Since last time

It is nearing the end of January (believe it or not!) and I feel it is high time for a newsy blog. I shall try to cast my mind back to what has happened since we last wrote but it’s been a while! Sorry for the long absence but it has, of course, been a busy season. Also, it’s been nice to have so much contact from folks back home in the form of cards, parcels and emails. We have tried to give individual thanks (yours may be winging its way to you right now!) but if you have slipped through the net please receive our warm thanks for everything you’ve sent. We have been very touched to be remembered so much.

My up-to-the-minute news is that I have just had my first ‘ants in the pants’ experience after 2 years in Tanzania! (That is in the American AND the English sense of the word! Ouch! ) In case you are not up to speed we have siafu here – biting ants that climb your legs before latching on. Somehow I have managed to avoid this nasty experience up to now. Either this is because I am observant and able to nimbly jump their lines or because Matt is usually blazing a trail in front so usually bears the brunt of the attack!

As well as marking another special day (someone’s 27th birthday!) Tuesday 19th January 2010 marked 2 years since coming to Tanzania. We really can’t believe how much the time as flown. I guess this is because there’s been so much to do. Funny how, despite this, you can feel like you’ve hardly made a dent in the work! Now seems a good time to look back and take stock. We are pleased with what we have accomplished but also feel encouraged to ‘hold things lightly’, knowing the work is not ours alone – there is a bigger plan than this and what we need to do is to be obedient.

Currently we have the blessing of being able to take a few days out of our schedule to rest and reflect thanks to a Christmas present from family. It is lovely to have some down-time in beautiful surroundings in the southern highlands of Tanzania. We are able to enjoy the gorgeous view of hills, valleys and lakes while a swallow family dive in and out of their nest above us! Unfortunately we have not been able to be as active as we’d like as we are both ill but we can’t think of a better place to recuperate either.

The last few months haven’t been as easy as they might have been. I (Liz) have been ill on and off since the beginning of December. It has been very frustrating and upsetting to keep feeling like you are getting stronger before suddenly getting sick again. Also, it has cut back my productivity a great deal. We are unsure what to do, except for scale back Liz’s hours in the office so she is able to take life a bit easier, as tests have shown nothing and so far doctors haven’t been able to diagnose the problem. Somehow, through this I am learning not to trust in my own strength but to have my hope in God.

Since we last wrote there has been Christmas. We only started to think about this a few days in advance really so it kind of snuck up on us. Thankfully a few preparations here and some decorations and goodies from the UK helped to get us in the mood. We had a quiet time. Our friend, Katherine came to stay for a few days as her house was empty and we had a couple more friends, Andrea and Elizabeth, for lunch on Christmas day (hence the picture above!). Apart from that there was a lot of reading, watching dvds and general chilling out done. New Years also passed without a big fuss. We enjoyed good food, company and a few fireworks over Mbeya when the clock struck twelve.

Another big landmark has been the office move at the start of January. Though the office was just moving 5 minutes down the road, as you can imagine, there was lots to be done. In the Literacy office, especially, there was much packing up and sorting out needed as we are probably the department with the most stuff! This was a good opportunity to get things organised that are normally just shelved and now we are feeling a lot tidier and more ‘lightweight’. I have been designated keeper of the archive of materials produced and that is a job that appeals to my orderly nature! We are enjoying our new offices and starting to feel more settled. They certainly have a lot of benefits compared to the old one – more space, less dusty, less noisy and a restaurant a few seconds away! Of course, the problems of power cuts are ever-present!!

Well, I’d better sign off as I think that’s enough news for now. I’m sure I have missed many things though. Hope you’ve all had a happy Christmas, new year and start to 2010!