Liam had a great night of sleep...which of course means Dave and Christie did too...and the rest of us! It was an "earlier" start today as we headed to the hospital to get the "official" tour from Phil. Elaine was kind enough to take the responsibility to watch Liam...though truth be told Liam was just fine playing in the dirt and watching all the ants running around. I don't think he knew we left!

We started with a look around the Malaria Research offices/labs, including a lovely tour of the mosquito hatching room in the back of one of the labs. There, with the help of two heaters and an a/c, the temperature is kept at around 72 degrees, and the lighting is controlled to mimic sunrise and sunset. Anyway, with out going into huge detail, it is quite an impressive operation run by smiling faces who are more than willing to tell you all you could want to know about the mating habits of mosquitoes. But seriously, the whole thing is amazing, as are the people!

After leaving the labs there, we headed to the hospital, which incidentally was right next "door" and down the path. We met some of the administrators and a doctor, and got the basic idea of the lay out of the hospital. We even stopped by the store and restaurant that are in the confines of the hospital. I of course don't overly enjoy any hospital, but it was nice to be there with Dave and Christie and Corie, and it is always good to connect with people! We had a nice chat with the chaplain, who dropped what he was doing on a busy Monday, to make time for our unannounced visit. That's pretty standard here...its the people of Zambia that make this country so special.

After another lovely lunch prepared by mom...Elaine...we enjoyed an amazing rain storm, full of thunder and lightning. The power got knocked out for about the next 6 hours, but not to worry because here on the MRT(Macha Research Trust) campus, there's the generator to save the day! We spent the late afternoon at the village of a good friend, my family knows her as Auntie Sarah...she took care of my dad when he was young, took care of me and my brother and sister when we were growing up..and is pretty much a family friend for life. We sat in her house with her daughter and just chatted a bit about life and some recent trials. In the meantime, Liam who had decided to join us on this trip, was having the time of his life outside...in all the puddles and mud that he could ever hope for! The little Zambian kids loved to watch as he "swam" on his stomach in the puddles. Needless to say he was not pleased with having to come "home."

We enjoyed another great meal of chicken and potatoes and beans..topped off with mango cake and coffee. Everything is fresh here, its so so good. I don't think I can go back to frozen veggies! We enjoyed the company of Mr. Kalambo, who is the Managing Director of MRT, a key member of the Macha BIC Church, and a great friend to our family since 1984.

So now we are winding down and about to end another day in this beautiful place. I know this was long, I apologize. I talk a lot when I am excited and this place will always do that to me. For the record though, I did NOT want to write, but apparently it was part of some deal that I was unaware of!

tuyoobonana alimwi(we will see you again)

Eric