Nearly there

In two days time we fly to Africa, to Kampala to be more precise. We think we've got everything packed - we certainly have a number of cases! The house is very nearly ready for the family who are borrowing it to move in so all that needs to happen is for us to get to Heathrow on Tuesday morning.

So, how does it feel now we are finally nearly there? A mixture:

• part of us doesn't believe that we are actually going to go. Despite all the planning, all the packing etc. it still feels unreal and that it isn't really us that is going to DRC.
• Another part says 'what on earth do we think we are doing'? People have said we are brave, and that they couldn't do it. Well, compared to what many do we are doing nothing, and we are not particularly brave!
• The strongest part is, probably, excitement, that we can't wait to get stuck in and be in Aru doing whatever we are going to do there.

What are we going to do? well, the letter of invitation says Pete will "help build the capacity of the heads of departments for project management" and Gill will "help with IT skills and Christian education materials". Very challenging when you realise that:

• project management in the west is one thing but in central Africa, a completely different culture, will be something else 
• IT skills can cover a range of things including programming, sorting networks, sorting machines using Word etc.
• we have just six months
• we have to do it in French

However, this is what is exciting. We want to live in a different culture, to experience different views,  build relationships and, if we can, achieve a little towards any of the above then that will be great.