Its now over a week since I managed to write anything on my blog – the first team are well into their first week and the building project at Garden Hill is going really well.

To finish my adventure along the Great North Road, we eventually arrived at the turn off to the farm where Stan now lives with his parents – we found a car that could take us the rest of the way, it took us over 40mins to reach the village along dirt roads for most of the way. Its different country to the one I'd experienced last year on the way to Livingstone which is mainly bush except for an area of sugar plantations. This land was irrigated so producing wheat with a number of large herds of cows and beef animals – they all looked in really good condition. We were eventually dropped off at Stan's parents home, he had been waiting for us and we had the most wonderful greeting, he was so pleased to see us, Vasco had become like his father whilst he had stayed at the Fountain. Of Hope. We were warmly welcomed by his mother and all the family, his father was at work (Zim farmers own this land). Stan's mum has had 8 children, Stan being the eldest, Kennedy the youngest was 7 months old and absolutely adorable and quickly became very attached to Vasco, they had a curtain at the door of the house and there was a procession of children from all over the neighbourhood who came to peer in and see that strange white lady. Stan then took us for a tour where we visited the school he used to attend and we even got to see one of the teachers on her way home for lunch, then onto the local shops by this time quite a number of the children became really brave and started playing with us. We had to go into all the shops to say hello, Stan's aunt ran one of them so that was an important introduction. Back at the house we were royally entertained to lunch, we had to eat on our own inside – this is the custom so that visitors will eat as much food as they would like and not be put of by the family eating alongside them. We had Nshima, pasta, potatoes, fish and eggs in tomato sauce – as usual Vasco ate for Zambia - Emmanuel and I were much more restrained! So then back to Lusaka – we managed to get back to Chamba Valley just as it was getting really dark. Although Stan is 17 he is still in Grade 7, Vasco has entered him for his Grade 7 exams in October when he will have to come back to FOH to sit them. Hopefully he will then be able to go to a local senior school, even if he only gets to grade 9 he will be in a much better position to get a job. Its so important to encourage these boys, and especially to get them to go to school which is really hard as they will be much older than others in their class.

Yesterday we took the team over to FOH where they had the opportunity to meet the boys and see over the facility. Fred was still there and I was so glad I had my camera with me as I was able to show him the photo's of Stan who was his special friend, he then took some photo's which I will post with this. After the team introductions which took ages as everyone had to say their name, what grade they are in and how old they are – I wasn't sure which grade I ought to be in!! It was strange seeing the new boys and realising that we wouldn't be seeing all the lads that we met last year. Great to know that so many are now resettled with family (usually extended) we had a wonderful entertainment led my Lenny (Barefoot dancers – You tube) before Nshima, beef and cabbage for supper. By this time some of the big boys, Joseph, Jackson, Steve and a few others had come home from school so again plenty of hugs as we spied each other. Then my special friend from last year appeared so we spent the rest of the evening having a cuddle. Time to go home was really difficult – lots of hugs, kisses and cuddles which turned to tears as we had to leave. Gosh its just like coming home, I can't believe how much Vasco, Kenny and the lads have come to mean to me. How am I going to stay away for a whole year – I know that I've said I wont come back on the team next year but will I really be able to stay away until 2012? Just writing this has made me start to cry, what a cry baby I've become – I really know that God has put me in this place not to do anything great or wonderful, but to love these special people. Vasco said as I left , “I never knew my mum but I have you now...” what a privilege to be adopted. I really do thank God for this wonderful gift that he has given me, never would I have thought that I could be so wanted and loved.

Tomorrow is another special day, Vincent is coming over to see me – he works quite a long way out of town so hasn't been able to come over before. Last weekend he and Rosanna went to choose their wedding rings, yes the wedding is finally happening. Vasco is going to escort me, so my wedding outfit will have an airing again! I'm now praying that Vasco will soon be able to get the bride price so that he also can get married – he would like to get married in December but it all depends on how much he can save , this is extremely difficult at the moment as he's not been paid for 5 months, luckily he does have a room and his food but Kenny has to rely on his wife to keep him, Vincent is in a similar position as he also hasn't been paid for the last two months. This is such a common occurrence in Zambia. Please do pray for them.

I've just seen the time so I must close now, as soon as I can get down to the internet cafe I will post this.