Last post

Hello !!

This is probably my last post of the trip.. It's to let you all know that I am now back in the uk safe and sound !

I apologise for the posts this week, they have been a bit out of order and late, I couldn't get the wifi in the hotel to work when posting on here, so I had to send each one to my mom and then she posted it for me. So they did get a little muddled up, but all in all you know what i was doing and that I was okay. 

We landed last night at 9pm and then drove home, I got back to my moms house around 4am this morning. So I am very tired but glad to have got home safe after all the worry with weather and airport closures.

Thank you so much for all your support and prayers the past couple weeks !

I had an amazing time and can't wait to go back ! 

Got to start saving the pennies again !

God bless !

Bye bye x

I'm here !!

Hello all ! 

I am getting ready to go bed now so thought I would start as I mean to go on and do a blog post for today ! 

The wifi is rather poor (it is Gambia!) so I have to sit in the hotel reception to do this.. I feel I may be spending much time here ! 

So the day started at 2.30am this morning when we awoke and began the final stages of packing and coffee drinking. We left the house at 3.30am, half an hour later than we had planned. Traffic was not too bad at all.. For the first 30mins or so we didn't see any other signs of life of the road at all ! Was eerie !

We arrived at gatwick at 5am and headed straight in to the check in area. We checked in around 6am and then I said goodbye to my mommy and we headed up to the departures lounge. Through security.. I was so pleased that none of my piercings set the alarm off. Yey. 

I have never felt more like royalty than when we walked through duty free ! It's crazy .. People trying to get your attention to spray the new fragrances on you, the lights along the ceiling and lining the walkway. Crazy ! 

From there - as the classy girl I am - I headed to mcdonalds for a double sausage and egg muffin ! Yum! 

Then we headed to the boarding gate, boarded the plane and flew 6 hours to The Gambia ! I absolutely love flying and this just confirmed it all the more to me that I adore it ! Take off is still my favourite part :)

We landed at The Gambia, and as it is so small you have to depart the plane down steps, so as soon as you walk off the plane the sun is on you and the heat takes your breath away! 31degrees we walked into today .. Crazy !! We boarded a little bus that took us closer to the airport, I didn't really see the point as it would have been the same amount of time to walk but I guess it's a lovely gesture :) and nice to get out of the sun for a few moments. Then we went through security (they look at your passport photo, say hello how are you, welcome to Gambia) and walked in to the baggage collection. Here there are about 50 Gambian men who want to help you collect your bags and be your friend to get a £1 tip. But they are all lovely and welcoming and it can be difficult to get your bag off the carousel so help is always welcomed. 

I met a young man called Lamin (surprise !! To explain.. In The Gambia the eldest son is always named Lamin. So there are hundreds of men named Lamin) He was very friendly and chatty... And then proceeded to ask me on a date ! To which I politely declined and thanked him anyway. Nice try but that's not my aim for this trip! Haha

We then boarded a 'coach' which took us 20 minutes (Gambian minutes) to our hotel. 

The hotel is lovely, has a swimming pool, a bar, a cafe, shop, beauty place and you can walk straight onto the beach. The beach has beautiful palm tree type trees that sway in the wind and there are many many tropical coloured plants all around the grounds of the hotel. Just lovely !

We had a meal this evening at a restaurant which is 10 minutes walk from the hotel. On the way there we were met by many of the locals who wanted to sell things to us, so we said no thank you but smiled and asked how they were. Everybody is so friendly here that there is no need to be rude at all !!

As we walked along, all we can hear was crickets. So loud !!! 

And on the way back we could hear. Rickets solo loud, and faintly in the distance the sound of African drums ! Oh it was just amazing !

I can't describe the feelings you get while you're out here !! It hasn't quite sinked in yet either... Tomorrow though we are off to meet the children and I am pretty sure it will all sink in then ! I can't wait for what tomorrow will bring ! 

For now... It's bed time ! So, as I lay in bed listening to the sound of the sea outside the window, feeling the sea breeze through the windows I will be praying about all the things God has in store for me !

Btw ... The time difference is the same as the UK so communicating with people will be easy and I will not suffer any jet lag ! Woohoo 

Goodnight from The Gambia ! Xxx

- - turns out I can be a Gambian chef after all ! My domoda tasted the same as the domoda I ate this evening ! Happy Sarah ! Maybe my make-believe plans of opening a coffee shop out here will happen after all ! Hehe - I can dream hey

I'm off to celebrate our last evening in this beautiful country !

