The last two days have been notable for only one thing – illness! Ron, Irma and Emily are all really, really poorly. Ron has been in bed most of today and Irma has only got up to be sick! Thankfully Danielle is now recovering from whatever it is that has stricken the family. As a result of the fever Judith and I have been doing extra family duties – preparing food and generally trying to keep Danielle and Emily (Until she got really unwell this afternoon) out of mum and dad’s way.

On a positive note we’ve both experienced a ride in a ‘chappa’, the local taxis. You may have seen pictures of them – they are the minibuses that are filled to overflowing with people hanging onto any available holding on point to grab a lift. They cost about 25p to go as far as you like. This afternoon we ventured out together to buy some eggs and marg from the local market – even that simple exercise is a major thing when you can’t speak the language, don’t know the currency and the stall holders are known to try to fleece anyone if they can! We were pleased with ourselves that we came back with eggs and marg and even the right change!

I’ve also been out with Ron and Irma’s house help (speaks no English) to buy 650 pens and exercise books – one for each child in the school in Nacaramo. I hope to deliver and hand these out tomorrow while Judith is with the ladies at the church where she’ll give gifts (machete’s, spades, mosquito nets, soap & flannels, sweets and a NT Bible) to the ladies and speak. However, at the moment it’s looking unlikely it will happen as Ron & Irma are both too unwell to drive us there.

Will let you know how we get on.