Catching up with the Albertyn's: July 2012

Yah term 2 of 2012! It has been an exciting term already and we are only just over half way through.

The students are all back and enjoying their studies. All preparing and in the middle of their end of term exams and trying to keep warm in the evenings. Winter is here and we have glorious sunny days and chilly nights – though the last few weeks have been much warmer – but nothing beats a Zimbabwe winter.

We started the term with a Birthday Party – we decided to celebrate all 23 students birthdays at one big party. What a great afternoon it was! It was a first for all of them and we were able to play silly party games which they have never played before. Sian did a brilliant job as usual in this department. They played pass the parcel with forfets, ladders, musical statues etc. There was a birthday cake with candels. A few students baked brownies for the first time – which were delicious. It was a lovely afternoon and very special too!!

Charlotte continued to help the students prepare for their SATs at the beginning of the term. She so loved her time with the students and will continue to provide extra English lessons for preparation for their end of year exams. The students wrote their SATs and now have that behind them.

Such exciting news – 9 of our students did really well in a Science Olympiad and were invited to South Africa for an amazing week of visiting different industries and attending an awards ceremony – all expenses paid. What an incredible opportunity for them!! We were so proud of them and thrilled they got to experience something so amazing!!! None of them had passports and getting passports can be a little tricky here but God was good and my dad and Hope spent a lot of time knocking on doors and finally got them – our poilciy is no bribary and we did it – even though it was not looking very hopeful. The organisors in South Africa were so patient with us as we literally did not know who would be going until a few days before they were due to leave!!! The 9 students had an incredible experience visiting mines, car manufacturing plants, a zoo, museums etc. There was also an awards ceremony and 3 of our students received awards. Destiny for coming 2nd in SADC (he won a computer), Ryan for coming 3rd in SADC (he won cash) and Lesleen for coming 3rd in Biology in SADC (she won cash). We were very proud of all of them!!!

The Minibus is working out brilliantly! What a blessing it is to the project and has made such a difference to the students lives and how much time they spend travelling!!!

Sian continues to do brilliant games evenings this term. What a gift she has in this area!!! We haven’t had any successful DVD evenings this term due to lack of power and our invertor can’t run the projector for very long!!

We had some amazing visitors from the UK for two weeks – Hugh, Rosie and Sam. Hugh and Rosie are both Consultant Doctors in the UK and Sam is studying computer programming. What a wonderful family they were. So adaptable and easily fitted into the Zim way of doing things – from no power, no water, driving on Zim roads with no traffic lights when there is no power, lack of time management by Zimbabweans, having to make a plan when things don’t go as they should etc – they were brilliant. They had a very full itinerary which kept them very busy but we think they enjoyed it. They spent quality time with the students, doing Biology, Ultimate Frisbee, Computer programming, then visits to Township schools doing revision classes and microscope work and visits to HIV work in the Townships etc. We also had a wonderful evening climbing Domboshawa with them. They introduced photography to the students - which was a hit and we now have a photography club running in the house!!! Hugh, Rosie and Sam hold a special place in our hearts and we hope to see them when we visit the UK one day! I have a funny feeling we will be welcoming them back here one day!!!! Think Zim has stole their hearts - though Sam's was already stolen as this is his third year back!!!!

We organised parents days for our students parents/guardians to come and chat to Mark and Denise (our house mum). The first one was for Upper Sixth (our 15) and they also met their other subject teachers. It was a lovely day, we provided lunch for the parents/guardians and really enjoyed getting to know them. We did an afternoon for the Lower Sixth (our 8) as they are not taught by us so only needed Mark and Denise there. We felt that this time was very positive and nice to have the families involved. Mark has also had to attend 2 parents evenings for the 6 of the 8 so far at their private schools. Wonderfully the parents meetings were so positive and so complimentary of the students. Made us sooooooo proud of them.

Pamela, Blessing and Phillip who attend Gateway High School – went on their Lower Sixth Leadership Camp for a week and this was an incredible time for them to feel more part of the school and to make friends out of just the 3 of them.

I have so loved my bible studies with the students and we have had some wonderful times singing together. What beautiful voices they all have. Lisa is brilliant at leading them all!!!

Atlas Copco who sponsor 4 of our students came to visit the boarding house and meet their students this week. It was wonderful to share the project with such lovely people who were so enthusiastic with all we were doing. We have so appreciate how they have embraced Makomborero Zimbabwe and want to play an active part in the lives of our students. They even donated wood for us to build most of the boarding house furnture from, as well as housing our minisbus over night to reduce travel time for our Driver.

