My wife and I were in East Africa for 3 weeks, visiting development projects, talking to development workers, and having a bit of a holiday too. We spent about a week in each of the 3 countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Our first 'risk adjustment' was in Kenya on the day of arrival. The usual mode of travel over the 4km between the road and our hosts' house was motorbike taxi.

We had been to East Africa before, 2 years ago, but this time we got closer to the lives of the people we visited. The poverty and hardship were sometimes overwhelming. Friends looking at our photos have remarked on the culture shock. But what many of them don't realise is that we didn't take photos of the really shocking things.

Despite the difficulties, the people of East Africa don't seem any less happy than we in Europe. They have a community spirit and trust in God that many of us have lost. They take risks, with what can seem like a reckless disregard for human life. But perhaps this helps them to experience life in all its fullness?