Revd Ian Y. Gilmour

We are having a tremendously rich experience at Chipembi School on this our third trip to Zambia. The quality of the welcome is quite extraordinary.
The singing and dancing of the pupils and teachers has been fascinating and enriching.

We have met the head of the school from 1998, Mr Denny Lumbama, who as Permanent Secretary is now the highest ranking civil servant in Central Provice. Denny spent a year with us at SLPC while studying for his Master's Degree at Moray House. He has been generous with his time and has allowed us to interface with the key officials in his administration in Kabwe on Friday. Later he took us to see a recently completed completed dam, a new hospital project as well.

We led worship which was on the theme of inspirational women. Fiona Kendall had been working on this theme with the girls. We used bible readings, poetry, prayers and song to give the message. Anne Rutherford led both the choir and praise band and the result was quite overwhelming. The quality of music and singing is outstanding and moving beyond words. Paticipative worship is very much the norm here and it is amazing to see and indeed hear.

This afternoon it is the turn of SLPC to do their bit in the curltural exchange. We have all been roped in and are expected to perform in some form. The Chipembi girls performed for us yesterday and as ever it was exceptional. Drama, song and dance were the order of the day and we all danced with them at the end. Not dancing as we know it but African dancing or at least we gave it our best shot. Preparation time for this afternoon calls so but to work for all of us.

We are due home on Thursday and looking forward to seeing family and friends then.