I'm Back!!!

Hey lovelies!!!

I can't wait to share with you all all of my pictures and stories. Especially about seeing Rose and Matsabana (the little girl you might remember me wanting to bring home last year from Little Angels). Both were in great condition! Overall the trip was amazing! Thank you all for thinking of me and sending me prayers and good thoughts!

I'll try to post again soon once I'm slightly more adjusted to not being in Africa anymore and once I've caught up on what I've missed for the past month.

Lots and lots of love!
~jessie

Don't worry, Be happy! - Bob Marley

Hello Parents!

Greetings once again from Africa! Sad to say this will be the last email you will be getting from us before you get to see our lovely faces.

Here's a quick run through of the day. We split up into two groups this morning. One group stayed at Thorns to Hear a speaker talk about her battle with HIV/AIDS and the other group went to a Mental Hospital (I'm sure you can figure out who those people were... Joke!). Both group really enjoyed themselves and each learned something new as we always do. We reconvened to do some shopping at the Basotho Hat. It's a store that sells Lesotho souvenirs. I noticed quite a few kids buying things so get ready for some presents coming your way!

We had lunch at Nando's in place of meeting the king. We got to enjoy Magnum bars (ice cream) so I think we all agree it was a fair trade off!

We came back in the afternoon to pack up our belongings for the last time and say goodbye to our little friends. We are all sad to leave this beautiful country, but are very happy to be coming home to you.

This trip has been an emotional rollercoaster to say the least, but we are all leaving with great memories and a broader understanding on a new culture and life itself.

If at any time you need to get a hold of us, please feel free to contact Chris Hymns at (0027)824550044. He will be able to get in contact with us so don't hesitate to call!

We can't wait to see your lovely faces when we arrive back in America. We love and miss you all very much.

Love Love Love,

Tarah Pike and Marisa Perez

Perez family: I love you guys so much! can't wait to see you and tell you all about my experiences here! get ready for some monkey's coming your way, Christian!!!! Hahahaha!!!!

Mullen Family: Colleen would like to have a BBQ when she get's home. Thank you!

Pike family: Thank you for being supportive throughout my trip. I miss you guys so much and I love love love you!!!

can't wait to see you and tell you EVERYTHING!

I bless the rains down in Africa!

Hello family and friends!

Just in time for our last work day the skies opened and the rains came. We all had cold soggy mornings but at the end of the day we completed all the work we had set out to do. Once again we split into two groups and one of them spent their day at a Lesotho save the children farm, and the other at a school outside of Morija. The weeding continued at the farm and also work on some of the green houses located there. At the school, work was completed on the playground as well as inside with the painting. Luckily by lunch the rain cleared up and the sun came out to help motivate us through the rest of the afternoon. The group at the school played a soccer game against a local high school boys team. The game ended in a 0-0 tie, even though the high school team tried to claim a goal that was "clearly offsides". It was a great cultural experience for all in attendance, including all of the fans that showed up to cheer on both sides! Meanwhile, the afternoon at the farm remained festive and productive. The group left the farm wet and dirty but excited and proud of what had been accomplished; with all the weeds gone work can now begin on the interior of the buildings which can be set up to be inhabited this coming August. Today was our last day of work, and we ended it with the usual group meeting before dinner which was concluded with a speech by Dr. Rosenberg. Everyone was touched by his words and greatfulness. Today was a great way to end our experience here in Lesotho and we look forward to our trip to Kruger and the remainder of our time here.

Erin and Charlotte

Shout outs!

Jack, Cherie, Fred and Sarah- all I want is cookies, seriously I talk about them daily... and a watch :) love you guys! can't wait to get sailing!

Mom, Dad, Katie, Maggie, Alex, and everyone else this letter is making its way out to:) Love and miss you all!!

LETS GO PENS!!!

Howdy :)

Hey Everyone!!!

Today we split into three groups. One went to Lesotho Save the Children farm, one went to Maholi ECCD (Preschool) and St. Peter's Primary School. The last group continued visits at Baylor Pediatric AIDS Clinic. Lesotho Save the Children is an organization that helps orphaned youth learn life skills and vocational skills. The farm group worked on clearing away weeds from gardens and building footpaths. The farm provides food for orphans as well as a means of income for the adolescents who sell the surplus crops. The plan is for the farm to be up and running by the beginning of August. The school group split into two subgroups. One group painted an alphabet in a classroom and the other group started construction on a playground. Despite having a minor setback (missing all the nails and thread bars), we adapted and overcame by digging and cementing all the holes. While we were there, we were served traditional Lesotho foods and the students performed several traditional dances. So cute! They even let some of us get into the Lesotho dancing costumes and groove with them!

It is hard to believe that we are approaching our last work day tomorrow. The trip is winding down! Can't wait to see you when we get back in the U. S. of A! Yay!

Tiger Up!

Kristen Miller, Becca Zajac, Amy Cox

Shout Outs:

Witt Vball Team...OOOooo!

ET

Amy's: Jeff, Jane, Kevin, and Mitchell, Meemaw Schu, Bradley, Bri Bri, Cotterman family, Feightner family, and the rest of the Cox, Stutz, Schumacher clan...I miss you and love you guys!

Kristen's: Mom, Dad, Megan, Katie, Ryan, Grandma & Grandpa...I love you all and miss you so much!!! And I expect Chicken Crescent Rolls when I return :) Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!! Love you!

