Another Footprint

Hi every one

You will be pleased to know that I did not bash the Bishop... I pleaded and begged him to make a difference and put it in writing as well - he was already planning to visit the school and should be there by now. He agreed to look into the situation. It was amazing how easily I got an audience with him. God is good.

Owen and Rebecca and Philan came home for the long weekend holiday which was great. We chatted every day and then I took Owen to Ndola for 2 days so we could attend an interview for him to see if they would accept him into Chiwala Boys High School - a govt school where the late President attended. Of course Owen is such a lovely young man they accepted him but he then told me he was too afraid to shift. I was gobsmacked.. after all my effort etc.... BUT I wasnt going to force him and sent him back to that awful school at Mutanda.

I asked him to pray about what God wanted for him and wouldnt you know it he text me last night to say, "Hi grandmum I have decided to go to Chiwala Boys next term." So the saga is almost over. Its taken two months and hundreds of kms travelling into the most isolated areas - it seems thats where the good schools are. Rebecca has decided to stay where she is and quite frankly I dont have the energy to to do anything but accept her decision. I have agreed to attend the Mutanda PTA meeting 31 July to propose some ideas for immediate upgrade. That should prove intertesting... maybe the Bishop has done the job already... I am definitely leaving footprints on the schools in this area. The three schools in the area now have Christian headmasters.

The other exciting footprint in the area is that Rabbi has successfully registered as a nomineee for the local by-election next month. Registration day was a huge day. We began at 8am meeting the people. Our transport didnt arrive, we organised more. I shook hundreds of hands, even danced for the crowd to their drums - they laughed at my efforts.. When the successful nominees were announced they covered Rabbi with meal flour and he was white...they lifted him to their shoulders and carried him across the road to where he had arranged for speeches and a meal.. I was moved to tears. He is very popular - now he needs to keep the momentum going until 13th August which is election day. Dr Robi and Noleen I thought of you that day - your mentoring has born fruit. Although he is standing as a councillor it is very political and he has his sights on Parliament in 2011.

I have been invited by the Chief to attend a ceremonial day on July 27th. Many local people will attend and Rabbi has arranged for 14 of our nursery school kids to dance for the Chief. I am so proud of them and this week have been busy sewing them special costumes - a labour of love. David I wish you were here to see them. The school has added such a positive note to the area. Its not just one footprint its many... These small children are learning english and now chant,"Goodbye teacher we are going home." But they are also learning their traditional language, songs and dances. I have ordered a truck to carry us there and food for them - this is not NZ and the children will sit on the back of a truck.

Tomorrow the Womens Sewing Club is holding a celebration of their success with a lunch party. I am in town today to buy food supplies. Chickens, potatoes, rice etc.... They also voted to give themselves a small payout of money. They have been the leaders in the community to create change and are setting an example for the co-operative which is slow getting started. I am very proud of them. More than that we have a good strong bond even though they dont speak english. Its amazing. I have asked one of our teachers to help me learn more of the local language - so thats my next challenge. Could I ever be content to stay at homne in Australia or NZ again??

I have been praying for an assistant, maybe a dedicated married couple who could come and help. There is so much work to be done. The poverty strikes at my heart every day. So please pray with me for a wonderful assistant. And also please pray for a vehicle preferably a land rover because the roads are rough. I waste such a lot of time hitching rides and lugging supplies home on the bus is a challenge. Walking more than half a km is too difficult for me now and climbing into the big trucks almost impossible.

I wish you could all come and visit me and see for yourselves the delightful people I serve. Sometimes I want to throttle them its true but mostly I just love them.

God bless each and everyone of you
Durelle