Christmas Presents II

I am going over to Arusha for ONE WEEK only, and will be bringing back Christmas goodies! Please let me know QUICK if you want to place a specific order (all orders should be emailed by Nov 27th)...if you are not sure, or don't see this in time, I will be buying the scarves, coasters, and stars and will be having some Christmas shows if you want to come have a look. But it's best if you already know, to contact me to ensure you get what you want! I am also bringing home a new shipment of SANDALS for the spring. New Designs and they are so cute!! So get excited! And best of all, as always, ALL proceeds go directly back to these angels.... (hdupree@gmail.com)







(excerpt from last year)
Christmas is RIGHT AROUND the corner! Please consider purchasing one of these amazing little African gifts for not just Christmas, but maybe birthdays, shower gifts, hostess gifts, anything! All the profits will go to these children pictured below. I am raising money to help them with school fees, food in their tummies, and a roof over their head! Please see previous posts to learn a little about each of them! They are my heart and soul and let them become a part of yours too! If you are interested in an item please just email me at hdupree@gmail.com and let me know the details of what you want. I will quickly respond with how you can go about purchasing. Happy Shopping!!!

Miriam (6), Fabien (5), and Jumanne (9)

many varieties of scarves

$20 each

napkin rings $25 for six

These were a favorite item last year. Christmas ornaments (but can be used year round, key chains, home decor, etc.)

$10 each

$5 for five bracelets

little baskets $7 each or three for $20

big baskets $35

Coasters (another favorite) $30 for 6

THANK YOU!!!!!

Tanzania Bound!

I am so THRILLED to report I am boarding a plane for the week of Thanksgiving to go see these faces.... sweet girls....i'm coming!!





The Baby...oh i love how i try to pick him up and he keeps his legs straight...that's how you know they are too old to be held, but I always try to hold him anyway! Miriam on the other hand will want to be held the whole time and I will just throw her little 6 year old self on my hip and carry all over town and I cant wait!

I am looking forward to coming home with lots of new pictures, updates, and some Africa treasures to sell at Christmas and a new stock of sandals - NEW STYLES!!- so be sure to check back in a couple of weeks so you can shop for a cause! ;)

Also, if you have time, you should go to http://www.gardenmarket.blogspot.com/ and check out Davis Mitchell's artwork. 15% of the profits goes to support the children on TAWV and the remainder goes toward another really wonderful cause. :)

Please pray for safe travels and for the short amount of time I will be with the kids. I have a lot to do in these quick 6 days i'll be there, but my hope is for the time to be precious and productive. Come back soon for new updates!

Love,

Heath

New Bags

I have now been away from my babies for almost 4 months. :( There are days when I feel like I will go crazy without them! Especially days like today when I receive a picture from Vincent. They are going back for their third term of school. Vincent bought them all new book bags and they sure do look snazzy. :)

It's so hard to see them change through pictures and not be there to actually see them in person. The girls' hair is growing longer and they are getting braids and looking so pretty! Please notice Miriam has lost her two front teeth!!! Aw, wish I was there to leave her money under her pillow. :(

I am still in Atlanta waiting on Neema's American citizenship to go through. I am also taking some grad classes this fall sense I'll be here through Christmas. I will do my best to keep the updates coming. Please continue to pray for my sweetnesses while I am so far from them. I am very thankful for Mama Kimaro, Michael, and Vincent who are all taking such great care of them and all their needs during my absence!

I miss them!

I have been a little out of commission on this blog because I am not in Tanzania with my babies and I miss them DEARLY! But I get regular updates and they are all doing just great!! It is time for their second term and I could not be more proud of them for all finishing in the tops of their classes!!

Jumanne (Standard 3 - 3rd Grade) #4
Rehema (Standard 1) #6
Fabien (Kindergarten) #4
Miriam (Kindergarten) #2
Witness (Standard 3) #14

I am just so proud of them!! I have to say especially for Jumanne and Witness. They have both just transferred this year to an English Medium School where the other kids have been learning the language for 2 years prior and they knew none. Jumanne who for the first time is learning in a new language has the 4th highest average in his entire grade!! That is nothing short of AMAZING!!

And Witness is from a village over an hour from Arusha where they speak a tribal language and Swahili is only her second language and she came into the year a little late learning in what is becoming her third language and she still has the 14th highest average. Unbelievable really.

These children are brilliant! And their smiles light up a room. They love to come and show me their school work and practice their English to me. Ahhh it just fills me right up with love from my head to my toes!

Another thing about them that just gets me...is how they care for each other. Jumanne is the best big brother. He is definitely the 'caretaker' whether its helping Fabien with his shoes, or holding Miriam's hand when crossing the road, or just being my translator. The girls are always helping me with Neema and helping Mama Kimaro with laundry, cooking, etc. It is such a family and i just LOVE that because that is what I had envisioned...the anti-orphanage.

Oh I miss them. I will try to get Vincent to send some pictures soon so I can update everyone (and myself!). If you are interested in contributing to their school fees for next semester, please hit the DONATE NOW button on the right of the page or you can send a Tax Deductible check made out to Takes A Whole Village to

Heath DuPree
1000 Angelo Court
Atlanta, GA 30319

Thanks so much!!

Family Visits Tanzania!

