Days 5 & 6...

mmm...not quite sure where to start this evening. The last two days have fused into one long feeling of tiredness. You know the feeling where you've had a party late in to the evening and waken the next morning feeling exhausted? Well, it's nothing like that. Imagine a party that goes late into the following week and you'll get a little closer.


I'm delighted to report that the building work has forged ahead and we have now reached block 7 level all round the staff house - this may not impress anyone else, but it has fairly stirred the emotions of the building team! Three clear factions have emerged in the battle to erect this superstructure, (which would doubtless be visible from space with the right telescope). The combined wisdom of many years has blended to create a senior league team in the form of Ivan and Scott Senior. These two have refined the art of laying and relaying blocks using the 'Jacarson block tilting' technique (further information may be available from an appropriately phrased Google). This rather gentlemanly approach has been challenged by the raw power of Jon & Jonny. Team JJ has reset the upper limits of block laying terminal speeds through pure brawn, supplemented from time to time with a little brain. Working together in pure poetic motion, they move like an F1 pit crew setting string lines, laying mortar beds and flinging 20kg blocks onto the walls as if they were made of concrete. Last and not quite least, Scott Junior and Magoo (generally aided by Ricky when he's not dead, but a bit more of that shortly) have showed remarkable tenacity and determination in continually fixing the work carried out by others. If all goes according to plan, the walls (inculding a cast ring beam above block 8) will be completed by next Monday evening.

The medical guys have really found their feet and are engaging actively with the classes on critial issues associated with their health. It is apparent that (much like in N Ireland) there is a great deal of misunderstanding of various health issues, particularly around sexual behaviour. Debbie has also identified a couple of cases where an increasing serious corneal infection has the potential to lead to blindness if not treated pretty swiftly.

Please pray for the teams as they approach the end of this challenging week. They have already made an enormous impact on the school and we hope this will continue well into the future. I know that the staff block will bring much needed financial relief as the school has to meet the cost of rent for staff in the local village. I also believe that the young people will benefit in all sorts of ways from what they have been taught about thier health and about the good news which brings the ultimate in good health - eternal life'

Meanwhile, I'm happy to report that the reports of Ricky's death are greatly exaggerated. He and Sarah took today (Thursday) off work to rest due to feelings of exhaustion. When the young lads who had been playing football with him earlier in the week heard about this, they danced around the playground singing 'Ricky's dead!' - an interesting perception... I'm glad to be able to inform you that both Ricky and Sarah are feeling much better this evening.

Tomorrow will be the last day at Glory for Education school for most of us and the teams are already sad about the impending separation. We hope to present gifts to the school in the afternoon and close down the medical and kids' clubs, buth the building will continue into next week. So I'll sign off now and thank you for reading thus far. If all goes according to plan (Ha!), we will be in Jinja (a resort at the head of the Nile) for a bit of R&R this weekend. If t'internet extends thus far, I'll tell you more. If not, please feel free to use your imagination!

Take care,

'McBlogger'