Thursday, August 31, 2006

Zikomo Maningi Victoria!!!!!!!!

Victoria, thank yuo so much for frist of all checking our blog and finding out we needed some help woth tickets to toronto! And secondly for booking and paying for them in the mean time! That mean so much to us, we really needed the help with booking and all that, so thank you so much!

and for looking up those flights from London! Mom got the one, so we're hooked up!

Love you VERY MUCH! Give your self a hug from me!
Kathryn

My Mom...

Mom I forgot in the bustle of the day yesterday to write this.
On the bus very early in the morning, over all the bumps and dust in my face I was thinking about our childrens names (our children to come)... then thinkking about how serious it is to be a mother... then was thiking about my memories as a child right to the age of three... and how I always felt loved, cherished, safe, cared for, all the time. I didn't go through abandonment which is so rampant here. I was almost in tears as I was thinking and remembering your love.

The day before yestersay there was a small boy walking in Balastone park (the farms where we live) when he saw our bus stop breifly he was cry asking for 500K (14c) ... people laughed and the bus started off agian, the boy with tear streaming down yelled/cried out loud and ran and ran after the bus BEGGING for 500K (14c) ... People said he was fake crying, even if thats the case it is a travesty, so terrible to see that desperation in a small child as old as Emma (6yrs).

Thank you mom for your love, the wholistic love you showed me. In the coming years when vinj and I start a family I will remember what you were to me and be that to my children. I want to love like you loved me. I love you and appreciate you more then any of the words in this world could ever express, really.

Love
your daughter,
Kathryn

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Last weeks here....

Hey Kathryn here...

Well we had a big family gathering these past few weeks, because of Vinjelu's sisters wedding. Gwanire and Madalits got married on the 26th of August. It was quite an exeriance.

There was family demanding the bride price (Labola) from Madalisto's family, but vinj and Tobi (his brother) already refused that tradition for different reasons, one main one being Gwanire didn't want to be paid for. That was quite an upset lots happened, and all of their family from their biological mom's side didn't come to the wedding, because of the bride praice not being paid.

For people interested the bride prices range from 3 million Kwacha to 10 million Kwacha, and even higher.

alot of poeple had problem with the tradiation not being in the wedding, it was almost imossible for them to have it thought because of the bride and goom coming 12 days before the wedding day... so the wedding looked a bit like a canadian wedding, although there were some Zambain tradiations.

So the wedding was beautiful, but not without problems.

Now we are getting ready to leave. On that note PRAISE god vinjelu got his visa!!!! Now we just need a flight from London to Toronto... been looking and looking can't find at the moment...

We are doing our last bit of recording in the next few days, we may be leaving Zambia on Sunday with Vinjelu's mom. We will stay in JOhannesburg with some friends, and will both be flying out on the 6th in the evening.

We will be back in Canada on the 7th... as for now our flight back to edmonton was cancelled and so now need to find a different flight home, it may have to be a few days later... I don't know I have to look into that again. Anyone interested in looking for us? The money we get back for that is about $500.00 for two flights from toronto to Edmonton.

There are alot of stories to tell, pictures to be shown... video to watch... see you poeple in Canada soon.

MARRIAGE.

These past two weeks have been straining because fo the wedding and all the fmaily stuff, straining on our marriage that is, vinj has to be here and there and so did I. It has been nice to have a few days alone, not sleeping with my mother in law in our room, or cousins! We have our room back untill we leave. Please just pray for unity to be there and appreciation for one another. Time, stress, full days all that puts a strain on us.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Feeling at Home

I-Kathryn

Am feel much more at home, able to get around knowing where I am, and also the language is a big thing as well... wich I am getting to know more and more everyday. It feels just normal waking up here and the rutine you go through in the morning. (Exceot boiling water for 10 people in the mornign to bath takes HOURS!!!)

The sounds, the gecko's, spiders, weirs flying things every where.... I'm used... it's nice actually. People have come to know me and even some to love me, it's comforting, and I am very thankful. I know that I fit into this make shift family here, and that toughes me deeply. I wondered what ti would be like being in a family with no mom and dad, it's interesting. But other poeple fulfill those roles some how... I look forward to having long chats with Vinjelu's mom about how life was like for her here... in amongst different culture, family, oh ya and color.

Gotta go...

Kath

Staggette for Gwanire!

