my first sleep with a blanket

Hi Mikey here, last night was amazing since it was the first time  I slept with a blanket. It made me feel lot’s more at home. Also the last few nights have been really refreshing and cold so I could get to sleep without getting in a sweat. This morning since I woke up I have been really cold and I am now. I also wanted to say how are you all and I am missing you lots.

Mosquitoes and Marmite

I wanted to share something of the stranger side of being in Africa. I knew there would be mossies in Africa and I knew I would get bitten. However what has unfolded in my life has been quite strange. I had several bites in the first couple of weeks - and then I discovered in a supermarket that you can get Marmite. This triggered a memory of someone recommending that Marmite was a natural mosquito repellant. I remembered asking at the time 'You don't mean to spread it on do you?'. They reassured me that they meant that you eat it and the mosquitoes steer clear as they want a victim which doesn't smell of vitamin B. This was all going ok and hardly had any bites until a couple of weeks ago I just got bored and tried cereal instead... BIG MISTAKE!! Here's what I think happened. The marmite-hating variety of mosquito came back with a vengeance and I got bit 4 times on one foot. I took evasive action and immediately started eating my own bodyweight in Marmite in order to combat these little beggars.

You would think that was an end to it - but no....the story gets worse. It seems that the Marmite hating mosquitoes have learned that the rule of 'Marmite - Love it hate it' is relevant to mosquitoes too and they must now love it. I now have no less than 12 - YES 12!!!! bites on both feet. I have also suffered a complication. I now have elephantiasis in both feet - so much so that I couldn't put shoes on attend a special service today.

Any advice would be gratefully received - but please don't say to try repellant - I'm trying to be all natural about it.

Thanks

John

Rains Down In Africa

At long last the long awaited rains have come...well nearly. We have had a couple of amazing thunderstorms and they have cleared the atmosphere. We thought they were coming - then they weren't. The forecasts said we would get rain - then they didn't. We were so happy! The air was cooler, the wind was whistling through the apartment and we felt so relieved. Out and about the grass grew overnight and the whole environment felt lighter. We know more is on the way - and apparently when they settle in for the proper rainy season - you know about it! Here are some photos form our balcony.

Holidays!

The school term ended here on the 16th April and the boys and John have had some time off from homeschooling! This is a great opportunity for the boys to enjoy a bit of a different type of holiday to the type of one they would ordinarily have at home. On Tuesday we welcomed Jonathan Shaw from St Luke's. He has come out to help Education for Life with promotional material...and babysitting.

David helping one of the Fundi's Planing !

Jonathan teaching David the 'Art of the Catapult'

The guys going out for a soda.

Mikey helping sort the beans for lunch

Nothing quite like a cup of millet porridge!

Mattersey Crew

One of the privileges of being here at Tumaini is that we get to meet a lot of people who come visiting. Recently we had a group from Mattersey Bible College who came and worked as part of their mission based degree courses at home. They were fantastic fun and gave such a lot of their energy, faith and commitment to Tumaini.  They went into local villages and entertained the people there with stories and sharing their own Christian walks. They also led assemblies, preached, performed drama, helped on site and in school. All told they were a fantastic bunch of students, ably led by David their college tutor.

Mikey and David who played hte part of the robbers in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.