Mavuno Village

2012-02-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

Marco Kadinda

Marco Kadinda is a Mavuno volunteer who has been working with Mavuno for the past three years. He is engaged to a beautiful young lady named Rahabu, and they will be married in May.

What is your Job here at Mavuno?

I am a full time volunteer administrative assistant.

Tell us about Rahabu?

I love Rahabu, and she loves God. We want to raise a family together who loves God.

What do you think will be the hardest thing about marriage?

I think it will be difficult to adjust to having two people live together who have different upbringings and have been raised in different ways.

What do you want for Mavuno in the future?

My prayer is that Mavuno will be productive and that I will be a blessing and use my training to the glory of the Almighty God!!

Village Life

2012-01-27T00:03:00.000-08:00

I realize it has been a while since I have written. The internet issues (same as the cell phone service) has gotten increasingly interesting. My new modus operandi, when it seems impossible to get a text message to go out, is to push ‘send’ and throw my cell phone high into the air, hoping to catch some kind of signal. It works, by the way. Not that Dave thinks it is a great method, but again, desperate times call for increasingly desperate measures!

Visiting our neighbors is one of those things we enjoy when we make the time, but takes deliberation. It always ends up being a blessing to us. Two nights ago was no exception when we visited our friends, the Misungwi’s. They are an older couple (the medical officer and the one who taught us about proper cleanliness and correct breastfeeding).

Mama Misungwi has had problems with her legs for some time now. As we lingered outside on small, creaky wooden stools, enjoying the fresh dry-season air and the rustle of the tall corn stalks, she told us that her legs are doing OK, but still give her problems. “They keep me up at night and they just ache during the day. It is hard to get around, and painful when I walk.” We offered a couple words of sympathy for her condition. She smiled and replied, “All of this is from the kindness of God. God is good.” She didn’t say it as some trite conversation fill-in, she said it as a matter of well-known fact.

Later on we discussed the funeral that had taken place the day before of a young man in the village. He had died very suddenly, although he hadn’t felt well for a while. His father also recently lost his granddaughter very suddenly. I was feeling sorry about that. “God has His plans,” she said very sweetly, “He knows when each one of us will live or die.” Far from being the exception, her statement would be “amen”-ed by most of the Tanzanians I have talked to. While the belief in “God’s will” sometimes leads to complacency, or a lack of admission of fault in a matter, it is also something I can take in and hold on to for my own life. They certainly seem to understand the reality of God’s ways being higher than ours a lot better than I do. The “stages of grief” can be very cultural, by the way!

Being white in Africa at times leads to frustration, especially when you are constantly asked for money or things. It is easy to get in the mind-set that everyone wants something from you because many people ask. However, it makes the generosity of people so much richer when it happens. As we got up to leave, Mama M. gently but firmly put us back in our seats and told us to wait a minute. Then she and her husband walked around their little place, gathering corn from the stalks, a special fruit on their trees and some different kinds of cucumber-looking things. They escorted us through their fields, Mama carrying the bag of goodies with difficulty on her bad leg, and then, “Come again, soon!”

We are blessed!

This chameleon has nothing to do with this post, I just like him!

Reading, Writing and a Trip on a Four-Wheeler!

2012-01-26T23:08:00.000-08:00

Five of the younger Mbugua kids are currently attending the early education center taught by Alicia Hazlett on campus.

Bianca, Michael, Aika, Helena, and Pili began their first term of the year on Monday and have greatly enjoyed their first few days doing many fun activities.

Jonathan attends classes for a short period of time in the mornings.

Manyashi, Mariamu, and Esther, the three eldest Mbugua children are enjoying their classes at JBFC, a neighboring private school. For the sake of Manyashi’s safety, the three kids get the rare opportunity to ride the four-wheeler to school every day, chauffeured by Grandpa Larry Nickish.

John (daddy) will take the kids by four-wheeler when Grandpa is gone.

On Tuesday Alicia took the kids up to a small cave on the hill to find hidden scrolls representing the discovery of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls.

It is proving to be a year of discovery in the education department!

Christmas

2011-12-28T04:29:00.000-08:00

Reuben Tanner reclines in a mound of mangoes harvested from Mavuno trees

Christmas came decked in mangoes and mud this year. Staff excitedly made their entrance to the annual Christmas party, which included some tasty beef and an intense white elephant gift exchange. The children eagerly passed gifts in a game of Musical Presents, and the day was polished off with many rounds of volleyball.

The hat with hair and the absurd glasses were big hits at the white elephant exchange

Church was the perfect place to celebrate on the actual day, and choirs from the area arrived to sing and worship together. Everyone enjoyed a large feast together and some of the events lasted until after sundown.

Michael Mbugua prepares to pass a wrapped surprise in musical presents

Esther Mbugua returns to her seat with a heaping bowl of food

Merry Christmas, one and all!

The children enjoy a lavish feast at the party

Dan Tanner successfully disposed of a massive village pest; one of four hippos that has been destroying numerous fields of corn and rice. The nationals were grateful for the unexpected source of meat provided by the large creature.

