October 2007

Dear Friends of International Health Partners US & TZ,

Den and I are in the U.S. doing fund raising. We landed in Kansas City on Oct. 1st, drove directly (through the night) to St. Peter, MN, had breakfast with our friends Stan and Marie Benson, and then attended the Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College on the subject of global warming.

We received a warm welcome at Grace Lutheran in Albert Lea, MN then went to Newton, Iowa to have the International Health Partners - US Annual Meeting. There is not a better group of folks with whom to hold a vision and figure out a way to get the job done. We also returned to First Lutheran there to begin a planning session for their sending out a team.

In Cedar Rapids we spoke to a couple of classes at Kirkwood College, and then went to Minneapolis for Den's daughter's wedding celebration. After that we went to Howard Lake, MN and spoke to the folks at St. John's Lutheran.

In order for us to keep our U.S. medical licenses, Den and I must get continuing education, and for three very intense days we did that at Mayo Clinic Family Practice Reviews in Rochester, MN. We then went to Winona, MN to speak to the medical/surgical team that will be coming out to Nyakato in February. We shared the story of IHP US & TZ with some folks in Iowa City, then came to Kansas City and spent the week-end telling the story and showing the pictures at Atonement Lutheran.

In every place we are received so warmly. We know that God is opening doors for us, that the people who are ready to hear have been placed especially by God into the audience/congregation, and that all we have to do is share what's happened, what's happening, and the plans for the future. You see, God has the Master Plan and Den and I just show up. In Tanzania, Mary Ellen, Anna, Sele, Magola and the terrific staff there "shows up," does the work that needs doing that day, and we each know that we are doing our part of God's plan.

In order for the work to go on, we need the donations that you're sending to us. Without you doing your part, we can't do ours. We're all critical members of the same team. None of this would be accomplished without your feeling called to help, and then doing it. We are profoundly grateful to be in this partnership with you.

Now, on to Anna's report!
October Update from Anna Grace Bingham

It's been almost a month since Paula and Denny flew back to the US and I took over running the day-to-day operations here in Nyakato.  It has been a very interesting month full of surprises, frustration, excitement, and successes.  The first two weeks were the most challenging, as I tried to find my footing and get used to being in-charge.  Each day I woke up without any idea of what the day would bring, dealing with problems as they came to me.  Some days were spent at home cleaning and organizing, or baking banana bread for guests.  Other days I would get up early so I could make it to the bank before the lines began and then spend the rest of my day running around town getting errands done.

Last week, Mary Ellen came for her monthly visit and we worked and worked and worked. I learned how to pay the payroll for IHP and Nyakato Health Centre, including paying taxes and social security payments.  We spent two days counting money and filling out payment vouchers, and waiting in lines to pay the necessary fees.  It was quite the learning experience, and I have found, not something that I want to do on a regular basis.

This week, I will continue working on drafting up a Volunteer Handbook for all the wonderful volunteers that come in and out of Nyakato on a regular basis.  Hopefully this will be done in the next couple of weeks.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the last few weeks is our scavenger hunt for cement.  When we first went to buy cement at the factory they wouldn't sell it to us because we had cash in payment instead of a check.  So we waited and waited to try and get that figured out.  Then, we found out that the largest cement company in Tanzania (the one we were trying to buy from) sold all of their production through December to South Africa where they could get a better price for it.  The second largest company is selling to Uganda, and the third largest company is struggling to meet local demand.  So construction in the entire country of Tanzania is stalled.  This experience definitely brings a new perspective on free trade.  Luckily, Sele our wonderful Foreman, found 300 bags of cement for sale here in Nyakto, and we snatched them all up as fast as we could.  So, we have enough to keep us busy until the new-year at least.  Now, we are trying to get the septic holes finished and covered before the rains come.  It started raining yesterday and has cooled off considerably today. I look forward to experiencing a different change in seasons from what I'm used to back home in Minnesota another adventure to look forward to.

At the moment, we have 4 volunteers and myself working here in Nyakato.  Andrew from North Carolina continues to help us with random construction projects.  He has been working on putting the suspended ceiling up in the Isolation Ward, but has since had to move on to other projects, as he ran out of t-bar for the ceiling grid and we cannot find any more here in Mwanza.  Kari Kingsley, a nurse from Minnesota, is helping daily in the clinic and is currently assisting another volunteer, Dr. Christine, from Las Vegas.  Also from Las Vegas, Marie came out with Mary Ellen last week and will be with us for yet another week.  She is helping take vital signs in the clinic, as well as organize here and there and offering insight and direction to IHP for moving successfully into the future.  It is wonderful to have all of these volunteers here, as they add life and excitement to the day.

Nyakato Health Centre is doing very well and several days last week they saw over 50 patients in one day!  That's truly wonderful.  The combination of Prime Minister Lowassa's visit and having a female doctor on staff are treating us very well.

It's been two months since I arrived in Tanzania and it has been truly wonderful.  The people here are friendly, kind, and generous.  The Tanzanian staff IHP has in place are wonderful and I truly could not be doing any good without their help and support.  We have a long road ahead of us in order to get Nyakato Hospital, and other projects completed the need is very great and the challenges that come with them just as daunting.  But, we are grateful for each day we have to continue doing this good work.

This is Paula writing again.

Anna has been a gift from heaven and I've explained to her parents that they cannot have her back, she's become indispensible to IHP.  Warning to all volunteers!!!  You'll find a new direction in Tanzania.  It will change you. It will make a difference.  And, we come to depend on you.  Anna was a dance performance major at Luther College.  Every guest and volunteer bring special gifts.  Please think about bringing your talents to Tanzania.

Today we begin a trip out to California to speak in the San Francisco area and then to Simi Valley, Oxnard, and Thousand Oaks. From there we'll head back east, through Phoenix, and then to Atlanta, Georgia.  We'll be stopping in Knoxville, TN, Chapel Hill, NC., Seneca, S.C., then going to Florida.  After that we're going to Bloomfield Hills, MI, and then back to Minnesota.  Our support comes from not only Lutherans, but from every denomination, service club, or group who would like to get to know us and who would be interested in helping.  If you want to see us, please call us at 870/404-4491, or e-mail paulalofstrom@yahoo.com.

Blessings and gratitude,

Paula and Denny

  Construction going on at the Nyakato Health Center

  Construction on Patricia Ward's drainage system