Back in Msongola

I slowly come to wakefulness, realizing I am listening to the frogs... the rain... the birds... the roosters, then the waking kids. I feel so happy! I watch as the light grows, and I see the outline of the trees, then the clouds, as the sun tries to appear. I am so happy! And I thank God for the priviledge of witnessing the break of day in all of it's noisy, wet, misty glory. And I get up to join in.

It's rainy season here. You can't begin to imagine how much water pours out of the sky at a time. But then the moment passes, the downpour ceases, and the sun beams through the clouds. I feel the rush of moisture leap from the sand below back into the air. The humidity increases the temperature, and fills my lungs.

The rain makes everything SO GREEN and the trees have all grown up. I exit the house, and see the new kitchen. It's a real kitchen, with a counter, a sink for washing up, and lots of fresh air as there is only one brick wall, with the rest a combination of wire and screen. It's just before 7am, and the kids are dressed for school and taking their breakfast there, on the smooth cement floor.

The kids are wonderful. So genuinely happy to have me back in their life. They laugh as I struggle to remember Swahili. I'm struck at how well they all get along! Some few minor skirmishes, but mostly boisterous fun and giggling. Two are late coming home from Easter with their relatives - apparently there is an auntie living far away who asked to have them brought.

The new road is a great development, but the rains have washed it out already, as the ditches weren't dug. There are some nice surprises, like three kittens - 2 smaller, all babies and already at work catching the rats. I keep the 2 little ones (who I've named Ginger and Spice translated to Tangawizi and Zanzibar) in my room at night, as the first night the rats literally stared down at me when I flashed the flashlight on them sitting on top of my cupboard. And our dog Panda gave birth on Tuesday morning! The 2 pups look like rats too, but will soon be cute as the dickens.

Ahh Life!!! I'm back at home in Msongola.