Cancer Symposium, Bugs, and Makuru Farm

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The most amazing Bug

With our final days in Moshi facing us, we dodged our way into some chaos—definitely always, packed days.  We had massive rain on two days, which left things very very muddy, but also brought some of the most amazing bugs I have ever seen.

Amazing moth on our porch

The most amazing bug I have ever seen

flying moth

Honda Honda birds waiting to get avocados

The rains also brought down more avocados.  My highest count is 15 in one day.  We cannot eat that number clearly, but everyone in the compound is enjoying our fabulous tree! 

No way to show the avocados on the ground...just trust me!

Pauli and Lucy's Jonathan turned 3 months old this week.  Now all he wants to do is stand and is smiling from ear to ear.  Things change so very much with babies and so quickly.  Makes me miss my granddaughter and get more and more excited about our new grandchild to be born.

He is quite a little man now

We participated in a Cancer Symposium that was very interesting.  A group of MD’s from Minnesota is raising money to build a proper Cancer Center at KCMC.  KCMC was supposed to be one of the cancer centers in the country some years ago, but as politics are always complicated, so has gone the cancer center.  But these Radiologists are committed, and have been working for the past year to raise at least enough money to get a specialized Radiation Therapy project going and we all hope that they are successful.  John wound up being quite a bit more involved than he had first imagined.

Dinner with leads at Cancer Center Fundraising at A-5

Daudi talks about Alibinism and Cancer

Dr. Olomi opens the Symposium

Masenga talks about Skin Cancers

Note the bright colored flags.  The group climbed the Kilimanjaro carrying prayer flags.

Our very own Mzee Radiologist Helmut Difenthal discussing Retinoblastoma

My very own John talking about the MEPI, KCMC/Duke collaborative

Mark Jacobson speaking about needs for Cancer Care in this area

Our younger Masenga talking about Cervical Cancer (Tz highest rates in Africa)

The final part of the week was filled with our plans for setting the hash on Sunday, and visiting our friends Nic and Sylvie who, as I have said previously, have one of the most peaceful homes I have ever been to, and who are dear dear friends. Makuru Farm is stunningly beautiful with views of the Pare mountains on one end and almost bookend views of the two big mountains.  There is something about newly planted crops, corn, beans, and of course the older coffee plants, the smell of the soil and green that is magical.

John walking a trail

walking through beans and corn

Irrigation pond around which the hash was set

Honey boxes (I saw tons of bees--yea!)

Dudu meowing at birds that torture him flying all around at sunset

Hash group after running (3 cases of beer, 4kg of pork, 4 batches of cookies, 4 doz each samozas and spring rolls)

John, Bob Kassworm and a very gorwn Nikoli chat

Friends try on cute sun hats

Trish and Terrie lovin' our beer!

So, with the sunset on both Mt. Mehru and on Kilimanjaro, we face our last week in Moshi for this trip!

Kilimanjaro right after sunset

 

Mehru sunset

Motorcross Speedway and the Bartletts...what is that?

Kilimanjaro is snow covered!

Week 5 Moshi

After the eventful week 4, I was reasonably sure that there could be nothing to top our weekend at Lake Chala and the Hash (run/walk) and flat tires.  And, I think it really has to be said that the events of last week are pretty un-toppable.  But, the week did continue, and as usual, was most interesting and different.

toilet water leaking out-and ou-and out

We woke up after the horrible tire incident with water covering the floor of the house, with the small bathroom leak.  I mopped it all up and yet it continued to leak.  As usual I thought the worst, but Pauli (thank goodness for Pauli) discovered that it was just water coming from the lever to flush.  The water level was set too high and suddenly started dripping water continuously.  Thanks yet again, Pauli.

Just a reminder, lots of snow!

The mountain has been spectacular this week when it has been out.  There is tons of new snow on it, though the glaciers continue to recede.  But, nearly every day brings new rain, new beauty.

Judy?  I don't know what this is...looks like a day lily leaf

Unusual Turk's cap lily

One of my favorite things is seeing new things in the yard, and here are two new flowers.  Because I love to see what is new, I had Pauli accompany me and explain everything.  The songbirds are going crazy, though I can not quite get them in my sights.  They are like hummingbirds only bigger but they stick their long beak into fragrant flowers and spend happy hours souring around looking for more.

Ema-youth CAB leader gives a report about marathon

Youth CAB members listen to reports

Ema answering questions

James our bright energetic AMO discusses his passion, stigma towards HIV-infected pregnant women

James adds a plea for a campaign to end stigma

Wednesday was the big CAB meeting and as usual was packed not just for  agenda, but also for the folks attending.  Our big CAB was huge, and everyone was talking and asking questions as usual. Ema showed a slide show from the Marathon and there were one or two very upset folks who did not get their picture in, yet actually participated.  Poor Ema, he had tried his level best to get everyone in.  But there you go.  We had  multiple presentations regarding other research going on at the site, and will have to invite them back as there was so much interest.  The main topic of stigma and discrimination still is dominant, and we will try to have a symposium soon to bring stakeholders to the table to discuss what we as a community might be able to do to change this terrible problem.

The weekend held new promise.  More rain.  Heaven’s radio is nearly finished. Now I love the concept of the Carter Family Heaven's Radio....  "The static in the air sometimes makes it hard to hear, but it is not so with heaven's radio.  So our Heaven's radio towers are jumping up all over the place.  They are hideous just let the record show, and often block our mountain view, which is of course, heaven.  But there we are.  They are there just like in the US and everywhere else.

Heaven's Radio--Where my precious savior always listens in!

And then we attended the Motorcross up at Sylvie and Fons’ farm.  It was crazy.  And the big race was on Sunday (when it poured rain and I’m sure all the paths were muddy and slippery.  Here are just some of the pictures that I was able to snap.

Fons' farm

Venue of race

Fons, note no helmet!

KCMC ambulance

First view of the duet

this duet is competing

down, now up

very steep

still at it

close to the end

ahead a bit

He's still coming

this was actually pretty scary

He is trying to catch up

still trying

     

next time around

he is a hot rod!

14 year old going down the wrong way!

She found it now

Here is the one we were waiting for....Nicoli and his dad...But Nicoli was in great shape and so happy!

So one has to think about a "godmother" and her godson.... riding a motor bike in crazy conditions.  But, he loved it and was maybe careful, but had a ball.  How much fun is that?

 So, another week passes.  We sang a variation of "Jerusalem" at church and it was so much fun.  Not the same words but same tune.  Everyone my age and down another 20 years was thinking “Chariots of Fire”.  And singing joyfully. My friend Clive and I just kept exchanging fun glances with each new old standard that we sung...and go Clive.  He has a great bass voice and often doesn't go for harmony, but he did today and it was great fun. 

So, now onto the 6^th week (sadly next to last).

Saddies, my beloved Blue Devils lost in the first round. It was certainly not what we wanted or expected, but this is college ball and anything can happen.   So, with all saddies comes some triumph.
The painful loss was tempered by Harvard winning against Cincinnati, even though they lost to Michigan State, perhaps the best team in college basketball today.  But, wow,  Johnny Dawkins’ Stanford team wins against Kansas.  How in the world did that happen.  So now on to the next week, and more interesting experiences here in my 3rd home.