them boarding there while we travel. (Yes, they are excited about
being proper boarders, but no, they are not happy about being left behind and would
very much rather be coming with us … but in the midst of GCSE and A-level mocks
and exam preparation, it was not an option). Tim and I will be visiting the vocational
training centre, Kira Farm, outside Kampala and then travelling north to visit
communities where Amigos is working on sustainable community development
projects and we will also look into future possibilities. I am looking forward
to wearing my bee suit again! One of my new roles includes working with <a href="http://www.beesabroad.org.uk" target="_blank">BeesAbroad</a>, and it is exciting to be partnering (Amigos and BA) to develop
beekeeping projects in the rural villages and a honey centre at Kira Farm.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After just over a week, while Tim stays another week in
Uganda, travelling to Kaliro and I will travel down to Mwanza and stay a few weeks
with the Emmanuel International team. I am so looking forward to catching up
with them all and all the amazing work going on in the Mwanza region! There I
will be working with Bhatendi on another partnership project (BA and EI) working
through the churches developing beekeeping projects with women on Kome Island.
I will also be working with my much-missed friends in the Upendo wa Mama group to
see how we can develop The Hive. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So over the next month, follow along and I will do my best
to update on what’s happening here! Please keep us and the people and
communities we are meeting with in your prayers. Please feel free to share this
blog with anyone you think might know us and be interested. And if you have a
minute, please drop us a line, and we can be in touch!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We left at 1am early Monday morning and flew to Amsterdam to Kigali and then to Entebbe ... and collapsed into bed at 2am early Tuesday morning! This morning we are just delighted to meet everyone here at Kira Farm, hear the familiar African sounds, sing and dance to the African music by 8am, feel the sun and dirt on my very white toes ... and actually feel warm again! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2UFza7fASEshKZXdwpp6SEejuSdW1nKzv2TMuptviG02ZMpzH8v6xxC6HXg7iN50FHgDGfFz3MSK-MUaaMUhpSZvwbCaxPzP0gag_hAzmSZKseMaXHo112fX5vnAZZT9RXm8emtAxtt6kgTusSu8eq_BFLaoyRC6wLMArHcewmhHmqRxTkZecTG8_UQ=s6000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2UFza7fASEshKZXdwpp6SEejuSdW1nKzv2TMuptviG02ZMpzH8v6xxC6HXg7iN50FHgDGfFz3MSK-MUaaMUhpSZvwbCaxPzP0gag_hAzmSZKseMaXHo112fX5vnAZZT9RXm8emtAxtt6kgTusSu8eq_BFLaoyRC6wLMArHcewmhHmqRxTkZecTG8_UQ=w400-h266" title="Morning devotions with all the students" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-16391455564927511842021-03-27T12:54:00.008-07:002021-03-28T00:38:27.484-07:00Top Bar Buzz! Thank you! <p>We are so very thrilled to have topped our fundraising target of ÂŁ2000 to Help The Hive! Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed and shared and helped! Top Bar Results!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wYfOXIABzGQ" width="463" youtube-src-id="wYfOXIABzGQ"></iframe></div><p>We are incredibly excited that Aikande will be funded to continue to work with the Upendo wa Mama group at The Hive. She has also just joined the Emmanuel International Mwanza team, working part time for office administration which is really wonderful! We are excited to be able to support Bhatendi and her amazing work training and supporting beekeepers in rural villages, linking these community groups to The Hive for processing and marketing. And further exciting news is that since we started this fundraiser, Justina has officially joined the team and will be training as a beekeeper to work with Bhatendi. They will be starting a new project working with women on Kome Island, building community groups and training the women as beekeepers. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvN3uDGM59HkTwzVrJEagKV0UIKrmIcdRbOlGA3Cjd22njxx-_Ye87hbz54YcWqRYF1qxzeGKCtzeDX-wQaBpKN2cNpqc1Lpm5qqQn35bDSmghdqawxkTGE5ZudBUMrd0ac_O4SzESANO/s4496/DSC_1122.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4496" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvN3uDGM59HkTwzVrJEagKV0UIKrmIcdRbOlGA3Cjd22njxx-_Ye87hbz54YcWqRYF1qxzeGKCtzeDX-wQaBpKN2cNpqc1Lpm5qqQn35bDSmghdqawxkTGE5ZudBUMrd0ac_O4SzESANO/w400-h268/DSC_1122.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Aikande's family and Bhatendi</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And so this brings our March Hive Fundraiser to a close! In honour of International Women's Day, we have really enjoyed celebrating some of the inspirational women we know (we had so many more we could have written and talked about!) We celebrate the amazing women at The Hive, who every day #chooosetochallenge... challenging the stigma attached to albinism and persevering through so many struggles. We celebrate Aikande and Bhatendi, working hard to make a difference in the lives of these women and others through the community projects. And we thank and celebrate all of you who have helped to make a difference for them! Thank you! </p><p>If you would still like to Help the Hive, the <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Virgin Money Giving page</span></b></a> will remain up until June 8th, so you can still head over there to donate! And in the future, if you would like to further support The Hive or the Beekeeping Project, you can give regularly or one-off donations through <a href="https://www.eiuk.org.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>Emmanuel International UK</b></span></a> or <a href="https://www.eicanada.org/projects/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>EI Canada.</b></span></a> </p><p>Thank you!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sLxARRfpOvWh5z9PzMEp1AKePzmgEaZdxG3WcPOaxBdl5yT8QPIJ0Q90sO0dBNZrE-A2npkPH4BGaMWikS4GjdS38-euzAZxSWzA46E3LbSfMVBn-CEqZ-jTi3kG4kVc6RxN7DbBOCGK/s1080/Help+The+Hive+Solid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sLxARRfpOvWh5z9PzMEp1AKePzmgEaZdxG3WcPOaxBdl5yT8QPIJ0Q90sO0dBNZrE-A2npkPH4BGaMWikS4GjdS38-euzAZxSWzA46E3LbSfMVBn-CEqZ-jTi3kG4kVc6RxN7DbBOCGK/w400-h400/Help+The+Hive+Solid.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHmKNWPo6RY7_uefEZW7_hm9m7vP4n9jWna6U6uotBxZQObeXry-_EyOntZ0yy_Uqhj28CVwKMl1oiXL0w3RKHm6IBHrw25Mfdq7NSGCpLQKXI2vtgiXqW9vF7Ovv4BscFFbGoMW5FsjG/s2048/thank+you+hive.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHmKNWPo6RY7_uefEZW7_hm9m7vP4n9jWna6U6uotBxZQObeXry-_EyOntZ0yy_Uqhj28CVwKMl1oiXL0w3RKHm6IBHrw25Mfdq7NSGCpLQKXI2vtgiXqW9vF7Ovv4BscFFbGoMW5FsjG/w400-h400/thank+you+hive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-72618141852838625722021-03-20T07:31:00.016-07:002021-03-20T12:51:37.858-07:00Looking Forward with Confidence: The First Female President of Tanzania<div class="separator">This week Tanzania mourns the death of President Magafuli. He died on Wednesday at the age of 61 after faithfully serving as President for the past five years. And on Friday, Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as the new President, making history as the country's first female president. This mother of four has spoken publicly to encourage Tanzanian women and girls to pursue their dreams. Affectionately known as Mama Samia, she told the country this week "it is time to bury our differences and show love to one another and look forward with confidence." </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2P5P3Upo0_QG3AYS2mgMXM8Kcmu1XEj59x9NofKD8SOhTP0sTNN_pJvmw1bsfQtWzmUdVQ3W4rc3c3-eXmsxf98rpaJKtim5h5nbKL6ZPjkVgxF60uNtxdLWvoBYEu-7E1Q407iPyHlC/s500/samia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="500" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2P5P3Upo0_QG3AYS2mgMXM8Kcmu1XEj59x9NofKD8SOhTP0sTNN_pJvmw1bsfQtWzmUdVQ3W4rc3c3-eXmsxf98rpaJKtim5h5nbKL6ZPjkVgxF60uNtxdLWvoBYEu-7E1Q407iPyHlC/w400-h208/samia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New President Samia Suluhu Hassan</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator">This is our prayer for Tanzania. And this prayer includes women and children with albinism. May the differences be buried. We hope that as the women in the Upendo wa Mama ("Mother's Love") Group love and are shown love, they and their children will be able to look forward to the future with confidence. </div><p>At The Hive, we are so proud of Penina and Rose who are looking forward with confidence to putting their new computer skills to good use! These two women have been working hard over the past year attending evening classes at local Wesley College. They have now passed the entire course working through all the modules on Excel, Word and much more! Congratulations to these two women for this fantastic achievement! We look forward to seeing how they can put these new skills to good use!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TT87mDTzqY1bCJsOLuUoUeya0WPjzt5XycOLcl8txxK1FPALSHkzsJTDTNs-GzP181EjO5pIkCe-hQz5z_iIVdY9SW6IQrvLxnwy1LiWymu38dabDopu9z09UTE5emc3XP6HRVtAV0IV/s2048/20201103_133430.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TT87mDTzqY1bCJsOLuUoUeya0WPjzt5XycOLcl8txxK1FPALSHkzsJTDTNs-GzP181EjO5pIkCe-hQz5z_iIVdY9SW6IQrvLxnwy1LiWymu38dabDopu9z09UTE5emc3XP6HRVtAV0IV/s320/20201103_133430.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose working on labelling products at The Hive</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRxXLcok4K_JbC3ciyjQilFfLV4Z24zlLLn6htFi4-H7X3d4_Fa83oatmpttHzoeyLdSHeo7_dGcvYYdU33kPcgAh6rv3Q8yxYIopDfn84DxFQHiFZOSGlOWH73UEZWgQ5TIBKvkYsm9Z/s2048/Penina+glasses.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1150" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRxXLcok4K_JbC3ciyjQilFfLV4Z24zlLLn6htFi4-H7X3d4_Fa83oatmpttHzoeyLdSHeo7_dGcvYYdU33kPcgAh6rv3Q8yxYIopDfn84DxFQHiFZOSGlOWH73UEZWgQ5TIBKvkYsm9Z/w225-h400/Penina+glasses.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penina with two of her children</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Jeni and Laurensia are also putting new skills to good use! They have been getting further training in tailoring skills. These two mamas have been the chief seamstresses for the Upendo wa Mama group, making batiki napkins, cushion covers and this past year, so many fabric face masks! They beaver away at the machines in the workroom in The Hive. Now they have learned to sew beautiful dresses and we hope will be able to increase their business and income. </p><p>We also celebrate with Jeni the safe arrival of her new baby boy! She had a very difficult time this month ending up in hospital with post-labour complications, but we thank God she is home and well now.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LurJd7YaEZ9Wv8muTx-2kJz1LS5HF0_EXv_MQGS4IH8jBCvZUxKCvK4trot7NVbFJphtr1s3oNtkuXBB06HkeMlr5Z7qfmnZiSBdrk8yU_wVqzZKIQ3HUDxEnjEYtsF0eMAH1a117mOs/s2048/IMG_20200129_180956_296.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2041" data-original-width="2048" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LurJd7YaEZ9Wv8muTx-2kJz1LS5HF0_EXv_MQGS4IH8jBCvZUxKCvK4trot7NVbFJphtr1s3oNtkuXBB06HkeMlr5Z7qfmnZiSBdrk8yU_wVqzZKIQ3HUDxEnjEYtsF0eMAH1a117mOs/w400-h399/IMG_20200129_180956_296.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeni last year with her baby girl born 15 months ago.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAmsBDGNrSBEyWbJaiqKt7HbNjVwZUO-aLNnxQFZotoazLCS6LgiBqBdTReMdSz5oug9zmzRzeDmbvR0f-DQlI_apV8Cmxf-aFxInNVZsBTwBJHBVlF382c_t-YedDKMmWIfHD2pz3Af2/s2048/20200409_114722.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAmsBDGNrSBEyWbJaiqKt7HbNjVwZUO-aLNnxQFZotoazLCS6LgiBqBdTReMdSz5oug9zmzRzeDmbvR0f-DQlI_apV8Cmxf-aFxInNVZsBTwBJHBVlF382c_t-YedDKMmWIfHD2pz3Af2/w400-h300/20200409_114722.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurensia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPA9Z0NbET4rnDqt8a8bF9X7i93DJcR4uHIa6IStkPWana3tAelaAb04_J5AGywcsKBmt_WrfeGfive_YX3EyxZo9vB8LpKiKGhxX54JZFKFm8LgeNaLVnthyphenhyphengIlG9kyuIzjCBYhM_64O/s4496/DSC_1179.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4496" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPA9Z0NbET4rnDqt8a8bF9X7i93DJcR4uHIa6IStkPWana3tAelaAb04_J5AGywcsKBmt_WrfeGfive_YX3EyxZo9vB8LpKiKGhxX54JZFKFm8LgeNaLVnthyphenhyphengIlG9kyuIzjCBYhM_64O/w400-h268/DSC_1179.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurensia sewing as others also work in the Hive workroom<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb539NXXEun8VNHx7Wz7T_dXdJrc0VmKM_9tTjLCPLHoUNhdTMxz_jAchhE25d0heLHOPs_Pt1twWbrd3FZ7gH0NxED1olbG0eo7o8SB4z9v6qad_QLAF42DFoVq96EuItaNc_447y-KlL/s2048/Jeni.