After nine weeks away from the UK, the time has come for our last blog post from Zambia. The past week has been really busy, with the end of term, primary sports day and then many many goodbyes. But it has been a good one and we know that many of the relationships we have built (and picked up) over the past nine weeks will continue for many years.
The trip has been, in many ways, hugely successful - we came out here with the primary aims of serving the school and encouraging the long-term staff during what is always the year's most tricky period. We feel that God has helped us to do this as we've been out here. And so, while we are really looking forward to coming home - to seeing friends and family back in the UK - our happiness is tinged with sadness.
So what now? Well, Phil Grove picks us up at 7.15 tomorrow morning to take us to the medical missionary plane with which he will be flying us down in Lusaka. We shall hopefully be in Lusaka around 10am, and will then spend the day in Lusaka before heading to the airport for 18.30 for a 21.30 flight to Dubai. After a three-hour stopover in Dubai (which, although it is in the early hours of the morning, will inevitably involve a McDonalds), we'll leave for Heathrow, touching down around 14.30 on Thursday, where we'll be picked up by Matt's Mum and Dad and will head down to Poole.
Thank you one last time for the extraordinary encouragement of knowing many of you have been supporting us in prayer over the past two months or so. We love you all.
Matt and Lou
Ps, do you remember the moustache competition Matt took part in in week seven? He lost.
Considerably.
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Week Eight Update
Another really busy week here in Zambia. As term has started to draw to a close, the tiredness and business of students and staff seems to have risen.
Dorm life has been busy as usual for both of us, but we have both seen more fruit from the relationships we've been building with the students over the past two months. We've both had significant conversations with students this week in which we've been able to advise and encourage where needed, but often just to listen. As we've got to know the children better over the past few weeks, there have been more opportunities to speak words of wisdom to them and, because we've tried hard to build relationships, any advice in talks or assemblies has the tendency to not be ignored as much as it might be if a stranger was 'preaching' to them. We're really thankful for this opportunity. Matt was privileged to be asked to speak at Sunday evening's border's fellowship, and he also led a Q&A session last night at the boys' bible study where he was joined by Jon and Jarrett to attempt to answer any and all questions the boys had for them. The conversations after both of these sessions - Sunday and Tuesday - felt really significant.
On another note, Matt is now walking with a limp after attempting to play rugby with the secondary boys. Turns out that playing rugby on ground which hasn't had rain for almost four months is not a lot different from playing on concrete. Several scrapes, bumps, bruises, cuts, and a black toenail later, Matt is reminded as to why he's a cricketer not a rugby player.
The school term ends this coming Friday, and our flights are booked for Wednesday evening, a week today, which means we are coming to the end of our time here in Zambia. Please pray that we can continue to have energy right until the end of term, and that we can be an encouragement to the long-term staff here, during the last few days of our stay.
As always, we thank you for your prayer and support. We are really grateful.
Matt and Lou
Dorm life has been busy as usual for both of us, but we have both seen more fruit from the relationships we've been building with the students over the past two months. We've both had significant conversations with students this week in which we've been able to advise and encourage where needed, but often just to listen. As we've got to know the children better over the past few weeks, there have been more opportunities to speak words of wisdom to them and, because we've tried hard to build relationships, any advice in talks or assemblies has the tendency to not be ignored as much as it might be if a stranger was 'preaching' to them. We're really thankful for this opportunity. Matt was privileged to be asked to speak at Sunday evening's border's fellowship, and he also led a Q&A session last night at the boys' bible study where he was joined by Jon and Jarrett to attempt to answer any and all questions the boys had for them. The conversations after both of these sessions - Sunday and Tuesday - felt really significant.
On another note, Matt is now walking with a limp after attempting to play rugby with the secondary boys. Turns out that playing rugby on ground which hasn't had rain for almost four months is not a lot different from playing on concrete. Several scrapes, bumps, bruises, cuts, and a black toenail later, Matt is reminded as to why he's a cricketer not a rugby player.
The school term ends this coming Friday, and our flights are booked for Wednesday evening, a week today, which means we are coming to the end of our time here in Zambia. Please pray that we can continue to have energy right until the end of term, and that we can be an encouragement to the long-term staff here, during the last few days of our stay.
As always, we thank you for your prayer and support. We are really grateful.
