Monday, 8 December 2008

Here I am to Worship

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came To the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor.

We sang this today on the Bocaria. This blew me away. I am standing in the church on the dump with the poorest children in Africa singing about the Light of the world stepping down into darkness. Surely this is some of the darkest darkness the song is talking about.

All for love’s sake became poor. This is Mozambique, these are some of the poorest kids, they are all important to God, these are the people he would have been sitting among worshiping with today.

So here I am to Worship, here I am to say, God this is all about you. Here I am to stop for the one and love, and hug and show them they matter.

These kids today know what it is to have Gods love, these kids are Princes and Princess of the Kingdom and I got to share this with 300 of them today.

One of the girls was standing in front of me just totally lost in worshiping, the kids around her were trying to distract her but she was lost in Gods presence today. Just an amazing sight. Some days here are hard and that’s ok but some days I feel I can’t believe I get to be a part of this.

Saturday, 6 December 2008

Christmas is coming

To be honest with the heat of Mozambique I am finding it all to easy too forget that it’s December and we are 3 weeks away from Christmas.

A pleasant reminder as I walked through the sand this morning was hearing the Baby House singing Jingle Bells at 7.45 this morning. I am not sure they weren’t using it to say grace… not sure about the theology of that, but hey… they were so happy and that’s what counts.

Hanging out with the kids in the Baby House is a lot of fun. There are over 30 of the little bundles of joy. Most of whom are walking and a lot also talking or beginning to. They really are lovely. If you are looking for some peace and quiet this is NOT the place to go, if however you are looking for some rough and tumble play and laughing and dribbling this is exactly where you want to be. On my first visit, those who were babies are now 2.5 years old. It has been lovely over my trips to see them develop and grow.

Walking though the playground they are so happy digging in the sand, climbing on the slide and generally making a lot of noise.
The other thing I have to be aware of walking through the playing ground is to expect at any moment one of the slightly older kids to jump off a pole and expect me to catch them with no warning! It certainly stopped my heart the first few times it’s happened, but am getting a little more used to it now.

To be looking towards Christmas here does feel very strange. There are some Christmas lights and fake trees! What there are lots of, are freaky Pai Natal’s (Father Christmas). I feel like it is bad enough here without the pain of remembering Christmas with a freaky Santa. Of course here on the centre we tell the true story of Christmas.

Christmas came a lot closer this afternoon when I helped my friend's dorm put up their Christmas Tree. See the photos! It was a lot of fun with many little helpers.

I had another strange experience today when I was walking though the centre and saw one of the old kids wearing a t shirt I had donated on a previous trip! I didn’t like to tell him that firstly it was a girls T-shirt and secondly it was meant to be worn by a big girl!. That also explains where it was when I was looking to pack it! Oh well at least its being used.

Here are some photos of Lucia, the newest arrival in the nursery.





Wednesday, 3 December 2008

What a crate day!

A small update, not much happening as am working hard on CD. Almost done!

On Monday Kids Church had over 200 there. It was a little manic to say the least but we are expecting it to increase in the run up to Christmas.

Have you ever thought about how you would like to be buried? Well last night while driving I came across a new option.

Being buried under Coca Cola crates – Tons of them! Was out last night in the city and we were tailing a truck piled high with coke crates. Looking at it I did think – I wonder are they full or empty and what would happen if they fell off.
We had stopped at a junction to turn right onto the main road out of Mozambique when this car cut us up and moved in between us and the truck which at this stage was swerving round the corner to go up the slip road. Then there was this almighty crash and noise as all the crates started to fall off the truck and hit the car and local buses (Sharpas) around us… thankfully we were spared any damage because we were one car further back. The bus beside us was damaged and I hate to think of the noise for the people who were sitting in that little tin can as they clattered on top of them! It was a miracle we were not hit! All the way down the road we were the car behind! And now we were saved because of the impatience of another driver!

Driving in Mozambique is MAD and often by faith. Mum – if/when you come, the only way I am driving you is if you wear a blindfold and are heavily sedated.

Cars and vans often drive at night with no back lights and sometimes only one front light and often that is not working. People step out in front of cars day and night. Today my friend witnessed a mother with her baby tied to her front walk straight out in the car beside her. The mother got up quite quickly, but there was no noise from the baby so she doesn’t know if it survived.

Talking about survival the new Baby in the nursery Lucia is doing better. She is gaining weight and has a beautiful smile. It’s still early days and prayer is still needed.

Sunday, 30 November 2008

The little moments



Take my hand.

