I can't believe we've been here about a month!!!

Appologies for the length again.  I seem to get a little carried away or something!  I often wonder who views this blog.  I get some statistics about number of views, but that doesn't tell me who is perusing my writing.  Strangely enough some people from random parts of the world have stumbled across it, I wonder why.  They've not left any comments, so maybe it was by accident.
Highs and lows seem like a good way to frame the week, let me know if anyone can think of a better way, I guess I could give a day by day break down, but I fear that'd put you all to sleep.
Highs
- Eric who I gave the frame last week suprised me.  After practicing some walking with crutches, he decided that he'd like to try without any aid.  He managed a couple of metres by himself.  It was so cool to see.  Brendah, who's the teacher, said she'd never seen him walk before.  I then had to clarify that this was his first time, and he hasn't been walking at home.  Thank you for your prayers, look how they are paying off!!
- Jono has found himself plenty to do, maybe too much!  He had another teaching session on tuesday, further advancing on energy.  He only found out about it on monday!!  And he has another teaching session this coming tuesday as well.  Jono has also been given the honourable task of sorting through thousands of shoes, which I'm sure he's finding thrilling.
- We went to Makwati (a community here) church last sunday.  It was a great experience.  It was so funny to see this guy from OM, who is normally quiet, passionately preaching the gospel, and when I say passionately, I mean PASSIONATELY.  I was blown away by his biblical knowledge as well.  They had a bible study at the start, and someone had a question about some passage.  He then whips out all these bible verses to answer the question.  One amusing thing was he told the youths off for picking soccer over God the previous day.  I'm not sure what they had been meant to be doing, but it seems difficult to interupt a Zambian from their soccer.  Anyway they chose "soccer not life" and the pastor was going to have some serious words with them after the service!
- We went for a braai on Sunday with a missionary family.  Lovely food and company.  We went for a little walk round the back of their house (also the back of the OM base).  There's a lovely wee lake there that has water lillies in it.  Shame I didn't take my camera!  We saw our second snake, this one was bigger (still small comparatively), but dead, thankfully!!! We revisited the walk yesterday so there are some pics of the lake :)  I saw the tail of what maybe a monitor lizard slide down into the lake, one day hopefully I'll get to see it in full and get a pic!

For Mum xoxo

Sunset from the OM base

 - Yesterday we went to watch a soccer match  (well the second half of it) at the base, Zambia vs Sudan.  It was so funny watching these Zambians sitting on the edge of there seats, during a not very stimulating bit of the match.  And hilarious when they got a goal.  Sadly it was a draw.

The soccer, all the people (can't see but there are about 8 children on the floor at the front also) crowding around the tiny tv, check out that ariel set up to the left of the TV on top of the stacked chairs

Some of the celebration post goal, hard to capture, must have gone on about 5 mins though!!

What do you do post watching a soccer match? Why play soccer of course!! The soccer pitch at the base as we were heading home

Lows
- Both Jono and I have been sick and are still recovering.  I went to the Dr on Thursday after about a week or so of stomach cramps to discover I have a bowel infection.  Jono thinks he's had some sort of a stomach bug. 
- After having 9 people come last week for physio community clinic, I had a big fat zero this week :(
Other
- On friday we saw the Orthopaedic Surgeon from Beit Cure who came to assess some kids for surgery, he does the work for free.  There's a few of them that are on the list in July and August.  Sadly Given (who I've mentioned on previous posts) is too complicated for him, so we have to seek another Dr's opinion. 
- We went to Nakoli community church today.  They were very welcoming.  They seem to like to 'embarass' you here a bit in Zambia by pointing you out to everyone, despite the fact we stand out like a sore thumb anyway.  They made us get up and dance during some of the songs, that was interesting.  I'd prefer to hide away in my shell.

'Stolen' photo from Brad - Nakoli church from the community disability day.  I think it shows the inside well, and the lean of the building!

Yes there is dancing in the front of the church!  And yes those yellow containers are drums!!!  Shame I missed the little kid break dancing down the front!

 There are some pictures I've acquired, thanks Brad! (I wish I'd taken some of them) They kinda don't fit anywhere but are pretty cool.
 

Me doing my thing, kinda

Not really physio but helping Clement count I think

Love this picture of Brendah, she's the teacher at Bethesda

Me doing some physio stretches

More Jane Austen???? (Can you have too much?  I don't think that's possible!!!)
So we drove a very long way to North Hampton, the base for our quest for Pride and Prejudice sites. 

Found this sign at the hotel we stayed at, wondering where I can get more from . . .

 We found 3/3 houses (that’s all we had time for that were ‘near by’) that were used in filming.  The quest was one because as it turns out, it is somewhat difficult when you don’t have a gps and are trying to use google maps plus a vague area map.  Google directions may have assisted if the streets actually had signposts, which some of them didn’t.  The quest conveiniantly went through Grantham (I imagine this is where the Earl of Grantham of Downton Abbey ‘comes’ from) and also Nottingham forest.

Notttingham forest on the right there

Ok so it's a poor photo, but driving through the countryside, seemed pretty classical english with the stone fences

 We had some amazing food in/around North Hampton – a Yorkshire pudding with garlic mushrooms, profiteroles (this is fast becoming a favourite dessert, they are amazing!) and a white chocolate ginger cheesecake.  Nom nom nom.  
 

Not the amazing food mentioned but at the same place as the yorkshire pud

Found this sign at the place with amazing cheesecake

 Perhaps photos best explain the quest for the first house which was . . .   Well you all should recognise it

So the end of the road, where can the house be?

A little way on, still no sign . . .

 

Can you see it there behind the trees?

There it is!!!

Getting closer . . .

VICTORY!!! :)

Mr Bingley's house - Netherfield

Second house needs no introduction :) Unless you're not as big a P and P fan as me

I love this, cricket pitch at the front . . .

Lovely gardens at the back :) (Classic P and P view of Rosings)

THEE DESK Mr Darcy wrote THEE LETTER on to Miss Bennet

Staircase that was used in filming, Mr Darcy rushed up it at some point and into . . .

This room

Third house :) Unfortunately we only got to see the outside as we got there after it closed and had limited time.

Here endeth the quest, and what a high note to end on, how can you beat Pemberly?!? and the blog for this week.

Prayer thanks
- We've continued to have safe travel
- For the progress Eric has made is a short time
- That Jono has found plenty to do (teaching he seems to enjoy, perhaps a need meeting with his giftings there?)

Prayer requests
- I am still feeling a bit unwell, so for healing would be great. 
- For continued safety while we travel. 
- For Eric to continue to make good progress/wisdom re physiotherapy
- For healing for Gift and Given
- Still haven't found that car part, so that we will find it soon.
- That the Bethesda ministry would continue to grow.  Things we're praying for are some land so we can build an intergrated school.  A car for the ministry.
- For my physiotherapy registration to be sorted out.  I'm still waiting for a good standing certificate from the NZ physiotherapy board, they have been very difficult to get hold of regarding it, I'm finding this rather frustrating.
- That we'll deal with culture shock well

- That we will connect well with the locals and missionaries.  

- That God will be our highest priority, followed by our marriage

 

Thank you for the emails of encouragement we've recieved recently!  It's great to hear from people back home.  Feel free to email karlyn.jonathan@gmail.com