Well, the last few days have been exhausting both emotionally and physically. So much so, that I fell ill yesterday for the first time. I'm getting better but i thought i might have malaria for a moment there.

Firstly, it was difficult to hear the news from Mum on Sunday. Never has a text seemed so 'cold' as that one. It really knocked me out. I have certainly had a reaction, mixed up with other things going on here, which made me want to come home. I have, however, decided to stay as I believe i am meant to be here. Mum, I just wish I could be there with you at this time, but i am sure you have plenty of support around you.

On Saturday, I went on the most bizarre boat trip, off the coast at Igombe, a village infested with lake flies. We set sail on a rickety fisherman's boat, out onto Lake Victoria, and headed for an island straight ahead. Everything was lovely, until we realised that the inhabitants of said island were not used to white visitors and wanted to see documentation and ask the purpose of our visit. It all got very heated and a diplomatic row was brewing, fuelled by the locals being out of their faces on either drink or dope - paranoia was high, as were they!  There was also a character who i can only describe as the Tanzania version of Barry Bacon, going around simply chuckling to himself and saying 'Peace'.

Anyway after being effectively trapped for about an hour and half wanting to go back to shore, we eventually got going, only for the boat to get halfway, the captain decide there was some fish to sell and turned the boat around. So went back to the island. During our second stay we had a full apology for the elder brother of the most rowdy drunk. It seemed like we had been taken all the way back, against our wishes, just for this apology! We were seething! Then when we finally got away for the 2nd time, the motor broke down leaving us stranded in the middle of lake victoria with nothing but a darkening sky, an 80-year old woman, wearing elton john sunglasses, and laughing her head off, and Tom reciting The Lords Prayer! (Same again, next week, I said! Not Likely, said the others). Even getting away from Igombe was troublesome as our bus got into a tangle with another bus and all hell broke lose! Sorry for the appalling backward reference but never have I seen the natives so restless.

We had the VA chief and his assistant down for a couple of days (Sun, Mon) which proved very useful... amongst many other things we made progress with Kuleana, a local charity (NGO) set up to promote women's and children's rights. We want them to (re)train Hisani's workforce - most notably in the rights of children - something which we feel they might have an ignorance of. I am choosing my words carefully, but some of us have seen things which make us feel that they need this training badly.  We visited Kulean HQ and a street children centre which was the first place the organisation set up.  The street children that you see in Mwanza are one of the more shocking things here.  If you 'helped' one then there would be 50 others waiting round the corner... so you just have tell them 'hapana' and move on.  We are going to Diners (a restauarant) tonight and any leftovers will be given directly to the kids.  But it does tear you apart seeing them, it really does.  Better to be involved with an organisation like Kuleana which actually tackles their problems by giving them a shelter, some proper food and even counselling.

Anyway, an emotional time... i've felt like coming home but i am staying. And JENNY returns next Thursday, which is very welcome news!