Take my hand, you can trust me, I will try to make it right.
Take my hand, I’ll defend you and watch over as you sleep at night.
Take my hand, can we do this together, we’ll both stand up and fight.
Take my hand, let’s look forward, in this dark world you are the light.

The above picture is the hand of the newest member of the family here. Her name is Lucia and she is 8 months. Without knowing it she is a story of hope, without knowing it she is a miracle.

About 5 months ago 2 of the missionaries here had been tracking her health as at that time is wasn’t great. She had been coming to the milk feeding programme with her mother. Then one week she wasn’t there. Sadly as the weeks went by they had assumed she had died. But on Thursday the mother brought her back to the clinic here on site. It was a miracle to see her alive.


As she is malnourished and has a bad skin complaint it was decided that for a while she should come and live here so we can provide the care needed at the moment. Her mother is welcome to visit and hopefully we can help her too as she is not very well.

I sat with Lucia today for what seemed like ages as she tightly gripped my hand. She is a fighter, if she wasn’t I wouldn’t have been sitting holding her hand, I am sure she will make it and grow to be strong. It will take time, care and love from many people but like so many of the kids here, they all have a story and all are miracles. Pray for her over these days. She is getting used to new people, new surroundings and also being away from her mother.

Today it feels like I have made a new friend (Lucia) and connected with an old.

I went for a walk with a dorm of 8 kids in the heat of today (which if it weren’t for the kids was madness). I thought we were just heading down to the football pitch but no… out into the community where I have never been before. It was nice as we walked along and I pulled out thorns from their feet and chatted to their Tia in my little Portuguese. She is very good with them. Her name is Sonia. She and the kids laughed at me today as they tried to teach me their alphabet - only singing it. Well I was getting so confused and mixing my letters up. I must practice tonight so I can proudly sing it back to them tomorrow.

On my way back from the walk I met an old friend. This girl come running up to me and said “what is my name, what is my name?”. I knew straight away who she was. It’s my friend Jentrude (she is in the bottom left hand corner of the paryer card). I wrapped my arms around her and said “Hey Jentude, how are you?” She said “you DO remember me”. What a moment.

That moment showed me the point of stopping for the one. When I arrived here in 07, she was the first girl I had real contact with. Somewhere there are photos of us sharing names in the sand as we didn’t speak each others language. Now it’s fair to say her English is a lot better than my Portuguese. From that small moment a few years ago hopefully I will have shown her that I remembered her and she made a difference to me.

Saturday & Surround Sound Speakers

Saturday: 105 degrees – what better than a swim in a place off centre, there was also a gentle breeze which helped. It was bliss lying listening to music by a pool. I promise there is hard work happening in the other 6 days of the week. However the sun and I don’t always get along so today my shoulders are a little sore.

Sat night I got to go out for Thai food! We were saying goodbye to two of the long termers here. It was good food and great company.

Before going to the restaurant we dropped into Maputo Hyper Market where I found myself in the unusual position of walking round a mall with no kids and no one else with me. It was so strange, I kept looking round to make sure they were with me – of course they weren’t!

Me being me, I headed straight to the technology area. It’s nice to see someplace where I can buy my own kettle if I need to, oh and the biggest and widest flat screen television you could ever want! Of course 5.1 surround sound speakers and I am sure the cardboard they come in will provide a good home for one of the street boys to sleep under.

How in this world can there be such extremes in a reasonably small capital. I walked out of the store feeling so sick, almost hating every piece of modern technology ever made. (I have gotten over that as I am very thankful for my laptop and internet access). Hopefully you get my point.

Friday, 28 November 2008

Wall of sound

This picture sums up my last few days and what I have been staring at…

This is the editing program Protools which we are using to edit the songs on to make the CD.

My break from this yesterday was to go and help with sound for church! Church last night was excellent. The kids were being taught on how to hear the voice of God. We gave the kids a bit of space for 30 mins to listen to God and draw pictures or write words they heard him say to them. It was an amazing sight. All ages fully engaged. I can’t wait to see the pictures, we are hoping to use one for the CD cover. I know kids hear clearly from God much more than adults because they don’t come with the scepticism that adults can, or the personal agendas. Church was very special last night.

Today was more of the same and then my weekly trip to Shoprite. So my plan today was to go to Woolworths (which I know has just gone bust in the UK) then to Shoprite. However Woolworths here is like M&S back home. So you know already the food will be a little more pricy but today I thought as I am in new territory going into 3rd week it would be worth it. Sadly I didn’t go as mad as I had hoped (the exchange rate isn’t great at the moment) but I did manage to find a lovely pasta sauce which I have just eaten. Yum.