Hey guys,

Yesterday was Gwanire's staggette... I was pleasantly surprised that all of the girls I invited came, there were 15 of us in all.

Gwanire was SOOOOO touched, excited... so much that she almost cried when thanking me. I dressed her us as a "tribal Princess" , with the short skirt and little top out of cloth. You will see photo's soon.. anyway it was great, and lots of people brought gifts, really was an amazing night for her, they made her feel very specail. It was amazing I got all those people when I didn't know half of them! :)

So today we are buying decorationd for the wedding, and possibly catching a movie later.

Thursday we are going to YWAM Lusaka again to visit and sleep over.

Trinah Vinjelu's cousin is staying with us for the week!!! Very cool, she was my first friend in Zambia, and so is very specail to me, and obveously vinj, being that they are related...

We are also finishing up some recording and hoping Trinah can do some as well.

Vinjelus mom is coming on Saturday! This is goignt o be so exciting! The last few days have been great wioth all the family around, we have a VERY full house! And it will be even more rich with Muka here as well.

I think thats all for now.

P.S- I Kathryn and getting much better at speaking Nyanja... I am so chaffed... :) heehee I am also getting very good at hustling for stuff... like taxi etc... :) Truly Zambian.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Victoria Falls- Sun Set Cruise Zambezi

Well, wendy arrived on Tuesday, it's been so great having her around.... for the last three days we've been talking non stop, definatly not bored with eachother. We've had alot to catch up on from the past two years. Wendy is a great frined of our, whom we met in YWAM a few years ago.

Again, we were not able to post photo's, sorry. (Mom we are storing all our photo's on the laptop:)

We went on a Sun Set Cruise on the Zambezi river yesterday, it was beautiful, really amazing, on a prettyubig boat, we had drinks (local beer) and food served to us. We sat on the top lervel of the boat, we saw hippo's, crocks, elephant, birds, impalas, water bucks... and a beautiful Sun Set.... all of which are on video now.

Today we went to the victopria falls. I got in as a Zambian, because we had our marriage cert with us. Thankfully, so I got in for 0.50c instead of $15.00. Wendy had to pay though.... Anyway, we took many pictures and had an amazing afternoon at the falls. it was beautiful, of course. We taped some of it as well. Oh, on the wya back form the falls we saw a whole hurd of Elephants on the side fo the road, and one in paticular was VERY close, so we got pictutres and video again. Really awsome!

Livingstone as well has the BEST ice cream in Zed! SOOOO good and cheap, wich is shocking cuz everything else hwere is very expensive beacues it's such a tourist city.

Tonight we're hitting some pubs checking out some of the night scene a bit.

We willo be back in Lusaka on Friday evening in time to pick Gwanire (vinjelu's sister) form the airport on Saturday.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Livingstone etc...

Well we have been traveling around alot!!! Haven't been home for two weeks and still will not be home for another week or so.

Last week we were recording in Lusaka East, very far from home, so we stayed at a friends plcace the whole week. The recording went pretty well, it's hard work... but we managed to record about 6 songs so far. SOem of them need re-recording. They have not been mixed yet by the producer, so there is still alot of work to be done. the quality is okey, but ofcourse it is not the best considering the amount it cost. Most of the music has been re-made ( all the beats and things are different) so it was abit hard to let go of all the beats we had made. But they sound good! We stayed with a friend who used to be very close to me (vinjelu) , he is now in the army so i cannot disclose any more info..except that he gave us the best hospitality yet. He gave up his really nice room and we got to sleep in a confortable bed.

We were also staying about 5 minutes from Naomi's (Joshua's mom) parent's place. So we got to see Naomi almost every day. We even got to baby sit Joshua for a whole day!!! It was fun! Not hard work at all, although Kathryn did most of it!! She was really in the role of mother and stuff. People were staring at this white mom with her black baby. SO it was an experience3, i think we will make great parents .

We will post pictures tomarrow hopefully. Becauser we have been traveling and stuff we haven't had much time to sit and write and wait the two hours to post two photos.... so maybe tomarrow.

TOMARROW- Wendy arrives one of our best best friends, she is coming from Namibia to stay with us untill the end of the month. We are SOOOOOO excited for her coming, I Kathryn havent seen here for 2 hyears... vinj just saw her last year. So thats gonig to be great!

It's going to be nice to be away from the studio for a change...

