Fundraiser Wednesday August 25, 2010

Bridges of Hope is a foundation that supports mission work in Tanzania, Africa at Karim Orphanage. Please consider continuing to support our mission work by participating in the EAT AND EARN program generously offered by a local restaurant, Francesca’s Tavola in downtown Arlington Heights. 20% of your total bill (includes food and beverages) is donated to Bridges of Hope in care of Karim Orphanage. All you have to do is mention Bridges of Hope and they’ll take care of the donation!

Please invite your friends, family and neighbors to EAT and EARN

Wednesday August 25^th from 11:30 am-9:00 pm

Francesca’s Tavola

208 S. Arlington Heights Road

Do lunch, dinner, or carry out

My daughter and I have just returned from Karim Orphange, having spent two weeks working at the orphanage and making it home for its’ Mama and children. We will be at Francesca’s from 6:30 – 9:00 pm to share stories and pictures of the progress being made thanks to previous donations and fundraising events which many of you have been a part of.

Some of the things still needed at Karim that your participation in this EAT and EARN will help make possible:

· Flooring for bathrooms and dining area

· The materials for building a chicken coup to raise chickens for food and extra income for operating expenses

· A volunteer home (This is the final phase of the project)

Join us 6:30-9pm or at a time convenient for you (11:30- 9pm) and help continue our efforts to make a difference half way around the world. Thank you for helping us help them. Remember to mention Bridges of Hope!!!

Penda (Love)

Lynne and Jacqueline

Working hard or hardly working pics

Men hard at work! (cant you tell) Digging the trench for the security wall.

Little plants we plants in those BIG holes:)

Proof I was working hard too!

The pics only upload randomly- ha

Picture 1: Mama Lynne and the kids:)

Picture 2: Mama Lynne interior decorating: she reorganized the main room! Ha

Picutre 3: Trying to HELP make Chapati. It turned out pretty good:)

Picture 1: Fun times at Karim! We made visors with the kids for digging day(s)! :) They loved them!

Picture 2: The wonderful meal described before: Chicken, fried sweet potatoes, fried bananas and chapati!! Lets jsut say we didnt lose any weight!

Picture 1: The desk and new sewing machine we purchased for Rehema from you loving dollars.
Picture 2: The new tile is in!! Rehema has her Mazungi kicthen now! :) So much easier to clean!

Feel the Burn

So mom and I have literally felt the burn... in our backs, hands, and shoulders! We offically finished digging 45 1 1/2 feet deep holes around the orphanage. Please keep in mind that the ground was not the nice soil we think of at home. It was full of cement and rocks and took the two of us about 1/2 hour to dig one hole! We wer grunting and laughing at each other the whole time... well so were the workers watching us. They thought it was funnier just to watch us struggle rather than actualy help us. We then had to drag soil in a bucket to fill the hole and then plant the flower. I still do not think the holes needed to be that big and deep as the flowers were little!!! Ha But we did complete this task that we set out to do. The cement security wall is in the front of the orphanage with gates but the rest of the place is surrounded by barbed wire fence, which is where we planted these 45 vines that should climb the fence and have purple, red, and orange flowers. It should be beautiful. Hopefully in six months it should give them the privacy and security they need.
I also felt the burn as I got really sunburned... even though I was wearing a 70 spf! Who burns with a 70 spf?? The kids kept touching my shoulders saying "pink pink!" LOL - it was pretty funny as they were also asking what the white cream was I was applying before this all happened. This just solidified why beach vacations are not my thing!
After our hard day of work and our nice cold bucket shower :) Mama Rehema made us a feast! Mama Lynne had not tried a bunch of her specialities so she spent all day making sure Mama Lynne would enjoy her cooking and hopefully come back soon! Mama Lynne tried Chipati, Rehema's fried chicken, fried bananas, fried sweet potatoes, huge avacados (size of a small canatlope) and ugali! Lets just say that we were so full that night! Wonderful African evening.
Saying our goodbyes was hard, but we celebrated before we left! The day before we left we had worked it out with a local pizza place owner to go there for the day. The kids were so excited for pizza and pop! Also to their surprise though behind the pizza place was a huge playground:) The children played all day (so did Mama Lynne and I) on the slide, swings, climbing ropes, and sea saw! The kids were in heaven- always yelling "Mama Lynne watch me!!" "Jackelinn come here, look at me!" It was quite the fun, exhausting experience. We got some great pictures. The children were so cute. They all came out in there colorful Chicago t-shirts before we left- so everyone felt special that day I think.
We left the next morning with a short, tearful goodbye as I think it is hard for the children to realize what is really going on. We sang a few "I love you in the morning and in the afternoon. I love you in the evening and underneath the moon!" Hopefully they do know that we do love them even though we are not always there with them.

No Pictures:(... YET

Tried to post pictures... ugh!! Sorry it is just letters. :( We will try again at another internet. Lots of Love to you all!

