Posts Tagged ‘Sakila’
And so it begins………
From this picture you can’t see the road, but it is there. This the road from the Kilimanjaro Airport. Very near the location of this picture New Hope International Hospital is being built (there will be more pictures later.) Further up the road there is a little village Kikititi, at Kikititi you take the turn to go up the mountain to Sakila. Once we get to the mountain road I know that I am really in Africa. I have tried to imagine how many times I have been up and down this mountain road, and also the things that I have seen on this road. I remember my first time on this road…ask Mike Wood what he thought the first time we turned off the main road into Kikititi on our way to Sakila in 1993. It was an opening into a very new world
This road and this world are now very familiar to me
Now to the home of Eliudi and Mama Helen and the many children that will be all around, and also to many long time friends and their families that I have come to know so well. Back to Sakila, a second home to me for many years now. Once again I thank all of my USA friends who have helped me get back to Sakila, and have supported the projects we have undertaken. It is a dry year this year. The bean crop has failed once again………………..but “life goes on.”
James R. Smith
Ticket please!!!!
On May 7th I finally worked out all the ticket details and completed the purchase of my ticket to Africa leaving June 18th. I have tried (using my old and present passport) to figure out how many times I have made this trip from New York to the Kilimanjaro Airport and then to my beloved village of Sakila, Tanzana. It is either my 19th, 20th, or 21st time to be priviliged to begin my African journey in Sakila. All the details of the trip haven’t been worked out in regard to travel in Africa…….possible trip down to South Africa, and also Zimbabwe.
Once I purchase the tickets my life kicks into the “get ready for Africa gear” which is mostly good, but at times I still find myself stressing about things that, in the end, I know will work out. They always do. Thank God for a supportive and organized wife! There is no way on earth I could do this w/o her. Stay tuned. BTW, I think it’s trip 21.
James R. Smith