NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2009

Jodie and I returned from The Gambia during the early hours of Saturday 13th December. So cold after 2 weeks of 35 degrees each day.
We arrived in The Gambia a week before Tobaski - similar to our Christmas. Unfortunately, due to the build up to Tobaski I was unable to complete all of the charity work that I had intended on doing.However I did manage to organise a meeting at both of the schools before they closed for the holidays.
The meeting at The Robert Kemp Nursery in Brikama was very long winded and tense at times. By the time it concluded all of the children had gone home and I was still left with a suitcase of presents for them from their sponsors. These are at Lamins home and will be distributed to the children at a later date.
The meeting at The Gambia Reality Nursery in Sanyang went much more smoothly and the children there received their presents etc before they left for home.
Alice is now very much a member of Lamins family and part of the local community along with being accepted as a teacher at the nursery. I am so proud of her! Not only has she settled in to their way of life but she is now speaking Mandinka and has developed some very close bonds with the family and friends. She has experienced virtually all that there is to experience on a day to day basis. Apart from cooking over an open fire, washing by hand,showering from a bucket of cold water and doing what comes naturally into a hole in the ground,she has experienced weddings, naming ceremonies. a funeral and Tobaski. All that there is left is a birth which hopefully will happen before her return to the UK on the 20 January.
Tobaski was a surreal. It started with the whole of the village going for prayers at the prayer ground. Literally, hundreds of people - what an amazing sight!
Then back home for the sacrifice of the ram which we watched very tentatively - not something that I would like to experience on a daily basis! I have to say that the ram did not suffer in any way and it was all done quickly and as humanely as possible.
For the rest of the day there was music coming from miles around and virtually every inhabitant of Sanyang, male, female,young and old strutted their stuff around the streets dressed in their new outfits.Until then I didn't realise quite how big Sanyang was. The colours and outfits were out of this world.
The evening brought Salabut - all of the local children ( again dressed in their finery) go from compound to compound saying "Salabut" - very much like trick or treat - we gave them small coins and party bag presents that we brought from the UK.
I am so pleased that I experienced it all. The only downfall - like us here in the UK with turkey - we ate Ram for 4 days on the trot - the locals ( and Alice ) were still eating it when we left on the Friday!!!
The main thing that will stick in my mind was the unity,sharing and the respect for each other. No one was left alone or went without food. If they couldn't buy thier own, it was provided by neighbours, friends and even strangers! It all made me feel very humble.

I just want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and to Thank You for your support throughout 2008.