Dan Tanner supervises as the dead hippo is dragged from the lake

Villagers survey the large beast as they observe the process of extracting it from the water

Volunteers

2011-12-28T03:37:00.000-08:00

Joel and Lauren Wildasin joined the Mavuno team on Saturday, November 26. They have two children... Treth, age 3, and Nya, age one; the third child is due in January. Joel is helping with the agricultural program and we praise God for their enthusiasm and expertise.

The Wildasins in their front driveway with the lake in the background

Alicia Hazlet is a long term volunteer who is developing the school program. Right now she teaches seven of the Mbugua children preschool. She comes to us with lots of experience and great ideas and she is an invaluable asset to Mavuno.

Alicia looks on as the children play a game with mangoes

With the Millers on furlough, Bev and Larry Nickish came to Mavuno for three months to do the bookkeeping. Bev works in the office as accountant while Larry does various projects on campus. He used to be a butcher and helped with slaughtering and butchering one of the Mavuno steers as well as construction and anything else that needs a handyman.

Larry and Bev were excellent in aiding the meat production

We thank God that he sent these dedicated volunteers to Mavuno.

John Zephania

2011-11-17T01:48:00.001-08:00

Mavuno has recently received a new off-campus child named John Zephaniah. He was discovered at a bus wreck site near Magu, and one of the surviving passengers took him to the police station the following day. Social Welfare requested that Mavuno take care of him until his family could be located. He was placed with a wonderful couple in the Magu district.

John is around the age of two and his new parents had the pleasure of naming him because no known name was found. He cannot talk, is not potty trained, but can walk.

Social Welfare could not find his biological parents so he now legally belongs to Mavuno. We praise God that he can grow up in a good Christian home.

Rainy Season Arrives!

2011-11-17T01:35:00.000-08:00

Helena and Mariam go for a run

The rains have finally come! We are enjoying the humidity and the green scenery. The villagers’ gardens are doing well and there is fresh grass for the cows. With the rains the animals are emerging in abundance. The chameleons, hedgehogs, snakes, scorpions, and bugs frequently enter our houses. This, too, provides newfound excitement for rainy season!

Carter enjoys a hedgehog

Please pray that it would continue to rain so that the villagers’ newly planted crops can grow well this year, after a long period of little harvesting.

2011-09-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago Manyashi Mbugua, the oldest on-campus child, became a Christian. Here is his testimony in his own words:

It was Friday, August 26 around 11 am. I was having a rest near a water tank and socializing with my daddy and my younger brother Michael. I asked my daddy a question, “There are people who are saved and keep sinning and there are people who are not saved but do good actions, so who will go to heaven when Jesus comes back?” My daddy answered, “Only the one who is saved by accepting and believing Jesus as his Savior. Which means Jesus died for his sins. We are not saved by our works but by accepting Christ.”

My daddy asked me, “Are you saved?” I said no. Then he asked me, “Do you want to be saved?” I said yes! I accepted Christ as my Savior and that he died for my sins. I prayed and after my prayer, my daddy also prayed.

Since that day I am peaceful and happy in my heart. When I go back to school I will ask my friends to accept Christ.

From John:

I told Manyashi that believing is accepting without doubt that Christ died for your sins. And this means that he died for all of your sins that you have committed and the ones that you will do tomorrow. I quoted Eph. 2:8-9 that we are not saved by works but by grace, through faith in Jesus. So believers will sin even though they are saved, and go to heaven. Unbelievers will go to hell even though they are doing good works. He was silent for a few minutes and then asked, “How can I be sure if Christ will take me when he comes?”

I told Manyashi about Romans 10:9,10. If you confess Christ and believe in your heart that he died for your sins you will be saved. I asked him, “Do you want to believe in him?” He asked if he had to wait until Sunday at the church. I told him no, you can do it now. He said he was ready. He asked Chrsit to come in his heart and after praying, you could see joy in his face. He said, “Next Sunday I want to stand before the church and tell them.” I told him, “Sure, you can do it!” The next Sunday he stood before the church and everybody was happy.

Before he went back to school, he asked me to write those verses out so that he could memorize them and use them to tell his friends about the Gospel.

Container Culmination

2011-08-24T01:07:00.000-07:00

Recently we were able to unload a container shipped from Bozeman. It contained many supplies such as solar freezers, quilts, diapers, a four-wheeler, medical supplies, and numerous other useful materials.

"Is it a car?" is the favorite question of those who see it. :)

Sammy with his quilt. His favorite things are bugs!

The newest Mbugua children were thankful to receive the new quilts that were sent.

There were several problems getting the container to its destination and clearing it through customs. In the end, it all had to be carted on the trailer from Mwanza to Mavuno. But it made it!

We praise God that the container arrived safely with all of its treasured items! And we are so thankful for the many people who made it possible!

Cows

2011-08-11T01:56:00.000-07:00

Last night our staff, along with some Mavuno friends, met together in the evening to butcher one of our bulls. Those who helped with the process took home Tanzanian delicacies such as the stomach and intestines.

