time to reflect...

Hello everyone

Hope this find you all well. As I said on my last posting, I had two weeks leave which unfortunately is over now and I have to go back to work on Monday. I was really tired and needed some time for rest and relaxation and reflection as Sandra below told me!!

Although I was on leave, because of the fuel situation I was not able to travel as much as I had hoped to. The fuel situation is still not good and we have to queue to get fuel when the tankers come. However, my good friend Margaret came for a visit and we headed off to the lake and down south which was fun. As I was off, it gave me time to clear my thoughts after a long and busy few months.

I thought of how blessed I am to be in this country and to have the privilege of working with great colleagues and children such as these...

and of the blessing it is when we receive teams from overseas to assist in the work that we try to do here.... the Ballycarry team were a real blessing to many...don't ask what is going on here!!

These few pictures tell a story which only they can unfold!

and the PCI teachers team were another blessing during July too. The trainers learnt a great deal from them and I know that the team also gained a lot from our trainers. Here you can see them in action...

Of course, while having teams is a blessing, it also creates a certain amount of extra work for those of us here on the ground in preparation for them coming - something which I think people do not often consider. Thankfully I enjoy entertaining visitors and organising things so for me it is a worthwhile experience, especially when visitors are culturally aware. So thanks teams of 2010 for your efforts which were appreciated by everyone! (and thanks for the treats which you brought too!!!)

I am very thankful for the beautiful sunrises and sunsets which we have here in Malawi. Even tonight there was a fabulous sunset but I did not have my camera out in time. The sun rises and sets quickly here as we are not too far from the equator.
During this week, I had time to reflect on the drama which we had during the arrest of Rev. Nyondo our General Secretary......

and the celebration we had when he was released on bail............

Spending time with nature helps me to relax and ponder over many things.........as long as I don't get too close to any of these beautiful creatures! Its awesome to watch these animals in their natural environment.

In the Bible we are told there is a time for everything; a time to rest, a time to laugh, a time to cry, a time for reflection and unfortunately a time to go back to work, so on Monday morning here I come, and hopefully will have more exciting things to tell you next time!! Thank you for your messages and prayers - keep them coming!

Wishing you a great weekend and a very happy birthday to Lorna,

with love and blessings from a very reflective

Diane x

moderators and the beach...

Hello everyone

What a lovely week we have had! Great excitement when the moderator from PCI, Rev Norman Hamilton, his wife Evelyn and daughter Julie arrived. Here you can see one of the choirs who welcomed them.

During the welcome ceremoney, Norman with his counterpart from CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, the moderator, Rev C Baloyi in the middle, and Rev M M Banda the previous moderator....all mods together!!

They paid a visit to our school. Unfortunately it was a public holiday for Eid el Fitr and so we had only a few children there, but the teachers explained what happens at school.
We employed a new Head Teacher during the holidays who started work last week. She is Mrs Patricia Nyasulu and I am hoping that she will settle in quickly, and relieve me of some of the duties at school so that I can concentrate on the training programme for the Synod. You can see her here, the second adult from the right. She is a lovely Christian lady who I know will be a good leader in the school.

The kids were excited to see themselves on the camera...

Training continues to go on throughout the Synod, and here you can see Kamoza who is training in the local language-Tonga. I am pleased that he has really improved and the caregivers were learning a lot from him. One of the other trainers there, Gibson is just recovering from measles. In Malawi at the minute, we have an epidemic of measles both in children and adults, and there have been quite a few deaths in the country. Vaccines have been given to children but measles are still rife.

When I was in Zomba, one or two of the student ministers called their children Diane after me! Its great to visit them in the congregations and yesterday I called at Chinteche and met one Diane who is now 7 years old - makes me feel old!! Isn't she cute?

Rev Brian, Diane's dad with the two younger children, Vita and Hope...

the lovely beach at Chinteche and lake Malawi...

washing clothes... no washing machines here...

lots of Hammerkops on the beach today...

and while I was at the lake I did a wee spot of fishing in this dugout.... lake was rough so didn't catch anything!!

And now, I am on holidays for two whole weeks - yea - and there is no fuel in Mzuzu so I am stuck! Lets hope things get better!!

Have a great week

Blessings

Diane

busy days.....

Hello all

Apologies for not writing but as usual its been busy! More teams visiting and lots of casual visitors too, on top of that more weddings, and of course my regular day job!! By the way, the car is here in Mzuzu and has been registered and hopefully tomorrow will be ready to drive - more details next time!!

For those of you who know Rev Binnie Mwakasungula, you will enjoy the next couple of photos as his eldest son was married last week. Here are Butwa on Linda on their happy day - a very handsome couple!!

The bridesmaids dancing down the isle...
Rev Binnie with myself...

and Emily his wife...

aren't the bridal party cute....

Ikemo and Ngasimanya(brother and sister of the groom)

for those of you who have been here...

Last week I was in Lilongwe at an Early Childhood Symposium which was great fun, especially as I had the privilege of travelling with one of the traditional chiefs, who kept me entertained. I learnt a lot more about the culture in Mzimba! After our workshop, I was sitting in the car waiting while my travelling companions were shopping, and this was the view in Lilongwe!

We stopped at our usual market to buy tomatoes and onions more cheaply than in Mzuzu.

As I said in an earlier blog Nicolas was in London - he has arrived back safely and full of stories! He was given a gift to buy a bicycle for his work as a trainer and here you can see the new bicycle! Thanks to everyone who looked after him, who fed him, who showed him round - I hope you enjoyed the time as much as he did!

I had a lovely surprise visit one morning at 6am. A couple of my old friends from Zomba arrived - Rev Chafulumira and his wife. It was great to see them - we had breakfast together and it was great to catch up after a long time.

and lastly for today........Sarah and Natalie, two medical students passed through Mzuzu last night and stayed over on their way home via a few other countries. Was great to have them and here you can see Nicolas helping them to carry their bags to get the bus north (how they will manage with a 20kg weight limit when they go home, I don't know!!

Looking forward to the Moderator from PCI arriving with me on Thursday so next week installment will be really exciting........

Have a great week.

Blessings,

Diane