Christmas is coming.......is it??

Hello everyone from a very hot and sunny day here in Mzuzu,

This week has been very hot as we wait for the rains to come.  We had one big thunderstorm this week which cleared the air for a few hours, but now its hot again!  We started the week with a workshop for our trainers where we were having our Review and Evaluation meeting for the year.  We had 26 out of 29 trainers present.  Two were studying and one was at a funeral.  We began with a devotion from Mrs Mirriam Gausi our Deputy Education secretary.  Here you can see her in action, talking about the joy which comes with the coming of Jesus.

Nicolas and myself were facilitating at the workshop and here you can see Nicolas in full flow singing an ECD chorus with the participants!  

For the people who have been in Malawi and met some of the participants, here are a few photos.  This is Grace........

Kamoza in full flow commenting on an issue...

Myself, leading a session......

Rodney, relaxing or maybe meditating.....

Our newest member, Praise who is only a couple of months old and belongs to Hlezipe....

Mercy, doing an activity.........

Madalitso, who as well as being our trainer is a traditional chief, working on an assignment.....

And finally, Nicolas explaining something from one of the play areas to the participants...

It was a fruitful workshop, a working workshop, and the participants were tired when we finished.  They all had to make a vision for their Presbytery for ECD for 2013 and then write the objectives of how they were going to fulfil that vision, and then make a workplan for 2013.  So it was intense but I think it was worth it and hopefully each one has gone back to their Presbyteries with a little more knowledge on how they can deal with things in the early childhood centres.

Today I had a card making workshop in the afternoon with Blessings and Bongiwe - here you can see their products.  They were thinking of having a shop in the market to sell them!!  At least this was not as intense as the one earlier in the week!!

This is a busy time of year because schools are on holiday and so we can train committees and caregivers. From now right up until Christmas eve we have 6 different training sessions going on.  It will be hectic so I need your prayers for strength and perseverance!! This coming week Nicolas and myself are leading a workshop for 5 days with a group of private nursery centres, so we are looking forward to sharing our knowledge with them.

Christmas is coming and yet it does not feel like it here.  Everything is going on as usual - its hot outside and there are no Christmas trees or lights or music anywhere. There is still a fuel shortage and so people are becoming frustrated and prices continue to rise.

Thank you to those who have sent me Christmas cards - I have received many especially from PW groups so thanks for that. 

Wishing you a blessed week,

Diane x