The Mundane has been keeping us busy here, thus the quiet. The last week has brought two snake killings in the yard; the relatively harmless burrowing asp (or so the book says) and our first killing of the dreaded boomslang, a juvenile male (again, by my amateur¹s guide.) As students return to their dorms, classrooms and sports fields, part of the re-entry involves using their long-scythe like tools to ³slash² the whole CSB compound which has grown tall and ³bushy² in the two month break. All that slashing brings out the snakes who move for different ground, less disturbed. Over in the girls compound there have been several sighting of a black snake as big around as a man¹s upper arm; probably been eating those Rodents of Unusual Size over there! Wouldn¹t want to walk up on him on a dark night ­ which of course is highly likely since everyone uses latrines and there is no compound lighting.

We have continued with our cycles of skin infections, Naomi has had three big ones in her eyes in the last month. Quinn has incredibly extensive infections on his lower legs and feet from infected bug bites. The mosquitos are back with a vengeance now that rains are somewhat here. Last night we put 22 band-aids on his legs, just for the wounds that were puss filled and surrounded by a red ring of inflamation. Scotticus, bring us band-aids next week!!

Meanwhile I have been dealing with what we suspect became a full blown kidney infection for almost three weeks now. It completely failed to respond to the first medication but after seven days on high doses of augmentin it finally seems to be subsiding. Praise God!
Three new teachers have joined us in the last weeks, all seem to be good guys (no girls, sadly) but we wait to see what plans God has for them here. We have a lead on what sounds like a super counselor for the school. Please pray for that. We have already interviewed two counselors and are finding it hard to move beyond ³ behavioral change and good life choices² as far as counsel. We want someone radically in love with Jesus who not only challenges life choices but prays the power of the Spirit into kids¹ lives. We¹re dreamin¹ big.

We¹ve begun the year well with some good changes but in the next few weeks even more are to come. It¹s a tiring but exhilerating process for all. I see so much energy in some of the new leaders at school, I think the growing sense of ownership has been a real gift to us all.

Meanwhile I continue to process emotionally all the things God has been revealing to me over the last weeks, months and years. This is a time of major growth and change for me. It¹s exhausting, beautiful, painful and hard. But it¹s good.