Another day in Zambia

It's time for another email. But my body is weary, and I feel like my bed is calling me soon, so this will probably be a much shorter update.

Yesterday was baby clinic, as I wrote in the last update. As this is Africa though, we left much later than anticipated. I was at the clinic at 9:15, ready to go, and I ended up waiting at the clinic until 12:30, when we actually left. I guess they were trying to get something in town during that time - I'm not entirely sure. So, I spent the morning sitting in with Tebia, as she saw patients. Eventually when we did head out, we went to Bbelo, which is further on past Mutala in the bush. It never ceases to amaze me that you can be driving along a "road" (which really isn't much of a road at all) in the bush, and then, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, you come along to a school, full of children, with a small community nearby. I'm thankful that I wasn't driving, because I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't have been able to wind my way back after we were finished. Anyways, since we had left so late, we arrived at the baby clinic, and most of the weighing had taken place already. We got set up, and the nurses gave the vaccinations. Afterwards, they served us samp with fresh milk and sugar, and chibwantu before we headed back to the clinic. I walked home from the clinic, and rested some for the rest of the afternoon. Ruhtt arrived home with Melina, Miguel, and Miguel's classmate from Botswana, Bolton, later on, so we had a late supper together.

Today I spent the majority of the day at Seven Fountains. They dropped me off in the morning, and I spent a couple hours playing with the toddlers there. These were the bigger babies last year - Nancy, Elise, Mark, Bradley, Royce, etc. - but they are cute little toddlers now. I also enjoyed just watching them - I love watching kids. They can be so funny sometimes. I spent most of the afternoon with Kathleen - we went for a walk, sat at the new church building talking for a long time, and then visited more back at the house. It was nice to have a girl my age to talk with. She is a very nice girl, and I'm glad that I've had the chance to meet her, and spend some time with her.

Tomorrow, I'm spending the day at El Pantano. I'll get to meet my sponsor student, Brivery, and help out with the rest of the sponsor students who are there working for the day. I'll also probably help out Mutinta in the kitchen, or wherever else help may be needed. It will be an interesting day!

I'm not sure exactly what this next week will hold. We'll probably head out to some of the schools, and the blind community. I think I'll see if I can bring Kathleen along for a couple days as well. I'll probably try and get to the orphanages again, as well as maybe the clinic. Lots to do and see, as I'm down to my last week. Crazy.

Hope life is treating you well wherever you are!

Love,

Jilly