Photos

Due to slow upload on most computers in Mozambique it has been very difficult to upload photos. Here are a few - i'll try to load them chronologically. I will add some more when I have access to my old laptop.



The old house being demolished.




Rubbish in the garden being burnt. Old house's walls in the background.




The local kids helping with blocks.






Verging on child labour.




Walls slowly going up.




At the end of a very long day collecting nhocca.




Roof Ceremony.



Roof is finally finished before the rain really began.





Inside walls were covered and roof complete.



Builders putting finishing touches to the veranda... including a wheel chair/bicycle ramp!



On the right, the latrine (beware of black mambas) and on the left, the outdoor shower, complete with starlit sky.




Stefanía's parents came to visit, and got roped into painting the house.




One of the first girl's club meetings in the back garden.




The house and garden fence nearly complete. April 2007.

Apologies

I'm very sorry for not writing more about the progress of the house. The good news is that we were so busy and things were moving so quickly that i had very little time to write about what was going on.

Since the last entry - we slept in the house on December 22 and moved in properly (i.e. put up bed frame, transferred all our belongings) on Christmas Eve. The latrine wasn't ready until 28, and we didn't have electricity enstalled until 30 December. However, i think we set a world record for building a house in Maganja. To put it into perspective: the government is building houses on the plot of land next to us, and despite starting before us, having legions of workers, and substantially more funds available, the houses are still not nearly finished (May 2007).

The house has been painted, the fence has been completed, a vegetable garden has been planted and next week the outdoor meeting space (a big canopy in the garden) will be finished.