Friday, September 5, 2008

Homecoming! Donation UPDATE-from Katie's mom

We are counting the minutes until Katie comes home. She is ill again and in Niamey for about a week and then she'll be on her way home the 16th!
We have very exciting news about her sunglasses request. So many of our friends have brought some by, Thank you. Also Edge Eyewear surprized us with an additional gift. Their original donation of 48 glasses miraculously became over 400!!!! We are overwhelmed. Now of, course comes the challenge of getting them back to Niger. Katie is planning to check an extra bag which will be much cheaper than shipping them.
We are also still struggling to get support/donations for the water chateau. Your prayers are a blessing, please continue to keep this project in them.
Thanks
Katie's Mom

July 27, 2007-1st letter home

I just got to Africa today and its very different. It doesn't feel like I'm across the ocean or on another continent, more like the begining of camp. We met some PCV's that have been here for a year andthy are all happy & love being here.
We are all staying at the Peace Corps camp tonight & tomorrow night and then Sunday we move in with our adoptive families who we'll be living with for all 3 months of training.
I don't know how much I'll like the training, but I'm excited to be sworn in and move to my village.
There are 3 groups of volunteers; the ed, municipal and health.
I'm sleeping under a mosquito net outside right now & its not too hot. We have showers & flush toilets here but won't when we move on Sunday.
We passed a bunch of villages on our way to Hamdallay for training & there are tons of cute little babies, so I'm really excited to get language over so we can actually do our jobs.
Some things I could use that I didn't bring are
coloring books, Chaco sandals
colored pencils/sharpeners
soccer balls
a head lamp
Some earings w/studs (b/c I found out we can wear them)
rubber bands-caus I lose them a lot

Traditional Costumes

Traditional Costumes
Our Adoptive mom dressed us

Me and Erin

Me and Kellie at Training facility

Pond that forms during Rainy Season

The Village