Most people walk... all women carry burdens...

Most people walk... all women carry burdens..., originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Besides the baby on her back, she is holding the hand of another child, and carrying a huge amount of bundles, etc. She is probably walking for miles.

Children Pray in Malawi

Praying, originally uploaded by katester.

They have nothing and share everything.

23 Things

23 Things. Week Two. Done. Rollin' . Next.

23 Things, Take 2

Well, I'm starting over on 23 Things today. Too much time has elapsed. My branch did not schedule LATI time for several weeks, holidays, etc. Hopefully, that is remedied now and I can get some consistent LATI work done.

23 Things, 9 weeks.

Week One complete. Next.

Life Outside LATI

I've had a few great personal weeks. I went to Pittsburgh last weekend for a conference on Malawi. It was so excellent. There were three folks from Malawi there, a dozen Malawians now living in the U.S., 10 long term volunteers to Malawi (including Dr. Sue Makin--who has celebrity status with this group) and about 40 other folks from across the U.S. who are keenly interested in the politics, culture and future of Malawi. It was a learning 4 days full of workshops, singing, worship and conversation.

FYI-Malawi is a land locked country in SE Africa. Over 10% of the population are orphans due to AIDS and Malaria. Malawi is to that hemishere what Haiti is to us. They face a long list of hardships. They are a lovely, spiritual people. Economically poor and rich in love and relationships.

Different subject:

Saturday was my birthday and also my husband's birthday. Yes, we are exactly the same age within minutes of each other. (My daughter, at age 6, was amazed to find out that her best friend's parents were NOT born on the same day.) Friends came for dinner on Friday. Our teenage son made dinner on Saturday, college son called home, and daughter played a card game with me and we generally were lazy and hung out on a rainy day. Church and work on Sunday.

Life is good.