Because of the heat we experienced in April/March 2015, we decided to plan this trip as early in the year as possible. A wise decision but of not much help.  Due to the El Niño phenomena the temperature in Sri Lanka was also a couple of degrees above average.

As if we had not left at all! The joy of our reunion with Carema and Roni said something else. “Our” room had been thoroughly cleaned and prepared for our stay and in our honor, there had been a new shower head installed in the bathroom. The water pressure from it, exceled the country average by far.

From looking at the children, it is easy to see how time flies. There were a lot of new faces at the kindergarten and also, at the neighboring fence there was a patter of tiny feet. A small girl seemed to have a hard time waiting for her turn to join.

At the age of 13, Ruhi is a beautiful young woman. Instead of showing us her school marks, she produced a stack of photographs showing her at a school event – she looked gorgeous! She also proudly presented some hand-crafted items that she had made.

I went along for the shopping trip with Asjath and his younger brother.  They were quite a handful!

Chammi was grateful for the bulk grocery shopping we had done for her. Shortly before our visit we received a disturbing sms from her. She had been in the hospital and sometimes her small family had to go without food. Her sewing machine was broken and with no money in the house to have it fixed, she had could not finish customers’ orders. For “only” Rs. 25,000, she could buy two used ones in good condition.

Sarath’s bookkeeping was impeccable as always, but there were more blank spots. It was noted that nine women were not properly keeping up with repaying their loans.

An unexpected addition at Sifaya’s house: seven years after the son from her new husband, there was a newborn baby girl!! Along with Nasreen and Nasmila, she now had a third daughter, Nasra. A lot of happy faces plus Sifaya’s mother looked younger than she had years ago when we met the first time.

Help can have unforeseen consequences. Rashmiya’s house was spotless clean and there had been plaster applied to the walls. So there is only the paint missing and some more furniture needed.

I was a bit sickly because of the heat and did not see much of the boys this time. While I put up my swollen feet at Roni’s and Carema’s house, Roy and Michel went shopping with the boys. 

Inshaf’s family lives also in a very modest house. Anette Segesser offered to sponsor a child and on the recommendation of Carema (he is attending her classes) this went to Inshaf. Much to the joy of the whole family Anette had visited them and has met Inshaf personally.

Monika Poetschick who supported Resla up to her 19^th birthday offered to take over a new sponsorship.