Asante Sana Arusha Tanzania

           8 months before this trip, I would have never been able to imagine what a person can do to change one’s life. I could only listen to the information that people would give me. Stories about people in horrible conditions, seeming unreal. Now that I get to see these people, and confirm the truth in these stories, it’s heartbreaking. One child, one adult, one human being, may be going through the hardest phase in their life, but continue with the biggest smile ever. You would never in the slightest think that anything was wrong.

When I first met Ebenezer and Enoch, they were full of love, and had kindness in their soul.     You could notice it within everyone; they would wave, and smile, while you smiled back, your hand moving to the beat of your heart. Getting to know these two boys, I went on a home visit to their house. Automatically seeing their circumstances and wanting to help them. Their mother, who is blind, has inspired and motivated me beyond belief. Looking at their house, I saw a mattress that took up half the space, a chair, and a small sofa. It was no bigger than a large dinner table, but withheld a story, that made me feel honored to be in their presence. Everything about how these people were, and how they lived surprised me, and gave me a chance to realize what it meant to have nothing. I can’t put into words how much more grateful I can be, and how much harder I can work, with what I have.

At LOAMO, so many smiling children would run up to you, yelling your name, while looking up at you, clinging to your legs. Being able to teach Preparatory, and Class 2 made me notice how amazing these kids are. After our last day at the school, saying goodbye, and leaving the kids was no easy task. Tears running down my dirt covered face, and the faces of kids buried in my stomach. Some of them telling me not to cry, and some of them crying with me. For this experience, I thank LOAMO Primary and Nursery School for everything that the kids taught me, that as a teacher, I could never teach them. With all I have gained from this, I plan to take home all the good, and keep the misfortune as a distant memory.

                              Kwaheri (goodbye) Arusha, Tanzania.