Hey everyone! What’s new? I haven’t been able to blog for some time! I’m excited to give you a little bit of a run down of what’s going on:

My mom, dad, sister (Angi), and cousin (Janna) are coming to see me in about 2 weeks! I can’t even begin to explain how happy I am. I’m hoping to show them the area I live in, sleep in my room the first night, go to a game park the second night to see the animals, and go into the capital the last night. They’ll get to pop a squat in my pit latrine, meet Loyd my lizard, and maybe fetch my water. :)

I’m busy with a youth empowerment competition that we‘re preparing for April. I’m helping my community do a girl empowerment pageant, but there’s a lot to be done. Thanks to people at home who donated dresses. That is so helpful and the girls will love it. World Vision is helping us and donating a tent. I’m still teaching on Saturdays life skills class to the youth in a church near me. I spent Valentine’s Day teaching them. Most people get roses and chocolates and I get questions from high school kids whether Tupac Shakur is still alive. I’m livin’ the dream. I’m trying to help my school get a library, so I’ve been having meetings with the school committee. It sounds like I’m busy, but don’t get ahead of yourself, my days are still full of countless hours staring at the wall, combining leftover ingredients together to see what it tastes like, and reading a May ‘08 People magazine. Does anyone want to know about the cast of Gossip Girl, including favorite food and corky habits? I, unfortunately, can tell you.

Bat attack #3 last night. I sleep in fear everyday. I had to knock on my bhuti’s window last night to help kill it. Bhuti (pronounced like booty) is SiSwati for brother. I know, so many jokes with that name. So of course I take advantage of that word as much as possible. Sometimes when my brother calls me I say to whoever I’m with, “I’m sorry. I have to take this. It’s a bhuti call.” Although half the time my audience doesn’t understand the joke, I still say it because it gives me some sort of personal satisfaction that it could be funny. Anyways, sometimes I sleep with a candle next to me to scare away any nocturnal creatures. Dangerous? Maybe, but my beauty sleep is more important. You can’t look this good without taking risks.

Finally, I met some missionaries from South Africa last week. They are from Capetown and live in a church about 1 hr walk from my bus station. They drove me back to my place after. They wanted to see where I lived, so I showed them my room. They were so impressed with my siSwati. It made me feel good because I think its terrible. After, they turned to me and asked, “Do you have plans today?” I told them nope. They said, “Can we take you to eNhlangano for lunch?” I was stunned. Even more stunned they were going to drive me to a town just for lunch! If volunteers go to town, we’re going because we need to survive! We stock up on food and supplies to take back like we’re packing to set out on the Oregon Trail. We jumped in their nice truck and they drove me all the way there. Normally by public transport it takes me 2 1/2hrs. This time it took us less than 1hr in their car! When we got there they said, “Tell me what you want. I‘m buying.” What?!? I was having so much luck! I tried to reason with them and decline the offer, but they insisted so they paid for my meal! YATZEE! I won the jackpot! The motherload! These missionaries were so kind! Soon I had KFC all over my face. I was eating it like someone was going to take it from me. I had to look up at them, take it easy for a bit so I didn’t look uncivilized or choke, and then I started chomping down again. I barely said a word until the last salty extremely unhealthy french fry was consumed. Just the site of the chicken sandwich could have made me cry and/or get emotional, but that wouldn’t put it in my stomach any faster, so I just skipped the tears and went at it. I think I bruised my teeth shoving it in. Today Santa Claus was in town and he seemingly brought a bag with my name on it, including a #11 chicken meal from KFC. After eating I was so full. They wanted to stop at the grocery store to get dessert for the rode. The older lady came to me with a bar of chocolate after we checked out. They bought me more stuff! I thanked them for everything. It was a great day. I was blessed with new friends. And well fed that day. Just ask my thighs.

I love getting your letters and packages. It keeps home closer and I can't thank you guys enough for everything. Take care of yourselves and let me know if there is anything you need in Africa. :)

“Use me God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.” Martin Luther King Jr.