We have been so busy the last couple of weeks. School starts on the 5th of September and the teachers will return on Monday. Work at school never really stopped during the holiday. The two new floors look amazing and when Euphrasie saw it for the first time, she commented that the classrooms appeared bigger in size. The new grade 5 classroom is way behind schedule as we wanted to use traditional material for the floor and there was none available. So we have to go the proper foundation route which is probably better, but takes more time and is way more expensive. There are many other projects that have to be completed before the rainy season in December. All of them to keep the water at bay.
No blog is complete without some news about the boat registration. We realized that the process needed to start moving as I will be leaving for SA in three weeks and Dries already has so much to take care of. I was frankly becoming fed-up with the agent who I felt was dragging his feet. We also discovered that customs in the capital had never accepted a valuation from the surveyor who would need to re-evaluate Gabriel. So what is the point, you might ask. Exactly my sentiment.
So I went to the custom’s office in Hellville for the second time. God opened a way for us. The Chief of Customs also agreed that our proces was taking way too long. He advised us to tell the agent to go ahead and simply declare Gabriel at the value which we had determined ourselves and not the impossible number given to us. He assured us that if that amount would be queried, he’ll try to help. He phoned a man at what I’ll simply call the ‘declaration office’, because I have given up trying to keep track of it all.
“Do something good for these people as they have been doing good for the Malagasy people. They started a school in Russian Bay for children who have never been to school.” Those were his words to the person on the other end of the line. I was so surprised as we had never told him any of this, so he must have done his homework since the last time we approached him for advice.
Please continue to pray for us in this regard. Most of the foreign boats around here have already completed their process and the rest simply lifted anchor and disappeared in the night. Not something we could do though.
Have a good week.
E-posadres: lynettedj@gmail.com
Bank: ABSA, Lynette de Jager, Rekeningnr: 1410142909, Takkode: 632005