They stand in amazement...

A very excited Ruth phoned this morning at 10.00hrs to report fantastic progress on the jetty at Tcharo. They arrived in the small lake side community last Friday where there was no boat landing; there is now a 20 metre long jetty – WOW! They’ve used the gabion method of building (large wire cages filled with rocks). In the early stages they used lots of huge rocks that were very tricky to move, the local women have been teaching our team how to carry stones on their heads. I expect Vince will dispense with the food trolley when he gets back to work!
Ed Sauven has been a real slave driver, they’ve had little respite from the constant work but they are in good spirits. To make things easier, the villagers are enthusiastically helping and there’s a real sense of everyone going for it, to create a new landing for the boat. Their aim is to get things all done by Tuesday next with a layer of concrete to top it off.
Their location is very isolated and remote. The girls are living in a borrowed house and the boys are based in a building near to the clinic. Cooking is done in a fire that’s built into a hole in the floor. The fishing is good and they enjoyed eating a 2-foot long catfish the other day.
John Challis has returned today from Lilongwe, he’s been on the search for Ed’s baggage – thankfully it’s been located in Johannesburg, but they have no idea how long it will take to get it to him. The indomitable Ed though, is coping well - it was a pleasant surprise to find a little store of clothes that he left behind last year.
The lakeside setting is beautiful – evening light fades early and marks a welcome end to their daily labours. Ruth said they stand in amazement at all that they’ve achieved in the short time they’ve been there.
In the middle of next week when they are complete, they will say farewells and then will go back to Mlowe where there will be more celebrations to mark the end of their work. Apparently, “Dave” the white goat (recently named) will be there waiting for them – he’s destined to be the main ingredient of their celebratory feast!
Ruth asks us to continue to pray for safety – she says they’ve done some amazing feats of rock moving without serious injury so far. Pray also for energy, their programme has been really hectic, without much chilling out time. Let’s also pray that their final week when they do some sight seeing and take some rest will be a real treat for them all.
David