wedding

The day was a glorious, sunny one, and I am lost for words to express how wonderful it was. This picture says it all! On 11 September we were married near the Llangollen Canal, and have been amazed at God's goodness to us before and after.

Redcliffe College

It's been a rainbow experience coming back here, and two nights ago this is what was over the College! I was already in bed, tired because of the 'hepatitis hangover', but Kevin took this amazing photo and it is a picture of our experiences since arriving here. God's promises are coming true step by step, and we sense that never again will we go through the same degree of trying experiences of our past lives. The best is yet to come!

We are studying a six week 'Pick n Mix' which is not too strenuous - good for both of us!

This is the highest mountain in Africa and we almost flew over it! Kilimanjaro (over 19,000ft above sea level) was beautiful when we saw it from the air, at around 34,000ft.

I have some explaining to do because I haven't updated this blog since January... Hepatitis was the reason, and it laid me low for the whole month of February, after arriving back in Tanzania. I have never slept so much in my life! I gradually started working again, then Kevin came to join me in March, and helped finish off the packing up so I could return with him in mid April. We are now both at Redcliffe College in Gloucester, and I am feeling almost back to normal.

New Year's resolution

To get married! This may come as a surprise for most of you - I'm in North Wales now where Kevin lives. I went out on the streets in Wrexham with him yesterday as an observer for Street Pastors, and we picked up about 18 bottles (which could become weapons otherwise), gave out a few pairs of flipflops to people wobbly on their heels, and sat with a guy who was a little over the top for drink. This is what I feel the Lord calling me to do eventually when I get back from Tanzania. That's not yet, but He has confirmed it by giving me a new friend who has turned into a fiance! How good is that?

Kevin wants to spend some time in Tanzania first so he can find out what he's let himself in for in that context. Pray that we can find God's plan together with CMS and manage to be in the center of His will for both our lives.

Graduation picture (at last)!

What a relief... I copied most of the photos from my old laptop onto a cd and then did a virus check on it and it was clear! So now I can start again, and here is the photo I wanted to share from the school's graduation of form four students. Lilian and Maida asked for this shot to be taken, and now they've left the school. Form two have also taken their national exams and gone home, so we are left with a small group of forms one and three students.

It is nice because now the Bible Knowledge class can be on a better day, (Wednesday) and we can catch up a little, because on Mondays one or other of them were often not there. Even so they are still struggling a bit with keeping up to date with homework.

Elizabeth has come through her operation well, and is staying in hospital to get her confidence back walking - the first operation left her unable to walk without a frame or crutches, so now everything is a new experience again.

I am looking forward to coming to UK in December after the next set of exams are over - pray that I can get the marking finished before leaving.

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!