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb539NXXEun8VNHx7Wz7T_dXdJrc0VmKM_9tTjLCPLHoUNhdTMxz_jAchhE25d0heLHOPs_Pt1twWbrd3FZ7gH0NxED1olbG0eo7o8SB4z9v6qad_QLAF42DFoVq96EuItaNc_447y-KlL/w400-h266/Jeni.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeni and her gorgeous boy a few years ago! <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>There is always something so exciting about learning new skills! Two other mamas who did not have the opportunity to go to school, are about to start literacy classes. Other mamas would like to continue with further study with English (Amisadai did a fantastic job teaching weekly English classes while we lived there). We look forward with confidence!</div><div><br /></div><div>But please keep the women in your prayers. This month as we have been fundraising in the UK, they have been really struggling in Tanzania. It has not just been labour complications for Jeni. Two other mamas have been in hospital; one of them struggling with diabetes, the other is still in hospital and not doing well. Another mama has had to travel to be with her oldest son (with albinism) to care for him as he is very ill. Aikande's little girl was very ill for three weeks and was also hospitalised. Another is about to give birth and we pray for a safe labour and a healthy baby. As well as the serious health issues, there is the struggle to care for their families, the medical expenses and the loss of income through not working. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, in all the struggle, the hope for the future is there. On the wall of the workshop, the group has mounted the words of Psalm 90:17 "Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands." He is our hope. And through The Hive, we hope that others will be able to receive help and training. We want to be able to help and support particularly women and children with albinism, but others in the community too. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fieLZ0NQgx6EDUrSkxRlE1tQFwDWgFd57C6ihn91wq8jiLArutnPoNaJpOxeN2uvZV09ZHSprOKQfqqDI25AqzOqPogyCh_fZgd9IGlBmlb3jqaV-DVMbLl4hwVUX65u9VrMn38bO9i3/s2880/DSC_1140+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2135" data-original-width="2880" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fieLZ0NQgx6EDUrSkxRlE1tQFwDWgFd57C6ihn91wq8jiLArutnPoNaJpOxeN2uvZV09ZHSprOKQfqqDI25AqzOqPogyCh_fZgd9IGlBmlb3jqaV-DVMbLl4hwVUX65u9VrMn38bO9i3/w400-h296/DSC_1140+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken last year at the wedding of Elisha (EI) who has helped the women as they seek to develop small business and income-generating projects at home.<br />Next to Aikande on the right, notice Laurensia and Jeni in the beautiful dresses they made! <br />Penina and Rose on the left.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Amisadai, Louisa and I again want to thank all of you who have helped to support The Hive and to see these women able, as their new President says, to look forward with confidence! <i>(There will be more from the girls soon ... but they got a little buried in English assignments and Rhetoric speeches this week!) </i></div><div><br /></div><div>With 10 days left of our Fundraising month, we are now only about 10% short of our goal! If you would like to help The Hive, please see our <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fundraising Page here</span></b></a>! </div><div><br /></div><div>And if you would like to get a little glimpse into and behind the scenes of The Hive, here is a little video slideshow of the mamas at work!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D9ZEyq5m8z4" width="454" youtube-src-id="D9ZEyq5m8z4"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-70001426415608412742021-03-17T06:51:00.021-07:002021-03-18T03:03:22.381-07:00Inspirational Woman: Claire Elsdon<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">(by Amisadai)</span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">We have another very inspirational woman to share with you today! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3gXAYyH8reK29Ee1cx2MPkTFAOpdGhZPcmx1tbtuLJuryv1_rII7UW7CaeXXfIBbP7cdDgrv0-L7h6QNKF0PMkAm8qmtEj-49IDhKJE-lfXVFFR5zGA9TdRuxGaBt9vXg1BUiGr6wvNS/s1080/Claire+Elsdon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3gXAYyH8reK29Ee1cx2MPkTFAOpdGhZPcmx1tbtuLJuryv1_rII7UW7CaeXXfIBbP7cdDgrv0-L7h6QNKF0PMkAm8qmtEj-49IDhKJE-lfXVFFR5zGA9TdRuxGaBt9vXg1BUiGr6wvNS/s320/Claire+Elsdon.png" /></a></div><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">We were near neighbours with Claire when we lived in Tanzania, but I was actually first inspired by her when she came to speak at an Isamilo School
Assembly in Mwanza about 3 years ago. It was an assembly I will never
forget. Not only did she have a leather jacket and ride a motorbike, but she passionately strived to encourage and empower people through what she did … </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">overcoming many challenges along the way! </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Women on motorcycles is not a common sight in
Tanzania. Even women riding bicycles has been pretty uncommon … it’s a bit like
beekeeping, not something that women traditionally “do.” But Claire has
challenged that bias. Seeing the huge need to help midwives travel to help women
in labour in remote villages and get women to hospitals, she has taught midwives
to ride motorcycles! She has trained women not just to ride the bikes but to be highly skilled at bike maintenance and train people in road and bike safety. This is a huge issue in Tanzania with so many motorcycle accidents and deaths on the roads. They also teach children road and bike safety, which is so important as it can be so dangerous walking or riding the back of a bike to school every day. Through MJ Piki, she
has set women up in businesses doing taxi and delivery service on motorcycles. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhu-PEj-jZk6uoVLL0h-giDm3oOyi5efj2T63QhRXnVi5vaMqZuzgZ1xiMyGKs7ChZUPTdEmmJSKHF89s87pfz6wWl4JtMeRQ-p3d6QIJdNtneCC6GHCp3NV80xB1IyFIv7dTXiX4rcmh/s1008/MJPIKI.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhu-PEj-jZk6uoVLL0h-giDm3oOyi5efj2T63QhRXnVi5vaMqZuzgZ1xiMyGKs7ChZUPTdEmmJSKHF89s87pfz6wWl4JtMeRQ-p3d6QIJdNtneCC6GHCp3NV80xB1IyFIv7dTXiX4rcmh/w400-h300/MJPIKI.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The women of MJ Piki</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">The
women at MJ Piki ("Brave women on motorcycles") in Mwanza are amazing and also very inspirational ... and so respected in the community! We would see them when they came to The Hive to
collect products from the shop and the organic vegetable deliveries from Mavuno
Village to deliver to people’s homes! </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Claire inspires me because she is doing
something no one has done before (Pikilily is the first women-led motorcycle social enterprise in Africa); she is not afraid to try something new (and encourages others to do the same) and will do what she can
to make a difference. She has taken her passion for riding and bike maintenance,
something she is really good at, and used that skill to help and empower others in a
truly amazing way. It all began for her when she rode 40,000km from London (leaving her job as a stockbroker) to
South Africa on her bike … which is another very inspiring story you must hear about! I'd love to do what she did! You can find out
more about Claire and help the amazing work of <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.pikilily.com/" target="_blank">Pikilily here</a>!</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">And guess what … I now have her leather jacket! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">And also ... thank you so so much for all the amazing support to <b><a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank">Help The Hive</a>.</b> It is so exciting to see that we are so close to our target to help Aikande and Bhatendi and the women they work with at The Hive and in the villages! If you would like to help us with the final bit, please see our <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><b>Hive Fundraiser Page here</b></a></span></i></p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-43951161178718134832021-03-13T12:06:00.011-08:002021-03-13T13:36:04.251-08:00Ready Steady Cook Hive Challenge Results!<p>What fun! We thoroughly enjoyed the Ready Steady Cook Hive Challenge ... except for the judging which was fairly impossible with so many incredibly creative and delicious looking dishes!</p><p>We had four countries and all ages represented! It was so much fun to have friends with us from Vancouver, Canada, North Carolina, USA, Ireland, and various places across the UK. Unfortunately our friends in Tanzania couldn't make it, but Tanzania was well represented with people who had lived there! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lOP5TcsoZPecxfKco8ww4qArB9nlK8E4P8b2Ygl8UP2d7_RI4_jWNnl9ICFWuuz9igA7JHpCgjuBBT0EqPDRymmzQTMJ5f53RLX56rhvA8QICjFPmXYL6JlnCYpE-VBwfZF4xBRPGMmG/s720/FB_IMG_1615660185357.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lOP5TcsoZPecxfKco8ww4qArB9nlK8E4P8b2Ygl8UP2d7_RI4_jWNnl9ICFWuuz9igA7JHpCgjuBBT0EqPDRymmzQTMJ5f53RLX56rhvA8QICjFPmXYL6JlnCYpE-VBwfZF4xBRPGMmG/w400-h300/FB_IMG_1615660185357.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very international Hive Challenge!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I know you want to see the amazing things these chefs all came up with...</p><p>Everyone had a limit of 5 ingredients and the dish had to include HONEY.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Mj0hUi2dnMDVOwfLUvh8L5i7n9zWqribmUxXmxIsGgdND7_pGcoWZ_jikpvBn7GvGKbS8LddU-U6kL7KlLQXdIJyCfX3aOOAVNY0vLjM_WhD4_ngDEMoDgzSs2NBCWjssDcoV3WQUdjk/s1599/IMG-20210313-WA0003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Mj0hUi2dnMDVOwfLUvh8L5i7n9zWqribmUxXmxIsGgdND7_pGcoWZ_jikpvBn7GvGKbS8LddU-U6kL7KlLQXdIJyCfX3aOOAVNY0vLjM_WhD4_ngDEMoDgzSs2NBCWjssDcoV3WQUdjk/w400-h300/IMG-20210313-WA0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting Ready...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vhoz1MKVNB1untVW4Kk5ZhyfugfpDivfeAxh1Pa0Jw1s-A1OzX97phoOxhHPJ0-gXgN-KF3MBciDOoOPcTLs-OKH-huLVNdKZW5il71MMT0kw1i836OcF6rcXWEcFNIM2P4gcvaRc6LL/s720/FB_IMG_1615660203012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vhoz1MKVNB1untVW4Kk5ZhyfugfpDivfeAxh1Pa0Jw1s-A1OzX97phoOxhHPJ0-gXgN-KF3MBciDOoOPcTLs-OKH-huLVNdKZW5il71MMT0kw1i836OcF6rcXWEcFNIM2P4gcvaRc6LL/w400-h300/FB_IMG_1615660203012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Everyone had 60 minutes to make their dish before we all came back together to share the results. Zoom is fantastic for bringing people together from all over the world, but it really doesn't work when you want to taste all the amazing things you see on the screen!<div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwHTJv0WuSFTbcVDFvsweHR93bSGKyi9NDfign-Ar1HxeTIdZNNyX7fh_OjAXQFtZfAMdzpeNu4yVaAposDjqplZtND7Eavnx8ax2vJBlTI0XGIxIuyEBNRPhNg7NIowt_0qlmbT2-nto/s1600/IMG-20210313-WA0016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwHTJv0WuSFTbcVDFvsweHR93bSGKyi9NDfign-Ar1HxeTIdZNNyX7fh_OjAXQFtZfAMdzpeNu4yVaAposDjqplZtND7Eavnx8ax2vJBlTI0XGIxIuyEBNRPhNg7NIowt_0qlmbT2-nto/w400-h300/IMG-20210313-WA0016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beautiful Honey Cake with only 3 ingredients won the Challenge! <br />They invincibly lived up to their name as the Honey Badgers!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFwR3zwwLM4hKh8RM-EN5gyR0T9rKV1O72n3cZFDjMQkUz-F0a9WVlwTlVNmglqc7_Toe_BSV5XEet-RMW0o1DoiHwp6kBp_eO6_7kefiD-89CTkYCtKnZDtZY355q8m-PV9UC23TeOgx/s1600/IMG-20210313-WA0026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFwR3zwwLM4hKh8RM-EN5gyR0T9rKV1O72n3cZFDjMQkUz-F0a9WVlwTlVNmglqc7_Toe_BSV5XEet-RMW0o1DoiHwp6kBp_eO6_7kefiD-89CTkYCtKnZDtZY355q8m-PV9UC23TeOgx/w300-h400/IMG-20210313-WA0026.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey Bunny scored a super close second with this super creative display of <br />Honey Bee Buzzy Flappy Jacks! (Honey Bunny gets Best Ears Award)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaBuaiWL3YeFKoTkBKSTJNCw4sJlzkSPI_Jf85HJj1sl5-aL_pmfMccepnRK_oJa_mswRFtkeTm17UGVHMBdglVEg0EB_KCKhOlqIaBJDXouTeliwR2wineJxhcp8l_sftzAPLBeFbY82/s1024/IMG-20210313-WA0032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaBuaiWL3YeFKoTkBKSTJNCw4sJlzkSPI_Jf85HJj1sl5-aL_pmfMccepnRK_oJa_mswRFtkeTm17UGVHMBdglVEg0EB_KCKhOlqIaBJDXouTeliwR2wineJxhcp8l_sftzAPLBeFbY82/w225-h400/IMG-20210313-WA0032.