Well, after a few days of suspense it looks like my laptop is either a) mostly dead or b) totally dead. So, I guess I'll be spending some evenings laptop shopping... It's funny how much you rely on technology, and then when it goes out on you, BIG proglems!
Other than electronics drama things are pretty quiet out here in the bush. After the week of rain, laundry is actually getting dry and we are being reminded that the sky is blue. I went to the butchery at Nchilla today to get some meat--sausages and pork chops for the term break. I felt so grown up--I've never bought pork chops before!
Ceili got 'fixed' today--Pam's dad is a vet and he brought the stuff out to take care of several of the dogs over here and one at Kalene. She seems to be recovering well, though she can't understand why she's hurting. Poor thing!
Well, it's late and I'd better run. Happy holidays all of you!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Well, after a few days of suspense it looks like my laptop is either a) mostly dead or b) totally dead. So, I guess I'll be spending some evenings laptop shopping... It's funny how much you rely on technology, and then when it goes out on you, BIG proglems!
Other than electronics drama things are pretty quiet out here in the bush. After the week of rain, laundry is actually getting dry and we are being reminded that the sky is blue. I went to the butchery at Nchilla today to get some meat--sausages and pork chops for the term break. I felt so grown up--I've never bought pork chops before!
Ceili got 'fixed' today--Pam's dad is a vet and he brought the stuff out to take care of several of the dogs over here and one at Kalene. She seems to be recovering well, though she can't understand why she's hurting. Poor thing!
Well, it's late and I'd better run. Happy holidays all of you!
Other than electronics drama things are pretty quiet out here in the bush. After the week of rain, laundry is actually getting dry and we are being reminded that the sky is blue. I went to the butchery at Nchilla today to get some meat--sausages and pork chops for the term break. I felt so grown up--I've never bought pork chops before!
Ceili got 'fixed' today--Pam's dad is a vet and he brought the stuff out to take care of several of the dogs over here and one at Kalene. She seems to be recovering well, though she can't understand why she's hurting. Poor thing!
Well, it's late and I'd better run. Happy holidays all of you!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
December Update
Dear Friends and Family,
Praise the Lord for all His goodness! Third term is successfully finished, the program, “Let the Bells Ring, Let the Angels Sing!” was a great success, and thought it was very busy, we had some great conversations with parents and our other visitors. I found a lot of the parent interviews a little bitter-sweet as I’m going to miss my seven 6th graders next year as they are moving up into Phil’s classroom, but I’m sure the incoming 5th graders will keep me so busy I won’t have much time to lament the kids getting older!
This past week has been a busy one at Sakeji as we decided to hold a work week to take care of a lot of big projects that we don’t have time to attend to during the term. I helped straighten out the library and the school photo albums. In the afternoons the classroom teachers sat down to map out our curriculum so it was more unified and to make things easier for us as we plan our terms, and then in the evenings we meet for a time of fellowship and ministry. One thing we did that I particularly enjoyed was spending two evenings looking at the names of God. It was so good to be reminded of all the things that God is and what He has done for His people.
This term break I intend to stay on station and enjoy a quiet Christmas with Jill and Bethany. Most of the other staff members are going to be traveling for some part of the holidays, so it will be up to us three ladies to keep things going and hold down the fort. I’m looking forward to this special, quiet time though—Jill and I have lots of projects planned and I think we are all looking forward to cooking up some Christmas goodies!
I have a lot of reading to do to prepare for this next term of school, but now that I’ve taught through the curriculum once, I have a much better idea of what needs to happen in each term! They say your first year of teaching is the hardest, and after that you have some experience to make things easier. I would say that I do have a lot more experience than I did last January, but I’m looking forward to gaining even more wisdom on how to best teach my precious students!
November brought us another full time staff family—Doug and Maryanne Hanna. Doug is our computer person, and Maryanne is taking on some of the office duties. Both of them will be involved with the children as well, taking various supervisory and teaching roles. Their daughter, Ellie, seems to be fitting in well already and looks forward to starting third grade next month. In January Beth Sheach is going to be returning to take the 1st and 2nd grade class, and Mark and Janette are going to be team teaching 3rd and 4th grade with support from all of us. I will still be the homeroom teacher for the 5th and 6th graders, and Phil will have the 7th and 8th grade class. We are still doing a lot of praying and planning for Sakeji in the future as well as praying for more teachers. Ideally we would like to have a teacher for each grade, but we know that the Lords raises up the right people at the right time for His work, and are doing our best to be faithful in the work He has called us to.
