Peaceful Pathway☮

Whew! What a past couple weeks I’ve had! It’s busy busy here in Botswana, lots of great things are happening, and the rainy season is a’comin’! Let me keep you abreast of the recent going-ons in Gobojango alone.   First of all, I’m in the process of writing a Peace Corps Partnership Program Grant for the primary school to get shade in their newly built playground.   The students of the school out-scored every other school in our district on their 2011 aptitude tests and therefore, the school received a sum of 30,000 pula to put towards the development of the school. Well, after buying a new copy machine, updating a roomful of computers’ software, spending money on some small prizes to encourage kids to continue athletics, and building a new playground, the development money has run out.   The only thing is that, though the playground is beautiful, the sun scorches the equipment so quickly that children are not able to use it or play on it during the summer months.   So all

“Come, my friends. ‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world For my purpose holds to sail beyond the sunset And though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven That which we are, We are. One equal temper of heroic hearts Made weak by time and fate But strong in will To strive To seek To find And not to yield.”                              -Alfred Lord Tennyson                 With each passing day, I’m faced with more opportunities to seize the world in new ways. Yesterday, I ate lunch with President Sir Ian Keretse Khama.   It was wonderful, and flattering to feel so important, but the most inspiring thing was the president’s willingness to listen to the citizens.   During both ward meetings (both in Semolale on Wednesday and Mathathane on Thursday), he alloted as much time as necessary to allow the villagers to come up to the microphone and tell him the dilemmas they are faced with in their everyday life.