Wednesday 8th May 2019

Africa always delivers the unexpected. We were having a quiet dinner with our friends Derick and Lilian on Sunday evening when the local police commander, with a very large truncheon, demanded to know who we were and what we were doing in Mafinga. Apparently, there have been some western conmen operating on local churches in the area. The police commander was then joined by a drunken gentleman who claimed to be the District Commissioner and demanded we appear at his office the following morning. We were polite to the police commander and ignored the other who soon shuttled away.

On arriving in Njombe, the unexpected was bliss, Our en suite attracted some laughter two years ago but the whole in the floor and the bucket showers are no more.

The estimable Polikapo welcomed us to Njombe. Polikapo is of half a two man all purpose diocesan office who is always willing to help. It's a bit like the St. Asaph office being reduced to just Graham Walker and Diane McCarthy!

Surprisingly, it's been quiet at the convent in Njombe. The number of nuns here seems much reduced and they are working so hard, time for socialising is much reduced. Usually, we have lots of visitors but two of our best friends are now hundreds of miles away.

Today, we've been in school. We are pleased that the wall displays are much improved and that group work is now an every day event since headteacher, David Mgoye visited N. Wales in 2017. The quality of stand-up teaching is excellent given the large classes of up to 57. There were only two minus points but both serious. Despite Roz's best efforts two years ago, the alphabet is still taught by letter names rather than letter sounds. In a lesson to the top class on HIV/AIDS, some of the content was questionable and failed to emphasise the principal means by which the disease is spread and the best methods of prevention.




Otherwise, it was great fun. Behaviour is impeccable and no child ever complains against another.

Folk in North Wales often think we're off to a tropical climate. We're living at 6,000 feet and the last few days of stormy, wet and cold weather would have done justice to North Wales. Temperatures have been as low as 11 degrees and the only heating is the log fire in the convent guest wing lounge by which I'm presently sat. Thankfully, this afternoon, the sun peeked out and the temperature climbed to 19 degrees.

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