We will be visiting YWAm for a few days as well... goign to the falls... maybe check out world visions stuff here as well. For njow we are staying with one of vinjelus aunties form his moms side. So it's free accomidation, we wanted to see if we could stay in a lodge for a night for fun... we'll see, we have friends with a lodge and might be able to get in on that connection.

We have been discussing alot of things for when we come bacjk... where we'll live, how it's going to work.. all those things. And honestly feel we knwo less form before we came:) Funny huh.. so we will be praying alot about thia and just seeking God on different things.

Thats that for now. Love ya all..

Oh and our anniversary was nice. We went out for Indian food, went to a big african market, and saw the Lake house (with wightson) it was great fun, we have pictures as well.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Copper Belt - YWAM

Hello everyone,

We are in Kitwe at the moment. We have visited the YWAm Base here, and am niow visiting gwanire's uncle in-law, i think we are going for lunch with him.

It was very good to visit YWAM, we were apart of the staff meeting today for about 2 hours.

We are going back to Ndola this after noon to visit our aunty again to say goodbye. We are then going back to Lusaka for wedding prepartions, crazy crazy crazy!!!!!!!!!!!

Beggingin of August we are going to Livingstone, visit family and YWAM again...

Unfortunatly we are broke at the moment, and will not be doing anything for our anniversary.
It happens... I guess thats why adults have to be mature eh..

So thats whats up for now.

Gotta go.

Kathryn

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Wightson and Linda

Whitson has been Vinjelus' best friends for years... he's helped us out alot already in the past month...

Vinjelu and Grandmother


This is Vinjelu's grandmother from his mom's side. She has had 10 children and has out lived 5 of them... she is a mighty mowen of god... literally the moment we walked in the dorr and gave hugs she got us to kneela nd she prayed over us! She said she won't be dying anytime soon because the work that God has for her to do hasn't finished yet... when it's done she will go.

She is really full of life. A beautiful women.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Answering Questions

Ok Bike question... it costs 25$ to bring one bike from Canada to Zed... so we are going to be bringing our bikes from home.

2) Car... there are different opptions... we are porbably goign to take the opption of getting a double cab Toyota or Nissan from Japan, which will cost about $8000.00 CND.

3) Ndola and Kitwe.. we are going to visit YWAM there meet our fellow volunteers, and check out what they are doing. As well as meeting Gwnires future family... making some wedding plans. Also visiting World Vision Development sites. We will be gone for a little less then a week, or maybe a week.

4) Socializing.... ya it's going ok. W've been ruinning around tryig to get immegration things sored the past two weeks or so haven't had that much time... but ti is going ok I would say... still a bit hard. Vinjelus' friends have become my friends actually, some of them anyway. Espceially Wightson and LInda his girl friend. As well as Joshuas mom Naomi, she is a friend as well. So it's going ok, not the best, just because of not being settled here and stuff. But I am getting a bit used to being the white chick around... althugh I think it will take a year or so to really settle in.

I think those were the main questions...

Right now we are going to have a meeting with JOshua's parent's deciding hat is gouign to happen with him.

Ok I gotta go will write more later..

kathryn

Monday, July 17, 2006

July 16? I think...

Ya know I cant get this thing to post a picture, so I am going to go to a different internet cafe later today to see if I can get ti to work, in the mean time...

Today vinjelu is trying to get his National Registation Card, so we can get a Zambian Marriage license, so I can get a visa that allows me to come in and out fo the country easily. If it doesn't work we will be disapointed and a little frustrated. But today we are believing for Gods favor!

Tomarrow we are leaving for Ndola and Kitwe, it you look at a map it's in the copper belt, north, and then we are off to Mansa to visit the refugee camps.

it's been hard getting things done because we have to walk everywhere... a bit frustrating... but we see what has to happne when we come.

We are also goign to visit Naomi and Jabu today for the afternoon whcih will be nice.

Friday, July 14, 2006

WE LIVE!

Some of you might have heard what happened to Kathryn and I between tuesday night and wednesday morning. Here is the story.

Our water heating system doesn't work at home and so we usually heat water in a bucket on the stove if we want to take a bath. So on tuesday (July 11th) night i wanted to make a huge hot bath for Kathryn. I borrowed extra buckets from our workers so that i could heat more water. Our stove has only got two working plates, so i got a charcoal burner. It is traditionaly called a MBAULA. This is a very usefull item in any zambian household. We light char coal and use it for cooking.