Checking out just how much grass the cow actually ate that day

The meat collected from the bull will provide clean, tender beef for the on-campus families and staff at the local price, but it will be much easier to obtain and of much better quality! It will be stowed in the solar freezer in the newly designed Mavuno Store.

Mavuno is in the process of improving the dairy program. To increase milk production, the cows are being fed more grass and remaining in their pens to be fed instead of grazing all over Mavuno land.

Jake and Carter helping out with the head

The only steer in the herd is in the process of being fattened for another butchering in the near future. Butchering this bull is one of our efforts to make our herd more manageable and cost-effective.

Hanging in the new store (check out the solar freezer in the back!)

Below, Megan Helsby oversees the meat cutting operation

Sammy and Mavuno Store

2011-08-04T03:51:00.000-07:00

4 year old Sammy joined the Mbugua family on July 20^th. He is the tenth child on campus with John and Milka. His siblings were overjoyed to welcome him into the family, helping him adjust quickly.

The four Mbugua boys

Sammy came from Forever Angels, where he has lived since shortly after his birth. Sammy has some special needs, yet is almost always happy and loves to be held. We’re so thankful that God has brought him to us!

Sammy with his new blanket

Sammy with his mommy

Seth Powell, a volunteer here, recently cut windows and a door in one of the 40 ft. containers that will serve as the Mavuno store.

The beginnings of the Mavuno store

The Mavuno families will be able to grow food and sell it here as well as buying flour, sugar, and other necessities. This will save huge amounts of time shopping for goods in Mwanza (an hour away)! One of the solar freezers sent in the latest container will be used here to refrigerate meat and other frozen foods that will be sold to Mavuno staff and families.

Shelving was made for part of the container while the other half was blocked off to store excess food.

Camp Week!

2011-07-30T04:52:00.000-07:00

Mavuno Camp started on June 25th for all the off-campus children and their siblings. 40 youths aged 11-20 arrived Sunday afternoon, tired from their long travels on public transportation, but looking forward to the week.

The first day was spent attending orientation and getting settled in. The girls were placed in the almost completed Family House 3, while the boys slept in the Team House attic and guest room.

Each morning began with exercises, chai, and sessions. After breakfast, the morning was filled with drama practice and personal devotions along with a few games and sessions.

The sessions were about sexual purity, salvation, creation, AIDS/HIV, Bible youths, and other various topics that applied to the kid’s lives. The speakers were several staff and board members, as well as the camp counselors.

The kids were divided into four teams of blue, green, red, and yellow. The blue team was the winner at the end of camp week because they memorized the most verses, and had the best behavior and attitudes during the games.

Three of the kids memorized 40 verses and were awarded a prize for their accomplishments. Joseph Malelo and Naomi Motomoto were given soccer balls for having the most Christ-like attitudes during the camp week.

Charlie and Jen Mann, Elliot Heumier, and Shaina, Seth and Tate Powell were present during the camp and organized the games. They also developed strong relationships with many of the kids. Each day they had a total of three hours a day to play outside games with the camp members. The youths learned many new games and also thoroughly enjoyed the water balloons provided by the team from Montana.

A dental group arrived mid-week to inspect all of the kids’ teeth. They pulled a few but most of the kids were in tip-top shape. Unlike a typical dental office, they had a great view of the lake from the Helsby’s back porch. The rest of the youths made various beaded creations while they waited to be examined.

The mealtimes were held at Family House 3 and consisted mostly of rice, beans, meat, ugali (thick, boiled maize), daaga (small fish cooked whole), and fruit. The boys hungrily devoured a great portion of the food at every meal.

The team also provided shirts for the kids to decorate and there were many creative ideas.

The last night of camp, a large bonfire was lit at the beach and the kids gathered to sing before a lengthy discussion led by John Mbugua and Dan Tanner. Each kid was given a stick to put on the fire to make it blaze brightly. This symbolized that, with the help of every child, Mavuno could shine as a bright light in Tanzania.

On the day of departure the kids packed their belongings and were driven out to the main road where they would take their various transports back home. Tearfully, they said goodbye to their newfound friends and the Mavuno campus, with renewed energy and commitment to God.

Team Building at Mavuno

2011-04-03T05:03:00.000-07:00

This week was a very different week here at Mavuno. Usually the fields are filled with temporary workers going about their daily work, but this week the director decided to just have full-time volunteers at Mavuno. He used this time to further explain the Mavuno vision to the volunteers and do team building in order to create unity through-out the volunteers. They did many projects together such as gardening, watching ”Farming God’s Way”, toured the campus and got in-depth insight of Mavuno goals concerning agriculture, children and construction. Every morning and afternoon they met and were all able to discuss problems and remedies of Mavuno’s relationship with some corrupt village leaders. After this they set aside a time for prayer and encouragement.

Mavuno Full-time Volunteers watching "Farming God's Way"

Discussion Time

Heads bowed in prayer for Mavuno

The Mbugua Family

2011-03-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

There are now 9 Children in the Mbugua family. Manyashi(10), Esther(10), Mariam(6), Bianca(5), Pili(4), Michael(5), Aika(4), Helena(4) and Jonathan(3).