Praise god for his blessings and love !

Night all x

Tonight I have ordered beef domoda for me dinner ! Let's see how it compares to my version (people who came to my Gambian evening). Can I make it as a Gambian chef ?? I'll let you know later !

This morning we went to the main school. The nursery were doing their pe exams - they line 5 kids up and then they have to run a certain distance. 1st gets 50 marks, 2nd gets 40 marks, 3rd gets 30 marks and so on. Never have I seen more unfair examinations ! Haha

Some of the girls said to me 'tomorrow I will not be in school because I will be crying too much when you leave' bless their hearts !! If they cry I'm going to cry! I really really don't want to go home ! Just a couple more weeks would be fine if I can't do any longer !

Hey all. Today has been another relaxing day. This morning I went to the nursery school and did some colouring and craft activities with the class. I won't be going back to there again before I leave so had to say goodbye to the teachers - very sad !

This afternoon we had nothing planned. The first week was so full on and busy that now we have relaxing afternoons to unwind a little and enjoy the sun. I did this a little too much today. I have a touch of sun stroke and a very bad migraine ! So please pray that I feel much better tomorrow!

I'm off to bed - sorry that it's such a short update today!

Night night x

• Sarah Neuenhaus

  Monday morning we went to the school in the morning, some people painted classrooms, some did craft activities and I took some photographs. It was quite free - just entertaining the kids all morning which was fun. They ask so many questions and are so funny! Then we came back to the hotel and did a couple hours sunbathing and swimming in the pool. Then we headed to the nursery school, did games and stories with the children from the nearby village. The ladies in the compound with Omar (the baby that really touched my heart last week) remembered me. It was nice I felt like there was a little bond and so I had a little chat with them. It's amazing how we'll they remember your names and faces over here - you meet someone and tell them your name and then a week later they remember you! It's really crazy !
• 

  20:53

  Sarah Neuenhaus

  Today - we wanted to do something a bit different and I've been on the hunt for a photograph. There is a billboard that says 'are you the next millionaire' on it and everyone is placed outside a place that is so run down and dirty. Such a juxtaposition ! I am desperate to get a photograph. So this morning we decided to go on a bird watching tour ! Our tour guide was called 'billoddie' and it was amazing ! I thought it might be a bit boring really but it was so much fun ! We saw doves, vultures, parrots, herons and many more that I can't remember. We tried some natural suncream and found out how the lovely wonjo juice is made. We drink it at breakfast every morning but couldn't work out what fruit it is from .. Turns out it's a plant ! Who knew !! Then we walked along one of the main roads trying to find this billboard. It got so hot so we gave up and turned round. We saw a wedding procession which was so fun! It was a wedding of a white girl and Gambian boy - black and white- and was a huge celebration! So noisey and the cars were all waving tree leves and palm branches out the window ! Then ... As we had almost reached the hotel a van drove behind us with African drum music so loud. I turned round saying 'what is this?' And it was a van covered in the posters that I was trying to find on the billboard ! It just was such a God-incidence !!!!

  This afternoon was very chilled ! Relaxing by the pool, wander round the market to buy presents and then out for dinner. Lovely. Hehe Now I am shattered so going to see what the poolside entertainment is tonight and bed.

  Now you are all up to date with my travels ! I really really don't want to come home !!

  The weather is beautiful - the people are lovely - everything is so relaxed and chilled ! I want to stay !!

  Night night xxx

Sunday morning we went to church at the school. I loved it ! We started at 10.30 - which is the same time my church in the uk starts so it was nice to know that we were all worshipping an praising God together - so many miles apart ! I gave my testimony about how Gambia changed me last time I visited and I think the children liked it. Haha. I got a proposal from one of the older guys at church ! I declined - but said if he had of got down on one knee he would have maybe had a chance ! Hahaha ! He said he would marry me so that I could stay in The Gambia forever because I am beautiful ! Haha so sweet hey!
Then we went to the African village hotel - which is the hotel I stayed at last time I was here. It has changed loads but brought back SO many memories ! I did some batik art which was lots of fun !
Then the best part hehe - we went to the crocodile park ! There were more in there than I remember from before - and they were hiding in trees and things behind us. It was a bit more scary this time I must admit but I did stroke my friend mr croc. And it is true what I said in my presentation (those that came) the water is used as sacred water for infertile women !
Then in the evening we went to a reggae party on the beach ! I won't tell you all the details but we left very very quickly ! That's a story for when I get home peeps sorry !

