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Hi Everyone,
No sooner had we landed at Kilimanjaro Airport then we were in the full thick of planning our 10th Year Celebrations, which was to include all the children's homes coming together at Tudor Village
On the 2nd June 2000,six months after my first visit to Tanzania, I boarded an aeroplane with a 10 year boy, to find out if God had really asked me to come and care for the orphans in Tanzania, specifically in the Kilimanjaro Region. Six weeks after our arrival, I have found a derelict orphanage, 6000' up on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, and as I made preparation for refurbishing the property and having carpenters make double decker bunk beds, the local people where arriving at the gate begging for food.
I found this very hard to understand, as the mountain was so green and verdant. I asked a watchman whom I had just employed who spoke English, why were people asking me for food.
His answer was "Mama you have to understand that it is not only children who are dying of hunger but the elderly too. If you have no one to care for you, you just have to lie down and die". "I can take you to an old man right now who is so weak, he can no longer walk".
"Well we must do something to help" I said, and that was the start of the outreach food program and the dispensaries and how the first children came into the home. Now 10 years later - Light in Africa has well over 200 children in it's care, a home for the elderly, and daily food kitchens feeding 3 - 4 hundred children every day. Over 30,000 patients have been treated with our out-reach dispensaries, and I guess I wasn't that crazy ( as some people suggested) to leave the UK behind and try to help the children of Tanzania.
And so the day of celebration arrived. A bus had been allocated to ferry in the children from the Manyara Region, and our volunteers Pauline, Harriot, Marilyn and Sue, were all up until midnight busily making sure every child would have sweets and a gift, and they all received new clothes to wear. The tarpaulins went up for cover against the sun and the posts were vividly decorated with flowers and vegetation. The chairs for the staff were all arranged, and the man who had been engaged to make a video was going around Tudor Village for some shots of the scenery. \
The children in Laughter House were so excited as they rehearsed there songs and dance that they would be performing, and the toddlers in Happy House had to have an early nap to enable them to stay awake for the ceremony, and then we heard the singing....... a bus full of happy singing children announced they had arrived! The cameraman did a quick sprit to catch them all leaving the coach, and when they were all seated and the children in wheelchairs were situated so that they could see all the events, the program started.....
First the chairman of LIA Vincent Songoi, in his full colourful traditional maasai dress announced which of the homes would perform first, and then I was presented with garlands from each of the homes.
Mama Coupa started the singing off and we found that we have two amazing little stars from Happy House. Firstly, Shaddy, who had been a very sickly child when he was born, decided that he would get up and lead the singing, followed closely by Siuni who enjoyed the whole event. I am hoping this was all captured on video as each time I looked up the cameraman was laughing at the children.
All the children from each home put on an amazing performance either with drama to make us laught or with singing or gymnastics... What a talented lot of children we have.
I then was presented with a goat! from Vincent, and I quickly asked Marcus to take it to Amani Farm just in case Vincent thought we should have it for dinner!!
And then my oldest girl read out a letter saying that the staff had dedicated parts of there wages to enable me to buy a lovely dress for my granddaugher's wedding on the 14th August. How very kind and touching of them.
And lastly, Ramisha stood up and told all of his brothers and sisters in LIA that they must remember where they had come from and each day pray for LIA as where would they be now without mama listning to the voice of God to come out and serve the children in the area.
The children then had there snack, and given there sweets and presents and we waved them all off on there way back to there individual homes, happily exhausted.
What an amazing wonderful day and life that I live, seeing loving care changing the lives of these young people. It has been a honour and a priveledge to serve them all. And I raise my glass to all of you wonderful people who support our work, because without your help we couldn't do all the programs that we do to help the community where we live, besides helping the children.
So, Bless you all Abundantly, feel proud that you have enriched the lives of so many children by your acts of kindness to us.