Manyashi goes to a boarding school in Mwanza, called Jellys. He is currently in the 4th grade. There he is able to get very good schooling. He is a very academic boy, and has a passion for learning. Esther is now in 1st grade. She goes to a school called JBFC. Her and her little sister, Mariam, leave at 7 for school. It’s about a 45 minute walk through Kitongo to get to their school. They get home at about 5 in the evening. Mariam is in Kindergarten and is a very bright little girl. Bianca, Pili, Michael, Aika, Helena and Jonathan all aren’t old enough to go to school, so they stay at home. At home they have their play time, and at about 10 their Mama, Milka, does schooling with them. She is an amazing teacher and mother. They practice writing their names, learning letters and numbers. At 11:30 four times a week the kids go to pre-school. After pre-school is lunch time, followed by nap time. In the evening the girls, Pili, Bianca and Aika have to responsibility of going to get the milk at the container yard. Usually by that time Esther and Mariam can meet them at the container yard and walk home with them. Sitting at the Tanners house we can usually hear them singing and playing all sorts of games on the front porch, or race around the soccer field in the evenings.

I have had to joy of watching them grow and develop under the love of their parents John and Milka. I have never seen such well behaved children! John and Milka have received 9 children in little over a year, and have room for 1 more. Pray that John and Milka continue doing an amazing job as they raise their family. Pray for the kids as they bond to each other, their parents and are nurtured by God’s love.

Pre- school

2011-02-20T23:31:00.001-08:00

Kaylen Tanner and Danya Burke started a Pre-school with the missionary and Mbugua kids. The age ranges from 5 years old to 2 years old. We work on colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. On our fun days we play with play-dough, go mango picking, do some fun crafts, or visit the Mavuno Library. Every Friday is the kids favorite day because it’s Beach Day! We take some Frisbees, tools and buckets to dig with, a snack and have fun playing on the beach.

The Pre- school working on shapes and colors with blocks

Zeke and Reuben on face paint day!

Kaylen Tanner giving the kids rides on the beach!

Helena, Aika, Reuben, Michael and Zeke hiding their feet in the sand

Craft Day

The Pre-school picking mangos

Bible Club

2011-02-09T04:25:00.001-08:00

Every Wednesday Mavuno puts on a Bible Club for the village kids of Kitongo. Milka Mbugua, our first Mama, teaches the lesson and leads the singing. Right now she is teaching in the book of Ruth. Afterwards the kids play games like soccer or bata, bata, cuckoo (which is Kiswahili for duck, duck, goose).

Bible Club posing for a picture

Michael, Esther, Jona, Zeke, Habe, Myanda and Carter listening to the lesson

Milka giving the lesson

Update

2011-02-02T22:22:00.000-08:00

Last night one of Mavuno’s dairy cows, Coffee, gave birth to a little bull. Everybody is very excited. This will mean more milk available for Mavuno’s staff and our increasing number of children.

The newest addition to the Mavuno Dairy Program

Construction Update
The construction is moving along on Family House 3 and in the village plaster house. In Family House 3 the workers are pouring the final layer of cement floor. After the floor is completed the next step will be to start painting!

The village plaster house is in the “chicken cage stage” and ready to be plastered. The workers should begin plastering it next week.

Family House 3

The final cement floor layer being added in Family House 3

The "ckicken cage" in Kitongo waiting to be plastered

New Year Celebration

2011-01-18T23:10:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, Mavuno threw a New Year’s Celebration. The Lord really helped us out. It was raining all day, but about an hour before the celebration started, it cleared up, and He gave us sunny skies; when it was over, He let it rain again. It was a good chance to get acquainted with the local villagers of Kitongo. Pop and Mandazis (an African doughnut) were served by the Mavuno staff. Dan, Marco, and Malucha got a chance to explain Mavuno, and what our purpose is. John Mbugua preached a short sermon of the gospel. Afterwards the Jesus film in Kisakuma was shown. Overall it was a great chance to get to know our neighbors, fellowship with each other, and share the gospel message!

Marco

Malucha

The Mavuno Staff serving pop and mandazis

Watching the Jesus Film

Praise:
Our water crisis is now over, thank- you so much for praying. Dan was able to buy a new pump, and yesterday filled all of the water tanks!

Pili

2011-01-17T22:31:00.000-08:00

This week, God blessed Mavuno with a new on-campus child. Pili is a 4 year old little girl. We received her from a baby home in Mwanza called Forever Angels. The Mbugua family is now a family with 9 children. Please pray for Pili as she adjusts to her new family, and is introduced to God's love. Also continue praying for the Mbugua family as their family expands. John and Milka are doing an amazing job with their children. It's been a blessing to be able to watch the children change as the Mbuguas nurture them with God's love.

