Have now figured out how to put pictures in posts! Will do this properly next time.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Mozambique, Mosquitoes and the Mark of Den
Firstly, apologies for the poor (and non-sensical) alliteration. All will be revealed...
Everything here is going great-work is continuing well, I’m still doing the saem stuff as in my first week but getting into more detail and arranging meetings with people to talk about how we can partner-I’ve a meeting with a City of Joburg regional authority representative on Thursday to talk about how we can partner with them in their environmental projects in Cosmo City. It feels weird to have responsibilities like meetings-but I’m really enjoying it too.
Last week after a tough first two weeks I went on holiday to Mozambique (admittedly the first two weeks weren’t quite tough enough to warrant a holiday but still) with Jon and Beatrice who I work with (some of you may know Jon). The journey involved a VW Polo, incredibly pot-holed roads, a flat tyre and sleeping in the car, but the less said about that the better-bear in mind though it turns out you should never trust an African who says he can fix tyres with twigs (email me if you want the full breakdown-or I’ve told Mum and Dad). Once we got there (and it stopped raining-yes, there were points in the holiday when I was just as disbelieving as you are right now) it was really beautiful but as with everywhere in Africa the country is full of so much poverty and people are so desperate. We didn’t really do anything during the week but relax on the beach and get bitten by mosquitoes (ten bites on one foot was not good). Someone we know from the UK who works for Oasis Mozambique also stayed with us for the weekend which was good fun-and nice to get to know someone new! The journey home was a lot less eventful thankfully and this time we decided to stay somewhere other than the car over night.
Just a quick something before I finish-you may have heard about a small shindig happening in Copenhagen starting next week with a few people from around the world. It’s being trumped by some as the ‘last chance’ to save the world from climate change, and I have to say I agree. Working in the project I do, and particularly coming back from Mozambique last week, one of the countries that could be affected hugely by climate change, I’ve come to learn what a big deal these talks are for a huge proportion of the world-the proportion that’s poorest. If no deal is reached then it’s countries like South Africa and Mozambique that will end up paying hardest-economically and socially. I’m not telling you to turn off your standbys and use less stuff (although it’s all good) but if you could take the time to email Gordon Brown here:
http://act.christianaid.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=48&ea.campaign.id=4128
or go to The Wave in London on Saturday-because we have to have a partnership of responsibility with government to tackle this huge issue (more info on christian aid website). For more information I recommend the Christian Aid or Tearfund websites.
If you pray please pray for:
Me as I continue work-that I continue to build links and find out what’s right for us here in Cosmo City.
The talks in Copenhagen-that negotiators will come with open minds and that God will be present in the outcome.
Hope you’re all well-will update you all sometime before I go away for Christmas in 2 weeks time!
Everything here is going great-work is continuing well, I’m still doing the saem stuff as in my first week but getting into more detail and arranging meetings with people to talk about how we can partner-I’ve a meeting with a City of Joburg regional authority representative on Thursday to talk about how we can partner with them in their environmental projects in Cosmo City. It feels weird to have responsibilities like meetings-but I’m really enjoying it too.
Last week after a tough first two weeks I went on holiday to Mozambique (admittedly the first two weeks weren’t quite tough enough to warrant a holiday but still) with Jon and Beatrice who I work with (some of you may know Jon). The journey involved a VW Polo, incredibly pot-holed roads, a flat tyre and sleeping in the car, but the less said about that the better-bear in mind though it turns out you should never trust an African who says he can fix tyres with twigs (email me if you want the full breakdown-or I’ve told Mum and Dad). Once we got there (and it stopped raining-yes, there were points in the holiday when I was just as disbelieving as you are right now) it was really beautiful but as with everywhere in Africa the country is full of so much poverty and people are so desperate. We didn’t really do anything during the week but relax on the beach and get bitten by mosquitoes (ten bites on one foot was not good). Someone we know from the UK who works for Oasis Mozambique also stayed with us for the weekend which was good fun-and nice to get to know someone new! The journey home was a lot less eventful thankfully and this time we decided to stay somewhere other than the car over night.
