The Container Safari

 Before you think the container got lost among the lions and elephants, safari means "journey" in Swahili, the language of Tanzania.

The Bishop's Assistant and Pastor Jason cut the ribbon and offer a prayer before the container is opened.

The first boxes come off the container

Ashley and one of the hospital staff get fancy

A box brigade forms to make quick work of the unpacking

One of the birthing beds is unloaded

The container arrived last night. After chapel this morning, we had tea and then together with the hospital staff, we got to work. It was really incredible to see the collaboration between our team and and all the hospital staff. Even our drivers got into the action and started hauling boxes of food to palliative care and books to the nursing school. It really feels like we were in partnership with our friends at Iambi. Though I think they still think we work way too hard and way too fast. There is a sense among our group and the hospital administration of satisfaction and accomplishment.

At lunch, we were reflecting on all the things that came off the container and all the people who made it's contents and arrival possible.

Sue told the story of a woman at Zumbro who lives on a fixed income and came to her with bags of cotton balls as her offering for the container. When they came off this morning Sue posed for a picture with the hospital administrators and the cotton balls.

We thought about the 80 people from Zumbro and the hundreds of other volunteers who packed the meals for Food for Kids in October. Thirty-two boxes of that food will help nourish home bound patients dying of cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases.

The nursing school staff lit up when they saw the card catalog material sent by our church librarian to index all the books that came from Zumbro and Global Health Ministries.

All in all, it was a day filled with joy. God has been so faithful to this process and we stand in awe of what God is able to do through a vision and some willing people from Minnesota and our willing partners at Iambi Lutheran Hospital in Nkungi Village, Tanzania.

Thanks be to God.