Fair Trade Festival @ Atonement May 2 & 3

This weekend Atonement will be hosting a Fair Trade Festival as Fair Trade Day is coming up next week on May 9.

The primary focus is to be an educational event, but we hope people will shop our Fair Trade handicrafts and coffees & chocolate cart for Mother's Day, wedding, graduation, or whatever special occasion is coming up.

Our theme is to celebrate World Fair Trade Day and honor Women and Mothers around the world. "This Mother's Day purchase a fair trade gift ---a great way to celebrate your mother while empowering women and mothers around the world!". (Click here for more info on WFTD.)

Lutheran World Relief is a leader in the Fair Trade movement, click here to go to their website and information about how LWR is supporting WFT.

BIG BANG STOMP!! Here Comes World Trade Day May 9

BIG BANG!! kicks off 9th May 2009. Drumming will encircle the planet from first light to last light.

BIG BANG!! something (anything) with spoons, sticks, hands, fingers, friends, family, neighbours, a crowd, an audience, a solution. Beat poverty beat climate change beat economic crisis.

The theme or World Fair Trade Day is ‘BIG BANG!!’ - brought to life in a global day of drumming and other events to beat poverty beat climate change beat economic crisis. Kicking off on the date line and circling the earth in a rolling programme of events, through all cultures and traditions, from first to last light, closing in Samoa. A global day lasting 48 hours and bringing together musicians and media, supporters and performers, audiences and producers, politicians and voters, brands and economists, to open up markets and minds to a new and sustainable economy built on the principle of Fair Trade.

Click here for more information about BIG BANG!!

World Fair Trade Day 09 May 09

The impact you make is immense.

A simple thing like buying a product has consequences far beyond feeding your family, making you feel good or giving you something new to talk about. Buying a product, whether it's the fruit of one person's labour or the result of super-efficient mechanization is a vote for the organization that provided you with the product.

Click here for more information about World Trade Fair Day 09 May 09.

Team Meeting Wednesday @ 6:00pm

Reminder...

We have a team meeting Wednesday evening @ 6:00pm in the Gathering Place (or downstairs in Charter Hall).

Don't forget...Bring your travel manual.

Serengeti Breweries, Ltd.

In talking with Brooke recently, she mentioned that the Serengeti Breweries, Ltd. is located across the street from our lodging in Mwanza - how convenient.

Serengeti Lager originated in 1996. In the year 2002 the present management took over the reins of the brewery and based on market research developed a new brand portfolio. Serengeti Lager was then relaunched as Premium Serengeti Lager in the year 2002.

The name Serengeti is internationally recognized due to the famous Serengeti National Park and is truly Tanzanian.

It is made from the finest quality malt and hops sourced from best locations from Europe, yeast and water. It is a 100% malt lager with no added sugar with a alcohol content of 4.8% on v/v basis. It is mild beer for those people who like to get along with friends and family and who like to have good time. (Editorial copy is from their website.)

Immunization Session on May 6th

Dr. Powell would like to set up another session for shots on 5/6, Wednesday evening, starting at 5:30 PM.

Please see Brooke's email for more detail and contact Dr. Powell with any questions.

Swahili Class with Pastor Ben

Here is Pastor Ben during our Swahili class back on April 2nd. Ben is a Swahili man who now lives here in Kansas City with his family. What a joyful smile!

Ben is a pastor of a local church and has donated his time to our group on several occasions to tutor us in the Swahili language.

Jerod was very impressive in his conversation with Pastor Ben - and I think I have heard Jerod talk more in Swahili than English, as he is usually so quiet.

The class truly enjoyed the lesson. Ben has offered to join us one more time before we depart for Tanzania - and recommended he join us for a group dinner, a good setting to practice our Swahili in action.

More info to come later about the dinner/Swahili lession.

Swahili Language and Culture

Click here to go to the Swahili Language and Culture Website.

The Swahili language, is basically of Bantu (African) origin. It has borrowed words from other languages such as Arabic probably as a result of the Swahili people using the Quran written in Arabic for spiritual guidance as Muslims.

As regards the formation of the Swahili culture and language, some scholars attribute these phenomena to the joining of African and Asiatic people on the coast of East Africa. The word "Swahili" was used by early Arab visitors to the coast and it means "the coast". Ultimately it came to be applied to the people and the language.

Hallelujah Chorus

Here is a shot from the big combined choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus on Easter Sunday morning - several members of our team were a part of that big group and a couple are in this shot.

Bruce (our #1 walker) is up there and in the picture, too - looking healthy and strong as he sings with the choir - Hallelujah!

Tingatinga Giraffes

Click here for more information and images of Tingatinga paintings.

Tingatinga Art

Edward Saidi Tingatinga (1932 - 1972) was the origin of the naive style of painting who would later take his name. Tingatinga started painting in 1968, and although his career was ended prematurely in 1972, his style inspired his five students and then his followers to establish the Tingatinga School of Painters that continues to florish today.


The Tingatinga movement constitutes a genuine form of contemporary art, original to Tanzania.

From a purely technical standpoint, Tingatinga art can be defined as painting on masonite using bicycle paint. The paintings can be as small as ceramic tiles, while the biggest paintings are no doubt hanging above thousands of family room sofas.

Click here to learn more about E.S. Tingatinga, his artwork and his followers.

Chagga Banana Beer

"MBEGE" - Banana beer is an alcoholic beverage made from fermentation of mashed bananas. At the taverns where it is brewed, the Mbege is served in banana beer bowls made from gourds.