Pili
Pili and some of her new siblings

(Aika, Micheal, Pili and Bianca)

Pili

Pili with her new family (Manyashi is at school)

Pump Problems

2011-01-06T23:15:00.000-08:00

Please pray for Mavuno’s current situation with our pump. An accident has left it out of service. We are starting to run low on water and we need to find a way to fill up the water tanks. Please pray that we will be able to find a new pump, or we can fix our pump soon.

Christmas Party

2010-12-14T05:02:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday we had our Mavuno Christmas Party, with all the Mavuno fulltime volunteers, and the research team that is out from Grace Bible Church. It was an awesome time of encouragement, fellowship, eating, and fun. The food was great, singing together was awesome, it was so much fun to watch the kids open their presents, and the white elephant gift exchange was hysterical. Basically we all had a blast.

The Big Feast

Jonathan forgets his spoon

Eating

Helena enjoying her watermelon

Aika shows off her soda

Estha

Carter helping clean up

Hanging Out
Mary Malucha and Bethany

Gabrieli and Manyashi

the kids

Musa

Danieli

John, Jonathan (finishing off his dad's soda) and Milka

Mary

John shares

Jonathan after a big meal, on Milka's lap

Kids Presents
The kids sitting down for "musical presents"

Helena opens up her kanga (cloth wrap)

Abby starts the presents around; Manyashi examines his new tractor

Beatrice (Malucha's daughter) doesn't know what to do with hers

White Elephant Gift Exchange
Velo (Danieli's wife) likes her hat and speakers

Doudi isn't sure he wants everyone else to see what he got

Musa secures the speakers as the thrid person to steel them

Marco congratulates Malucha on helping Mary get him some awesome pants

Frank Broling is modeling for us the pants he stole from Mary

Mary finally scores with a baby seat for Beatrice

Milka didn't like the fake snake in her present (she threw it all on the floor)

Josh with his new shirt and makeup bag

Dan

Gabrieli gets a skirt

and tries it on (Becky ends up stealing it)

At the field, enjoying watermelon, befor the volleyball game

Volleyball

Kids Playing Soccer

George (Danieli's oldest) and Naomi racing

Jonathan, Michael, George, Lauren

The Guys and the Kids

Gabrieli with Mariamu, Bianca, and Helena

Mashaka with Helena and Naomi

Masumbuko with Helena and Bianca

The whole gang

The Mavuno bachelors: Musa, Marco, Gabrieli, Mashaka, and in front Masumbuko

Finally a picture of the entire Mbugua family- across the top: Jonathan, Bianca, Micheal, Helena, Aika; across the bottom: Estha, John, Manyashi, Milka, Mariamu

Estha puts her new kanga to good use carrying Beatrice on her back

Family House 3 Plastered

2010-11-30T02:03:00.000-08:00

For the last two weeks a crew has been “swinging mud”, and the house, between the Tanner's and the Mbugua’s has changed, from the chicken cage, into what will soon be a home. We are excited to see that the plastering is almost finished, and to know that soon it will be ready for kids. Pray with us, for foster parents to fill it. The need for a foster family, who will raise Mavuno children in a manner that glorifies our Lord, is becoming more and more obvious as Family House 3 continues to progress.

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Camping Trip for Volunteers (By Marco John)

2010-11-24T22:38:00.000-08:00

All the Mavuno volunteers went to the Serengeti National Park. It was a two day camping and hunting trip. As we arrived in the park, we divided in two groups. The first group remained at our camp site to clean-up the area, prepare dinner, and ensure security. The second group took off for hunting, but the area was voided of animals. This was Monday evening. Soon after dinner, we had a wonderful praise and worship festival. As we were singing, Dan was busy making tea for everybody. After the singing, everybody went to bed. Marco and Daudi snored like the tractor farming Mavuno sunflower gardens.
Next morning, the second group went hunting. But again, there weren’t any animals in the hunting area. Instead, dogs from several homes showed up and tried to chase our car. We had a strange experience, during our hunting trip. We met two boys (approximately 17 years old). They were walking in the park so the ranger asked where they were heading to. They said they were going to talk to their god who would give them rain (they were traditional rain makers). We talked with them for a little while. They showed us their local medicine,but revealed that the medicine will harm us if we touched it. They showed us the medicine and we took a few pictures with them. Dan told them about Jesus and that everything was created by God; even rain comes from Him. They said they havetheir own beliefs. This was a new experience to most of us.
It was a trip full of fun. We did all the following: played cards, swung, sang, and target practiced.

Heroes of the Trip:
Dan-Drinking and making tea, climbing the tree, swinging, smelling and touching the “rain medicine”

Masumbuko-Swinging
Gabriel-Climbing a tree and target shooting

Malucha-Cooking rice, taking pictures, and making jokes
Daudi- Snoring and washing dishes
Marco-Washing rice, snoring, eating mangoes and making jokes

Musa- Swinging and Singing

Daniel- Climbing the tree

John- Taking pictures and organizing the praise and worship festival

Mashaka- Karate

Making camp

Director Dan having fun on the swing
Masumbuko looking for animals

Musa testing the swing

Getting Daniel up the tree

Malucha making dinner

Daniel and Musa playing cards

Singing: (from left back) Doudi, John, Marco, Daniel (cant really see him), Musa, Malucha, (right from back to front) Masumbuko (cant really see him) Mashaka, Gabriel

(left to back) Daniel, Musa, Malucha (right back) Gabriel, Mashaka (you

can't see Masumbuko, but he is back there)

Dan witnessing to rain man #1, Malucha, rain man #2

Daniel, Masumbuko

Rain Medicine

Karate Guy (Mashaka) vs Hunter (Gabriel)

A Working Tractor!

