Khotso Bokhotsi!! (Peace My Friends)

Three weeks in my village have been such a delight!! I only wigh there was more day and less night. The sun and I awake around 5 every morning and by 8 or 9, I think of making my candlelight go away. For it's rainy season here in Lesotho whcih brings about the most peaceful and soothing frog symphony. I don't have much choice at this point byt to succumb to the lull and bid good night. As I awaken I begin to boil water for coffee and bathing, sweep my one room place and make tidy for the day. After my bucket bath, I scrub the previous days clothes then discard water and move on to breakfast and then dishes. If I catch my 'M'e (mom) as she tackles the day inb a similar more complex way, a great conversation will begin my day. The other day/night at about 630 I heard a huke ruckus outside my window. I went to the porch to see what it was all about. I met my sisters there, as the 11 year old joined the running crowd. It turns out that I was not hearing an upraising but many in the village, chasing a dog that was chasing a rabbit. We were all excited and proceeded to have a porch full of children dancing and doing gymnastic tricks, jsut what the doctor ordered. The people of the village make everything bearable, for it gets tough with all of the rules and regulations and schedules that we are demanded to follow. There are times when I wish those in charge could take a step back and see thinks in different light for their current view is not always right. But then again, that is true of all of us, isn't it? Ha Ho Mtata!! (No Worries) I will be going to my permanent village, which I just hours ago found out to be.......Thabang(literal translation mountains) I will be in Mokhotlong, check it out on the map, it is exactly up in the mountains where I dreamt of being. On New Year's Day I will get to go out to the village and come back to Maseru for my swearing in on the 10th. Please think of me on New Year's Eve as I take my oral Sesotho langauge exam. Salang Hantle!! (Go Well)

Oh yeah, how could I forget that to be sick is awful, to be sick without any immenities is horrible. After being one of the last ones to get a flu with a high fever, I awoke to bites all over my body. Oh yeah, I now understand the phrase, sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite. Fun, Fun Fun stuff here in Africa.

WARNING! WARNING! CHRISTIAN BELIEFS BELOW! PROCEED WITH CAUTION, HANDLE WITH CARE!!!!

This season I will fing a christmas unlike any other kind. For this I feel blessed to take a step back and rewind. This simplicities of life, no worries of being out done. The lights that are within.
The presence of mind is at its best for it isn't caught up in the commotion of the rest. This is the present we should give each other, as we aspire to be a gift to one another. The light creates glints of light to the onlooker. Christmas is not about sparkle, glamour or gifts. The most important givt of all was Christ being born. This gives hope to all that call. Let's rejoisce and be glad for our gift is attainable every minute of the year. May ytou not get too "wrapped" up that you're unable to remember Chrit's presence is the only present we need to unwrap.