Independence Day

Hello everyone and Happy Belated 4th of July! We have been without internet much of the last few weeks and we realize how spoiled we were to have working internet in our house when we arrived last November. These last few weeks when it was out we were too lazy to go find some other internet connection at a cafe or even at work, so we just waited for it to start working again at home. So it's working, at least for now.

We have much to update you about as we have successfully completed our first 3 weeks of work at Partners in Hope. However, I don't have any pictures from work, so I'll save more of those stories for another time. Needless to say, we both have been hit in the face by how "real" HIV and poverty is now that we are working in the clinic. It is very challenging and very sad to see. We are happy to be doing our little part in the fight against AIDS and we thank you for your partnership, encouragement and support as we carry out this work.

On a lighter note, we celebrated American Independence on the 30th of June at the American Ambassador's house--we had a big BBQ with the other Americans in Malawi--the majority of which were the Peace Corps Volunteers. It was a fun afternoon of food, games and music. The kids even got in the fun with the limbo and face (or what turned into body) painting.

The 6th of July was Freedom day here in Malawi--another national holiday and we took advantage of the day off by hiking a nearby mountain, or "inselberg"--essentially a big rock that sticks up out of nowhere. The kids can even make the hike which is good training for some bigger mountains Mike would like to climb as a family in the future....maybe Kilimanjaro? We'll see.