Reflections from Ilula - Marilee McGraw

16,948 miles, 25 days, Minneapolis, Amsterdam, Dar es Salaam, Ilula, Iringa, Tungamalenga, Ruaha, kipaduka and many stops along the way with countless hours spent in a coaster bus that had far exceeded its nine lives, yet miraculously navigated deep ruts, washed out roads and overflowing bridges.

The license plate, DNA, was aptly named and perfectly descriptive. Regardless of our geography and resources we are the same in our humanness, including joy and pain, heartbreak and hope and the desire to care for family and friends.

I’m grateful to Shoulder to Shoulder and the generous and kind staff at Ilula Lutheran hospital for sharing their time and knowledge, always with a welcoming smile “Karibu.”



















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