Working the "Shamba"

It is Annual Exam time at Idigima, which means a lot of late nights typing and printing exams . . . after trying hard all day to make sure the students have all of their notes completed and are ready to start their intense “study week” when the teachers are not allowed into the classrooms.

We’re spending a lot of salary on students right now, preparing a larger vegetable garden and fence and having an acreage worked up for corn . . . more to give the students work/income than anything else, but it may produce a profit to share as well, or some grain for students to grind for ugali. We have five exceptionally needy students working at present, and may add a couple to get the land hoed for planting. We had the power of the ox plow half of the land yesterday, and they are to return today to finish that aspect of the project. These “shamba”/farms are offered to staff to help offset the low salary; we declined last year, being new and ignorant, but this year thought it a good way to help the students have a source of employment/income. Unlike the national teachers, we are not out there barefooted, digging with jembe and chapakazi. We do work in the garden by the house . . . wearing flip-flops.

Joanne has also not slowed down on her sewing of student uniforms. We’ve purchased three bolts of white fabric for shirts and a bolt of burgundy fabric for trousers, ties and skirts. She’s looking forward to the holiday break so that she can sew day and night . . . instead of just at night after teaching all day!


Gary completed the painting of all window frames for the Pre-Form buildings (462 panes of glass), which is a lot of small inside corners and edges. He also finished this week the painting of the six blackboards (30 feet by 5 feet) in the same six classrooms. Joanne now has the best blackboards on campus. All of this was done with a 1 ½ inch brush . . . you use what is available.


We are going to student ghettos twice a week, eating ugali with greens or avocado (and once daga—a small dried fish that I think is used best as cat food), and playing UNO until it is time for the students to return to school for evening studies. This past Monday we were scheduled to be with two boys, but one had gone home to help his family. We were thinking it was going to be a bit strange playing UNO with three people in his 7x7 foot ghetto, but word got out and we had students and a couple of village kids show up. We ended up with 13 of us squeezed in that tiny room, two deep sitting on the bed mats, water buckets and stools. With only the door for ventilation and light, and it closed to a six inch crack to make room for guests, we survived a very interesting afternoon.

During this holiday season, we’d say, “Wish you were here!” but we know you probably have better plans. We at times “wish we were THERE,” when we think of family and friends and holiday parties and food, food, food, but we are content in the work and relationships here, and we thank you all for being a part of the hope and future you are giving to these people.

May God bless you in special ways as you live in His adventure, wherever He has placed you!

Love,

Gary and Joanne Grenell, your hands and feet to Tanzania