Saturday, May 15, 2010

Quick trip home

Missy and Joshia were carrying out an interview with a woman who had planted some 300 trees so I took the opportunity to look them over. The interview was related to Missy's masters thesis about the effects of our environmental work on local women. I was pleased with the progress of the trees and was fascinated that the family pet was a baboon!

After we had dropped Missy off in town, Joshia and I went on to Engorora to check on the water project. As we drove out of the area, Jo and Mags met me with the news of another family loss at home.

As happened regularly, the Agency telephones were out and it took three and a half hours to make contact with my brother and then with the Agency's insurers. Mo & Jo were to call at our house the next morning with travel arrangements.

We tied up loose ends with the various projects and Missy was to stay in the house - and meet Mags' uncle and aunt who were due to visit us.
DME offered their condolences and sent us on our way with their prayers.

Travel between Tanzania and New Zealand is arduous and we flew Kilimanjaro - Dar es Salaam - Amsterdam - Singapore - Christchurch.
The return was the same route and we were met at KIA by Mo & Jo 16 days later. So our house was full with Missy, Mags' uncle & aunt and Mo & Jo. Mbise was pleased to see us back.
Mo & Jo were to fly to South Africa the next morning, so I was able to take them direct to the airport the following day.

I was back into it because Missy was relying on me for transport and her time was limited; and it gave Mags' relatives a chance to see what we had been doing at Mti Mmoja, Kambi ya Maziwa, Engorora, Makuyuni.

One full week after our return, we at last concentrated on our assignment. Our visitors had left and life became as normal as it ever did at Makumira. Missy remained with us for a time but it is always good to have her around!
Having said that, we had a great deal of support from all directions and that was sincerely appreciated.

No comments: