Odds and bits

Hello all! Sorry this has been quite a while in the coming, I really have no excuse! How long has it been since I last wrote on here? A week and a bit I think… trying to think of all that has happened since then is pretty hard! Maybe if I work backwards, it could be quite a bit easier! Yesterday we started taking down a big tree in the next door neighbours garden, Uncle Colin killed it off a few months ago as it is far too big, it must be nearly 30metres! The only way to bring it down is to erect scaffolding up to each branch, bring that down, and then take it all down to move it around to the next branch! We are having to take the scaffolding up pretty high, I will add some pictures! It is good fun, but very tiring, and quite shaky work. It was over 40c today, so it was pretty hard working in the sun, especially glaring up into the sun, concentrating on cutting branches down while you balance on a tower around 10metres high!





On Monday I went with Uncle Colin to Francistown to get shopping for Aunty Christine. It was a really good journey up, seeing different sights on the way. We listened to Ministry by Grandad and others on the way up and back down again, so that was good. I went to the shopping centre while U/ Colin went to sort out the scaffolding which he was buying. It was quite strange wondering round the shop looking for all the food we needed, but it wasn’t too bad. One of the best things about living out here is the price of Cans is a LOT cheaper! it costs about 29p for a can, and it is the real business! Helps to keep your fluid intake up when cans of coke are so cheap :-P It was seriously hot on Monday as well, any metal I touched, or even the car seat was too hot really. As I was taking my shopping back to the car, this old man walked up and started talking to me, he obviously worked in the car park and he took my trolley off me saying he would take it to the car if I just went ahead and opened it. He was very nice but I wasn’t sure if he worked there or was just trying to take some of my shopping. I know it sounds very bad of me to think that, but it is really unfortunate that things like that can happen and it spoils it for everyone else who just wants to earn some money. We had a good chat about the weather and other such important things, and I gave him 4pula to say thank you. People like him would probably have worked in the car park and survived solely on tips. It really brings it home to you out here, here am I, comparatively rich just because I happened to be born in a certain country, and there are so many people out here who could live on the money that it cost me to buy this laptop. It does feel uncomfortable sometimes, thinking about so much that I have, so much that I take for granted, but how do you help people without being snobbish and condescending? Even thinking about the fortunate position I have makes me feel condescending! I was reading a book about a man called George Alagiah, You might have heard of him, He was the BBC’s correspondent to Africa for quite a while and has covered Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa and many more places. He goes into quite a lot of detail about the foreigners stance in Africa, and tells graphic stories about starvation, genocide and corruption. I know you might be sat reading this thinking “o, he is only young and idealistic” but the only way we lose our good ideals is by becoming old and boring, and since I cannot do anything about become old, I will just have to stay clear of being boring won’t I!! But seriously, as I sit here writing on my laptop, with my nice new MP4player by my side, and my comfortable clothes on… how many people are starving under the same sky? How many people are suffering pain? It just makes me uncomfortable as a Christian that’s all. I know it is all easy to say for us who don’t have to worry about the next meal, and it can be seen as petty foolishness, but I would like to make some difference.

Anyway, back to the time log! On Monday night we had the most amazing storm! It was SOOO cool! In both senses of the word :-P I stood outside on the porch for about 15mins and watched the rain and thunder, it made quite a show. As I was sat in my room just as the storm started, I was looking out of the window and I saw a ball of lightening hurtle down and hit the electric fence we have around the property! It was quite an experience! As the lightening hit, the fence alarm started (naturally!) the electricity when off for a bit and the house alarm went off! But it was really nice sitting up late just watching the rain come down. I definitely prefer the mix out here, lots of sun and what rain we get is a real treat instead of lots of rain and the minute amount of sun we get being a real treat!

Only Sunday I wasn’t feeling too well, some sort of blues I suppose! I had a bit of a headache and so on, was probably a pressure headache since we had rain that night.

Uncle Colin got back on Saturday night which was good, he had brought a screen cover and a plastic case for my Mp4 player (yes, more unnecessary buying!) which was good as it was getting a bit scratched! I didn’t do much on Saturday I don’t think, it was pretty hot all day. I did have a lie in which was a good start to the day!

On Friday I walked to the shops with Aunty Christine, we took Ethan in his pushchair, so that was good exercise. Then I went with Beth to the shops again to get some stuff we still need for the prize giving, we didn’t manage to get much, so if you want to fly out with some gifts for the kids feel free!

I am sorry, but I cannot really remember what I did in the days before Friday, I’m sure I worked very hard and all that!

Can I just ask for a small matter in prayer. A friend of my Uncle and Aunty has just been given one-three months to live because of cancer, she has just had their third child. Please pray for this family, none of us know God's mind, but we know he can heal, so it must be worth our prayers huh?

I really hope this has been interesting, I know there is a lot more that I can say, but if I leave it, maybe it will encourage me to do another one soon!

Have a good life y’all