A Reunion

In addition to spending time with the clients of Project Tariro, one of the most significant events of my trip to Zimbabwe occurred this past Wednesday.  When I was here two years ago, I was touched by my visit to the New Hope Home for the Elderly in Gatsi in the Honde Valley. 

It turns out that a return was not part of our itinerary but as our itinerary changed throughout the week, I was very excited that we were able to add a visit to the home.  As the staff of the HIV Services Dept at COH knows, I brought many pairs of shoes with me to distribute to the residents of the home.  I also purchased clothes at the Brown Elephant thrift shop for me to wear during this trip with the intention of leaving the clothes behind for the residents -- this way I was able to bring even more to them without having to worry about bringing my clothes home.

The day before, I was speaking with Violet Chikanya, Manager of Project Tariro, about what I had brought with me and she was very excited, saying, "those old people will be so happy. They always appreciate visitors and will be so happy to see you."  Later, she told me, "I forgot to tell you: when the team was here in April, they visited the old people.  And as they were leaving one papa (old man) stood up and said, "Give my greetings to Mr. Gregory when you see him." 

I was stunned and my eyes immediately filled with tears as I knew who this was.  Golden.  I pulled out some pictures I had brought with me and showed them to Violet who confirmed this.  I told her that I had brought many magazines for him as he'd asked.  And she clapped her hands with thanks and excitement.

When we arrived at the old peoples home and were getting out of the van, the administrator of the home welcomed us and said to me, "I remember you." 

The residents were so pleased to receive the donations.

Unfortunately, we didn't have enough shoes for Richard, so I gave him mine.  (I didn't realize that David who is on staff of Project Tariro was taking this photos with my own camera.)

We asked about the shoes that have been left previously, and Simon told us that the residents save their best shoes for church.  Such faith.  To wear these shoes that are falling apart through out the week, to present your best for God.  But now they have shoes for both.

We also stopped at the farm at Africa University and purchased fresh eggs and three chickens for the residents.  And also stopped along the drive and bought tomato and bananas.

The highlight for me was certainly reconnecting with Golden.  Both he & Simon told me that he'd tried to write me some time back.  He wrote me a letter and included $5 for me to purchase him some magazines.  (Of course, the money is likely why it did not reach me.)  I also told him that I'd written him but it seems that neither of our letters reached our destinations.  He was so grateful to receive his magazines, and the picture I'd brought with me.  Golden said that reading English is "my hobby."  Simon said he'll sit in his room all day reading when he has something to read. 

I can't put into words what this experience meant to me.  I was so fearful that Golden would have passed since I'd last been here.  (I learned he is now 86 years old.)  Or that he'd no longer be able to see and read (as mean of the residents are blind due to cataracts.)  As I put my arm around him, I could feel that he was just skin & bones and could feel every rib.  And the longer we stood the more he need to lean on me until I helped him sit.  I think the pictures speak more than I can communicate now as I sit here with tears streaming down my face. 

Saying good-bye too soon

Friends,

Another delay in updating this blog.  Turns out I had more difficulty with the internet than anticipated -- trouble getting logged on or a constant connection and then last night we had a strong storm which meant the manager needed to shut down the server in case of lightning.

But I have now begun the long journey back home.  What an incredible week.  We spent four days with the clients of Project Tariro.  Typically they only come to the project 2 days per week as they need to be working or caring for their families the other days.  So we greatly appreciated the sacrifice they made by coming two additional days.

