Hello everyone,
Its hard to believe we are now in September, days are getting warmer and spring is here! Leaves on the trees are orange (like the Autumn) in UK but buds are on the same trees and its great to see life appearing after the winter (cold) season!
I am still at home although I moved house a week ago so am gradually getting settled yet again! I had another attempted break in which made me look for somewhere else to stay. So I moved to a different part of the city and am in a quiet place with a beautiful garden which I love. The other bonus is that I now have an office space. I was finding it difficult working from my dining table and that was well before schools closed, due to lack of space! I know many are in the same boat working from home but I am very thankful that I no longer have to do that!
Its been quite a challenging time in many ways for me. Although I am used to living alone, having little or no contact with people on a daily and weekly basis is quite stressful. Schools are still closed here and we have no idea when they will open as Covid-19 cases are still being reported daily! Churches are open but I am yet to go because I do not feel confident that all the health measures are properly in place. Our Synod meeting (like the General Assembly) has been postponed and cannot be done online due to network challenges across the country! Finding incentive to do anything some days is even a challenge!
But God is good and I have been having zoom calls with friends and family from different places across the globe - of course it is not the same as having face to face meetings with people but it is definitely better than nothing! I attended an online ECD conference (based in USA) which I definitely could not have gone to physically! I have been able to read a few books that I probably would not have read if I had been working as normal!
The past few days since moving, I have sorted through all my ECD stuff and am planning how to move forward when we can meet again as teachers and with the children. Power outages in Lusaka are crazy - often we have 10 hours without electricity and usually that is during the day. I am so very thankful that my landlord has now installed solar so that we can at least use our laptops and have lights even when power is out!
I have also been going through photos of my years in Malawi and am thinking about putting together some sort of book (maybe a coffee table book) so that people can at least enjoy the photos! Enjoy a few of them now!
So...while work is at a standstill, there is still plenty that I can do. I hope and pray that in the near future we will get back to some sort of normal working as I long to work with the teachers and children once again!
I leave you with some of the photos from the garden and surrounds here in Lusaka!
Till next time,
Diane x
Lovely to see your photos as always . Thanks for your honesty around the stresses of living alone. I sense there is much more behind this comment especially when I also read of your reasons for moving house. Praying protection for you and good neighbours and also praying that you will continue to enjoy capturing the wonders of God's creation. I look forward to that book! Maureen Bennett
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures, Diane! I hope that you have settled into your new home!! I am pleased to read from your latest Bulletin that schools have opened again, albeit on a restricted basis. With best wishes from John & Grace.
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