Claire's Blog

i,m writing you from an internet stand here in ruashi.  my first few days here were not easy, and i have a lot to learn, but i,m very happy to be here.  the keyboard is different here so forgive my spelling and grammar!  i,m learning a little swahili everyday, and i,ve already experienced some memorable things.  i saw un soldiers (a first for me), i witnessed the sub zero cold snap in south africa, and i,ve learned how to put on a kikwembe (skirt) sort of!  i really apreciate your thoughts and prayers.  tomorrow i will recieve my work schedule and maybe find out our address for recieving mail.  thanks for all your suport, and next time i,ll choose the computer with the more familiar keyboard!

well... i'm almost packed, i'm making plans for my 17 hour layover in jo-burg, and i'm saying my goodbyes! i can't believe that this journey is about to start!  i'm a little nervous, but i'm mostly excited to see what life is like in a different part of the world, and i hope i will be useful and helpful at the orphanage.  i appreciate your prayers and encouragement.  i'm excited about sharing my experiences with you and i can't wait to hear about all of your adventures this summer too!  

Dear friends and family,

I'm starting this blog as a way for you to keep up with me as I travel to the D. R. Congo.  I'll be leaving on the 21st of May and coming home on the 14th of August.  I will be staying at the Jamaa Letu orphanage in Lubumbashi where I will be helping out with chores and also teaching some English.  The director of the orphanage and the local pastor will be receiving me at the airport.  As a little background, the D. R. Congo, formerly Zaire, was a Belgian colony, and French is widely used.  I will be in the southeast corner of the country and a dialect of Swahili is also used there.  Feel free to leave comments!  Thanks for your prayers and support. 

P.S. I'm not sure if I have a mailing address, but I will post it if I do!