The alcohol content is about 4.8% alcohol by volume. This type of beer is produced and consumed in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Andrew Zimmern recently featured the making of banana beer at an establishment at the foothills of Kilimanjaro in a segment on the Bizarre Foods of Tanzania.

A local man from a chagga tribe enjoying the tropical brew.

Bizarre Foods of Tanzania

The show last night highlighted some bizarre foods - most I hope we won't be sampling on our trip, although I would like to try the Chagga banana beer.

The show also showed beautiful scenes of the North Eastern parts of Tanzania that we will be visiting.

The show was well worth seeing. We can replay the episode after our next meeting for those who missed it and for those who would like to see it again.

Andrew sitting on top of a truck during a safari tour in Tanzania.

Andrew standing with the Maasi wearing traditional clothing.

Traditional Chagga dancers on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Team Calendar Updated

Click here or on the link to the right to view the updated team calendar.

Please note the next team meeting will be on Wednesday, April 29th @ 6:00pm - Gathering Place?

"Bizarre Foods of Tanzania" April 14 on the Travel Channel

Andrew Zimmern will be showing and eating some tasty treats from Tanzania tomorrow night at 9:00pm on the Travel Channel. Click here to see more info about the show.

Thanks to Jan for passing on the info about the show - she also shares, "the Maasi slaughtering of goats is quite the tourist attraction (but something I could pass on)."

Team Calendar Update

Click on the calendar for a larger view.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Hallelujah!

That was the standard greeting of the early church. Whenever two Christians would meet they would remember the glorious fact that Jesus rose from the dead, that He proved that He was who he said He was, that He had authority in heaven and on Earth, that He had authority over death, hell and the grave.

Whenever they would meet, one would greet the other with "He is risen!" and the other would respond, "He is risen indeed!"

What a glorious greeting!

Good Friday

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:17

Precious Lord, you lift up your Son Jesus on the cross so that the world might be saved. Sustained by your steadfast love, may we not grow weary but continue to serve you wholeheartedly, giving you thanks and praise along the way!

Tonight's service at Atonement is at 7:30.

Maundy Thursday

Dear Lord, Nourish our souls as we are in need to be filled by you. Nourish our heart so to turn us from our fears. Nourish our relationships for your are the healer of all things. Nourish our bodies so that they may be fit to serve you. We instill our full confidence in you, for you are our Bread of Life.
Today is Maundy Thursday, the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter.

On this day four events are commemorated: the washing of the Disciples' Feet by Jesus Christ, the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.

“I Am the Bread of Life” is the theme for the 7:30pm Maundy Thursday Service at Atonement.

Tonight we will also have the opportunity to participate in the Bread for the World Offering of Letters. Before and after Maundy Thursday Service, stations will be available for you to write a letter (using a template) to Congress to promote change through ending hunger. Take a moment to lift up hope for bread for all.

Mission Moments and PR

This is Erica, one of our team members, she spoke about our upcoming trip to Tanzania during the Mission Moment at the 11:00 service last Sunday Morning.

Erica also spoke to the OP Lion's Club about our Miwani to Mwanza Mission on March 28th - due to this they are sending us a $500 contribution.

The Lions also see an even bigger partnership forming on a national level and have requested that a few members of our group attend their meetings. They meet the 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month. They take place at the OP Garden Wyndham-include bfast and a speaker. They begin at 7am.

Brooke is planning on attending their next meeting on April 11 and if any one else would like to attend, please join her and the Lions this Saturday.

Do you have a Northwest (or affliliate) frequent flier number?

If so, please email me (Brooke) as soon as possible with your frequent flier number. This will be sent with the airfare payment and full names. Deadline to get this information to me is Thursday, April 9th. Thanks!

Reminder - Fees Due

Don't forget...

Money due to Brooke by tomorrow (April 6st) for J.M. Tours fees.

Dr. Powell will be administering vaccinations on Wednesday, April 8th at 5:30pm in Brooke's office for those who have responded to Dr. Powell.

J.M.TOURS LTD, is a family owned tour company in Arusha, Tanzania, was registered with the Tanzania government as a Tour operator and Travel Planner in 1985.

The owners / directors are Barbro Finskas-Mushendwa and Joshua Mushendwa, who both have a past as mission workers. Their three sons also lend a helping hand in running the company.

The major part of the guests are people related to church-, school- and NGO activities.

At present there are 23 employees in the company. The office staff and tour guides do all the pre arrangements in form of route planning, hotel- and flight reservations, appointments etc.

The drivers, who also are the tour guides during safari, will make sure the guests are comfortable and looked after during the safari and visits.

Animal Names in Swahili

Simba is the Swahili word for lion, so it is appropriate for the main character of the Lion King to be named Simba.

We have a Swahili lesson with Pastor Ben Tonight at 6:30pm.




TWIGA means giraffe in Swahili, the animal that sticks its neck out.

The Twiga Foundation in East Africa has the mission to inspire and support people, especially the young, to build a better future for themselves and their communities.

TWIGA does this in an informal yet professional way by supporting small-scale projects in East Africa by means of (helping with) setting up and executing plans and raising funds, largely in the areas of:

Street children and orphans
Education (formal and informal)
Healthcare
Activities to generate income
Long-term eco-tourism

TWIGA actually also stands for "The Way to Income-Generating Activities" - The foundation believes it is important that a project gets off the ground but also to keep independent funds coming in.