Tortoises
One thing we didn't know about Kosova before we went is that tortoises (the type we used to have as pets years ago) live wild in the countryside. On one of our hair-raising trips up the rocky road to the school in Kralan, one strolled across the road in front of us. Our driver Xhaifa (pronounced 'Jaffa') stopped and collected it, and it rode on the dashboard (see picture in the gallery) or in the foot well for the rest of the journey, apparently quite unconcerned about this sudden change of fortune. Xhaifa spent all day feeding it cucumber and proudly showing it to everyone. At the end of the day it rode back with us to live in his garden.
Tummy Bugs
We pretty much all succumbed to a particularly nasty tummy bug during the second week. It was going round amongst the locals in Gjakova so, with our delicate western stomachs, we had no chance. We shared sympathy and Imodium and resolved that if we ever go back we need to bring many more packs with us. Please continue to pray for the health of the team as some are still not 'quite right'.
Trousers
What with the bug, the heat, the diet etc., several people lost weight and had difficulty keeping their trousers up! One of our men suffered the most and had several near embarrassing moments. In the end, he had to resort to using his dressing gown cord as a means of retaining his dignity!


Jean Wh