Karibuni to Afrika!

Hello! (Translation: Welcome to Africa--everyone greets us with that!) I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write, but the internet
has been so spotty that I could not run two pages at a time and I felt that
communicating with my family via gmail was more important! However, I am now writing this
during some free time (without internet) and will copy and paste it as soon as I can!
I will try to recall the past couple days! I got in very late on Friday and Fr. Simon met
me at the airport right away, accompained by another priest, Fr. Ignus (who I will be staying
with at a later time) They took me to the hotel and the next morning I awoke to a few Americans
at breakfast! I was delighted to know that 3 out of the 4 would be here until the end of June!
We then departed for Biharamulo, which is where we would be staying. (I am moving about since I
will be here much longer, but that is where they are staying for the month--at Fr. Simon's guest house,
which is very nice all things considered.) We arrived there and were greeted with such friendly welcomes.
All the people here are very friendly. There is quiiite a language barrier however! Fr. Simon slightly
exaggerated when he informed me that 'most people speak English'. I'd say some.. and out of that some,
and out of that some, they moreso understand. We went around that village and saw the City Center and then
traveled to the local seminary which was celebrating a Jubilee.
The next day was Sunday so we went to Mass--what an experience! Firstly, it was 2 hours long. Second, they have an incredible choir that sings for.. well, most of the mass.. hahaha Fr. Simon co-celebrated and introduced us at the end of mass. We mostly hung out that day, meeting locals and what not--there are so many children, you wouldn't believe!And they love to be around us, especially to see themselves on a picture! The first kid I met was named Rousseau, which is humorous because that is a friend from school's last name! I also saw two Redskins shirts, a couple Redsox,
and many Boston Celtics shirts, which made me laugh. (I am waiting to see the misprinted 2nd place team shirts from pro-sport championships!) I went along with Oliva, a nurse from California, to the Biharamulo hospital..Oh my lanta, talk about break your heart. The main doctor is 26 and he is incredible, but the conditions are so poor.In the children's sect, they have 70 kids and 40 beds.. so most share (which includes a parent for each sleeping in the single bed) We also saw a couple newborn children.. I think that was the biggest culture shock so far. Fr. Simon then took me to see the primary school where I will be staying.. I think I will move there later this week? Possibly. It'll be nice to be able to unpack and be settled.. The room is nice, not as nice as Fr. Simon's, but it is too far to walk everyday to stay there. ALSO! It is an English primary school, so I will be able to easily communicate with them!
Monday we traveled many places.. I won't try to spell out the names of the villages because it would just be too difficult..We met the Bishop and had lunch with him first, and then we met the Mother Superior of the main order of nuns around here(Franciscans!) And then we went to the main orphanage, which was both amazing and heartbreaking. I gave away many of theballs and other things I brought, and they were so thankful. You should have seen their eyes when Sister distributed the
dum-dum lollipops! It was like Christmas. and then watching them play with the balls--ahh. I held a few little babies but then we had to leave for a secondary school because they were having an assmebly for us. (I will probably be going backthere to live with Fr. Ignus and work at the orphange in July.) The seconday school was also nice.. We are staying in a hotel over here (it was a 3 hour journey) and then tomorrow headed for Mwanza, which is a large shopping center where I will be able to buy my own modem for internet and such things! It is also quite far though..
Other little notes that don't fit anywhere else: I have been very surprised by how chilly it gets here? I only packed 3pairs of pants total, so, my jeans will be worn thin by July! I've never seen such beautiful scenery as we drive.. youwouldn't believe it.. and the pictures do not even do it justice! The stars at night are also very beautiful--it gets dark here so early! I was very homesick and struggling to find my place.. all of the Americans know one another through a program with Fr. Simon (Bridges of Promise, check it out) and two of them are married.. I just didn't feel like I was part of anything and I missed my family and friends very much.. it is also hard to not have the promise of communication whenever I'd like. However, being able to interact with all the children made me feel much better and it doesn't matter if I do not fit in  with the Americans, I am not here for that. Later this week, I'll be on my own living.. and that is a little scary, but
the children make me happy--and that'll be enough. I've been a little sick in my stomach recently, but nothing too terrible which I am thankful for. If it stays this way, I will be very happy--I can deal with a little.. just not vomiting or anything of the sort!

I miss y'all very much.

Well, I think that's enough for now.. will update again when I can. Please keep me in your prayers as I will do the same.