We just wrapped up a few amazing days with Ohana Amani in N’jombe. We spent the days with Curry, Chevy, Kayla, and Dustin reflecting on what it means to serve and how to be consciously aware of our presence as it leaves an impact on the communities we’re living in. We spent time constructing three garden beds for the volunteer house that soon will provide the home with an excess of vegetables, herbs, and fruits. We also had time to explore communities hidden in the hills around N’jombe, get lost in them, and put our newly acquired Ki Swahili skills to the test. —Did I forget to mention the week we spent learning Ki Swahili? Backtrack: We ‘camped’ outside of Iringa at River Valley (or River Side?) campground learning the basics of the language. After the first day, our brains were shot but it was definitely worth it.
Back to Ohana Amani. Curry and Chev are two sisters from California who have dedicated their lives to developing a huge chunk of land (600 acres) to create a wholesome community center that is self sustainable. They are literally building the entire thing from scratch: building their own road, hacking out all of the bush grass, etc etc. The spirit these two have is contagious and I know I personally have learned so much in our short time with them.
With almost a month of Tanzania under our belts, we’re about to spend a week with the Maasai people and go on a short safari.
To be continued…