closer...

we are about a week away from finishing construction. After some serious cleaning, and extermination, maybe we can, for the first time in over a year, unpack our suitcases.

We were sad that some of our visitors had to postpone their trip to Mwanza. But we have others coming in a couple weeks. Hopefully, Mungu Akipenda (if God wills), they will be staying in our new house.

Had fun the other day with a young Maasai warrior. We were walking down a road, and he was teaching me Kimaa greetings, when we started hearing loud popping noises and sparks started falling all around us. The universal instinct to run hit us both, and we ran together from the power line above us. Of course, there was no real danger, but I can boast that I kept up stride for stride with a man whose genes predispose him to hunting lions... for about 30 yards.

one day, when we get our computer fixed, and when they replace the phone cable stolen from our neighborhood, we will be able to post some pictures. Until then, only blurbs from the internet cafe. Thanks for coming by!

Welcome to the M-log (monthly log!)

on a friends computer, so time for a few brief updates:

Computer: We are sending it home (America, not China) for repairs. It will return in June. It's getting a new hard drive, and, hopefully, they will be able to get the data off the dead hard drive (just a bunch of 0's and 1's, but they make up all of our pictures since arriving here, most of Elijah's life!)

Housing: We are painting right now, finishing the kitchen cabinets and counter tops, and finishing a few windows. We will start buying doors this week (would be easier if the sizes were regular, and the door frames were square!), and hopefully, by the end of May, we will be in the house. Those of you who know me can envision me as a construction foreman about as easily as picturing Charity with a New York accent. So we all will be happy to have the construction behind us.

VISITORS!!!
The Zeanah's from Montgomery Alabama are visiting us next week, followed by the Wes and Amanda Gunn next month, then finally Charity's parents in July. Josiah just starts jumping up and down when we talk about it; if we get on the road towards the airport, he thinks were going to pick up people!

Village work:
Since our last blog, I have been able to form some relationships in a village named Busami in the Nassa Chiefdom of Sukumaland. It is hard to form relationships when you are simply a language learner, but it appears like some good things may be on the horizon there. Will keep you posted.

Elephants:
We had a weekend getaway with the boys. Drove them to the Serengeti, so we could see their reaction to finding Giraffe, Zebra, Crocodiles, Wildebeest, and best of all, Elephants. When you drive your car towards Giraffe, they run beautifully, something you won't see in a zoo. But when you drive towards a bull Elephant, they don't feel quite so threatened.

Thank you to all who stop by and encourage us with your comments! The lindermans