We heated the water, then after we were done heating, i put the burner in our room becpouse we were having some cold nights. After our bath, we went to be at about 10:30. We were very tired.

But then both of us woke up at the same time at about 2 in wed. morning. We both had spliting head aches and so i tried to get up and get some tylanol and water. Still obliviouse of the deadly carbon monoxide gas that the burner had been producing. I was dizzy and had dificulty making sence of my bearings. Then something inside me said oen the window. Without really knowing why, I opened the window the realised that the room was filled with carbon manoxide gas! Kathryn wanted to go to the bathroom. She got up and staggered to the toilet I lay on the bed and heard her moen, so i got up! Wobbled to the toilet and heard a smack! kathryn had hit the floor behing the toilet door. I got to the door but kathryn had passed out and was leaning against the closed door. I was faint and weak at this pint. I tried to push the door open in a panic but i also passed out. Found myself laying on the floor and saw my cousin ( who lives in the house) cross the corridor. i called out to him. He aproached coutiously becouse he thought there was a theif in the house and i had been attacked. he helped me up and i started wher i left off, trying to push the door open. Eventually we opened it, kethryn was still out and i actually feared she was dead. I was frantic , on the verge of cursing myslef but then she came round. PHEW!

By this time my brothet was up and help us set a bed in the living room. they opend all the windows . he called some one and we were advised to put our legs up while we slept. And so we took some tylanol( which didnt help) and went to sleep again.

We woke up in the morning and through advice felt we should go to the hospital. We left and Kathryn was bout to have her first experince of Zambia's poor medical system. we went to the 'High Cost" section, in the hope that we will be attended to quickly. But it too almost 3 to 4 hours before Kathryn was in a bed ! It made us wonder what goes on in the "low Cost" section. But KAthryn was admitted on wednesday. A docter examined her and felt she should spend the night in hopital. I was doing a little better ad felt i didnt need a bed in the clinic. I n all this Kathryn and i had no capacity to run around the hospital and my best friend Whiteson was there! Tahnk God for friends that are there when you need them. that are willing to take the time to care and take care of us!

There was one bed in kathryn's room and one chair. So i took naps on the cahir while kathryn slept. We were regularly inturupted my phone calls! From you! Thank you so much for calling and showing such concern. The truth is that we could have died. Thats a reality that sobers me. Thank you for you support! Concern and love ! Most of all , thank you for your prayers!

Kathryn and i slet on the same single bed for most of the night utill i ended up sleeing in my sleeping bag on the floor. It was actually more comfortable.Oh! And whiteson's sister brought Kathryn really beatifull roses! We'll pst up pictures of all this later!

Next morning the docter came and let Kathryn go home! So we are now slowly recovering. We hope t be able to travel on tuesday but we are having a few problems with kathryn's visa . but i expect things will work out!

But thank you so much for prayer and calls and love! God is faithfull and kathryn and i both kboiw that He woke us up that night! He loves us and we know it is not our time yet! God bless you.

Got this from a website..

Carbon Monoxide poisoning


What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas that has the molecular formula CO. The molecule consists of a carbon atom that is triply bonded to an oxygen atom.
Carbon Monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of the fossil fuels - gas, oil, coal and wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires.
Carbon monoxide is a commercially important chemical. It is also formed in many chemical reactions and in the thermal or incomplete decomposition of many organic materials.
Dangerous amounts of CO can accumulate when as a result of poor installation, poor maintenance or failure or damage to an appliance in service, the fuel is not burned properly, or when rooms are poorly ventilated and the Carbon Monoxide is unable to escape.
Having no smell, taste or colour, in today's world of improved insulation and double glazing it has become increasingly important to have good ventilation, maintain all appliances regularly and to have absolutely reliable detector alarms installed giving both a visual and audible warning immediately there is a build up of CO to dangerous levels.
NO SMELL and NO TASTE and NO COLOUR
And it is for these reasons that CO detectors are the only way to alert you to increasingly dangerous levels of CO before tragedy strikes.
What are the effects of carbon monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide produces the following physiological effects on people exposed to the concentrations shown:
Concentration of CO in air
Inhalation time and toxic developed
50 parts per million (ppm)
Safety level as specified by the Health and Safety Executive
200 PPM
Slight headache within 2-3 hours
400 PPM
Frontal headache within 1-2 hours, becoming widespread in 3 hours
800 PPM
Dizziness, nausea, convulsions within 45 minutes, insensible in 2 hours
Carbon Monoxide poisons by entering the lungs via the normal breathing mechanism and displacing oxygen from the bloodstream. Interruption of the normal supply of oxygen puts at risk the functions of the heart, brain and other vital functions of the body.
The above information is for a healthy adult. Persons suffering from heart or respiratory health problems, infants and small children, unborn children, expectant mothers and pets can be affected by CO poisoning more quickly than others in the household and may be the first to show symptoms













