• AIDS continues its frightening growth and rapidly rising death rate. It has now afflicted over 1.3 million (8.1% of the population) and left 1.1 million orphaned children in Tanzania. The social fabric and economic structure of the country is being deeply affected. Pray for church teaching programmes aimed at slowing the spread of the disease, and for counseling clinics and care structures for victims.

• Life expectancy in Tanzania is just 45 years. In the United States, the average person can expect to live to the age of 77.

• Of every 1,000 babies born alive in Tanzania, 165 will die before their fifth birthdays -- compared to only 8 out of 1,000 in the United States.

• Safe water is accessible to just 68% of the people of Tanzania. Almost everyone in the United States has access to safe water.

• Illiteracy is a major problem in Africa, as is the disparity between men's and women's education. In Tanzania, 86% of the men and just 71% of the women are literate. In the United States, nearly all adults -- 97% of both men and women -- can read and write.

• Annual per capita income in Tanzania is $520 (real GDP per capita, ppp$). It is $34,320 in the United States.

THE PHIL-O-PILLOW PROJECT
For taking Care of HIV/AIDS patients

Mission Statement:  Giving life to the living, helping the dying, and caring for the orphans left behind.

This project came about through a thought process derived from sheer desperation for the struggle of life.  How can you find work to sustain life if you yourself or you loved ones are dying?

With ~ a sewing machine  ~  And creative minds  ~  art flourishes.

The Phil-o-Pillow project is a self-help project aimed at generating funds to support the AAVIA health care program Tanzania. 

A three stage handmade process develops this Authentic African Art.  Each pillow is a unique representation of life in a very hard world.

These authentic African Artisans have taken their craft to the next level by putting it on Pillows and making it become part of everyday life--offering a silent depiction of the courageous people's struggles in life while reminding us ever so slightly of worlds so far apart. 

The fabrics are also in three significant collections, each representing the symbolic significance of Africa Culture. They are:

• The Red Earth Collection

• The Beige Antelope Collection

• The Zebra Collection

Our largest variety is available in the Red Earth Collection.

Monika performing her hand work.

Besides making Pillows the staff makes dresses with African Artwork

Pillows in Process

• SIMBA & CHUI:  (Lion & Leopard) represents the resiliency of the African people.

• The KINU: (a mortar represents the grinding of grain for sustaining life.

• PEACEABLE KINGDOM:  represents the co-exiting of all animals, which is a symbol of what Africa and the world should be.

• The VISION OF THE HUNT:  depicting either large hunters or small ones hunting for manhood and life

• The CELEBRATION OF LIFE: 

• CLOSE-UP OF THE ZEEBRA: representing the Happy family.

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The proceeds from the sale of this Phil-o-pillow art support HIV/AIDS Healthcare programs in Tanzania (East Africa. 

HIV/AIDS Health Care Program

The proceeds from the sale of this Phil-o-pillow art support HIV/AIDS Healthcare programs in Tanzania (East Africa).

A patient in one of our small village hospitals in Tanzania. Testing CD4 Counts for an HIV/AIDS patient costs over $50. Imagine what this means for people who receive less than $1 a day!

One of Njia Hospital's nurses taking care of a patient. Our nurses need a lot of help as we cannot pay them adequate salaries (money we do not have).

Fr Stephen Mosha visiting a patient (October 2004) to give them spiritual nourishment to undergo the pain and suffering in a resilient manner.

"We are looking for a machine for testing CD4 Counts for people with HIV/AIDS, it is called Beckmann Coulter. Kindly help us pass word to companies that make them." . . . Fr Stephen Mosha.

Fr Stephen Mosha's Mission/Life Philosophy: I am called to be diligent and innovative in caring, in helping to restore well-being, to relieve and prevent suffering, and to be compassionate servant. I am committed to fostering healing, after the example of the Good Shepherd, to act with compassion, and promote wellness for all persons and communities, with special attention to the poor and underprivileged. I am called to operate with the ability, the personal drive and courage to do what I intend to do and do it well and in line with the vision of the Lord, (“love and compassion of Christ”) the Good Shepherd, so that all may have life and have it to the fullness.

A glass of milk that broke traditional rules inspired my heart and slowly created the above philosophy/mission. In my culture there is a rule that states something like this, “the cow belongs to the man but the milk belongs to the woman”. According to this rule it is the woman who milks the cow and controls the milk. Therefore if a husband needs milk to drink he must ask his wife for it. Under no circumstances should a husband take liberty to take his wife’s guard, shake it and pour out milk for himself or for another. This is tantamount to an insult to his wife and does not go unpunished.

One day my mother was out cutting grass for our animals and my father was at home. A neighbor came in and requested my father for a glass of milk for herself and her child who was not feeling well. I believe the child had not eaten anything the previous night and that morning. According to the cultural rules my father had two options: one, tell the woman to wait for my mom to come back and give her the milk. Or send for my mom to come and give her the milk. But to my surprise my father called me and told me to give him a glass. He shook the guard, poured milk and gave it to the woman. Loh and behold my father broke the cultural rules and left me shocked and wondering what would happen when my mom returns!

But that was not all. This neighbor had been at odds with my family. They had done some pretty bad things to my family and to my father in particular. So in human terms I expected my father to take this opportunity to refuse to help or to take the cultural excuse and wait for my mom’s return or even to send for her. To crown it all, while my father was pouring the milk he said to us, his children, “you may be in need of this milk but this woman needs it more than you, you can stay hungry”. Then he gave away what we would have taken. After the woman had left my father said to us, “when someone is in need you must always help, even if it be your enemy”.

That glass of milk given to the woman in need broke the traditional rules and inspired my life. That is what I aspire to do in providing health services to the poor. That is what I hope to do in my small way to anyone that comes to my life. While I might not be too sure about how I did it and whether I did it so fully for the past years of my service, I know I can do so fully again now with your donations. I can assure you that I can do so with your glass of milk that you will put in my hands to take to the needy children, the AIDS victims, the homeless orphans, the jobless young adults, the yearning youth and the aging who have lost their only social security, namely their children who would have supported them had they not die of AIDS.

So please give me your glass of milk and I will take it to them so that they too may have life and your name will be curved on their hearts. Thank you for your glass of milk. Fr Stephen Mosha