Hello again, to all our family and friends Blog readers! In 4 days time on Friday 12th Nov. we will be starting our journey home from Bunia, and it seems hard to believe our wonderful 4 weeks visit is coming to an end!
My white cockerel is still alive and enjoying the garden and company of the Wood’s resident chicken! Remember I joked about nearly getting a live goat? Well, a package was delivered yesterday from a grateful Bible recipient....not a live goat, but a LEG of goat ready to be cooked as a thank you dinner! We gave Swahili Bibles to the 3 domestic staff here. They were overwhelmed, and immediately searched for texts to further illustrate their thanks, which we then read out in English.
Having memorised the route to the Tailor, I took John to be measured for a shirt and myself for a Kaftan on Saturday. This afternoon I was prepared to go alone to collect the garments, but Moses the gardener insisted he escorted me; he said it would be an honour! The fact that I turned up at the Tailor’s with a white husband, and next time with a young black man caused great hilarity!
We taught the Saturday evening “English Club” Doctors another hymn. This Male Voice Choir piece went down really well, as it has a great African feel to the tempo: “We are on the Lord’s Road”. We gave them copies of the words to keep.
Sunday morning, as planned, we all left home at 8.50am with John and Philip going to the WEC founded Swahili Church, which John will tell you about; while Nancy and I went to the French Church. We first had a tour of the Sunday School classes which are held from 8 to 10am.Would you believe there are 400-500 children, with some classes of 50 or more crammed into all kinds of basic rooms, mostly sitting on the floors....our health and safety would not allow it!! And babies are also looked after by their bigger brothers or sisters in the older classes! We were welcomed and sung to.
Then from 10 to 11am we demonstrated the flannelgraph Bible Story method to 23 teachers. They all loved it, and can’t wait to each have their turn to use it with their class. It is going to be a huge success, as we anticipated when I had previously taught one of the teachers and Director in readiness for the demonstration morning.
Sunday afternoon Nancy, John and I walked uphill and down dale on the usual rutted paths cross country to visit a needy little family who Nancy supports. We visited them in March, so the recognised us and were so happy to see us all. The most hazardous bit of the journey was walking over a ‘one plank foothold’ bridge which crosses a deep gully and rubbish filled river!!!
This morning [Monday] John and I went to the College for 7.30am...!!...John continued with his Library programme and teaching 2 staff [ David and Visika] how to use it! I continued to label in the library, and finished by lunchtime.....37 various open shelves or shelves in big cupboards, with numerous Medical book catagories. I have now given David, the librarian, the remainder of my adhesive labels and permanent marker pens.....received as if they are precious jewels!
When we returned to the house for lunch we were all relieved to find that WATER supply had been restored! Things were getting very worrying as we hadn’t had water since Thursday evening!!! With 5 in the house, the store of 15x5 gallon containers of water was nearly used up. The water has to be filtered for drinking etc. While the rest is used for everything else!
This is all from me for tonight and thank you for Emails etc......over to John for his contributions...
Janice.
Hi everyone!!
We weren’t able to get this finished and posted last night as the solar charged batteries ran out early! The day had not been particularly bright for the solar panels nor had we had full mains power (which we do sometimes during the night!) to help recharge the batteries. So I am writing 8.30 on Tuesday morning at the college where we have power which is a little more consistent!
As Janice said we wend different ways Sunday morning. I went with Philip to the Swahili church to take them 2 boxes of bibles for church use. These were presented to the pastor before the service. But that was not the end of the matter. During the service the pastor lifted one of the boxes above his head to cheers from the congregation then he put it down and lifted the other above his head to more cheers whilst explaining were they had come from. Then two stewards distributed the bibles amongst the congregation for them to use during the service. They were so grateful for them as they had no church bibles or hymn books. It is a privilege for us to be able to dispense your love and generosity. I only wish that I could more adequately share with you, their gratitude.
Monday’s work of training in the use of the library programme was very tiring mainly because of the difficulty communicating because of my lack of French. My aim is for the librarian, David to actually be using it to record book movements by Thursday.
I must sort out the pictures for you now and get the Blog posted.
God’s richest blessing and His peace rest on you all.
John
PS The power failed at about 9.30 and was off for the rest of the morning so literally nothing got done!!
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