Hello everybody !
So sorry for not posting for a few days !! I have been itching to tell you things but this is Africa and Internet is not great !
Saturday we went on the roots trip. It was a very early start and we left the hotel at 7am to drive to Banjul. This is about a half hour drive from where I am in Kotu. The traffic in Banjul is chaos - there seem to be no rules. So taxis are stopped and lorries trying to get past, people cut you up from every direction and pedestrians will put there arms through the windows to get money and steal things out the van. Crazy !! Our driver Lamin had a bit of an argument - of course they all speak in their languages (Wolof and mandinka) so we could understand nothing except the tone! Haha We then ran to get on the ferry - 'ferry'. A big piece of scrap metal floating on the river! We were with all the Gambian people, we sat by a young boy who was mending the captains shoes. Stitching the leather back together. He must have been 15/16 I guess. We drove over to an island called Barra, and then departed the boat like cattle. We met our taxi driver - mustafa or his nickname 'taf rasta' he wore big multicoloured trousers, had dreadlocks and had a stripey scarf. He was pretty cool ! The road we then drove down to get to the place where we had to get the boat from to James Island was bright red sand. It was an off-road lane, so bumpy, so sandy. We looked like we were covered in fake bake when we got out the van. We were supposed to be in a land rover jeep thing - can you imagine ?! Even the plants and trees had an orange tinge ! It was fun though - bit like a ride at a theme park ! Great experience. Then we got on a giant canoe to get to James Island. With a man playing an African drum all the way over ! James Island is a bit of an interesting place - it's beautiful views, idyllic are juxtaposed with the horrors of what happened there ! 'If trees could talk' was a phrase our tour guide repeated. The baobab trees there are the same ones that were there at the time kunta kinte would has been a slave on the island ! Insane ! We headed back then, it was so hot we all just needed shade and a shower ! But when we got to the ferry port it had left. So we waited 2 hours GMT (Gambian maybe time - literally) for the last boat to come across to take us back to Banjul. Here we were joined by 2 goats, 1 chicken with its legs tied and a pig tied up in a sack. Gives a whole new meaning to pigs in blankets ! We came home and as we were beginning to think we had finally made it back alive, we got stopped by a very angry police car ! Our taxi driver Lamin paid his way out of it but we all were a little scared I think. (They have death row over here and I think we all panicked ) We then arrived back at the hotel at 8pm very tired and very orange !!
(I'll continue in a new message)

One for the blog ... There best place I can find wifi is in the hotel toilet ! Haha ... Do you think people will notice if I am in the toilet for half hour at a time ?! Haha

Hello all ! Sorry for not posting the last few days ! The internet just hasn't worked - Gambia gets power cuts all the time and we've had a lot the last 2 days ! Therefore no internet and no blogging ! I am fine though ! Many adventure been had - yesterday I stroked my crocodile friend and went to a reggae party on the beach last night. What an experience !! We're off for dinner now but - hopefully the internet will be working this evening and I can do a big update ! :)

• Hello all!

  Today was quite a short day in The Gambia. This morning was an early morning - we went to see an assembly at the school. Each class lines up in the 'playground' 1 line for boys an 1 for girls - upper school, lower school and nursery. They stand and sing songs and then go into class. The atmosphere and the noise is overwhelming !! African singing and dancing - with no instruments it's just amazing ! I love it !

  I then went into one of the nursery classes and did art and craft with them... We had elastic string and beads to make jewellery and some paper,glue, pencils to make pictures (I have kept loads of them). This was so much fun and the phrase for the morning was 'Toubab do for me' and 'Toubab give me'. (Toubab means 'white person')

  This afternoon I walked to the local craft market - it was fun. Met a couple locals, received some more compliments, got asked out to dinner a couple times and I brought a bag! Successful overall ! Hehe

  This afternoon we returned to school for a Christian programme. Again the singing and dancing of African children - amazing! A young boy (17) who aspires to be a pastor then preached for 20 minutes and he was so good ! His face just lit up the whole time - he has a calling from God and you could see it shining out of him the whole time !! A young girl from the school, 10 years old going on 30 ! She plaited a couple of our hair into braids - and it looks awesome! She did 4 different styles on us, considering how different our hair is from theirs it was phonomenal ! If the internet was better I would post a photo but unfortunately I can't do that!

