Ok, back to the trip. I had a very comical nights sleep! I will be honest, I was looking very forward to my uninterupted nights of sleep on this trip and this one didn't really meet up to my expectations. I wish I had a pic to show you. Try to imagine me with my head lamp on, crawling under my mosquito net, working hard to lay on my sleep sack and tiny little travel pillow, now removing the headlamp and closing my eyes. Only problem was this very loud bug of somesort was just outside my window and it didn't let up for one second. I forgot to take my Ambien, thinking surely the 2 beers Atto Domani made me drink would knock me out.....I was really not wanting to crawl back out of the bed to get it either. I longed for some ear plugs, really being envious of Kristin across the way as I knew she had hers firmly in place, and somewhat jealous of the Julie's who I envisioned were snug in that sweet queensize sleep sack! I then had the brilliant ? idea to place the roll of toilet paper left on my bedside table (oh how toilet paper had a way of showing up everywhere, just not in the bathrooms!) in my ear and holding it in place with the velcro strap of my headlamp and then keeping my other ear firmly planted on my pillow. I'm sure I looked ridiculous!! I finally got to sleep and was quickly awakened to the chants over the loud speaker from the local Muslim church. Ahhhhhh............

I got dressed and we all headed to breakfast, then had a meeting with the Dawro Development Assoc. and then we were off to Dali. The drive was breathtaking, the views incredible!

(driver Daniel snuck in the pic)

To get out of the car and be surrounded by those singing "Halleluia" over and over was something that I won't ever forget! They were so full of joy. There were instruments being played, dancing, flowers, just general happiness all around.

Shortly after arriving, I met Daniel. Oh sweet Daniel. His face and smile will be forever etched in my mind and heart. He was at my side very quickly after getting out of the car and everytime that I would smile and approach him, he would play coy and run off, only to return almost immediately. I asked someone his name, found out it was Daniel and I started calling him by name! He was pretty much with me the rest of the day. The elders of the community would try to scurry the kids off as we were walking from one project to the next, we even drove to a few projects and lo and beyond, Daniel would appear at every turn.