Rat traps

Yes, it was in our house! My books have been chewed up, and we were being kept awake at night. Our fruit had holes in it in the morning, so the rat had to go! but there were two, so it took a whole week of setting two traps each night. The first one was caught on Monday, but the second, not until Thursday. We feel much freer now. One night I woke up and felt the rat on my arm. Eeeek

After my petrol incident I managed to get back all right, and we had a camp fire the next weekend together with Kevin's fellow language students. Last night as well we camped there just to have a weekend off, and I decided to sleep out under the stars. It was a tremendous experience watching the moon go overhead in the sky and the tree shapes above my head, listening to the river sounds as well.

Lost in the mists of time

This is an old picture of the car just after I collected it from the docks in Dar es Salaam in March 2009.

Last week I went to Kilolo to teach, and guess what? I ran out of petrol! I never run out of petrol, but I did then. The engine just stopped! I was near the top of a hill, so I asked some kids to push me to the brink, and coasted down (dropping some money out for them as I went) and along the flat as far as I could go, then pulled over and parked on the side of the road.

I took my mobile phone and an umbrella, and the small amount of cash I had, and started walking! First I called in at the nearest house to ask them to look after the car, then I walked on through a nearby village to a farm where they found me a bit of petrol they usually keep for the lawn mower! My friend drove me back to the car, made a funnel out of a plastic bottle, and put around 3 liters of petrol in. He also lent me some money. The booster took me on to Kilolo where, amazingly there is a petrol station. Where is my brain? Somehow lost in the mists of marriage, perhaps?

Hope and her family

When we arrived we found Hope and her sister Anna and all their children still living in the little rented house where they've been since 2001. Hope works at St Michaels Secondary school as the secretary to the headmaster, so she's been keeping my house in Kilolo occupied, while the rest of the family live in Iringa.

Unfortunately their rented accommodation in Iringa has just been sold, so they have to move out in the next three months. I'll try to fill you in on their story in the next few blogs, and keep uou updated on what happens next in their lives.

Kevin has just finished language school so we plan move to Kilolo on Sunday. The next unbelievable thing is happening! Keep praying that we make the adjustment all right, and more than all right! Thanks. It's a big step.

language homework

"Kevin, what's that thing above your shoulder?"

"Oh we get those all the time."

I can't keep away from Kevin these days. We've managed to move from a tented banda into a cosy wooden banda overlooking the river. I just took these two pictures on the webcam as we sit drinking tea in the Neema Crafts Cafe.

Teaching at school comes a poor second in my mind, and I had to gather up all my determination to drive to Kilolo on Monday in order to start the 3rd year Bible Knowledge students off on their 'O' level course. Unfortunately we arrived in Tanzania too late for the form IV to continue with theirs this year.

Please pray for us both as we teach and learn.

flashback

Kevin had a great time with Ella over the Christmas period. She is my sister's granddaughter, and very cheeky!

We didn't spend much time packing as there wasn't too much time to think about it. However, at least we brought the wedding shots.

Thanks to some very good friends we have a couple of beautiful albums and lots of digitals. We're catching up with all our friends here, and enjoying sharing the photos. Praise the Lord for all his goodness!

Kevin is studying hard at Kiswahili. Anne is still recovering from the journey and a 24hr stomach bug. Nice to have an excuse to stay at the Riverside Campsite Language School with Kevin!

Back to Kilolo

Today we had another day in the landrover! After a week's rest in Iringa in which we set up our internet connection (only managed one of them; it is good to have several back-up systems, which we are still working on) and catered for a few other basic needs, we traveled to Kilolo.

I forgot the camera, so this photo is an old one from 2009, but it gives an impression of what happens at the end of every school day; the students all line up for a few minutes before going off to a late lunch.

Recently the school has been going through hard times, so we'd value your prayers for the teachers and students, and of course ourselves as we adjust to a new life style! Kevin starts a three week language study, and Anne will start teaching next week.

A day's travel in a landrover

We flew British Airways overnight to Dar es Salaam on Monday 28th February (this time last week), and spent the next day in a very hot environment!
It was a relief to get to Iringa on Wednesday evening after another day's travel in a landrover together with Bishop Joseph and Lilian. Wonderful to be here at last!

It was good to spend time with our fellow workers, but we were all so shattered from our recent experiences that it was a matter of just getting to our destination, rather than discussing anything en route.

Today Kevin and I both feel a little more human, even after a very busy day yesterday going to a worship service in Swahili first, then one in English, and afterwards visiting some friends for lunch and others for tea.

We really do appreciate your thoughts and prayers. God is Good all the time!