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susannah gets the Youngest Chef Award for Original (and most colourful) Creation <br />with her Blue-Berry-Stablein-Scream with the Berry-Stablein Team</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9XUOXinGamxEOOtAGyywqm39hAr63IMGWqXcRPFzRXP-larWFKHiyHBZRB7EULyT8t0cc-lAPgMNpjkFThLjcp4TrlmmOl6YzcLmo7xNhQgfHhQrjRokDO3_gPnBQBpjFghRYFWvuZJH/s1599/IMG-20210313-WA0024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="899" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9XUOXinGamxEOOtAGyywqm39hAr63IMGWqXcRPFzRXP-larWFKHiyHBZRB7EULyT8t0cc-lAPgMNpjkFThLjcp4TrlmmOl6YzcLmo7xNhQgfHhQrjRokDO3_gPnBQBpjFghRYFWvuZJH/w225-h400/IMG-20210313-WA0024.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's Buzzing Grange Girls Group made these delicious <br />Honey Flapjacks which disappeared quickly with the boarders giving it top marks!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPad1KfMA4rylHD7MSG3hrL48oQtEZjcFESQKKYbIzqkN_34lEN_XOaHoDNE0eZJbpfZYUm3BHoL7czn6LPFdeuIKS_lby6AKOUkQduWT1-H0sZfuCQcfD0o6z5rxYAW5KCpkV6au0bEe/s1599/IMG-20210313-WA0015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPad1KfMA4rylHD7MSG3hrL48oQtEZjcFESQKKYbIzqkN_34lEN_XOaHoDNE0eZJbpfZYUm3BHoL7czn6LPFdeuIKS_lby6AKOUkQduWT1-H0sZfuCQcfD0o6z5rxYAW5KCpkV6au0bEe/w300-h400/IMG-20210313-WA0015.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HoneyCache (avid Geocachers) produced a candle-lit gourmet meal <br />with their Honey Glazed Salmon (Fastest Chefs too)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-8H7ZZjb3_ElGrjK89vDBF193nLT3iJMDvs8aJ-BFyER-jh4B9Sy7lpAlzhY9jr-azJFRS-G84eNByesDmcuCytjKXx-7kfIVFgjb1422leHcsFTg2ZqOIWHe6GnGMiAuuNsWsxifAP2/s1600/IMG-20210313-WA0018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-8H7ZZjb3_ElGrjK89vDBF193nLT3iJMDvs8aJ-BFyER-jh4B9Sy7lpAlzhY9jr-azJFRS-G84eNByesDmcuCytjKXx-7kfIVFgjb1422leHcsFTg2ZqOIWHe6GnGMiAuuNsWsxifAP2/w400-h225/IMG-20210313-WA0018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Honey Bee Biscuits from the WeBeeLong Team (Best Name Award!) <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo_Y7PTyMiezSKMpimRK96Cl0JrCVROcIyqQI7kBda2lQYPlpbxB_vpBT_7s3oJT0mPrVCR1GI6ZAi6q94bjrK8aEBWyGfaNY_nb_AfqBigJpPRHkaCgzBsCVhPQ5Hrbc4O6hPE4Thyphenhyphenvd/s1600/IMG-20210313-WA0019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo_Y7PTyMiezSKMpimRK96Cl0JrCVROcIyqQI7kBda2lQYPlpbxB_vpBT_7s3oJT0mPrVCR1GI6ZAi6q94bjrK8aEBWyGfaNY_nb_AfqBigJpPRHkaCgzBsCVhPQ5Hrbc4O6hPE4Thyphenhyphenvd/w225-h400/IMG-20210313-WA0019.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berry Merry made this dazzling Honey Cheesecake!<br />We love the decorating!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRcMVYitTDIOVi-X7GIu7K4A34Ogn54dp_MLINtRgDjI9-EHJrtELAWc-a13z7ZJ1L6rGEMgRtRwQqcPYpReUa1H1a06WUfJ51DtfW9xvqqAfqFd15ulLUc5cDRBw4mRhgKqGnGlf6rPs/s1599/IMG-20210313-WA0022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="899" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRcMVYitTDIOVi-X7GIu7K4A34Ogn54dp_MLINtRgDjI9-EHJrtELAWc-a13z7ZJ1L6rGEMgRtRwQqcPYpReUa1H1a06WUfJ51DtfW9xvqqAfqFd15ulLUc5cDRBw4mRhgKqGnGlf6rPs/w225-h400/IMG-20210313-WA0022.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These beautiful Honey Waffles were made by the Honey Brothers <br />(they would make a perfect Mother's Day Treat!)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFSqvrm8s92Yw9qsD84vbRuBxhzzJIzjU5K0R31h9OX9GY8tbGhv3TBYI3Hucau70Vge6BPUnoCjTEYPuhJffap7FjzeXYOysZujAns8t0NTCGnRGexmDcwA44jrdolYOnryJw0KP_bfH/s1024/IMG-20210313-WA0030.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFSqvrm8s92Yw9qsD84vbRuBxhzzJIzjU5K0R31h9OX9GY8tbGhv3TBYI3Hucau70Vge6BPUnoCjTEYPuhJffap7FjzeXYOysZujAns8t0NTCGnRGexmDcwA44jrdolYOnryJw0KP_bfH/w400-h300/IMG-20210313-WA0030.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful and Most Unique were these Persian Sohan Asali <br />from Team Asal in Canada</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOJAMzVuQ9JJVFCG50hxib464Idq_ajTc8jok3KST4AQh2jXB0ZZmGmt1azg1HR6nB0xlz2ahyDBabrN96ZPCMyHBVhwHVUZPcmoAv_o49oph039fX8HPe1uTnPDixBDxX7t_eAp5FRsX/s2048/chicken.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOJAMzVuQ9JJVFCG50hxib464Idq_ajTc8jok3KST4AQh2jXB0ZZmGmt1azg1HR6nB0xlz2ahyDBabrN96ZPCMyHBVhwHVUZPcmoAv_o49oph039fX8HPe1uTnPDixBDxX7t_eAp5FRsX/w300-h400/chicken.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And finally our Honey, There's a Chicken in the Bee-n Hive</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So all in all, some really incredible results and such a lot of fun! We can't say enough how grateful we are for all the support to <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">HelpTheHive!</span></b></a> And to see all these fabulous friends tonight buzzing in kitchen ... it was just amazing! Thank you so much! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>We really missed Rachel, from Basingstoke, who had planned to join us and sadly ended up in hospital. We are praying for you, Rachel! But what was amazing, was communicating with Rachel as the Challenge was about to begin, and with her nurse, Nuru, who was from Tanzania! So we had Swahili going back and forth through Rachel on What'sApp and were chatting about Tanzanian cooking! It turns out </i><i>Nuru's sister lives in Mwanza and so we were </i><i>giving Nuru directions for The Hive for when she goes to visit! What a lovely connection!</i></div>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-14232575742719147342021-03-11T12:22:00.015-08:002021-03-13T04:18:43.637-08:00Thank you! Almost Halfway! <h3 style="text-align: left;">Thank you!</h3><p>Thank you so much to everyone who is supporting The Hive! We are now two days away from the Ready Steady Cook Hive Challenge, almost halfway through our month of fundraising for these amazing women and incredibly, we are almost halfway to our goal! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5atiJsb1a65cKiJbKTPXcRYtQG3WlRuu-f37m-UBqGAGlU2h2dGJzvYtDcjppzpNEjCtj_zM0m0TycXWG4gNreLuc0ZHY_Rn8l-gPPEe29yI3vSs_rtG_awDmd1fTEQmviMXJKN9dtTZj/s2048/thank+you+hive.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5atiJsb1a65cKiJbKTPXcRYtQG3WlRuu-f37m-UBqGAGlU2h2dGJzvYtDcjppzpNEjCtj_zM0m0TycXWG4gNreLuc0ZHY_Rn8l-gPPEe29yI3vSs_rtG_awDmd1fTEQmviMXJKN9dtTZj/s320/thank+you+hive.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Thank you so very much to all of you who have already donated! Thank you to everyone sharing our story with others ... we love that in celebrating the story of the women, we have celebrated Emma and Farhad's wedding and also Heather's birthday!</p><p>It is going to be wonderful to see Aikande able to continue in her role with the women with albinism at The Hive in Mwanza. And to see Bhatendi expanding her work training more beekeepers in community groups around Mwanza who can bring their honey to The Hive! So please help us get there! If you would like to donate, please head to our <b style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large;"><a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Hive Fundraising Page</span></a>! </b>Every bit helps!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Ready Steady Cook Hive Challenge</h3><p>We are excited for Saturday's <a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2021/02/ready-steady-cook-hive-challenge.html" target="_blank">Ready Steady Cook Challenge</a> and look forward to seeing what interesting concoctions emerge from the creative chefs that are zooming into The Hive from the UK, Tanzania and Canada! </p><p>If you are not able to join us (or just a bit zoomed out!) we would love it if you can share a photo of something you have made with honey and a few other ingredients ... you can give it a good name and even share the recipe. If you can tag in #helpthehive and share the <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;"><b>Hive Fundraiser Page</b></span></a> it helps to spread the word. We look forward to posting photos and results here next week! </p><p>Spoiler Alert ... Amisadai, Louisa and I are calling ourselves Team Topbar and our dish will be named "Honey, There's a Chicken in the Bee-n Hive!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxYoq4XlFykRRDeeJJAxTIKBnnV0fMNMdylNBH8KabMKJDpA_pVBFOcAiU-YKEKRcjKY4cZXoykfrfax-Zkbz7pMw1sAJo_93XO4lzOD2DoaJLzachhsQuSnOf__fdP4ZrPV5nxuvY6Ub/s1080/Ready+Steady+Cook.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxYoq4XlFykRRDeeJJAxTIKBnnV0fMNMdylNBH8KabMKJDpA_pVBFOcAiU-YKEKRcjKY4cZXoykfrfax-Zkbz7pMw1sAJo_93XO4lzOD2DoaJLzachhsQuSnOf__fdP4ZrPV5nxuvY6Ub/s320/Ready+Steady+Cook.png" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Inspirational Women</h3><p>The girls and I have really enjoyed thinking about and celebrating women who have inspired us! We realise just how much we appreciate community. We are so privileged to know so many wonderful people, who we can learn from in so many different ways. To see how we all have different gifts and callings and how important that uniqueness is! And then also reading and thinking about women in the past who have blazed trails and overcome challenges is so encouraging. We hope you have also been inspired by their stories and we look forward to sharing some more with you next week! </p><p>Also coming up we want to share some exciting news for the Mwanza beekeeping project... but we will save that for next week!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrevc5z5ajyewb6sKM7yiiXKS8BT2ZbiEqWFg-IhRmECn448SL5eJwv2s0pCk_Mwr9XUEFcVFI0eM69DsbkP0DAHH3Dqb4usX93Qd3mdXXB6TZG77yVa764zzhLt5bzNCByDaTayBd_8MW/s1080/Jo+%25283%2529.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrevc5z5ajyewb6sKM7yiiXKS8BT2ZbiEqWFg-IhRmECn448SL5eJwv2s0pCk_Mwr9XUEFcVFI0eM69DsbkP0DAHH3Dqb4usX93Qd3mdXXB6TZG77yVa764zzhLt5bzNCByDaTayBd_8MW/w200-h200/Jo+%25283%2529.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2021/03/inspirational-woman-jo-symmons.html" target="_blank">Jo Hobson</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjmG0oaRge2i_aKJsPk9hGzeWzr8HotvufJVEdV1OotRnAO-2apPWMXOo7SfmMJvOAzTgpgns1LhcusdgtjvMWK-NH3TThaDb94PFqJHt-N3pvO1XTa8c9vypx7hEvz8bTHEk4xLA3qj1/s1080/Zoe+Willford.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjmG0oaRge2i_aKJsPk9hGzeWzr8HotvufJVEdV1OotRnAO-2apPWMXOo7SfmMJvOAzTgpgns1LhcusdgtjvMWK-NH3TThaDb94PFqJHt-N3pvO1XTa8c9vypx7hEvz8bTHEk4xLA3qj1/w200-h200/Zoe+Willford.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2021/03/inspirational-woman-zoe-willford.html" target="_blank">Zoe Willford</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8WGO9Bu8tFq4Z5AMRLZQfY6eRFQkSh6Wtqa6G1VA08jpgdsX65SStJul0s4p5FV9tqEDfDXsbj5-fEJ8M6YPKAhYaupwOaiMYjjx4lDxCSlT4im5eOws6BehdUp6yvdIji4Jhxv7tXQZ/s1080/Rhobi+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8WGO9Bu8tFq4Z5AMRLZQfY6eRFQkSh6Wtqa6G1VA08jpgdsX65SStJul0s4p5FV9tqEDfDXsbj5-fEJ8M6YPKAhYaupwOaiMYjjx4lDxCSlT4im5eOws6BehdUp6yvdIji4Jhxv7tXQZ/w200-h200/Rhobi+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2021/03/blog-post.html" target="_blank">Rhobi Samwelly</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SlAo80JuV7r-XL2illuzArSJjjL33xv-pDk1dBa4ZqmSXcJMb_bTBO42ZRYbqs3A2J_sLGICZ-xCKxtuChd9PsCpcubMcTB8FENdCvTdI3JnICUFuqQck4Ac4gEwW47d5sOGpVgav3mX/s1080/Aikande.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SlAo80JuV7r-XL2illuzArSJjjL33xv-pDk1dBa4ZqmSXcJMb_bTBO42ZRYbqs3A2J_sLGICZ-xCKxtuChd9PsCpcubMcTB8FENdCvTdI3JnICUFuqQck4Ac4gEwW47d5sOGpVgav3mX/w200-h200/Aikande.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2021/03/who-is-woman-who-inspires-you.html" target="_blank">Aikande Sam</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzDT_s-8-9yLIaXOK1RHkoZhjGRVBG2b6odNe4hpMKqd0cAvUADyfQ-tmMaJC_OPKPG7hGUWhQ9AxYDkd-NScS4SvXs8OH534NExpzDZQtYF_f3TEPkkSZ5zVADAUn4dRSIn2NZcSP-Ol/s1080/Laura.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzDT_s-8-9yLIaXOK1RHkoZhjGRVBG2b6odNe4hpMKqd0cAvUADyfQ-tmMaJC_OPKPG7hGUWhQ9AxYDkd-NScS4SvXs8OH534NExpzDZQtYF_f3TEPkkSZ5zVADAUn4dRSIn2NZcSP-Ol/w200-h200/Laura.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2021/03/inspirational-woman-laura-kelly.html" target="_blank">Laura Kelly</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-30314310293009620442021-03-10T06:58:00.003-08:002021-03-10T07:42:38.246-08:00Inspirational Woman: Zoe Willford<p>Today's inspirational woman is Zoe Willford! She is a woman who has an amazing variety of gifts and skills and who always seems to be learning something new! She is a faithful and servant-hearted woman who humbly shares what she has with others. She lives on a wonderful farm called Allercott in Exmoor and this is the woman who first introduced us to the benefits of value-added products with beeswax. As we celebrate women of The Hive, we cannot miss out on thanking, celebrating and honouring Zoe! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeWsJPP8Ql8oQKMNdscb0-EapFeCbY9TFtxqry9tApss5uvx97WecWnIRX3wUXiqvRpfqSgYka8taSHraQf-ZgpS1ebrmhN-bz9tXzamoiM2_HSI606DRnHBbBynxB2T9kheFV0PpTZT7/s1080/Zoe+Willford.