Kurasini Orphanage

I spent the day with my friend Jen at Kurasini Orphanage, the orphanage on the other side of the city that I try to go to periodically.  Instead of just going to play with the kids like we normally do, we decided to start teaching the kids some lessons that will serve their greatest needs (while still loving on them and playing with them of course).  We decided to start doing some basic health lessons with the kids as well as some Bible lessons.  Today, we taught them the importance of washing their hands (and bathing) and demonstrated how to do so (and left some bars of soap at the orphanage for them).

Jen and one of our eager examples, Baraka, washing his hands :)

We also did a small lesson on why we celebrate Christmas, what its real meaning is.  We talked about how God used a star to point the Magi to Jesus and how He uses many methods still to tell us about His son Jesus.  We had them draw and decorate a star as a reminder that God wants us to know Him.

 Yesu ni Mungu = Jesus is Lord

SUCH a simple lesson, and they so loved every second of it.  These kids just can't get enough love and attention from us while we are there.... they are literally starved for it.  Please keep these precious kids in your prayers.  And pray for the other 147 million orphans around the world.  (Yes, 147 million.)  "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." James 1:27

Press Conference with the Presidents!

Last week I had the *awesome* privilege of going to a press conference here in Dar for President Bush and TZ president Kikwete.  The event was for World AIDS Day, put on by the ONE campaign, and Obama and Bono did a simultaneous press conference in DC.  A "friend of a friend of mine" was in town, working for the conference, and emailed me at the last minute saying he could get me a seat reserved for it (and my schedule was all of a sudden clear....) so I got to go! :)

Here's a pic during the event...

Each president spoke for about 5 minutes, speaking of their previous work and future goals to work to end the spread of AIDS .... the goal set by the ONE campaign is to have an AIDS-free generation starting by 2015 (which can be done.... check out the ONE website, www.ONE.org).  Bush has done a lot for the fight against AIDS in Africa (as have the women in his family done a lot in Africa... and are continuing to...), and he ended his speech by quoting "To whom much is given, much is required", referring to America's responsibility to act to end the suffering of so many here.  I could not agree more.

After the conference everyone rushed down to where the presidents were leaving... Bush and his family (all of whom were there- Laura, Jenna & husband, Barbara) had already been driven away but Kikwete was leaving as I got down there.  He was shaking hands with a few people (all important heads-of-departments, like the head of the Peace Corps, head of USAID, head of the Clinton Health Fund, etc etc) and he actually spotted me (taking this picture below, haha) about 5-10 feet away from him and came over toward me to shake my hand (assuming, I'm sure, that I'm some important head of a department... haha).  Was pretty cool.... :)

President Kikwete

Praying for the end of the destructive effects of HIV/AIDS ....