Thank yous, visits and the rains have come

Yet again it's been a busy time, I went out to Karatu to visit Mama Teddy, Teddy and Irene, they loved the new clothes, lollies and hairclips. Thanks Sue for the hairclips, the girls don't have much hair but they loved them all the same.
Next was a visit to Baraa school to hand over a second hand computer bought with ££ from Annie and Anne in Lancashire, Thank you ladies. The school is government run, has classes of over 80 and has a great team of volunteers from all over the world some are teachers others do admin and fundraise to get much needed equipment.
Friday I went to SOS children's village to see some of the children who I looked after on my first trip to Tanzania, 2 years ago they went to live at SOS which is run on the principle of a 'mama' in a house with 6-10 children. The site has 11/12 houses. They keep sibling groups together and leave when they are 18/19. The children have a great environment, will attend school and will be supported to go to university or train in a trade. Sorry no pics of the kids-SOS policy but they look great and have grown so tall.
Met Melio, his son is at SOS as he has no wife, cannot take care of him but visits regularly. He has a 2-3 hour journey to get there. Thanks to a generous donor I am buying him a water filter for his family so that they don't have to spend hours boiling water to make it safe enough to drink. He could ask his family to care for his son but he knows that the child will have a good life and an education at SOS which he could not give him, brave man to take such a decision.
The centre is as busy as ever, Juma is walking now so that just leaves Peanut and Emmy. We have had 2 births, teacher angel had a little girl and Riziki-who is part of the new welcome home project had a boy. Mums and babies are doing well
Now that the short rains appear to have come power cuts are frequent and, bizarrely, so are water cuts. Had to resort to filling bottles at the centre for ELF-emergency loo flush! Having no power is not too bad but no water for more than 18 hours can be tough. We can get a tanker to fill the tank but they will only deliver 10,000 litres, our tank is 3,000 and there's no way that we will waste 7,000 litres of the precious commodity.
Lori and Ben have arrived from USA bringing me an adult resus dummy which will make the first aid teaching so much easier, thanks L&B
Went for a great walk with Twende hiking group last w/e, walked along a river, through paddy fields and over a disused railway bridge. Tough in places but a great way to spend a Sunday morning.
Again I realise how lucky I am to be able to live here, I have everything I need and so much more than many people
picture time