Warmest wishes - mama Lynn
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In appreciation for 10 years of Light in Africa in Tanzania we extend our sincere congratulatory greetings to Mama Lynn for her inspiration and compassion, to the LIA board and staff for their belief and dedication to all the work and needs to be fulfilled, to the volunteers and sponsors for their motivation and contributions to supporting the lives of so many, to the children who pay us all back with their smiles.
Read mama Lynn's account of the festive 10 year anniversary day hereunder
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Our journey continues to Corono Del Mar
Hi everyone,
Jim, mine host in Malibu, very kindly drove us on to the home of Joan and her husband in Carona del Mar, where we were able to take a rest before the evening speaking engagement at Joans lovely home.
Joan had previously visited LIA with Patricia a few months earlier, and we all had a mutual friend in Simon Matoyi, who has been recorded at climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 8 1/2 hours up and down in one day, where it takes the average cliber perhaps 4-6 days.
The evening event was well attended, with Patricia and her husband Chester providing a wonderful buffet meal, before it was my time to speak about 'My Story'. It was a delightful time of fellowship, and the following day we were up early to visit Harbour Day School, where Joan is an administrator.
I was able to speak to classes from 9am to 1pm, the children for Christmas..
I was able to speak to classes from 9am to 1 pm and we had some very lovely interest, especially when I told the children that all LIA children received for Christmas was a 'shoe box' with small things inside like a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a small toy, with some sweets... they mulled over as to the many gifts that they had received..
Having said our goodbyes to staff members and the children, we had a lovely surprise ahead of us when we were taken to a boatyard and stepped on to a Duffy boat for a picnic trip around Santa Barbara Harbour.... even the harbour seals put on a display for our entertainment, and did Roy Rodgers really have Trigger stuffed and placed in his living room? or was I being had? It was lovely also to spend time with two previous volunteers with LIA who were in on the trip... a wonderful day of memories, bless you all.
Next day we caught the aeroplane and landed once again in Iowa to be met by Lee Harding.
Next stop, Minnesota for a speaking engagement at the Church that Nicole and Lee had married in. Mavis, Nicole’s mother showed us such warmth of hospitality it was very touching, and the church people were just so warm and inviting, and they had supported Lee for many years with the Food Packaging Events, another wonderful day.
Three days later, we arrived at our next destination - Michigan, and the airline had lost Marcus's bag. Saad Chaudrey who had volunteered with us in December, and with whom we were staying, his father kindly took Marcus to the mall to purchase some new clothes, and we were then off to Rapid Falls to meet with Saad's aunt and uncle, with whom we had a very tasty evening meal, and I was able to tell 'My Story' to them and their friends.
I was amazed to meet a doctor from Damascus who had actually stayed for 1 month in Grimsby - my home town - in Lincolnshire, UK where he had a placement at a hospital. Small world...
Next day, Saad showed us around the town, and we then enjoyed an evening barbeque with friends of the family, and they too heard the story of Light in Africa...
Thanks to Mr. & Mrs Chaudrey for their warmth of hospitality and to meet Saad's two brothers. I believe Ahmed might actually follow in his brother’s footsteps and come over and volunteer with us.
Next day it was back on the plane to Iowa, where we were handed Marcus’ lost bag.
It was now time to pack our bulging suitcases, and head back to Africa. We had been away for over 5 weeks. The American people are just so warm and welcoming into their homes, and the organization that went into this trip had been amazing.
Our deepest appreciation of course goes to Lee and Nicole who 'managed' us so well, we already miss you guys!
I would also like to say a very special thanks to a lady called Diane, with whom we only briefly met, but who arrange for Marcus and I to have full medical check-ups, Marcus to have his wisdom teeth removed, and for me to see an ophthalmologist, where my eyesight has been saved with some prescribed drugs: bless you abundantly for caring for these overseas missionaries, who tend to let things slide when in Africa, to Deb & Don Lee's mom and dad, and his brother Ryan, who we hope will come visit with us in November.
