Approaching the finishing line - or is there another lap?

Like any race – it always seems to get a lot more energetic at the end.!!!!

On Saturday we went to our first Tanzanian wedding. We went by bus to a neighbouring village with the throng of bridesmaids and page boys. Here, most of the year, the bride doesn’t have to worry about what the weather will be like – only how to prevent the guests suffering in the sun during the outdoors ceremony. We havn’t had a drop of rain in Mvumi in the last 6 months – though we have been told it will hopefully come with a vengeance in November to February.

Although parts of the ceremony were similar to England, there were differences:
- the bride and groom walked up the aisle together, extremely slowly. In fact, throughout the service they walked to and from their seats (about 20 yards – 4 times??) at a snail’s pace, accompanied by their page boys and bridesmaids
- Although the guests laughed and enjoyed themselves, the bride and groom were extremely solemn and down cast throughout the service and the party afterwards. We assume it was to show how important the ceremony is, rather than not wanting to get married!!
- They each got their own marriage certificates
- There didn’t seem to be any speeches, except the bride said grace before the meal.

There was an MC who orchestrated the party (no dancing, all sat down as in a theatre to watch choirs and guests line up to give presents). Because of problems with the electricity, it didn’t start till about 9 pm and we ate at 12.30 am – our first food since breakfast

On Sunday we helped lead the English service at Dodoma Cathedral. Malcolm took part in a sketch based on how we tend to think we are still young but get less and less fit and die (still thinking we are young). Quite ironic – ever since he has been suffering from a bad hip and knee – he still insists he is only 25 however. Afterwards we had a farewell meal with friends at Dodoma’s best Chinese Restaurant.

Irene completed her filing project at the start of the week and has been able to pack up. Malcolm typically, however, has been spending hours trying to complete lots of things (should he have done so earlier?). The good news is:

- he managed to find the money to pay the September payroll, and the final payment of Tsh 7 million to clear the Magistrates Court case
- the auditor has completed the audit of the hospital’s main accounts and project account of the UK donors for the period ending June 2008. Although there are some issues the auditor is delighted he has had some proper accounts to audit for the first time in several years
- at about 6am on Thursday morning he prepared a draft Hospital budget that the Government required – at that time it may not make too much sense, but hopefully will be good enough.

On Friday we had two meetings with the Bishop. The first was a private discussion about the option of returning next year. We have already been invited by email by the Bishop, but won’t make our mind up until after we return to income. If we do return to Mvumi we hope it will be to support a permanent accountant, and once the problems have been resolved about some Departments withholding financial information about their activities.

And finally we had our last evening meal at the local restaurant, ‘Double J’s’. A feast of chipsi myayi (Chips omelette), caki, soda and milky coffee. Scrummy!!!!.

So work complete, suitcases almost packed – time to journey back:
- on Saturday we have a day out and visit a local vineyard with friends
- on Sunday a farewell to our church, and overnight in Dodoma
- on Monday we visit a neighbouring Diocese to see a Health Project which have invited us to work next year
- on Tuesday bus to Dar es Salaam
- Wednesday – fly back to England. We wonder if its warm there too?

Sprint for the Finish?

We have just a week to go in Mvumi, with lots of questions about what happens next.

We came back from Holiday expecting there would be a lot to do, and there is. One wonderful change was whilst she was away the filing staff had worked very hard to sort out the medical files. Any hope of carpenters arriving to insert additional shelving has gone and Irene wanted to rearrange the files into a proper order – and great progress had been made in her absence. Miracles do happen. And it should mean the clerks have more ownership of the system to continue it after we leave.

Malcolm is tackling the mountain of outstanding work. Time was spent with the auditor who seems delighted that this year he actually has some documents to audit!!! It seems likely that he will recommend that the Hospital reviews some systems.

And we have started to pack up. Our plan is to leave some things in Mvumi in case we come back – like Malcolm’s shoes which weren’t fit to bring here in the first place (now called his ‘Tanzanian shoes’). The problem will be making sure our luggage isn’t too heavy.

We have been invited by the Bishop to return so are considering this. We also, out of the blue, received an invitation from another Diocese to work at their health facility. It seems that a free accountant is a very attractive item (not that Malcolm has been called attractive for a long time). To find out more we hope to visit for a day on our way to Dar es Salaam to catch our flight home. We have decided not to decide whether to return to Tanzania, or where to work until we get back to England, clear our heads and talk with family and friends (who after a couple of months might be very pleased for us to return).

We have to sort out where we live in England in the short term. No house means finding somewhere to live temporarily. After a few weeks with family, they might even pay our fare back to Tanzania!!!