  I decided today whilst sitting by the pool that I am coming back here again ! I have too ! And then after having my hair braided the girls and boys told me I am now a Gambian and so I must stay ! Haha! Think that proves it

  I am really tired (the sun really takes it out of you!! It's surprising !) and have got to be up super early tomorrow so I'll leave it there for tonight ! Will hopefully do a couple posts tomorrow !

  Night night xxx
• 

  20:46

  Sarah Neuenhaus

  That was yesterday's. Never got it to send !

Hey everyone !

Well today has been a long and emotional day !

The day started with breakfast again overlooking the sea - more pancakes! Amazing! I have discovered I don't like Gambian tea but the coffee is not bad!

We then headed to the nursery school in half dye. I loved this school last time and I loved it more today - beautiful little children ! And so many need sponsors - I am going to sponsor but I don't know how to 'pick' just one. So difficult !! We then went to the local compound that some of te children live in. And I had my first tear-fest ! The family lived in a swamp area an their house gets flooded every year - they sleep on a piece of foam as a mattress and there are 10 people in a bed !! Seriously - something has to change around here. You just cannot imagine it until you've seen it properly with your own eyes ! On te way back to the van a young girl handed me a tiny tiny baby ! Just handed him to me and walked off - so here I am with a new born baby in my arms - looking at a compound knowin the situation and all I can do is hold him so tight and sob !! Nothing has ever hit me the way that hit me ! The mother than came walking over and told me he was a gift for me - that I was to take him! Like ..... I am just speechless still even now !! His name was Omar the mother was not much older than me - and I promised that next time I come here I will find him ! So ... There it is people - I will be returning to The Gambia !!! You heard it here first

This afternoon we ate at the main school. People who attended my Gambian evening - I put it all go practise ! We ate benechin and we ate with our hands ! It was awesome !!!

Then a short walk along the beach during sunset and out for a lovely meal ! Now we're poolside in the sea air watching some African dancing

That's all I'm going to say for today because I just still am feeling so emotional !

Goodnight all !

Hey everyone ! I've been having a few issues with wifi here (again it is Gambia !) so last night went to bed and slept really we'll. windows open (with mozzie nets over them) to get the sea breeze coming through, slept with a very thin sheet and slept really well Woke up this morning at 7am and got up to eat breakfast from a buffet over looking the sea. I really don't think life could get any better !! Pancakes and a glass of fresh fruit juice - whilst looking at a bright blue sky and peaceful sea ! Bliss !!

We then went to the first school - this is the place I wanted to see most as it is where we brought money to build an extra block of classrooms. It was amazing to finally see that building being used ! Awesome! The kids were as loving and amazing as I remembered ! Just wanting to touch your skin, nails, hair everything ! A group of young girls tried to plait my hair but quickly gave up because it feels so different to then they didn't know while to. So they just combed if for me

We then returned to the hotel for lunch (crackers and marmite for me) and a swim in the pool ! It was around 32degees today and bright blue skies all day ! Beautiful!

Then we went to the local village - which Is worse than I remember it ! Absolutely heart-wrenching ! I just can't put into words the way it affects you ! A village sitting on a literal dump. This time we were shown inside a couple 'houses' - this means 1 square room with (if they're lucky) a very thin rotting piece of foam as a mattress to sleep 6 people ! It just absolutely pulls at your heart strings !

And now I am sitting poolside with a coke watching a Gambian Michael Jackson dance and sing kareoke ! Looking up the sky is so clear - all the stars are out !! And a gentle breeze off the sea blowing against us !

Oh - if my friends are reading this (you know who you are) last night at the restaurant ' ba na an ba na na na na ' ' was playing all night ! Was a little reminder of you all !! Hehe

I will update again tomorrow !! At this moment in time - I don't want to come home ! Everyone here is friendly, the pace of life is so much more chilled - everyone smiles at you. Plus - I've been asked on 3 dates already haha !!

