One month passed in Africa

Evening one and all,

Thank you all so much for the interest you've shown in my happenings and the questions you've been asking. I figured that to save time I will try to answer as many of these questions as I can throughout this series of blogs.

Time has been going so quickly out here yet it feels as if I've been in Africa for years! I wake up at 7, due to the 'clockwork' sun, with it's rays creeping through my mosquito net! Once I've woken up I'll have my quiet time followed by breakfast, usually consisting of cereal and toast and possibly muffins. Then Elmer and I set off to the block making site at 7:50 to hopefully reach there by 8. The work force is split into three categories: day labourers, trainees and watch men (security). The ages mainly range from about 18 – 40 but a couple could be (hard to tell!) as old as 70, which is incredible, especially when you see how hard they work.

My relationship with the men is certainly growing stronger. They all call me Mr Ben, which puts a smile on my face! After the first week I was asked whether I'd like to join them in football practice every evening. Well, football is certainly not my first choice of sport yet I thought it'd be a great opportunity to get to know them better. So I agreed and turned up for practice on Friday. My fitness was shameful! I was in stitches half way through and I won't even mention how much I was sweating! I therefore mentioned at the end that I wouldn't be able to make practice every day with some mumbling excuse of work!! However, by my God's complete grace, I didn't make too much of a fool of myself and they even invited me to be in their team for the upcoming local tournament between the surrounding villages.

At 8 am we get all the day labourers set up for using the hydro-form machine (brick making), then we head over to the school, which is where most of my work is currently being done. Unfortunately there had been a wood cutting ban in the country, which has delayed me in starting the furniture making for the school but thankfully this has just been lifted! Therefore, my main task for the foreseeable future is to make approximately 60 tables, 140 benches, and table cupboards with a collective length of about 190ft. I will however have some apprentices, which will massively cut down the time.

A couple of weeks ago Amanda (A Call to Business) and Malcolm (project manager) came over to talk about the Orphanage. They were a great encouragement and blessing to the three of us and we managed to get a lot covered. They brought news that the work will hopefully be starting around the middle of next month. The plans are looking great and I can't wait to get started, but knowing Africa it'll probably be later than expected! So, with this and the furniture making, free time quickly seems to be slipping through my fingers!

One question that you asked me was whether I get impatient with the African pace. The answer thus far is no, maybe because I'm a fairly laid back person or perhaps that I simply haven't been in Africa long enough!

The African food here is amazing. Joanne has been incredible in producing a vast verity of food. Most African 'chop' includes country rice, which is a thicker stickier rice than white English. And then there's meat if you can afford it, which is mostly chicken, which will be covered with a gorgeous sauce made from either; cassava leaf, potato leaf, crain crain or any another leaf! Then a popular dessert or sweet is plantain, which is a type of banana that has to be cooked and is normally fried in oil (it's good!). All fruits are massively nicer over here and to my great delight I've now found my new favourite fruit. It's been in front of my eyes these past 22 years but now I have truly discovered it . . . it's pineapple! I can't get enough of it. It's so juicy you can swim in it and every drop puts our imports to shame!

Therefore, to answer many of your questions, I'd come again just for the food!

As for music, I've been playing both the guitar and harp (harmonica) a lot, which I've found to be an extremely effective way of winding down in the evening! The first time I got my harp out I was sitting outside on a stool in our 'garden' and within moments of putting the metal to my lips there was rustling from all sides. Looking around I found I was quickly gaining an audience. This was unlike any audience I've ever experienced. It consisted of two dogs, two cats, about four chickens and I think even the goats gathered closer! Then, to my greatest surprise a dog called 'One More' started howling, which initially made me think, I must be worse than I thought! But after a while I realized he was singing and loving it (well I hope!)!

I briefly touched on my relationship with the local lads but let me elaborate. They're all really friendly. Their English is certainly limited (but far better than my Krio!), but with a bit of perseverance and charades we just about get by! I've mainly been working with the trainees (who are the most skilled of the employees), and we've built up good friendships. They've been so hospitable. The second Saturday two of the trainees took me on a tour of the local villages on their bike. When riding through the villages everyone turns and puts on their stern stare at the 'white man' but when you wave they suddenly loosen up and a large grin forms on their faces with their arm waving vigorously. The children are the funniest though. The moment they see you they start shouting at the top of their voice 'opoto' (which means white man) and they run up to you and hold your hand and then inspect it to see if it's the same as theirs! However if you get too close to some of the really young ones they burst into tears and you have to run away!!

Then, a couple of Saturdays ago another three trainees took me on a tour of the nearest beaches (about 45 min away). Wow, God is awesome. The beauty of a couple of those beaches could never be captured on any post card or picture. It just has to be seen to be believed. Therefore when I next have some free time I'll try to spend a day at one of them. There is even a surfing beach, which should be a lot of fun especially as the sea is so warm. You can also snorkel, swim out to explore the surrounding islands, rent a canoe (made out of a single tree trunk!). And no need to prepare a pack lunch as the locals can make a mean lobster (freshly caught) for you! Sounds pretty good hey. Anyway I don't know when that free time will come but I'll certainly be including it in my prayers!!

I'm afraid this is all I have time to write at the moment.

I'm still thoroughly enjoying my time and am praising God for his protection over me and for the friendships I've been building with the workers.

Best wishes to all of you.