#6 January 27, 2024. St Mary's

 Another early start this morning, mass at 7:30 delivered in Bemba their native language. It reminded us of when we went to church and listened to the mass in Latin. We thoroughly enjoyed the lovely singing of the choir. They were seated randomly throughout the church and sang like angels without any accompaniment. It appears there is a very strong CWL (Catholic Women’s League) presence in the church. Many ladies were wearing CWL skirts and scarves with CWL icons. We had another delicious breakfast and John Gillies was especially happy to have his porridge to start the day. We had lovely eggs, toast and fruit and the essential...coffee. 

Sister Agnes and Sr Marjory took us on a tour of the school. It is far bigger that the first-time visitors ever expected. We saw firsthand the extent of changes made possible by the donations provided by Inverness County Cares members. The dorms and classroom are simple but very, very clean and well cared for. In all areas we saw evidence of excellent management and hard work.  

We were blown away by the extent of the gardens which make the schools mostly self-sufficient. The maize already is towering over us. It can be eaten green, like corn on the cob or allowed to dry. The children pick the maize crop when it is dry in April and it is stored in storerooms until needed while the stalks are used as mulch and composted. It is then taken to a mill to be ground into maize meal and eaten as a staple  called chichewa,with every meal. The people roll it into a scoop and use it to pick up other items on their plate. It looks like a thick version of Cream of Wheat and is very tasty. 

We cleared up a misconception and learned the wall fence ICC helped to make higher has a perimeter of 2.4 km. That is one long wall-fence, much longer that we realized. 

They grow great quantities of pumpkin, (which we call squash), carrots, beans, cream-coloured eggplants which turn red when it goes to seed, black eyed peas, tomatoes and groundnuts (peanuts), passion fruit and much more. Their trees produce mangos, mull berries and other fruit.

 We saw very red clay bricks that are made from red mud and dried in a kiln. The huge termite mounds are very valuable as their fine red clay makes a very good medium to help set cement as well as acting as a fertilizer. The termites are harvested in November and provide a very tasty addition to meals. 

We enjoyed another delicious meal with the sisters, later met with Sister Agnes and then held an ICC meeting. 

There is rain again tonight, along with thunder and power was interrupted for a short time. We didn’t notice since the convent has solar panels for the lights.

ICC provided the new beds, floor tiles and lockers.
John G and Sister Agnes

These dorms have muted colours for the bedclothes as
 bright colours hurt the younger children's eyes. 

The foundation for a new kitchen with Alice nearby.

Bricks built with mud and cement.

The assembly hall with new tiles provided by ICC.
The TV we provided is in the next room

Sr Marjorie ringing the school bell.

The St Mary's Parish Church

St Mary's Church

Breakfast with Sisters.

Porch cooker

The height of the wall we made higher.

Groundnuts and sweet potatoes

Sister Marjory tasting the small cream coloured eggplant.

Xavier and Paul two former students

the wall fence ib background

Charlotte and huge termite mound

Baked red mud bricks

Hand brooms made by blind students
from grass in the school yard

Working building a structure of musbricks

Cooker we see used a lot

The very best mangos

Huge cooking pots inside the cook house. Heat source
 provided by wood outside building

The underside of the pots pictures above.

Church choir practicing. Wonderful music.

Church choir practice. Will see them in church
 tomorrow. Unbelievable music.