Night night all from The Gambia! xx

It's time ..

This is my last blog post pre- Gambia trip whilst on British soil.

I have checked in, said goodbye to my mom, been through security checks (without any of my piercings setting the alarms off. Win!!) eaten breakfast, taken my tablet, looked through duty free and am now sat waiting to board my place !

Now .. It is beginning to sink in !

I am really excited now!
For 5 years I have been hoping, praying and waiting to be able to return to The Gambia and now .. By the grace of God I am waiting for that very flight !
God is good !!!

Time for me to find and re-join my fellow travellers !

Talk to you when I'm in Africa !! :D

Xxx

1 day, 2 sleeps...

Today I started my malaria tablets ... So far they have not made me feel ill ! Woohoo ! 

I went and brought lots of insect repellant and medicines. So I think I am all stocked up on that front..

I have just said goodbye to my bestest friends.. Horrible ! It's only 10 days but I'm going to miss them so much :( however, I was very proud of myself for not shedding a tear (more than can be said after this mornings farewells) 

Tomorrow, I will be packing my suitcase - talk about last minute ! Finishing uni work and then sleeping before the 2.30am start on Tuesday ! 

It is really beginning to sink in now ... 

Here is a copy of my itinerary and prayer points that I gave out to people today ...

Countdown Begins

It is now less than 1 week !!!!!

This time in a week I will be in The Gambia ! omgsh!!

I cannot believe how fast time is flying by, it is absolutely crazy!

I am sitting in a wooly jumper, with a cup of tea, heating on, shivering…. and in just 7 days I will be sitting in glorious sunshine and heat of up to 40 degrees!

I am just … speechless! I can't wait, i am so excited but so nervous and oh my I need to pack and get sun cream and insect repellent and marmite (It  keeps mosquitos away) !

eeeeek!!!

A bit of girly excitement..

This past summer, I could fit into hardly any of my summer clothes and it was rather gutting. So I made it my aim, that by the time I go to The Gambia I would fit back into most of it. The most important to me (sounds stupid) were my linen trousers, and with 10 days (YES 10 days !!!!) I have finally fit back into them ! 

I'm so happy ! :D 

Next is try my shorts and t shirts again ! Fingers crossed !! 

You'll all be glad to know that I did reward myself for such great achievements ..... With 2 haribo jelly babies :) hehe

not long now..

Today is the 6th November…. which means it is 20 days exactly until I fly to The Gambia ! Oh my gosh !!! I cannot believe how quickly this is coming around… I still have so much uni work to do before I go - maaaan ! I need to stop getting distracted so much, get some motivation and get this all done !

I am starting to feel so so excited now.. but I'm still feeling scared and nervous and a little worried about the unknown! But i don't think ill ever stop feeling those feelings.. so just learning how to deal with them!

Success !

Last night was my Gambian Evening fundraiser ! It was soooo much fun I loved every minute of it !
I feel so blessed and well supported by my church family.

I had 19 people (including me) at the church hall .. and at £10 a ticket meant I made £180. Which in itself is just awesome.

The food was delicious! We didn't do a practice run so cooking it on the night was just a guess and pray but it worked. There was plenty enough food - enough to bring home and freeze several boxes full for the winter.

I came home on such a high last night.. I can't explain it ! Although I couldn't have done it without the help of certain people ! You know who you are - I won't name you ! I can't thank you enough for your support through this whole adventure !

Stressing!

I been busy stressing and planning for my Gambian Evening on Saturday. With the help of a very close friend... I am very nearly there! I have 4 superb friends who are going to help me make sure the evening runs smoothly and I really cannot be more grateful of their offers to help out.
We have picked out some African mood music that will be playing in the background whilst guests eat their dinner. We have picked 2 recipes one will be meat and one will be a vegetarian option (just in case). I have also almost finished my presentation which has a few facts about The Gambia and some information on what I will be doing whilst I am out there.

Yesterday, we brought a lot of the vegetables that are needed for the recipe that I will be cooking. Then today I went to the butchers and brought 4lbs of beef. Yes 4lbs !!! That is a lot of meat !

This evening I will be sending the vegetarian recipe to my friend (because she is amazing and is going to cook it for me, so less stress for me).

