Exciting Day!!!
Hello everyone!

It is early on Friday morning. Before we head off to the second day
of the "Liteta Zone Inset Workshop" I wanted to give all of you an
update.

First of all, our children shone. They came for the opening and sang
the National Anthem. They processed in dancing and singing a song as
Isaac and Shaibu played the drums. They then sang the National
Anthem, followed by a 3-part round that was part of our Tuesday night
program. Then they left singing a song about teachers, doing their
little step, and the drums drumming. All day long we heard comments
from the participants that it was amazing. "Not even children in our
government schools can sing the Anthem that well. And they did all 3
verses!" They have been invited back today for the closing ceremony
to once again sing the National Anthem and to do a few other songs.
They all had their red shirts, boys with new navy shorts, and girls
with the chitenges that they used in our program. They were also all
barefoot!

Second, our school shone. Erna is doing a terrific job with her
workshop. She had been reluctant to do it, but you can tell that she
is really enjoying herself. She set up her room so nicely. Of course
Susan is doing a great job and will speak at the final session.
People seem to be appreciating my session as well. Our teacher are
also presenting themselves in the workshops as very professional
teachers.

Third, the Chimwemwe Ladies shone. They helped with the making and
serving of the food. AnnRachel and Karen (who traveled from DE just
to help with this, her church took up a collection to pay her way!)
have done a terrific job of planning and purchasing the materials for
the breakfast and lunches served. We have officially "opened" our
restaurant and this is the first big event, catering the conference.
So we have the serving dished and chafing pans. Karen brought "gospel
aprons" from the states for each of the Chimwemwe ladies to have.
AnnRachel and Karen have roses on the serving tables, table cloths,
candles all around the meeting room (which is not well lit).

Finally, Village of Hope is shining. Lots of our workers and
missionary team are involved with helping to pick up people, setting
up, driving back and forth with food and supplies.

All of the participants/teachers are so excited. A few teachers told
Susan that it should last a week! They say they are getting so much
out of it. There is joy all around, in the faces and conversations,
etc. Patrick Schimwa who planned it with us is very pleased.

I will write some more later sharing some of the interesting things I
have learned and experienced in this whole thing but I have to go get
ready for Day 2.

The day for Karen, Susan, and I ended with Benedict taking us to our
new school site and we got to see the walls being built. How exciting
and encouraging!

I'll write more on the weekend! Kathleen