Karansi, Tanzania

located between

Mount Kilimanjaro

and Arusha

PUNCHMI School 2005 - 2 classrooms, 2 new classrooms, blocks being made – by hand - for the next two.

This is the foundation being laid - by hand - for one more classroom and the headmaster’s office.

This was the kitchen in 2005, and the ladies cleaning the cups from the children’s “tea.”

The playground in 2005 and 2007

The school in 2007… these are the “new classroooms” and the headmaster’s office at the end.

The new kitchen – finished just before our trip in 2007.

Arriving at the school in February, 2010 Walking up the hill– a new playground to the left,

the kitchen/ dining hall on the right

Two additional classrooms for Standards (Grades) 6 and 7 -just up the hill from the dining hall.

The main classroom buildings from 2007 at the top of the hill… all beautifully painted and landscaped!

At school, every day begins with worship. These are the

Pre-One, Standard 1 and Standard 2 classes. They are

singing and praising God…

and praying(all out loud,

simultaneously)

… and listening as their teacher prays over them.

At lunchtime, the children wash their hands

(a new thing as they now have a water source)

and line up for their lunch.

The older boys at lunchtime.

The little ones under the trees enjoying their lunch in the shade.

This simple meal of rice and beans – eaten with their hands – is transforming their lives.

Happy, healthy children with full tummies at least once per day.

Some friends to introduce to you…

Kaanangira Baraka Lucy Elia Flora

Joshua Agape Happiness Joy Issangya

Godfrey Pastor Warielli

In the summer of 2005, Eliamulika a Godly woman from district, rescued this baby that had been thrown away. She took him into her home to raise as her own child, and named him Kaanangira, meaning “Stay with the Lord. “ She had heard of Pastor Warielli and the ministry in Karansi. She

brought him to Pastor who arranged for her to meet Dave Boy and me (adult chaperones on the first youth trip to Tanzania) after church on Sunday. That week, the teenagers collected enough money

(from their spending money) for him to be seen by a doctor. He had malaria which was treated, and his cleft palate was assessed. Back home in Atlanta, the teens and their families donated the money

for Kaanangira to have a cleft palate surgery. Dave Boy did the research and arranged for the surgery which took place in the fall of 2005.

This letter came from our partner, Godsave, in the spring of 2006:“Kaanangira and his mother last Saturday, visited the project office to thank God for the living miracle God has done to their family. The mother said, “Thank you and may God bless all those who have given their finances and time to meet Kaanangira mouth and lips operation. I do not have words enough to express the joy and humbleness in my heart. Every time I look at my son, I feel humble and blessed by God. Now I can walk to anywhere with him sharing this life time miracle done to me by my God. What a living and a life time miracle God has done to me.  We will live to treasure in our hearts.”

As I was walking up the hill first thing Monday morning to worship, the youngest class (ages 2 – 6) were walking down. I was greeting each

child. I often ask them their name – just to repeat it and tell them how

beautiful they are. As I looked in this little face in the group, I saw the faint cleft-palate scar. I asked, “Jina la ku

ni nani?” (What is your name?) Very quietly he said something I

thought could mean Kaanangira. I asked his teacher and she confirmed it was he. He didn’t know me and I didn’t want to frighten him, so I just stood in the field with my hands on

his head and quietly wept over God’s amazing work in the life of this

precious child… and in mine.

Dave Boy, Kaanangira and me

Kaanangira – eating

Although he lives “a long way” from the school, Kaanangira walks to school every day (and when Tanzanians say it’s a long way, it’s a very long way!) One

morning he arrived late - alone and beaded up with sweat. We gave him a water bottle (he drank all of it) and sat with him for a while as he cooled off. Dismissal for the little ones is around 1… they just walk off by themselves. Kaanangira and a friend are holding hands as they walk off down the road.

Joy is the daughter of one of the teachers, Moses. Moses and I

have been friends since my first trip – the week Joy was born. In

Swahili there is only one word for “happiness,” “gladness,” and

“joy.” He and I were discussing this, and I explained that deep, abiding joy comes from the Lord

and is not dependent on our circumstances. Moses and his wife

decided to name their daughter Joy. This trip he invited me to his

house to meet Joy. He told me that at first he didn’t really understand

the difference between joy and happiness. In the last 5 years he

says God’s been revealing the difference to him… with his own

journey of joy… and Joy.

Baraka (on the left) is one of our sponsored children. He has special needs, and has lived with an alcoholic mother who was at least severely neglectful, perhaps abusive. This year, a Godly

family in Karansi took him into their home. Godfrey took some of us to visit. These are the little girls who greeted and entertained us while an older girl helped Baraka get ready. These are

pictures of their beautiful, large, well-kept home with a house church wing attached to the home.

The older girl in the doorway had helped Baraka get ready. Baraka (on the left looking at pictures we’ve just taken on our cameras) greeted us dressed in a clean, white, men’s tuxedo shirt. “I feel like he’s been transported from the slums of Mumbai to the Garden of Eden.” – Bobby Scott, PCS Headmaster

Pre-One class and Teacher Issangya

Standard 1 and Teacher Happiness

There are 36 students in

Standard 1…

… praying, playing and studying.

Precious children

… including 5 sponsored by Kindergarteners at Perimeter Christian School!

Lucy and Flora

Agape and Joshua(Elia was absent the day I went to take pictures.)

Child sponsorship makes it all possible!We took 4 large suitcases filled with sponsor

gifts… and had a great time distributing them!

This is what was left for day 2!!!

Joshua, Lucy, Flora, Agape, Elia

The girls

Agape loved the soft stuffed animal and the clothes.

Flora is a happy girl and loves everything!!!

Lucy is sweet and a little shy. She loved everything!

Elia is fascinated… and Pastor’s son is really interested!! (He was our translator!)

Agape and Lucy

Flora and Joshua

This is Pastor Warielli whose heart for the Lord, widows and orphans birthed this ministry. He is a Godly man, great partner,

humble servant of the Lord, and wonderful brother in Christ.

Thank you!for the privilege of being your

representative, and His hands and feet to our brothers

and sisters in Karansi. I am humbled and honored.

Bwana Asifiwe! Amen!

(“The praise goes to the Lord!”to which all reply, “Amen!”)