After various unsuccessful attempts to get a Blog Page started, I think that I have finally managed to get going with the help of Ashley Townsend, the third BMS volunteer who is staying here at Kedesh. If this works then hopefully I will be able to make regular blog As I am now in my fourth week here at Kedesh, I will try and condense the first few weeks into a few short paragraphs.
It was three weeks ago on Monday past that I departed from Forres with two trunks full of old work clothes, a large number of DIY hand tools, a sleeping bag and mosquito net, mossie spray, my medication, and a plentiful supply of cereal, packets of Batchelors cup-a-soups, health food bars, chocolate bars and sweets all bought and packed by Christine. It was with a mixture of trepidation, fear and excitement that I set off on an adventure the likes of which I had never done before.
I had serious doubts during the months of March and April about whether I could do this, but with the support and encouragement from my wife Christine I knew that it was something that I was being called to do and it was not for me to reason why. The good wishes and prayers from Rev. Dr. Jon Mckenzie and all of the congregation at the Lighthouse Church in Forres in the weeks leading up to my departure only helped to strengthen my resolve to travel to Mozambique and help at Kedesh Santuario.
I flew on British Airways from Aberdeen to London and then overnight to Johannesburg. From Johannesburg it was a short 1-1/2 flight to the town of Beira. When I arrived at Kedesh I was met by Drew Gillespie (also from Forres) the first BMS volunteer, and John Wickes, who is the driving force behind Kedesh.
I have included a few photographs to let you see my bedroom, my bed, and the showering facilities. Not Marriott Hotel standards, but surprising comfortably once you get used to them. However, I doubt if I will ever get used to taking cold showers. Hot water is a luxury that we do not have here at Kedesh.
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| Bedroom is on the upper floor |
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| My bed and bedroom furniture!!! |
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| Shower & toilet |
During the first two weeks I helped Drew and Chris, who is a long term volunteer here, with laying concrete blocks at the very top of the front gable end of the building. They were good instructors. It was all a bit of a quick learning curve for me - mixing cement mortar for laying the blocks with a shovel ( no cement mixer here ) and laying the blocks in straight line using string as a guide (not as easy as you would think). It is all done by sheer physical effort. Carrying 30 lb concrete blocks and buckets of cement mortar up ladders all day saps the energy out of you in temperatures that can sometimes reach 30 deg C in the middle of the day.
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| Chris laying concrete blocks. |
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| Drew, Chris & John (short term visitor) |
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| Another bucket of cement mix |
At the end of the second week, Ashley and I attended a service at the 1st Baptist Church in Beira with Damian and Annette, two of the full time BMS staff here in Beira. The service was in Portuguese, so we had to rely on Annette to translate. It was a good way to finish off the second week.
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| Ashley & me outside1st Baptist Church. |
If this blog works then I will try and send more of on a regular basis.
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