Thoughts from Mama Lynne

Notes from Mama Lynne:

The shelves that we ordered are now up and looking great. It helps the bathroom in both the kids and volunteers to stay organized, which is always a hard task in Africa! TIA (This is Africa)
The wall is still in progress. We often look outside to see the workers laying on the dirt and we go out there asking what are they doing and they jump to work. ha The tile in the kitchen is also done now. Rehema is so happy and is so excited because the tile has green in it and that is her favorite color!
We introduced the kids today to the game of Twister which we brought along thinking it is a good way to teach left and right and colors. It was not easy to get them to understand but they did giggle tried their best which they always do. The pictures are so cute. the days go quickly.
We usually go into town almost every day for bottled water and fresh fruit and bread. Those trips are never quick as the roads are very rough and the avtivity along the way is fascinating. We definately stand out. A couple days back Jac and I took a peke peke (moped type of bike). into town. As the driver squeezed between a car and a dola dola (bus) a guy reached out and tried to touch my hair! the driver said no worry they like to touch Mazuga's hair! Today we purchased an singer type sewing machine for Rehema touse to mend the childrens clothes and to make some new. She may also be able to make some extra shillings by mending other people's clothes as well. She was again so happy and grateful. Getting it home is a whole other story which I'll save till we get home.

Supper is usually served about 7:00 and is actually quite tasty. Lots of carbs They do their cooking outside over a small fire. They use lots of fresh tomatoes, onions and potatoes, rice and beans. A meal always includes some fruit.Tonight we had watermelon. So to say the least we won"t be loosing any weight! The children all clean up the meal,wipe down the tables and sweep the floor. then they have play time again whcih can be pretty crazy. Last night and tonight however the electricity powered by solar, ran out. It has been overcast for a couple of days, we are in the dark. So everyone is in their beds and it is only 8:30. It'll be an early morning tomorrow.
This such a simple life. Very beautiful in a way. I'm still struck by the exteme proverty yet people smile and carry on. We could all benefit from the Afican philosphy of hakunamata,(no worry). Their are a million stars out tonight.
There has been a few other volunteers here than we were aware were going to be here. It has been great meeting them and finding out what brought them here and in many instances what has brought them back as in Jac's case.
In the remaining days we have digging to do and vines yet to plant. We took a break and let our blisters heal some. Now will finish the project before we leave.
Lights here at Karim have been out for awhile(literally) it is time to read by flashlight, reflect and join the others who are resting comfortably in their new home.
Love from Africa.
Lynne and Jac

Home Sweet Tanzania

Hello Family and Friends!

We have made it safe and sound! We have already spent 4 nights at the orphanage! Rehema picked us up from the airport with flowers and we had a long drive to the orphanage. Of course the kids were waiting up for us and we didnt get there til like 10:30-- lets just say it was a late night for all:) The kids really did remember me which was amazing and they loved Mama Lynne from the start. It is so wonderful to actually see them and play with them again. The new orphanage is huge!!! Rehema is now know as Queen Rehema of Karim because she feels so lucky and has a queen sized bed from Mama Linda in Canada:) One room at the new orphanage is bigger than the whole orginal orphanage. They have running water... not hot of course- ha and electricty! WOW Mama Lynne has learned how to bucket shower and is a master at eating Ugali and beans!

We have already put your loving dollars to use. We have purchased Tile for the kitchen and it is being put in as we speak. Mama Rehemas daughter Sabrina said 'Mama we will have a Muzungu (White person) Kitchen soon!' ha We have bought the final two matresses and pillows to the rooms. We also have starting the planting. I thought this would be an easy process butttttttt the holes are big and the soil is hard:( ha We are sore from day one. The security wall is in process but the back of the wall is a fence with barbed wire. The planting is by the fence and the plants will grow up the fence to provide security and privacy as well. It will be colorful as the plants have purple, red, orange flowers:) The shelving for the bathroom and kitchen is being made by a local man as well. Everything will be delivered on Monday. So the orphanage will have some wonderful additions thanks to Chicago!!

Mama Lynne is trying to learn Swahili. She was trying to count to ten and the kids were giggling as she was practicing. Mama Lynne Mama Lynn they always say.

We saw the Sotwa School where the kids go. What a wonderful place for the children to learn. All the children at the orphanage are sponsored to go there. And it is taught in English!

We shopped at the Masai Market this afternoon and got some great deals. Mama Lynne was not to good at the bargaining... she is a softy! She was like... it is going to a good cause! I was like Mom they are ripping us off! LOL Fun times though.

We are having dinner with my Host Family from 2 years ago tonight. We are bringing Mama a Guiness as she loves to drink! Should be good.

We will try to post pictures later in the week. Love and miss you all! Penda!

Mama Lynne and Jackelinnnn

For the Love of Africa!

My mom and I leave Tuesday July 27th for Tanzania Africa. We will be there for 2 weeks living at the orphanage with the children of Karim. We are very excited for this adventure and will be posting updates when possible.

Lots of love to you all & Thank you for all your love and support. We could not have done this without each and everyone one of you.

Asanta Sana,

Lynne and Jacqueline