Fun Times!

Last weekend we had the privilege of being invited to Lusaka (Zambia's capital city) with some friends who were going to drive down (6 hrs or so...!) to watch a South African comedian called Trevor Noah. We have followed Trevor's comedy for quite some time now and it was awesome to see him live..in Africa! 

As we travelled the long road to Lusaka I decided to snap some pics, we take it all for granted but won't be long until we will no longer have the opportunity to get such photo's!

Watermelons EVERYWHERE! 

These types of markets are seen regularly on the side of the main road

Patiently waiting for the show to begin!

We got there early for good seats!

We waited behind this abnormal load as they lifted the lines up above for the vehicle to fit under.....

Market sellers surrounding any car that stops

Funny shop names!

The show entitled 'It's my culture' started in true African style...half an hour late!! But it was brilliant; Trevor had really done his research on Zambia. He said he had only stayed in Lusaka for 1 night but the material he had gleaned from his short stay was hilarious and such a true picture of Zambian culture.

It was a lovely breather to get away to the big city; enjoy a bit of shopping, eat some chips and spend time with friends.

This week has so far been a 'party week'; the grade 12's will be leaving next week and so people had decided to do most of our leaving celebrations this week! Which is lovely.....but emotional! 

Monday the dorm girls had organised a surprise party for me in the dorm...which really was a surprise...so much so that I nearly didn't get there. Poor Jona was trying to entice me over to the dorm with not much success..haha! When I finally got there I was greeted by one girl in the lounge who promptly told me to "sit down Mrs Rass!", she then started playing the bongo drum, then all of the girls came streaming out from both sides of the dorm clapping, dancing, surrounding me and singing Bruno Mars 'You are Are Amazing'. I think their intention was to make me cry...which didn't take long!

We played some funny games, ate some yummy food and the girls had made me a precious book with a picture of them on each page and a little message from each of them...

With the crown and sash the girls made!

2 of the girls dressed up as Mr and Mrs Rass! haha

Jon with his homemade crown!

Wednesday night, Jonas tutor group had organised a meal for Jon. They had decorated the lounge with balloons and streamers. We had a VERY amusing evening as some of the boys decided to do a bit of traditional Zambian dancing...Jon took great delight in joining in too!

They also enjoyed getting Mr Rass soaking wet after a game of 'spin madly around a broom and try and fill up a bottle without falling over!!!!'......

Unfortunately one of the students did fall over and hurt her head...a game of 'chubby bunnies' made it all better!

And then Thursday night we had our final youth group with Grade 12's and myself all there together! I had requested that they all come wearing 'multicoloured'. We all piled into the banana house to share memories, eat cake and listen to some talented students singing 'Amazing Grace'.

And now we're all partied and cried out! But today we have a staff farewell BBQ at the pool and then it's goodbye to the Grade 12's and only 2 weeks left of school! argh.........

Where did October go?

Wow, I am shocked to log on to our blog and find that I haven't posted since 9th October! This month has gone in the blink of an eye! But what a fantastic month it has been filled with activities, events, praising, reflecting, laughing, joking (mainly jona!), friendship....
For us it has been and still is a strange time, we came back from half term on Monday with the thoughts of '5 weeks to go' looming in the back of our minds. We strive to make the most of each day, embrace each moment and person, and squeeze the life out of the remainder of our time here at Amano. But the thought still remains and it gets harder and harder each day to comprehend that we will be saying goodbye at the end of this term. But as I was saying to the youth group on Thursday night 'One step at a time'.....
I have recently been reading a book called 'Just Enough Light For the Step I'm On' by Stormie O'Martian. It's been great to reflect on the truth that God is in control and trusting Him for each step of the way. I LOVED this quote; 'It's a more certain proposition to follow the Lord, not knowing where you're going, than to think you know where you're going and you're not following the Lord'. So as we start to think about jobs, money, where we will live back in the UK we both have a deep sense of peace and trust even though things are still quite uncertain.

I think there's just sooo much that has happened in the last month that I will just upload lots of pictures and captions of October highlights!

Cake Sculpting Competition at youth group!

The Eiffel (eye-full!!) Tower

The Winning Cake!

Ants Everywhere!! Argh. We have ants invading our trailer all the timmmmeeee, stealing our sugar at night!!!

2 of the most beautiful people in the world! My friend Hilda and Grandson Baby Harold...

PTA Cake Sale and Car Wash!

Car Wash....aka Amano Water Fight!!

On the road to Kitwe...
We went shopping with the Grade 12's for their graduation dresses. Sometimes we take the roads/landscape for granted so thought I would upload some general pics of surroundings.

Bit Wobbly! You can't see from here but this trucks numberplate was 'Spiderman'. haha

Inter-house Girls Rounders on Thursday! 

Interhouse Primary Benchball...

Benchball.

Smoothie Making at Youth Group

Youth Group in The Banana House

Playing a mad game of 'Wiggly Worms' at youth group!

Today, Jon went off to watch the boys playing Cricket and THEY WON! I hope to upload some of the pics asap.
And I have been on duty in the dorm. We have had a great day putting up the xmas decs, dressing up and singing along to xmas music (a little weird when it's 30 degrees!)...

Christmas Hats (Kind of...)

YaY! Our dorm Xmas Tree!

Haha our very own Mrs Clause (with a beard!!)

Beautiful Baptisms!

Wow, what an AMAZING day we had on Sunday! As some of you may know, Jarrett and I have been working closely with some students over the past few months as they have prepared to be baptised. There have been various up and downs, challenges and joys along the way but the service on Sunday was such a blessed day :-) As you can see from the pictures, the service was held outside the classrooms and we put up some marquees to protect us from the sweltering heat! It was encouraging to see such a great turnout of parents and guardians to support the young people.
The students had chosen songs and each of them told their testimony of how they became Christians. We felt so incredibly proud and inspired by the students and their stories! I don't want to say much more as I think the photo's speak for themselves!

How was I supposed to do the hand thing again??