I am VERY pleased to share some good news from Zimbabwe. HIV meds are now more readily available!  I learned that everyone at Project Tariro who needs to be on ARVs (as they refer to the meds) is on them.  Clients spoke of having been extremely ill and bed ridden for years and now feeling as if they have been given their life back.  Second, I was repeatedly told that HIV-related stigma has greatly decreased.  Clients stated that they have been able to be open about their status with their families and communities and found them to be mostly supported.  Third, food is much more readily available in Zimbabwe.  I went to a local grocery store and was very glad to see that the shelves were full.  Fourth, the clients are extremely grateful for the ministry of Project Tariro.  Now that they are on medications and feel as if they are living again, Project Tariro is providing holistic support to aid clients in living a more complete life.  They are learning about horticulture: preparing the soil to plant crops and how to tend it so they can provide healthy food for themselves and their families.  They are learning how to raise chickens & rabbits again to feed themselves and their families.  They can also take all the additional produce to the market to sell.  They are learing about HIV and how to manage their disease through medication adherence and reducing risk of exposing their partners.  They are receiving spiritual counseling to aid them through this experience.  And throughout the entire program, they are finding a caring, supportive community of persons who are living positively as well. 

Two of the women in our group began teaching the clients of Project Tariro how to sew using a hand crank and treadle sewing machine.  The clients were so incredibly excited to learn how to sew!  The first sewing projects were on how to make cloth diapers for their children and how to make sanitary pads for themselves or wives.  These were a huge hit!  We learned that the women had been using old rags or cotton during their periods and were excited to make cloth pads that can be washed and reused.  Our group also went into town to buy four sewing machines (through donated funds) to be used by the clients during their programs and they can come on other days to use them as well.

Now, some concerns:  while meds are now more readily available, I learned that the recommendations are that people start them when their CD4 count (T-cell count) reaches 200 below.  In the US, a count this low would warrant an AIDS diagnosis and someone would likely be put on prophylaxis to prevent opportunistic infections.  But here, they are just beginning meds!?  (I did hear that just recently this has been raised to 350).  This shows that more meds are still needed.  Second, I learned that only 1 machine to run CD4 counts is available in the entire province (state).  So people are not able to get regular tests.  (In the states, clients typically get one every 3 months.)  This means that clients' counts could be at or below 350 and should start meds but they are unable of this.  Third, viral load counts are still not available.  Fourth, while food is available this does not mean people are able to purchase what they need.  Prices are still high and unemployment in the country exceeds a whopping 95%.  And jobs that are available are typically quite low paying. 

Finally, funds are greatly needs for Project Tariro to support its day to day operations.  It was inspiring to hear the witnesses of the clients.  How they were truly on death's door and are now full of life again!  And now they are receiving support for the next stage of their lives.  This is having a widespread impact on the surrounding communities.  As we spoke with the clients of this the second class at Project Tariro, a majority of them shared that they joined because their friend or family member was a part of the first class and told them they must join this program. 

Friends, if you are able, please consider giving to Project Tariro.  You can find donation instructions at www.projecttariro.com or through my online giving site which you can find on an ealier posting.

Presenting donations to Project Tariro

All of the supplies to the right and featured in an earlier post, along with at least 4 more suitcases worth of supplies have been delivered to Project Tariro.  Acetomenophen, ibuprofen, antibiotic creams, anti-fungal creams, hand sanitizer, vitamins, gloves, pens, and female condoms all traveled with me. 

Thank you to the staff of the HIV Services Department at Center on Halsted for all these donations!

The group members were incredibly for these donations.  Throughout our time here, many of them have thanked us for the "tablets" we've brought and asked us to keep bringing them.  These "tablets" are the pain relievers.  The members walk miles and miles -- up to 6 miles one way -- to arrive at Project Tariro and everywhere else they must go.  They talk about how their knees hurt.  How their entire body aches.  As we are learning, a major concern with HIV is inflammation, so, of course, they are grateful for the pain relievers. 

Joining the supplies I brought were additional pain relievers, prescription antibiotics, a rabbit hutch, rechargeable batteries, speakers to a computer, and many other supplies that were brought by others in are group and are very difficult to obtain locally.

Long overdue update

Friends,

Sorry for the delay in updating the blog.  We are indeed in Mutare and staying at LaRochelle which has wireless internet but I've had some difficulty logging in -- and when I do, for some reason most of the websites are in German!?  Hmmm... the manager thinks the server or the router must have come into Zim from Germany. 