Thank you all so much for all your letters, e-mails, and prayers over this year. This has been one of the craziest, but best years of my life, and I look forward to future years of serving the Lord in this wonderful place. I am reminded over and over again that when you are where the Lord wants you to be, you will find abundant blessings and joy. What a privilege to take a small part in His work, and to be serving Him in the beautiful country of Zambia.
May you all have a very, merry Christmas, and a blessed new year.
Praise the Lord for all His goodness! Third term is successfully finished, the program, “Let the Bells Ring, Let the Angels Sing!” was a great success, and thought it was very busy, we had some great conversations with parents and our other visitors. I found a lot of the parent interviews a little bitter-sweet as I’m going to miss my seven 6th graders next year as they are moving up into Phil’s classroom, but I’m sure the incoming 5th graders will keep me so busy I won’t have much time to lament the kids getting older!
This past week has been a busy one at Sakeji as we decided to hold a work week to take care of a lot of big projects that we don’t have time to attend to during the term. I helped straighten out the library and the school photo albums. In the afternoons the classroom teachers sat down to map out our curriculum so it was more unified and to make things easier for us as we plan our terms, and then in the evenings we meet for a time of fellowship and ministry. One thing we did that I particularly enjoyed was spending two evenings looking at the names of God. It was so good to be reminded of all the things that God is and what He has done for His people.
This term break I intend to stay on station and enjoy a quiet Christmas with Jill and Bethany. Most of the other staff members are going to be traveling for some part of the holidays, so it will be up to us three ladies to keep things going and hold down the fort. I’m looking forward to this special, quiet time though—Jill and I have lots of projects planned and I think we are all looking forward to cooking up some Christmas goodies!
I have a lot of reading to do to prepare for this next term of school, but now that I’ve taught through the curriculum once, I have a much better idea of what needs to happen in each term! They say your first year of teaching is the hardest, and after that you have some experience to make things easier. I would say that I do have a lot more experience than I did last January, but I’m looking forward to gaining even more wisdom on how to best teach my precious students!
November brought us another full time staff family—Doug and Maryanne Hanna. Doug is our computer person, and Maryanne is taking on some of the office duties. Both of them will be involved with the children as well, taking various supervisory and teaching roles. Their daughter, Ellie, seems to be fitting in well already and looks forward to starting third grade next month. In January Beth Sheach is going to be returning to take the 1st and 2nd grade class, and Mark and Janette are going to be team teaching 3rd and 4th grade with support from all of us. I will still be the homeroom teacher for the 5th and 6th graders, and Phil will have the 7th and 8th grade class. We are still doing a lot of praying and planning for Sakeji in the future as well as praying for more teachers. Ideally we would like to have a teacher for each grade, but we know that the Lords raises up the right people at the right time for His work, and are doing our best to be faithful in the work He has called us to.
Thank you all so much for all your letters, e-mails, and prayers over this year. This has been one of the craziest, but best years of my life, and I look forward to future years of serving the Lord in this wonderful place. I am reminded over and over again that when you are where the Lord wants you to be, you will find abundant blessings and joy. What a privilege to take a small part in His work, and to be serving Him in the beautiful country of Zambia.
May you all have a very, merry Christmas, and a blessed new year.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
November Update
Dear Friends and Family,
Only three more weeks of term to go, and what a lot has to happen in those three weeks! It’s a little overwhelming when I think of rehearsals for the Christmas program, finishing up my planned lessons, finals week, report cards, and all the extra things that happen at the close of a school year. It’s a good thing I serve the Lord, the giver of strength to the weary!
