think of lilies

Last week in the Form IV Bible Knowledge class we looked at the verses in Luke's Gospel where Jesus compares Solomon in all his glory with lilies. The students were asking what a lily is, then one of them said "Oh I know, are they like those flowers outside your house?"

We've been watching them come out and enjoying the show, and it seems others have been doing the same. I hadn't realised until then that we had such a good example in our garden. We also have some rust coloured chrysanthemums, an aloe, blue daisy type flowers, bright red hibiscus, a rambler rose, and scented geranium, all planted by a friend who wanted a job as a gardener when I first moved in to the house. They have taken their time to look this good, and I hope the show will be repeated again next year.

We took some of the lilies to a friend who is not doing so well. In fact he is receiving visits from his friends who want to say farewell. It is a stark reminder of how short this life is, and the beauty and enjoyment which God gives for such a short time here. He is the everlasting One, and I want to be with Him for ever.

Kilolo Hills

The hills we live in are mountains, or so we think! Above the road, this picture, taken from the hill opposite, shows St Michael's Bible School in the center left, and church towards the right, with some of the staff houses above, under the trees. St Michael's Secondary School is hidden behind the gum trees, The air is fresh and clean, though thin, because it's at nearly 7,000 feet above sea level. When Kevin drinks a cup of tea, he says it doesn't seem as hot as the cuppas in Iringa. I tell him that's because water boils at a lower temperature when you're high up, and he is half convinced ;o)

Last week the Form III students started their two year 'O' level Bible Knowledge course! It is an event I have been waiting for. There was a struggle to have enough students sign up. We had two initially, but then the parents of one of them said she had to take science, so we were left with only one for BK. Because of the numbers of subjects each student can study, Science and BK are mutually exclusive as 'O' levels.

In order to try to recruit a few more, I asked one of the Form IV BK students to go in and talk to the Form III who were not doing science, and then for our first lesson, I had both Forms in together. There were 15 students, which made everyone feel better, and since then I have been told that there are nine Form III students wanting to study the BK course. Keep praying for us all, for perseverance and enthusiasm to study.

more bees, more buckets and more marmalade

This past week was a busy one. Enjoying electricity is one thing, but it also makes me 'think big' so I tend to plan more activities. We had to make more marmalade because it is sooo good, but it was on the day when everything else happened.

On that day, Kevin had a long meeting with the headmaster, which was good news for planning the development of the computer project, and I had a meeting with the academic dean and the form III students to ask them who would want to take the Bible Knowledge option. We had also invited people for lunch. It sounds easy, but they had to drive from Iringa to Kilolo and we had to cook it on the wood burner. Everything takes a whole lot longer here than in the UK, so we did have a full day last Tuesday.

In the pictures you see our bucket-basin system, and filter for drinking water which is then boiled as well. The bees are continuing to multiply. Hope we are not in danger, nor the neighbours!

The man who made the connection

I was wandering down from the school on Thursday when I saw what looked like a meeting being held outside the staff houses. The 'Umeme' man had arrived! (sounds like oo-met-met without 't') We and everyone else in the houses were to be connected to the mains electricity supply. Later on the lorry arrived with more men, a ladder and other equipment... a sight for sore eyes.

It is the fulfillment of a waiting game I have played since 2008. Look back on this blog and you'll see pictures of the house with no roof, the house with a roof and the floor going in, doors and windows, fly-screens and ceiling boards, and the saga of the wood burner stove, step by labourious step. It seemed this latest would never happen while we are still here, but God is greater than even the difficulties of everyday life.

For us the biggest difference will be having a fridge to keep our food fresh for a little longer. Light in the evening will be more than the Aladdin lamp, candle and solar power which have kept us going - and we will be able to watch DVDs in the house. Until now we've had to return after hours to the computer office in school to relax in this way, but the chairs there are not so comfortable.