Waking up, at least once in the middle of the night, and stumbling outside to use the latrine has become routine.  This walk at odd hours in the dark used to scare me enough to keep me in bed until the sun came out.  But something changed.  I’ve become more comfortable with the lifestyle.  In fact, this little home in this Malawian village feels like one of the safest places I know.

(I HAD to show a picture of the infamous latrine…so, there it is, lit from nothing but the flash of the camera.)

I never could have imagined feeling so comfortable in conditions so different than those I’m so fortunate to have around me at home.  I had confidence in myself that I would toughen up and do just fine living like that temporarily but never knew I’d find security and ease here.  Mostly, I attribute this to the people who surround me.  I have Deena and a family, one that fills their home with so much love that I can’t help but feel so comfortable around them.

And we’re no longer just guests.  We are a part of this family – so much so that one of the Benesi’s other daughters, Rebecca, traveled for hours from her village to the north, to visit us for two days.  When Mama told us she was coming with her baby Benjamin, I was so excited for two reasons.  First and foremost, Rebecca is a nursery school teacher and would inevitably have much to share with us regarding our program.  And of course, I was excited to meet another adorable baby.  Unfortunately, Benji was not equally excited to meet us.  He was so terrified of the azungos and cried any time he wasn’t either in his mom’s arms or right by her side. Rebecca, we noticed, was so attentive to his every emotion.  For the first time, I saw what it’s like to overindulge a child not with material things, but rather with attention and emotion. Every time he cried, she started to breast feed him.  Though so taken by her patience, I thought a bit about parenting and wondered how to best teach a child independence and resilience.   On the other hand, it was true; Rebecca did have a lot to offer.  She looks just like Mama with an infectious, beautiful smile, that I imagine spilling into her students’ own emotions.  She came to school with us for two days, shared some songs and games and gave us valuable insights.  She also served as our translator at our weekly meeting with the teachers and because she observed the class for two days, she was able to emphasize the feedback we shared regarding the teacher’s energy levels and enthusiasm, something that has become a consistent component of our training for Metze and Elaine.

I caught a picture of Benji smiling.  He really is adorable.  And his mama, Rebecca, is incredible.

As I continue to become closer to the people around me, deepening relationships that were unanticipated in such a short amount of time, the more and more this feels like home.

With Martha, Patricia and little Kevi.  I absolutely adore these girls as if they were my own.

Outside of our home with Mama, one of her friends, and a bowl of peanuts, roasted and ready to become chipunde.