So, in addition to packing and tidying up work we also look forward to:
- being guests at a wedding on Saturday
- helping to lead a service at the Dodoma Cathedral on Sunday, followed by
- taking friends for a ‘farewell’ meal at the Dodoma Chinese Restaurant
- maybe Malcolm getting a Tanzanian hair cut before returning to meet his mother

Take a breather – and get overtaken!!!

We came back from holiday yesterday after a wonderful two weeks with David and his friend, Lucie. The last week was on the magical island of Zanzibar where we did all the touristy things:

- most of us (with one exception) spent time relaxing on the beach or by the pool
- we went on an enjoyable spice tour to see the varieties of spices grown on the island and to sample some local food
- we wandered around the main town (Stone Town) exploring the narrow allays and testing the restaurants and coffee houses
- Malcolm visited the remaining rain-forest and mangrove forest and walked among the unique red Colubus Monkeys, and dipped his hand into a nest of giant ants (the fool)

There was one complaint from Lucie – that we hadn’t explained in last weeks blog what a wonderful companion she was and how she livened up the conversation and holiday. So – Lucie was a wonderful companion and she really livened up the conversation and made the holiday more enjoyable for all of us.

We came back to Mvumi on Friday to discover that a lot had happened whilst we were away:
- after several delays the District Council finally visited the Ministry of Health in Dar es Salaam to discuss the transfer of the hospital to Designated District Hospital status. The Hospital’s chief nurse was involved and he also had separate meetings with the Civil servants. The good news is it seems that they have accepted all staff onto the Government payroll which should mean that in future there should be no more problems with the payment of their salaries, PAYE or National Insurance (if it actually happens).

- before Malcolm leaves in 2 weeks the Government want an updated budget so that they know what to fund. This needs to reflect that the Government will now pay for all drugs and many other costs but that some patients, such as children, expectant mothers and the elderly will not pay any charges, no-one will pay any more than 50% of the cost of medicines and the cost of major operations will increase.

- the Task Force Manager and Administrator met with the bishop to discuss hand-over arrangements and the future management of the Hospital. Malcolm understands the Bishop will want to see him next week.

The bad news was that whilst we were away not only did someone decide to demolish the door of an outside store to our house, but someone also broke into a neighbour’s house and stole a substantial sum of money and a lap-top. The most upsetting thing is that irreplaceable photos were saved on the lap-top.

Such is life in Tanzania (or probably most countries in the world, unfortunately).

So next week we return to work to close down our six months here:
- we hope to see the Bishop to discuss future options
- we start packing up – deciding what to take home and what to leave behind
- return to basic (economical) living again after a touch of luxury (expensive) e.g. Somewhere basic and simple (where we pay Tsh 500 for a bottle of coca cola at a restaurant) rather than the wonderful pampering, food and customer service at a luxurious place (where they charge Tsh 2,500 for a bottle of coca cola)

Taking a breather before the final straight

Time for a change of pace - and a change in cost!!!!!!

We are now half way through our holiday with son David and friend Lucie. I am afraid photos are going to have to wait as we havn't brought the technology with us. I am writing this in the Internet cafe of a Zanzibar hotel, on a rather hot and humid evening.

Its been a week of variation so far. On Saturday we met David and Lucie at Dodoma and brieefly showed them the city before driving to Mvumi. This was their chance to see real Africa. They excelled themselves on Sunday by introducing themselves to the church in fluent (as far as we could tell) Swahili and Chigogo.

On Monday we got up early to fly from MAF to Kilimanjaro for a start of a 3 day safari. It was like a starving man moving into a land of plenty. We stayed and ate in the best hotels in the area - what we paid for a coca cola would have bought a coke, chips omellette, a cake and a coffee in our restaurant in Mvumi (just over one pound).

We had two safaris - one in the forests around Lake Manyara and one in the Ngorongoro crater. These were excellent and it was surprising that the animals took no notice at all of the land-rovers - we expect because we were no threat to them. However, they rushed away from anybody on foot. The most exciting thing for Irene was that she was the first to spot a lion - even before the guide. It was about a mile away with only its head sticking above the grass. Must have been all the practice looking out for children in the past.

We then had a relaxing three nights at the Mama Clementina Foundation Hotel in Moshi. This is part of a charity which runs a secondary school for girls, focusing on vocational training. It is run by the parents of the Task force manager at Mvumi Hospital. They had asked if Malcolm would return to help them with developing the Financial Management so this was a good opportunity to see what the school is like.

And then the hardest leg of the holiday - a nine hour bus journey to Dar es Salaam and a night in a back-packers hotel before catching the ferry to Zanzibar - we are glad to have arrived.

And what of next week. We suspect not a lot!!!!! Lazying around Zanzibar - perhaps a few tours - who knows? On friday David and Lucie return to the UK and we return to dar es Salaam for our bus trip back to Mvumi on Saturday.

At times, life is hard!!!!!!!