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeWsJPP8Ql8oQKMNdscb0-EapFeCbY9TFtxqry9tApss5uvx97WecWnIRX3wUXiqvRpfqSgYka8taSHraQf-ZgpS1ebrmhN-bz9tXzamoiM2_HSI606DRnHBbBynxB2T9kheFV0PpTZT7/w400-h400/Zoe+Willford.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>She came to us with her husband Julian for the first time in 2016 (having never met us!) and jumped in to our rather crazy house and schedule, whole-heartedly sharing her skills with women's groups in Tanzania! She braved very basic guesthouses in remote villages and adapted with great grace to the challenges continually thrown our way! She put up with early mornings, late nights and uncomfortably hot days. We all so loved having her stay with us in Mwanza on the occasions she came to offer her help and skillsets to help the women. She taught the women's group in Malya and the Upendo wa Mama group in Mwanza how to make beeswax balms and candles and from this, a business was born and four years later The Hive was open! </p><p>Zoe is a woman who can inspire us all to always keep learning new things. And to develop the gifts and skills that God has given us and put them to good use! An attitude to share and serve ... even when it's uncomfortable, difficult or a little out of the ordinary! She is someone who inspires us just to give things a go, practically and humbly just give what can in order to help others. Thank you, Zoe!</p><p><i>And if you are looking for a beautiful place to stay for a holiday in Exmoor, follow the link here to book at their beautiful <a href="http://www.allercott-cottages.co.uk">BeesKnees or Honeycott Cottages</a>! </i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpTQXmNUCFjyfmNEe7T6BCUAbEngkVEYnWAN6clR88Xk6Ix8bV7zL8SG5hyqyfCo84GsxvlGvD0hcjNlS2GBiPMIw-MedH7TTQCCjwPDi-X29HsxCl_V-EvUlXie340cruHMn4IbrdkbQ/s1600/zoe+candles.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpTQXmNUCFjyfmNEe7T6BCUAbEngkVEYnWAN6clR88Xk6Ix8bV7zL8SG5hyqyfCo84GsxvlGvD0hcjNlS2GBiPMIw-MedH7TTQCCjwPDi-X29HsxCl_V-EvUlXie340cruHMn4IbrdkbQ/w300-h400/zoe+candles.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe teaching candle-making in Mwanza in 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxTyYfkyH7moTqiWorTTMIFueOAE2Rna0KHydAfv84Zojqd9i6d9adCVgmbQloXDjVt-gaMq5Eh10GCFJAR4qykj_EbmwDe7AMtK569AG-GnI1jcccjkT4DFclrooemHADuYgWB1sRb8H/s1600/zoe+teaching.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxTyYfkyH7moTqiWorTTMIFueOAE2Rna0KHydAfv84Zojqd9i6d9adCVgmbQloXDjVt-gaMq5Eh10GCFJAR4qykj_EbmwDe7AMtK569AG-GnI1jcccjkT4DFclrooemHADuYgWB1sRb8H/w400-h300/zoe+teaching.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloMkLVwp5xqQG_vsputGZySCXL_oJsXhn5M7iaYao6-KBAQMJgbGMAlstSnJ6u5_qID1JDl5_-tu-8pCEaXRKh1ZBnmfGHLsVgWTHKKqzfho07DdmZLULi3Jd9Damn7q_SV89PY-c9BFP/s3063/Malya+mamas.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="3063" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloMkLVwp5xqQG_vsputGZySCXL_oJsXhn5M7iaYao6-KBAQMJgbGMAlstSnJ6u5_qID1JDl5_-tu-8pCEaXRKh1ZBnmfGHLsVgWTHKKqzfho07DdmZLULi3Jd9Damn7q_SV89PY-c9BFP/w400-h379/Malya+mamas.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Malya Mamas four years later!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><p>On another note ... there is still space if you would like to join in on the <a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2021/02/ready-steady-cook-hive-challenge.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Hive Challenge on Saturday</b></span></a>! We would love to see you! Just think of something you can make with HONEY and just 5 other ingredients! Ask us for the Zoom link! And if you can't join us live, please send us a photo (and name) of your honey creation! </p><p>Thank you for all the amazing support for The Hive! We are getting closer to our goal and are so excited to be able to see The Hive continue with Aikande's leadership! If you would like to donate, please head to the <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>VirginMoneyGiving Page here</b></span></a>! Thank you so much! </p></div>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-1624433186272710162021-03-09T05:25:00.004-08:002021-03-09T08:01:37.177-08:00Inspirational Woman: Laura Kelly<p> Our inspirational woman today is Laura Kelly! Amisadai and Louisa celebrate her here! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="362" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AX-QNC9tCdo" width="507" youtube-src-id="AX-QNC9tCdo"></iframe></div><br /><p>Laura's love for God and for young people is inspirational! As is her humility as she listens and serves. Her desire to bless and encourage others. And she is doing an inspirational work addressing this very taboo topic. </p><p><b>Pads and periods. Menstruation and puberty. </b></p><p>They are not things we particularly like to talk about, and even as we have talked about this project with people in the UK and North America, we have seen the squirming, the embarrassed desire to change the subject. And it is even more of a silent topic in Tanzania. But challenge the shame! Jesus did not shy away from a woman bleeding! We have to talk about this! </p><p>Girls' bodies are precious and should be respected and protected. Periods and the change from girl to woman is not something to be ashamed of. Every girl should be able to celebrate growing into the fullness of the woman she is created to be. For many girls in Tanzania, they are surrounded by myths and fears as their bodies change. Ashamed and confused, they miss school and many drop out altogether. Laura is teaching girls the truth about their bodies. How their bodies work, how they change, and especially how precious they are ... not to be shamed or abused. This is life-changing for these girls. Keep praying for Laura and her co-worker Theopister. Just last week, they heard the sad news that two girls have just left the school because they are pregnant. They are only 12 and 13 years old. The government now bans these girls from ever returning to school. The challenge is real. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNT-t8IUREY0Jw8h9sOHSGFDHtqgpbikmrAGhpVP2DRBqWi_R7YS4JGklyZM6HnLd6WCSPCV70b0CxZriDGGnrBWmWg8sG5jqWJGBg1BZUiomonaYCfB8TVDpH2NBLmyuVYVSPKK8ix8B/s2048/Peter+laura+bhatendi+Hive.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNT-t8IUREY0Jw8h9sOHSGFDHtqgpbikmrAGhpVP2DRBqWi_R7YS4JGklyZM6HnLd6WCSPCV70b0CxZriDGGnrBWmWg8sG5jqWJGBg1BZUiomonaYCfB8TVDpH2NBLmyuVYVSPKK8ix8B/w400-h300/Peter+laura+bhatendi+Hive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Here is Laura with colleagues Bhatendi (Beekeeping Project Manager) and Peter (Agriculture Project Manager) at the Opening Day of The Hive in July! If you would like to support <b>The Hive</b>, please see our <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank">Fundraising Page here</a>! </span></b></p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-38386184054502571402021-03-08T09:02:00.009-08:002021-03-08T12:10:47.052-08:00Happy Women's Day!<div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: times;">Happy Women's Day to you all! A day to celebrate and honour the wonderful women who have shaped and encouraged us, past and present! And yes, today I want to recognise, celebrate, honour and thank these amazing women pictured below. Women from the Upendo wa Mama group who have struggled through unbearable challenges and persevered through much adversity. Women who have encouraged me and taught me so, so much! I cannot thank them enough! They are truly inspirational women! </span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0bOfJ89xmDXcI0vpCjAhijv4Q8LYv8jjwU4q0zgDP_zWNW5QbCA6YdenuamnqlfCOhrE3LnebOuompRY_cPoG4TXb0rrRLrTSOxi9Rff9hk7i07QBr-bbuLdeI1Usc-HVmjvUQtaJP9L/s2048/Mamas+and+kids.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="2048" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0bOfJ89xmDXcI0vpCjAhijv4Q8LYv8jjwU4q0zgDP_zWNW5QbCA6YdenuamnqlfCOhrE3LnebOuompRY_cPoG4TXb0rrRLrTSOxi9Rff9hk7i07QBr-bbuLdeI1Usc-HVmjvUQtaJP9L/w400-h260/Mamas+and+kids.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women from the Upendo wa Mama Group with their children<br />(Photo Credit: Under the Same Sun)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times;">As you all no doubt know from our various social media pages (we clearly didn't give up Facebook for Lent ... I think I have posted more in 2 weeks than I did all year!) the girls and I have been thinking and sharing about women who have inspired us. And we have focussed in particular so far on women we know who have actively been working to see women or girls freed from something. Freed from the threat of FGM, a cycle of crime, the dangers and shame surrounding albinism, and next up on the blog, from the fear and shame of menstruation and inaccessibility of an education. We have celebrated women who have been a voice for the voiceless or sought to help others somehow entrapped in or by something. Bringing freedom. And it raised the question, <b>what is freedom</b>?</span></div></div><p><span style="font-family: times;">At the same time, as part of a series with Holy Trinity Combe Down church, as a family, we have been reading together <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bible-Story-that-Makes-Sense/dp/1529327008/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=andrew+ollerton&qid=1615217300&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><b>"The Bible: A Story that Makes Sense of Life" by Andrew Ollerton</b></a>. It is excellent ... especially if you are really not sure about the Bible ... or life. It makes sense of it all. And right now, we are reading about the great quest for human freedom: The Exodus, <i>"an epic story told from the vantage point of marginalized people overshadowed by empires whom they outlast"</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">For some people, international women's day is about women's rights, protests, marches, fighting for equality... But I think that in all this striving for women's choice, self-expression and liberation, many are missing something. And freedom has been confused and meaning lost. Often now freedom is seen to mean the right to autonomy, free choice. It revolves around <i>self</i>, the individual which should have no constraints or limitations. But as Ollerton points out in his book, this has led to a society "<i>drowning in freedom, and yet thirsting for meaning."</i> with "a maximum of choice but minimum of meaning". We see this everywhere ... the high levels of stress and anxiety when self is not in control, in addictions and distractions, escapism and searches for meaning. Again, to quote Ollerton, "increased choices without a greater sense of purpose results in a tremendous, unbearable pressure." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">So we need to define freedom. As Ollerton says in his book, God is the ultimate freedom fighter. He is the one who sides with the underdog against the oppressor. And He sent his son, Jesus as the true freedom fighter for all humanity. The example of this freedom fighter has inspired countless people over the years (William Wilberforce to abolish slavery, Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton to "save the children," and many, many more including the women we have shared on this blog). And when it comes to women, in an ancient culture that devalued women, the Bible clearly points to another way. Women are created equal, in the image of God. Women are valued and their lives and their stories are important. Through the example of Jesus and the writings of the early church, we see that the faith of women and their contributions are significant. This is a culturally revolutionary freedom! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">As we look at the example in Exodus, and in Jesus (the true Exodus), we see that freedom means more than just coming OUT of something but also means a way IN. It is far bigger than just escaping something, but a journey of faith into something else. Into knowing the purpose for which we were created ... to be image-bearers of God, reflecting his beauty in a world that is broken and chaotic. As Ollerton says, "Exodus is about humans rediscovering the freedom and exhilaration of our original purpose." We don't need to pretend, to compare, to escape, to hide, to act, to strive. We are all unique; we look different, we have different gifts, different roles ... and that is something to celebrate, as we are all created in the image of God, with a purpose. