Volunteer with Cross Cultural Solutions
Taking Action
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
My safari starts at the Zebra Club on P St. in Sacramento.
Good friends - make that great friends - joined me for a last beer in the USA.
Theresa (designated driver and almost nine months pregnant), Jana and Lou made me laugh and forget that I was about to embark on a volunteer mission to the other side of the world.
Two very prettyand wonderful ladies, Mama Sarah and Mama Fotuma.
My guardian angels.
Mkombozi means redemption. There are 24 women looking to improve their family, their resources and their self esteem by working with the "Bank of Mkombozi." A loan of just $5 can by a can of spinach seeds to plan an entire plot. These women are helping each other with business ideas, cosigning for loans and making the system work.
They simply amaze me.
The view from the balcony of the Cross Cultural Solutions' home base.
Introducing my partners in "climb."
We made it up to the site of first night camp - about 7,000 ft. elevation.
My amazing guide, Major, is next to me.
All of these wonderful peeps are volunteers in Moshi, Tanzania.
I was blessed to have these two beautiful ladies sitting next to me a Rosalinda Church on Sunday.
Evetta, on the left, is eight years old and a pistol. She translated most of the service into English for me.
I didn't get my friend's name that's on the right. She is a spectacular Maasai woman who proudly wears her traditional facial scarring, along with her loving smile.
The Maasai are an East African tribe that has survived much, and yet inflicted unsavory practices on their own people - including circumcision on teen males and female genitalia mutilation. The tradition of jumping however is fascinating and impressive.
Just a few weeks ago, Priya, Tera, Nancy, David and I arrived. We took a walk and found the beauty of Kilimanjaro visible from every open field. That day, we shared our hopes and expectations. And now, we are saying farewell. We'll stay in touch. And perhaps a reunion next year at the base of Kilimanjaro...
We toured the plantation, made coffee, had lunch (including banana soup) and joined Mike in the happy dance - thanks to an amazing afternoon caffeine rush.
If there's a special place for boys who love to dance, I hope this young man finds it.
Good health, tiny dancer.
The creative process is a beautiful thing.
Whether it's at Sacramento's Thinkhouse Collective, or in Moshi at a Mkombozi meeting.
"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."
The kanga is worn by women to honor the traditions of their mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Simply two pieces of fabric, kangas are often adorned with a message woven into the fabric.
You can't see it - my message reads "Mungu ni mwema."
You must ask me about my Serengeti adventure. Not only did we get a flat tire, but ten minutes later our left rear axle stopped working.
And that was only the beginning...
It all started with sun-dried tomatoes...
Now there's an opportunity to become an actual business operator.
The Mkombozi mamas will need to secure a loan to purchase the commercial dryers, And, after that, produce enough high quality product that it will be purchased by buyers at a food cooperative.
Stay tuned.
A pair of magic slippers.
Tap them together three times and repeat "I've got a Tanzania home."
Like magic, extraordinary memories of Moshi, Mkombozi and Kilimanjaro return.