other 3 made it to crater rim!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just found out the other 3 kids made it to the crater rim....in the eyes of the National Park they too made it!!!
This means all 26 will walk away with a certificate of accomplishment!!!
Can't wait for Sunday when I get to see them all come down and be presented with their certificates!
WOOHOO!

23 of 26 made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just got a call from the peak....23 of 26 kids in the porter training project have made it. Really amazing results and a lot of credit needs to go to their guides....obviously good choices were made and everyone was well looked after. This also speaks to the mental strength of these kids...
Just imagine them up there jumping laughing crying!!!!! So cool.

More than half way!

The porter project kids are more than half way up at this point. I have received texts from both Robby and Setty....all is well no one has even a headache!!!! This is like a miracle crew heading up....the guides said they are super insprired toget the whole crew up....they have never had other Tanzanians as "client" and feel the awesomeness of this expereince. My sense from their texts is that everyone is getting more determined as the days go on....they'll need it in dark on their final push to teh summit. Keep these kids in your thougths tomorrow as they attempt the summit. I am going to do a background interview on each of them when they come down and add it to this blog. 85% are orphans....the rest are "vulnerable" in some way.

We are indulgent parents

I am having such an eye opening experience this week. Setty (my business partner and dear friend) is guiding the porter training group up the mountain. I have his 3 children...Carrie 8, Counselor 4, and Prince 2. They are such happy self-reliant sweet kids I am really just blown away. Last night before going to sleep, Carrie asked me what time she needed to get up ( keep in mind she is doing this in English which is her second language)...I said 6. At 6 this morning i found her ironing her school uniform and noticed a bottle of polish for her shoes next to her. As I tried to get Nell and Pearl up...she got her sister and brother up and dressed...my girls were whining a bit and resisting and those kids were just going through the necessary motions of getting the day started. How does this happen? I know Setty and Winnie well....they are quiet motivated and calm people...there is no threatening in their parenting syles...
It is amazing. Part of it I think is the culture...kids aren't seen complaining and whining...they don't have the choices of oodles of "stuff"....they don't have more clothes and toys than they need...so they actually take care of what they have. Setty's kids are by no means impoverished...they go to good schools live in a nice house and are very well fed. I so hope this week will open my girls eyes a bit....perhaps give them some sort of grounding for when they go home and are bombarded with manicures and Wii....I think their time here will show them the importance of not indulging our every whim....life's beauty is found in the simple things...each other, love, family...I think knowing this will make them more satisfied content adults.
Just my musings for the day....we are lucky to be here and that we can all be exposed to this and realize what is important. Thanks
Sarah

Happy Belated thanksgiving

Lots to be thankful for this week in Tanzania. So much has happened since last I blogged. Thanks to Elena for filling in....and thanks for coming and sharing an amazing Thanksgiving at the Masaai camp, collecting water on our heads, sleeping in tents, listening to the chant of Masaai warriors at night. To have you be so open and appreciative of the experience made me again remember how much I love it here, thanks for sharing that with us!
The Ambassador of the US to Tanzania visited Tumaini Center last week....wow....we are now featured on the webpage...and the Porter Project is mentioned!!! Check it out...
The biggest miracle is that we got the kids off yesterday....I cried as the bus pulled away (lots of happy tears here) I just really can't believe they all had warm coats, gloves, boots....and the general excitement from them. Now we will see how it goes. Luckily today the mountain is super clear as they do their longest hike until the summit...I am resting well knowing they have great food and amazing guidance. I have Setty's kids....so that brings my brood to 5. So funny trying to care for kids with my limited Swahili....they are so sweet and the littlest Prince ventured into my bed last night and snuggled up. He's two and just a little sweety...he was perfectly content as long as he had some skin to skin contact...trying to get the 5 of them to 3 different schools each day will be a feat in and of itself. Pretty funny to watch the kids at Carrie's school oogle the Mzungu dropping her off in a car! She is 8 and so incredibly responsible and mature as are all kids here. she showered and got her brother and sister into their pj's last night...then i looked in their room and the beds were made? UH???? I am hoping their example will rub off on my kids....kids are amazingly quiet here too...no whining.
So I just found out from two different people that we got grants for the Porter Project...I will be able to collect some of the gear we need (still boots and sleeping bags!!!!!) and bring them back...plus we have tons of people coming so if anyone is so inclined, check your closets! Shawna collected about half of what we needed for this whole initial group pretty great! So a few of us should be able to hopefully match her efforts! Let me know...I will be back in the States on the 21rst of Dec. and we will be there until the 12th of Jan. I'll post my number but think my US cell should be turned back on for the month.
Love to all of you...more when I am not being mother to all!!!
Peace,
Sarah