2 Suitcase = 4 Months

One of the questions asked during my last lecture in the states was, “Have you packed any items in suitcases Americans might find unusual?” My reply was, “I still need to pack and can’t remember what I am supposed to take!”  As is often the case during my two month in the states, “stuff” is accumulated in a closet and at the last minute, packed.

This trip, the contents included:

	Approx weight	Notes
200 clown noses	Not much but bulky	Make believe fun items
Candles	20#	Dark nights with no electricity
Food items	5#	Almonds, tea, Balance bars
Beading supplies	30#	Wire cutters, crimpers, misc supplies for IGA program
Toys for orphans	10#	Books, wood animals, Qwirkle board game
Personal items	20#
Gifts & office supplies	10#

Early trips included multiple tents, tools to fix vehicles, medical supplies, etc. The load varies each trip.

There is much to accomplish before I return in early May.  WASH (water, sanitation hygiene) project for 6,000 people is in full swing and a new project for an additional 7,200 scheduled to start by February 1; our new primary and adult literacy school’s grand opening will be in February; microenterprise projects in chicken farming, beading, goat skin tanning and vegetable gardening are ramping up; 8 “mingi” orphans need to be moved into a better facility; and funding for the Mother Child Health program and Abandoned children (Mingi) project needs to be secured.

Meanwhile, activities in the USA and Europe are expanding as well: our wonderful volunteers sold record number of Hamar shikinee (beaded products); 7 Rotary clubs and a Seratoma club have indicated interest in our Mingi project to date; the first outcome of GTLI-Carleton College relationship, African studies, featuring Hamar and GTLI’s work, will be tested in a Northfield, MN middle school this spring; Martha Paas, GTLI’s newest Board member, is spear-heading fund-raising in MN and Christine Walsh is keeping us organized. And, thanks to Nemer Fieger and Michelle Schindler, our just released 2011 Annual Report is now available on the web:  Annual Report

Stayed tuned for weekly updates with new photos – my New Year’s resolution!