Blessings

Hi everyone

Blessings...........there have been so many blessings throughout this year - I thought I should share some with you. Today as I was attempting to write this we had blessings of rain - we have had two torrential downpours today. I had to stop due to the lightning so this is the third attempt - lets hope I will be successful this time. Actually the lights have just gone out........on again now!! Spare a thought for the people of Karonga who are without shelter and clean water and with these downpours it must be pretty miserable.

This time last year I was with my good friends Nicky and Barry in South Africa. Nicky did Montessori training with me - we had such a laugh! Have a great Christmas in SA! Lol.
I was blessed to have two trips to Northern Ireland this year - the first one for 4 months for deputation and then for 6 weeks study leave. Here you can see my good friends Maureen and Margaret - both ex Malawi people who keep me on the right track..........or otherwise!!

When I was back in September the leaves were beautiful.

It was great to be at my nephews baptism - what a great family -

miss you all - have a fabulous Christmas!

And how wonderful to be able to attend my good friend Henry's wedding to Sarah -

here is the relaxed groom with Ros before the ceremony.

and the happy couple..blessings to you both

Fiona is coming to join me in January...a Scottish lass..should be fun...

looking forward to working with her

Carson and Diane and myself...........we know where we were!!!

Off to Scotland to see my favourite niece there - of course she is the only one........lots of love Molly D.....
Yes, this is Scotland........what a blessing! Such an amazing place on a good day.
And then off to Israel..... these crazy people know what they were doing and why! No prizes for guessing......

Do I know him?? Do you know him???

and back to my home in Malawi where the children are my main focus

and training caregivers in the rural areas

and ..........oops something I didn't tell you............

just joking, its one of the teachers children!

The times stuck in the mud were not such a blessing but will never be forgotten

and visitors like Jonathan and Wesley worked so hard and gave me such a laugh

Here is Florida who some of you will know as she has been in Ireland a few times.

the containers keep coming..................

Bible study on Wednesday nights - David, Maggie, Bethan, Rachel,

Jacob, Pemphero and Michael - we all miss you

What could be nicer than watching the sun.........fabulous...

and of course the PW ladies..........

to one and all I wish you a blessed Christmas and New Year where ever you are in the world.

To all friends and family and those who I don't know..thanks for your support, for reading the blog, for the Christmas cards and messages I have received. You are all blessings to me! Have a wonderful Christmas as we remember the reason for the season!

With much love to you all

Diane x

Update of earthquake position

When I came home from church I checked the earthquake site again - it seems that the earthquake in the early hours was south of the previous earthquakes. This is the updated picture. It was 15kms deep this time compared to all the others which were 10kms deep. It has been reported on local radio that no one has been hurt.

9.50pm correction to above statement. Have just been talking with some folk in Karonga and apparantly 3 people have been killed in the earthquake and about 300+ taken to hospital, some with major injuries. And our preschool at Kasowa has been damaged.......... its another sad day in Karonga.

So..........how is God going to help us?

Good morning one and all. Its been a busy week at school - we closed on Friday for two weeks Christmas break and all the children were so excited as they prepare to celebrate the birthday of Jesus.

I was not so excited when I spotted this snake outside the school the other day. For those who know about snakes you will see that it has recently eaten. In fact, it was dead and the large black and white crows that we get here were busy eating its head so in fact it is headless, and it is upside down as the birds had been dragging it. Still... gave me quite a shock - its a big snake!!
And once again, in Karonga, last night around 2.15am, there was yet another earthquake - this time a magnitute of 6.0 on the reichter scale. I woke up with the bed shaking and the mosquito net which is on a frame was banging against the wall - it was quite a tremor even in Mzuzu. For the Kasowa people, I am afraid it has hit the same area once more. I talked to folk in Kasowa this morning - they tell me that those people whose houses were standing, fell down in the night. The comment was ' we don't know how God is going to help us now.' Its was also raining last night in Karonga, so its not a good situation.

