When we booked to go to Gambia for our holiday, we never dreamt it would be a life-changing decision!! Leading up to our break, a number of friends and colleagues told us how poor the people of Gambia were, hardly able to afford even the basics we take for granted, such as biros, paper, books, toothbrushes and toothpaste, or sweets for their children

 

We decided we would take some things with us and so, with the help of friends and our church family (Park Baptist Church in Great Yarmouth), we collected some ‘necessities’ which meant we had to cut down our own ‘necessities’, i.e., less clothes, shoes, etc!

 

 What a shock we had on arrival in Gambia – never would we have believed or imagined how little the people have. How rich we are in Britain!

 

 We visited the local hospital seeing both the children’s ward and the female ward. Ladies had walked miles and the waiting room was actually the pavement outside the hospital (pictured left).  We could not believe the lack of comfort, medications, or equipment. Young children were so poorly and some were laying on stone shelves with the mums and dads looking so helpless as medications, care, etc cost much more than they could afford. We passed over some crayons, paper, pens, etc but left feeling helpless

 

 We worshipped at the local Church of England (pictured right) church where we were so welcomed with love and hospitality. We tried to share what we had taken with us fairly but it was just a drop in the ocean

 

We returned home to the UK having made the decision to return next year but desperate to take more with us – hoping to make a small difference for the lovely and, yes, ‘smiley’ people of Gambia

 

 

John and Cheryl will be visiting Gambia again next February and will be much better prepared.Thomas Cook have already agreed to an increased luggage allowance of an extra 50Kg