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Sunday, April 21 - Thursday, April 25, 2002
Tanzania, East Africa

"Victory Is Certain If We Join Hands Together"

The Balm In Gilead team reached the halfway mark into their African journey as they arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The planned schedule in Tanzania was tight, including a six-hour drive northwest of Dar es Salaam for a three-day religious leaders' consultation on HIV/AIDS. After leaving the hectic pace of Nigeria, team members were pleasantly greeted by a laid-back, seaside attitude in Dar es Salaam. It was the rainy season there, which provided a cool, breezy alternative to Nigeria's hot, humid climate.

Fortunately, the rain and clouds gave way to brilliant sunshine during our stay, which was a good sign for the team! Faith partners were eager to get started, and with good reason. According to UNAIDS, of the 1.5 million people infected with HIV in Tanzania, 1.2 million of them are between the ages of 15 and 49. It is estimated that from 1990 to 2010, AIDS will have increased the death rate by more than 50percent. Life expectancy has decreased from 61 to 46 years due to AIDS. Although they make up just 20percent of the population, Tanzanians aged 15-24 account for 60percent of new HIV infections in the country. More than 68,000 children under 15 years of age are living with HIV/AIDS.

Over 1.1 million children under the age of 15 years are orphaned to AIDS, and 50-60,000 children are born HIV-positive. Most of them die before they are 5 years old.

The situation in Tanzania is grim, but religious leaders are anxious to do something to turn back the clock on this epidemic. This was made very clear during the team's worship experience in Dar es Salaam.

The Balm team attended Sunday service at the Africa Inland Church of Tanzania (AICT). The service was delivered entirely in kiSwahili, one of the two national languages, and mostly by women because it was Womens' Week. The choir sang a special song about HIV/AIDS to educate its followers. The Balm team was greeted warmly, and later that evening attended a welcome reception at the New Africa Hotel in Dar es Salaam.

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