Hello Hello,

These blogs seem to be getting farther and farther apart don't they. To be honest it is hard to make it here some times and this week I had a good excuse because I was sick with a stomach bug for three days being Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Basically the whole house had it but I think I had it pretty much the worst. Luckily I brought meds with me for exactly this sort of thing and even though I was reluctant to take them the first day, I broke down and took them day two and three and now I'm feeling like new again. So on to the up dates, yeh?

L'Abri was quite awesome. It is in a pretty remote area set up in some mountain (everything here is either in a mountain or valley). Our first night there was fairly cold and wet but we sat around a fire on a very nice back porch which over looked the valley below kinda (it was truly an African jungle so you couldn't see very far down) as well as a mountain opposite us. There were lots of giant bugs which didn't actually bother me and we heard a bunch of monkies fighting each other not far into the woods. I tried taking pictures of them pretty much in vain but I did catch the reflection of what looked like an animal eye and I plan on pretending it was on of the monkies. The next day we saw part of the camp program that they run and we went on a hike up the other side of the valley through jungle so thick that at times you had to crawl on the ground to fit. This hike included crossing a rope bridge (one thick piece of rope for walking on and to thin ropes for balancing) that was strung over a very sheer drop into a raging river carving its way through the rock. We didn't make it to the top unfortunately on account of it getting dark soon. We did not see any wildlife on the hike but we did find a porcupine quill and earlier that day we saw the largest grasshopper I have seen in my life. It was probably as big around as a half dollar at its thickest part and was easily as long as my hand. I took pictures so as soon as I can get them here I'll post for you though the picture really doesn't show you how big it was. Or last day we took a hike down into the valley which I am now thinking I should describe as a gorge. The trail down was very steep and we had to climb ladders, cross bridges and repel a bit on a rope (It wasn't any serious repeling with harness or anything, just a rope to hang on to while making your way down over some big ledges). Thank you uncle Marty for all the actual repelling experience you gave me, I had a very easy time of it. Eventually we made it to a huge pool complete with water fall and a rope swing. Aerin was kind enough to take a video on my camera of me on the swing. Then a small group of us off trailed it with our guide along the river through the jungle to two more water falls. That second part proved to be a pretty intense hike and after making some narrow escapes, I finally well into the water on our way back. Luckily my camera stayed dry.

Monday and Tuesday were really slow days at work (again) only more slow than usual and tuesday was not made any better by the fact that I was getting sick. Starting in the new year I am joining a new project I have decided. I am going to join L'Abri as a volunteer there which means I will be there just about every week. And on days that I'm not there I will work some where else. I want to join the after care program if they will take me because I have only heard great things about it.

Wednesday and Thursday I was home sick and I will spare you the details of that.

Friday we went to a very long prayer service in the morning. I didn't mind it until it started getting a little too preachy for me. At noon four of us went to a very old appartied prison which is basically right next door to us. We got a tour and I took a bunch of pictures of that. There were a bunch of famous people imprisoned there when it was in opperation including Ghandi's wife. I don't really remember the other people, but there were a lot. And yesterday we went to the mall to shop for christmas (we are doing a gift exchange here) and then we had a movie night and until 5 in the morning. It was fun even though they were chick movies with the exception of the fourth one for me. It was also really hot yesterday, about 100 degrees or so. It makes me not in the holiday spirit at all because I am used to cold and snow this time of year. Never thought I would say it, but I really do miss it.

Thats all I have time for, Bye Bye, and take care.