On Saturday morning the three of us walked the dusty paths, perhaps a mile or so, to the home of Doug and Linda Dybsetter. A couple that has spent the last 6 years helping others in different lands, the Dybsetters became fast friends. Their concern and experience in handling situations in this area were almost as valuable as the friendship. With their help, we experienced the true flavor of the immense poverty plaguing the country of Tanzania.

We drove to visit a family in the "bush" that they knew. On our way we bought about $6 dollars worth of food items at stands in front of the mud and stick homes of the peoples along our road. Items that we would not consider eating ourselves but were luxury items for those we were about to visit. Despite the low cost, this bounty nearly filled the back end of our land rover automoble. And then, on our way to an area that progress has forgotten. Never have I seen such poverty. Upon arrival a few villagers readily recognized our friends and warmly greeted us as well. There were two men, a number of young children, a couple of older children and an elderly lady. "Mama" invited us to see her hut. There she sleeps as well as two orphaned children - and her cow. The cow sleeps there so it won't be stolen. The hut is made of sticks and mud. It is cylindrical with a grass umbrella like roof. I had guessed that mama was about 80. The others guessed closer to 90. We found her birth record to show that she was 47. She was very frail and quite sickly, but very pleased that we would come to visit her. The children cautiously begged for items that they thought we might give them. I relinquished my pen but had no more to offer. They were thrilled that Natalie had her Polaroid camera that takes little pictures that develop in front of your eyes. They laughed and danced as the pictures came into view. They vacillated between wanting to show others their image and being embarrassed to do so.

Some others came to greet us. Sons, grandchildren and others. I could not decipher who was who.

The ground around this area had very little vegetation. Everywhere one walked, dust rose covering us from head to toe. It was like millions of filled vacuum cleaner bags had been dumped there for us to walk on. This was not dirt, it was dust. A generous layer of it covered the skin of these villagers but their faces shown a glow of happiness and gratefulness for anything they had. The children would always want to hold our hands as we walked from place to place. Bright smiles shown teeth askew, sometimes missing and somewhat darkened from the concentration of fluoride that is naturally contained in the limited water to found in that area. They don't tend to get cavities but the high levels of fluoride apparently have an affect on their bones causing curvatures in their limbs.

I met a boy, 18 years of age, who had managed to get a little schooling, only possible because of some gift of a Church or Mission service. His Christian name is Peter for his mother had become a Christian some time ago. It is a rather unusual name for this bush area. He spoke understandable English and was intent on telling me how important education was to him. He asked if I would like to walk to his home so I could meet his mother and sisters. I asked how far it was and he said just a minute away. We walked off and approx. 6 blocks later, were at his hut. First he showed me his mother's house. A rectangular place made of sticks and mud, but very neat and clean inside. Then he showed me that he had a little place of his own. It too was well kept and I could see a few books, written in English, about his room. I asked how much it was to go to school. "It is 40,000 shillings a year" he said. (About $50 a year).

I found that Peter was in "Form 3" in secondary school. He had managed to seek and get funding to attend school until this year. I could see Peter's school in the distance. Had it not been so near, he would not have had the ability to attend at all. Wanting to help if I could, I asked Peter to walk me to the school. There I visited with the Head Master and found that Peter was told he would have to leave school next month if he could not come up with the monies for the year nearly completed. Secondary School has four "Forms" or years. For very little impact on our resources Aaron, Nat and I were able to pay for his current year and for the rest of his education as well. Peter promises to help others in his community when he becomes successful himself. I believe he will do just that.