20th February

Well, on Tuesday I had joy of going to my teacher friends house. It was quite the adventure. We went on the bus a few stops and then got off in the middle of this huge long hot deserted road that was running along this dirty canal. Then my friend asked me whether I was scared of going on this platform of wood on some barrels on the canal, I said no, but I didn't know that we were going to go on it!! But it was quite safe and had bars round the side, people have fallen off but we didn't!! Then we got off, and walked along a muddy uneven road thing, with wooden shcks on the side of the road, some in better shape than others but all rather primitive.... And rural and lots of trees and bushes and quite crowded. This place is quite close to the sea, and got badly hit by the Tsunami, my friends house got completely destroyed, theirs is one of the better places, though, there is a pond just behind and every time it rains it overflows onto their land, and it's a horrid pond. They make do with what they have, and that isn't a lot at all, and at the moment they are having a little hard times, but they still let me come over, and to top it up...there was another power cut!!!! Across the little path lives her sister, and Gayani, the very autistic girl from school, their house is a simple wooden one with only one room, they are very poor.

As if I don;t have enough to do already...I have started a little prayer group for girls on Thursdays, or any day that is convenient....yesterday there were 2 that came, but I am quite happy, and I think that this group will grow, and great things will come of it.

If not, youth group last week was not very encouraging, only 2 came, and we were all tired! There are just too many thing on on a Sunday, and so I don't blame people for not coming! This Monday is a bank holiday and the next youth group, then from there I will try and get another day to do it because more people will come!!! But I haven't lost hope!!