Kilimanjaro Chapter 4

Moshi A Land of Love, A Land of Beauty, A Land of Poverty, A Land of Hope

Chapter 4 Duke/KCMC Alive and Well

The purpose of our trip was to greet the Moshi Duke Engage Students, hear their presentations, meet with the Duke/KCMC staff and KCMC staff, and last but certainly not in that order, to meet the new Executive Director of KCMC Moshi Ntabaye. With such a short trip, this seemed a tall task. Fortunately, I am married to one of the most efficient people probably in the world. Even with TIA, Vodacom issues, poor e-mail, and John’s cell phone not working for most of the trip, we managed to fit in dinners, lunches, meetings, and listen to challenges. We covered the spectrum from happy times at Mkulima, meeting “Dr. Annie’s” baby Thomas, and Elizabeth an excited parent to be, watching the slide presentations of the Duke Engage Students, a friendly dinner with Professor Shao, dinner with the Difenthals, and John spending productive time with the new exciting Executive Director for KCMC, Moshi Ntabaye.



(our new Executive Director Moshi Ntabaye)
Mkulima is a highlight every time we come to Moshi and the crowd was there. I think the owner is getting to know the name “Duke”, as our crowds are a regular occurrence there when we are fortunate enough to be in Tanzania. I’m told that that is one of the first things that people think when they hear that Prof JAB is on his way back.


Annie’s little Thomas is adorable. He is engaging and interactive. Keep your fingers crossed for the adoption hearing at the end of August! And Elizabeth is looking forward to…maybe a girl???? We had a wonderful dinner with Annie, Elizabeth, Coletta, John and me at one of our favorite restaurants…El Rancho ( the Indian Restaurant).

Pizza night is not the same, but the Difenthal's have continued the tradition and we love it!

One of the most special things for us to do is to go to Greg’s parent’s farm and walk the crops. Unfortunately, Sylvie and Nick were tending to the house in Pangani, but we had a great lunch, conversation and walked the farm with Greg. What a beautiful place. I think it is as nearly heaven on earth as our house in the mountains. Thank you Greg, and Nick and Sylvie (though absent!).



Our trip to Moshi ended much too early. On the next to last day, Rose came to work with the most fabulous weave. Suddenly our housekeeper morphed into a teenager. She is a blessing to us and we are very lucky!

I cannot wait to return.