Updated Team Calendar

Please note important dates this week - vaccinations with Dr. Powell on Wednesday, Team Meeting on Thursday and the Commissioning Service on Sunday (at the 11:00am Service only).

Holy Coconuts!

Our trip is quickly coming up and our coconut friends are sharing about the trip at the TZ table this past weekend.

These coconuts are the ones we used their milk to make our soup for the Taste of Tanzania dinner.

Team Calendar Updated

Click on the calendar for a larger view.

Updated Team Calendar

The team calendar has been updated to show the rest of May, June and the first part of July.

Click on the calendar for a larger view. The calendar has been updated in Link List, too.

Only a little more than 8 weeks until we depart for Africa - if anyone has anything to be added to the calendar please comment below or send me an email with the information.

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?

Team Calendar Update

Click on the calendar for a larger view.

Mission Calendar

Here is a calendar with information added for our upcoming deadlines and meetings. Our US holidays are in blue and the Tanzania Public holidays are in green.

Click on the calendar for a larger view. A link to the larger view of the calendar has been added in the Link List, too.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

Our next Tanzania Meeting will be on Thursday, March 26th at 6:30pm in Charter Hall.
Brooke will be bringing the Travel Manual to the meeting on March 26th.

Our next Swahili lesson will be on Thursday, April 2nd at 6:30pm in Charter Hall.

Money Matters and Deadlines

Message from Brooke - Please keep in mind the importance of the deadlines being adhered to. By paying on time it will give us one free Northwest ticket which will result in additional money to put back into our fundraising pot.

NOTE--Northwest Airlines has confirmed their rate but we knowingly accepted that the taxes could change, resulting in an altered rate. We will not know this for several months but please keep this in mind.

**If for any reason you have concern about the payments and/or the trip in general, please contact Brooke ASAP so that we may discuss.**

UPCOMING DEADLINES--
When: Wednesday, April 1st
Check Written to: Atonement
Cited on Subject Line: "Tanzania-Northwest Airfare"
Where: In Brooke's box, top drawer of her desk, or hand delivered to her.
Amount: You know who you are as to what your payment should look like--

When: Monday, April 6th
Check Written to: Atonement
Cited on Subject Line: "Tanzania-J & M Tours"
Where: In Brooke's box, top drawer of her desk, or hand delivered to her.
Amount: You know who you are as to what your payment should look like--

See Brooke's email from March 5, 2009 for more details.

This Week's Important Dates

Click on the image for a larger view.

Reminders

If you have not already done so, please send an email to Brooke with the FULL NAME (as on your passport) of each traveler in your party for flight bookings.

Our next TANZANIA MEETING is taking place on Wednesday, February 25th at 5pm in the Gathering Place. We will have a Pastor give us a brief lesson on Swahili & take care of business.


Hep A/B, polio & pneumovax VACCINATIONS will be given - taking place immediately following our Tanzania meeting. Please direct questions related to vaccinations to Dr. Powell at cwpowell@thechildrensclinic.net

Tanzania Travel Immunizations

Our trip to Tanzania is exactly 6 months away and some of the recommended shots need to be given six months out.

There are no absolute immunization requirements for travel to Tanzania, however, there are definite recommendations. These include:

1. Yellow Fever vaccine. This vaccine is available ONLY at Authorized Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinics.
A list of Kansas City area clinics is here:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowfever.aspx

2. Polio booster, even for those who have received the primary series.

3. Hepatitis A vaccine. This is a two shot series that should be give at least 6 months apart. One shot is reported to offer between 90% and 95% protection.

4. Hepatitis B vaccine. This is a THREE shot series generally, given at 0 months, 1 month, and 6 months.

In addition to those listed, recommendations include up-to-date routine immunizations. These are age dependent.

MMR - Young people who have not had a second booster of Measles-Mumps-Rubella, (those born after 1956) or anyone who has not had these diseases should consult with his physician regarding this vaccine.

A current Tetanus-diphtheria should be obtained. For those within the correct age group (between 10 years and 65 years of age) should receive ONE booster that includes the pertussis component (Tdap). This can be given as soon as two years after a current Td booster.

All those 50 and older should receive a Pneumococcal vaccine.

Everyone should consider a Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra).

Typhoid and Rabies vaccine are listed on the CDC data page, but would consider these only if they are recommended by the local facility in Tanzania. Typhoid is passed mainly by tainted water, and rabies is transmitted exclusively by direct contact with rabid animals.

PREVENTATIVE MEDICATION IS NEEDED AGAINST MALARIA. DO NOT TRAVEL TO AFRICA WITHOUT PROPHYLAXIS (PROTECTION) AGAINST MALARIA. Acceptable medications include Doxycycline, Malarone, and Mefloquin (Mefloquin is not recommended by Dr Powell). Doxycycline is by far the least expensive medication, but some patients have difficulties with stomach upset when taking this medication.

Please consult with your personal physician or a specialist in travel medicine to finalize your travel regimen and immunization schedule.

Thank you to Dr. Charles Powell for sharing this information.

Reminder

Our next monetary deadline is February 2nd for $140. The check is to be made to Atonement with “Mwanza room & board” in the subject line. Please give these to Brooke or put them in her box at the church.