 Hi everybody! Hope you've had a good week, ours has been full of action, hard work and 'challenges'. On Monday we went to visit the local football team who are partly sponsored by Mary and Martin. Some of the team got to play football with them and Joe was talent spotted! The rooms were finished off and final touch ups made. Tuesday was packing up and we left for Montasoa. On the way the boys gave us the first viewing of the song they had written about Madagascar and bought some instruments at the market. When we arrived Mamy, the friend from the previous camp had come unexpectedly to stay with us. That first night we sang a lot of songs together and played various instruments which is when we discovered this incredible demo tune on the keyboard that has got us through many difficult times since. It has been really fun living in a house together and working together to get things done as opposed to living in more of a hotel-like setting. The place is incredible. The house overlooks the lake which has a mountainous backdrop.  On Wednesday we had a rest and some went fishing, boat trips were running around the lake in the Barber's boat and there was a tour around the site. On the tour there was an exciting discovery, the biggest spider most, if not all, of us had ever seen about the size of a small person's hand. It was nicknamed Peter Parker and has gone down in urban legend since. The boys fed it things and it would wrap them up at lightening speed. We also visited the school and saw the kids for the first time. Thursday was the first day of work in Montasoa. We went to Mary and Martin's site for their house in Kanana where they have built a community centre for the local people to do various activities such as working on sewing machines, library, computers, projector capabilities and doctor's surgery. The girls worked on the painting and ceilings whilst the boys made a playground out of various bits of wood and rope. This as you can imagine was a very exciting project for them and all the creative ideas came flooding out while they studied various kinds of knots. This kind of thing could never be done in England due to health and safety! We were pretty much given the freedom to build anything that we liked. When we got back home the guys decided to race across the lake (it must have been all the testosterone pumping). They had to swim the first part, run up the hill and then swim back. Joe was a clear winner but they all made it which was a bit of a relief!  On Friday some went to Kanana to continue the work and others stayed on site to help out with the kids at the school. After lunch the team went out on the lake on dingys, canoes, and swimming. The English camp arrived that evening and there were games and songs with a session in the evening. Saturday had a very early start, with Dan and Katherine up at 5am to cook food. Joe and Dan also led a run and volleyball match before breakfast (which was rice!!!) We had sessions, English lessons and games and then in the afternoon there were workshops such as a rapping/ hip hop song writing, painting, building toys, electronic lessons and dancing workshops. After this there was a volleyball match Malagasy vs. Brits (including of course the national anthems sung at the beginning!). Brits won by the way - we brought it home! Even though there were about 30 Malagasy and only 12 Brits! The evenings entertainment consisted of the performances from the workshops, including Vive (a friend of Mary and Martin) doing a traditional Malagasy dance.  Sunday was another early start but it was all finished by 6:30am so that the youth could go to their local church services!!! What kind of youth camp finishes at 6:30am!?? This was the followed by the best breakfast we've had since being here with real milk!!! (I kid you not!) and pain aux chocolat. Mmm. More messing about on the lake and rest followed by a trip to another animal reserve. There were snakes, millipedes, lemurs, charmellions, geckos and crocodiles. Dan and Joe also conquered their fear by holding some of the snake (only if someone else had the head!!!). This is where we started trying to remake the film Jurassic park so watch this space! In the evening we had pizza and a movie so it turned into a completely rice-free day! This was a treat in itself.
Monday was yet another early start as some went to Kanana for more work and others stayed to do the school. David had been really sick in the night so some of the boys hadn't got much sleep. After the morning's work we went out in various boats to conquer this little island. When I say little, it was about 5 meters diameter! There was one tree on it and that's about it. On the way back Charlie was in the Topper sailing boat but there was absolutely no wind so he was way behind. There was a glorious sunset over the lake when we got back but Charlie still wasn't back. Bex went out in the powerboat but was out for a long time. She finally found him and he was pretty worried - thinking up Ray Mears style survival techniques! But all are back safe and David is better so things are well, especially since the stars are out tonight and they are glorious!
Prayer points are:
* Praise that Martin and Mary are well again
* The political situation in Madagascar as Independence day is coming up.
* David's illness and continued recovery (and that no others would catch it)
* Street kids camp (starting tomorrow)
* That the team would continue to grow and get on with each other, we really have been blessed in this respect so far so thanks for your prayers!
* Energy for everyone!
Sorry for delay but internet connection has been down!
Street Childrens camp is amazing. Everyone throwing themselves into everything!
Keep praying
Love Mary
Mary Barber is the mother of one of Charlie's friends and a missionary in Madagascar
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