Farewell WODEF

I have no doubt that Jamie and I benefited more from our experience with WODEF than WODEF itself did. I feel that it took 2 months just to begin to understand life here. Whether we meant for it to or not, our time with WODEF and exposure to life in Africa will have a lasting impact on us. It has opened our eyes to so many realities.

Jamie and I set off down our dirt road on our last walk to WODEF on Friday morning. We stopped into the local photo shop to have photos from each of our WODEF groups printed and framed for gifts. I also planned to pop into the nearby curio to pick up scarves for the WODEF ladies. After our photos were finished, we headed to the curio shop which was closed so we headed to the WODEF office.

We were welcomed with hugs and were delighted to see that the Regional Director had come to bid us farewell as well the Siha director. Mr. Mambo greeted us with our official WODEF ID badges - I had to run back to the photo shop to have small photos printed for them. When they were finished, they looked pretty sharp.

Lovely snacks of andazi (Tanzanian doughnuts AKA greasy balls), samosas, milk tea and biscuits were prepared - everything was delicious. We gathered for a prayer and each of the WODEF executive took their turn to say a few words. I rounded up everyone for a picture and then went back to the photo shop once again to have 3 copies blown up, printed and framed. I ran to the curio shop and picked up enough scarves for all of the ladies.

I returned in time for the presentation of our certificates and letter of appreciation. The director then presented us with a card and gifts on behalf of the WODEF members. It was all so kind and much more than we had expected or could have asked for – we were both touched. It was our turn and we gave our card to the director and gave this morning’s photo to each of the directors for their offices. We also gave Genesis a framed picture that we took with his family. I then gave out the scarves to all of the ladies who were thrilled and all modeled them.

It was time to start our day of visiting WODEF groups to say our goodbyes. As we headed outside I looked at Jamie who was fighting back the tears and that’s when my waterworks began (he won’t admit this). After our hugs, Jamie, Genesis and I hopped on a dala to Mwanza to say goodbye to our WODEF members in the small village there. We arrived to a traditional dance and drums. We visited with everyone, took some pictures, had a little lunch and were presented with gifts. Afterwards we visited the dispensary and had another lunch there and said our goodbyes.

Our next stop was Njiapanda. We visited with our friends there and had yet another lunch and headed back to Moshi with very full bellies. Jamie was presented with an awesome zebra African shirt and another sharp African shirt and I received an African dress – gorgeous. We bid Genesis farewell and headed back to the hostel for cards and beers.

The next day I went shopping with some of the girls from the hostel and Jamie went to find himself a shave. We picked up an African game called Bao, a few more gifts, and took care of all of the odds and ends in Moshi that we had put off for 2 months. That night we visited with friends at the hostel and met up with one of our friends who left the hostel to live with a local family (our friend that helped Jamie knock out the power at the hostel while rigging the incubator wiring).