Yes, it's that time of year again when you don't venture out without the raincoat and the umbrella although with the torrential rain neither offers much protection. Not my favourite time of year as it is hot and steamy. There was an earthquake in Karonga at the beginning of January with aftershocks lasting over a week and the tremors were felt as far south as Mzuzu. It was a bit strange to see parked cars shaking and the furniture in the house shaking but no damage in Mzuzu. There has been severe damage in Karonga and some deaths but aid is there and people are being put up in tents and assisted with clean water etc. I understand it was 6.something but the damage is much less severe than that in Haiti.
We have been very busy in the office after the Christmas break with lots of paper work to catch up on but we are now begining to see the wood from the trees. Unfortunatley not the same can be said for the progress on the school site as that has been hampered by the rains. I visited the site last week and the surrounding bush is now a lush green and the vegation is reaching for the sky so it looks as though there will be plenty of bush clearing work for our volunteers coming out again in July and August. We have had confirmation from Outlook Expeditions that we are to receive three groups of volunteers this year so we are now planning work programmes and activity/entertainment programmes for the groups. The bush clearing done by the volunteers last year saved us in time and money as this did not have to be done by the contractor.
On site the foundations have been completed for the two classroom blocks and the pit latrines have been lined but as we are using soil stabilised bricks construction has been held up by the rain as these bricks must be kept dry. The foundations for the staff house will be dug out and further pit latrines so there is still work to be going on with.
As soon as we have some up to date photos I will post them on the website.