Special thanks to Nancy for the lovely gift and Julie for the newspaper report and to Erica for her amazing fundraising abilities........to our dear friends, Lisa and Steven, who made my son's heart sing with joy, to the kind people of Akron, who welcomed us into there homes and onto there farms, to Pastor Jean, for her prayers, to Phil & Stephanie in San Diego and Tina and her husband, ( see you over here in three weeks time) to all of our dearest friends in Malibu, who are so supportive of LIA, to Joan and her friends, - we will always remember our boat ride, and to everyone with whom we met, our prayers are with you all, and Marilyn and Sue who will be with us on the 1st June, Karibu Sana –
Light in Africa - Mungu Akerbiriki - mama Lynn and Marcus
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Enjoy these pictures submitted by Joan from her 2010 visit to Tanzania and of mama Lynn's recent visit to California
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Hi everyone, greetings from sunny Malibu here on the Californian coast.
Marcus and I landed in Los Angeles last week and then we were driven by Tina to meet her husband Steven and family in San Diego. The following day was spent relaxing until the evening when I had a speaking engagement at the home of Phil and Stephanie Harris.
It was a wonderful time of fellowship and it was lovely to meet up with a gentleman who had visited Light in Africa in 2002 and heard that I was in town and came to visit.
When speaking about LIA I never plan what I am going to say at these functions. I just rely on the Holy Spirit to prompt me as to what I should speak about. At this meeting, the stories just kept flowing, on and on. The guests just wanted to hear more about the children of LIA.
A school was visited the following day who has been providing wonderful supports to the food packaging events that Phil holds; his recent one was for 1,000,000 meals packed by volunteers in two days with 6,000 volunteers. I think theat is pretty staggering....
During two assemblies I was able to speak to and to thank the children for all their help. Then, after a Mexican meal, it was off to meet Joan Coleman who would drive us on to the next part of our journey. About the half way mark, we met up with our dear friend Salina, who then drove us to meet our hosts at Malibu.
Sunday saw us at the Presbyterian church where we met our friends who had previously volunteered with us, and discussions were held about a team coming over next year.
After the service we were driven over to a ranch for brunch. The scenery was majestic with the towering mountain ridges on one side and the ocean on the other: what a beautiful earth God has made for our enjoyment.
Tomorrow we will move on to Carona del Mar for some more engagements, of school assemblies and evening dinners with guests. Then we’ll be flying back to Iowa, before we move off to Minnesota and Michigan and then home.
We are hoping the Iceland ash will have cleared so that we can return to Tanzania on the 2nd May, just in time to prepare the way for the influx of volunteers in June.
Abundant blessings,
Mama Lynn
and here two lovely pictures of mama Lynn meeting Gifti & Tumaini who now live with their adoptive parents in the USA:
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Hi everyone,
After visiting family and friends in the UK, we started our flight to Minneapolis and then on to Iowa. We received a wonderful welcome at the airport with Lee and Nicole Harding and Marilyn Kelly and family there to greet us. Then after a couple of days rest we visited various places of interest.
At Akron Westfield I spoke to the kindergarten classes and it was especially nice to see Lee's adopted child from Light in Africa fitting in so well to the American lifestyle. Then a talk to the older children on 'what would be happening the following day' with a food-packaging day. We had a 4 slots on the television stations and the children did an amazing job of filling 50,000 packets of food which will be sent overseas in a large container and will be brought to the door of Light in Africa to feed the children in our out-reach food kitchens, and unsupported adults. What a fantastic effort by these young people.
I was then collected by a new friend named Diane who very kindly took me to my next speaking event at a nursing college, where I had the opportunity to speak once again about the work of Light in Africa.....
