Our visits to Tanzania usually spark some activity on Church projects. This is partly because we can bring some financial help and partly because they like to proudly show some progress when we visit to celebrate together. This trip is no exception. I texted Pastor Wihale that I was coming a few weeks before I left and they have been busy framing the roof for the new main Church building in Kising'a. The building site is a beautiful location on a hillside overlooking many homes of Kising'a. It was just a foundation ring when we visited in 2007 and we have been watching the walls grow over the years.
The only materials they need from the outside are cement, iron sheets, and nails. They make their own bricks and cut their own boards. They need iron sheets now to complete the roof. I met Pastor Wihale and Mponzi, the Parish treasurer, to buy 80 iron sheets and some nails and arrange transport to Kising'a. This meant starting at the bank to withdraw some construction funds that had been transferred to the parish account from our BKB account for Kising'a. This took about an hour with a line of 30 people and only one or two tellers at different points during that hour.
We hunted for a place that had Simba Duma (Lasting Lion) iron sheets and Pastor Wihale called to arrange transport. With all things arranged, we bought 75 iron sheets, 12 kg of nails, and 5 translucent sheets that provide natural lighting from the roof. Kind of like the sky light in our Church at home but without the flies.
I had sent a few Kiswahili children's books home with Pastor Wihale when I met him last weekend and he said that the family gathered and were reading them last night. Stephano is starting to read Kiswahili and Rushua was enjoying the pictures. I will go to Kising'a on Friday Oct 11 and bring the rest of the books for the library. I am really looking forward to showing them to children and seeing how they like them. Asante to those who contributed for the library, I think this is going to be a great project.
Walking the church foundation in 2007
Video of men cutting boards in Kising'a from a previous visit. Anyone want to trade their table saw for this?
Simba Dumu, "Lasting Lion" brand sheets
Translucent sheets for sky light, they cost 50,000 tsh (~$30) which is twice the iron sheets.
Me, Mponzi, and Pastor Wihale with sheets waiting for transport.
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