Graduation before exams

Irene took the Bible knowledge prize after completing two years of intensive study of selected texts from the Old Testament, Luke and Acts. Out of the six students I have been teaching, sadly one has dropped out just before her 'O' levels. Another needs a miracle to get him through the exams. The other four might be able to write ten essays in English during the two times two and a half hour exams, but if there's a word they haven't come across, or the meaning of the question is not clear, all the knowledge and understanding they have gained could remain unseen. Please remember all the Form Four students during the next three weeks; one week of last minute revision, and two of exams from 8th October.

Meanwhile Kevin and myself have been preparing for our epic journey South by train and then North by ship. I have been collecting things in Tanzania since 1983 when I started my checkered career here. It is exciting and daunting to be clearing up, giving lots away, trying to sell the car, and spending time with friends who we may not see again. We value your prayers for all of this, and the journey ahead.

Grandpa Time

It's time to remember him. The date is October 4, 1912. He sailed from Liverpool with the Church Missionary Society for Kenya in East Africa. He must have gone through the stormy waters around the Cape of Good Hope, and the journey probably took a couple of months, or three. I wonder whether he thought about the Titanic on his way... :(

He did arrive, and met a girl in Kenya in 1916 who became my Granny. She's in this picture (taken around 1961), on the far right, but by that time he wasn't there any more, and I don't even remember him. Their two children are in the picture; my mum and my uncle, and all their grandchildren so far. Which one am I, and who are the others? Watch this space :o)

It's exciting to be following in his footsteps - even though it's in reverse order, as we are soon to travel by train to the Cape and then take a boat to UK. After I was born, my mum told me, he held me in his arms for a long time and prayed over me. All my life he has been the closest of my grandparents; the inspiration he gave me has lead me in his absence. God has been very close; Because of him I am here.

Goodbye Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo, literally 'Throw down your heart' in the 19th century was the last place the slaves would see before they were packed into boats and transported across the Indian Ocean. Thankfully, as a result of Dr Livingstone's reports, and the efforts of many others in the 19th Century, the Slave Trade was abolished, although there is still a so called 'Modern Slave Trade' operating in many places.

Today Bagamoyo is a ramshackle town with contrasting market and small shops, newly developed buildings and the ruined reminders of a sad past. Among all these is Travellers' Lodge, a garden of paradise planted with many different species of trees, including many palms. A grassy area near the beach is where I was camping when Kevin began to get serious at the beginning of our relationship three years ago.

When he visited Tanzania for the first time in 2010, we camped there together, and since then we have spent many happy days resting and enjoying the sun, sea and sand. Now our marriage is moving out of its infancy stage, and we are on the verge of a new beginning.

Pray for us as we're back in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, and will be in Kilolo for five weeks before starting the long voyage of discovery to South Africa, then up the West coast of Africa to the Canary Islands, and on to Tilbury Docks, London.

Tim and Ana with Kevin

Last week Tim and Ana had their big day in Vancouver! Kevin is back now with me beside the Indian Ocean, after experiencing a very valuable time together with our new extended family. Ana's parents, Doug and Wendy made Kevin very welcome, and for me the saddest part was that I could not be there for this wonderful day. Tim's Mum Ingrid would have been thrilled to be there. She was sorely missed by her family.

For us, a new phase is soon to start (again) as we have only a couple of months to go before leaving Tanzania. While Kevin was away I managed to sort most of my books, so after term starts on 10th September, I will mostly be helping the 'O' level students get up to scratch for their finals in November. Of course the form III Bible Knowledge students will also be studying Luke's Gospel. Pray for all the staff and students as we start back after these holidays, in which a national census has been carried out.

The computer lab is now hard-wired for internet connection, and the national telephone company, TTCL poised to join it up with very costly wires. Pray that these do not disappear after installation, as some have been known to do. It is all a risk, as is most of life. We will take the leap of faith and leave the rest to the Almighty.

Touching the Pacific

Kevin officially arrived on the other side of the world last Saturday! This coming Thursday, Tim his son is marrying Ana in Vancouver, Canada, so he had to go. Last Monday, Doug, her father took Kevin out on Victoria Island, where he completed the experience of touching the three great Oceans the world. He didn't go for a swim as far as I know. He'll be back swimming in the Indian Ocean next week - no comparison! (in my humble opinion)

I was sad not to be able to go because of the health risk if I fly. So what will we do in order to get back to Britain at the end of the year? We plan to travel by train to Cape Town, and then board a container ship to Tilbury Docks, London in November. The port is on the North shore of the river Thames, about 25 miles downstream from London Bridge.

In October it will be 100 years since my grandfather sailed from Liverpool to Africa. He worked in Kenya until 1952, and my mother spent her early years there. As you can imagine it will be quite a pull for me leaving Africa after so many years of my own life, and many more ancestral years marked up. Pray for the packing experience which I have started now - for wisdom as to how much to keep, and what to do with the rest.

hard wiring in the lab

At last the internet connection is more than just a dream. Last Friday wafundi wawili (two technicians) arrived with all their gear and started putting blue wires all around the computer laboratory, office, and administration block in the school. We are hoping that TTCL (Tanzania Telephones) will come with a link to make the connection fairly soon, and then the work will really start; Running a teaching laboratory with internet is quite a different operation to managing one without.

Kevin had several long days of work as they got started. After the travel from Bagamoyo it was a challenge to go straight in to this, as well as baking some amazing bread and getting packed and ready to go to Canada for his son's wedding next week. He travelled from Iringa by bus yesterday and is now in Dar having a day to rest before flying tomorrow. I had a rest day catching up with friends here in Iringa yesterday. Much easier! I'm going back to Kilolo today and will be sorting through my books...

Nyaulingo

Nyaulingo has been helping us cook especially when there's been more to do recently. With five of us in the house, we decided to invite the teachers for an evening meal. Hannah, Katy and Jack did a beef roast in a pit using bricks, sticks and tin foil. Definitely to be repeated. The rice we cooked went into a mush, I think because it was this year's harvest - that's a good excuse anyway, and I tried to do too much of it (around 4kg uncooked). Nyaulingo did ginger carrots -yummy, and cabbage stir-fry, also yummy, and the others made a banana cake as a delicious finale.

Yesterday we drove to Bagamoyo via Dar to collect some luggage - a twelve hour round trip. The others did a bus trip for the final two hours and ended up on the beach before us. Amazing that the whole trip has gone so according to plan. Doesn't often happen, although recently God has been very good to us.

We're able to watch the Olympics here, and yesterday Kevin, who's son is a cyclist, walked in to the lounge room where the womens' team pursuit was on television; he unexpectedly watched them win a gold medal - came out all excited, and then told us this morning that other golds came in after that! It's good to be connected to the world here.