The path to Rata

I've been thinking about joining the Rata team for quite some time. You can read about the work of Rata and how it trains untrained teachers in developing countries by going to www.rata.org.nz
I'd heard about it through my good friend and teaching colleague Christine Dennis, who went to CapeTown in 2007 and 2008.

However, I needed to know this was something I was being called to do. Hence my months of indecision. In March I made the decision to go to CapeTown Flats after reading Psalm 91. It was suggested I read this psalm by a perfect stranger, Anne. John and I met Anne while walking to our local church, when she stopped and asked us for directions. It turned out Anne was travelling from Tauranga to Dunedin and was only visiting Lincoln for the weekend. What an inspiring person Anne turned out to be. She has been working in Papua New Guinea for 37 years, the last 10 of which she was lecturing at the university there. Anne was the ideal person for me to share my apprenhenisons and indecision with. After talking with Anne I felt really sure I wanted to join the small team of teachers going to teach in CapeTown in 2009. Having purchased my airticket the next step is going to Cambridge in the Easter holidays to plan the professional development for the teachers in the ARK.