2010-11-23T03:33:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord! The required piece to fix the tractor, after many delays, has made it safely to Mavuno. It was installed shortly after arrival and is working brilliantly. After 6 months of rest, the tractor now has a long to-do-list and is keeping very busy. Thank-you for your prayers!

Prayer Request and Praise!

2010-11-10T00:07:00.000-08:00

Mavuno has been working on sending a container from Bozeman, Montana. Praise God that it is finally ready to send to Tanzania, as it is bringing a lot of important supplies. It is scheduled to leave Monday, the 23rd of November. Please pray for safety as the container travels overseas and across the country. Pray that everything arrives safely and undamaged. Also pray that the container clears through customs without delay. A BIG thank-you to everyone who has donated, helped organize and pack the container. Mavuno is very grateful!

New Off-Campus Children

2010-11-09T23:20:00.000-08:00

On October 14th, God blessed the Mavuno Off-Campus program with two new children, Constantine and Jumanne Mzurikwao. Jumanne is 8 years old and his little brother Constantine is 5 years old. They were born and raised in Bunda by their father. Unfortunately, their father was mentally and physically not able to take care of the two boys. So he decided to take them to Kulianas for assistance. Kulianas contacted Mavuno and asked them to take in Constantine and Jumanne. So Mavuno placed the children temporarily with Michael Kabulimoja in the Magu area.

Please pray for wisdom for Kabulimoja as he raises Constantine and Jumanne. Also pray that Mavuno can find a set of permanent, Godly foster parents to raise up these 2 boys to serve the Lord.

Constantine Mzurikwao

Jumanne Mzurikwao

Jumanne and Constantine settling in along with the other Kabulimoja children

Rain

2010-10-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

This really isn’t Mavuno business, but it is very exciting: the rains have started. Last Saturday we received a down poor! It rained, and rained and rained. Rain in Africa comes for an hour, so much, so hard, dumping, loud and fast. I ran out the door, rolled up the car windows, and when I got back to the house it looked like I had jumped in the lake. The rain stopped fairly early in the morning, and all the water that couldn’t soak into the mud went running away in little rivers, and the sun came out. Today (Wednesday) everything is green. Mavuno went from a patchwork of black ash, and dusty brown, to beautiful, growing, green. In the last three days it has been amazing to see the change! We are all enjoying it. Praise the Lord.

Saturday morning

Reuben enjoying the rain

Pincushions are all over the hill right now

Everything turning green

Mango tree, covered it fruit

2010-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Chitumbis, our prospective foster family, resigned. Pray for Mavuno as we continue to search for foster families, Off-Campus and On-Campus. Pray that we would continue to trust God for this need, understanding that He will provide what Mavuno needs in His perfect timing.

2010-10-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

On October 7th Bianca Mary Joseph, from Forever Angels (http://www.foreverangels.org/) came to Mavuno and joined the Mbugua family. Bianca is five years old, and has been in orphanages ever since she was four days old. Pray for her as she adjusts to living in a family, and that as she becomes part of a loving family she would discover the even greater love of her heavenly Father. Pray that the Mbugua family would continue to grow together and that John and Milka would have the God-given strength to lead their family. Praise the Lord for this awesome chance to impact one of His beautiful creations.

Bianca

Aika, Bianca, John and Milka

Mariamu, Helena, Michael, Bianca sitting on Milka’s lap, Aika, and then Jonathan on John’s lap
(Manyashi and Esta were both at school)

Pray for the Tractor

2010-10-05T01:11:00.000-07:00

The tractor is having electrical problems. For the last five months it has not been working. Right now we are waiting for parts and pieces that we think need replaced. Pray that these parts will fix the problem and get here soon. Pray that we would be able to get it running soon. We could definitely use it right now.

2010-09-29T05:22:00.001-07:00

We have new cows! Yesterday we brought two new cows and a calf to Mavuno Village. Our dairy program is in its infant stages, and going through “growing pains”. Slowly we are figuring out how to deal with all the aspects of having a dairy. The hope is for this program to become a profitable part of Mavuno. We would love to see our five cows, and two calves, grow into a full size dairy, with enough animals to be exporting milk. But for now we are trying to keeping the Mavuno staff, employees, and families satisfied.

Refined by Fire (we pray and hope)

2010-09-29T04:45:00.000-07:00

Last night we had another grass fire at Mavuno. During the dry season it is normal to have a few fires, since all the grass is very dry. The fire came up from the beach, from near one of the fishing camps bellow our property. It burnt mostly grass and mango trees. We had been hoping for a nice mango harvest this year, but we will probably not get very much, sadly. We have a lot of burnt land now.

