Sunday 9th
July
Power this year has
been good – until today!! My last day in Monze and there has been
no power all day – until now 20 hrs. However, on the whole, this
hasn't mattered. I had arranged to go out with Diven, Delia and Paul
for lunch and fortunately there was power in town. The main problems
have been that I haven't been able to use the computer – so the
blog will be very brief! But more importantly I have been suffering
from a lack of tea!! I am getting my caffeine fix now.
Being a long weekend
and the last week it should have been all systems go to finish my
work. However, Killian went to Lusaka to get the photocopier
repaired, so there were no children to see on Wednesday afternoon and
Mrs Sianga's cousin died and was being buried on Thursday, which was
postponed to Friday! There was also a sports day on Friday, but I was
very busy and forgot that all day means up to 13 hrs – so when I
arrived at 14hrs everyone except the Head was gone!!
I know a lot has
happened and I seem to have been very busy!! I am still meeting
friends – some that I even remember!!
I have now said goodbye
to my main friends. Fr. Clement has just dropped around a bottle of
sunflower oil which I hope won't get me into trouble with customs!!
Jennipher has left with the notebook where the letters “W”, “S”
and “X don't work and also the number “2” - I spent ages trying
to set up Skype on it last night and failed – it is also very slow.
However photos can be displayed and magnified which should help
Jennipher with her cervical cancer screening. Diven lost the razor I
brought a couple of years back, so I have left him mine – I might
look a bit ragged when I get home! I have passed on books to those
who requested them including Hannah who called around with her mum
yesterday and returned today because she forgot to bring me photos of
her taken at her school. I left one John Grisham book with a
marketeer from church who has a stall close to a lady in the market
to whom it was promised.
The curtain rail
collapsed early in my stay. Unfortunately it is not the appropriate
rail for the curtains. As far as I can work out, in order to put the
curtains on the rails they need to be dismantled. Anyway I bought a
new rail, then realised my incompetence and failed to hang the
curtains (yes, dismantling them wasn't such a problem!) – hopefully
someone who nows what they are doing will sort it!! A door handle
also fell off. Alright! Yes, I had to abandon fitting the replacement
lock as well!!
OUTSIDE THE CURIA
I had a final walk back
along the railway lines today – in fact it is a single line. I had
just chatted to some children sponsored at school through St.
Gregory's church – three were completing their schooling this year.
Somehow just chatting to the children lifted my spirits. As always it
is interaction and relationship that plays the biggest part in the
way we are and feel.
Obert will pick me up
at 7.30 tomorrow and take me to Tooters Roadhouse or Golden Pillow –
probably what you call it depends on your social status! The two
establishments sit side by side – one is a bar and the other a
hotel! There I will catch a bus to Lusaka. I will meet Persis – the
manager from Kaliyangle- for lunch, hopefully. I will leave her with
this laptop and another of my books. I will miss this laptop – the
one I have at home is desperately slow and I didn't want to insult
the people here by bringing it for them. I will probably get a
replacement – a bit like this!
Well I am sure that
there is a lot more to say, but time is running! So for now I will
sign off.
With my love and
prayers,
Chris
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