2-6-06 report

It has been a good two weeks since my last report. The kids have started school and we are left with just a few kids during the day. But that doesn't mean there is any lack of excitement around here.

Because of all the rain we have been having, the well water is all muddy. So I have been making the daily trek to the bore hole. It's really not too far. The first time I went alone (without Katie) but since then, I have taken her. The kids have decided I am a real African and that now I have to stay in Africa. Everyone is also asking me to fetch water for them, for which they receive an emphatic no! The water has been thankfully starting to clear again so at least I can now cook, bathe, and wash with it. And the rains are starting up again, and the rain water works great for all of those things too!

With the start of the school year we have a few new kids going to school! That is so exciting for them. They get up super early (they go to school in the Afternoon) and then they bathe by 10:30 and are dressed up in all their school clothes at least a hour before they are supposed to leave! New scholars are so funny! Also we are really forcing the kids to study this term. We have study time scheduled every day. My group of kids is 8-9th grades. It is really alarming to me to see how the education system is in Mozambique. I had them doing speed drills with simple addition, multiplication, and division. It took me 47 seconds to do the 100 problems. It took them between 4 and 9 minutes!!
Crazy!! So now we are practicing, especially simple math, every day!! We have a daily battle to get the kids to come, though. Please pray for us as we struggle to help these kids with their studies.

My health is good. I have had a little bit of headache lately, but I think it's just from heat. I am eating ok, mostly cooking for myself, eating with the kids some. I have been eating a LOT of peanutbutter!! :-) It reminds me of my team!!

I hope everyone is well there! New Pics everyone!!Check it out!!http://photobucket.com/albums/d55/SnapsFromAfrica/