When we spoke to Andy and Ashlee yesterday they were just cuddling up with a cup of hot cocoa. It has been cooler and Ashlee was in long pants and long sleeves. There disagreed about the actual temperature, Ashlee thought 60-70 and Andy thought it was warmer, but the villagers are still wearing their sweaters, so it must still be winter. We talked to them about the food that we sent to see if they still had some left. 
They are trying to ration it out, since the “Hungry Season” starts in November and they do not know what to expect. They said it typically runs from November to January. We have been trying to figure out the right time to visit and had been thinking about Christmas, but knowing that it will be rainy and a time of famine, makes us thing that late spring would be a better time. I promised them that we would load them up on food as it gets closer, so they can go ahead and enjoy what we sent now, but I understand that sense of uncertainty.
I asked what meat they have been eating and so far it is mostly beef and chicken. There was recently an illness that came through that killed most the pigs and they have not been replenished. Ashlee said they were offered some warthog recently, and had she not been there she was certain that Andy would have purchased it. She said it was in a burlap sack and not appealing so she turned it down. She said that hippo meat is popular, but only in the rainy season. She thinks it is illegal so it probably won’t be in the shops, but she said they would like to try it some day.
They went on Friday night and stayed with the young American doctor and his family. There was a mission group visiting so there were a lot of Americans. Ashlee said she got to take her first shower in a month and while she couldn’t stay in too long because hot water is limited she did get behind her ears and belly button cleaned out. She said it is hard to get fully clean in a bucket. She also enjoyed being able to lie in bed and read past dark. In the morning they made French toast with the kids.
Ashlee said it is interesting that knitting is now work and not just a hobby, but she is enjoying it. She has been trying to write down patterns for what she knows. If you go to the fabric store she would love to have any of the free crochet or knitting patterns that are available and yarn is always needed. She met a lady that will soon be leave that had a whole box of clothing patterns that she gave to Ashlee so she is hoping there are some good patterns in there, but she has not had a chance to look through them yet. She has also started teaching an English class and Andy is teaching the kids Karate. They started teaching some organic farming techniques to about 10 local farmers. They are technically not supposed to be working yet, but the people are anxious to learn what they have to teach so they have started early. They said some places they have visited when they tell them that they can come back later tell them to do it now or not at all. They said that they other volunteers are in the same boat. They are still struggling with the language, but they can get the point across. They have a lot of English speaking people around so they are not picking it up as fast as some of the volunteers who are in more remote areas.
They are hoping to go to the Provincial House next weekend. They are only allowed to go every so often and they are ready for a break. They were warned that 6 weeks is about the limit before you need to get away for a couple of days and they are just reaching that point and are definitely ready for a weekend of television, electricity and running water.
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