The rain has finally dried up. Last week it seemed it would never end. Because of all of the humidity even things in our cabin are damp feeling. It reminds me of camping in the rain in Oregon. I had to put my shoes under the wood stove today. Luckily, I finally bought an umbrella which should make my life easier. The other day, May and I were both completely soaked walking back from the clinic.

I'm beginning to feel like I'm at a health retreat. Luckily, the daily 14km walk that I thought I would be doing is more like 5-10km, but that is still a lot more exercise than I was getting. Luckily, I have been feeling really good and the walking has not been difficult. I'm eating more vegetables than I ever have including things like okra and eggplant and I'm drinking more water than I ever have. Only a few cokes a week. As I told my mom, people should take all of the money they would use for diet programs to come here.

I went to church on Sunday and it was quite an experience. I had been warned that church can last several hours here so was a bit intimidated especially with the heat and not knowing the language. I and a few other volunteers attended a church just a short walk away and is African Presbyterian. We were told it started at 9am, but when we arrived there was only a handful of people. Apparently, they have a bible study from 9-10 and then the main service starts lasting until 12ish. Luckily, one of the church leaders is the education coordinator that we know so he was very kind to translate the service for us. An interesting thing is that the women and children sit on the floor on one side of the room and the men sit on benches on the other side of the room. After the 3 hours of sitting on the floor, my foot fell asleep and I had to limp out of the church with the paster asking if I was OK! I kept thinking that at least I was working on my core. Everyone was extremely welcoming and they seemed very excited to have visitors. There were about 70 people there. The service involved lots of beautiful a capella harmonized singing. As always, I was blown away by their ability to harmonize. (Sidenote: Mom-if my and Arike harmonizing was the highlight of your 1996 summer, then I can't imagine your excitement at hearing malawian singing). Also, I am so intrigued by the children's ability to keep rhythm. Tiny children of 2-3 yrs were clapping their hands to the beat. They should have been in Sharon Hollaron's dance class. We were brought up to the front to introduce ourselves and then they sang us a welcome song and each came up to shake our hands. I felt so priviledged to get to be a part of this. It felt like we should be paying big money for such an incredible concert. At the end of the service, the paster's wife thanked us for sitting on the floor with the other women for the entire time. I think they expected that we would sit on the benches and this seemed to mean a lot to them. In a place where life is such a struggle, people's hope in God is authentic and tangible. It makes me wonder if we have lost something in the West. I hope to attend about once a month. I think this is all my bum can handle.

I am still getting used to know instant internet, lack of electricity, no ATM's, and eating mostly vegetables. But I am definitely enjoying it. I felt a bit homesick today and I don't think the rain helps, but mostly I feel so blessed that I am able to do this and experience this way of life that has so much to teach us. I haven't figured out what it means for my future, but I know that it is changing me.

Following some children down the path to find our community English class. We are teaching English to some of the local women. I keep feeling like an old missionary woman with my long skirts, straw hat, and no makeup.I may have already put this photo on here, but I love it so wanted to make sure it got posted.Learning to play Bao. Alex is a local carver and carved the game for me. It's actually really fun.May's project of painting blackboards at the primary school. I kept suggesting we hire it out, but she was determined to do it and it is now completed and looking great.