Matt and Lou
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Week seven update
The past week has been incredibly busy now that, with the departure of two more volunteers, there are only three staff in each dorm. Despite that, it's been a really great week in many ways. The secondary students had their sports day this Saturday, which was a great day and allowed us to participate and help out. Lou had the job of placing the finishers of the races, while Matt took up his usual post as unofficial DJ, commentator and joke-maker. At the end of the day, Matt got slaughtered by Steve Grove (PE teacher) in the staff 100m sprint, while Lou blew away all competition in the ladies race.
Apart from that, this week has been dubbed by a few male staff members 'moustache week' - a week where several members of staff attempt to grow the most impressive moustache. Lou declined to enter this competition but Matt, with high expectations at the start of the week has participated with great vigour. Needless to say, three days in and we're yet to see much evidence of any facial hair whatsoever.
On a slightly more serious note, we have decided to cut short our trip here. We intended to travel to Zanzibar after term ended and then fly home from Dar es Salaam. But, after thinking about it a bit more deeply, and with another ferry sinking on the way to Zanzibar from Dar, we've decided to come straight home after term ended. This means we'll be flying home on August 8th and arriving on August 9th. So please pray for us as we travel back home in two weeks.
Thank you so much for your continued support. Please pray as we serve faithfully in our last two weeks.
Love Matt and Lou
Apart from that, this week has been dubbed by a few male staff members 'moustache week' - a week where several members of staff attempt to grow the most impressive moustache. Lou declined to enter this competition but Matt, with high expectations at the start of the week has participated with great vigour. Needless to say, three days in and we're yet to see much evidence of any facial hair whatsoever.
On a slightly more serious note, we have decided to cut short our trip here. We intended to travel to Zanzibar after term ended and then fly home from Dar es Salaam. But, after thinking about it a bit more deeply, and with another ferry sinking on the way to Zanzibar from Dar, we've decided to come straight home after term ended. This means we'll be flying home on August 8th and arriving on August 9th. So please pray for us as we travel back home in two weeks.
Thank you so much for your continued support. Please pray as we serve faithfully in our last two weeks.
Love Matt and Lou
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Week six update
Well, the time continues to absolutely fly by, and it's now only a little over two weeks until school closes for the August holiday.
The German volunteers left today after working hard in the school for almost a year. Every year, the mission organization Liebenzell send an assortment of young German volunteers to help out with the school's work, mainly in the dorm, but also in other areas of school life. When they leave, they are always missed because each of the volunteers brings something different to the Amano 'table'. Unfortunately, they always have to leave in the middle of July which means the last two weeks of this term are pretty hectic every year. But as hard as it is for the staff once the volunteers leave, it's often much harder to the students, who have built strong relationships with the volunteers over the course of their year here. And going back home can sometimes be bittersweet for those who are leaving - with the excitement of going home and seeing friends and family equally matched with the sadness of leaving the school here. Please pray for these volunteers as they head back into life in Germany, and please pray for us as we try to pick up the slack for the last couple of weeks of term.
That said, this week is Spiritual Emphasis Week, where a group from the UK come and take devotions, bible studies and activities for both primary and secondary students throughout the week. This year there is a team from Northern Ireland led by Sam Balmer which is running the week, and it has been a tremendous success so far. In a school which is dubbed a Christian school, it's often very easy to simply go with the flow without any personal commitment to follow Jesus and so we're praying that, as Sam speaks the students will be challenged to live out the gospel message in their daily lives.
On a personal level, this week has occasionally been a bit of a struggle for us. Because we're only here for a couple of months, leaving and going home is always in the back of our mind. So please pray that we will be able to focus solely on our task here for the last few weeks of term.
As ever, we are really grateful for your support and prayer,
Matt and Lou
The German volunteers left today after working hard in the school for almost a year. Every year, the mission organization Liebenzell send an assortment of young German volunteers to help out with the school's work, mainly in the dorm, but also in other areas of school life. When they leave, they are always missed because each of the volunteers brings something different to the Amano 'table'. Unfortunately, they always have to leave in the middle of July which means the last two weeks of this term are pretty hectic every year. But as hard as it is for the staff once the volunteers leave, it's often much harder to the students, who have built strong relationships with the volunteers over the course of their year here. And going back home can sometimes be bittersweet for those who are leaving - with the excitement of going home and seeing friends and family equally matched with the sadness of leaving the school here. Please pray for these volunteers as they head back into life in Germany, and please pray for us as we try to pick up the slack for the last couple of weeks of term.