Thankfully the fire did not cross the road, if it had the whole hill would have burnt down.

Pray: for wisdom and patience as we continue dealing with the fisherman who probably started the fire.

Preschool with Milka Mbugua

2010-09-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

Every morning Milka Mbugua does Preschool with her children. They were coloring pictures on this day.

Aika

Michael and Milka

Esta (Esther) concentrates on her art work- she had a small school break two weeks ago

Helena thinking hard

Jonathan

Milka helping Aika

Michael shows his picture to his Mom

Mariamu

Thumbs Up (Mariamu, Milka, Helena, Michael, Aika, Esta, Jonathan)

Psalm 27: 10

2010-09-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago Mavuno received two more kids from Social Welfare in our Off-Campus Program. Twins, Veronica and Victor Joseph, moved in with a pastor, Kabulimoja, in Lamadi, a town about 70 kilometers from here. Veronica and Victor were the fourth set of twins their mother had given birth to, from as many men. She had been moving around, and on her move to the Mwanza region she left behind all the children with there fathers except these two. Lack of funds caused her to depend on men, and to go into debt. Six months behind rent, deep in debt, and desperate she moved again, leaving behind her twins, but taking her four year old daughter. Her neighbor told the local village leader who informed Social Welfare, and they began searching for her. The local village leader fed the children for two weeks as the search for their mother or any relative continued. The twins had never met any relatives and did not know who their father was. On the 17th of last month Social Welfare contacted Mavuno Village and on 23rd the twins moved in with our recently accepted Off-Campus foster parents.

Victor and Veronica

The Family: Mama Kabilamoja, Reuben, Veronica, Baba Kabilamoja, Victor (Kabilamoja's other two sons were at school)

Bethany Tanner went to see the kids the day they moved. They insisted that they were seven years old, but Bethany guessed that they were some where between 10 and 13 years.

Water!!

2010-09-16T05:27:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord- yesterday night, a little past ten, the pump finally pushed some water into our almost empty tanks. None of the houses actually ran dry. The Helsby house and Mbugua house almost did though. They both had only the water in their pipes left. This morning we filled all the tanks and now we are all catching up on laundry, and enjoying not being quite so stingey with our water. Thanks for praying.

2010-09-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

PLEASE PRAY: our water pump is broken down right now. Dan Tanner is working frantically to fix it, but until he does we are out of water. Pray that he will be able to fix it quickly.

Corvallis Team

2010-09-15T05:01:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is Wilbur Nisly and I am here in Tanzania for two weeks. We come from Montana and have had wonderful and growing time here. I spoke at the parenting seminar that Mavuno Village put on and that was an awesome experience. John served as translator. There were about 45 people attending, mostly pastors and their wives. The subject material we used came from Ted Tripps book ‘Shepherding a Child’s Heart’. The people were very gracious and receptive of the teaching. Of course I needed a lot of grace extended for my very limited Swahili, which they were so good about. It was a crash course on the local culture but was a very pleasant experience. The seminar was well organized and the enthusiasm of the people for fellowship and teaching from God’s Word was very refreshing. I so enjoyed their singing. It seemed such an enthusiastic expression of the joy in there hearts. I praise God for the opportunity to study and worship with this segment of God’s family.
Our team helped with several projects here at Mavuno Village. Among them were developing a watering system for their crops and garden. The ladies cleaned, sewed curtains, watched children, and such. We worked on the new house being built, running conduit for wiring, helping put on the steel roofing. Carol Webber, one of the ladies of our group, shared at the parenting seminar on praying for our children, and praying scripture for our children. Some of us had the opportunity to go for dinner to a local village home. We were almost overwhelmed with their generosity and gracious spirit. It was the kind of evening that made you think that sometimes our priorities need some major adjustments.
Here at Mavuno Village the work is moving ahead. The people here are driven by their love for God and a passion for providing good homes to orphan children. It was a privilege to be a small part of helping them in this pursuit. It’s a wonderful, functional community with lots of challenges and yet the patience to allow God to work in His timing.

Don and Larry welding on the pump house fence

Carol with Esther

Larry and Rollie working on our water system

Larry enjoying watching Rollie work on our water system

Bev loving on a child

Larry helping Dave Helsby roof Family House 3.

Wilbur speaking with John Mbugua (our first foster father) as translator.

Deni loving on a baby

The Team having a good traditional African meal. Ugali: stiff mixture of various types of flour, with some Daga: very small salted dried fish

They also got to visit our village church; in this picture the choir is dancing, which is just as important as singing here.

We were very happy to have the team. They were a huge help around here, and in the Parenting Seminar they were a huge encouragment.

They’re Moved!

2010-08-31T01:53:00.000-07:00

Last week the Helsby’s moved into their new house, which is very exciting. And this Monday (August 30th) the Millers moved into the house the Helsby family vacated (they are rejoicing at having running water again- “Uncle” Josh said he loved being able to take a hot shower, in a real shower, and he didn't even have to boil his own water!). The house that the Millers moved out of is going to soon be filled by our latest prospective parents, the Chitumbis. They are required to be here for four months on a trial period before they become Mavuno Foster Parents.

