Diary - Thursday, Feb 8, 2007 

Salama from Jambiani and as all-ways, we hope this latest update finds everyone well, happy and with good energy. Well, we are into full on summer now with temperatures maxing out in Stonetown a few days ago at 38 degrees Celsius!! Now we are privileged here on the coast as the constant sea breezes moderate what would normally feel like a mid summer day in Toronto. We are grateful!!!

As usual, we have been “full on” since our last report and I am ready to admit a holiday would be nice. You might think that living on a pristine white sand beach bordering the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean would qualify as being on a constant holiday but believe me we are not down on the beach catching “rays” and working on our suntans. What a novel concept. :-) It is, for the most part, all good though and we get daily rewards in terms of seeing sick people feeling better and watching others advancing their level of education and consequently raising their self esteem.

The last few weeks has seen a huge increase in the number of acute and some rather traumatic injuries that we have had to deal with. Several fractures, 2nd degree burns, cuts and abrasions as well as some very sick young children, one who was brought to us convulsing secondary to sustained high temperature. It’s times like this when we realize how much need there is here for increased medical support as well. We do our best and I have to say our best is getting better as we become more familiar with and comfortable with dealing with these emergencies.

Wanda has been a great help with the daily wound care patients and this has certainly given Pat and I a chance to focus on other issues such as the school building. She has also been teaching Basic First Aid courses and seems to have quite a following in that regard. Of course the kids love her too!!! Mama “Wanu”.

Ed has been plugging away teaching some basic computing skills and he seems to be enjoying himself although the language barriers do provide considerable challenges to the learning curve. I am certain his students are entirely grateful for his efforts and contributions. Actually, Wanda and Ed are now winding down their stay with us and will be leaving in a bit over two weeks, as they head out to explore other parts of this amazing continent. We have really enjoyed having them “aboard” and everyone has appreciated their positive natures and willingness to help. Tunashukuru sana!!!!!

Our next two volunteers originally hail from Canada and in fact are on their way back after spending time working in Australia. Brian and Kimberly Spares are both Doctors of Chiropractic and they will join us on the 25th of this month hoping to spend about four weeks or so sharing their healing abilities with the folks of Zanzibar. We are really looking forward to meeting them and welcoming them to the “Jam”. We’ll keep you posted.

The construction of the school and juice bar/restaurant continues. Soon we will be pouring the slab for the second floor ceiling after which we will be in a position to start the layout of the roof. This is going to be a huge job and will require some very precise engineering to ensure its stability and safety. The plumbers and electricians have been on site now for several days and they continue to lay out conduit and install junction boxes and switches and prepare drains and access points for water pipes. Busy busy!!!!

We also have taken delivery of the first shipment of windows and door frames so our good neighbor Zahoro has been employed to apply protective oils to the wood so they last in this rather corrosive environment.

As we are in somewhat of a predictable limbo here at the moment, there really isn’t that much else to report. We are just carrying on with the usual day to day activities with not much new in the picture. This is probably a good thing as our picture is pretty big at this time.

We love you all and often feel your support through those unseen networks that connect us. Take good care and we will be back.

Ali Baba and Patima.