There is a saying, "A picture speaks a thousand words". So true as a nurse gazes at pieces of the medical equipment delivered to the Katandala Maternity Ward in Sumbawanaga.
At the end of August a mission team from St. Martin's Kids from St. Mary's Catholic Church, Rotary of Spring Lake, Michigan, and Grace Community Development & Education will tour the maternity ward as well as visit the orphanage. 
We are very excited in the improvement that this facility will provide in maternal health for the Rukwa region.

St. Martin's Kids collaborated with Rotary of Spring Lake, Michigan in a grant underwritten by Spring Lake Rotary and District 6290 to provide one 40ft container of medical equipment, valued at $400,000USD for the Katandala Maternity Ward. 
The equipment was provided by Project C.U.R.E., the largest provider of donated medical equipment to developing countries in the world.
The maternity ward will now be able to perform C-Section surgeries as well as best practices for safe maternal delivery of babies.
This grant has been in the works for four years and is almost complete!!
Here are pictures of the equipment being loaded into the truck in Dar es Salaam as it gets ready for the trip to Sumbawanga. Safe travels!!

A necessary repair of the biogas system caused it to be out of service for a bit. But now, it is up and running better than ever!! Lots of fresh bread. Yum!!

The weekend of February 24-25, Fr. Dave was kind enough to give St. Martin's Kids a few minutes at the end of Mass to present a short summary of all of the improvements at the orphanage. There was also a bulletin insert highlighting these successes. 

December is the end of the school year in Sumbawanga. And of course that includes a celebration with the youngest students!!

Below is pictures of the signing of the Certificate of Relationship between St. Martin's Kids, GCDE, and the Catholic Diocese of Sumbawanga. This states that all three parties will work together to support programs caring for the orphans living at the St. Martin de Porres Orphanage. These services are reaching at risk children living in the Katvi and Rukwa region in Tanzania.


Pictured (left to right) Sr. Helena Katabera of the Catholic Diocese of Sumbawanga, Mike Caraway US Representative of GCDE, and Batista Mbwana Director of GCDE in Sumbawanga.
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I can do things you cannot, You can do things I cannot; Together we can do great things.
Mother Teresa

St. Mary's 2016-2017 second grade Faith Formation class fundraised for St. Martin's Kids during the school year. Their efforts yielded 50 cans of formula purchased and delivered by Mike Caraway of Grace Community Development & Education. 
Thank You to all who participated in this stewardship event!
Thank You to Mike for your willingness to help these infants in receiving the nourishment needed to grow and develop into thriving individuals!
Pictured are Mike and Sr. Helena and Sr. Helena with another Sr. at the orphanage.

St. Martin's Kids would like to thank Mike & Lynn Caraway of Grace Community Development & Education(GCDE) for purchasing school supplies for the new pre-school and delivering treats for the children and staff at St. Martin de Porres Orphanage.
Supplies included crayons, rulers, paper, scissors, tape, glue, pencils, water color paints, colored pencils, sharpeners, and lots of items for learning and creativity!
Treats: 5 types of cookies, mango juice, suckers, watermelon,oranges, apples, bananas, pineapples, and do I see popcorn!! Yum!!
THANK YOU Mike & Lynn!!

A busy morning of instruction and sharing creates hungry appetites!!