That said, this week is Spiritual Emphasis Week, where a group from the UK come and take devotions, bible studies and activities for both primary and secondary students throughout the week. This year there is a team from Northern Ireland led by Sam Balmer which is running the week, and it has been a tremendous success so far. In a school which is dubbed a Christian school, it's often very easy to simply go with the flow without any personal commitment to follow Jesus and so we're praying that, as Sam speaks the students will be challenged to live out the gospel message in their daily lives.
On a personal level, this week has occasionally been a bit of a struggle for us. Because we're only here for a couple of months, leaving and going home is always in the back of our mind. So please pray that we will be able to focus solely on our task here for the last few weeks of term.
As ever, we are really grateful for your support and prayer,
Matt and Lou
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Week five update
I can't believe over half our time at Amano is now done - it barely seems like we've arrived!
This past week was a really busy one, with Matt starting his teaching duties on top of all the dorm duties, and both Matt involved in helping to run a primary sports' event - called the primary 10 steps. Amano hosted four other schools from around the Copperbelt and, considering the fact that Amano was far and away the smallest school represented, Amano did very well. Lou helped by manning the shuttle run event, and Matt lent his and somewhat questionable taste in music to running the PA system.
Perhaps the reason that Amano did so well is that the school is absolutely sports mad. The secondary students have PE three times a week (including the cross-country which Matt did in week one and which almost killed him), and will then regularly go out on the sports fields to play football, volleyball, rugby, or go cycling just for fun. For us who aren't used to the 1500m altitude, keeping up with them is a near impossible task.
In many ways, this week has been quite a trying week, as the non-stop pace of life working in this school is starting to catch up to us. We're trusting that God will give us strength to continue to serve here as effectively as possible, but we'd appreciate your prayers on this matter also. But even as we are tired, we are made more aware of the great need for more staff to work in all areas of the school, but especially the dorm. With so few staff, and such odd hours of work, it is very easy to get tired very quickly. So we are seeing even more how important it is for us to be here even for this very short time, as it has (hopefully) given a break to those who've been working in the dorms for several years now.
Thank you all for your prayers and support this week. You are a continual encouragement to us.
Matt and Lou
This past week was a really busy one, with Matt starting his teaching duties on top of all the dorm duties, and both Matt involved in helping to run a primary sports' event - called the primary 10 steps. Amano hosted four other schools from around the Copperbelt and, considering the fact that Amano was far and away the smallest school represented, Amano did very well. Lou helped by manning the shuttle run event, and Matt lent his and somewhat questionable taste in music to running the PA system.
Perhaps the reason that Amano did so well is that the school is absolutely sports mad. The secondary students have PE three times a week (including the cross-country which Matt did in week one and which almost killed him), and will then regularly go out on the sports fields to play football, volleyball, rugby, or go cycling just for fun. For us who aren't used to the 1500m altitude, keeping up with them is a near impossible task.
In many ways, this week has been quite a trying week, as the non-stop pace of life working in this school is starting to catch up to us. We're trusting that God will give us strength to continue to serve here as effectively as possible, but we'd appreciate your prayers on this matter also. But even as we are tired, we are made more aware of the great need for more staff to work in all areas of the school, but especially the dorm. With so few staff, and such odd hours of work, it is very easy to get tired very quickly. So we are seeing even more how important it is for us to be here even for this very short time, as it has (hopefully) given a break to those who've been working in the dorms for several years now.
Thank you all for your prayers and support this week. You are a continual encouragement to us.
Matt and Lou
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Week four update
WE SAW GIRAFFES!!!!
If you were to ask Lou how half term was, those would probably be the first words out of her mouth.
We got back from Nsobe game camp yesterday afternoon, after having a really wonderful couple of days away with a group of the other staff. Because of a clerical error, we were given the best lodges in the place for an outrageously cheap price, which were located about 5 kilometers from the main camp, and which was a popular feeding ground for the resident zebras, antelope, impala, and other varieties of deer. So it was all quite special. We had a great time enjoying the beauty of God creation and getting to know some of our new friends a little better.
The students are now back after half term, and we're just getting back into the swing of things. Both Matt and Lou will be teaching a little more this half term, so we've got lesson plans to do on top of our normal dorm duties, which will be somewhat increased this term because the German volunteers will all be leaving in the next couple of weeks. This means we shall be quite stretched for the last few weeks of term. So please pray that God will provide us with energy to work our hardest for the entire term.
