Sorry for not writing for ages – been quite a manic week or two, and I havnt been able to get on the net to post this for ages. crazy to think that we’ve actually only got another month here in Mutare, then its off on holiday. It really has gone pretty fast. We’ve already been saying some goodbyes which is mad. We only have two more weeks of our usual programme left, then theres lots of things happening at the end of December. We're taking some of the older youth (presby youth) into the bush for a week. The game park is called Gonorozo, and is amazing apparently. Should be fun, sleeping next to the lions and all that. Were also doing a holiday kids club for one week. Unlike animal kingdom we don’t have to come up with all of the material ourselves, were using a scripture union one, which is nice. ’Going Bananas’ I think its called. Very relevant.
So yeah everythigns really manic now, on the run up to Christmas. Lots of things to be planned. The youth are having a Christmas party this weekend – the theme is medieval/biblical characters. Completely bizarre combination, I did try to fight for a choice on one theme rather than both but sadly lost my case. If anyones got any bright imaginative and cheap ideas for a female biblical character I could dress up as, please let me know! The partys Saturday night, so really need to get cracking on that. Apparently theres going to be a proper pig spit roast thing. Yum. I’ll also be experiencing my first ever thanks giving as well this Thursday. Its not a tradition out here generally, but theres a group of people in the church that get together and copy the Americans every year. Im not complaining. I was very sad to hear that its been snowing in most places in England, but now the fact that im having two Christmas dinners has helped me to get over that quite quickly. Still wont be as nice as homes though!
So lots of eating all round. Makes a nice change from the sadza and vegetables.
We’ve just spent the weekend up in the Bvumba, the mountains. Our church had a ladys retreat up there. Its so stunning, really really beautiful. We were in this ladies mansion of a house, which just sits on the side of the mountain. It was lush. Was a really relaxing time, as well, still seem to be absolutely shattered though. We go at such a pace during the week that when we stop for a couple of days it all catches up on us I think.
Bex from OASIS UK has been in touch with us over the last few days concerning our placement in India. Its finally been confirmed – our half of the team will be based in Bangalore, and the other four will be in Mumbai. Im so looking forward to India, its exciting that its now actually round the corner. Theyre both really big cities, so im not bothered that we’re not in Mumbai. Gods got a plan and weve obviously been placed where we as a team are going to work best. A couple of the girls are a little disappointed, but im sure we’ll all be fine when we get stuck in. The only thing with getting the Bangalore placement is the fact that we’ll have a 24 hour hot sweaty and boring train journey across country to get there! Deffinately be pluggin into my ipod I think. At least we’ll get to see quite a lot of the place! All part of the fun. Weve also realized that us four girlies will be split into two twos in bangalore aswell. Two of us will be staying with a woman called Sheila whos been in India for a year and works for OASIS India, and the other two will be staying with a family from the church. We’ll be doing different projects, and theres a possibility that we’ll change over half way through. As indias going to be the longest and hardest placement, we’re trying to sort it so that we can take our holiday right in the middle, after two months. That should break things up nicely.
So, theres the latest lowdown. Hope everyone is well back home. Missing you all like mad. Thanks for your continued support.
Just a note to anyone who is intending to post stuff out here, it would be best to post it like now, within this coming week. Just because its more likely to get nicked as its Christmas time, and also by my experience of this shoddy postal system itl probably arrive here half way through my time in India. But don’t worry if it does, our hosts have said theyd post it onto us! (after eating all the included chocolate of course).
So yeah, I’ll catch up again soon, hope everyone is well
All my love
Rebecca x

Ps anyone seen Bridget jones’ diary 2?? Any good?