Howdy from Africa

It is 2:00 Saturday afternoon here in Legho and the weather is wonderful. No rain yet on the trip. I am sitting out on "the ridge" behind Papa Deo's house which is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. Just ask everyone when they get home what life on the ridge was like.

OK, first, everyone is healthy and doing just fine. All the kids are enjoying themselves, eating well and sleeping pretty well. Just a few scratches on some from yesterday's soccer (football) game. This is our last day in Legho. We depart for Kili ans safari in the morning. Today we all took a long hike to see Legho Falls. Took about an hour and a half to get there down some interesting dirt roads and paths. Beautiful place to just sit, relax and think. Liz decided to take a little plunge in the water, but she is fine. Yes, we have it all on film. The only problem with walking down to the falls meant that we had to walk UP to get back! But as we walked back, it was like a parade as all the kids ran out to see the strange white people coming by. The kids here are great. When you take their picture and then show it to them, they bust up laughing.

Yesterday we work a bit on the medical center and then went to the school and played with the kids. It was crazy! We had soccer balls flying, footballs going around, a whiffle ball and bat, and maybe the largest game of hokie pokie ever! All of your kids were great with all the local kids. You would be very proud of them. After a brief break at Deo's, we went back to the school for a little soccer match. Team YL took on some of the older local boys. When we arrived, a trench had been dug right through the field for a very important water line they are trying to run. The school headmaster promptly told the boys to fill in the trench so we could play. Only in Africa. Thanks to our African YL leaders, team YL prevailedn but those local guys are pretty darn good.

Evening ministry with Papa Deo has been wonderful and I hope all of us will take to heart his message about being merciful and less material. All the kids have participated and are getting along. Maria and Andy have really fit right in and we are blessed to have them on this trip. I know if I was their age and was asked about going to Africa with a bunch of strangers, I would have said "are you crazy?". They are brave people and hopefully enjoying the trip

Everyone is anxious for the next step of the journey. Time to go back to the house to meet with the Kili guides to make sure we do things correctly. Then time for one last bucket shower for a week! When I get back, I may just spend a few days doing nothing but taking a shower and laying in my bed!

We have no outside news here, so we hope all is going well back home. Happy anniversary to my wife- I love you. Tomorrow is Jim Shelton's birthday. We will be sure to sing for him. Keep us in your prayers as we go explore more of Africa. Your kids (and husbands) have been lots of fun to be with! See you all soon.

Mark