So, here I am again. I'm using the old East Africa trick of saving at every line so that when I get reconnected, at least I have something. Hotmail is just about impossible to connect to. It takes between 5 and 45 minutes to be able to re connect when shut out! Very frustrating to have a whole page of "notes" to send, working offline and have the whole system with electricity go off for just long enough to clear everything. I tell you this from experience!

Today we were picked up by a lovely young woman who drove us to the Baha'i centre. There were many people there and more kept coming throughout the day--we met folks from Namibia, from Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, USA, Australia, and many Ethiopian Friends. All are so joyful and excited. This is a really big event for them. Many people have been working very hard for a long time to make this happen. The grounds of the centre are beautiful: star shaped gardens in the lawn mimic the world centre in miniature. Persimmon trees and pine trees mingle in the high hedge surrounding the compound.

Everywhere we see birds. This morning over breakfast, I watched the golden African eagle mass in the trees around the parking lot for the hotel and attached garage--swooping in for the ripe papaya. Tonight many song birds (drat, I forgot to bring my African bird book) flew around and around the centre, joining their singing with that of the rehearsal of the Diamond Jubiliee choir.

We were taken out for coffee with a group of new friends by a lovely lady who is proud of her country and told us many things about where to go and what to see and how to be careful. The coffee was, of course, delicious and the company was excellent. I have mine "machiatto" (with hot steamed milk) and Parvin drinks hers black with hot water. Both of us have tea for supper.

Parvin has tried to call home several times, but the phone lines are down, too, and tonight Jim/Tanya's phones were both busy. She is so anxious to see Shokufeh, who went with a group of other Year of Service girls to Uganda for a healthy break from their duties as teachers at the School of the Nations. When Shokufeh agreed to take this post, she thought she would be assistant to the teacher at a small school or daycare. Now she is, at age 19 and with no training, teaching Grades 1, 2 and 3 by herself! Many people spoke of her to us today and told us she is a "miracle worker" and so valued for the very hard work she is doing her. "She lets us have children's classes!" one woman said to me.

We are still very tired and I am going now to go to bed. I will try to write more tomorrow--we have a plan to meet some new friends from Eritrea (now exiled to Denver Colorado) to do some sightseeing or maybe some shopping. Other new friends want to take us tomorrow night to a special restaurant/club for Ethiopian jazz and dancing. It starts at 9:30 p.m., so we'll see.

So far this has been a wonderful trip. I have many things to say abou the level of poverty here, which is as great as East Africa, at least. But they will have to wait.

Much love to you all.
Liz