I have tea and coffee left over from my Tea and Cake event. And I need to buy a couple bottles of squash.. then I think I will be ready to go.
It will just be down to Saturday and then go go go to get food cooked in time and praying that the evening is a success - everyone leaves having had a good time !

Cake sells

Last week a lady from my church went into the school where my church meets and sold cake to all of the teachers on their lunch break. 

Firstly I was flattered and so happy that somebody other than me really was helping me to fundraise some money. She asked the ladies at church to bake a chocolate cake each and then sold them in slices. 

Today, she gave me the money and I am absolutely amazed ! 

£65.38 !!

I am so so thankful to her, so grateful that she was so willing to help me. It was all her idea to do it, I never asked her !

I feel so blessed ! Thank you so much !!!! X

Moral of the story - everybody loves cake :)

Planning planning planning

I have been busy planning yet another fundraiser ... 

I am doing a Gambian evening, where I am going to attempt to cook Gambian food! I'm rather excited to do this though so fingers crossed it will be edible. Most of the food is cooking with a peanut sauce (as peanuts are easy to grow in The Gambia, and is one of their main exports, they use them in a lot of their cooking). I really like peanut butter so I think I will like the food. I hope!

As part of this evening I am going to also do a mini presentation about what I will be doing whilst in The Gambia. I want to tell people about The Gambia also, so I have been busy researching lots of interesting facts. Fast approaching my trip I have actually found this helpful, because now I know to shake hands with my right hand, to always greet people and how to show respect. 

Also, I found something that said about how Gambians eat. So they sit on the floor and eat with their right hand, using spoons if they have spoons. I guess this would show their levels of having money or not having money. 

When I have done the presentation I will upload all the facts here too and talk a bit about it, but I don't want to give people sneak peaks. So... If you want to know then buy a ticket and come to my evening. If you can't make it, I will share on here after the event :)

Tickets are available to buy from me for £10. So please do come and enjoy what I think will be a really fun evening together :) 

Songs that speak of life...

This is a song I came across recently ... I feel sums up how I've been feeling recently ..... 

Josh Wilson - Here I Am Anyway

Enjoy! X

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IJeBFxIKgyQ

Is it okay? Does it make sense ?

Is it okay to admit... I'm starting to feel scared ? 

Well... I'm not sure it is scared as such .. Maybe just very nervous. 

I'm the kind of person who always thinks of the worst case scenario before doing anything. So naturally.. Travelling to a 3rd world country is going to make me feel rather anxious as there are many worst case scenarios. Haha. 

I'm more excited than nervous though which is good because I really want to go so .. All nerves and bad thought are outweighed.. However it doesn't stop me being nervous. 

My mind just goes round and round.. Nerves, excitement, nerves, excitement, nerves, excitement ! Ahhhhhhhh! It's rather frustrating if I'm honest. 

I guess it is okay to nervous .. Isn't it ? And it's okay to be a little scared of the unknown.. Isn't it ? But also be very excited about the unknown ... Does that make any kind of sense?! 

Ahh well.... I'll let you know when I get my mind straight and can explain better the things going on at the moment. 

Time flies by..

So ... At this time in 2 months I will be in The Gambia !! Arghhh I can't believe how fast time is flying by! It was 6 months to go ... I blinked and now it's only 2 months ! 

My fundraising has gone extremely well !! So far I have £456 I think (it's around that number)! How awesome is that .. I am so so pleased. I still have a couple of things to go but I will be sure to let you know my final amount - don't worry !!

I have been doing a bit of research into Gambian and African food, and their customs and eating habits.  I've found a couple recipes that I'd really really like to try so watch out friends and family! Perhaps I could squeeze in one more fundraiser?? Hmmm what do'ya think??

Meet and Greet

Last night I went to a meeting with the group I am travelling to The Gambia with. It was so nerve wracking as I'd only met 1 lady before and I'd only met her once. However there were 17 of us there, and there are 23 people going in total on the trip so I have now met most of the group. And it feels so much better now that I can put names to faces. It has made me sooooo much more excited about just getting out there! 

Some of the group have been before and a couple people have never been. So it's a rather mixed group. They are not all from the same church either, so they don't all know each other well, which makes me feel much more at ease because everyone is making new friends, it is not just me joining with a group of friends being the odd one out. 