Vinjelu and Kathryn Muyaba

Friday, July 07, 2006

The house

Heat, cold, dust,crowds,cramped. All these couldn't prevent us from seeing how blessed we are. Kthryn and I Just came from a short visit ( one night) to my aunt ( from my mom's side) and a friend of mine who live in another twn about 45 mins. drive from Lusaka. It was a short visit , but filled with beautiful moments. We spent time with a friend of min who is a pastor and Kathryn bonded very well with his 3 year old son ( Jeremiah). His wife ( Anitta) made us agreat super . part of it was white dried beans( but boiled soft for hours). O I love white beans!

That afternoon, kathryn and I had visited the Zoo! It was really nice. But the best part was visiting the Botanicle gardens right next to the zoo. Beautifull!! We took pictures but kathryn is having problems putting them on the blogg! All of you would love these gardens! They are very well kept, and even I was impressed!

We slept over at my aunt's house and the next day hung out with my cousin(Trina). She is an amazing singer and we recorded (on video) some of her songs. Well, so long! And please keep praying for us!

YWAM Zambia

YWAM Zambia

Here is the sign for YWAM Lusaka!

We had a great visit at YWAM Lusaka, met with the national leader for YWAM Zambia, it was great time of sharing whats happneing and what they want to see happne. They are anticipating our arrival here very much actually. it's great!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Life happenings...

Hello!

People wanted to know about a tipical day here iN Zambia. We don't really have those... so we'll let yu know what we have been doing...

Today we were in town, trying to get money out... and it worked... so thats great, we also met up with eom friends. We are meeting a few producers, trying to decide who will produce out demo. it's possible our songs will get on the Zambian radeo! Kool hey! Anyway, so we are sorting out music stuff mostly. Also visiting a friend in another part of town.

Tobi has come home from work, so vinjelu has seen him, we will be chilling with him tonight, having a fmily meetng about the farm stuff... so that will eb good to talk about.

Thursday we are going to another town 45 muinutes away from Lusaka to visit Trina and the chitalu's (the family I stayed with when I was in Zambia in 2004) and one of vinjelu's close friends, we will eb sleeping there over night, anf going back home friday. The next week we will be visiting world vision, and Catholic Child relief services. So some of the NGO stuff, as well as the music recording, checking out studios for where we will be recording.

Just sending alot fo time with family mostly. I will answer questions that have been asked on the blog next time.

Like how big is the freezer..... it's a big one like ours... and the house has 4 rooms, big rooms. The workers live in VERY TINY homes to the left of the property.

Later, next time there will be photo's !

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Getting Settled

Hey everyone,

we've been in Zambia for about half a week. We're getting settled although the racial thing I was talking about will eb there for some time... Vinjelu's mom was a comfort though, she was able to encourage me in that.

Anyway, I am now in town with Philip vinjelu's cousin... my cousin :) We were just picking up a few things. Sorry I would have put pictues but didn't bring the camera, and around here computers aren't as fast... so it takes time. But you will get to see some pictures maybe by next week we will be able to post some.

Tomarrow we are visiting the YWAm Lusaka base, so that will be fun, meeting all those people. We will also be diuscussing what we will eb doing when we come next year. We have dates with some families to eat dinner with them and stuff... so we're meeting alot of poeple, er I am meeting alot of people.

Vinjelu, Philip anmd I cooked up dinners all day yesterday so when we come home late we have dinnersd already made in the freezer, it was fun actually. Although i have been feeling sick once and a while in my stomoch, we thinkg i just need to get used to the water.

