Photos don’t do it justice
In among the rocks at the top of one of the "Mchinji Mountains" above Home of Hope we sat (well, flopped!). It had taken us about two and a half hours to get from “base camp” (aka the Guest House, which is already 1200m above sea-level), to our chosen peak 520m above that. We were higher than Ben Nevis!
And we were really only there at the top at all because of varying degrees of assistance from Chisomo and the team of young people he'd gathered - Mary, Norah, Christopher, Hezekiah, Peter, more - to sometimes tow, sometimes push us up! A bit tough, but totally worth the views and surroundings.
Meanwhile below, Debbie spent time with the Mothers and children. We can easily tell where Debbie is on the 40 acre site: where the singing is!
And progress at the Primary School continued. Today the shopping list in the local town of Mchinji was iron roofing sheets, roof cleaner and brushes, termite treatment (for getting rid of them, not for making them feel better - sorry, termites), facia boards for every room - these make a critical difference in severe weather, literally keeping the roof on. And nails. Lots of nails!
After lunch, Carolyn and Helen met with some of Home of Hope's keen artists to enjoy some water colour painting.
Such beautiful results. Another session was immediately requested by the young people.
Meanwhile Rafal and I attempted to put up a climbing wall, at the play area near the “blue climbing frame” constructed during our visit in 2018.
A drill bit we wanted to use has the wrong style of shank. No problem!
The earth-fired bricks proved too variable in strength to get far, but the VTC staff have proposed a solution involving some painted hardwood planks mounted on the brick-work.
Quiet here as the day ends, and my mind is still up on that mountain. I'm afraid photos don't to it justice. You will just have to visit Home of Hope.
Alex
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