After years of applying I have finally gained a place for 2012 and will be able to achieve a lifelong ambition and run The London Marathon.

Having completed The Great North Run twice, The Great South Run, The Norwich Half Marathon twice and various triathlons....I think I am ready to take on the ridiculously long 26 miles and 385 yards! It won't be easy and I have months of training ahead of me on cold dark nights but it will all be worth it to raise some money for a very worthwhile cause.

A big "THANK YOU" to Karla Shepherd for a creative fundraising venture. A few Christmas baubles were first turned into Christmas tree table decorations and then sold in aid of the work Grassroots does in Tanzania. A simple idea but raise £135!

Feel free to email us if you want information of Karla's designs.

Back in November we received this exciting letter from Eliza in Romania:

Hot here today. Sweaty for church!

Some of the team went to Tukuyu (50 km away to the South. About half way to Kyela). They spent time with the church there and then prayer walked around their community and met local people.

We have had another day of extreme caution here in Mbeya. The Mwanjelwa market was closed and riot police were patroling the streets. We made it to the interviewing centres by going on round-a-bout routes. As we interviewed bombs went off and people ran into the church for safety.

3 people were killed yesterday and things were completely out of control for a while. Today there is tension, but slowly signs of normality are returning.

Phew what a day!!!! I am writing this in between power cuts on a very busy day in Mbeya. With  4 centres to visit and over 453 children to interview today, it was always going to be a challenge. Breakfast was at 7am as usual, followed by a time of prayer before leaving for the various locations at 8.30am.

However that was when a disturbance occured on the street - which resulted in fighting between the police and street vendors. This was very disturbing as people were hurt and one man was shot dead. Fires where lit and peace loving Tanzania became a dangerous place for a while.

Life in Tanzania is always full of suprises and the unexpected often happens. We arrived at one location this afternoon only to find that the children had been told we were coming tomorrow! So with an afternoon of enforced rest we decided to go shopping at the market... but first we needed lunch. We arrived at the Airport location for food only to be caught up with the District Commissioner's visit and an overwhelming number of children waiting to be enrolled. So no food or shopping but a very satisfying day.

It is a privilege to be a small part of His work.

We reach the half way point today, but still lots more to do.

Two teams went out again. One team  went to Airport and the other team went to 2 different locations called Pambogo and Shewa. The rain fell hard in the afternoon which made things more challenging. Tin rooves are very noisy when it rains. It was amazing that even with very little shelter people stayed to be interviewed - just shows how important this help is to them. In Tanzania rain is seen as a blessing. How different our world views are!!!

What a fantastic day. After each sponsored child was interviewed we were able to give them a new mosquito net and a blanket. The look of joy and amazment on the faces of the children and their carers was great!

We interviewed over 400 children today. Many of them have a belly full of worms - which shows sometimes as a bulging tummy. The doctor has to de-worm the children on a regular basis. Some of the children are being brought up by grandmothers or great grandmothers. Some of them are single handedly bringing up a number of small children. These women should have put their feet up long ago and yet they are working hard to grow food to feed their families.

The two teams interviewed 400 children today. A record for any trip ever.

As we arrived in Swaya the community came out and sang a welcome song. Fab.