I’ve been writing my friend who use live in Tanzania to follow up on leads this is how its going:

Joshua Ballinger

11:07am Mar 26th

Wow, what a small world….I was pretty shocked when I first got your message, but the more I thought about it, it makes sense….I hate using the world God, but I definitely feel like this project is guided by something bigger than ourselves….

I was excited to hear you were already mailing your friend about our travels, and will take any connections you have down there. I’m super excited, and am doing everything I can right now to try and make sure everything runs smoothly while we’re there…..

I think we might be staying with a couple from New Zealand, but if it doesn’t work out I will definitely check out those hotels you mentioned…..

How far is Farajah, from the center? I think we’re actually staying close to the hospital.

Do you happen to know Megan, She was volunteering through peace core, at the same time you were there.
she’s on our website, which is where you can stay up to date

africa.gettingwordout.com

I posted your last letter to me, as we are trying to make our site as interactive as possible.

So I guess the thing I’m most nervous about is the language barrier…. were you able to learn while you were there? any good translators you want to introduce me to?

We’re also looking for sponsors if you know any rich people, or business’ that I want to get involved in helping, theres links on our website.

Our tentative plan is to be there around the first of May,
Should be buying our tickets this weekend, after our last bit of funding is secured.

I think we’re flying to Nairobi, b/c we heard its cheaper…..

Another thought I had, is if you want to post/share anything on our site let me know I make you a user name…..

I don’t think I can express, how random and beautiful our connection is….. but am very grateful that our paths crossed, and I hope they will continue to as we make our mark on this world.

joshua

Jamie Howard

Today at 11:51am

A small world indeed my friend. The idea of something bigger than ourselves is central to my life {insert name of deity here}. I feel it guiding me as well. And its invisible nature makes it unbearably beautiful when those little “coincidences” come about. Bursting at the seams. I love life.

Africa sounds like it’s coming along. A couple people from our team flew into Nairobi and took a bus to Moshi Town, and that worked out well for them. Faraja is, I believe, about 45 minutes away from Moshi Town. The Maasai villages around Faraja are absolutely amazing. Do you kids have transportation set up? How long are you going to be in Tanzania? Hopefully you will be traveling outside of Moshi Town, that’s where you will find the most interesting people.

I don’t know Megan, but it’s cool that you have someone who’s been there already. I’m sure that will help a lot. We didn’t really meet any other Mzungus (white people) while we were there (except for a Swiss monk in Faraja).

As for the language barrier… Swahili is pretty easy to pick up (it will help to bring an English-Swahili dictionary). Most people in Moshi speak English, but if you go into the villages to talk to the tribal people, you’ll need a translator.

The majority of my friends in Tanzania are translators. I am sending out a mass email today to see if any of them will be available to help you out. I will copy you to that email so you can have everyone’s email addresses, and if you ever want phone numbers, let me know.

I know a few of them will be in school until May, but I’m sure someone will be around to help out. And if I know these people well enough, they will be very very happy to do so. They are very poor though. I don’t know what your funding situation is like, but if you could pay them a little, I know it would help so much. Here’s an idea of money in Tanzania… 10,000 shillings = about $10, which was able to provide a year of health insurance to a family of 6 (a pilot program from the government of Tanzania).

I know we talked about about this already, but I’m super serious about being careful with who and what you shoot. Be sure to ask permission first, or else you could end up really offending someone, or worse… if it’s government property that you’re unknowingly filming, you can get your tapes confiscated. Just a heads up.

I would love to share a story or two on your website. Just tell me how, and I will come up with something relevant.

Sending many warm wishes,
Jamie

This is the email she sent her friends about us….I’m excited to have some more contacts….

Jamie R. Howard to Goodluck, Eladius, Terry, Godwin, Kanti, Emmanual, Thomas, me

Hello my dearest friends. I hope that this email finds you well and that God is continuing to bless you abundantly with love. I miss you all dearly and am always thinking of you.

I have a very special friend here in the States who is going to be in Tanzania around the beginning of May and could use your help. He and a small team of film-makers/artists/humanitarians are going to be filming a documentary in Tanzania about health care and certain issues that your people face. It is meant to educate my people in America on the conditions which exist in Tanzania and to bring people together across the globe in the face of difficulties. You can see their website at http://africa.gettingwordout.com/.

Their team is in need of a translator or two and will certainly be very grateful for any assistance you can provide. If you are going to be in or around Moshi Town or Rombo in May and would like to help, please let me know. Or if you wish, you can contact my friend directly, his name is Joshua Ballinger and you can email him at joshua.ballinger@gmail.com.

I will email you with any other information I receive as time goes on. I only wish I could be there in May to meet and greet you all once again. I will return to Tanzania someday, and I pray our paths will meet again.

All my love to you, your families, and friends,

Jamie

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