When you exit Shoprite you must show your receipt to the security guard who has a quick look round the trolley, scribbles on the paper and you exit. So I am slowly walking back to the van. Suddenly it hits me…. I don’t have enough groceries…where is my chicken and burgers and the drinks I bought. Agggh panic… I am going to have to go back in, lift MY shopping and somehow convince the security guard that it is mine even though my receipt has been signed. All this time thinking I will probably end up in Jail for “shoplifiting”. I have no passport and how do I explain that I was stupid and left my groceries behind… what is the word for groceries in Portuguese anyway, why didn’t I pay better attention in my language class! Anyhow you will be glad to know, that they actually let me out after finding a security guard who spoke English, he didn’t really care and I am out and home with no mention of thieving or police… Phew, not do that one again.

Maputo is an interesting place. You see all manner of things in a 30min drive. Local buses are bursting at the seems and some even about to fall over! All sorts of things for sale at the side of the road, kids are playing, delapitaded buildings, junk, people pulling karts etc. Each time we go to Shoprite we drive past the bocaria and it does help me remember why I am here and also what the important things are in life and not to worry about security guards at Shoprite.

Leaving the shopping centre I witness a guy being chased by a group of men throwing stones/rocks at him. I am assuming that he had stolen something and so, because the police don’t really care, the locals take the law into their own hands and this is the result, people get stoned and beaten and sometimes to death if the community feels the crime is severe enough. The guy today did seem to be holding his own.


Today has been a pleasant 105F! So here's hoping for a cool night's sleep.

Thursday, 27 November 2008

Essential Survival in Mozambique

Today was like a mini Christmas for me as a received two presents from a friend here. I would also like to add to very essential presents which will ensure my survival here in Mozambique.

Firstly for those of you who are still getting to know me here’s another thing you need to know– I don’t do so well without coffee esp in the morning! I packed my small cafetiere to bring out with me. Sadly when I opened my rucksack I was met with the sound of shattered glass. I can hear the cry “Well just buy another one”. That isn’t as simple here, when you do find one which I did, the price tag was 1,500mts. Now the exchange rate isn’t good at the moment I think it’s about 40mt = £1. So you can do the math. Tempting and all as it was I couldn’t justify that so had to face reality that I would be surviving withdrawal and grabbing a cup at anyone else’s house when I could.
I had been plotting how I could get one sent out with any visitors or long termer this side of Christmas.
However a miracle happened! Look what I got. Isn't it a thing of beauty!




A friend found it in a shop for 200 mets which I was more than willing to part with. Horray…… I am sooooooooo happy and for those who have been supporting me in the plight of the shattered cafetiere can now breathe for what was broken has now been replaced.

My second essential survival present is below.



What is it: It’s a mosquito zapping racket. It electrocutes the mosquitoes. This is so much fun. I have killed 3 so far, but my pesky little friends have been biting the ankles and legs off me. So now its time for revenge and I am going to enjoy it. You see a mosquito, hit it with the racket and you can hear it fry and smell it burn. Upon killing on it also gives off a very satisfying blue flash as the mossy dies. I am sure Mosquitoes are not protected under cruelty to animals so war has begun. This new weapon will surely help me win.

Wednesday, 26 November 2008

Oh Smokin'

Well for those of you who have been following this will know it’s been a few days since I wrote, so sorry.

So here is a brief glimpse of the last few days.

Monday:
The main event was the Bocaria. I love this hour each Monday with the kids and yet somehow it’s quite a hard hour (for the English – there’s another hard phrase to say with a Northern Irish accent!).

I was not relishing the thought of going and the only reason for that was the heat. You can be pretty sure that if the centre is hot then the dump will be much hotter. However this Monday did have a bit of a breeze which was very welcome. What I wasn’t expecting was the thick smoke coming off the dump. I came home and had a shower and was convinced that one of the kids was having a crafty cigarette outside my window but the smell was actually my smokey clothes in the other room.

I know some people really struggle with going to the Bocaria and I can understand that. This really isn’t a place for those with delicate stomachs with the smells, smoke and also the sight of tonnes of rotting rubbish and people working on it trying to make a living. It really can be overwhelming.

