I'm Falling In Love, But Is This All I Get?
Trip Start
Dec 12, 2008
1
4
7
Trip End
Jan 08, 2009
Mwanza, Tanzania
Saturday, December 20, 2008
We're back in town, so we just thought we'd drop by the internet place for a little while. We've bought material to get all the kids schoolbags, and then later we're having a farewell dinner for Nat who is going home on Monday.. I'm so excited about going to a restaurant!! It's going to be amazing :D
Anyways, some news.. Bad ones actually. Josephat who owns the orphanage has had a couple of bad days (in terms of mood), and he has decided that because we don't want to pay off his debts, he doesn't want to see us again, he wants to close the program. However, that is not as simple as it sounds, it means that the coordinator in Australia who started all this, and Kidsworldwide will have to get involved, and things just get complicated.. But the problem is, we don't know whether we can go back and teach on Monday.. We're still getting them the schoolbags and the presents, and we will still buy them the Christmas food we said we would get, but more than that we don't know. Josephat was pretty angry to be honest..
It just makes me really upset, because I've started to really like this place. I've lived in Nottingham for close to three months and I still don't feel at home there, but I just feel so at home and comfortable here. And the kids, I just love them. I want to take them all back home. I just want to give them the best of everything, they deserve it so!!
On Thursday Tegan, Sharon and I stayed late at the orphanage and ate dinner with them. They all prayed and sang before their meal, which was really beautiful. One of the older girls, Consolata led the whole thing. It was just amazing. They were thanking God for everything they have, and.. they really don't have that much, which is why it was so amazing.. The food however, was less amazing... We had ugali, tiny little fish, and spinach. The spinach was ok, I could eat a bit of it, but not all. I had most of the ugali, but the fish!! It just looks so disgusting.. I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't even try it.. I donated it all to Peter (my little fan - who by the way gave me a second Christmas card the other day!!) and Richard... They both seemed happy with that!
Anyways, I'll be very happy if we manage to sort out this thing with Josephat. We just have to wait a couple of days and see, luckily it's the weekend.. If we can't fix it, and there's no program I really don't know what to do.. I could do some travelling here in Tanzania, but on my own??? I suppose it depends on what the other girls are doing... I'll try to keep you posted..
On another note, I haven't washed my hair since last Thursday.. Welcome to Africa! Oh, and more importantly - I almost forgot - I went to the doctors today, as I started feeling a bit iffy yesterday, coming down with a cold, muscle ache and so on (the symptoms for malaria). I had a malaria test, and I don't have malaria. Lets just hope that the needle was properly clean, and I don't have HIV now.. (Only joking!!) But yeah, I still don't feel amazing, but I'll give it a couple of days, and if I still feel like this I think I need to take another trip to the doctors..
Right, that's all for now! If I can't get on the internet before, Merry Christmas to all Norwegians (and other cool people) on the 24th, and to everyone else on the 25th ;)
Comments
As an update
Malin is reasonably fit and well, she believes it was just a nasty cold causing the problems.
And they have been welcomed back to the orphanage, so it appears for now she is safe and happy :)
Hei lille Malin:-)
I hope u are getting better and hopefully everything gets better as regards to Josephat (?)and that you manage to fullfill your little adventure. I'm so proud of you and I am trying to keep the sponsors posted about everything.
Kjempestolt av deg;-)
Hola guapa !
Sólo quería mandarte un beso muy fuerte y desearte mucha suerte !. Disfruta !! :-)
Espero que pases unas Navidades estupendas!
Besitos.
Moods of Josephat
As I read this entry I am reminded of my own experience at Hands of Mercy dealing with Joel. I love the kids and miss them very much but as volunteers we shouldn't be responsible for their lack of education when it comes to paying THIER bills.If I recall dawn tonkin came acrossed Josephat and she had to go into town to pay the hydro because he hadn't paid it inwhile that is not our responsibilty nor is having the money on us to pay for doctor expenses, I do beleive that we are been taken advantage of as volunteers, we are there to help as much as possible but financially we come with very little money and the money we do come with we worked our ass off for and the donations that were contributed to this trip they do not realize that money does not grow on trees. After I came home I have kept intouch with a certain person but i am constantly been asked to send this or that. I bought this person a cell phone and it was stolen. I have sent money to help but there is only so much I can do. Don't let them guilt you into giving what you can't give. Nice pics by the way.. Kids look great. I miss them. Unfortunately they are innocent bystanders in a much larger picture