To everyone reading this blog, and especially those who have donated so graciously, asante sana. Thank you very much. There's no way in swahili or english to show even the slightest how much it means to have such amazing support.
Saturday morning I created the gofundme account with a goal of $500, hoping it would be reached but not getting my heart set on it. 7 hours later, we had $600!! This was the last report I saw before going into school today to give Isaac and Elizabeth the amazing news. $600 is 900,000 Tanzania Shillings. That's absolutely incredible!!!
I began lunch by asking Isaac all about his biggest dreams for the school, and he said to build a place with 3 classrooms and a play area, eventually adding dormitories for orphans and hiring a cook so Elizabeth can rest more. He said that if children stay at school, he'll know they're being fed and cared for. He has a new plan for the coming calendar year to turn the storage room for coal and petrol into another classroom, this one for orphans- making them a priority. His second dream is a car to pick up kids 6km away, as there are students wishing for school now but it simply isn't feasable from that far away. From there, I turned the conversation from a "dream" talk, to a "reality" talk. I told him that so many people have asked how they can help, so I decided to make a website for people to donate to their dream. His eyes were wide with curiosity and he leaned forward just a bit more, and I knew that he was wondering if his dreams could be coming true, their prayers being answered. I asked him if he knew how many shillings $600USD were, and he had no clue. I said, "Isaac, after two days, we have 900,000tish for you. For HillCrest." The room was quiet as he absorbed what I said, and seconds later tears began flowing from his eyes. He thanked God, thanked me, and sends thanks to all of you at home. He called in Elizabeth and told her the news and she collapsed into his arms, then again into mine. Isaac grabbed her and said "our prayers are being answered, God found a way." With that comment, Isaac and Elizabeth were sobbing and I was unsuccessfully trying to hold back my tears. Elizabeth just stared at the ground crying while Isaac went from sobbing to laughing and opening his arms to Heaven.
Isaac immediately put on a short lasting serious face and said "I go tomorrow to look for land!" then started laughing again. Elizabeth went to the bedroom and I had to really get serious with Isaac. I told him we have to work with what we have and not expect anything more. I explained to him that building a new school might be out of the budget but buying the current building might be within the budget (he pays 80,000tsh for the building/month...it's so small and I really hope we can get them out of there). I said if the best option is to get a car, that could happen (and then proceeded to explain that a car meant gas and possible repairs which could use up any extra money in a short time and leave them unable to use the car..which made him sad to hear).
We decided that building a new school would be our first priority, and he wants to make sure that no matter what we decide to do with the money, it should be done before I leave- which I agree with, and am glad I didn't have to be the one to say it. So, tomorrow after school we will meet with the town officer who will take us to plots of land for sale so we can get estimates. Wednesday, we'll meet with builders and get some more estimates. Thursday, we will talk to the owner of the building we're in now to discuss possibly buying it, and Friday we will go to the car showroom to see how much a car will be. Once we have a list of estimates, Isaac, Elizabeth and I will sit down and really weigh everything out. If none of these options are feasable, then we will figure out something else to do with the money. I would love to get a big water tank, new whiteboards for the classrooms, text books and a playground. That's just if building a new school doesn't work out! What I reminded him and he informed me is that because they are out of the limits of the town, there are no annual taxes on the land or building. We buy the land, build the school, and the expenses end there. Electricity is not a necessity at all, and the only expenses that would continue after the school is built is water and porridge, which would be absolutely no issue for them if there are no other expenses weighing them down.
Getting back from placement today, I'm so excited to say that we now have $1,100USD raised. That's 1,267,500tsh!!! I'm praying the estimates this week won't be too discouraging, but I'll be sure to update every bit of the way. Anything I know, everyone at home will know too..and most importantly, those who have so generously donated to this amazing cause.
Today was such an amazing day, there's no way to describe how good it felt to know that we are changing these people's lives, as well as the children and community. The people here recognize that Mzungu's are here to help and they are so appreciative of what we're doing. Whether their kids are in the school or not, people are constantly telling me "pole" as I walk through the streets, which is a word for "I respect what you're doing." I wish everyone at home could meet Isaac and Elizabeth and the kids, or just spend some time in the village. I'm so blessed to have been placed at HillCrest.
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