Diane, very kindly, asked if we would like to attend a dentist surgery whilst over here, and knowing Marcus had been in pain with his teeth, I thankfully agreed. Mr. Mayers and his practice in Siouxland pulled out two wisdom teeth and I had a clean up. We had our photo's taken with the Dr's and staff, and with tongue in cheek I offered them the chance to come over to Tanza and assist in our out-reach dispensary. Many thanks to everyone concerned.
Then it was off to Nebraska/Sioux City to the home of volunteer Marilyn Kelly and her family, where I was able to speak again at an evening event and meet up Kelly Solzman and her husband who are preparing an NGO called Project Raheema near Arusha.
Whilst Marilyn was showing us the sites, she started to complain about backache. Within ten minutes she was in severe pain and had to drive herself to the hospital where she was admitted and had some surgery. We bless her and pray that she will quickly make a good recovery to enable her and Sue to come over and volunteer in June. Lee had to come over to collect us and take us back to his home.
Another big surprise awaited us as Sammy Walton and her mother and Tumi arrived unexpectedly from Oklahoma, and had driven for 9 hours to come and visit with us. My oh my how she has grown up. So hard to believe, that she was once a tiny baby, and now she is this very confident young girl.
I will continue my update as the tour progresses, blessings to everyone, including my granddaughter Sophie whose 18th birthday is today the 9th April: Happy Birthday Darling!
Abundant blessings,
Mama Lynn
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I had completed all the tasks, and was about to take a shower, before my departure to the airport, when Mama Coupa came in to tell me we had an urgent case, and the local social worker was waiting to see me.
I hesitated and asked Coupa if she could deal with it. "I think this is one you will want to hear about” she said and walked off.
I went into the office and greeted the local social worker, who said that she had come to escort me to the airport. "That's nice of you", I said, but Coupa says you have a case for us..... "This is the story", she said, "which is not a pleasant one, and I have already taken action against the perpetrators. I want you to accommodate a 12 year old girl who has just been circumcised, and when she heard that she was to be the 8th wife of an 80 year old man, as soon as she could, she ran from the village and was brought to me. She is still in need of medical care. Will you help her?"
"Most definitely", I responded, so the process of admission into our care began.
The Tanzanian government has outlawed the act of circumcision, but the Maasai in some areas are still practicing this brutal act on young girls, but at last I am starting to see action being taken against the father of the girl and her future husband who would have paid the 'blood price' and also the women who performed the circumcision.
This is the third girl in our care who has been saved from early marriage, but two had already been circumsiced by their future mother in laws. Consequently, with all the last minute upheaval, the car was quickly loaded with my suitcases,- as I thought - and 11 children piled into the back of the vehicle, with the social worker and Coupa. With lots of 'goodbye's’ and blowing of kisses we left for the airport.
Unfortunately, on arrival, I find the driver had not put one of my hand-all bags which included my camera and boots etc., in the car....
Sso now I am being cosseted at my daughter's home with the central heating 'full on' and I have just heard that within the next three days, our area should experience arctic conditions!!!!! Lots of snow and ice...Will the airplane leave on time for me to catch all the connecting flights to the US on Thursday? One thing is for sure, I shall have to go and buy a pair of boots, as sandals are NOT going to be appropriate in the snow......
Be blessed.
mama lynn
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Sorry, we missed the February web blog. I did send it, but it never arrived at the webmasters site, another piece of information floating about cyber space.
We are still having small Christmas parcels arriving for some sponsored children, and last week our bank received two cheques which had been posted June '09. Of-course they are now way out of date, so we shall have to return to sender.
The children are doing well and now the majority of them are back in school, with sincere appreciation to a very dear volunteer from America. The students at boarding school return home for Easter on Friday, and as I start to travel on Saturday 27th, I decided to go see everyone before I left.