The Vice President and the President of Malawi both visited the area and have pledged some aid to assist. The Red Cross and Red Crescent are also assisting. According to their data from the first major earthquake, 2867 houses have fallen leaving 15,000 homeless. They are attempting to locate large tents and food and water to assist the victims.

Please continue praying for these people - all they want to know it how is God going to help them!


Wishing you a good day
Diane

Why is God punishing us?

This is one of the comments from a friend who lives in Karonga. Others are talking of witchcraft - Karonga has been bewitched and that is why we are shaking, others are saying the tremors are coming from Tanzania!

Unfortunately this morning there were more tremors here and Karonga once more has had a couple of quakes around 4.30am when I woke up because the bed was shaking!! I was talking to a lady in Karonga who tells me that not a lot more damage has been done thankfully and they are all safe.

Keep praying as people are living in fear.....

Diane

update on effects of earthquake...

A few photographs of the devastation to churches and manses in the Karonga district. It appears that most will have to be rebuilt. One of the manses has a crack right around the base as if you could just lift the top off. We are hoping the rains don't come too quickly so that people can get their houses repaired.

Here you can see a picture of the back of Kasowa church where the wall would probably fall down if it was pushed. Sorry Hillsborough people - after all your hard work too!!

Here are some of the cracks on the manse too - it is also very unstable.

A couple of homes which have fallen..........

and this was a church building.........

So as you can see a lot of destruction to churches, manses and individual peoples lives. Please keep praying for peace of mind as people begin to rebuild their homes and their lives.

Till next time

Diane

bigger earthquake today

This morning just before 6am once again my house was shaking but this time the intensity was greater, so immediately I went onto the internet to find out what had caused it and it was another earthquake at Karonga, this time of a magnitude of 5.9. I telephoned Karonga and there is much devastation. In Kasowa village many houses are completely wrecked, but the Pre-school is still standing. People are just crying as they have no home to stay in tonight. At the same time they are terrified - its an awful situation.

Today I had a visit from a friend who lives in Karonga. He was telling me of two fatalities. During the first earthquake the hospital in Karonga was shaking violently and all the patients who were well enough went outside. One lady had her baby on oxygen and unfortunately pulled the oxygen off and ran outside, where her baby died soon after. Another case is of a lady who was in her kitchen when the earthquake struck and the building came down on top of her and killed her. I am sure there are many more stories like this.

Please pray for the Church in Karonga and everyone who has been so badly effected. People are thanking God that the rains are not yet in Karonga as the situation would have been worse.

Blessings
Diane

shake, rattle and roll....

Last night as I was working on my computer suddenly the earth was moving literally!! There have been 4 earthquakes in Karonga district some 95 miles north of Mzuzu, and even here we had some quite strong tremors - all the dishes in my dresser for those of you who have been here were shaking like crazy! The largest earthquake was 5.8 so I am hoping that not too many people in Karonga have been hurt and that there is not too much damage. I will keep you posted.

............and just as I am writing this the house is shaking again...another earthquake in the same area, 4.8 this time. What is happening??

Here is the evidence of what happened. This morning there was another earthquake around 11.30am of a magnitude of 5.0. I have just spoken to someone in Karonga whose house has been damaged - the floor just came up. Many people in the villages have had their houses broken and many people had to go to the local hospital for treatment. Trees were uprooted and people are scared. Apparantly there was a 'big noise' like a ship on the river coming closer and closer. The lady I was talking to told me they have been told not to go into their houses tonight because a really big tremor is coming, so there is a lot of fear.

And for the Hillsborough folk who were in Kasowa - the church is really badly cracked and is going to fall down apparantly and even the manse. There has been a lot of devastation in the village and people are terrified of a recurrance.

Please pray for these people that they might have some rest tonight.

Diane

Just a few thoughts...

Hello from a really hot Mzuzu - not that I am complaining - its beautiful weather! We have had a good few heavy showers of rain and people have planted their maize. Its the time when requests for fertiliser are coming in thick and fast every day. As well as that, with the school calendar changing and schools beginning again on Monday, many requests for school fees are coming my way! Its not an easy time for people as we lead up to the festive season, as they were not expecting to have to pay school fees until January.

