"Malaria of the Leg"

Don't worry parents, nobody has malaria, I promise! Mackenzie just says the darndest things :)

Quick update for today since there's some time!

Today we were back at Our Lady of Fatima Rehab Center for the graduation of the K-2 class. 13 small children were being honored, cuter than buttons in their full length graduation gowns, completed by the caps and bow ties they were wearing. Kids of all ages were recognized with various awards, there was singing, praying, and speeches given by adults, children, and even Andrew popped up there for a few remarks. The ceremony itself was beautiful- bushflowers decorated all of the entrances and the alter of the chapel that the ceremony was held in was decorated with ribbons and flowers.

There were 13 kiddos that moved up classes today. When we first came to the ceremony, it seemed a tad bit silly to me that there was such a huge celebration for such a small group of children. However, through listening to speeches from the community and from the teachers, we all had the opportunity to realize that education is critically important to the individuals of this country. Obstacles cannot be overcome without the proper knowledge, and every grade that a person moves up is a step toward a brighter future. The graduation ceremony not only gave us our fair share of adorable child overload, it also offered a reminder of the importance of education.

Carl's update: food is good and thanks be to God we have water. Almost ran out today, and with stores closed tomorrow we realized it soon enough to run to the store (about 3-4 miles down the road but with traffic a two hour trip) and get enough for a small army to be well-hydrated for a while.

-Laura

PS: My friend Sam, one of the super awesome guys who goes to school here at LMI, wants to say hello! You all should know that he's kind of a big deal, and more or less the coolest guy EVER.