The rainy season is now officially started, and we are looking forward to the weather cooling off a bit more. After just a few weeks the grass and leaves are springing to life and once again Sakeji is becoming a very green spot. With all the rain there are also changes in the amount of insect life out and about as well as snakes. Flying ants, or ‘tuswa’ have been out in full force, we are once again keeping an eye out for army ant columns as we walk, and all kinds of other interesting bug have made their appearance as the rains flush them out. There have been more snake sightings this term as well—praise the Lord for His protection of the staff and children! I had a near encounter with a big snake down at the dam a few weeks ago and had a small, bright green snake on my porch a few days later. Fortunately for us the 60 students make so much noise and commotion that generally snakes don’t venture into the main part of the station, which is a very good thing as there are so many small children who don’t pay much attention to their surroundings.
The grade 7 exams were successfully written the last week of October, so now the students can relax a bit and focus on finishing out the term well. Of course they are also anxiously awaiting their exam results! Not only do we have the national exam to administer, but this is also a busy time of year for us because we are interviewing new students and their families. We are also going to be making decisions about students who might need to be held back a year. Your prayers for wisdom for us are greatly appreciated. We have recently been remembering as a staff the promise in James, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously...” This term break we will also be looking at our curriculum, considering resources to purchase, and planning for the future. There are a lot of exciting dreams and plans for Sakeji in the next few years, and we want to make sure that we proceed to the glory of the Lord and in His will.
Since term ends on December 1, we are having to fit in all the Christmas things this month, so Jill and I will be making Christmas cookies with the senior girls tomorrow to serve to the parents at the end of term show, and rehearsals are in full swing for the end of term program featuring songs about bells and angels. We are going to be starting our school advent calendar next week, and I have been reading an advent story to the children in prayers. I’m excited about my first Sakeji Christmas and all the little ways we’ll celebrate with the kids before they go home. We would appreciate your prayers for all of us, students and staff, to finish this term out strong, and that the program will be a blessing to the parents.
Thanks again for all your prayers and support—I am so thankful for the wonderful circle of family and friends the Lord has blessed me with. How wonderful to know that I am loved and prayed for. May we be found faithful in what He has called us to,
Only three more weeks of term to go, and what a lot has to happen in those three weeks! It’s a little overwhelming when I think of rehearsals for the Christmas program, finishing up my planned lessons, finals week, report cards, and all the extra things that happen at the close of a school year. It’s a good thing I serve the Lord, the giver of strength to the weary!
The rainy season is now officially started, and we are looking forward to the weather cooling off a bit more. After just a few weeks the grass and leaves are springing to life and once again Sakeji is becoming a very green spot. With all the rain there are also changes in the amount of insect life out and about as well as snakes. Flying ants, or ‘tuswa’ have been out in full force, we are once again keeping an eye out for army ant columns as we walk, and all kinds of other interesting bug have made their appearance as the rains flush them out. There have been more snake sightings this term as well—praise the Lord for His protection of the staff and children! I had a near encounter with a big snake down at the dam a few weeks ago and had a small, bright green snake on my porch a few days later. Fortunately for us the 60 students make so much noise and commotion that generally snakes don’t venture into the main part of the station, which is a very good thing as there are so many small children who don’t pay much attention to their surroundings.
The grade 7 exams were successfully written the last week of October, so now the students can relax a bit and focus on finishing out the term well. Of course they are also anxiously awaiting their exam results! Not only do we have the national exam to administer, but this is also a busy time of year for us because we are interviewing new students and their families. We are also going to be making decisions about students who might need to be held back a year. Your prayers for wisdom for us are greatly appreciated. We have recently been remembering as a staff the promise in James, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously...” This term break we will also be looking at our curriculum, considering resources to purchase, and planning for the future. There are a lot of exciting dreams and plans for Sakeji in the next few years, and we want to make sure that we proceed to the glory of the Lord and in His will.
Since term ends on December 1, we are having to fit in all the Christmas things this month, so Jill and I will be making Christmas cookies with the senior girls tomorrow to serve to the parents at the end of term show, and rehearsals are in full swing for the end of term program featuring songs about bells and angels. We are going to be starting our school advent calendar next week, and I have been reading an advent story to the children in prayers. I’m excited about my first Sakeji Christmas and all the little ways we’ll celebrate with the kids before they go home. We would appreciate your prayers for all of us, students and staff, to finish this term out strong, and that the program will be a blessing to the parents.
Thanks again for all your prayers and support—I am so thankful for the wonderful circle of family and friends the Lord has blessed me with. How wonderful to know that I am loved and prayed for. May we be found faithful in what He has called us to,
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Still alive!
