Hello. This is Josiah at the end of a very busy month and the start of an even busier one. I was sick at the end of February and this continued through the beginning of March. [He had a high fever and painful bleeding mouth ulcers.] Although I felt better fairly quickly I looked annoyingly like Dracula for the next week or so. And this would be just when they were having the school photos! However the rest of the month was far more enjoyable.

We sometimes go swimming as a family and that is really fun. We all enjoy the splashing in the open pool  in the heat of the Maputo sun. There are thatch umbrellas for shade and lots of room. However, when we go with the school, I don't have as much fun. I'm really not made for going up and down the pool over and over again

Both Daniel and I had school trips and we learned loads about nature. I went to South Africa while my brother went to Swaziland, I found out that snakes cannot hear, jackals hunt in pairs and herbivores' dung can be eaten with no ill effects! We had a great time and are glad we were still here for the trips.

My parents are very happy with their Portuguese . They have both taught Sunday School and my Dad has been preaching in Portuguese. When we reach Tete, they will undoubtedly perfect it informally but it is ready to go. None of us children are doing very well with our language study.

We are packing up to come for the conferences in Wales and thus we will leave our friends in Maputo. Although we are sad to leave, I am sure that we will make new friends in Tete. The packing as always is tiresome. I am anticipating a very stressful plane journey, but we might be able to watch a movie.

After three weeks in Wales and a long drive through Zimbabwe, we ought to reach Tete. This should be our home for a fairly long time. As you know, my Mother will train people in the very basics medically and my Father will do more of what he did in Zim. I don't know what Tete will be like except that it will be hot and even fewer people  will speak even a bit of English.

Back in September Josiah's brother, Daniel wrote our newsletter. To read again his observations on life here, you can click here

Grace to you

Gregory and Sharon Kane
Elim International Missions

• Thank you for your prayers for our language study. Our tutor is very satisfied with the progress we have made. Pray we won't forget too much while in the UK!
• Please do continue pray for our health. We will go through significant changes in climate and environment during the next month, and need physical and psychological strength.
• Pray for all the preparation we must make with regard to moving to Tete. The drive takes three days! Pray for safe travelling.
• We also need to arrange for our household goods and furniture to be transported there. Most of it is in Zimbabwe. Pray we won't have trouble getting it into Mozambique and that nothing is lost or stolen in transit.
• Pray that we would find suitable accommodation in Tete
• Pray that we will establish good relationships with the churches in Tete and will make a good beginning in our work with them.

*New Patio*

My husband, Ray, was attempting to build a patio for the
first time. He bought 100 cement blocks. Laying them out in
a pattern, he discovered the chosen area was too small.

He stacked the blocks against the house and cleared more
space. The next day Ray put the cement blocks back down,
only to find that the ground was too hard to keep the patio
level.

He ordered a truckload of sand to be delivered the following
morning. Again he stacked the 100 blocks against the house.

Observing all this, our next-door neighbour asked, "Ray, are
you going to put your patio away every night?"