Groundbreaking News

It was just last Thursday that the villagers of Bassa and Folona broke ground for their joint community maternity. After only a short month and a half of fundraising, over 100 generous contributors donated the total amount of around $7,500. I seriously think the giving time may be a new record. Yesterday was the happy conclusion of months of anticipation and planning. The planning and organization will continue, but it is a break from the anxious waiting to "get to work" and put our ideas into action.

Aw ni ce Aw ni baara
A huge thanks goes out to everyone who contributed to our project and to everyone who has supported our efforts in other ways. Like I've written before, we're are just getting started with this- only one step toward the long term goal of improving maternal health in the region. There are new pictures, but I'm too nervous to use my USB in this virus-infected computer in this internet cafe where I'm writing from.

Happenings
In the time between the last entry and now, much has happened: Thanksgiving, Eid (Tabaski), preparation for the new volunteers' In-service Training, the passing of a host brother, and going home to the United States of America. For Thanksgiving, I invited 5 of my closest friends from village over for a Malian variation of the Thanksgiving theme (think: using millet as a carb substitute). It was deliciously thankful. Malian sweet potatoes may just taste better- even without brown sugar. Eid is the yearly celebration of the story of Abraham and his son, Isaac. As in Christianity, the story reminds us of the value of unquestioning faith. Here, we celebrate in many ways that Abraham's decendants became as numerous as the stars, especially by slaughtering and feasting on lots of delicious mutton. My host brother passed away in a tractor accident while working to 'find money' in Algeria- as of now, there are at least 8 of our young village men who have left for Algeria. More about this later when I'm typing on an English keyboard and the keys are in the places I'm familiar with.

After a week of greiving with my host sister-in-law, I left for home. Home, home. I was lucky enough to spend two amazing weeks with my extremely supportive family and friends in America. This meant Christmas and the New Year and putting on 16lbs by eating delicious food- lots of cheese and other delicacies that are difficult to find here in Mali. I returned without my checked bag that had been misplaced in transit through Chicago. Other than that, my vacation went relatively smoothly. I waited 3 days in Bamako, making me even more excited to get back to site, until my duffel surfaced. It was a fantastic feeling, knowing that even after such a pleasant time at home that I could still be excited to return. My time (and long hot indoor showers) was more rejunvenating than I could have ever expected.