Anyway, I seem to be able to log on tonite! So here is the long overdue update:

On Thursday, on our way to Mutare, we stopped and spent the afternoon at the Imire Game Park.  It was fantastic!!  I go the chance to see many animals that I didn't get to see here last time:  lions, hyenas, zebra, giraffe, and the extremely endangered rhinoceros (both black & white.)  Imire is one of the only places in the world that breeds black rhinos.  However, the rhinos they have now are too young to breed.  They had several adults, but in 2007 all 9 were killed by poachers in a horrible act.

We arrived at LaRochelle on Thursday evening.  On Friday, we made it to Project Tariro!  Wow!  What an incredible experience to see the project officially up and running now.  (In 2009, I visited what was at the time the support group of the VCT that was subsequently ended when its funding ran out and was then going to be restarted as Project Tariro.)  And the welcome we received was amazing -- the members of PT singing a song of welcome including each of our names.  Then they sang it the second time with our names they invited us to join their group and sing & dance along.  Wow.  I just can't put into words the emotions this evoked in me.  I'm tearing up now just recalling it all.

To see the members of Project Tariro -- officially -- was incredible after knowing all the planning and effort that has gone on for years (before I was even aware of it) come to life was amazing.  Later as we ate lunch the members then shared poems & testimonies of how Project Tariro has affected their life for the better.  How they no longer felt ashamed to be HIV+.  How they had regained self-esteem.  How they had learned many practical skills (sewing, gardening, etc) to aid them in wholistic care.  Again, incredibly moving.  I felt my heart being "strangely warmed. ;)

And then the most surprising thing that happened took place at the Old Mutare Mission Hospital right by PT.  While we were taking a tour and visiting the patients, especially those struggling with HIV/AIDS, all of a sudden I heard my name being called, "Gregory," in a voice with the wonderful British-Zimbabwean accent.  I turned around and I saw a woman running towards me and my heart jumped.  It was Elisa who had been a staff member of the VCT and with whom I'd spent a lot of time talking and comparing notes.  We had been so excited to meet last time I was here as we discovered we both did the same job!  We'd talked about how it was counseling in both of our settings and running support groups.  We'd had a ball talking last time.  She was one of the people I had really hoped I would be able to see.  And it just turned out that it was luck that she was there as she now has a new job in Mutare proper in a maternity ward.  She had just been there visiting.  Another awe-some God moment.  I had brought picture of my last visit with me and gave her a copy of us meeting two years ago and her eyes just lit up.  But to be thousands of miles away from home and to have someone recognize you and call out your name.  It was amazing.

The first day at Project Tariro -- and it was already filled with the movements of the Spirit.

And we're here

Earlier tonite we arrived in Zimbabwe.  We're now all checked into the Holiday Inn here in Harare.  I've had a nice warm shower and am looking to a good nite's sleep.

A nice surprise... unlike my last stay here 2 years ago, there is wireless internet in the hotel rooms!

Well, it's nearly midnite here.  Good night, all (assuming anyone's reading! ;)

Beautiful skies

Friends, after 17+  hours on the plane, we've arrived in South Africa.  Currently sitting in the airport where we are waiting to board our connecting flight to Harare, Zimbabwe, in about an hour.

The flight was uneventful.. which is great.  My seat was in the middle of a tour group from Canada who are beginning a 3 wk holiday.  Had a nice chat with my seat mate, Margaret, from Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

My favorite part of the flight was looking out the window (I always prefer a window seat) to watch the full moon shining on the floor of clouds below us.  Incredible.  It seemed as if you could reach out and collect the cottony clouds below.  I also thought about the moon bounce at my nephew, Rudi's, birthday party and wondered if walking on the clouds would be the same.  Only when another plane passed below us did I have an idea how far up we really were!? That truly puts 35K feet into perspective especially at night.  Wow! what an experience. 

