Today will be our last "live" entry for 8 days. We journey to Thandaung Gyi after lunch today where there is no internet connection. The pilgrims planned last night for a morning of interaction and teaching at two kindys. They will be working in three different teams with staff interacting with them but mainly being there to be "fall back " positions.
We feel very blessed to be here and though it is sometimes a challenge...... it is the greatest experience and time to be here where on the surface only language is a barrier and God holds us together as a world community.

Andrew and Diane give their first insights into this journey

Where to start? I have been overwhelmed by the happy and
welcoming nature of the people of Myanmar. Highlights for me so far include our
welcome at St Luke’s boarding school. I was excited enough that we were invited
to the Bishop’s house for dinner. However, when we arrived we were led to a
chapel full of smiling students waiting patiently for us. When they sang the
song they had been rehearsing for us, I welled up because their voices were so
clear and beautiful. I wish I had recorded it but it will stay in my memory
forever.

Another highlight was our arrival at Thandaung Gyi. We felt
like royalty as we drove up and were met by colourfully dressed children who
presented us with flowers and traditional Karen shirts. They performed a
special dance while we sat surrounded by flowers.

You have to expect the unexpected on this pilgrimage – our
bus didn’t turn up at Taungoo after an amazing six hour train ride, so a squad
of motorised rickshaws pulled up to ferry us to our hotel. This was made more
amusing by the fact the whole town was out celebrating Independence Day, and
treated us a carnival parade as we jolted along the bumpy roads.

Looking forward to the next adventure!

Andrew

What an overwhelming start to our pilgrimage! For me, there
have been two initial aspects that have been immediately apparent; the
unbelievable friendliness and warmth shown by the people of Myanmar together
with the fantastic response of the pilgrims. The hotel staff and our guide,
Saw, made us feel so welcome and our students have shown beautiful manners and
respect in return. I have been so proud of them.

Yesterday we had our first experience with Myanmar
children…. and what an amazing and moving introduction. The singing of the 51
boarding students from St Luke’s in Taungoo was so moving and powerful – it
filled the chapel and surrounded us with love and joy. It was an unforgettable
experience that I wish I could have recorded, to play whenever I felt low.
Imagine if we could get all the students at Freddies to sing like that at
assemblies!

Today, the pilgrims had their first involvement with
actually teaching some Kindergarten children in Taungoo. They were ALL so
engaged and enthusiastic. They prepared as a team and worked so well in their
groups in the different classes. Prior to the Walkabout, I thought that there
may be one or two students that may take a little while to get in to the swing;
how wrong I was! Every single one of them gave it their all with smiles on
their faces. They are going to be so wonderful to be with over the next 11
days.

After lunch today, we drove up the mountain to Thandaung
Gyi; our home for the next 8 days. The welcome that we were given by the people
when we arrived was an experience that I will never forget. Their generosity
and warmth just washed over us.

This evening, as we prepared as a group for our first full
day at a Primary school tomorrow, it was a joy to see the enthusiasm (and
fantastic ideas!) that our students displayed. It has been fantastic to see
them working so well together (it has been particularly pleasing to see
students from different Year Groups bonding so quickly together.)

I am excited to see what tomorrow will bring as we continue
our Walkabout.