I sat beside a 5yr old boy who was looking after his baby brother. He was trying unsuccessfully to get him to sleep, so the kid looked to me and offered the baby to me as if to say I don’t know what else to do, please will you. So I took the baby to get it to sleep and more importantly so that the kid could have a chance at being a kid and not have to get his baby brother to sleep. So off he went to sit with the older guys who were listening and chatting away and just being boys. The ash was thick on the kids today.

In my world life is too short to find and wear matching socks, odd socks are the way to go. Why waste time when you know that the machine has probably eaten one – so grab 2 socks and away you go. At least 5 mins saved. Today I came across a new sight. Odd shoes! An older guy in church was wearing odd shoes. Now I am not ready to run with this idea just yet.

I know I am kind of making light of this but the harsh truth is this guy had been coming to church for a long time and he has an alcohol problem. Two weeks ago Samaritans Feet were here giving out new shoes to people from the dump and this guy was given a new pair of Nike Air trainers. Today he is wearing two different shoes because I reckon he has sold and most likely undersold them to get money for booze. There is no program here to help people with a drink problem and beer is so cheap in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if water cost more.

Monday evening: Had a cockroach crawl across me…. … EUCK!!! I hate the bugs in Africa, please see below for a little friend I have in my room at the moment. Sweet.

Tues: Editing CD. I am hopeful it might even sound ok. Oh and a 30th Bday Bar B Que. Yumm…….

So on to today. At 2.30 our time it was 100F in the shade! Madness…Well what else do you do when it's that temp but head to the pool. Oh yes, we took kids from the Baby House who had not really been this summer before. Seeing my wee friend Yuran in the water was lovely, he is quite cautious of it so taking him in my arms and wading into the water was very special as he clung on for life.

Today I discovered I have another use. I make a good buoyancy aid for small kids! With 3 or 4 on my back at one stage they laughed, screamed and shouted their way round the pool. I loved it. The other funny thing of course is to hold my head underwater, I on the other hand wasn’t so much seeing the funny side as I started to turn blue! (so slight exaggeration or I wouldn’t be sitting here writing now).

Sunday, 23 November 2008

Beautiful Day

To all of those who are reading in the freezing climate of the UK sorry you may want to stop reading now.

Today has been hot hot hot! Today has also been the first day since leaving the UK that I have listened to my own music. The first song to come on was Beautiful Day by U2 and I couldn’t have picked a better song.

Well church was long and loud, I think in Mozambique loudness is next to Godliness!
So was desperate for some me time, had been sweating over the sound desk for too long this morning, and somehow the equipment isn’t working. Sigh! (Oh and it was nothing to do with me sweating on it I may add!!!)

I thought I would get some domestic chores done – sorry to all of you who don’t like the fact that I had to do washing on the Sabbath but really it was a necessity and also the machine WAS working. So two loads later I headed out to the kids.

The baby house has just made it to the play ground. Yeah, sitting in the sand with the sun blazing down - just bliss. Some of the kids were having a treat and got to play in the paddling pool, so I thought I would go see how it was going.

Today I had intended to get my washing done, but what I hadn’t intended was to wash the clothes while wearing them.

The kids thought it would be great to have a water fight. Well for those of you who know me, know I am really not one for a water fight and do my very best NOT to start one or get everyone around me soaked. Well I did all I could. But, somehow and I really don't know how, I got totally soaked!! Mama Chris, Mama Chris Agua!!!!! The laughs and screams of all the kids in the pool, it just seemed unfair not to join in.

It really has been a Beautiful Day.

Saturday, 22 November 2008

Nao, Obrigada!

It doesn’t matter how many times you say it, the street sellers they still don’t take No for an answer. Today I could have bought: a pair of jeans, some cashew nuts, a delightful musical keyboard, perfume, belts, sunglasses, socket adapters and a windscreen wiper (cause I have so much use for that). This is the joy of shopping in the city. I went in today to get off base for a bit and see more of Maputo. I still can’t believe that as I am driven along the coastline it’s the Indian Ocean I am looking at with Palm Trees.

I went today with a friend and we took 2 of the boys from her house. It’s amazing to be out with 2 boys who don’t complain that all we were doing was shopping. They are just happy to be out seeing the city. Today felt like a day shopping with a friend in London for church events. We started at the cash and carry which was an experience, then headed to the Maputo Mall which is a very western place. Then back to Shoprite. Of course there was lunch in between. Hummmm a burger and chips! The simple things make a girl very happy.

There was also a Graduation from the University so lots of people walking around in gowns and mortar boards and today was extremely hot.

