Coming Home

When travel abroad turns into living abroad, as so often happens, there comes a day when your “destination” has become home, and your (former) “home” becomes a destination. 

After spending the past couple of months traveling in the United States, I was reminded, rather emphatically, how much JBFC truly is home (though I do miss my family, friends, and especially my parents tremendously!). 

Having been back on campus now for a week, I have compiled a list of the top ten things I missed about Campus while spending two months away from JBFC:

1) The girls’ voices at prayer. Whether crammed into their dining hall with them during nightly prayer time or hearing their voices from the rock house as they float over the hill, I can truly say that hearing the girls singing their songs again has brought to my attention the level of comfort that this brings to my life on a daily basis. While in the states, I would often find myself singing these songs (I do have a wonderful singing voice!), and just as often receive strange looks from passers-by. Nothing like the “Mambo Sawa Sawa” accompanied by thunderous clapping.

2) Walking past Dorm A’s window. As many employees and guests know, as soon as you hit the gate a back-and-forth of “Hi so-and-so, Hi girls!- Hi so-and-so, Hi girls!” begins until safely out of sight. This is a guaranteed pick-me-up that makes up for Tanzania’s lack of Dunkin’ Donuts and Turkey
Sandwiches.

3) Salome, Bhoke, Getu, and Shida hug competitions. Now, even on the worst of days, and there aren’t many at JBFC, nothing can turn a mood around faster than walking down the stairs and hearing Salome shout out “Whoever hugs Massawe first wins!” and getting trampled by four girls.

4) Rice and Beans/Chris’s cooking: For the majority of people who have worked for, lived at, or visited JBFC, they probably know one thing about me: I love rice and beans. I more than love rice and beans- it is a major part of my being. I missed eating rice and beans daily so much that I even cooked a Tanzanian bean recipe in America a couple of times. That said, Chris is an amazing cook. Fajitas, BBQ, curries, soup, salads and more. I missed Chris’s cooking a lot- just not quite as much as the girls’ rice and beans.

5) End of the day with Chris, Melinda, and Travis. At most jobs, socializing can be a struggle. You get out of work, feel tired, go home, and go to bed. It is such a pleasure to be able to spend some free time day-in and day-out with the greatest people in the world (other than JBFC’s 45 girls!).

6) Girls Government meetings: Hands down, Girls Government meetings have been a highlight of my year. Saturday afternoons spent discussing pressing issues on campus, eating pizza, and solving the world’s problems. In America, there was no way to re-create this (I would have gotten some really strange looks!), and I am very much looking forward to my first meeting since being back. 

7) Mama Maggie (and the rest of the Mamas!): It is hard to not feel at home when in their presence. I have never met anyone more excited by each individual or as attuned to their needs and preferences as Mama Maggie and her staff. Mama Maggie is quick with a joke, a hug, or some advice, whatever
is needed.

8) Living with Melinda: I had a TON of great roommates during my trip to America. Chris, Ashli, Chris’s family in Delaware, Chris’s family in Tulsa, my sister and her family in California, and, best of all, my parents. Melinda, it is nice to be back!

9) Getu’s smile, Eliza’s sarcasm, and Liku’s laugh, etc.: For those who know the JBFC girls, these don’t need explanations. Each girl has left an impression on me that I carried with me on this trip.

A Very Special JBFC Holiday

Editor's Note: Guest Blogger, Ron Gates, is the father of JBFC's founder. It's been seven years, since he's visited the Tanzanian campus. In his blog, he shares how JBFC has changed and tells why a JBFC holiday is so special.



It has been seven years since my last visit to JBFC’s Kitongo campus. Needless to say things have changed a bit since the last time I traveled to Africa. There were only two houses on campus and only seven girls. The conditions were a lot rougher than what I experienced during my recent visit. The seven girls are now women, too!

I’ve been asked why it took me so long to get back. I have no good answers. Each year I wanted to find the time, the money, but then another year would pass. My son would come home two or three times a year, which satiated my need to see my son. He would bring JBFC girls to America, which gratified my wish to stay connected with them (at least some of them). However, it has been ten years since I’d spent Christmas with Christopher. It was time…this was the year.   

Christmas at JBFC really started on Christmas Eve. There were five adults wrapping presents for 50 children. It became an all day affair. Our JBFC girls (and a few boys) were the recipients of numerous gifts (which all needed to be wrapped). Getting gifts from America to Tanzania can be somewhat problematic. The problem isn’t really associated with transportation…it’s with the wrapping. You can’t wrap the gifts ahead of time - security and custom officials frown on wrapped gifts. This little ‘security’ issue caused five adults to spend all day wrapping gifts.

The day was finally upon us – it was Christmas! The look on all the girls’ faces when they entered Christopher’s house and saw the ‘mountain’ of presents under the mango Christmas tree was magical. Controlled chaos was how the morning played out. Laughing, giggling girls were in abundance. Joy, cheer and love filled the room. Our day of wrapping labor was worth every minute – just to see the anticipation and excitement on the girls’ faces when a gift was handed to them.

The girls call me Babu. This is a Swahli term for grandfather. I’m not too thrilled with the translation, but I like the name. It reminds me of the Disney movie – Jungle Book and its main character Baloo. Being the oldest on the campus did afford me some luxuries; I got to stay in the very nice bungalows, everyone thought I was too old to carry anything and I guess they thought I was too old to help prepare food and drinks. It was nice to be waited on hand and foot. 



I grew up with a lot of music. We had to play at least two instruments and if we didn’t practice, we didn’t get to eat. No one missed a meal, though – we enjoyed playing and singing. It was part of the fabric of my youth. I wanted to bring some of my ‘music’ to JBFC. I brought seven ukuleles - one for each house. They were all wrapped and opened on Christmas. I entertained the group with a few songs on the ukulele. 

The other musical feat I wanted to achieve was singing with the JBFC choir. The girls have magical voices. I brought a CD, which contained a song called, “Angel in Blue Jeans.” This is a song by the group ‘Train’ and I thought it would be a perfect a capella song for the girls.

 We practiced and performed on Christmas for the group. The girls were fantastic. I was clearly the weak link in the performance. At least I added some levity to the rendition

They had a party for me on my last night. It was heart warming to put it mildly. There was more ukulele playing, singing and tears. Did I learn the correct pronunciation of all of the girls’ names – no. Did they all touch my heart – yes. Will I wait another seven years to go back – absolutely not!  



Guest blogger Ron Gates is a JBFC board member in addition to being JBFC Founder Chris Gates' father.