Some more pics

Saturday fun in the pool!

This is the first time he has really enjoyed the pool - the air temp is close to 40 degrees so the water has heated up considerably!

5 months - I just can't get over how cute he is!

I am starting to see the likeness!

After our well was dug we had the problem of what to do with all the coral that had been dug out of it! Thankfully there was a local cow and cart on hand.

Joshua's favourite way to get around

Feeling cut off!

Well as you can see I am not a regular blogger! This was always true but has been compounded by the fact we have had very little internet access since we have been back. In 10 weeks we have probably had 6 days when it has worked. We also have no television or radio and there are no English newspapers here so you could have all been struck down with swine flu and we wouldn’t know it. Well that is not quite true our parents do keep us informed on the major things. So I am sitting in our wonderful teammates – the Osborn’s house scrounging off their internet! So 10 weeks of life back in Africa have come and gone our little boy is growing and changing all the time and he is such joy and delight. Last week he stared having mashed banana and milk once a day and just loves it, up till then his only taste (apart from milk) was malarone which he gets every day. Half a paediatric pill crushed up added to milk in a syringe and forced down him, he clamps his mouth shut as soon as he sees it and makes a disgust face afterwards – so sad – but so far no malaria praise the Lord. He has been really healthy which is so good, it has been me that has been more ill this time – various sickness bugs and a nasty session one night in the bathroom (12 times in 2 hours, but that is far too much detail) On other more pleasant news we finally have our own well! We have shared a well with our neighbour for the last 18 months but every now and then that neighbours landlord decided to remove our pump and not tell us so the first we know of this is no water coming out the taps and it is a 3 day process to get it going again – lots of fun with a baby let me tell you! However our landlord agreed to having a well dug in our garden. 4 weeks later and 23 meters deep (through coral rock) we have hit the water table – the problem now is getting it into our holding tank, but that is a saga for another day.

Alex got straight to work as soon as he arrived back and has been really busy with various meetings, proposals, budgets and reports. The school is looking good, we are almost ready to get the computer classroom set up and should have a functional car workshop early next year. Alex has also had the chance to tell some of our local friends Bible stories in Swahili, when we got back we told the story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho and our God who keeps His promises. I am still trying to find my niche, I love being a mum and Joshua is a constant source of joy, his gorgeous smiles and lovely noises and gurgles are so fun, but I feel like I could and should be doing more than just keeping him entertained. He is at such a great age now (5 months can you believe it) where he is happy to be out and to just watch the World. I am learning the art of contentment (not very well some days) but what a great lesson to learn.
Will try and be better at blogging!



I am not really sure what has happened to Alex - he says he wants to blend in!!

Just one of the sights to endure when buying meat, Thanks for the photo Jono!

Our well being dug -One man down there all day just chipping away – no airflow, hardly any light – it has got to rate amongst the worst jobs in the World!

Our last day

Well, our time in the UK is up, we fly back to TZ at 19:20 tomorrow evening. leave here at 15:00. Somehow we have filled our massive (7 bags) luggage allowance - a little worrying! AFter all the packing an dgoodbyes of the last few weeks it will be reat to finally get there. Joshua is 14 weeks and is still as gorgeous as ever.

Our last month

Well we fly back to Africa in 1 month! Time in the UK has be so wonderful and we can't believe how fast it has gone, We are now thinking through all the things we need to take back with us - the list is long! There are so many emotions as we consider our return, excitement at seeing the rest of the team again and our friends out there, trepidation when we think about how Joshua will cope with the heat, bugs, malaria and lack of medical care and sadness as 2 sets of grandparents, 2 uncles and 2 aunts say goodbye to their first grandchild and nephew. Here are more recent photos for your viewing pleasure, he really is a gift from God, so many smiles and gurgles - gorgeous!

It is now almost the end of May, can't believe where the time has gone, Joshua will be 2 months old next week, he is growing so fast it is truely amazing, he is now 10lb 6oz, gurgling and smiling and so much fun! We are planning to return to Africa on the 8th July so are starting to get prepared now, as I womder round Tesco's I try to think through all the things that I will be desperate for in a few months time and what I can take back to make life a bit easier. We are just loving our time at home, catching up with so many friends and family and having doting Grandparents around is just so precious.

We will be hosting an Africa evening on Thur 18th June at Ebenezer Church in Filton, Bristol 8pm, there will be spices and other African things available and we will be sharing some updates of the project work for the vocational training school and more about life out there, please do come and join us if you can.
For now here are more photos of the little one.

.

Some more Joshua photos, 2-3 weeks old. He is now 8lb sleeping and feeding well. He is lovely, we are amazed by him and loving it!