Just a quick something before I finish-you may have heard about a small shindig happening in Copenhagen starting next week with a few people from around the world. It’s being trumped by some as the ‘last chance’ to save the world from climate change, and I have to say I agree. Working in the project I do, and particularly coming back from Mozambique last week, one of the countries that could be affected hugely by climate change, I’ve come to learn what a big deal these talks are for a huge proportion of the world-the proportion that’s poorest. If no deal is reached then it’s countries like South Africa and Mozambique that will end up paying hardest-economically and socially. I’m not telling you to turn off your standbys and use less stuff (although it’s all good) but if you could take the time to email Gordon Brown here:
http://act.christianaid.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=48&ea.campaign.id=4128
or go to The Wave in London on Saturday-because we have to have a partnership of responsibility with government to tackle this huge issue (more info on christian aid website). For more information I recommend the Christian Aid or Tearfund websites.
If you pray please pray for:
Me as I continue work-that I continue to build links and find out what’s right for us here in Cosmo City.
The talks in Copenhagen-that negotiators will come with open minds and that God will be present in the outcome.
Hope you’re all well-will update you all sometime before I go away for Christmas in 2 weeks time!
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Return to Africa!
I'm back!
I've been back for 5 days now and it feels like I've barely been away at all. It was straight into stuff with a meeting on Tuesday afternoon after getting here early on Tuesday morning about what I'll be doing. I was worried on leaving the UK exactly how I'd get on with the work I'd be doing out here but (for the moment at least) it seems to be going well. Before I left I couldn't really believe I was actually doing this but when I got here it felt right. And it made it fell right that I managed to raise the money so quickly and easily-it really felt as thought it was what God wanted!
To start with I'm doing research on lessons that the young people doing the environmental course (that started last week) will be running in schools from february as I'm helping put these together. As part of this I see how it can fit the national curriculum in South Africa. Another aspect to my job is doing an environmental audit of Oasis South Africa and seeing how they can improve on their environmentally friendliness.
That's still quite vague I know but the job will become more clear as it goes on. It's been great being back in the community and seeing all the people that I got to know last time and just being part of South African life again. As well as getting to grips with the job I'm also trying to work out how my life has an impact on the environment and how I can cut this down. At first I thought this would be easy in South Africa but it's actually surprisingly difficult as South Africa's more developed than you think! At least in some ways.
I'll keep you posted on how that goes as well as the job and just life in general.
Hope you're well,
Steve
Prayer points for those that do:
That I'll settle into work and really get involved in the community. Short and sweet!
I've been back for 5 days now and it feels like I've barely been away at all. It was straight into stuff with a meeting on Tuesday afternoon after getting here early on Tuesday morning about what I'll be doing. I was worried on leaving the UK exactly how I'd get on with the work I'd be doing out here but (for the moment at least) it seems to be going well. Before I left I couldn't really believe I was actually doing this but when I got here it felt right. And it made it fell right that I managed to raise the money so quickly and easily-it really felt as thought it was what God wanted!
To start with I'm doing research on lessons that the young people doing the environmental course (that started last week) will be running in schools from february as I'm helping put these together. As part of this I see how it can fit the national curriculum in South Africa. Another aspect to my job is doing an environmental audit of Oasis South Africa and seeing how they can improve on their environmentally friendliness.
That's still quite vague I know but the job will become more clear as it goes on. It's been great being back in the community and seeing all the people that I got to know last time and just being part of South African life again. As well as getting to grips with the job I'm also trying to work out how my life has an impact on the environment and how I can cut this down. At first I thought this would be easy in South Africa but it's actually surprisingly difficult as South Africa's more developed than you think! At least in some ways.
I'll keep you posted on how that goes as well as the job and just life in general.
Hope you're well,
Steve
Prayer points for those that do:
That I'll settle into work and really get involved in the community. Short and sweet!
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