Just in case you have forgotten what I look like as it is 1.5 weeks since I left here is a photo. This is one of the girls from my friend's House. She has been on the centre a few months. Oh and of course a Pato (Duck).


Thursday, 20 November 2008

All you need is Sound.

Tonight I feel so alive. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would get to mix live sound in Africa let alone for a session like tonight. I honestly think there was dusk falling from the speakers. It was kinda loud. This is all in the hope that from this we will have enough stuff for the CD. It will be raw but it will be the real heart of Zimpeto on a Thursday night. Having dreaded opening the studio door this morning for what I thought would be another day of frustration I am going to bed now with a sense of excitement and wonder as to how much fun the editing will be.

So on this note of joy I thought I would share another very special story. If you can be bothered, scroll down and read the entry on Dino from the 15th Feb. I have been waiting to see how he is doing 9 months after I left. Iris here has a great number of stories of kids who have come in severely malnourished and are now blooming. Well as it turns out it’s the same story of hope for Dino.

This pic is when he arrived aged 17 months.

The below was taken this week. Dino is just thriving.

Wednesday, 19 November 2008

Election Day

So today is Election Day. Not nearly as big as an event as the US 2 weeks ago but still a public holiday none the less. Like all public holidays in the UK the bar out side the compound was rammed with people well men to be exact. No I wasn’t joining them (nor was I even tempted!) but merely out buying credit for my phone.

The hairdresser was open which for a holiday seems strange but after all this is Mozambique and there are no rules. Women sitting under those massive blow dryers in the heat I felt ready to pass out just thinking about their core temperature.

So off I toddle to the studio for my days editing and mixing… when will I learn that this is Africa and never expect to get done what you want to do in a day. I get there and the boys have borrowed half the computer over night. I am left with the main computer but no power cables and only a keyboard…. Deep sigh and a looming deadline. Hunting them down was impossible.

It seems I never learn and I like to give myself a challenge. I trained as a sound engineer in a time when it really wasn’t “appropriate” for women to be in the sound industry I do think in the last 10 years that has changed slightly. (Hence the soundgirl name – I got fed up with all the lads talking about soundmen in my presence). Anyway it seems that there is a similar way of thinking about women in Mozambique, so I am going to have to gently convince the lads that this sound girl does actually know what she is doing…well within reason. Hopefully tomorrow evening at church we can get things in place.

So that left me with a day which I had to fill. Not too hard really head to the baby house and nursery for feeding time. I really need the washing machine working again as this feeding thing is NO joke. Today I am on my 3 t-shirt. 2 of the kids refuse to eat and so spit it back at you. Well there is more of their food on me than went into the stomachs. At one point it took 3 adults to feed one baby. I was exhausted.

For those of you who know about my nappy changing “skills” you will be glad to know that I have successfully completed my first nappy change this morning. I am glad to report baby, I and surrounding furniture have survived.

I seem to have reached new levels with my language today. I confidently walked up to one of the boys and spoke to him in Portuguese only to have him answer me back in English! This type of game I don’t get. It felt a little like being in Paris when the French waiters reply in the opposite language to the one you have made the effort to speak to them in. It is weird to have the babies I fed on my first visit now talking to me and say Bye Bye as I leave. Bless them is all that can be said.

Well tonight for the first time I got to see the stars. No rain tonight and a lovely African star filled sky. So I am off to bed hoping to be sleeping alone tonight and no little creatures in the mossy net with me.

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Friends Old and New

It’s amazing in less than a week I have lots of new friends. I can’t quite believe it. They love to come and see me at night and after a while they like to come and sit on me and try and suck the blood from me. Yes you have guessed it Mosquitoes. I have a few bites and am trying desperately not to scratch and yes mum I am remembering to take my tablets every day. But they are relentless. The slightest opportunity and they are there. Though it nice to feel loved by such “special” little bugs!.

The new nursery opened on Monday the official grand opening is Friday. It’s a lovely room where we can house up to 8 babies up to 6 months old. It could be a very busy room. We have moved two from the Baby House into the nursery at the moment with the expectation once word is out it will fill up very quickly.

Was back the garbage dump today for Kids Church. It was so busy possibly because it is school holidays here or maybe because there were a team here last week giving away shoes and so those that didn’t come came in the hope there would be extra. What ever the reason it was brilliant. We are teaching the armour of God at the moment and seeing the kids stand up putting real armour on (ok so was its plastic) reminded me of walking across Clapham Common in the mornings taking my wee friend to school and us both putting our Armour on each morning. It’s great to see the same thing in Mozambique and London and yet made me realise I kinda miss the wee monkey back home.