It's continuing to get easier for Lou in the girls dorm as she gets to know the girls a little better each day. We're praying for deeper conversations, that we can be encouraging and helpful for the students as they learn more about Jesus day by day.
Thank you for all your support and prayers,
Matt and Lou
If you were to ask Lou how half term was, those would probably be the first words out of her mouth.
We got back from Nsobe game camp yesterday afternoon, after having a really wonderful couple of days away with a group of the other staff. Because of a clerical error, we were given the best lodges in the place for an outrageously cheap price, which were located about 5 kilometers from the main camp, and which was a popular feeding ground for the resident zebras, antelope, impala, and other varieties of deer. So it was all quite special. We had a great time enjoying the beauty of God creation and getting to know some of our new friends a little better.
The students are now back after half term, and we're just getting back into the swing of things. Both Matt and Lou will be teaching a little more this half term, so we've got lesson plans to do on top of our normal dorm duties, which will be somewhat increased this term because the German volunteers will all be leaving in the next couple of weeks. This means we shall be quite stretched for the last few weeks of term. So please pray that God will provide us with energy to work our hardest for the entire term.
It's continuing to get easier for Lou in the girls dorm as she gets to know the girls a little better each day. We're praying for deeper conversations, that we can be encouraging and helpful for the students as they learn more about Jesus day by day.
Thank you for all your support and prayers,
Matt and Lou
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Week three update
The school pretty much shuts down over the holidays.
This week has been half term, which means we've been able to stop and get our bearings a little bit after having jumped right in to life here. At the weekend we stayed with Steve and Jo Grove, helping out at their Friday youth club and being generally abused by their two young girls. They've been here for around 10 years and have seen many come to faith through their work in the youth club, which is amongst some of the poorest children in the area.
Since then, we've been back at school and trying to keep busy. Matt has been planning lessons for next half term - he'll be teaching bits of secondary English and IT - and Lou has been devouring novels and catching up with people in the UK. We've both also taken advantage of Hilary's cable TV (beamed straight from South Africa) and have witnessed England get knocked out on penalties (again) and the Brits to surprisingly well on the first few days of Wimbledon. To be honest, we can't wait for the kids to come back next week.
We did, however, witness a quite spectacular car crash. We were behind a car who slowed down to turn right but, as it did so a car attempted to overtake us (and about five cars behind us) and smashed into the car turning right. Luckily no-one was seriously hurt, although the driver of the car turning right was very shaken up. This has reminded us of the dangers we will face while traveling along the roads here.
On that note, we are leaving for Nsobe game park on Sunday, and will arrive back on Tuesday (Monday and Tuesday are publi holidays here) for the start of school on Wednesday. We're looking forward to this, as we'll be going with a group of the younger staff from Amano, and so we're hoping to build relationships as well as see some giraffes. Please do pray for safety as we make the three hour trip there.
Thank you all for supporting us, and for many of your kind e-mails.
Matt and Lou
This week has been half term, which means we've been able to stop and get our bearings a little bit after having jumped right in to life here. At the weekend we stayed with Steve and Jo Grove, helping out at their Friday youth club and being generally abused by their two young girls. They've been here for around 10 years and have seen many come to faith through their work in the youth club, which is amongst some of the poorest children in the area.
Since then, we've been back at school and trying to keep busy. Matt has been planning lessons for next half term - he'll be teaching bits of secondary English and IT - and Lou has been devouring novels and catching up with people in the UK. We've both also taken advantage of Hilary's cable TV (beamed straight from South Africa) and have witnessed England get knocked out on penalties (again) and the Brits to surprisingly well on the first few days of Wimbledon. To be honest, we can't wait for the kids to come back next week.
We did, however, witness a quite spectacular car crash. We were behind a car who slowed down to turn right but, as it did so a car attempted to overtake us (and about five cars behind us) and smashed into the car turning right. Luckily no-one was seriously hurt, although the driver of the car turning right was very shaken up. This has reminded us of the dangers we will face while traveling along the roads here.
On that note, we are leaving for Nsobe game park on Sunday, and will arrive back on Tuesday (Monday and Tuesday are publi holidays here) for the start of school on Wednesday. We're looking forward to this, as we'll be going with a group of the younger staff from Amano, and so we're hoping to build relationships as well as see some giraffes. Please do pray for safety as we make the three hour trip there.
Thank you all for supporting us, and for many of your kind e-mails.
Matt and Lou
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