Final Thoughts

We sadly left Musoma behind on Monday 25^th July after an amazing two and a half weeks. We have been so impressed with the incredible work that Go MAD are doing in Tanzania, with limited resources. The staff team is just amazing and it will be so difficult to replace Andrew and Deb as they move on to new adventures in their lives. We continue to pray for Claire as she remains in Tanzania and for Graham as he continues to head up the work. If you as an individual, or as a family, are thinking of doing something like this, we would highly recommend Go MAD.

Next stop for us was a 4 day holiday on the island of Zanzibar, which lies off the coast of Tanzania. This was a great time of relaxation, reflection and time to think through what we had experienced. It was great stop-gap before hitting home and provided some much needed space for everyone. 

Before we sign off we thought it would be useful for everyone to have their say about what stood out for them over the past few weeks...

McFERRANS


Jonathan – “What an amazing adventure from start to finish! We expected things to work on "African Time" but the reality was so different. We couldn't believe how quickly things happened and how plans came together and worked liked clockwork. It was also great to see the real sense of community. Parents, staff, community leaders and school pupils all worked together with us. This meant the impact of what we did reached much further than we initially anticipated. We were so grateful for the prayers, support and encouragement from friends and family back home and so conscious of God's hand of protection on us throughout our whole adventure.”
 

Susan – ”God answers prayer! Of course this is something that I should be well aware of but when we were away it was incredible to see this in such a tangible way. To be kept safe as we hurtled along dust roads in a land rover that was packed a bit too full, to be kept well when the potential for sickness was so high, to see the children particularly adapt so well to new surroundings, sights and smells was just amazing.
But most of all to be aware that we, and the money that had been so generously raised at home, were the answer to others' prayers was the most incredible thing for me. Before we went to Musoma we knew that we would build goat sheds, a water tank and some toilets, but what I was so struck by was the real sense that God had planned way before we knew anything about Musoma that we would be linked with the school at Nyanza and would be able to help make such a difference to the lives of the children and wider community there! What a privilege to be a small part of God's great rescue plan for the world!

Jack – “ For me a highlight was going to Nyanza primary school and getting to see the difference we were able to  make to hundreds of children's lives. I also loved working alongside some great people who were staying and working at Eagle Lodge. I found it really challenging to see how happy and content the locals people were when they appear to have  so little. It has made me realise how fortunate I am in so many ways.”


Patrick – “I really enjoyed being able to interact with all the people at Nyanza primary school and playing football with the naturally gifted boys.
Something I found challenging was worrying that when we leave the things we have started, like the porridge project, that it may not continue but I really hope it will.“


Harry – “I loved building the toilets and getting to use some tools. I liked the pick axe and the machete!! The children were friendly to me and I loved playing with them. I learnt some Swahili too!
Sometimes I was a bit sad because a few of the jobs were too hard for me like cutting the wire for the water tower and I got too hot.”

 

CAMPBELLS

Peter – “One of my highlights was being a part of God's plan coming together for Nyanza Primary School. Arthur (see previous blog) had been hoping and praying that someone would come to help the pupils and encourage the staff in a poor, rural primary school. We went with a desire to help meet the needs of local people and, if possible, in a school.  It was therefore very exciting as it all came together. It was also really humbling to work 'shoulder to shoulder' with the community and to see how the generosity of people at home made such a life-changing difference to the people in Nyanza. It was very challenging to see the overwhelming need of the people as we drove to and from the school each day. Our efforts seemed like a drop in the ocean and yet I know what was done will make a real difference to the quality of children's and teachers' lives now and into the future.

Lisa  - “Having the opportunity to take our kids to Africa was incredible – for them to experience the sights and smells that are impossible to explain, to see the reality and starkness of poverty right in front of their noses as opposed to just hearing about it... bumping around in the back of a clapped out land-rover and learning new building  skills together, having that sense of getting your hands(and faces and sweaty bodies) filthy dirty as you serve those who possess nothing...actually knowing that there are 480 children that will be a little less hungry and thirsty every day is just great – it hasn’t changed the world, but hopefully it will have changed the worlds of those individuals.  Obviously there were tough times too and grace and patience were sometimes in short supply. It’s been great to come out the other side with relationships tried, tested and made stronger...I don’t want to forget  either the present luxuries of having a warm shower, a clean toilet and food that doesn’t potentially make you sick. It was just a huge privilege to be able to go and to be part of God working out his purposes in our world...                

Kate - “One of my highlights was seeing the difference that we made (even though it was small) in the lives of the children at Nyanza PS. I also loved visiting the children's home and playing with the babies and toddlers, though I found it hard to hear the stories of how they had become orphaned or had been abandoned. One of the most challenging times was when we visited the school for albino children. It was very difficult to see the poor conditions that they lived in but at the same time it’s the best place for them as they're much more vulnerable in the outside world.  Africa has changed my perspective and deeply humbled me. It has made me realise how fortunate I am and showed me that even though the people of Musoma have so little, they are so happy and friendly - I need to appreciate what I have.

Tom – “I really loved working on the projects and helping the local people. I was interested to see how the children and their parents had so little but were so happy.”

Ben – “I really liked sawing, hammering and drilling to help build the toilets and water tanks. I found it hard coping with the changes in food and accommodation, meeting different people all the time, having to work so hard and being part of a team.”

 Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this blog and to pray for us. We were so aware of being protected and of having “smooth passage” on many occasions. We also kept very healthy apart from the odd stomach bug which is much to be thankful for. If you do pray, please continue to remember Nyanza PS and Arthur as he seeks to implement the new initiatives there. Please also pray for wisdom on our part as we seek to follow up things from home and to make good decisions about finance allocation. We thought you might be interested to see know what the money that we raised went to and will continue to fund: 

NYANZA PRIMARY SCHOOL

2 cubicle teacher’s toilet

2 concrete water tanks

2 new concrete classroom floors

2 classrooms plastered and painted

Existing concrete floors patched

Sports equipment

Teachers’ chairs

Exercise books, pencils, chalk, crayons, manilla card

Porridge Project set up to feed every child a cup of maize porridge/day

Also:

3 goat sheds

3 goats

400 mosquito nets for school malaria awareness day

Planting of Moringa trees that produce highly nutritional powder

House for Evelyn who has nowhere to live

Thanks again for all you interest and support and if you want to know more, get in touch with any of us.