Autumn update
Its been a busy summer with July spent working in Tanzania, teaching International Students as well as Tanzanian medical students. We also managed to train some of the junior doctors and nurses for their involvement in the Glasgow led Research program on arthritis in the Kilimanjaro area.
August was an exciting and rewarding two week trip with Laura to visit our friends and projects in Kenya and Uganda. We went first to stay with Vicky at Nakuru and transferred early the next day to her new Project: Momoi Experimental Farm where she takes groups of 50-60 women to teach them home agriculture over a 6 month period. In that time they learn to grow their own food on a sustainable basis, and to look after and raise chickens and goats so they always have a fresh supply of milk and eggs to maintain a healthy diet. Our role was to provide some further education. Laura covered dentistry and female hygiene, while I did general health and exercise. To show we were truly committed we went running every morning and walking in the hills in the evening!
From there we travelled north to visit our friends at Hope House in Kitale. It was wonderful to be greeted so enthusiastically by so many wonderful people. Laura was overwhelmed, not for the last time, by the sheer warmth and delight of the people who met us. Dancing, singing and laughing was the order of the days we spent in Kitale. We also managed a visit to the National Park, played sport all one day, sorted out finances for the future (we face significant changes) and held health care consultations. Even managed another shopping trip! Teresa looked after us at her lovely lodge and entertained us with excellent food (and drink) in the evenings. We were sad to leave…
Gabriel accompanied us on the bus trip across the border to meet Leah in Uganda. She took us to the KELAH house 10 km outside of Mbale in the rural village of Nakaloke where the boys live. We have 13 now and the staff numbers have also risen to 7, so there’s not much room for visitors. However we had a fabulous five days. We went for a mountain walk, picnicked and swam in the river, played football, learnt each others languages, songs and games. We exchanged ideas and experiences, ambitions and hopes for the future. We did a treasure trail, and played games, explored the garden and planned our future farm!
Again, sad to leave, but heading south we stopped in Nakuru Game reserve and treated Leah to a Safari. Then further south, we explored Hell’s Gate near Naivasha by bicycle and the narrow limestone gorge on foot. We spent our last day with Nehemiah in Nairobi learning abut the best ways to grow and graft fruit trees, which we hope to put into practice in due course back in Uganda. All in all, an action packed fortnight which allowed us to make plans for further development in both Hope House and KELAH Home.