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The people here are lovely and we’re very much enjoying our time in Berega. We hope it is being as worthwhile for them as it is for us. Ute has been very good, helping us to arrive here safely and introducing us to everyone, and providing guidance whenever we need it. We’ve also really enjoyed getting to know Pastor Mgego in his role as Director of the hospital, and Canon Chihambo who is in charge of the Bible school. Bishop Dudley of Morogoro gave us a very warm welcome when we first came and helped us get the special visa stamps we needed if we were to teach.
We begin each day by going to the ‘Devotions’ at the hospital which are led by Evelina, the hospital chaplain and evangelist, at 7.30am. David then goes to the main hospital meeting where a report is given of the hospital’s work over the previous 24 hours, followed by ward rounds on the children’s ward and the maternity ward with the two ‘Assistant Medical Officers’ who are the most senior medical staff in the hospital (but are doing the equivalent of an experienced Registrar in the UK), while Anne goes to the nursery where she is working particularly with the three oldest children age 5,4, and 3 respectively introducing them to kindergarten type teaching and then helping get introduced to the kindergarten school in the village, which is one of Ute’s priorities.
David has had five very worthwhile teaching sessions so far at the hospital, covering examining newborn babies, the first two of a course on Care of the Newborn, history taking and examination of children, and HIV/AIDS in children and babies. Anne is about to have a teaching session at the orphanage for the staff covering health issues and safety in the home. We are both involved in doing three English classes per week together, and it is good to put our TESOL training into practice, although we doubt that our International Training Network tutors in Bournemouth would give us full marks for our lessons! Still what we lack in experience we make up for with enthusiasm! Ute has asked us to do two classes, each of six girls/young women who are either helpers at the orphanage or ‘housegirls’. The third class is for Canon Chihambo and we take the 26 students in the Bible school.
Anne has been involved with the Mother’s Union, and a sewing class at the church. David sees the children at the nursery when they are ill. We’ve also been able to be alongside Pastor Mgego and Ute, when each of them was facing a difficult management issue at the hospital and the orphanage respectively.
The time has flown by, and we can see the potential for the future, and we’re beginning to turn our thoughts to more ways we can be involved here and the possibility of returning next year, God willing….
With every good wish in Jesus,
David & Anne