"Makito"

Makito, as Abuela would often say... is growing and turning into a smart "just like Papa" young boy. He enjoyed some chocolate spread imported from somewhere in Europe, really nice stuff. Malaki is just over 13 months, walking and talking up a storm; as we often express it in the states! In this time I have had many things on my mind and was reminded of something beautiful today.

We don't live for ourselves. We weren't created for ourselves. And our purpose in life... is absolutely beyond ourselves. Humbling... just a bit!

My wonderful brother Jay is getting married in a few days and I have been really sad that we weren't able to make it to the wedding and also to be with the family. It's one of those things that you are confident will never happen, and somehow... it ends of happening (type of thing). In the midst of my self - pity I was gently reminded by our loving God... we have a purpose in Burundi and sometimes, we have to make sacrifices; and that's O.K. It may not be enjoyable, and it may be really, really hard. But that's, in fact also O.K. I hope my brother can know how much we wanted to be there, and would of done anything to be there, but just weren't able to make it happen. I am confident it will be a memorable time, my whole family in Alaska... there's no question! To our parent's, sister's, brother's, neice's & nephews, well, the whole family... we miss you all so much in this time and have been on our hearts continually.

Besides all this "what's in the heart" stuff, life is good, our children are great, the staff are awesome and God is moving in a special way. Isai is almost done with building a worker's hut for Zefirino to watch all building materials on our land day and night and also beginning the building of the latrine; the fence is nearing completion and the road is beautiful! Audrey and I are going crazy (in a good way) of what flowers we are going to put where to make it a beautiful to the eye mountain top. A friend recently gave LOAD's of flower seeds and we will make good use of it on our land. All our love...!