We were given our flexible itinerary:

We discussed this and then people who have been on this trip before shared why they are going back and what they got involved in last time they were there. Everyone agreed that being there is life changing and impacting in a huge way. 

We will be in the schools every morning we are there. Then over lunch we have spare time to do what we want to do and then into the local villages and schools in the evening for activities there. So it's not all work which is good, hard work and time to play. Sounds great!

I shared about being on a photography degree course but being scared to take my own camera with me, and straight away 3 or 4 people offered me the use of their cameras. It was amazing! However when I came home and thought about it, I think I will kick myself if I don't take my own camera. I am hoping to buy a video camera because I really am determined to make a film over there so ill definitely be buying a video camera for the trip. 

We have been told the hotel has free wifi in it so we can take phones, iPads and laptops. This means we can contact home for free using Skype and FaceTime, which is great. It also means I will be able to write my blog still while I'm there! Keeping you all up to date each day. 

So, if I'm taking my video camera and my iPad is taking my camera as well just too much ?? But if I don't take it I will literally kick myself for not taking it. And really I won't be carrying much else so it's not like taking a full bag plus these things. It's just these things. Ahhhh hard choice !!! 

Also in the meeting we talked about what we might want to get involved in while we're in the schools ie, teaching songs, playing games, teaching a class, decorating etc etc. I think I would really like to be involved in the painting and decorating. This I think would be a lot of fun... And I do enjoy a bit of painting and messy play! 

I also met the lady I will be sharing a room with over there which was nice. Now we can contact each other and decide who's taking the kettle and who's taking the coffee ( getting our priorities right of course!) and we worked out travel too and from gatwick airport. Our flight is at 9am from gatwick so we have to meet at check-in at 6AM!!!! Which means leaving my house around 3/4am ! So sad! Hehe not excited for that part! 

But I am so excited and just absolutely can't wait to get going! :)

Tea & Cake Overview... and whats next?!

Now i've had time to process and think about it all I am going to do a proper update on my Ladies Tea & Cake afternoon.

We arrived at the venue at around 2pm, after doing a stop at our church offices to collect cups and saucers. I had asked people to arrive around 2.30 with cakes so that I could place them out before people arrived at 3pm to buy the cake. When we arrived, so did 3 other couples and already I was thinking WOW! It took us around 20 minutes to have everything set up, which was amazing! When people come together to help things get done so much quicker!

I had 3 guys serving tea and cake for me so that I could mingle and enjoy the afternoon with the other ladies. This was great, I think that the ladies and the guys serving enjoyed this experience!

I had a total of 14 ladies come along and spend money. It was really lovely to see the ladies chatting and having a good afternoon. There's nothing like good old girly time together hey?

After everybody had left however, we had so much cake!! Even after sending each of the ladies home with extra cake for their husbands and children. So we decided to bring it all home and have some friends over for a social evening, playing card games and eating cake together. This worked really well actually, and I even got a little bit more money from them. 

A few people actually took more cake home with them and then sold it at work the next day! Genius! So I made a couple more pounds from that. 

It was a really fun day, and I raised a total of £83.95

I couldn't have done it without the ladies baking the cakes for me, the guys who served and helped me set up. And i'm just really glad that people had a fun time too because even though I did it to raise some money for my trip, ultimately I really wanted to give people a fun time of fellowship and I think I achieved it! So thank you very much to everybody who came along and helped and donated :D

What next?!

Well.. I think I am going to try and do one more fundraising event. Of which I have no idea yet. But I'm going to try and do something fun, that will involve everybody. I also really want it to be something that I can invite non-church friends too and have everybody mingling and making friends and having a good time together!

If you have any ideas of things I can do.. please please do get in touch :)

End of day ...

WOW !! Today was my fundraising tea and cake afternoon and all I can say is wow! 

I have some very very generous friends and church family !! 

I will do a bigger update tomorrow - but for all my new followers of this blog - from my heart a massive THANK YOU !!!!

I raised a grand total of £81 today!! 

A huge thank you also to all my bakers who made the delicious cakes and goodies! :) couldn't have done it without you! 

And my lovely servers for dressing smartly and serving the ladies this afternoon :D 

Thank you thank you thank you

I really do love the people in my life right now!!

(I think this just proves however that my friends really do love cake :p)

It's been a while...

I haven't posted anything in so long ! Oops - I have been away for a week though at a Christian week called Momentum. It was amazing !! 

