Day 2: Young Life Club and Meeting with Mountain Guides

JOURNAL ENTRY BY ROD LONG

We started the day with breakfast at the Mt Meru Hotel.  Food was varied and plentiful plus the staff continues to be extremely hospitable.  The grounds of the hotel are lush, manicured and with an amazing array of beautiful trees and other plant life.

We loaded up in the bus and made our way to Skone One, which they say is one of the poorest communities in Tanzania.  The bus pulled off the main, paved road and started making its way to the area Young Life headquarters through rutted and dusty dirt roads.  When the bus came to a stop adjacent to a modest, one story, one room cement structure, several fairly young children ran up to the bus with smiles on their faces to greet us.  A warm and cheerful welcome to the neighborhood.  

Chris, the 32 year old Area Young Life Director, introduced us to his team consisting of Edwin (27), Emmanuel (20) and Beatrice.  Papa Deo gave us a perspective on the neighborhood and how lacking in hope and healthy opportunities it had for kids 15 years ago when YL first came there.  Chris then explained how much has changed since YL made its way to this place.  Before YL, the children had little to keep them busy in a healthy way way and many kids turned to drugs and crime as a result.  Now kids flock to the humble center to hang out with these amazing young adults who are their leaders and mentors, provide them fun and healthy activities and tell them about Jesus and the good news of the gospel.

We split up into two groups of five and each went to visit Edwin and Emmanuel’s homes.  We walked down several dirt streets and narrow alleyways while greeting people along the way.  The adults were somewhat reserved unless we took the time to greet them and smile.  Then, most warmed up quickly and smiled and waved back.  Emmanuel’s house had an outer courtyard that contained an outhouse and bathing area in the back corner and a chicken pen with several chickens running free in the courtyard.  He took us in his living room and was visibly proud to be our host.  By American standards, his living room was the size of a walk in closet.  We sat with him and he explained how he finds purpose in taking young kids who smoke marijuana and brings them to YL to take them away from the wrong path.  It was evident that Emmanuel was a leader of young men who has found a life-giving purpose by serving as a great example to younger kids in a poor neighborhood.  It is not hard to see the love Jesus had for little ones in the eyes and genuine smiles of Chris, Edwin, Emmanuel and Beatrice.

Later in the day we had our mountain climbing gear checked by Samia, one of our 5 guides and a legend on the mountain who has climbed the mountain 353 times! This will be our first and his 354th. We are in very good hands.

We later met Gabriel (head guide), Wilfred (the guide responsible for 37 porters, 2 cooks and all of our logistics), and Philemon who is the least experienced of our guides but has 10 years experience and has climbed the mountain 120 times. 

They shared a lot but said their objective was that we would all summit the mountain healthy and safe. With our summit success rate of 95%, our team is in great hands!!