Reminder: Our Parenting Seminar starts next week. PRAY that it would go well and that our Off-Campus Foster Parents would learn lots and be encouraged.

“Pool” Party

2010-08-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday (August 14th) the Mavuno families had a pool party! The girls, Hannah Helsby, Danae, and Launa Tanner, worked really hard these last two weeks to make a pool with a slip and slide down the hill. This “pool” is a hole in the ground with a tarp in it, accompanied by a ditch with a tarp, as the water slide- but it is a lot of fun. The Millers, the Helsby kids, Tanner kids, and Mbugua kids all got wet and had a blast Saturday. It was awesome to see all those kids splashing, sliding, yelling, and laughing.

The"water slide"

The Never Ending Line

Esther liked the pool.

Jonathan kept getting stuck so Levi
Tanner and Carter Helsby helped him out.

Hannah Miller gets helped along by John

At first Aika was not so sure about the water,

But after a little convincing (by Launa Tanner)

She tried it out, and had fun.

Hannah and Katie Helsby race for the finish!

Mariamu helped along by John

Helena(with John) was nervous about the slide

But after a few rounds she was having a blast! (she is with Levi Tanner here)

Mariamu climbing out of the pool

Manyashi was determind to discover the fastest way down- I had a hard time getting pictures of him

Esther helping Zeke out

Michael with "Aunt" Amy Miller

Mariamu Champion of the Slide!

John helping Esther and Jonathan

Launa Tanner and Jonathan having fun

John makes Lauren Helsby's day

"Uncle" Josh Miller was definatly our fastest runner- he is with Jonathan here.

Naomi Miller and Esther making good use of the pool

Traffic jam- good thing John was there

Michael arrives

Tired kids eating bannanas

By the end of the day all the kids were very tired!

2010-08-13T01:55:00.000-07:00

Family House 3 is on the way! In the last few days the cement foundation between the Mbugua’s and Tanner’s has grown up into a skeleton house. Dan and Dave have been working hard at welding, drilling, screwing, pushing and pulling to get all the poles and trusses up in the last few days. Praise the Lord that no one has got hurt with all the pounds that have been suspended in the air as Dan moves the trusses into place. It is really exciting to see this house come up, even though we still have a lot to do- wiring, pluming, plastering the cement walls, putting in doors and windows, and painting-before any one can move in. Still, the hope is that four months from now we can start putting kids in!

Exciting Arrivals

2010-08-05T02:24:00.000-07:00

Aika

Michael

Manyashi

Aika and Michael have arrived! We had been planning to receive them last week but that didn't work out. We have them now, though, and Mavuno is so excited about it. We all realize that transition from the baby home, Forever Angels, to a family is going to be difficult, but they are excited to finally have a family. And we are excited that we can give them one!

The day before yesterday Manyashi came home from boarding school. Manyashi has been going to school at Jelly’s English Medium School, but his month vacation starts this week. Manyashi is the oldest on campus child; right now he is ten but he will be eleven in September. That makes him a big brother to a growing number of kids.

The Mbugua family,
(top) John and Milka
(bottom) Aika, Michael, Jonathan, Helena, Mariamu, Manyashi
(Esther was at school, so she is missing)

If you want to know more about Forever Angels go to:www.foreverangels.com

House Shuffle

2010-07-29T06:58:00.002-07:00

Helsby's House in Progress

The Helsby’s new house, or “Staff House One” is close to being done, a few more weeks- we hope. As soon as they can the Helsbys will move into it, and the Millers will move into the Volunteer House, were the Helsbys were. Ever since finishing language school in Mwanza the Millers have been living in the Plaster House, which is a tight squeeze for all of them. The idea behind all this moving is to get the Millers into a bigger house and Josh closer to the office. Also it will be nice for the Helsbys to be in a more central spot. The Tanner kids are very excited because it means the Helsbys will be living with in shouting distance

The Millers Temporary House>

Just a Reminder

2010-07-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Please pray for the Mbugua family. In seven short months John and Milka, our first foster parents, have inherited seven children. Pray for them as they begin to build and lead their new and sudden family. They are doing an amazing job and we are so thankful for them.

Permission Granted

2010-07-29T06:49:00.001-07:00
We have the last permit! For the on campus program to be legal, as an orphanage, Tanzania requires we have a “license to run a home”. We have been waiting for this last license so that we can start getting more kids, and now it is finally here! It arrived last week and on Friday we hope to get two new kids on sight thanks to this new permit. We are very excited to get Michael and Aika. Both have been in a baby home in Mwanza, waiting to be adopted. At four years old they are no longer allowed to be there, and it is unlikely that they will be adopted, so they are coming to Mavuno! And we are so happy to give them a home and family.

Welcome

2010-07-29T01:38:00.001-07:00
This is Mavuno Village's new blog! We are going to try to keep this up dated so every one can know what is happening here. Enjoy!