Mills writes on August 30th......

Hey

I remembered that you wanted a little description of Chiconono and of the people here. Chiconono is in mountains, not like ours back home, and not really like England's either. There are scattered forests of pine, but they vary in location. Most of the terrain is a tall grass around my height. It covers the entire landscape, it's yellow and brownish. There are always small areas of smaller trees and bushes, but for the most part it is all this tall grass. Now, during the end of the dry season the grass gets burned. They light the fields and the tall grass burns quickly and hot which leaves behind anything bigger than the grass. Wherever the grass was is covered in ash. It is neat to see though how it opens up the view of the surrounding area where it was obstructed before. The mountains are different in that some are hilly and others are more rocky and steep.

Louis is South African, and the best way to describe his looks is Amish. I know that isn't the most accurate, but he is really conservative and very opinionated. He has a big white beard and was born in 1954. He has 5 kids, and they are all under the age 10, the youngest in in diapers. His wife is like 15 years younger. He moved his family here from SA because he doesn't think the culture there is a good place to raise his family. They live out in the bush, and live comfortably, but not really well off. All of that said they are really happy, and doing what they think is right so that is good. Oh and he doesn't drink or eat sugar, at all! Except there are exceptions, and we can't really figure them out. The other day in town he bought two bars of chocolate, but he always preaches to us about how we shouldn't drink coke or eat chocolate. He has some weird theories. He knows his Bible so very well, but a lot of times his theories come out of context of the verses, so you have to watch him.

Theo and Mignonne are from SA and white. They are Afikaans, and can speak English fairly well, but with an accent.

Aubi Banda is from Malawi and has 6 kids, one is married. She is married to Isalodge who is a Christian radio presenter, they have 2 kids. Aubi is 40. I don't know the girls names, but the boys are Tuaibo, Jose, Manuele, and Timote. His wife Mibanda is a bit large, and therefore respected in the community. Aubi was born in Malawi and he speaks 8 languages. Yao, Portugeuse, Chechewa, English, Swahili, and the rest I don't know. He is a gentle man, but very strong. He is one of the wealthiest men in the village, and has the nicest house. Our area is a little secluded from the village, but we have lots of visitors. We are about to go eat dinner with them. They grow corn, and they turn it into something like grits. They mash it in a big mortal and pestle type thing, and then lay the powder out to dry. Then they mix it in water and then cook it. It's called Shema, when you eat it is like semi-hard grits. They eat it every meal. Tonight we will just eat it plain, but they eat it with other things. Often with Beans, or cabbage, or peas, or rarely meat. You eat with your hands though. They laugh because most white people ask for a fork to eat it with, but Gabe and I do it there way out of respect. They love it. We also eat at there time, and not necessarily at the table. And I walk everywhere barefoot. They laught at that too. But most white people come with clean shoes and socks, and most of these people have busted flip flops and shoes with tons of holes. It earns their respect.

That is about it for now. When I am in town next I will try and call and speak some Portugese. I really am speaking a good bit, and Aubi and the locals help me. I speak a good bit more than Gabe, but I think ti is because of the Spanish background I have. They crack up laughing when I speak it, not because it is bad, but because it surprises them. A lot have said that they are surprised at how fast I am picking it up. It is funny how we can joke and make do with the little I know. Yao is a totally different story though. I can only greet in Yao.

I gotta run, Aubi may have forgotten about us eating diner with him tonight, and Gabe and I are ready to eat.

Love you mom, Hope that helps with a picture of the place.
Mills