With patience being stretched to the near breaking point, we continue watching the progress on the Land Rover, which is finally materializing now.  These pictures show the vehicle primed and ready for painting, the mixing of the paint several days later, and the application of the first green coat.  It was strange to see that it took less than half an hour to paint that first coat after the agonizing weeks we had waited for the vehicle to be prepared.  The daily rain prevented the job being done for about a week.  Then when a sunny day came, they discovered that the paint which the mechanic had personally gone to South Africa to buy was stolen out of his office!  Luckily, he managed to find some other paint within a couple of hours from a contact. 

Now the vehicle looks new on the outside and they are in the process of fitting new seats into the interior and installing door locks, etc.  The wiring has been a real headache which also delayed them.  He hopes to have the vehicle done and past inspection tomorrow.  If not, I will have to pick it up when I get back from Swaziland next week.  Later in the month, we are sending for a roof rack from South Africa, so we can carry our belongings up there on long trips.  How grateful we will be to finally get this vehicle back!  It will have the size to accommodate the whole family and visitors who come and the ability to handle whatever the roads and trails that we must cross can throw our way.

Wednesday morning I will join a group of about 25 Malawians on the long ride down to Swaziland, where we will be attending this year's International Gospel Lectureship.  It will be my first time to attend.  Bisani will be my colleague from the mission.  It will take about two days of night and day driving through Mozambique to get down there.  It will be a great opportunity to fellowship over the many hours in the bus with Christians from across Malawi.  I also look forward to seeing Christians and missionaries who will be gathering at the conference.  We hope to be back Tuesday of next week.  Don't worry.  I'll bring my camera.