What a wonderful world.

I hope to be able to write again either at the hotel tonite or if not, at some point after reaching Mutare.

Love & prayers.

The Next Leg Begins

Africa, here we come! Next update will hopefully be from the airport in Johannesburg. Traveling mercies. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

The long journey

I'm writing from gate B37 of Washington Dulles Airport in DC.  My journey by leaving the house at 6AM (-ish) to drive to O'Hare for my 8:50AM CDT flight this morning (thanks for getting me to the airport, Levon!)  I arrived here before noon EDT and took the shuttle to my current gate.  Got some lunch.  And now I wait... until my next flight at 5:40pm.

When I booked this flight, I wasn't thrilled about the long layover here but the next flight out of O'Hare wouldn't get me here until an hour before my connecting flight.  Knowing the awful on-time rate at O'Hare, I couldn't chance it. 

But as the day got closer, I began to look forward to this layover.  It's funny, I know.  But I know Jill understands.  When she last flew, she said her favorite part of flying is waiting in the airport with a cup of coffee and the newspaper.

At the time I thought, "Ok..."  But now I get it.  There's nothing I HAVE to do here.  The terminal is surprisingly quiet and I have all this free time with no responsibilities.  No one needs anything from me.  So I can just sit, relax, and read whatever I want to. 

It's a sad commentary of our busy, scheduled lives isn't?  There must be a way to have this time at home, right?  Hmm...


For those who have been asking about itinerary:

Our flight out of DC is at 5:40pm this evening with an hour layover in Dakar, Senegal where we don't have to exit the plane.  We then travel on to Johannesburg, South Africa and arrive at 5:20pm local time (which is 7 hours a head of Chicago time.) The next flight is approximately two hours later so we'll arrive in Harare, Zimbabwe at about 9:40pm on Wednesday.  We'll stay over night at the Holiday Inn before beginning our drive to Mutare on Thursday morning.

So there's the schedule for the next couple of days.  Now back to waiting with anticipation (and my book!)

And away we go...

Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Donations for Project Tariro

Thank you to everyone who made this suitcase full of supplies for Project Tariro possible!

The staff of the HIV Testing & Prevention Program at Center on Halsted

Jorge Gonzalez

Jill Dispenza

Gino Poliziani

Melvin Laureano

Luca Sandoval

What you can see are the 10 pairs of shoes beneath all these medical supplies. 

Thank you, all!

Thank you!

We're now just a little over 24 hours before I begin my journey to Zimbabwe.  Wow.  My first trip just two years ago was the trip of a lifetime.  I can't believe that I'm now preparing to go back. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity again.

I'm amazed to share that I have raised the full amount to make this return trip.  I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made this trip possible by sponsoring me in this endeavor:

Nancy & Mark Hallenbeck
Orpha Laurie
Jerry Miller
Donna Techau
Sherrie Lowly
Gregory Potts
Jen Landis-Santos
Karen Teigiser
Rick Box
Margaret Ann Crain
Rudi Gross (Jeremy, Jenelle & TJ Gross)
Michael Valdez
Randy Wensil
Ellen Feliciano
Tyler, Eleanor, Greta & Wes Christiansen
David Braden
Janet Ferrone
Holly Gomez
Naomi Guzman
Britta Larson
John & Carol Gross
Ethel Doyle
Ceil Zabielski
Rosa & Gordon Good
First UMC of Arlington Heights
Levon Guzman
Mark & Deb Gross
Anita Wood & the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry of the UMC

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I am sincerely in awe of your generosity for without your support I would not be able to make this journey to be in ministry with the staff & clients of Project Tariro. 

You've also allowed me to make a financial contribution to the work of Project Tariro.  And for anyone else who would be able to support the mission & ministry of Project Tariro, you may give through this link and all further donations will be given in your name to the project.

with gratitude & hope,
Gregory