Musings from the front

Things here have been hectic but good. I will be traveling to Uganda and then Kenya and will be out of touch for the first three weeks of April... But remember the rule - no news is good news.

Last night was my first English Discussion Group. It was an amazing experience and one I plan to take part in often! We went to a one-room school house (literally) that was packed with people.

This group was mostly males between 16 and 24, but there were a handful of women as well. The students pick the topics (last night was health and how their country can develop) and then we talk conversationally, writing key words on a board in the front and letting them (kindly) correct each other.

I was moved by how passionate they are about life. They see the situation they're in and know they want better. And they are working so hard to better their lives. They listen to Voice of America radio just to learn more conversational English and enjoy the weekly exchanges they get with actual Americans.

I received my first care package on Sunday! It was, and I quote, "enough pesticides to conduct a bug holocaust on all my areas..." but it was wonderful to receive mail (thank you Scotty!) from home. Now I just need someone willing to send me a Swiffer Wet Jet to clean my CLU (it is NOT an apartment!) so that maybe I don't be afraid to take my shoes off at the end of the day. I tried to order one on drugstore.com but they won't ship to an FPO for that item. Hmmmm... Go figure. I have the Wet Jet liquid and plenty of pads here. They shipped THOSE. But they won't ship the actual apparatus.

On to much more somber news... We lost a Marine on Easter Sunday. LCpl Dustin Canham was 22 years old and he and his wife were married just 5 months ago. I can not imagine the agony his family must feel knowing that they will never see their loved one again. And somehow, it seems to me that receiving the news on Easter is a double blow. So I ask that tonight and every night you keep the Canhams and all of America's service members and their families in your prayers.