September 25

I’m exhausted. I’m in the office of the Trampled Rose with Ishi at my feet. Buna is trying to get close to me but this would NEVER be allowed by my master dog Ishi. She went for her first long walk today. I took her to the new house we are opening. Some of the people on the road screamed when they saw her. Dogs are usually quite abused and only used for protection.

The compound is great we have room for eight small houses, a total of 32 women. Plus we moved our school to the new location so we have one more room open in The Trampled Rose. Only one problem, four of the small houses are up a narrow stair way so we had to saw apart each metal double bed, carry it up the stairs and hire someone to weld it back together. Whew! I helped carry everything but I couldn’t carry things on my head like the other women. They were so surprised to see me working. Hmmm….. I wonder how they think American women get things done at home.

I’ve got a busy week ahead. Tomorrow someone from the United Nations Family Planning is coming to see about helping us. Cristina is bringing him. Then on Thursday my friend Anna is back from Europe so we have to have some fun. I’m invited by the Ambassador of Denmark to a coffee on Saturday to discuss the problems of Fistula.

I’ve had both electricity and water for two days. I’m getting spoiled.