Back in Texas and hot, hot, hot!

We've been back for a week and it's so hot here at home. This past weekend we drove to Sun City and Judy and the girls came with us. Mark was gone to a conference for work, so we had the 3 of them all weekend! They went to church with us and we had a great time playing in the rocks and in the yard. We tried to see Haley, Tim and Landon while there but they were out of town for a fun weekend. So back to the orchard we drove on Sunday after naps. And today, Tuesday, we had Sadie out to the orchard while her mama got some errands run and some major cleaning done at home. We had so much fun with Sadie. We bought a small plastic pool and Alan filled it with water early so it would warm up before Sadie got in it. Well, it was still too cold so sweet Pappy put hot water in it and then Sadie loved it. We also gave her a tractor ride in the bucket, on my lap, over to see Aunt B's horses and chickens. They were all up at the fence which made it easy since I was bent over with a metal bar in my back! I used to ride in the bucket when I was little, but I don't fit so easily any more!

Alan and I leave for Tanzania in east Africa on June 21st! We'll be gone for 2 weeks and this time a small group of 6 from church is going with us. We're partnering with Thirst No More who provides water wells and humanitarian aid to developing countries. This will be a scouting trip and Semeni, Alan's and my friend we met 3 years ago, will be traveling with us and helping with some of the translation. We have so little time and so many villages to visit. We're going to visit 4 villages in the western part of Tanzania and I think 2 villages in the southern part of Tanzania. The southern area near Songea is where Semeni is from, so we'll meet her mother and village friends. Our church will partner with 1 or 2 villages and start sponsoring them, helping with humanitarian aid and things in their village like clean water and building roads. This trip we're taking lots of clothes, shoes and socks, underwear, towels, so our suitcases should be full. I wish I had been collecting clothing and shoes a long time ago. Whatever I can get together, I'm sure they'll appreciate. I can't wait to see Semeni again.

I've misplaced my camera so as soon as I find it I'll start posting pictures again.

mimi