This week has been busy planning for the new school year which begins on Monday. Some repairs had to be done at school - the fence fell down in the heavy rain last week and so here you can see the new one being put up!

The demand for school places has been great. I have had to turn away about 45 parents looking for places, so the sooner we get the new school built the better. I was delighted that in my absence the parents and some children did a 'big walk' and raised about K80,000 which is roughly £350, a tremendous effort in this economic climate.

I thought I should introduce you to some of my colleagues. Here is Miriam the Deputy Education Secretary and the one to whom I am directly responsible. She is a really lovely gracious lady, with a lot of wisdom and great to work with.

This is Mary the secretary in the Education office, which could not run without her!! Always gives a smile when I come into the office.

Vincent is one of the Project Officers who deals with Primary School projects throughout the Synod........big smile..........big heart!!


Mussa has not been with us long - he is accounts assistant and seems to be very involved with whatever he is doing here!!


And James, one of the drivers with his vehicle in the background. Unfortunately due to the fuel crisis, he has not had so much travel to do of late. The crisis is really desperate - many people are being hit hard - queues at filling stations are long and people are becoming angry with the situation. But as you can see, James keeps smiling...


Of course, I still have to study and I spent today trying to do some work on the internet which was extremely frustrating as it is so slow. I couldn't download the documents I needed from Queens so had to ask the lecturer to email them to me which he kindly did. Don't the books look exciting!!

Around 5pm I had enough with the books, made myself a wee cup of tea and took a wander around this wonderful garden! Its really green at the minute because of the rain. I am so fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world. Here is the view across the valley...

Some avocados on the tree......

and the beautiful garden - what a hard life eh!!

Till next time...........keep praying...

Blessings

Diane

PS Don't forget to leave a comment (as long as its a nice one of course!!) Thanks for all the comments received so far!

back from study............

Well, here I am back again after my 6 weeks study break - it has all gone so quickly and I am beginning to wonder what have I let myself in for!!

Had a good few weeks and it was a joy to be able to share with Henry and Sarah for their wedding even if it was only for a short time - don't they look happy! Wishing them blessings...

Now its reality time once more. Arrived back last Tuesday night to a very dusty house, got up early next morning to clean it in preparation for the Overseas President (Dorothy) and Vice President (Edna) of the PW who came and stayed for 5 days. You can see them here with some of the Women from our church and the General secretary in front with the Deputy General Secretary. Really enjoyed my time with them and I am sure they are away home for a wee rest!!

It was great that Dorothy and Edna were able to join our school for their end of year celebration. Here you can see some of the toddlers as they prepare to do a song. Don't you like the hats!

This is Josiah trying to teach his Mum the continents...........

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the school calendar has changed. We finished on 20th November and begin the new calendar year on 7th December, so no long holiday this year. We have 3 thirteen week terms with one week of holiday in between, so it will be tough both for children and teachers.

Although I was out of the country, the training work was still going on. Three of the trainers were busy in Chitipa, Rumphi and Livingstonia. As you can see by the photos they seem to have enjoyed themselves.

Receiving handwashing buckets for the schools in Chitipa


teaching........... (what, I wonder???)


children playing with paper balls



Nicolas....posing as he teaches....

Since my return and during my absence, there has been a fuel shortage in the country. Yesterday I wanted to take the two PW ladies to Lilongwe for their flight today only to find that we had no fuel - eventually, we borrowed some from the office and set off. This morning in Lilongwe was another story - we queued for 7 hours before getting fuel from 5am in the morning. I was sorry I did not have my camera with me - the queues were unbelievable. Maybe I will get a picture in Mzuzu tomorrow!!

I am thankful to say I am now back in my house in Mzuzu. The PW ladies almost made it to UK before we got back to Mzuzu!!

Its time for bed so am going to sign off now. Please pray for the fuel situation in the country - many businesses are being affected as are hosptials and other emergency services.

Tomorrow I go to face parents who want to bring their children to our school next year. We only have about 7 or 8 places and we have about 100 on the waiting list.........watch this space..

Blessings

Diane x