Hi and welcome to our latest blog.
We have just returned from a BMS retreat in Pretoria South
Africa, which gave us the chance to meet up with all our fellow BMS colleagues
working across Africa. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet with fellow
workers, some we met for the first time, others from our training days at IMC
last year. It was great to meet up with Joe , Lois and Annet and see how they
had been getting along. The retreat enabled us to discuss our various projects
and missions with fellow workers drawing on their experiences and supporting one
another in the challenges we all face. It was also an important opportunity to
relax and unwind without the pressures of daily work and language study. Being
able to converse in a common language that we all understood easily was a
blessing. Our guest speaker Dave Stedman also gave us daily teaching sessions
to help recharge us spiritually which was a valuable and positive start to each
day.
On Retreat with Joe,Lois & Annet |
A welcome surprise awaited us on arrival at the hospital, we
found that our new home had been completed externally with the roof now in
place. The work on the interior ceilings, plumbing and solar electrics have now
commenced and looks well on track to be completed by the end of May. We feel truly
blessed to have found such a great gang of workers who clearly enjoy their work
as can often be heard laughing together or sharing their mid-day meal. They are
very hard working and are always pleased to welcome us both and show us how
well the house is progressing. Given the heat here now we are amazed at how
they are able to continue to work so well as every task is very physical with
no power tools to aid them.
Progress On New Home |
The temperatures here hit us as the plane doors opened , it
was like walking into a furnace. We arrived back at midday so felt the full
heat. Each day the temperatures hit mid to high 40's and everything is a
challenge to do, plus remembering to drink constantly is a struggle but painful
if not achieved. Everything is now very dry and dusty, food doesn't last long
as all the moisture is sucked out of the fruit and vegetables. Thankfully we
have a fridge to keep water cool but needs to be constantly replenished. In our present home we are also very
fortunate to have fans which help us to get a good night's sleep, the locals
tend to sleep outside to try to keep cool. When we move to the hospital a
challenge will be to use a gas fridge, as electric is too much of a drain on
the solar panels, so will need to ensure a supply of gas is always readily
available. Simple tasks, such as shopping, that we now take for granted but
still challenging in the heat will become even more of a challenge once we move
to the remote hospital permanently.
We have been blessed that in the week prior to our retreat
and until 28th April we have been aided in our French study by a retired
couple, Ken and Maureen, from the UK who speak excellent French. This has
enabled us to practice our conversational French as is not something that we
get the opportunity to do at the school and has been a very welcome help to us.
Ken is a Doctor and has been helping with the workload at the hospital which
has enabled the resident doctors to take a further weeks holiday and Maureen
has been assisting our hospital pastor. Despite the intense heat they have
coped remarkably well and have been a blessing to us all at the hospital.
Last Chance to Relax |
We are now preparing for our final exams in May and are
looking forward to the challenges of working at the hospital full-time from
June. We feel that although we have progressed we will need to continue our studies
to improve further, plus it will give us the opportunity and excuse to get into
town once or twice a week.
Thanks for your continued support and please keep in touch.
Love Malc and Sue