Tanzania Partnership

Shepherd of the Valley travelers carry gifts when we visit, and we also carry funds to purchase gifts in country.  Some of the most valuable gifts we bring to our partners are gifts that bring health -- mosquito nets that guard against malaria, and medicines to supply the dispensary. Purchasing medicines and mosquito nets involves a visit to our favorite pharmacy, Acacia Pharmacy. This year, we also visited another store to order the mosquito nets.  The purchase also involves counting cash. Tanzania is primarily a cash economy.  $1600 in US dollars becomes a large wad of Tanzanian Shillings. The largest denomination of Tanzanian currency is the 10,000 Shilling note, worth about $6.25 USD this year. We purchased about 320 mosquito nets. To purchase medicines for the dispensary, we first give Dr. Barnabas and Dr. Saga (from the diocese) our budget.  This year, contributions allowed us to spend $2000 on medicines.  The doctors pr...

Kids attending Shepherd of the Valley's Vacation Bible School during the past two weeks have been raising funds to purchase mosquito nets during our visit to Tanzania.  The nets will be distributed throughout Tungamalenga and Makifu Parishes, targeted to children under the age of five, who are most susceptible to the risk of malaria. Over the two weeks of VBS over $1,500 was raised! Children collected what they called their Zawadi Coins -- Zawadi means gift in Swahili. The children learned that mosquito nets are important because they protect children when they are asleep and most vulnerable to the mosquitos who carry the disease. Thank you, children of Shepherd of the Valley! You are truly making a difference in the lives of our Tanzanian partners.  Last year, Dr. Barnabas told us that since the beginning of the Mbu [Mosquito] Project, the number of children in the area who suffer from malaria has decreased significantly.  Dr. Barnabas ...