Safely home

Unfortunately the intermittant nature of the electricity supply has meant that it has been incredibly frustrating to try and use the internet, so I gave up! Sorry to everybody who got bored with the lack of communication and enormous thanx to all of you who prayed for us all during the visit.

Highlights:

• The new buildings and developments at Rock of Joy - as well as three new classrooms they have a new "institutional stove" paid for by donations from Ash Green Primary School in Trentham. This has resulted in an enormous saving in firewood costs - last term cost was 450,000, this has been 150,000!


• The boarding house now provides shelter, care and food for 29 children from the most deprived of families; this is such a challenge- it was desparately sad to see the children whose families/carers did not bother to come to pick them up for the Easter holiday when all the others had gone home .......but a delight to meet Edward again (see last years blog) who is now a cheerful, lively 12 year old who, since he has been able to attend school regularly, speaks amazingly good English. His injured back still means that he cannot stand straight but it was incredible to see him cheekily climbing the shelves where they store the children's drinking cups..... an amazing transformation! Praise the Lord!


• We ran some workshops for the teachers to help them recognise and understand the importance of what they are doing and to show them how much we value their role - it is so important to encourage them - they are doing an amazing work with 300 children who would otherwise not be at school. We also worked with the teachers and the children to take part in the Joined Up campaign (www.sendafriend.com) and had a wonderful time creating "buddies" to be returned to Abbey Hill School in Stoke and then to Germany to the G8 meeting in June.


• I spent a blessed time working again with the womens group I helped set up last year. It has now grown to 50 members who this year I worked with to create a banner celebrating the importance of education for them and their children. We used Proverbs 22 v 5 (teach a child the way he should go) and had a wonderful time sharing our stories and experiances. It was a joy that several of the women had recently become Christians through this group, one of whom had previously been a moslem. Gordon ran a health seminar for them and it was a pleasure to hear their enthusiam to learn and understand more about looking after themselves and their families.


• At Nansana we have helped to develop plans for their chicken project, the future of their orphaned calf, a new water supply and have ordered a new set of purposed made mosquito nets for the boarding houses.


• Lots more things too numerous to mention.....

And unfortunately I have returned with Shingles so will lie low for a bit to recover. Thanks for all your love, support and prayers. Till next time.... x SUE