Introducing Joshua Andrew Kittow

Joshua Andrew Kittow arrived at 4.02pm Sunday 29th March, 6lb 12 oz. 48 hour labour, but we praise God for a speedy recovery for Julie and Joshua is already back to birth weight. We have just loved every minute of this first 10 days with him. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers for us.

From one extreme to the next!
Well I have been home jut over 2 weeks now and I am loving the English weather! From the mid 30's + high humidity to 0 degrees centigrade - quite a change but so much nicer - believe me!
I have put up some photos with various explainations so won't write too much here. Alex and I are half way through our time apart. He has been very busy with lots of paperwork for the vocational training school and a ground beaking ceremony (finally after 3 years) happening on the 24th Jan (for photos and a short video follow the link to Roxannes blog) in fact she is much more gifted that I am at keeping these things up so reading her pages will give you areally good idea of what life is like in coastal Tanzania!
Alex is now in his last week before leaving for Kenya for a conference with the rest of the team and some relaxation time, he flies home (horray) on 21st Feb landing at 5.20am (very inconsiderate)
I have loved my last 2 weeks, I get to wear proper maternity jeans (thanks mum) rather than holding my normal jeans together with elastic bands! I have had a great time catching up with friends and family in Guildford and Bristol, my lovely girlfriends in Bristol threw me my second baby shower so I am truely spoilt. I am living with my parents and brother at the moment as he has just handed in his masters dissertation, I don't think mum ever thought we would both be at home again, but we are all enjoying being together. I have also seen a midwife for the first time and with only 7 weeks to go it is not a moment too late, Everything is fine with the pregnancy and the baby so we praise God for that.


My gorgeous team girls threw me a surprise baby shower. Alex had managed to keep a secret, I was totally surprised!
The amazing food, consisted of BLT sandwiches (you have no idea how precious bacon is – thanks Rich) peach iced tea, tortilla baskets and proper cadburys chocolate – amazing – oh and chocolate cake with creamy icing for dessert!



A baby shower - complete with pressies – I am so spoilt



Lovely ladies


The Girls!


My last Sunday in Africa, one week later I had a lot more clothes on!
Megs (great friend who runs a volunteer program, Roxanne, me and Paula


The Last day
It was Paula’s birthday the following day so we threw her a little surprise birthday party – choccy cake and pressies! (This is our lounge)


The Official Team Photo
Back Row – Rich, Alex, Jason, Hans, Anneli
Front Row – Paula, Romi, Julie, Roxanne and Annikah, Doro, Nasia
(this photo is missing baby Joel)

Christmas 2008

Hope you all had a very happy Christmas and we are wishing you a wonderful 2009.
It has definitely been a different Christmas for us this year. The heat and humidity make it pretty hard to do anything let alone feel 'christmassy' we have missed the cold, the twinkly lights, the rush, the Christmas trees and most of all time with friends and family, but were so blessed to be reminded that Jesus was born into a culture and climate similar to this one and Him coming to Earth is really what is important.

We had various events happening, the main one was a Christmas party for our local friends with plenty of food and a story about the real meaning of Christmas, for most it was the first time they would have heard this. It was a great day, we played Christmas music, Alex did some fire juggling and balloon modelling (my husband is so talented) prepared a tonne of food thanks to the help of the ladies that work in our houses, played games and spent time chatting.

Another event was Christmas Eve with the Osborn's, games, Home Alone 2 (to get us in the mood) and of course food, If you saw my oven you would be impressed with what was produced (with help from Paula with the stuffing, bread sauce and mince pies (you rule girl!!) all of which Has to made totally from scratch.
Alex and I had the day together on Christmas day we enjoyed some games, DVD's and talking to our families on the phone, apart from a puncture (thankfully in our drive way) that took 2 hours to sort out the day was good.
On Boxing day we had a team BBQ (more photos below) It was the first time we have been all together so that was very exciting we did secret santa and watched some photos of each others previous lives.
So that was Christmas for us this year. I leave here and return to the UK in just over 2 weeks and Alex follows 5 weeks later (contrary to some rumours which have me having this baby all by myself with Alex remaining in Africa)

Looking forward to seeing you all soon

Christmas parties wouldn’t be complete without Kristmasi (real word) tree

Set up 10 am 34°C + humidity


Our lovely helpers

Alex practising his balloon modelling skills

Roxanne and Paula demonstrating ‘duck duck goose’

Key ingredient to any party!

Alex providing a little entertainment

Our Christmas party for our local friends

Paula and I (and bump) with some girlfriends

Christmas eve meal

Check out the food, we had stuffing and everything!!

All the team girls together – First official photo

Team boys – doing what they do best

Christmas day – playing cards. Alex thinks the bump is cool – so do I