Graduation (again again)

After the Christmas service in Iringa, we drove up to Kilolo the next morning as we don't like driving at night. It takes longer now because the road is full of corrugations and our shock absorbers are spent. Getting spare parts is a challenge - prayers please!

I sat with the students that morning (Wednesday) as they wrote their Old Testament exam, and then spent the rest of the day marking and having a rest. I fell asleep in a chair while Kevin did all the work in the house! On Thursday we made a Christmas cake in our wood-burner stove, which was hotter than expected. It's the first cake I've cooked in it, though we bake bread every week, so we should be more practiced than we are!

Yesterday was the graduation, and some happy students have now finished their three month course and gone home for Christmas. It is the last of its kind, because next year the Diocese of Ruaha hopes to move the six month course from the Amani Bible School in Iringa up to St Michael's in Kilolo.

Christmas service - Iringa Christian Fellowship

This evening we sang and laughed and shared a meal together in Iringa with some good friends, thinking of the birth of Jesus and the message of peace that he brings to us all. The children took part in this nativity scene as part of the service.

Recently at the Secondary School in Kilolo someone read the verses from Isaiah "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news; proclaiming peace, announcing news of happiness - our God reigns" (Is 52:7). That is the Christmas message, and there's another place where it says "it is close to you, not far away, in your heart and in your mouth".

How amazing that we have this message so close to us. There's no need to go overseas to find it out! Have a look at Deuteronomy 30:12-14, and Romans 10:6-8. Happy Christmas right where you are!

He lost the ring but he won the game

It happened last week! We were playing volleyball, and during the last game Kevin bruised his finger. We went back to Kilolo the next day, hoping it would get better, but after a few days he agreed that I should cut it off with a hacksaw! I cut a metal guard out of an empty tin, put it under the ring, and started hacking. We had to have a few minute breaks, but eventually it came off and I didn't even injure him! Where it had been on the finger was white, but it's now looking a lot better.

During the same week I was not well either, with a stomach bug, but I was all right to set a test for the Bible School students and mark it. They graduate next week, so please pray for them as they go back to their homes for Christmas. The Secondary School students have already gone, and teachers will have a break soon as well. We hope to celebrate with our friends in Iringa.

On Thursday we had electricians in to our house to get the wiring finished so power can be connected. The wooden post, which has been standing outside the house for two and a half years at last has wires attached, though it has yet to be connected! It will make a big difference having a fridge, electric kettle and lighting. Planning our food will be easier, and we might even get some variety! At the moment we have to eat beans and rice when all the fresh produce runs out at the end of the week, and it's hard to plan exactly how much of everything we need to cook on the wood burner.