A sharp wit, quick smile and hearty laugh would describe Ombeni as we have known him. Even if he has bad news to share, he has a way of softening the shock.
“You know that what we want to happen is usually taking more time . . . sometimes when we want something to happen in a day or week, it will be maybe two months . . .” would be his way of introducing a change to the schedule or a delay. The way he approaches “disturbances” makes you smile and fall in line with the national’s common advice to, “Just be quiet and wait.”
Ombeni was here at Idigima when it began five years ago. The first Pre-Form class (now Form IV) was meeting under the shade of a tree. Government people came and told them they could not have a school at Idigima, so the students went to their ghetto apartments/rooms and waited for three days until the news came that VST had received permission to continue building the school. Ombeni has been the Swahili language teacher all those years, as well as serving as the Vice Headmaster (Second) and at times the interim Headmaster. The Headmaster position has changed a number of times, but Ombeni was always there as a support.
Visiting our home many times, Ombeni’s sense of humor has always been refreshing. He’s also been very helpful in our understanding Tanzania culture. When Joanne decided this past year that she’d really like to have her own name used (Joanna is the way it appears in Swahili), rather than being referred to as Mrs. Philipo (the name given to Gary because gari means vehicle in Swahili), Ombeni explained that she had “escaped” from the marriage. He was quick to say, however, that everyone knows we are still one and very much together. We had a good laugh. Interestingly though, at a church service some time later, where we were introduced with the different names, the pastor went to great lengths to explain that we were happily married and very much in love. He even drilled the congregation, saying, “Can’t you see that they are together for this life?”
So, Ombeni has been a good, honest source we can go to for advice in handling or understanding different situations. I (Gary) will often times present the worse scenario of a situation, just to hear him say with a laugh, “Noooo, Babu; that will not happen. Believe me in this; it will be fine!”
We are sad to see Ombeni leave, but happy with the way God has blessed him in his going. He secured another teaching position in a single day, just an hour and a half walk from Idigima. He is now married and the couple is expecting their first child. We will hear his greeting outside our door every now and then when he comes to visit teachers and students, or when his new school comes for sports events.
Thought this would give our supporters a glimpse of the relationships being built here in Tanzania.
Thank you for being our partners in this life-changing work.
Gary and Joanne Grenell