Fundraising

Megan from Ralph Allen School in Bath did a Zumbathon to raise money for Makomborero. thank you Megan we were so proud of you and all who took part. We don't even know Megan but she is taught by a lady who will be volunteering during August at our township revision schools - Denise. We don't even know her!! We look forward to sharing Zim with Denise.

Peter’s Commute happened again this year – so exciting – thank you Stu – so appreciated - especially so soon after the arrival of your second child! We do appreciate the sacrifice that this was!!!!

Britian London 10km – we had a team of 6 – Debs, Rich, Sarah, Chris, Bridgit and Simba running for us in bright yellow t-shirts with Makomborero on the back!!! We were so proud of you guys – thank you so much! We hope you enjoyed it!! Debs thanks for organising!

We also had a company running for us Acturis – organised by Shaun Orpen (an ex-student of Mark’s). Thank you guys for your continued support of us – so so appreciated!!! 42 of them ran!! Here is a photo of Shaun on his run!

We are working on local sponsorship to go towards the running costs of the minibus – so trusting for some break through there!!!!

Personal news
The start of the term was extremely hard for us – I think the reality of the pace of life after two weeks off, not seeing each other very much etc took it’s toll and we did struggle for a bit. We have found our feet now – not enjoying not seeing much of each other but better adjusted to it and are deliberatly carving in time together as a family. This has been my song this term http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwaKvZWE6t8

Matt is very happy at school this term – thank you Lord!!!! I’m even getting to know mums and finding my feet a little there!!!

We have a new addition to the family – a Labrador puppy called Rosie!! She is gorgeous and is just like having a baby!!!! She is hard work but so worth it! Hoping she will grow into a good guard dog for us too!!! So including Chickens, cat and dog – there are 7 girls and 4 boys in our household!!! Just had another 3 chickens so trusting they last a little longer than our last lot who were stolen by crows!!! The kids love Rosie and as she begins to settle down a little they love her to bits!!!

Mark's Dad came for a visit for 5 days. It was a great surprise and the kids loved having him in our home. We were amazed - he is 76 years old and he did a coach trip from Cape Town to Harare and back again!!! With a horrendous boarder experience!!! Thanks for making such an effort to come and visit. They will be back in August for a few days which will be lovely and will be flying this time!!

Powercuts have for the first time had a schedule gazetted and it has made such a difference to our lives. You can plan!!! We have a power cut everyday either from 5am to 2/3pm or 1pm to 10pm. This alternates every day – one day morning, next afternoon. It is wonderful to not have 18 hour power cuts anymore which would be a few days in a row and then nothing for a few days. You know when you can cook in the oven, there is always hot water as boiler can heat up at some stage during the day when there is power!!!!

As I’ve been a little more fragile emotionally I’ve found the harsh reality of life in Zim a little hard to handle at time. Some days it just feels like you are surrounded by suffering and there is very little that you can do to help. Life is so tough for so many and with unemployment in the 80% it is no surprise that everywhere you turn people are suffering!! I’ve found myself in tears at many situations we find ourselves in. This country is a tough place to be but also comes with a responsibility and it is figuring out what roll you should play in each situation that you are faced with.

Mark is loving teaching at Hellenic but is taking strain with working two jobs. He is absolutely exhausted and works the oddest hours. We don’t see much of each other but do try and keep Friday evening free as a catch up evening for each other. Though Mark is often in bed by 7pm and then works the rest of the weekend.

We are going on lots of family walks – especially with Rosie – taking her to the school fields to run or just walk around where we live. The kids love it and so does she. Sadly she ate rat poison this week so are trusting she will be ok.

Ella is now 6 months – slowly getting used to solids. She is such a precious gift from God and we are sooooo thankful for her. She adds life to our family and keeps us on our toes. The kids just love her to bits and we love watching them with her. Matt and Zoe are such special little friends and play so beautifully together!!!! I love being their mum and feel incredibly blessed to be in this season of my life – if not wishing at times the other pressues were less to really enjoy them to the full as I know this time of them being little will be gone so fast. Love pancake Saturday mornings, devotions together in bed in the morning, cuddles, bedtime stories, chats togethers, spontaneous kisses, their love of nature etc! We are blessed!

Thank you again to all of you who support us so generously – words are not enough! You are what make Makomborero Zimbabwe operate!!! Thank you, thank you!!! So till next time!!!

A few photos: