Holiday in Mili

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While we were away, despite the luxury of Westernised food and proper toilets, I missed Milingano like crazy.  I actually felt homesick, even when we had that gorgeous beach to lay on! Mad I know.  But going back for a few days was like going home.   The kids were so surprised to see us but kept asking where the others were. It must be hard for them to understand where they've gone.  Jo and I spent most of our time playing with the kids, making models, drawing etc.

The last day was a bit weird.  We heard on Friday morning that one of the ladies from the village had died in Tanga hospital.  It is traditional for the body to be buried as soon as possible, so in the evening a big truck arrived, carrying her body.  The noise that followed was terrible wailing and crying as family and friends said goodbye.  She was buried on Saturday morning and the truck was loaded up with relatives wishing to travel to Tanga to visit other relatives there.  We were due to be collected by John, the driver, from Yamba, at 12pm to take us to Korogwe.  At about 10am we heard the news that there had been a terrible accident and the truck had fallen off the road.  We were asked to help by taking people to Korogwe hospital, but knew it would be hours before we could get to them. Awful images went through our minds of how hurt the people must be.

Fortunately by the time we got to the scene of the accident, people from the village had walked there, and carried the injured to a dispensary in Machewa, 2 hours walk from Milingano.  People here are amazing.  It was lucky no one was seriously hurt or killed as so much maize had fallen out on top of people and the truck was upside down! We collected the most badly injured and John took them to Tanga.  Thank goodness for the Village Africa car again!