Well, my mother thinks I should update my blog, so here goes!
I’ve been very, very busy these last few weeks—keeping up with my 17 students, planning and rehearsing for the end of term program, trying to keep my house clean enough that I can work at the table, and all the million and one other things that go into working at a boarding school are keeping me pretty occupied!
There are only three more weeks of term, and Monday and Tuesday of this week is our second half term, so we will all be getting a welcome change of pace/break. Independence Day, October 24th was a lot of fun—the bonfire was a hit even though it was raining pretty hard. The kids enthusiastically ran around it in the mud anyway, and then enjoyed hot chocolate and donuts in the main sitting room before going to bed.
I’ll try and write more later—I need to get a few more things done before heading back to my house. Sorry it’s been so long—I’ll try to be more faithful in updating.
I’ve been very, very busy these last few weeks—keeping up with my 17 students, planning and rehearsing for the end of term program, trying to keep my house clean enough that I can work at the table, and all the million and one other things that go into working at a boarding school are keeping me pretty occupied!
There are only three more weeks of term, and Monday and Tuesday of this week is our second half term, so we will all be getting a welcome change of pace/break. Independence Day, October 24th was a lot of fun—the bonfire was a hit even though it was raining pretty hard. The kids enthusiastically ran around it in the mud anyway, and then enjoyed hot chocolate and donuts in the main sitting room before going to bed.
I’ll try and write more later—I need to get a few more things done before heading back to my house. Sorry it’s been so long—I’ll try to be more faithful in updating.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
BRRRR
I'm waiting for my body termperatures to sort themselves out after joinging the "Polar Bear Club" for the second morning in a row. Let's just say that even though this is Africa, the water approaches glacial temperatures, and jumping into what you know is cold water when you can see your breath floating gently in the chill morning air is not only hard, but once you get in a go mostly numb, exhilerating. Oh, the joys of half term!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Pictures
Well, Photobucked cooperated today, so here are some pictures of my house and the 'stuff bomb' that hit it.
First of all, this is what my house looks like from the outside.
That is the kichen door, and to the right is the bathroom window. Further right (and just out of the picture) is my bedroom window. That little door in between the bathroom and my room is a tinny little storage area. I love my porch--that's where Ceili spends the days and where I go to breath and peer through the trees at the valley in the evenings.
When I came back to my house last Tuesday, I found this in the kitchen:
12 boxes from some assemblies in Canada, and this was outside the house:
My two crates!
I emptied the crates that evening in case of rain, and after piling that stuff all over the house I attacked the boxes as well so I would have boxes to sort stuff in. This is what my house looked like later that night:
It seemed like there was stuff everywhere! I've got it mostly put away now--finding places for things takes almost as much energy as putting things in that place after getting them out!
Two days later, G. Hanna came up from Chit with this for me:
7 of my 10 boxes of stuff. It was so nice to get my own things--things that I had been saving for when I had my own house and now were delightfully falling into place and making Valley View even more my home.
Today is the first day of half term, and I'm enjoying the chance to get caught up on some stuff! I think a nap is in order this afternoon...
First of all, this is what my house looks like from the outside.
That is the kichen door, and to the right is the bathroom window. Further right (and just out of the picture) is my bedroom window. That little door in between the bathroom and my room is a tinny little storage area. I love my porch--that's where Ceili spends the days and where I go to breath and peer through the trees at the valley in the evenings.
When I came back to my house last Tuesday, I found this in the kitchen:
12 boxes from some assemblies in Canada, and this was outside the house:
My two crates!
I emptied the crates that evening in case of rain, and after piling that stuff all over the house I attacked the boxes as well so I would have boxes to sort stuff in. This is what my house looked like later that night:
It seemed like there was stuff everywhere! I've got it mostly put away now--finding places for things takes almost as much energy as putting things in that place after getting them out!
Two days later, G. Hanna came up from Chit with this for me:
7 of my 10 boxes of stuff. It was so nice to get my own things--things that I had been saving for when I had my own house and now were delightfully falling into place and making Valley View even more my home.
Today is the first day of half term, and I'm enjoying the chance to get caught up on some stuff! I think a nap is in order this afternoon...
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