back on my bike again

I've been silent for a while because I had malaria or something! Was laid flat for a few days, so went to stay with my good friends David and Elizabeth Phillips on a nearby farm. They looked after me and got me back into working order. I managed to get to Kilolo to teach in the Bible School as usual, and met up with a visiting building team from Tearfund. They were fun to spend time with. Now they've gone, but more teams are on their way. I'm off to Kilolo today on the bus, but when I'm in town it's the bike I like...

getting to the other side

This morning I woke up in a beautiful campsite after a fun evening with the people learning language there. I had to get to town early, and that involved a 20 minute walk along the river to a pulley crossing (you can see the rope and the seat - above my head in the picture - it's quite safe, just a bit scary to look at)...then a climb up the hill on the other side to my friends' house where a car goes in to town to take the kids to school. It was an early start, so I had to have a rest when I got back to my house! Then I cycled back in to town, and now I'm relaxing again...

The secondary school has exams, so I am teaching at the bible school only for a month. Nice to have time to catch my tail. Why do I keep going round in circles? (only joking.)

fresh corn!

The season for roasted corn has arrived, so after a long day of teaching, I enjoyed this amazing refresher from Hope's garden (shamba). It helps keep the hunger away until the evening meal!

Hey, my house in Kilolo is coming on - the people there were putting in the floor when I visited them last week! This is my teaching gear...

Still going three days a week and staying with Hope who lives in the village in a rented house. Very kind of her. I'm finding the teaching great - didn't expect to enjoy it so much, but I guess I have a God who knows and loves me more than ever.

The mango season is over, but I'm eating mulberries given to me by Elizabeth and David, grown on their farm, where I go at weekends for a break.

Hey I visited the new house last week and this is what I saw... No worries, as I have a very comfortable house just outside Iringa at the school for deaf children run by the Diocese. I am teaching two days a week at the moment, so go and stay with friends each week. Hope is Secretary to the headmaster of St Michael's school, and Riziki is head of the Bible School, so I take it in turns with each of them.

I'm loving it, and at last getting used to the altitude - felt quite tired at first.

Arrived

Hey folks, This is my family here in Iringa - Hope is in the middle with Lydia to the left (I'm behind them - boo!) Kenny on the far left and Anna far right, with Chrisophena and Baraka. Behind all of us they are drying some chicken feed in the sun (when it doesn't rain) and beans harvested recently, and the maize crop is growing very well. Hope is working in Kilolo as secretary to the Headmaster, just visiting for the Easter break... so when I get there I'll have a friend :^) Anna her sister is doing lots of small income generating projects, and looking after the kids. It's great to be back!

all the greats

Ella is the best and most perfect great niece that anyone could have. I saw her for the first time last week, and it may be a long time before I see her again. Oooo. She has made my brother-in-law into a grandad, and my own dad into a great!

I am off to Tanzania on Saturday - if my residence permit comes through! Keep up those prayers!