Diary - Wednesday, May 28, 2008 

Just a quick hello and note to let you know that we have had a major power outage here on Zanzibar. The submarine cable from Dar to here has ruptured and we will be without power for at least another two to three weeks or longer. We have been without for power for one week already. Therefore we are out of the communication loop until power returns.

Love to you all.

Alastair and Pat

 Diary - Saturday, April 26, 2008 

Well they say that April showers bring May flowers. If that’s the truth, then we are in for a bumper crop here in Jambiani. The Masika or long rains have been with us now for almost three weeks and apart from the odd clear break, where we all madly dash to do our laundry, it has been pouring down. Now for the most part, this is not a bad thing as the ground water is replenished and the gardens and “Shambas” or farms are rejuvenated. Everything is growing at an enormous rate and the greens are greener than usual. It can be hard on our local population though as many of the homes do not have adequate roofing and as well, we have been without main line water delivery again for almost two weeks. For most people, that means carrying water from wells that are not always close by. The main pump that powers the water supply has broken again and it seems the only solution is to get a new one. The only problem is, and this is a big one, is that there is no money available to buy one. So we are canvassing the village to contribute funds toward the purchase of another pump. Seems like a crazy proposition when the average yearly salary here is $100! We are fortunate in that we can buy water and fill up our storage tanks which give us about two weeks of cautious usage but most folks are not so fortunate. Great lessons in conservation here and an increasing appreciation for how valuable this commodity is.

All is fine here on the “home front” as we head into our winter season. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Todd, Kym and Trish from the Pacific Rim College in Victoria for their wonderful contribution to the Wellness Centre. We had a very busy schedule during their stay and they were literally running at times between patients. We saw lots of great results with some difficult presenting complaints so everyone who benefited from their treatments are exceedingly grateful. Thanks so much you guys and we hope your ongoing travels through Tanzania and Uganda were fruitful and enjoyable.

This is a picture of Caitlin Kinnear who as I said in our previous update comes to us all the way from Queensland, Australia. Caitlin is another one of those “Special” beings you get to meet every so often. Firmly grounded in a deep awareness of the Spiritual side of life’s equation, Caitlin has brought a huge presence to the project. She has a unique gift for healing and she has already touched the lives of many people in just a short three week period. We are really looking forward to spending more time with her and I know the people benefiting from her formidable clinical skills are as well. Caitlin has promised to add an update when her time here is close to ending. Keribu sana Caitlin!!

After a much longer period than expected, it looks like our equipment for the kitchen is finally on its way. Funding glitches along with banking transfer issues contributed to this delay and although it has impacted the flow of Pat’s curriculum, in the end we will have a beautiful training facility and the tools to begin the practical side of the students’ education. This will no doubt be a lot of work but it should be a lot of fun as well.

We are also delighted to have two of our very dear friends scheduled to arrive here later this year. Barry Prong and his wife Claire are coming to us from Bella Coola, British Columbia and will be spending almost one year helping to teach and to also oversee the bringing online of the Juice Bar/Restaurant. These two are really going to pack a punch as they have literally years of experience in education and also Claire is somewhat of a master when it comes to understanding the nuances of good nutrition. More on these two later.

We have decided to name the Juice Bar the ‘Barraza” which literally means “Resting Place” in Kiswahili. We hope the “Barraza” will become a memorable resting place for the many guests we expect to serve in the years to come.

Since our last update, we have had some local carpenters do some finishing work on “Owen's Deck”. We think they have done a beautiful job. Here are a couple of pictures of their handiwork.

It is all coming together, slowly but surely, and when we think back to the onset of this project, we realize just how much has been accomplished in the last year and a half.

Thanks to everyone who has helped or been involved with this, we are really grateful.

The clinic has been humming along as usual and we continue to appreciate being in this position to offer assistance to many people who would otherwise not get the attention that they need. It’s all good!!

Sounds like Spring came a bit later than usual on the West Coast so hopefully those of you who are reading this are enjoying some warmer weather as Mother Earth tilts towards the sun.

Life is good and as all-ways, we send our love and good wishes to you, wherever you may be.

Ali Baba and Mama Pat