I still am in awe at how these children have grown in stature and confidence and I am so sure the 'no beating policy' at Mount Kilimanjaro school has helped in giving confidence with respect.... My oldest girl, asked me if I would buy the girls at the hostel an electric iron. "What on earth do you want an electric one for”, I said jokingly, when you know the Tanzania one is very heavy and you have to put charcoal in to get it hot. "We don't have any charcoal here", was the quick reply. “Well, what about you girls collecting lots of little pieces of wood like the size of matchsticks and making a little fire in the iron?” The thought of this brought on lots of giggles and the quick response again was: “Look, our mum is a wazungu (white person), what else would you expect her children to want but an electric iron!!!”. That was the end of that debate, Mama Shazma bought the girls an electric iron on Monday...”They beat me, ironing, hands down now, and I love it!!”.
My trip starts on Saturday with 3 days stay over in the UK, and that makes it APRIL FOOLS DAY when I journey to Iowa. Then on to Michigan, Chicago, Minnesota, Malibu and San Diego..... in what order these cities are going to be visited I am not quite sure, I am just going to 'turn up' with Marcus as my support network on this occasion.
Lee Harding, the organiser, is going to show him 'what a real farm looks like' (we now have 60 pigs and piglets from last year’s volunteers purchase of pregnant pigs) I expect it to be very exciting - albeit tiring.
And as I travel around I will try to journal on some of the things that have taken place during the trip. I have already been given 'love letters' and gifts from the children. Moses has given me a rock to take to America, and Maria has written to Dakota in Malibu....I feel so blessed that I have all these children who care about me, and can only think of my return, and of course, the many cd's I might bring back with me! and not forgetting the sweets!!
I was very touched to hear that a dear friend every day opens the site to see if I have written something on the blog.... she says in an email to me, that I don't understand; she is addicted to the children in the care of Light in Africa and has to hear all the little bits of news about them, that is just soo nice to hear.
Bless you all, and let’s hope the internet works better in America than it does in Tanzania!!!
Warmest blessings,
mama Lynn
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Hi everyone,
The month of January has been a really trying month for us with some desperate situations arising.
Over 150 children in the care of LIA all needed their school fee's to be paid, as without payment no one can attend school. We have been inundated with the community children all wanting assistance in supporting there fee's as well; last year we managed to help 400 local children gain some form of government education, but unfortunately, this year, I think it will be at least Easter before we can help that number of children.
More and more babies and children are coming into our care, as they are being abandoned and left to wander the streets.
Two weeks ago, I accepted 7 children into our care. Twins 10 month old boys and their sister, three more boys whose mother just abandoned them, and another abandoned baby which was left at a teacher's house, and the mother absconded with her older child in the
middle of the night.
But our deepest concern had been that two of our children who had gone home to relatives for the xmas period had not been returned to us on the expected date. We try very hard to keep any family 'root' system in place so the children know their tribe and their extended families, who have to sign that they will return the child on the due date. We managed to collect one child, but the other child we were extremely worried about as the mother had moved house 3 times since we had taken the child. I brought in the local leader that we work with and he and our Manager on his motorbike went off to look for the
child. They were given a lot of 'lies' and the mother was duly taken to the police station for questioning, she also kept changing the story as to where the child was....
At this point we are beginning to worry that the child has been given to the witchdoctors.
The mother was released and told she must have the child brought to LIA within the next five days or she would be questioned again. Five days go by and nothing... Pastor Frank and Gudilla are searching the area for any clues as to where the child might be. After another 5 days and no child, I spent the day in my bedroom in prayer, I could not bear to think of what could have happened. Thankfully she was found that night at midnight by a Chairman of a village with an old women. When she was sat on my knee going home in the car, she kept repeating to me, 'I want to go to my home,''I want to go to my home'. 'Where is your home?' I asked her. 'Fleeze House is my home! I want to go home to Fleeze House and my family.'
We don't know what would have happened to this child if we had not had the co-operation of the police and the local leaders, and all of our friends whom we had asked to pray for the safe return of this child.
I thank our God, and I thank you all for standing in the gap with me for the safe return of our beloved child.
Mungu Akurbiriki,
mama Lynn
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