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">And so I hope that somehow, International Women's Day can be reclaimed in the name of true freedom. As we honour women who have inspired us, celebrate the faith and contributions of women in our lives, as we join with the ultimate freedom fighter against the things we see around us that are breaking and hurting people, we want to show not just a way out, but also the way in. <i>In</i> to being free to be who we were created to be. I think this defines freedom! And it is for everyone!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><b>"The glory of God is a human being fully alive" </b></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">Irenaeus </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">And finally, another big thank you for the kind support that is coming in to<b> <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank">Help The Hive</a>! I</b>f you would like to give something to help the work that The Hive is doing for women in Tanzania, please <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank">click here!</a></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinENwbuupEHGBGOyZlwZyMOpTnzQxoVBim332z0pj6zgsK8uSaHVOCxK7RsEpSINzkptcDlhtWja14iqXF8_1UdUg4dPQuqtUOftn1gcp63SnXCaT9hIg2r2FqhwDdEh5T2NN_8g8W81EF/s1080/Help+The+Hive+Solid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinENwbuupEHGBGOyZlwZyMOpTnzQxoVBim332z0pj6zgsK8uSaHVOCxK7RsEpSINzkptcDlhtWja14iqXF8_1UdUg4dPQuqtUOftn1gcp63SnXCaT9hIg2r2FqhwDdEh5T2NN_8g8W81EF/s320/Help+The+Hive+Solid.png" /></a></div><p></p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-39620736682139900122021-03-07T03:57:00.007-08:002021-03-07T06:20:59.256-08:00Inspirational Woman: Jo Hobson<p> Our inspirational woman today is Jo Hobson!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxh5ofZgF_U7zrTGXdn9gBH4q03SzUIeNkQ0brfrv5yRSf3TheyDLewdwqeo46LhLKgCcb2v3UMqxsb_u4OxB6k2a7jZyXnuaPptz8dUbKvMk5aem6_DRQ10ZyuVNORGSDnWXErlhYJQB1/s1080/Jo+%25283%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxh5ofZgF_U7zrTGXdn9gBH4q03SzUIeNkQ0brfrv5yRSf3TheyDLewdwqeo46LhLKgCcb2v3UMqxsb_u4OxB6k2a7jZyXnuaPptz8dUbKvMk5aem6_DRQ10ZyuVNORGSDnWXErlhYJQB1/w320-h320/Jo+%25283%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We first met Jo quite a number of years ago in Iringa, Tanzania when she came with her wonderful parents (who are also pretty inspirational) to visit our good friends Andy and Angela (who are also very inspirational). We've been able to meet her a couple of times since then and are inspired by her vibrant, fun character (I don't think the girls actually knew what Jo did when they first met her!) combined with her servant-hearted commitment and dedication to working with women in and coming out of prison.</span></div><p>Jo co-founded and manages<b> ID Essence</b>, (which grew out of Kahaila church in East London, and is now part of ID Prison Ministry), working to mentor young women (ages 18-25), giving them training and resettlement support both in prison and then in their communities. Jo and the team work to break the cycle of offending through holistic mentoring, pastoral support and through life skills courses. Giving women skills and confidence, a true sense of identity to realise their full potential and be positive contributors to society. Jo is also actively working hard to challenge social injustice and raising awareness and providing resources through a Social Justice project to bring about change. </p><p>Jo's heart for these women is for restoration, and she sums it up beautifully here... </p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: effra; font-size: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"There are no winners in crime. It can leave communities and all those affected feeling broken and fractured. We believe</span><strong style="font-family: effra; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: effra; font-size: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">restoration is at the heart of the Christian faith and who God is. Our hope is that our work will reflect this by beginning to bring restoration where there has been harm. We want to help women in prison to feel restored in the way they view themselves and others. </span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: effra; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>True restoration requires work on all sides and so it is our hope to see our society begin to grow in its understanding of people in prison, and the wider social injustices that have led them to be there. We believe that understanding is key to enabling communities to move through the fear, anger, hurt and stigma that surrounds crime and those convicted of crime." </i></p><p>We asked Jo to tell us about a woman who has been an inspiration to her. She told us about <b>Sister Helen Prejean, </b>who inspired her to work with people in prison. Sister Helen (born 1939) has been a leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. She has ministered to inmates on death row and also founded <i>Survive</i>, a organization devoted to counseling families of victims of violence. </p><p>So today, we just want to thank and celebrate Jo for the important work that she does. Compassionate love and faith in action! And also recognise and pray for all the young women she and her team are working with, women on a journey, vulnerable and hurting, traumatised and struggling, that they would know that they are created in the image of God, created with a purpose and that they could live in the freedom and fullness of what that is.</p><p>Here is a link where you can read more about the amazing work Jo does with <a href="https://www.idessence.org/?fbclid=IwAR38400wkxyaktKoORSRR9rxa-Kkp7OPUQNtFX_kjed5Ew8YmILJmpFMlIc"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ID Essence</span></b></a> and support them.</p><p><i>And once again thank you so much for your support for <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Hive</span></b></a>! Here is the link if you would like to contribute ... it all helps! We are so grateful to all who have given and shared! Thank you!</i></p><p><i>Tomorrow is International Women's Day! Don't forget to share about a woman who has inspired you. And don't forget to sign up for the <a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2021/02/ready-steady-cook-hive-challenge.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ready Steady Cook Challenge</b></span></a> on Saturday 13th! </i></p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-79207944622270802382021-03-05T01:30:00.005-08:002021-03-17T01:54:19.269-07:00Inspirational Woman: Rhobi Samwelly<p>Today our inspirational woman is Rhobi Samwelly, a woman who has devoted her life to helping girls to escape the threat of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). Rhobi herself was a victim of FGM and now fearlessly has risked her life to stand up against cultural traditions that are harming (sometimes killing) so many girls across the world. She speaks up for the voiceless and has spoken worldwide to ministers and ambassadors. Known as Mama Rhobi, she has established Hope for Girls and Women, safe houses that have rescued hundreds of girls running away from the threat of FGM, providing refuge for at-risk girls in cutting season in the Mara Region of Tanzania. (Yes, this does really happen today. We have seen ourselves the girls that have run to Mwanza, and be helped through the work of Christ Daughters) At the safe houses, girls are supported in getting an education or vocational training. Rhobi then works tirelessly to reconcile the girls with their families and works with local village leaders, teachers and parents to develop alternative rites of passage which do not compromise the health and human rights of young girls. Rhobi has a tragic and painful story, but it is inspirational how she has used her story to go on to change the lives of so many others. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw75hnH2sKvF22Hgijr4uwQ75GDhQqN0mX0eY2UT60w4T-kuk9rDTAB7hcBHfq5F3aBWLByNzXJEbKXODOaLtnx8kORFVBWwZNM1gFR295C36z_PinxQmO-WQWQKk8p-sbJ-JSKKT6yt4L/s1080/Rhobi+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw75hnH2sKvF22Hgijr4uwQ75GDhQqN0mX0eY2UT60w4T-kuk9rDTAB7hcBHfq5F3aBWLByNzXJEbKXODOaLtnx8kORFVBWwZNM1gFR295C36z_PinxQmO-WQWQKk8p-sbJ-JSKKT6yt4L/s320/Rhobi+1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLewxgLKWoMrHZQMM9PhvZ_wbw2rqR_4bhN7SEURYK2Oia-gX3YsepWXWOrhTUMCozm_wA8O483um7czGXhTq0Vl080KPjKJjLWxePhdB0IvCKz4KF1D30n3g8MHJn9gxA5xQHYdmNp9P/s1080/rhobi+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLewxgLKWoMrHZQMM9PhvZ_wbw2rqR_4bhN7SEURYK2Oia-gX3YsepWXWOrhTUMCozm_wA8O483um7czGXhTq0Vl080KPjKJjLWxePhdB0IvCKz4KF1D30n3g8MHJn9gxA5xQHYdmNp9P/s320/rhobi+2.jpg" /></a></div><p>If you would like to find out more about this, about Rhobi and some of the very bravest girls in the world, you can do this on International Women's Day! Follow the link below to a sign up for a screening on Monday evening of the incredible film by Canadian filmmaker and founder of END FGM Canada, Gisette Portenier. Louisa and I will be there! And Rhobi will be joining afterwards for a Q&A session! </p><p>(Amisadai)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tanzdevtrust.org/events/in-the-name-of-your-daughter-on-international-womens-day/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyomvhJco24GR7iRnvAbHb1s0cuJrkqzG-XOdZB7O9BGaFH98fp8CYFGNTZzRTKN1TfxLWd4X6wFTUlBFxW165pEyjLRduKE9cWhH40P-JAYbRanspk4cLYRAfSBr7x9ixDHybhypdp0p/w400-h200/In-the-name-of-your-daughter.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Find out more here! </span><a href="https://tanzdevtrust.org/events/in-the-name-of-your-daughter-on-international-womens-day/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">In The Name of Your Daughter Screening</span></b></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Volunteer as a Mapper (Louisa)</h3><p>Now if this is something you #choosetochallenge there is a good way to get involved at home! And this is through mapping! I, Louisa, have been doing mapping as my voluntary service for the Duke of Edinburgh award. Some may think that lockdown meant there was not much we could do to volunteer ... but this is something really valuable you can do online from home! Janet Chapman from The Tanzania Development Trust (co-hosting the screening of the film) has set up a very good program in Tanzania called Crowd2Map, which is really helping to protect girls at risk of FGM and helping in all kinds of other ways for community development. </p><p>Navigating to people and places in need, planning and development is very difficult when you can't find the way. We know this from living in Tanzania! It is hard to explain this to people in England when there are tarmac roads going everywhere you need to go and everyone is using GPS. But in Tanzania it is very different. Even to try to explain to people how to find our house in the city, we had to tell people to go past the little shop, turn onto the dirt road after the little banana stall, then go up a hill which feels like its a river bed, past the mango tree and our house is opposite the big rocks. (To find the house where we lived in a rural village was even harder!) I waited a very long time for everyone to arrive at a big birthday party one year! And once we had to try and explain the way to an ambulance trying to find us and Dad was out on the road trying to find it. So imagine that situation for so many people all over the country. So many girls in trouble. But crowd source mapping can make a really amazing difference! Online mapping volunteers everywhere can add roads and buildings to Open Street Map from satellite images and then people in Tanzania (it is done in other countries too) are trained as mappers and they add the names of the villages, hospitals, churches, shops etc. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="347" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IPXERbF5SFw" width="417" youtube-src-id="IPXERbF5SFw"></iframe></div><br /><p>I am really enjoying being part of it and right now I am working on mapping an area in Tabora where there will be a project reaching out to keep girls in schools! It is easy to do, simple to learn with good instructions, it can be done anytime on your own. You simply pick the project and area you want to work on and start mapping! It's interesting to be involved, great to know you are helping people. And with lots of people just mapping their small bits, it all makes a big difference. You can find out much more about <a href="https://tanzdevtrust.org/crowd2map/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">mapping here</span></b></a>! </p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you to everyone who is supporting our <span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><b>#HelpTheHive Fundraiser</b></a>!