Viruses

Apparently my old laptop which has all my pictures on it is riddled with viruses, so I'm going to have to get a new camera which agrees with this (new) laptop - maybe when I come to UK in December... I'll be around for a few weeks visiting my Dad and other family and friends. Meanwhile I need to somehow get the photos off the old one, free of infection.

Here in Kilolo we may get electricity soon, and it will make a big difference to life. At the moment I have to go to town or the farm to charge batteries and do a longer time on the internet. Keep up those prayers!

Pray too for Elizabeth Phillips (84yrs) who is going to have another hip replacement next week in Dar es Salaam, because the first one wasn't a success.

Antibiotics!

No, I haven't been feeling that great all week - just because of a scratch on my shoulder which became infected, and wouldn't heal! The scratch itself was very minor, so I ignored it at the time, but perhaps because of swimming in a dam or the river, it became infected and more painful as time went on, so ten days later I decided 'something must be done'. I started a course of antibiotics on Monday and was very glad to finish it yesterday, because of being kept awake at night as well as a bit of stomach upset. However, it has healed and I am feeling much better now, so am very thankful for that.

During the week I was finishing off marking exam papers, and the kids have done well this time round, answering with well thought out essays. That did make it take longer to mark though, and I am glad to have finished that too!

Still having problems with my laptop, and downloading photos, so please continue to pray for my camera! Thanks!

Synod

It does sound boring, but I'm really enjoying this Synod of the Diocese of Ruaha! It meets once every three years, and this is going to be the last one chaired by Bishop Donald Mtetemela. We're going to miss him, but are praying that God will make it clear who the next Bishop is to be, for next year. Meanwhile as we talk about what's been going on since the last one in 2005 it's quite exciting to hear. There are some discouragements as well, such as: The question was raised why evangelists sometimes leave their churches and return home. They are 'missionaries' though, and need support and training for the cross-cultural move, when they are sent to open a new church. Hopefully, as a result of this discussion, in the future this will be included in their courses at the Bible schools - one of them is where I teach, St Michael's Kilolo.

I was hoping to include a picture, but have been having trouble again with my laptop, so will try to get round the problem... Keep up those prayers!

New Dining Hall

In the Secondary school the graduation ceremony planned for next week is to be held in the new dining hall pictured before (and after) the roof was put on. It will involve all the form four leavers (74 students). They haven't yet done their exams, but when they do, it will be difficult to gather them together again, so it's done before the 'O' levels.

I have had a lot of difficulty connecting to the internet recently, so only now am able to update my blogsite. Actually I'm in Bagamoyo, 70km North of Dar es Salaam, camping while I get a root canal done on a back tooth. It will take a week, and is giving me a break, for which I am very grateful.

Bible School Graduation

This week the Bible School students in the picture graduate after three months' study. Two of them still struggle reading but their skills have improved a lot during their course. They both wrote good answers to some of the questions on the Old Testamant exam paper which I set for them. In fact all of them did well, and I feel quite encouraged by the way they answered the questions, with understanding as well as knowledge.

This weekend Elizabeth's daughter, Sue returns to the UK after a four week visit. It's been fun spending time together having picnics by the river. The water is not quite as cold now for swimming, but it's still a struggle to get in!

Bumps

This looks dangerous, but I can assure you Christina came out smiling! It was her sixteenth birthday and her friends and sister gave her 16 of the best! I managed to get back in time for the party from teaching in Kilolo, and also caught up with Elizabeth who has just arrived back from UK. She's had an amazing time travelling up and down the island; For her, being driven around by friends has also been part of the uplifting experience. Back in Tanzania now unfortunately the hip replacement is giving her trouble, so please pray for a good resolution for that.

Also pray for the Bible school students who will be doing exams in two weeks' time at the end of their three month course. And give thanks to God that I'm feeling happy and healthy, still able to swim in the river at weekends,and teach the whole school (and some) during the week!

Holiday is over...

Rachel has adopted this little lamb and named him Smudge, and I've had fun feeding him too. His mother decided she just couldn't cope with two lambs! You can see how dry the grass is. The rains don't come back until November or December.

It's been a relaxing and fun time just staying at the farm during the holidays. Unfortunately they had to come to an end, so today I go back to Kilolo for the start of the Secondary School term. I'll be back some weekends, and Elizabeth returns from the UK next week, so I'll have to come and visit anyway. The Bible School students are doing well, and their three month course will finish mid August.