Primary Sports Day

A couple of weeks ago we reported on the Secondary Sports Day. This year, for the first time, the Primary department had its own Sports Day and that took place on Friday 24th July.
There was a good turnout of parents and by 0900 the events were under way. Secondary students were present as spectators and helpers, a good turnout of parents were there to encourage as well as to provide catering services and both Primary and Secondary teachers were involved. Andrew Kirk did an excellent and amusing job with the commentary - he's seen in our picture taking a break with a slice of PTA cake! Lukundo Siwale manned (womanned?) the desk and David Chunsu and others kept scores.
The activities of the teachers were supplemented by the sixth form students as well as members of Grades 11 & 12. Gianni found that his score keeping abilities were assisted by a large funny hat, Benji is seen nobly and single-handedly demolishing a hot dog. Wila, David, Josh and other pupils were active, but perhaps none so much as Mwape who is seen here expertly wielding a broom for the long jump event.
The real honours of a very happy and pleasant morning have to be awarded to the students. They entered the events with enthusiasm and charm and the photographs here could have been twice or three times the number. Delight, determination and just plain happiness were all in evidence. Mwila competes with bandaged leg, Sunny, Inosa, Warren and Joseph take a flying leap, Akshata shows that even a Grade One girl knows how to handle a football. The skipping races were hotly contested and Quintin did well, the 'fun' event (involving water, of course) provided a final opportunity to get a team place. The very last event of all was a 'scratch race' of underschool age children who were there as spectators with their parents.
This report would be utterly incomplete without acknowledgement of the superb work the Primary teachers had done in preparing for the day and supervising the actual events. Kaye Thomas, who headed the team, is seen here announcing the formal end of the events, but Martin Smith and Amanda Kirk had done a great deal. With Debbie Cole away on furlough Amano Head Teacher Hilary Millard has also been doing excellent work in Primary. Summing up, the Lord blessed us with wonderful weather and a great spirit for the day, and the Primary department showed us all how things should be done!

'Anything I can send you?'

'Anything I can send you?' is a fairly familiar question to people on the mission field. Friends and family back home, colleagues going on furlough, anyone at any time might ask that or a similar question. Perhaps you have thought about asking the question if you have not asked it before. Well, here's an answer - Send us another one like Matt MacDiarmid, please!
To understand that, you would have to know a little about Matt. Matt was eighteen when he came to Amano in August last year as a volunteer. He finally left to return to his family in the UK today, Wednesday 15th July, planning to attend Loughbrough University in the near future. What could one young man - so young that we have 6th form students of similar age - possibly do at Amano?
Ask the students in the dormitory! From the youngest to the oldest student, everyone would have something to say. Go through the dormitory many morning at about 0630 and Matt would be reading to some of the Primary students, dealing with their early-morning energy and their questions about the Bible story of the day. On the boys side, where Matt's energies were naturally concentrated, students would be able to tell about times of great fun, plenty of laughs, but also the discipleship Bible studies that Matt started and encouraged, along with a deeper commitment to morning quiet time.
Ask Hilary Millard, Amano's Head Teacher. Matt freely offered to help in the school and led ICT classes for some of the Primary school and most of the Secondary with energy and enthusiasm. He didn't stop at that - whatever he was asked to do was done with a smile.
Ask anyone who attended an Amano Family Service or most school assemblies. Matt's guitar playing and planning in leading the music side was a vital part of Amano during his stay.
Ask . . . well, ask anyone. Matt made friends and was universally appreciated. Nobody who was at the farewell evening in the dormitory on Tuesday could have doubted that, even if they were visitors. The pictures are a selection from the evening, recording the admonition and encouragement in Phil Grove's fitting message, the heartfelt thanks of Hilary Millard, the warm words of appreciation from Matron, the students of every age taking part in sketches, dances and hilarious performances to say 'thank you' to Matt and the audience with included David and Pauline Foster from Matt's church in the UK.
After all that, you might feel Matt must be some kind of superhero! Not at all; Matt is in many ways an ordinary young man of his generation. The one thing that distinguishes him from 'the crowd' is his very sincere and serious love for the Lord Jesus Christ. That love delivers commitment in Matt's life, which is how he came to volunteer for almost a year of service at Amano and to deliver that service in such an excellent way. It was not all plain sailing in the sense that Matt certainly missed home and the young lady waiting for him and Matt himself would say there were learning and growing experiences at Amano along with the fun. But in it all, Matt's trust and love for the Saviour shone clearly. Matt's time at Amano was a blessing for the school and Matt would want to say for him as well.
So that's how we come to say 'Send us another one like Matt, please!' By that we don't mean a clone, we mean another young person who loves the Lord Jesus Christ deeply and is willing to let that love overflow in service toward young people in Zambia. Matt's age or older, male or female, different talents to those Matt had or more of the same - all of that is irrelevant, as long as the love for the Saviour and the willingness to serve is there. What about you? Or if not you, maybe there is someone you know you should tell about this blog - email them a link, now, while it's on your mind! Amano has room, indeed more than room, a great need. Oh that the Lord would work by his Spirit to draw the words 'Here am I, send me!' from young people like Matt, young people who love the Lord.

Secondary Sports Day

Friday 3rd July dawned bright and clear, if a little cool (this is Zambia's dry season and it is also winter) but a good day for sport. Amano's Secondary School Sports Day began at 0830 and provided an excellent morning of competition prior to a long weekend break with two public holidays to enjoy! As usual Steve and Jo Grove, our sports teachers, had planned and prepared well for the big day. Steve and Jo's contribution is easily overlooked but without them the students would not be trained and the planning for the big day would not be done! They were ably assisted by various people, but special thanks to Matt MacDiarmid who set up a PA system and kept up a steady stream of announcements and comments, Rod Boatman and Andrew and Amanda Kirk who assisted Steve and Jo in many ways and visitor David Foster who presented the certificates.
The day was marked by many improved 'personal bests' and a great deal of enthusiasm and determination by the participants. An added 'edge' was a new points scoring system which allowed competitors to attain the title 'Victor (or Victrix!) Ludorum.' To qualify students needed to compete in five different events and accumulate a score for the certificate. The effect of the system is to encourage competitors to try hard even in events they may not personally win because they can still gain points for the aggregate score.
The school records were broken in a number of categories. Here is the 'roll of honour:'

Under 14 Girls Elisabeth Breuninger 1500m
Under 14 Girls Womba Musamba Shot Put, Discus and Victrix Ludorum
Under 14 Boys Daniel Vedder Clean sweep and Victor Ludorum
Under 16 Girls Christina Chipemba Javelin
Under 16 Girls Womba Mufundi Shot Put and Victrix Ludorum
Under 16 Boys David Ng'ambi 100m, Shot, Discus and Victor Ludorum
Under 16 Boys Wankunda Silengo Javelin and Triple Jump
Under 19 Girls Gabi Pflaum Long Jump and Javelin
Under 19 Girls Rabecca Mwale 200m, Discus, Triple Jump and Victrix Ludorum
Under 19 Girls Esther Kampamba 1500m
Under 19 Boys Benji Mutti 100m
Under 19 Boys Bupe Siwale Long Jump, Triple Jump and Victor Ludorum
Under 19 Boys Wila Musamba Shot and Javelin

Primary students provided part of the audience, with other secondary students encouraging their colleagues when not participating. The PTA provided refreshments. If a disappointment has to be recorded, it must be the lack of support from parents - their presence would be much appreciated in future!