:)

IST is finished! It was actually a super productive week for me. My homologue Yago came for the last 3 days of it and it was amazing. We discussed a lot of the problems that we are faced with in Yoro and we discussed the problem of literacy. We came up with an entire action plan to help raise the children’s reading levels. We are going to begin our project after the holidays. It’s really exciting for both of us. It’s great that he’s very motivated and very open to my ideas. I also have a meeting with the head nurse at the CSPS to come up with our action plan for baby weighing/nutrition/family planning awareness campaign. I’m very much looking forward to beginning all of these projects in my village.

We got to visit our host families while we were in Ouaga. The Peace Corps drove us all to spend time with them. Unfortunately the time was cut very short but it was still an amazing time. Sudawg and I went to the Marché to say hi to our friends there are everyone was really excited to see us. We found out that Sue’s family wasn’t there so I went to see m family. My Ma and Baba were so happy to see me, they both gave me hugs. My brothers Michael and Emanuel were there and they said that they wish I hadn’t left. Then the best part of all….Epie (the Down Syndrome child that lives near my house) came over to the house. He doesn’t speak but when he saw me he started laughing and screaming and ran up to me. I scooped him into my arms and was fighting back tears. He is such a beautiful child and I had missed him so much, and he had been missing me too! Then Sudawg came over and I said “look epie, Susanne (this was in French which Epie doesn’t really understand but he understood Susanne) he sees her and puts his hands on his head and starts giggling. It was magical. Then he took us both by the hands to visit the group of old ladies and we talked and drank Dolo. My mom and dad wanted to take us to the marche and who comes running along but my baby brothers Leopold and Landry. Landry is so big now, he goes to kindergarten but is still shy as ever. We visited a few other families before heading to the Marché hand in hand with Epie. When Leopold saw that Epie wouldn’t let me go I think he got a little jealous so he slipped his hand in mine and off we went. There wasn’t much time so Sue and I quickly drank a beer with my parents; we caught up on things happening in the family. I found out that I have a new niece. So now my family is growing It was such a beautiful time spent with them. I was lucky to have such a great family that I still talk to at least once a week. I wish that I could have spent more time with them but I intend to go back soon. Baba told me that my room is always there for me.

I did a lot of Christmas shopping while in Ouaga. I bought a soccer ball for the boys; a new shirt for Wend Kuni; a bracelet for Madaline (new host mom); 2 dresses, a pin wheel, and a stuffed dog for my baby girl Kristian; and I’m still in search of something for Gabriel. If nothing else at least everyone will have something nice for Christmas. I spending Christmas in my village this year. Not sure how well that’s going to go but I have high hopes. I’m really missing home and wishing that I could be home just for Christmas.