</span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br />And don't forget to share your own stories of women who have inspired you! Thank you!</p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-51179800891404160932021-03-04T01:31:00.001-08:002021-03-04T07:36:59.394-08:00Who is a Woman who Inspires You?<p> Who is a woman who inspires you?</p><p>This week Amisadai is involved in activities surrounding International Women's Day at their school and she has set the challenge for fellow students to think about this question. Here is a short video she made to pose the question ...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="327" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jb1QF-cYNSY" width="451" youtube-src-id="jb1QF-cYNSY"></iframe></div><p>And now we also wanted to invite you into the challenge! This week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a woman who has inspired you! Tell us about someone who has inspired you, maybe a quote or a story too, I think it will be inspiring for many more of us, so please share! It can be anonymous too if that is more appropriate. </p><p>There is so much we can learn from the life and experiences of others! And it is good to honour, encourage and thank others ... women don't have to be famous or "saints" to be inspirational, but let us appreciate the ordinary people in our lives who inspire and encourage us in everyday life! </p><p>Please share in the comments here! Or head over to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HelpTheHiveMwanza" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hive Facebook Page</span></b></a> and share there! Or maybe write a private note to someone you know to thank them for the inspiration they have been to you. </p><p>We know so many wonderful women we would love to celebrate here, but we have just selected a few of the women we know who are inspirationally using the gifts they have to serve and give hope... and then a few other women from history who we have been inspired by! The girls will be posting some of their inspirational women on social media and we will share here on the blog over the next few weeks and keep the hashtag #HelpTheHive circulating! </p><p>Today, as you have heard in the video, we want to celebrate <b>Aikande</b>, our dear friend who is doing so much to lead and encourage the<i> Upendo wa Mama</i> women at <b>The Hive</b> in Tanzania. I don't think she realised just how much she was signing up for when she arrived! She has devoted herself to serving the women, learning so many new things and putting it all into practice! And I know that the Mwanza community she serves with the mamas through The Hive Shop (coordinating deliveries of fresh organic vegetables from Mavuno Family Children's home and orders of coffee and fresh meats...) they love and appreciate her too! And we are trusting that at the end of this fundraising month, we will be able to ensure her role at The Hive will continue!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq9f-xPYSI6b9dlR2x2cFVnOCknttX5WpIoNEXTgfg26MXd2pg6ZOWl8WynWXeiro1Ck0K5B-GPdyGZQIyOnzSbnsiXW8svIPACUVN7KVZfmUr3cYpyUkPAeStB5cVEdctYtFvv2U-eMU/s1080/Aikande.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq9f-xPYSI6b9dlR2x2cFVnOCknttX5WpIoNEXTgfg26MXd2pg6ZOWl8WynWXeiro1Ck0K5B-GPdyGZQIyOnzSbnsiXW8svIPACUVN7KVZfmUr3cYpyUkPAeStB5cVEdctYtFvv2U-eMU/w400-h400/Aikande.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Thank you so very much to those who have given to Help the Hive already! Thank you for your shares and likes and comments! You can find the <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Virgin Money Giving Page </span></b></a>here! And our Canadian friends who would like to donate can now go directly to this <a href="https://www.eicanada.org/product/help-the-hive/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">EIC Giving Page!</span></b></a> <p></p><p>Thank you so very much, it all makes a difference!</p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-84279711555827359492021-03-03T04:25:00.005-08:002021-03-04T06:17:48.769-08:00Why Do Beekeeping?<p>For those of you who have followed this blog for some time, you know a lot about our journey into beekeeping! And it's been such a crazy journey! But we realise some of you here are new and may well be wondering, what the beekeeping is all about! </p><p>We have been working with subsistence farmers in rural villages in Tanzania where a year of food for the family is dependent on their crop harvest. This can be hugely challenging in seasons of droughts or floods. Women carry a huge load of the work in tending the fields, cooking, collecting water and firewood, caring for children. Life is hard work. Secondary education is a privilege... There is so much more I could say! So why on earth do beekeeping with communities in Tanzania? Why raise money to support a beekeeping project? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="322" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ncNHyQTvVTs" width="461" youtube-src-id="ncNHyQTvVTs"></iframe></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">So Why Do Beekeeping?</h3><p>Beekeeping is a sustainable, accessible, income-generating project for rural communities. Bees arrive in the hives for free (with a little encouragement!) and hives are locally made. Honey sales improve livelihoods, allieviating poverty ...and learning about beeswax as a valuable marketable commodity can often surprise people!</p><p>Top-Bar beekeeping (as opposed to traditional log hives high in trees) is inclusive, a project now possible for women! </p><p>Keeping hives in fields greatly increases crop yields for these farmers, hives in trees increase fruit yields, improving livelihoods through diet and increased family income.</p><p>Beekeeping provides a perfect incentive to protect and care for forested areas for hives. A beekeeping group is motivated to integrate tree planting into their activities and start tree nurseries in their villages.</p><p>Training beekeepers in community village groups provides a wonderful opportunity to engage with people, establish support networks with discipleship and prayer, offer further training in entrepreneurship, savings and loans, and working together on other income-generating projects. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">And Why The Hive?</h3><p>Through Emmanuel International and the local churches we work with, we have trained beekeepers in community groups in four rural villages so far. The Hive is a central place in the city of Mwanza where these beekeepers can bring their honey to process in a clean and enclosed (bee-proof!) environment. It gives the beekeepers a good market for their honey. And as these beekeepers are well trained in harvesting quality honey, the honey at the Hive is highly sought after, trusted not to be boiled with sugar or diluted with water! </p><p>All of these groups are able to send a beekeeper to Mwanza with buckets of honey that the group has harvested. At the Hive, we have trained Aikande and Monika (in the Upendo wa Mama Group) to test the quality of the honey. If the honey meets Hive standards, the Hive will buy the honey and sell in the shop. (If the quality is not good enough, the beekeepers can always process it and then sell it in their own village). The women work with the beekeepers to process the honey and then the honey is all put in labelled jars to sell! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUHLoouJ2eqe86s_SfIDzZArrlL-kAEeOMJM7BGuvoKv36tzqRmjQL9gsRkJluUktMtL7fQXlpdfesP7OGfXjeGdvwQ63Zs3ImTnYZgMkHYjb2DLzXHpjKN25uOH_ZuKQS3C6PWnKIOvO/s2048/20200615_103648%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUHLoouJ2eqe86s_SfIDzZArrlL-kAEeOMJM7BGuvoKv36tzqRmjQL9gsRkJluUktMtL7fQXlpdfesP7OGfXjeGdvwQ63Zs3ImTnYZgMkHYjb2DLzXHpjKN25uOH_ZuKQS3C6PWnKIOvO/w300-h400/20200615_103648%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pAiZ_snhKOHb8uJbBPQtuLBbwA_cL47W_z-3A5YniSqFZww5TyNUzodNNANXTSOiQN6aI4CRnN_aAyapXTk-y-K0JdEAU_c_eAAoMh0LGGsaSk1sGh7C8lVj3dU-kAOVo2HIhpewYCrQ/s2048/20200615_111832.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pAiZ_snhKOHb8uJbBPQtuLBbwA_cL47W_z-3A5YniSqFZww5TyNUzodNNANXTSOiQN6aI4CRnN_aAyapXTk-y-K0JdEAU_c_eAAoMh0LGGsaSk1sGh7C8lVj3dU-kAOVo2HIhpewYCrQ/w300-h400/20200615_111832.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6D1yukIXP7xWFRKmJ4dwwhpSRZuA8dWnE9dve-9QXkto7OAsutH_Dob7Zwtvu-Ihl5u0axTz5uAwR6vFwpux-PMgTCawSWm-KU_8EUDMSg8b4_LWUVs2T_kDkEaRfZG_BG_F5MZvPEp9/s2048/IMG-20200615-WA0003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6D1yukIXP7xWFRKmJ4dwwhpSRZuA8dWnE9dve-9QXkto7OAsutH_Dob7Zwtvu-Ihl5u0axTz5uAwR6vFwpux-PMgTCawSWm-KU_8EUDMSg8b4_LWUVs2T_kDkEaRfZG_BG_F5MZvPEp9/w225-h400/IMG-20200615-WA0003.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p>We are excited about seeing The Hive help increasingly more rural beekeepers in providing access to good processing, a promising market and also hopefully soon, access to more resources and equipment! We will be sharing more in another blog about an exciting new project coming up in partnership with Bees Abroad for women beekeepers on Kome Island! </p><p>If you would like to donate to Help The Hive, please head over to our <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Virgin Money Giving Page here</b></span></a></p><p>Thank you so very much! We so appreciate your support and the difference it all makes! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YJ7k3TgQPX6QkarnXRXoMvey1TbaHWDe6B7mtR5laeXcz3qpqr5BSTbEqYAkGsD9JMrI-X5NF5hPbbNUNp1nzKO2jIYcFhvBu6ncZvb80P3dt-hlYmkH_VhBkXeD4FcfXRrpTP_ItXqg/s1080/Help+The+Hive+Solid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YJ7k3TgQPX6QkarnXRXoMvey1TbaHWDe6B7mtR5laeXcz3qpqr5BSTbEqYAkGsD9JMrI-X5NF5hPbbNUNp1nzKO2jIYcFhvBu6ncZvb80P3dt-hlYmkH_VhBkXeD4FcfXRrpTP_ItXqg/w400-h400/Help+The+Hive+Solid.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-314304608659644532021-03-02T04:15:00.000-08:002021-03-02T04:15:42.025-08:00Karibu Kupika ... A Blast from the Past!<p>We were looking through old photos and videos over half term! And found this hilarious video which was shown on <a href="http://mongergirls.blogspot.com/2012/09/last-days-in-tanzania.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Amisadai and Louisa's blog</b></span></a> from Iringa many years ago (along with a photo of playing Bladder Ball with Ben and Katy!) The wonderful benefits of homeschooling ... this was a fun English unit on how to write and give instructions! Which also covered Home Economics, Math, IT and Drama! </p><p>But we thought it might inspire you to get cookin' for the Hive Challenge! It could qualify if you add some honey to make it into honey shortbread! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="368" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0IT-Rw4jhTw" width="443" youtube-src-id="0IT-Rw4jhTw"></iframe></div><p>Are you <b>READY</b> now? </p><p>Get <b>STEADY</b> (remember you only need some honey and FIVE ingredients!) and then ...</p><p><b>COOK</b>! In 60 minutes on March 13th</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4uFy6NXuWfl0thDhe-ECTwSmy_pOLvwB1DprbQ16G92Y8p-nruh1r8eoY46gmu6vsLzEXqspGfMXJmhjTHCcBPgU8cJareoOCuXp9XmxGDXOqpwiNe27WglgDl6xGcIM0SOlfxzxE2Uf/s1080/Ready+Steady+Cook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4uFy6NXuWfl0thDhe-ECTwSmy_pOLvwB1DprbQ16G92Y8p-nruh1r8eoY46gmu6vsLzEXqspGfMXJmhjTHCcBPgU8cJareoOCuXp9XmxGDXOqpwiNe27WglgDl6xGcIM0SOlfxzxE2Uf/s320/Ready+Steady+Cook.png" /></a></div><p>Thank you so much for the donations that have just come in! We have now updated our <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Hive Fundraiser page</b></span></a> with a short video explaining a bit of background ... particularly for those who don't know us so well personally! Please share the page with your friends and family!</p><p>We will be back here on the blog on Thursday with another challenge for those of you not so keen on cooking!</p><p><br /></p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-13361350735912877632021-02-28T04:07:00.004-08:002021-02-28T07:38:47.571-08:00Ready Steady Cook Hive Challenge<p>Thank you so much to everyone who has already sent kind messages and donations for the <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive">#HelpTheHive Fundraiser</a>!</span></b> We were so thrilled to see them all... even as we felt we have hardly started yet! And thank you to all those of you who are praying for our friends in Tanzania right now with all that is going on. Your prayers and love are so appreciated! </p><p>Now for a bit more information on our <b>Ready Steady Cook Hive Challenge</b> which is coming up on Saturday March 13th! We had a quite a few giggles trying to make this video! