25 July 08
~ 22.08hrs ~ Message from Clive and Ros Garrod
After trying to trying to telephone Alan
and Oriel's farm for 55 minutes we eventually got through
and Ellen was eventually located in the tree house. We got
cut off! We redialled and got through again to Ellen. All
is well and she continues to have a great time. The school
children are lovely and love looking at pictures on digital
cameras. The girls have been painting a classroom and the
boys have been making furniture. We were hoping for some
more detail but again we got cut off and after a few more
failed attempts - we gave up!
26 July 08 ~ 19.32hrs ~ Special
Birthday Message
Happy Birthday Tom – Have a great time!
Love Mum, Dad and Tash xxx
26 July 08 ~
21.30hrs ~ Message from Susan Foulser
Hi Kel!
Greetings from your Mother here in Canada! Hope you're healthy
and having the time of your life. I know how you make every
adventure you have special, so I have no doubt that you'll
bring your enthusiasm to the group. I know people were having
trouble with the phones but just thought I'd take a chance
and write. So looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks
and sharing your adventures and pictures. Enjoy reading
the trip news every day.
Love ya lots,
Momma Lou
27 July 08 ~ 19.30hrs ~ Phone
call from Esther McCall
A brief call during which we realised that an email report
sent earlier today appears to have gone AWOL!
Everyone is having a really lovely time, both from the
perspective of the students themselves and the children
at the school. The Grade 1 and 2 children were particularly
excited to see everybody.
The project phase of the trip is described as having ‘cracked
on apace’. Everybody is working long hours and it
is sometimes difficult to persuade the students to stop
for a proper lunch break. Similarly, some are very reluctant
to down tools of an evening. Needless to say with 3 new
classrooms to furnish and decorate by Friday there is (and
has been) a lot to do. The adult room (which will
become a library and learning facility for the older members
of the village) is now completely painted. The other
two classrooms are at the ‘artwork’ stage. Today
some students started painting the outside of the building.
Given that some external plastering still needs to be completed
it may prove touch and go whether they manage to get all
four walls painted in time for the handover on Friday.
Yesterday afternoon the students and villagers collaborated
in a game of netball and a football match. As a result of
this there has now been a challenge (by a local league
team) to 'our' boys for a football match this coming
Saturday. Not to be outdone, some of the girls have said
they want to take part too! They also managed to get Tom
Patient a special cake and everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’.
Both he and Kelly have been made aware of their messages
from home.
Mornings are now starting at a much more civilised time
of 7 am. Mind you, as a result of their labours, students
are often seen heading back their tents by 8.30 pm.
Aside from the work left on the school, the plan for the
rest of this week looks something like this:-
Just wanted to report that Kelly had called here this afternoon.
Unfortunately I was out. Kel reported that she was having
an amazing time. She had seen lots of "absolutely incredible
animals". Those knowing Kel know that she loves her food
and she assured me that she's eating really well. She said
that the painting was going very well.
So, even though I was sad that I missed her call I was happy
to know that she was safe and having such a fantastic time.
She said that she would try calling again soon so I'm looking
forward to that.
27 July 08 ~ 21.15hrs ~ Missing
Email from Esther McCall
Things have been moving on a pace here. Our students were
very excited to meet the village children and had a very
warm reception on the first morning we went up to see them.
We were able to meet with the Grade 1 and 2 pupils who were
even more excited then we were. They sang songs and loved
having their photographs taken by our students. They would
jostle with each other and put pose with their thumbs up.
Best of all they loved being shown their image in the digital
cameras. We were able to see the children going for their
lunch. They all had to line up in an orderly line and seat
themselves at dinner tables which were already laid with
bowls of porage. They weren’t allowed to start until
everyone was sat down and grace was said. I did, however,
observe a cheeky little one who took a quick spoonful when
he thought no one was looking. This was on Friday morning.
Our Students then started working in the afternoon. The
painters were organised by Kelly and Cath and managed to
apply the primer sealant to two of the classrooms and their
store rooms.
Yesterday we worked only in the morning as we were invited
to play Netball and Football against the village teams.
Both matches were fast and furious and made especially hard
for us because of the heat. The Netball team take things
very seriously and have a liberal interpretation of the
rules. I was asked to umpire once again – a job I
wasn’t particularly looking forward to, as last time
no one seemed to take any notice of my judgements. I’m
pleased to report that we did quite well at the Netball
– last time I believe that we lost 18 – 1, this
time the match was much closer and we only lost 17 –
8: all credit to the girls. The boys took the football very
seriously and had several tactic talks from Pete Fordham.
He even played. The start of the match was delayed by a
turkey on the pitch and after this was pursuaded to go the
cows had to be shooed away. Once again it was a very pacey
match. Our boys played very well, Uzoma scored a brilliant
goal, Tom McFaull almost scored an own goal, but I’m
pleased to report that we held the village team to a 1 –
1 draw. We’ve been invited to play the local football
league team next Saturday. Everyone had an excellent afternoon.
We were able to meet and interact with the villagers, especially
the children. About 200 people came to watch the Netball
and Football. On the drive back to Alan’s farm Charlotte
Epstein said that this had been the second best day of the
whole trip. I asked her what her best day had been. She
said it was when we had met the school children for the
first time.
Everyone is working very hard, We have completed painting
what will be the “Library/Village Adult” room
and started the artwork in the other classrooms. Two of
the outside walls have also been painted. We have built
20 desks and 24 benches. We’re hoping to make sixty
of each.
I’ll leave my report here and phone you when I have
reception.
