Wow this week has flown by! I spent Monday through Wednesday on a much needed personal retreat. I went to a local hotel to rest, play my guitar, have some introvert time, take a SHOWER (or three) and reflect on the last six weeks. I read through my journal to remember all I have experienced/thought/felt and get a "big picture" perspective on my time here so far. I think I'm ready for Part II now!

I just got back from spending two days with the youth at Waondo parish. Waondo is pretty far out in the "bush." I went with George the priest on motorbikes through a singletrack trail about 30 minutes until we reached Ponge church. There was a small traditional village there, where the grandmother and all the sons had houses nearby with their families. The picture is Shem's house, where we slept. Shem took us on a walk through the bush/crops at sunset and it was so beautiful. After dinner several of the youth came over and we sat around the living room drinking tea and telling stories by the light of a lantern. So great-- I love sitting around and laughing with people :) And it was pretty funny waking up to a mud wall. I had one of those oh-my-god-where-am-I moments! After breakfast we sat around while some of the women finished up dishes and all the kids (at least ten of them!) played around the yard with the dogs and chickens. Kind of surreal!