Hi everyone,
I had intended to update the blog a couple of weeks ago but I have been struggling to get any free time!
March was a very busy month travelling to Mazabuka to visit our ECD centre twice, and employing a new teacher there! Now we have three teachers and a cleaner to cope with 60 children!
 |
| The Head teacher second from right |
It is so exciting to see the teacher putting their theory into action! Having 60 children is quite a challenge and I was surprised to see them all busy with very little noise when I arrived! As soon as they saw the camera that changed!!
I had a wonderful invitation to do some lecturing at Justo Mwale University on Early Childhood Development as part of their Youth and Children's ministry course! I really enjoyed it..but now I have to mark exams!!! Some of the students are our own CCAP ministers!!
I went with a few friends to a coffee farm not far from Mazabuka for the weekend! Beautiful place with wonderful walks through the farm! On the second day it rained heavily and I was driving home through a river! Rains have been very sporadic this year and extremely heavy in Southern province where there has been a lot of flooding! Of course that means everything is really green and lush.
At the end of March I set off with Rev Kabaghe and one of our church partners to Lundazi to do a monitoring activity with our Relief and Development department. I was part of the same activity 2 years ago and I love getting out into the rural areas to see and talk to people!
Relief and Development department have a project with 4 components - conservation agriculture, nutrition, gender justice and village savings and loans! All of them are making a remarkable difference in the lives of the people who are involved!
 |
| discussing different types of maize |
 |
| Inspecting the maize |
 |
| talking to the people |
 |
| Gender justice meeting |
 |
| Nutrition group |
 |
| Nutrition group explaining how orange maize is helping for children's nutrition |
 |
| Village savings and loans group |
 |
| taken through the hole in the door! |
Home from Lundazi and straight into a week of teacher training here in Lusaka with teachers from Southern Presbytery! We now have 10 teachers and it is really encouraging to see how their understanding of young children has developed over the years. We made plans for next terms work as well as learning about progression in children's learning! An enjoyable but tiring week!
Of course, during the training they also made some materials using rubbish to take home to their centres!
This year at Easter I went with a friend to South Luangwa national park where we spend a very relaxing two days (mind you it takes a day to drive there and a day to drive back which was not so relaxing)! Saw some amazing animals and fabulous bird life....my bush fix for a while!
Now, I am looking forward to the Spiritual retreat that we are having for our Pastors which happens next week! Part of it is in Lusaka and part in Lundazi so more travelling!!
Then I am heading back to Ireland (hopefully) for a break and to do some deputation! Looking forward to seeing some of you...my first time back in the UK in the summer months in 26 years!!! Long evenings....
The sunflowers on top are from Eastern province where there are fields and fields of them - always reminding me of Ukraine and the suffering of the people there, especially of the displaced children. Praying that the war will be over soon.
The poinsettia below are from a bush in the garden...quite stunning at this time of year!
Stay safe...until next time.
Diane x
Comments
Post a Comment