Monday 6th Feb

While the medical centre in Lubango is Steve's main project, he and the rest of the medical team travel to other clinics in the area. This week they have all gone to Caluquembe, so it's just Tom and I in the house. I am now fully acquainted with all the functions of our generator and have proven myself not too useless as a troubleshooter for it.

Angola is starting to feel like home, although obviously only a temporary one. I am gradually becoming more and more settled. I've been doing homework on my Portuguese. I want more Portuguese immersion! But I know it will come.

Teaching the English class with Tom is going well. The next thing being lined up for me is to do is some instrumental tuition. I want to conduct that in Portuguese as much as I can - for example so that I can translate and teach the group Cast your burdens. A great group with some real dramatic talent!

Yesterday I met Steve Collins about whom I had already heard much. Officially retired, he is still going strong as an eye doctor, a cool guy. I met him on Sunday evening at an English Bible Study - it's not just SIM missionaries in the area, there are people from a great number of organisations, and on Sunday evenings we get together.

And once a month - tomorrow in fact - as many of the SIM staff as possible in the area meet together for prayer:

• still no rain, although the forecast is a little more promising
• for progress in communication in Portuguese
• for the individuals and groups with whom we meet, that we may form good and fruitful relationships with them

• thanks for Avril's recovery (Uruguay) - after a couple more nights in hospital and a few days recuperation, she is feeling much better
• Hannah and Connie (Kenya) are also seeing the impact of drought leading to the failure of crops - many of the students they teach come from families involved in agriculture, and who are now facing real hardship; as reported by the BBC, in some areas in northern Kenya there are fears that the drought may be life-threatening
• for Tom's sister, Hannah, and the family as she has her operation.