As we hurried along the slick road I didn't know whether or not I was glad that the rain had stopped. I would have liked an excuse to go home at the end of Saturday morning classes, but this was an opportunity to visit two 3rd year students on teaching practice.

I had caught up with Z as he was leaving for his school and was glad to be able to go with him rather than rely on his map through an unknown part of town. Fortunately, the bridgeless stream wasn't too deep and we could step across without getting wet. I was trying to commit key landmarks tomemory for the return journey alone. However, that proved to be unnecessary; Z and I returned together ten minutes later.

I had delayed Z's start and he was afraid he would be late. But we arrived to find the primary school pupils still in the classroom and only a few secondary school pupils in the yard. "Let's go to the office and you can meet the headmaster," said Z. "It's a pity you have come today," said the head. "There aren't any classes. There's a football tournament." Poor Z! He hadn't known; no one had told him. What a pain! Unable to visit two students. Another disappointing Saturday.

After having been closeted in the classroom teaching six or seven hours most days of the week, at last I was a little freer and had time to visit some of the 3rd year students out on teaching practice in various town schools. They were anxious to have attention and feedback on their attempts to teach English. I wanted to see how they were coping after having worked with them in their 2nd year 'trial runs'.

On my first free day, a Saturday, I figured I could visit five students in four different schools, if I planned my route well. The first two classes went well. I arrived at the second school and waited. "Excuse me; I'm looking for M, our student." "He's at chapel with the pupils." Fifteen minutes later, they still hadn't emerged. No point in waiting; M wouldn't be teaching his English lesson that morning.

It was getting late in the morning and hot as I walked to another school where I hadn't been for some time. It was interesting to see the progress on the houses in this part of town, that the Moroccan MONUC soldiers no longer maintained a look-out post at the crossroads, how they were building a new church at the Catholic girls' secondary school where C was doing his teaching practice.

There didn't seem to be any activity, nor any noise emanating from the classrooms. A teacher appeared and asked what I wanted. "Sorry, the student is in a meeting. We're having deliberation - discussing the pupils first marking-period grades. There are no classes today." C was most apologetic. "I didn't know. They made the decision yesterday when I wasn't here but at ISP for our Friday classes."

I had K's phone number. I would call him rather than attempt another
fruitless school visit. "Are you teaching your 3 o'clock lesson as it says on your schedule?"
"No, I finish at 2 o'clock." So home I trudged.

When will the students teach?

When will the pupils learn?

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick,". Prov 13:12

"...The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Bridget