But back to Gambia fundraising - I have my tea and cake fundraiser coming up this Sunday. I am currently waiting for rsvps so that I can work out how much cake needs to be baked. Argh - hopefully it will be a really fun afternoon and the ladies will enjoy eating cake and drinking tea and giving towards my trip to Gambia. 

I'm getting so so excited now! It's only 2 and a half months now until I go !! Eeeeek

Also, the smarties tubes are still coming in slowly - so far each one has had an approx average amount of £10 in them. So they are adding very nicely to my money pot :D

I just feel so blessed that so many people in the church and out are willing to help me so generously! 

More smarties

Yesterday I gave out 18 more smartie tubes to people at church ! 

Everyone seemed excited to do it for me which was great :) although I did wonder if people were just excited about eating the smarties - hehe ! 

 

Also, my other fundraising idea, the cream tea afternoon is turning more into a tea and cake afternoon. Still slightly similar just easier to manage. I just have to work out how many people i can manage having there, then start selling tickets :D 

Smartie tube returns...

I got my first smartie tube back !! So exciting! 

I didn't expect to get them back for at least another couple weeks at least! 

This is what was in there...

£8.25!

 

I never thought I would get that much in there.. I really thought it would be around £4-£5 max. But I guess I never really sat and worked out how big the tube is and how small a 20p is. 

This is so exciting! Hehe

Remember if you want to  take part get in touch... I stocked up today on many more tubes!! :)

Also .... Finalising another fundraising idea/event so watch out for more on that! :) 

Gathering money smartie style...

I have started my first fundraising idea! Yey!

I have been giving out tubes of smarties.. I have asked people when they've eaten all the chocolate out of the tube, to refill the tube with 20ps and give it back to me either when it's full or at the beginning of September. I am hoping I can get a few more people to join in with this ..

So if you're reading this and want to join in, get in touch and I can give you a tube of smarties when I see you next :) 

Vaccinations....

I have had 2 of my vaccinations. The first appointment was a bit eventful .. I turned up thinking I was just going to be told what I needed to have and when I should have them. Because I have been to The Gambia before I have already had all of the vaccinations, so I knew that I would need some boosters but I was unsure of which. 

So, I arrived and was immediately told I was having a blood test! Ahh! Then I was told I needed typhoid and they had 1 left in the fridge and once that was gone they couldn't order any more for a couple months. Decisions - do I have it there and then or what and risk it not being there later ?

I decided to just have it there and then, I needed to have it so lets just get it over and done with. 

So... She takes one lot of blood, then realises she needs another canister thing which she didn't get out the cupboard. I never ever look a injections or needles in my arm- it doesn't bother me I just can't watch. However, on this occasion I decided I wanted to get over this and have a look, so I was watching the blood come out of my arm and into the little tube. She then asks me to hold the tube whilst she leaves the room to get the 2nd canister. Not a good idea ! She completed the second blood test and I immediately got a temperature and started to feel very faint. This resulted in me lying on the bed feet in the air, and the nurse injecting the typhoid vaccination into my arm whilst in this position! I felt very very stupid ! 

A week later the blood test results came back, and I was told I needed a booster of hep b. 

I got very confused... The nurse told me that the level in my blood should be 100.. In my blood it was 12! And she said in some countries 12 is okay but she gave it to me anyway. 100 to 12 is a very big jump, but I don't understand the terminology and all that so just didn't say anything. I have to go back in September for another blood test to check my immunity. That injection cost me £30 so I very much hope they don't make me pay again for another one !! 

Hopefully that is it injection wise! I am still covered and up to date with all the others. Yey!

She also prescribed me my malaria tablets. I am having malarone, which I take 2 days before I go, whilst there and 1 week when I come back. I need to shop around different places to find the cheapest for those.. So I will update when I find that and buy them :)

Welcome

Hello! 

In November of this year I am going to The Gambia for 10 days. I am going with a church from the West Midlands who own the New Life schools over there. 

I went to the same place 5 years ago with my secondary school, so I am very excited to be going back. I am eager to know what has changed and what is still the same.

I am going to be writing this blog for personal reasons as well as for my friends and family to be able to keep up to date with what I'm doing in the lead up and whilst I'm out there. 

It's going to be a fun and exciting journey ....