On the Farm...
Besides us (The Muyaba's) there are three other fmailies living on the farm, they are workers. In all there are 10 children ranging from 14-not even born yet... so we have life on the farm , poeple and children. The workers take care of the vegetables, Maze, yard, house, and fruite trees. So it's nice. It's a bit funny having a lady who cleans the house, but it really helps her family with money actually. Her and Her Husband (Mr. & Mrs. Banda) both work on the farm and are making enough to build a house else where, and will be renting it out, so there is development there. It's very encouraging to see.

Thats it for now, I will write later I guess, in the next few days.

Oh, my anckle is doing better, it just hurts if I walk to long on it. I hope it recovers soon completely.

Love you all!

Arriving in Zambia..... what a story

Well, there are alot of things to share I think. The whole story of how we finally arrived home. Right before we left for my (Kathryn's) flight I sprained my anckle quite badly. I knew what the doctor was going to say, and regardless I wasn't going to be able to do what he wanted me to. So I desided that I would just get to Zambia and treat it properly. So I got on the flight in alot of pain, and drank wine as soon as I could with some pain killers. I got up and put my foot up as much as I could as well. Once I landed in Frankfut it was a struggle getting around with my foot and all my luggage. And my friend was late by 2.5 hours... so I though she wasn't going to come, I was reayd to go and make a bed on one side of the waiting area. I was exausted. But i had to be strong, because no one else was there to take care of me...it was hard and emotional. I did finally get picked up, and I sleped and showered, and then speant the day in a beautiful OLD city eating some german food. That night I got on the flight to Joburg, I cried alot on that flight, I think I just had to let all the stess out (Oh ya in frnkfurt I found out that vinjelus flight had been cancelled from Toronto to London and so would not be there with to fly to Zambia. So I was going to be alone) Anyway, ya it was the hardest trip. So I land in Zambia (skipping the stpry of almost missing my flight to Zambia because fo my ancle and time, and the extermly expensive rate for my baggage being over weight....) I did get on that flight. So I land in Zambia, and find out the rate for a visa has gone up ( Vinjelu should have been at the air port with me, he had all the numbers, our cell phone, and all our money) So I only have $30.00, and I needed $55.00 USD. Which I didn't have. So I was kepted behind immagration for 2 hours or more. I didn have anyone I could call, cuz I didn't know anyones number. I was tired and was getting very agitated with these people. I was telling them I am mrried to a Zambia and shouldn't have all these problems... anyway, finally they gave me a day pass into Zambia, I had to be back the next day to get that moeny and pay for the visa. Because I was delayed in the back the person picking me up came and went without me... thinkign I was not on that flight. So I came out and sat in the arrivals area for 3 more hours, finally I gave up and booked one of the very exspensive taxi to take me home... to a home I don;t even know, I didn't even know where to tall him I live. So I just said Lusaka West Balastone park... he knew where the area was, so we got there, and stoppped at a farm to ask if they knew the Muyaba farm. She did and took me there. There was no one home. Aysh. All the doors were locked, so I had to ask the workers to come open it, I got my luggage in and and laid down to sleep. But I coulnd't I was to overwhelmed... Finally one of the cousins came home Philip and showed me around. Tobi was at a friends funeral and so want there and oculd only make it by 11:00 or so... Anyway, that was my arrival, very bad, and stressful. The next day vinjelu was suppose to land.... but his flight into joburg was late and so he missed his conecting flight into Zambia. I still had the money problem.... so I went on a journey from 10:30am-4:30pm trying to find $55.00, no one took master card, and so from there on I was basically screwed. So vinj phoned he tried to send me money ut coulne;t because he wasn't from South Afrika. . . So I was stuck with no money to pay for the visa I ha to get that day. I cried that day to. I didn't knwo what to do, I was stuck. Then two of vinjelu's friends offered to bring me the money, but by that time I found a bank that does foriegn echange and also delt with Master Card. Soi I got the money and the visa, and left with making all the immegration officers laugh. The next day vinjelu finally arrived, his friends and I picked him up and that was good. Now we are togther. I am struggling with the racial thing. It has totaly overwhelmed me ths time, it is nothing like last time, I feel like I have never been to this country in my life. It's so different. I think because I am looking at i in the eyes of it being my home. So please think of me, in prayer, and also in phoning,finding out how I am, maybe Muka you have been through similar things... I ve made good frined with Tobi's girl friend, and she lives right next door. So I am glad for that. Vinj is here which makes it ALOT easier... but not totlay fine.

That was our arrival story... very crazy...