A few weeks ago I was blessed to have family visit me here in Arusha. It has been nearly a year since I have seen my mama and sister and over a year since I have seen my aunts. We had an incredible week. One of my favorite things was the fact they got to meet my other children and see what God is doing through Takes A whole Village. We took all the children to the pool and just had a great day of togetherness and fun. My family was really moved by the spirits of these children and I am so thankful that they got the chance to love on them and be loved by them. After visiting the home and meeting Mama Kimaro, my aunt Susan is now helping start a garden at the house so they can grow their own vegetables. The children can help and learn about self-sustainability as well as saving money on a daily necessity. What a wonderful week!

Simsy with Fabien and Rehema

The Girls!

They LOVE pool days!

Tee Shirts !!!

Hey Everyone,

My sweet friend Davis Mitchell is selling T-shirts for the kids of TAWV. They are super cute and only available until March 12th. We are trying to sell 200!! Please help us reach this goal by purchasing one, adding the link to your own blog or facebook, or simply praying that God would provide a complete sell out!!! This is such a fun way to get the word out about Jumanne, Rehema, Fabien, Miriam, and Witness!! Be a part of it! :) See the following link to get more information!

http://theneemashopevents.blogspot.com/

Thanks for all your support!! Lots of love.

xoxo
Heath

just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down...

My sweet sweet Miriam is sick. Yesterday I spent ALL day with her at the hospital. This is what a doctor visit looks like in Arusha: We arrive and WAIT in line (where we got cut twice) for the main window. She then tells us to go and WAIT in line for cashier to pay for consultation. Than we go back and WAIT at main window again. She sends us to a room to WAIT for the doctor. We see doctor and she sends us to the lab. we WAIT. they send us back to cashier to pay for lab tests. we WAIT in line again. then back to lab where we WAIT more. Then they send us back to doctor, yes and WAIT. She sends us to pharmacy. we WAIT in line. Pharmacy sends us to cashier again to pay for the drugs. we WAIT in line at cashier. After WAITING in line again at pharmacy we finally take our drugs and go home. 4 hours people. FOUR!

at least the medicine is pretty colors...

Squishing the pills into the pink stuff.

She is probably thinking: "oh no......"

But she took it like a champ.

pole (sorry) my baby......

Update: She is ok. We thought it was malaria but it's not. Her tests came back parasite free so maybe its just a bad chest cold. A lot of coughing and a fever but she will be ok. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Boys

The Girls

Singing, Clapping, and Hearing about Jesus!!

Neema got to go on stage....

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Before and After

The first picture of each child you see below are of the babies IN THEIR VILLAGE before they came home to live at the Takes A Whole Village House. (October 2009) The second pictures are the babies NOW. :)

FABIEN

MIRIAM

REHEMA

JUMANNE

Welcome Witness

Witness is from Moshi Tanzania. (About an hour and ½ from Arusha). She is 8 years old and is a doll. I want to protect the children’s privacy by not sharing too much about their personal lives but in her case it was not safe to be living where she was any longer. We are so happy to have a new addition. We dropped her off at night and she was a little overwhelmed obviously, but especially by the BIG personalities of Miriam and Fabien. But I know she will be just fine. Jumanne was particularly sweet to her bringing her water and trying to get her to open up…I love watching them love on one another. Especially on someone they just met. They are so gentle and kind. Sweet sweet spirits. Please join me in praying for Witness’ transition and that she would feel at home and part of the family as quickly as possible.

Witness does need a sponsor as she will be starting school alongside the others next week!! ($360 for the year will send her to Hope Primary School where she will be in third grade) Please consider granting sweet Witness this opportunity. This is only $30 a month, spare some change and change a life!!!! Thank you!!!!

Africa Gift Shop

In an effort to raise more money for the children of Takes A Whole Village and the ministry costs I am now selling hand made African products! I'm really excited about this new project and hope you will find something you like! If you are on FACEBOOK, I have a page set up called: African Gift Shop! It has more pictures and more information. If you do not have facebook but want more details, please email me at takesawholevillage@gmail.com Please go check it out become a FAN and tell all your friends! See below for a couple of pictures of what is currently available. Please take into consideration, if you order within the month of February it can be shipped back with one of my family members who are coming to visit me in March! Thanks for making a difference in the lives of children in Tanzania!!!

my girls

In kiswahili there is a word that I love: Shikamoo. It is said to anyone older or in a position of respect. It is the first thing you must say when greeting someone. The response is Marahaba, which means roughly I accept your acknowledgment. Mostly you say this to mothers, fathers, grandparents, police, etc. The other day we arrived at the house and got out of the car and were walking along and Miriam calls Neema over to her. She picks her up (somehow) and says why didn't you greet me? In which of course Neema says Shikamoo Miriam. This was so funny to me to watch the three year old greet the five year old. They make me laugh!!!!

Hope Nursery and Primary

Well the babies started school! I am so excited for them. I was totally an obnoxious 'parent' and interrupted class on Monday morning just to get a few pictures. Lucky for me the teachers appeased me and let me get a couple of snapshots for all of their fans. :) Their uniforms must be sized and so we are expecting them in the next week or so...stay tuned for those photos.

Their applications filled and ready...

Jumanne's Class 3 (far right green sweater)

Fabien and Miriam

Fabien washing his hands before lunch...

Ugali (sticky porridge staple - not my fav...but the kids love it!) Lunchtime!!!