Training and more training

Hello everyone,

Sorry its taken a long time to write but its been a few hectic weeks. Just an update on our school - a few months ago I posted on the blog that the big trees at school were chopped down - well now they are being made into planks to use for the next building.......and this is how they are done...by hand!!!

A couple of weeks ago I had a workshop for the teachers at our school in Mzuzu before it opened on 5th September (I can't quite believe that its September already!). We had some really good sessions, much discussion and I hope a better year as the teachers begin refreshed and excited.

It was great to have Fiona join us to do some outdoor play activities which I know the teachers all enjoyed and I hope will put into practice in the next few weeks and months.

Then a couple of days later we had the excitement of a wedding - one of our teachers, Gift, got married and it was a great occasion - here you can see the minister showering the happy couple with confetti!

the line up of attendants...........

Then it was on the road again, this time to Zomba. I have been chosen as a National Trainer for Early Childhood Development in Malawi and so had to go to a workshop for 5 days. As I was passing through Lilongwe (trying to get diesel.....but to no avail), I spotted this poster about stunted growth which unfortunately is common among children under 5 in Malawi.

The workshop went well - we had guest facilitators from South Africa and here you can see Welekazi getting prepared for a session.

During the week we also visited a Community Based Childcare Centre where packets of biscuits were given to each child (not sure about the nutritional value but they enjoyed them)!!

Aren't the kids just beautiful!!

Then after returning late yesterday afternoon, today I went to Livingstonia for the day and as you can see the scenery was beautiful.

This is the CCAP church in Livingstonia. Livingstonia is named after the missionary explorer David Livingstone, and it is the third mission station which began in 1894 after the explorers failed in Cape Maclear and then Bandawe (mainly due to malaria). The road to Livingstonia is called gorode and has 20 hairpin bends on the cliff edge - not for the faint hearted!!

Inside the church is the Livingstone window which is beautiful!!

So, its a brief blog of the last few weeks but it gives you a flavour of what I have been up to. I am tired and tomorrow begins another week!!

Please continue to pray for peace in our country.......the fuel situation has been dreadful this past week........please pray for things to improve.

Blessings,

Diane