Really what is with the thunderstorms here? It’s not funny anymore, I know that the last time I was here I conquered my fear a lot but tonight found me under my sheet again…. Ok one day I will stay up through it all.
Well the audio is getting edited. The brain cells are really being used at the moment it’s been a while since I have used Protools. My Portuguese is now almost fluent and so it now lets me talk to 2-3 yr olds. I am thinking what more will I need to know. This level of conversation seems ok with me. Will maybe still try and increase my vocab in case I need to talk to the police down the road.

Saturday, 15 November 2008

Sunbathing Swiming and Sand.

Finally a day with Sun….. I was beginning to think I was still in the UK with all the rain of the last few days.

So my first Saturday here. Well how else do you spend it but sunbathing and swimming and yes I swam (sorry to any of you who are not traumatised by the thought of me in a swim suit…get over it). Today I have gone further north into Mozambique than I have ever been before, granted only 15mins drive more but still. The reason for this was a Bridal Shower at a private resort. One of the Long Termers is getting wed to a Mozambican so all very exciting.

As I write I have a few patches on my legs where I seems to have missed the sunscreen and yes I did apply more than once to all you out there who know how brown I get.

It was just bliss to stop and lay by a pool and take in the fact that I am in Mozambique.

Last night saw the worst electrical storms I have ever watched flash though the sky, and driving home from dinner it really was a drive of faith. Whatever you do don’t rely on the car in front to guide you they don’t have a clue what they are doing any more than we did.

Back on base today and out playing with the some of the kids in the sand. What a blast. The stories of some of these kids is heartbreaking and yet so full of hope knowing that they are here on the centre where love and help can and will be given.

Dino who I have previously written about on my last trip is one such example. I spent a day with him on the Malnutrition ward in the Central Hospital. That day nearly killed me emotionally. However it was all worth it when you see him today. A thriving vibrant 2 year old boy who is alive because people cared for him. I hope to post photos later.

So now… no rain today lots of laughing and the joy of editing sound. What more could a girl want. Maybe a good nights sleep.

Thursday, 13 November 2008

Happy as a kid at Christmas

So after a long and reasonably uneventful journey (nearly leaving my passport at securtity in Heathrow, a delay of 3.5 hours in Kenyatta Airport…. So the place you want that to happen, £40 for excess baggage, 4 movies under my belt and landing in rain). I arrived in Mozambique. A guy at the carousel when he saw my luggage asked me if I was coming home after being away which I found myself kinda thinking yes was the answer. Whether that is the same answer after a few weeks only time will tell.


It was lovely to be picked up at the airport. What I mean is it was nice to see familiar faces rather than the men hitting on me. Now whether it’s an educated guess (as I am a white westerner) but they said you come to work at Zimpeto you know Mama Heidi! Mama Heidi is Muito bom. I found it slightly strange that they could see what I was coming to do.

Anyways, after a quick Shoprite trip and a drive round the city I was back on base. Stepping out of the car the first kid I saw was Pai. He looked at me and said you kept your promise. The promise being I would be back in a year and there I was. A number of the other kids remember me. Quite frankly who could forget but it’s nice to be back with them.

Tonight I feel like a kid at Christmas. The centre director sat me down and said Chris here is my vision and what I want you to concentrate on for the next 3 weeks. I want you to record and produce a CD!!!!!! And then maybe get another on out before Christmas. How amazing is that. I can’t believe it.

Its been a while since I have done studio work but the guys who left for America have brought back about 10,000 dollars worth of gear with them. It’s just amazing that they have their own studio here….

So that’s what I am going to be working hard on for the next 3 weeks I can’t believe I have had to come to Africa to get to do something like this. Granted I have not seen the studio yet but I am so up for the challenge and a small hot sweaty room….. Woah Who!!!
It feels like a real gift from God to be given something so exciting to ease me into life here.

Anyway, for those of you who like to know about the weather. It’s very humid and its rainy season.

One of the areas they want me to work in is the nursery which is a real chore….the nursery is going to house 0-6mth olds…. It just seems like a real hard area to be working in, babies, poo….crying….. cuddling…loving…caring….snot.. dribbling..cooing….I don’t know how I will do it.!!!!! Good job the Lord gave me Oscar J to prepare me.

After last night I am also thinking of starting a cockroach count. Killed 3 in my first night. Not bad. Now to the very loud frogs outside my door. Any suggestions much appreciated.