Thursday 26 July

Hello everyone in Blogworld! Gordo and I have just read your comments - it is so great to hear from you all! Sorry we weren't able to get online yesterday - we spent the whole day at Namatapa School (more about that in a moment). Billy G - I don't think we can determine how many 'hits' our page has had (where did you learn to use lingo like that?) but we'll check it out. There were 17 comments left for us today - a record so far! Thank you to everyone, we hope that we've been able to communicate something of the experience of being here - 'awesome' may be a cliche but I think its possibly appropriate. It's been humbling, moving, exciting and challenging - sometimes all at the same time!

Aileen's off with my camera but we'll get some photos uploaded l8r 2day - got that Billy?! Katie and Niamh, we'll definitely include a photo of aunty gigi - Granny and gigi send their love and are always so excited to hear from you. Hazel, your medical observations have proved strangely prophetic - Gordo has indeed been tending to his fellow bandanna boy who was a bit off colour yesterday (Don't be alarmed - nothing too serious - just a touch of the 'toilet 2 step'!). Jack & Ann: I'm sure your boy loves you, he's mentioned his dad and skinny dipping on more than one occasion (please DON'T feel the need to post any photos!!!) - 'young' Mama K also sends her love. And BobRob, it was good to hear from you at last - where've you been?!

Yesterday proved to be a very special day. We were all at Namatapa Primary School with some of the Limbe based Chisomo staff. The headmaster Mr Joe Mgumba had arranged for an 'official' presentation of the resources which they had purchased from some of the money raised by Belmont Academy and Lainshaw Primary. The pupils performed some amazing dance routines. There were also speeches from the head and his superiors - local advisers and a representative of the Ministry of Education! Mama K also had to give a speech - she handled it brilliantly. The whole thing was covered by reporters from the Malawian press, a Reuters journalist and Malawian tv!!! Malawian tv have promised to get a DVD of their coverage to us before we leave! Normally you would expect all this coverage and excitement to be a highlight in itself but what was really exciting and rewarding was just meeting the teachers and children and hearing their stories. We went into some classes and told them a bit about Scotland. Jean had brought with her tartan bags filled with 'Scottish stuff'. Al delighted one class by chasing a fluffy haggis around the room - as we all do back home!!! Gordy had managed to get some pictures blown up to A2 size - thanks to his cousin at Paw Print in Irvine. Katie got in some extra teacher training practice... Shortlees Primary was a good preparation for teaching in Malawi.

Nath and Ron gave their kilts an airing once more - adding a further touch of tartan hysteria to the occasion. The African ladies have been very impressed... so much so the boys are now insisting upon wearing them everyday! Mind you, this afternoon we're going to teach the kids some Scottish dances (!?!) so I guess that's a good excuse.

A special mention must be given to Mike and Aileen who got through a power of work yesterday. Aileen tested over 40 kids (normally a week's work!) who had been identified by their teachers as having vision problems. Today she's returned to test some of the teachers. Thank you again to Newton PS, Lainshaw PS and others who donated or collected spec's. In between times she's also been testing Chisomo children and staff. This has been an incredibly worthwhile aspect of our trip.

Today the pressure's on to get the painting and mural work completed - Victoria's cracking the whip and getting everyone organised! The kids are in this afternoon - painting, dancing and crafts are all on the agenda. A big thanks to Glebe PS whose P3 Enterprise project raised the money which bought all the craft materials - the kids have been really excited to decorate their hats and bags.

Tomorrow may be our last chance to post a blog. On Saturday we're heading to Liwonde National Park - will the boys wear their kilts? This could be the true test of their manhood! We fly out from Blantyre at 7 am (6am your time) on Sunday. We'll try to get online in an airport en route. Tune in to Sunday @ 7 on West Sound. It coincides with our stop-over in Nairobi and Mike is hoping to achieve a live link.

It's strange to think about leaving here. Yesterday when we arrived at Blantyre centre Frank, David and Gift (who are all currently staying at the centre) ran out to greet us as usual. However they were a little perplexed when we didn't come in to play with them (we were heading to Namatapa). Frank's face looked particularly confused and disappointed - I think he may have thought we were leaving. It's important for them that we have less time with them over the last few days. We head back to our life in the West - Malawi, its people, Chisomo, the staff, Frank and all his friends are still here. The true value of this trip will be the long term impact on our lives - how can we continue to serve our friends and neighbours in Malawi?