Becca's: Paula, John, Sissy, Aunt Claudie, Stef, Buns, Berg, Markie, Trixie and Shade.....love you guys and tell the Wings to bring the cup home to HOCKEY TOWN!!!!

HOLLLAAAA!!!

HELLO FELLOW AMERICANS!!!

Today in the far away land of Lesotho we had many adventures. We began our day with breakfast in our usual dining area. Luckily breakfast was pushed back a half hour so we were able to sleep in until 7:30. Poor Colleen however was not so lucky; she was feeling a little under the weather. No worries she is feeling much better now and is ready for our adventures tomorrow. After breakfast we loaded up in the vans like a herd of cattle and headed toward Maseru. We then divided up into different groups and went our separate ways.

One group went to the Maseru Children’s Village, a Lesotho Save the Children orphanage, and began painting the walls. The second group continued to work with PHCL and Skillshare volunteers delivering goods to needy families in villages around Maseru. A small group of lovely and talented females spent the whole day at Baylor Pediatric AIDs Clinic. After a morning of hard and physically strenuous work we reconvened for lunch. Where we were surprised with delicious Chomp bars (wafers covered in caramel and delicious milk chocolate YUMMMM).

After lunch, the group that painted in the morning stayed and delivered goods to the families in the villages while the other group went to the orphanage and finished the painting of the walls and also held a soccer clinic. A group of 11 of us worked alongside four Lesotho National soccer players to coach 35 orphans at a soccer clinic at local orphanage. They spent an hour and a half working on various skills. At the end of the clinic we donated; jerseys, shorts, shoes, and futbols- soccer balls. It was great to play and frolic with the children.

We then ventured back to the charming Trading Post and had our nightly group meeting. We then enjoyed another delicious dinner and dessert. We plan on having a relaxing evening and prepare for our next work site.

Forever yours,

Sinjin, Erica, and Colleen

P.S. to our families please be waiting at the airport (June 18) with Chipotle (Qdoba) and/or Ice cream. Thank you much J

Colleen: HOLLA...see you June 18^th J

Erica: kisses and cardswipes…what paperclip?

Sinjin: See you soon. Mark- No frogs found J

Learning About Lesotho Time

This morning we worked with two local groups in Maseru to distribute goods to families they knew were in need. Different members of the committee were from the respective villages so they actually knew the people we were helping. We broke into smaller groups and found our assigned houses and gave the families a blanket, petroleum jelly, a large bar of multi-purpose soap, a 5lb bag of maize, and some cabbage seeds. We also dug a hole for the fruit tree we will be delivering later and dug a new garden to plant the cabbage in. It was really cool to get to see the people we were helping firsthand and where they live. Personally, I met a set of three brothers who were all orphaned and I couldn’t even imagine the life they live; it definitely had an impact on me. I know for everyone else, walking through the villages and seeing what these people really have put a lot of things into perspective and made us all thankful for what we have at home.

One particularly notable part of the day was working with the local organizations and learning about “Lesotho time.” Dr. Rosenburg had warned us about it but we got to experience it firsthand today. Lesotho time is the concept that time isn’t nearly as big of a priority here like it is at home. It was frustrating for a few of us, but I can guarantee we all learned from it! Overall, it was quite a fulfilling, lesson-learning day!

Can you believe we will be back in just 10 days?? We sure can't!!

See you all soon!

-- Emily and Jeff

PS Jeff says hey to Eppy and misses her desperately and wants to cuddle with her and Emily can't wait to hug her puppies! Oh yeah, and we miss our families too! :)

Hello from Africa!

Hey parents etc.!

This morning we had some free time so quite a few of us decided to go to church, either to the Catholic service in Roma (where we’re staying) or the Anglican service in Maseru (Lesotho’s capital). We both went to the Catholic service which was all in Sesotho but was interestingly easy to follow since Catholic masses follow the same general formula. The students who went to the Anglican service said they were well received and they got to talk to some of the Basotho church goers.

Before lunch we were invited to a mokete (a big party where the Basotho in Roma celebrated the work we’ve been doing in the community). There was lots of singing and dancing and speeches and then we were invited to join in a big feast. It was really rewarding to see the community come together and make us feel so welcomed and appreciated.

We had the rest of the afternoon off. About half the group tried to go to a soccer game which apparently didn’t ever exist so they toured around downtown Roma. Others went to see the dinosaur footprints, about a half an hour from where we’re staying. I think that where ever we were though, everyone enjoyed another beautiful African sunset.

It’s bittersweet thinking about going home. We are all excited to see you and share stories but it’ll be sad to leave this beautiful country!

Khotso (Peace),

Jessie Voors and Sarah Mutton (aka the Canterbury Alums)

PS (from Jessie) – Moms, I love and miss you guys and I’m thinking about you a lot!

--> JP, I can’t wait to see you babe! I love you! I love you! I love you!

---> All the people thinking about my friend, Rose, I found her house and aunt today but because she’s already taken her exams she’s back home with her parents in Maseru. I got her phone number and Dr. Rosenberg said that he’ll try his best to work it out so that I can see her on Friday. So I’m pretty excited for that. I love you all!!!

PS (from Sarah) – Happy birthday Mom!!! I have been thinking about you all day and I hope it has been a good one! I am having the time of my life and can’t believe it is almost the end of my trip! I can’t wait to see you all and tell everyone I say hello and tell Dad the dental clinics have been great and I am basically a pro at varnish treatments : )

Love you and see you soon….and if we could have tacos for dinner when I get home that’d be great.