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="353" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uDWh2j6Nh9k" width="425" youtube-src-id="uDWh2j6Nh9k"></iframe></div><br /><p>So there you have it... </p><p><b>The Challenge: Make a dish with HONEY and only FIVE* other ingredients in 60 MINUTES. </b></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*You are also allowed up to a tablespoon of basic cupboard ingredients (eg oil, spices, seasonings etc) and water doesn't count!</span></p><p>We would love you to join in! It really is just for fun... for any age (yes, kids' ideas are great too)! We will be setting up a Zoom link for Saturday March 13th at 4pm (UK time) and welcome you to join us then! After a brief introduction, you will go to the kitchen and have ONE HOUR to make your dish and then we will gather together again on Zoom for presentation and taste tasting!</p><p>But if you can't make it then (time zones are difficult to work around!) or would rather do your own thing, you can always invite your own friends and family to your own zoom Ready Steady Cook Hive Challenge and share your fun results with us afterwards! This would actually help to get more people involved! And the more the merrier! </p><p>Here in a nutshell is how it works...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPLrUYlpcuihdgl7ujBJMGWHF1YzmtXKFaaBpDThRMw0F0b17ilsPDUq2HdZ5A5c1hD7gOyQha-9ofd3s5hisMeHqimUUz_nX9uE8PB9M09isUaVkr0umQQzoJWa6lzyZmfqMAfSvNZMV/s2048/RSCInstructions.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPLrUYlpcuihdgl7ujBJMGWHF1YzmtXKFaaBpDThRMw0F0b17ilsPDUq2HdZ5A5c1hD7gOyQha-9ofd3s5hisMeHqimUUz_nX9uE8PB9M09isUaVkr0umQQzoJWa6lzyZmfqMAfSvNZMV/w283-h400/RSCInstructions.png" width="283" /></a></div><p>Contact us (rachelmonger@gmail.com) before March 10th if you would like join in and get more information! And Let's Get Cookin'!</p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-40477321048174478672021-02-26T06:14:00.004-08:002021-02-27T02:39:03.229-08:00The Buzz for International Women's Day<p style="text-align: left;"><i>It is International Women's Day on Monday, March 8th. </i><i>And in brief, here is what's cookin'!</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">#HelpTheHive</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Throughout March, we really want to help and support </span><b>The Hive, Mwanza, </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">the project empowering women with albinism and supporting rural beekeepers in Tanzania. There are so many needs all over the world right now but this is one small way we feel we are able to make a difference and we know many of you who have followed our blog know and love these women and beekeepers too. We hope you can get involved in whatever way you are able to!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">You can find our <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HelpTheHive" target="_blank"><b>Virgin Money Giving Fundraising Page</b></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> here! </span></p><p style="text-align: left;">The girls and I will be using this blog over the following weeks to communicate about the fundraiser and things related, so please come back soon! And get ready for the<i> <b>READY STEADY COOK Hive Challenge!</b> </i>(Details coming soon!) If you have any ideas or things to share, please do post or message as we really want you all to get involved and enjoy this month too! We will also be sharing on social media, so please join us and follow, share and contribute on what's happening with #HelpTheHive!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxBK8fiBT6BTmozaS3hItOyUhvPaFM9fasuzW1qDR-5hNt5sW5WLgDMS1eFPCmWWuoOaNBZxFTUqof646vVLxI5-y4J8oEN6s3byHSSgmf71ZRXBhMWfVdgokWmPlHhNCtumSP9c0K7-f/s2965/The+Hive+Mamas.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2202" data-original-width="2965" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxBK8fiBT6BTmozaS3hItOyUhvPaFM9fasuzW1qDR-5hNt5sW5WLgDMS1eFPCmWWuoOaNBZxFTUqof646vVLxI5-y4J8oEN6s3byHSSgmf71ZRXBhMWfVdgokWmPlHhNCtumSP9c0K7-f/w400-h297/The+Hive+Mamas.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br />And now for a bit more story (you all know I am not so good at "brief"!!) </b></div><p>It feels rather good to be back on the blog ... I realise I miss it! But now I am writing from our little home tucked quietly in the valley near Bath in lockdown and I'm not sure how interesting my posts would be! Our thoughts and prayers are very much with those we love in Tanzania. You may have seen Tanzania featuring on the international news recently, as a country dismissing the need for vaccines as a "respiratory illness" seems to spread across regions... </p><p>There have been so many effects of the virus globally. Physically, mentally, economically, spiritually. It has been devastating in so many ways and yet there have also been many good things that we have seen to come out of it in areas of science, community, faith and values. </p><p>There are huge global issues which personally affect each one of us differently. But we can all help one another in whatever way we can! And as we have seen, it is easier than we perhaps previously thought to be together virtually with those physically very far away. And that is why the girls and I are focussing in March on helping the women and beekeepers in Mwanza, Tanzania. </p><p>As we raise support for The Hive, in particular, we are seeking to raise money to enable Aikande to continue in her role supporting the Upendo wa Mama women and also Bhatendi in her work with rural beekeepers. Aikande and Bhatendi are doing a really amazing job (in very challenging circumstances) working with The Hive and we really want to make sure they have they funding they need to continue this work. As of this month, we are so excited that Aikande will be working officially with Emmanuel International. If you are joining us for the first time, we will be celebrating these two inspirational women more throughout the month and you can find out more about who they are and the work they are doing!</p><p>International Women's Day is a good occasion to celebrate and give a voice to women who have been marginalised and recognise women who have made a difference. It is a chance to honour and applaud women who are using their gifts to serve and help in wonderful ways and also an opportunity to for us all to serve and pray for women who are oppressed and hurting. Many women today are looking for value and worth, for equality and rights. As a Christian, I am thankful for the truth I believe, that women are created in God's image, and this is where our true value and worth is found. This is life-changing! And if this is our starting point, we just need to look to the example of Jesus as we see just how valued women are in His eyes. It changed society in the first century and it can do it now! </p>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-9773573739718515882020-12-03T09:58:00.007-08:002020-12-03T12:56:16.869-08:00Pipes on PikiPikis and all that is Mwanza!<p style="text-align: justify;">Going from the quiet of isolated living in an English village to the noise and chaos of a Tanzanian city was a refreshing shock to the senses! Suddenly landing in a community of friends, I had more hugs in five minutes than I'd had in four months! It was like waking up from a hazy dream to find myself alive and bustling on the busy Mwanza street! Almost knocked out by the umbrella of the motorbike taxi as he swerved to cut a corner. Almost impaled by the 10-foot pipe sticking out on the back of another bike. Deafened by the truck loudspeakers blaring Tanzanian music as it drove through town with young guys hanging off the back. Friendly bartering and long greetings when shopping, all the while watching where my feet go and dodging moving baskets. Squished in with an uncountable number of sweaty bodies on the dala dala (minibus) from the market. The excitement and unpredictable craziness of everyday life came flooding back and it felt so good! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It tasted so good! Fresh juicy pineapples and mangos again! Small sweet bananas! I snacked on chapati and maandazi. Mishkkaki and samosas. The mamas prepared ugali and dagaa (tiny fish) for lunch. Rice and beans, tilapia and oh, the huge soft avacaodos! Fresh juice, sweet tea and tamarind ice lollies for 30p! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VeoFXUf8iUAPxdOUWt4bh69f03eTVJmneE_cJHFmq_6lONwV8Ts9B-5kUOxrB1CXCuizsHg3rX-4QxZ2oo097ivSrlNSMKP7s3RabPQ0oj9jCKTL2ufY1lXv9AJnWF3oBlK4QFJVMy3U/s2048/20201105_103925.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VeoFXUf8iUAPxdOUWt4bh69f03eTVJmneE_cJHFmq_6lONwV8Ts9B-5kUOxrB1CXCuizsHg3rX-4QxZ2oo097ivSrlNSMKP7s3RabPQ0oj9jCKTL2ufY1lXv9AJnWF3oBlK4QFJVMy3U/w300-h400/20201105_103925.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samosas and Maandazi<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnwqLaRiqtRi50nbl4VU7JI-xFXhEYKU3kDqjZh8r4KgSdU4vy-1dQQaBNpfQmL16KKIcE6UFyPfHsEIXzb4uWo2f63vOsu7r6duqN8U_nWgJNdNupOG4GChXbDc0LG8P1WXSOXvmRYOp/s2048/20201122_204727.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnwqLaRiqtRi50nbl4VU7JI-xFXhEYKU3kDqjZh8r4KgSdU4vy-1dQQaBNpfQmL16KKIcE6UFyPfHsEIXzb4uWo2f63vOsu7r6duqN8U_nWgJNdNupOG4GChXbDc0LG8P1WXSOXvmRYOp/w225-h400/20201122_204727.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mishkkaki (for Louisa!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHjRocIYQvkYXvRUhPl0v0_xJCxkiUQkBAf-kWZLJl72SBIFw1M4-SIIwDxU6eewWlIIRYSMpFunfIq-U8fEF4-UYztOsMg0NWmy9RK3N87HmjoajgfYQZVKRi17aD-_DEtXiLwAWLoH6/s2048/20201107_135907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHjRocIYQvkYXvRUhPl0v0_xJCxkiUQkBAf-kWZLJl72SBIFw1M4-SIIwDxU6eewWlIIRYSMpFunfIq-U8fEF4-UYztOsMg0NWmy9RK3N87HmjoajgfYQZVKRi17aD-_DEtXiLwAWLoH6/w300-h400/20201107_135907.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penina and Zuena took me for a vitumbua and pilau picnic<br />on the rocks to take a break from the Craft Market!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpM45sfsjeZ64gpGsQB58GYe-z8AlWK-YZK9VLR5SxceWc5NPcvv18_ONrJid6c2Mi13KvZMPNLKctv5bqu25urF8R2IrydwoMSg3kpRASBfgyuy9AAsIqL0KCl59bgC5H1Q-ZVSPmrPDS/s2048/20201115_152809.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpM45sfsjeZ64gpGsQB58GYe-z8AlWK-YZK9VLR5SxceWc5NPcvv18_ONrJid6c2Mi13KvZMPNLKctv5bqu25urF8R2IrydwoMSg3kpRASBfgyuy9AAsIqL0KCl59bgC5H1Q-ZVSPmrPDS/w300-h400/20201115_152809.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilau and a Mama Minja feast!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilN19_6u6G8D01qJMKUt451F-oCTszcmz9raoomFoqeJhZYcdBRU4oh8RqLnAUgl1BkbljxQdCsznWlp_oR4V6dV-Q4aUDhfdqp69_LfcmExqZcm0WIlSlrWLsvvapZJijSpG20YClBJB/s2048/20201112_144145.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilN19_6u6G8D01qJMKUt451F-oCTszcmz9raoomFoqeJhZYcdBRU4oh8RqLnAUgl1BkbljxQdCsznWlp_oR4V6dV-Q4aUDhfdqp69_LfcmExqZcm0WIlSlrWLsvvapZJijSpG20YClBJB/w300-h400/20201112_144145.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugali and Dagaa<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It felt so normal, like I had never left. Like entering a new world and the old one completely disappearing.</div><p style="text-align: justify;">It felt like coming home. Only now the home was gone. And that was the strangest thing, and yes, rather sad. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I did have to laugh, though at how quickly I had forgotten that feeling of helplessness when it seems just everything goes pear-shaped! I soon remembered... </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I arrived in Tanzania at the beginning of November, it was just days after the election and the country was still in a fair amount of chaos with a complete media and communications lock-down. Oh the issues with trying to connect to the internet! And then the power cuts at inopportune times! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then the rains came. We learned the hard way that The Hive shop floods in heavy rain. Lying in bed at night listening to heavy rain, I again had that familiar helpless feeling of internal tension as I wondered what havoc it was wrecking. And then in the Land Cruiser, driving on crazy roads in pelting rain, I had that familiar sinking feeling one gets when one is well and truly stuck in the mud. While the mamas prayed loudly and fervently inside the vehicle, I was out and up to my knees in mud and water to investigate the situation and get the four wheel drive locked. And while the mamas continued to pray loudly, and guys outside pushed, I kicked the trusty Land Cruiser into gear, and off we went! The exhilarating feeling of triumph over the odds! And then the sinking feeling returning when I arrived back, wet and muddy to find the power out and no shower! