July 9 – 11 from Toni’s perspective
(They have not been able to get to working computers, so this is what Toni told Sr. Barbara when Toni called Barb Saturday at 3 PM St. Louis time.)
Thursday’s celebration (that Mary Lou wrote about in the previous e-mail):
There was a celebration where 38 of the original 50 beggars who formed Jamii Bora were honored. About 500 members of Jamii Bora were present at the Jamii Bora headquarters. Mary Lou, C.J., Vanessa, and Toni were honored as partners of Jamii Bora. Toni presented the check to Ingrid Munro, founder of Jamii Bora, and Janet Bett, the head of the social workers/ street people. Toni said it was a “very powerful and moving ceremony.” She took lots of pictures. Mary Lou, C.J., Vanessa, and Toni were each invited to cut the cake. Then each of them was fed a piece—an African custom of hospitality.
Friday, they visited the Daughters of Charity and saw their “Dream Project,” a state-of-the-art out-patient clinic for those with HIV/AIDS. “Truly a marvelous gift!” Toni said. Then they visited the Vincentian Fathers and ended the day with a Kenyan meal home-cooked by a special Jamii Bora friend.
Saturday was one of the many highlights of the trip. They went to Jamii Bora’s housing project, Kaputiei, which Toni said is “more than can be imagined.” It has houses for people who have lived in the slums all their lives and have had their dreams realized with a home of their own. The communities have solar electricity, a water plant to recycle the water, and green spaces. 2000 members will live there when the project is finished. 400 members live there now. They have finished building the grade school and soon will complete the high school. As Toni says, “The miracle goes on and on and on.” Each one of the four visitors from MPA planted a tree to symbolize new life. The plaque in front of Toni’s tree says “Microfinancing Partners in Africa” to represent all of you and all the help you have been. Toni says, “Please feel the energy of their thanks and love toward all of us.”
P.S. Toni also said with all this excitement, she hasn’t slept much. She hopes she has time to sleep in the evenings when they start their safari Sunday.
Update from Africa: August 3, 2009
Dear Friends,
Mary Lou and I have safely made it back to St. Louis. We had a safe trip home. Mary ... Update from Africa: July 29, 2009
29, July 2009 African update (via poor phone connection to Uganda)
Greeting from Kampala! We are happy to know that Heidi ... 
