‘For my 50-mile walk I called a halt at 40 miles, at midnight. The last two miles were very icy which slowed us up and there was a risk of falling. My friends, Colin and Mairi , would have stayed until I completed the 50 but they both had an early start at work and would have had practically no sleep if they’d had to stay with me until 4am.
So I decided to be sensible for once. And to be honest I was very tired and I realised it no longer matters to me if I complete the 50. I don’t think anyone will mind that I only did 40. I was struggling after 33 miles and it was only thanks to Colin and Mairi reviving me and taking my heavy rucksack off me that I was able to continue.
Plenty of well-meaning friends are advising me to reduce the distance anyway and to do the walk earlier in the year when the weather is better and there is more daylight. And thanks everyone that sponsored and encouraged me!’
It is still possible to make a Busega Scotland donation for Peter’s efforts at
https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/peterh2019busegascotland
Peter, you are a Busega Scotland hero!

Busega Scotland trustee and volunteer, Jenny Wallen, has arrived in Mayega to support English teaching in the primary school and children’s centre. A very experienced teacher, Jenny is working alongside staff and pupils to implement the reading schemes provide by one of her former schools, Lhanbryde Primary. The Mayega school has set up a library to house the books and the children are as keen as mustard to use the new facility. Good luck to Jenny in her endeavours.

The District Executive Director at Busega District Council, Anderson Kabuku, said that three of the top ten primary schools in Tanzania, in the latest Standard 7 examinations, were in his district. There are 169 districts in the country. Mayega’s performance has also improved. From 59th in the district in 2018 to 8th best this year. Nationally, the school’s improvement is from 6541 to 871. Congratulations to Ernest Damiano, head teacher, and the Mayega staff.

New Zealand family Carrie, Kathy, JT, Astrid, Kai, Toby and Nick send their best wishes to Mayega on their 5th birthday. ‘Some of us live here in Christchurch, New Zealand. We hope you all have a great day next week!! Sent with best wishes from us all’.
We also received good wishes from Ian Campbell in Jacksonville, Florida. Ian and colleagues are in America on a work assignment.

A photo is awaited, but a message was received from Bangalore in India. Our new friend, Antonia, said, ‘we party for children in Busega, we talked about Tanzania and had special food’.
Continent update – only South America remains to join in and we are confident that this will happen before the Mayega finale on the 16th.

The Mayega children had a wonderful trip to the Serengeti. A bus from Mwanza picked them up and to the park. As ever, the ‘endless plains’ never let them down. The wildlife and scenery are stunning.
The party was unexpected. The children were due to call in at the Kirowera Safari Camp and the staff there had prepared a splendid meal as a surprise gift. How wonderful was that.

Let the pictures tell the story.

Busega Scotland trustee, Cenzo Main, has been encouraging his family to join in the Parties Project.

‘Cheers’ first came from Aberdeen and then ‘ciao’ from Florence and Tormina in Sicily. Is there anyone who would not have wanted a piece of that pizza? Italy brings our country count for parties to nine.

Life can be hard in Tanzania but as everywhere else children like to have fun.
Draughts is a perennial favourite and a keenly fought contest was witnessed recently. Susie and Nathaniel at Mayega Children’s Centre.

At Buswelu, there was a serious game of cards between sisters Lydia and Ester, part of our Family Support Project.

Busega Scotland’s poster boy, Boazi, has been at his creative best again. After the car he made from juice cartons, and had solar lights, he managed a guitar from a broken badminton racket, complete with sound box. Unfortunately, a little carelessness crept in and the guitar was ‘stolen’ by our Mayega dog, Lion, who also had fun pulling it apart!
Enjoy the photos.

Going to hospital is not normally something to relish. Bukumbi is different. The smiling face of matron, Sr Anastasia Salla, brightens up any day and her commitment to healthcare and the poor of her community is unstinting.
It is not an easy time just now for mission hospitals in Tanzania, as the government favours its own establishments and funding is tight. Despite this, Bukumbi has hosted two health insurance programmes for Busega Scotland and partners. The hospital remains faithful to the project, although the modest premiums have not met the treatment costs.
We have also been able to provide clothes and blankets for new borns, and some medical equipment donated by Fochabers Medical Practice in Moray. Thanks to the practice and our friend Lorna Logan, for her beautifully knitted blankets.

Active and enthusiastic Busega Scotland supporter Peter Hagenbuch, is about to tackle yet another 50 mile walk for the numerous charities he supports. This time it is from his home in Uphall, West Lothian to Dunbar in East Lothian.
This will be Peter’s 27th such walk and makes John’s 15 miles on the Kiltwalk look rather puny!
It is interesting that Peter is walking to Dunbar. This is where the Carney family lived after leaving Zambia and before moving to Garmouth in 1987.
12th November is the big day, and Busega Scotland can be supported by donations at
https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/peterh2019busegascotland
Wishing Peter all the best.

Big Busega Parties has cracked Antarctica!
An article in John and Christine’s local newspaper, the Northern Scot, led to Charlotte Nicol joining in the project. Charlotte works on a ship that visits Antarctica and she and her colleagues celebrated in a way that will amaze the Mayega children! Charlotte takes up the story:
‘We hiked to the top point of a hill, and on the way down couldn’t resist a quick dive into the snow! Then back onto the ship for a warm tea to thaw ourselves out.

We’ve had a crazy time with the waves, crossing a place called ‘Drake’s Passage’ today, and the whole ship is on a level 5 safety lockdown – we can’t stand or walk straight and everything flying about our cabins’.
So, no party on board ship!

Stade is a city in Lower Saxony in northern Germany, some 45 km west of Hamburg. It is home to two of Christine and John’s closest friends – Liz and Friedhelm Voges. Friedhelm is a great cook, and the couple invited six friends over to celebrate 5 years of Busega Scotland.

Uniquely, Friedhelm baked a Tanzanian flag cake (and Liz is holding up the German flag). We also had a lovely message from our friends in Germany:
‘We are very impressed by your projects. Everyone sends their best wishes – for the big Mayega party and for everything else Busega Scotland does in Tanzania’.
We know that the Mayega children (and adults) will be thrilled to see their flag. What a super, creative and tasty idea.