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwXFrw4iPN07KlvdbHgHvyT5aK86jt1Xv7niTQs-qSIQZepMRyXn05pS26aM3BfVnV6hsyfQD7jorDPPsf24w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p style="text-align: justify;">And then there were the simple jobs that get complicated! We had some new shelves made for The Hive. I drew pictures for the carpenter, we measured the space together and wrote everything down, but somehow when the shelves arrived, one was 10cm too long which meant we couldn't shut the front door. A five minute delivery turned into a three hour fixing job! And then we had some brochures printed. I went back twice to collect them after being assured they were ready, but was always told "later" ... finally one day they were there, but had been printed upside down. Back to square one! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">It was wonderful to see good friends again! I stayed with the Guild family for my first week in Mwanza and then the Ewing family for my second week. I was a little disappointed I didn't have more time with them all, as with so much to do I was hardly home! But it was so special to come home to them in the evening! So wonderful to be back with our awesome EI team! And lovely to catch up with other friends over lunch, and a special Diwali party at Priya's one evening! With a Charity Fair one Saturday at the International School I was able to see many of the girls friends and teachers. And with three Sundays in Tanzania I was able to worship with three churches we have special relationships with! I just cried on the first Sunday... after being in the COVID-restricted UK, it was just amazing to join in with all the enthusiastic singing and energetic dancing! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4Smq-_ADmdNRZucx-WZjfyHee25h3eUG1Opwn24hGOVUGIdoYruZcegzguhRXbJmA2mC1O4frfG1IaN_EnfeClS9xn7MyGnkp-UiJdesQ92cjT_6ZIxsnqgG-JLVDQJwF_d13SvkL5i2/s2048/20201109_101110.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4Smq-_ADmdNRZucx-WZjfyHee25h3eUG1Opwn24hGOVUGIdoYruZcegzguhRXbJmA2mC1O4frfG1IaN_EnfeClS9xn7MyGnkp-UiJdesQ92cjT_6ZIxsnqgG-JLVDQJwF_d13SvkL5i2/w400-h300/20201109_101110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back with the team in the EI Office!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HwqdcRB4omtZX4f2Tx-gvCxqOi3RQyjFMOkO6sJvrhOVs-OPzwaqDDTUFcr2aIRr2CjxJ7Y67X69kKCNP4DxnRK7gE9s9jTZK4On6rogCXRegP7oO3SBQU1KXU2rpM5OrAL7svPlQWxb/s2048/20201108_110324.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HwqdcRB4omtZX4f2Tx-gvCxqOi3RQyjFMOkO6sJvrhOVs-OPzwaqDDTUFcr2aIRr2CjxJ7Y67X69kKCNP4DxnRK7gE9s9jTZK4On6rogCXRegP7oO3SBQU1KXU2rpM5OrAL7svPlQWxb/w400-h300/20201108_110324.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Bhatendi, Esther and Aikande at BMCC Church<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ym7DEO2bNNnC9BfKmlnnz1oXfb3Cd9Yp6R-pJIdc2ZvQqvxry5HrGr6VAHSA6RQ7Dc5F-YxyP7gJmYZkBL71THGVQviu7YpEvOoZWKpUA2E_4ahcUui4ADmjM-7c2cmSJUY1zwIyF64W/s1080/IMG-20201109-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ym7DEO2bNNnC9BfKmlnnz1oXfb3Cd9Yp6R-pJIdc2ZvQqvxry5HrGr6VAHSA6RQ7Dc5F-YxyP7gJmYZkBL71THGVQviu7YpEvOoZWKpUA2E_4ahcUui4ADmjM-7c2cmSJUY1zwIyF64W/w300-h400/IMG-20201109-WA0001.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch with these lovely ladies!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQpU4buf-W34jBVclY7lLjegxbNMbeQZIBYZUXYiM-WZeCjxoyYNG7hlDiTMwoZQrj50vN9yG_RYcJOtV5zVT8sF3oQHNrAvWENEz_eiy-5tpQklYI1sMsxJS2mVfaxJcMEUL7xHC290c/s2048/20201110_194740+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1608" data-original-width="2048" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQpU4buf-W34jBVclY7lLjegxbNMbeQZIBYZUXYiM-WZeCjxoyYNG7hlDiTMwoZQrj50vN9yG_RYcJOtV5zVT8sF3oQHNrAvWENEz_eiy-5tpQklYI1sMsxJS2mVfaxJcMEUL7xHC290c/w400-h314/20201110_194740+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Diwali Party<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CYiX0HZKEawMskzNAb5aOFO8-ShkhkCOZIy3Fo0d3fyqsrw7htfn_-tYjnr0xl1lSaK-Ua3Twq5A9TB2OC5OPrv_QLht8F4qje351KeivREFI7iqKj833WmPQdkUL773TZ0HPp3wC_Lk/s1600/mkuyuni.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CYiX0HZKEawMskzNAb5aOFO8-ShkhkCOZIy3Fo0d3fyqsrw7htfn_-tYjnr0xl1lSaK-Ua3Twq5A9TB2OC5OPrv_QLht8F4qje351KeivREFI7iqKj833WmPQdkUL773TZ0HPp3wC_Lk/w400-h300/mkuyuni.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the wonderful folks from Mkuyuni Church</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Two weeks was not enough in Mwanza! There was a constant sense of urgency and racing the clock (which is not a thing in Tanzania). We didn't get everything done that we wanted to at The Hive ... but we definitely did all we could! I had not had such dirty and tired feet for a long time! I had not felt so exhausted or hot and sweaty for a long time! But breathing in the open space by the lake then listening to the noisy insects and croaking frogs from my bed at night ... and the howling dogs and screeching roosters ... I savoured every minute!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And here to close was my last day in Mwanza. Some of the mamas were at The Hive, others at the workshop. We were <a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2020/11/upendo-wa-mama-beeswax-products-here.html" target="_blank"><b>packing up products to go to Dar es Salaam and the UK</b></a> and finished with this special time together! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzlYZNEfw3MV-TLzd2sCuuGmz1m6eDKfQwzWQkipJ8RquNRiM8asji19CYnUwDkvxAeMyyFnwczwuLSxQKPsg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">I'll take you to Dar es Salaam in the next blog post!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>A sad update since the<a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/2020/11/tidings-of-comfort.html" target="_blank"> <b>last blog post </b></a>... our friend, Jade passed away on Monday afternoon in Nairobi. This is such a devastating shock; please remember Julius and their three boys in your prayers over these difficult days. Also this afternoon was a day to remember Emma, as her family and friends said goodbye. </i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>And in the midst of the sadness, today we got the keys to our new place in Monkton Combe. It's still empty at the moment, but we can now start to make a home here ...</i></p></div>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-5750183937289991242020-11-29T09:42:00.011-08:002020-11-29T12:48:28.896-08:00Tidings of Comfort<p>I was planning to blog today about my time in Tanzania. But right now, my heart is just too heavy. </p><p>While I was in Tanzania, it was the funeral for an amazing and special young man, Oli Williams. We have known the Williams family since we arrived in Tadley in 2002. I have wonderful memories of teaching Oli piano and watching him grow up in our church youth group. But a tragic car accident took his young life so suddenly, so much too soon. </p><p>Last week, while I was in Tanzania, I received a message from Amisadai with the heart-breaking news that her friend had passed away. She was just sixteen years old. Emma and her twin sister, Michelle started school with Amisadai at Aldermaston Primary. When they were in Year 6, Emma was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma and over the following 6 years, Emma continued to be an inspiration to so many with her brave and cheerful determination. </p><p>And now, just a few days after returning from Tanzania, we received the news that a dear Canadian friend, Jade, in Mwanza, a young and healthy mom, suffered a sudden stroke. She and her husband do an amazing job as directors of Village of Hope, Mwanza, working with vulnerable children. Jade and I were chatting at The Hive as she picked up her coffee just the other week. Now she is fighting for her life in Nairobi as we pray for a miracle and my heart is breaking for Julius, her husband, her three boys in Mwanza and all her family in Canada. So sudden. In an instant everything has changed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8dOjkGmYUNQYmy7Pzcv7TeEosyVWWGcK9XR_yDZnTM-sRpxyDoA6ADMrCqbDuK4rPM-v3CO7nWWtpOGAHblb_aTAFTDW2kK71Qcr7KjC7lFx86DkcNRvbwVoPUKsYpBngQwkJIhMhSgi/s960/2690550B-818B-4596-A4EC-39CC55B9A934.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8dOjkGmYUNQYmy7Pzcv7TeEosyVWWGcK9XR_yDZnTM-sRpxyDoA6ADMrCqbDuK4rPM-v3CO7nWWtpOGAHblb_aTAFTDW2kK71Qcr7KjC7lFx86DkcNRvbwVoPUKsYpBngQwkJIhMhSgi/s320/2690550B-818B-4596-A4EC-39CC55B9A934.jpeg" /></a></div><p>Life is precious. I was reminded of this over and over while I was back in Tanzania. People are precious. Every person, regardless of age, gender, colour, race, wealth or status. Time with people is precious. We need one another and were not created to be independent. One of the things that hit me as I was back in Tanzania was the precious value placed on community. Life in Tanzania is never lived alone. It is so different to the current situation in the UK in which it feels like community has been threatened.</p><p>In Tanzania I was confronted daily by so many needs and hardships, by pleas for help and the struggle to know how to respond. The burden can feel so heavy. So much time spent with people, which, yes, can be exhausting. But precious people. Less precious time. The way it should be. And in it all, we walk together. Life is precious. </p><p>Today is the first Sunday of advent and the heaviness of waiting feels that much heavier this year. Waiting for light in the darkness. Praying for comfort in the darkness of the night. Our own weight of sadness of losing home and belongings and community this year and waiting for a new one, pales in light of the weight our friends are now bearing. But I keep thinking about tidings of comfort. Yes, there will be joy, but right now, it is time to embrace one another, to value what is most precious and bear tidings of comfort. </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 17px;">Now to the Lord sing praises</span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 17px;">All you within this place</span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 17px;">And with true love and brotherhood</span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 17px;">Each other now embrace</span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 17px;">This holy tide of Christmas</span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 17px;">All other doth deface</span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 17px;">O tidings of comfort and joy</span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 17px;">Comfort and joy</span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 17px;">O tidings of comfort and joy</span></i></p></blockquote>Rachel Mongerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03984738827648986580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099573221371512306.post-51375882710316051672020-11-29T02:28:00.008-08:002020-12-03T12:43:43.405-08:00Upendo wa Mama Products in the UK!<p>I am happy to share with you now some Upendo wa Mama products that I was able to bring back from Tanzania to sell in the UK! Some festive Christmas face masks, lovely lip and body balms (including the popular Neem Balm), a variety of candles, sets of Kitenge BeesWraps...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtb_eR17FoMrDBSBMTXZ1JqxJ7s5_p2L-YQzQTpF8wtxjWcpQWfTBiaynzSjTtmjl_AYP9ZWz16xeG6slzTYHkOS_YeOb5ctAfg31oj56Wlr9PqAG53t1wUTH8sxVlVa35X5vHUSP6RLiF/s2048/20201127_101934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtb_eR17FoMrDBSBMTXZ1JqxJ7s5_p2L-YQzQTpF8wtxjWcpQWfTBiaynzSjTtmjl_AYP9ZWz16xeG6slzTYHkOS_YeOb5ctAfg31oj56Wlr9PqAG53t1wUTH8sxVlVa35X5vHUSP6RLiF/w400-h300/20201127_101934.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Please take a look and see if there is anything you would like! Stocks are limited, so it is first-come-first-served, and when it is gone, it's gone! Message me and we can arrange how we get it to you and sort out payment! I have listed suggested prices for products, but if you would like to donate more, I am starting to fundraise to enable Aikande to continue working with the mamas and managing The Hive through next year! Your help will be so very much appreciated!<p></p><p>And if you haven't heard of Upendo wa Mama and are not sure who these women are, you can read our <a href="https://themongers.blogspot.com/p/upendo-wa-mama.html" target="_blank"><b>story here...!</b></a></p><p>Take a look and give a gift that keeps on giving for Christmas! And please do share with your friends! Thank you! </p><div id="my-store-41288024"></div>
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