the beauty of nature and the joys of training............

Hello everyone after a long break from the blog - its not that I didn't want to write but sometimes there is not much to write about - dwelling on the problems we have is not what you want to hear.  We are struggling big time with fuel shortages - it is worse than ever with queues at each and every filling station.  When you go with a car there are twice as many people there with jerry cans, and they are priority for the attendant because they charge K500 for each jerry can filled, so they are making much money!!

So, not to dwell on the negative but on the beauty of life!  Last week I found this lovely chap having a rest on my door - very beautiful!!

 One morning I was wakened by the sounds of a puppy and when I looked out the window of the bedroom this is what I found - a lovely picture of Mum feeding pup!

That day and for the next two days, we had torrential rain - in fact we thought the rainy season had come to stay.  As I was going to work, I looked across the garden and spied these bedraggled puppies - they had made their home under my hedge.  I was surprised that they survived the two days being completely soaked through.  I realised that I had four pups now!

After the rains, I found Mother dog feeding her pups and counted no less than seven.  The mother is not very big and she was really feeding these pups and looking after them well as they were growing fat and gorgeous!

How could you resist this cute face??

As you can see all the pups are really doing well - they are so cute!

Dry season is one of my favourite times in Malawi - its dry and dusty but we always have so much colour like the Jacaranda trees which are in bloom right now - stunning...

more colour from my garden

sunflowers as their name suggests, enjoying the sun

and so many granadilla (passion fruit) ready to ripen in the garden

Last week at school I found the children really busy - as you can see this young lad was busy cooking............ with leaves and sand and mud, creativity at its best!

Saturday week ago I set off for Liwonde which is near Zomba, as part of the National Training Team for Early Childhood that is going on at present.   I came back yesterday and am really tired, both because of the long journey and the heat (and of course the work that was involved!!).  The Principal Secretary for the Ministry came to open the meeting (the one of the right).

I was working with a lovely team, here you can see Mr Sikelo and Nellie, two of the facilitators......

and Foster and myself...........

Participants were from all over the country and they have a tough time as they are doing a lot of theory and a lot of practical work,  but its just so hot and humid that in the afternoon it was difficult not to fall asleep!

I loved this - learning to knit a teddy bear!!

While I was in Liwonde, I took the opportunity to meet with Gift a young lad who has been helped through school by Marion and her friends (you know who you are!).  The results of Form 4 exams are out (equivalent of GCSE) and unfortunately Gift failed two subjects, but I am hoping he will repeat them to get his certificate.  I first met Gift as a small boy when he was selling strawberries in Zomba because as an orphan he had no one to support him with school fees.  He has come a long way since that!

Going through Lilongwe on the way home, I also met up with Fidelis who is a student at Africa Bible College.  I met this young man in Chitipa some years ago when he was involved in Early Childhood work, and by the grace of God, some friends and myself have been able to put him through college (he is now in third year of four).  Fidelis hopes to work in children's ministry when he completes his study.  It was a pleasure to have a chat with him!

As I began the drive north, I noticed few vehicles on the road, and many broken down vehicles (some which had run out of fuel).  I noticed that the land is extremely dry and shades of autumn are on the trees.  As I came up through the Viphya mountains, the air was smoky as many trees were on fire and visibility was poor.

However, the Jacaranda purple colour was striking...........

and the red flame trees are just about to come out as the Jacaranda flowers fall...........

Its truly a beautiful time of year, with the vibrant colours in what is quite a dry and barren place at present!  

On the way home I was conscious that I had forgotten to bring water to drink, so I stopped in Kasungu to buy some - only to find that there was no water, no coke, no drinks of any kind for sale (probably due to fuel shortage).  So I went on to the next town Nkhamenya where I found the local supermarket closed for stocktaking!!!  What a relief to find a small shop selling warm/hot water........!  We take water so much for granted but as we are often told here 'water is life', and I was grateful to find some even if it was hot!


Thanks for the comments both on and off the blog - look forward to many more!!

Wishing you a week full of blessings and wonder,

Diane

By the way, I only have one pup left - when I was away they were all taken by people who wanted dogs!