Tonight after some difficulty, we were able to skype Del at home. She met almost my whole family here. Little African Del unfortunately fell asleep before we got going and wasn't in a mood to chat. Nine year old Reginne informed Del that she would be returning home with me. I'd like to talk about that a bit.

The parents seriously want me to take their daughter home with me and raise her as our own. I consider that a tremendous compiment to put that kind of trust in us. I also see it as an act of love towards their daughter in giving her a better life. I also see where they may hope her one day to be able to send them support. As for me, if I were 40 years younger, they wouldn't have to ask me, I'd steal her. She is just the sweetest, well behaved, cutests girl I have encountered here and I know she would fit in well at home.

But, I also think it would be cruel to take her out of her African village. As I watch her day after day, dancing, clapping, laughing, rolling in the sand with the other kids, how could I take her home, lock her up in a house and show her the tv? She needs the village she has, surronded daily with people of all ages. She firstly needs to grow up knowing who she is, an African. I realize she is being taught by her parents and others that whites are smart and Africans aren't, but without her knowing it, she is learning things about life that we as whites have long left behind and I couldn't deny her that.

Having said that, once she has completed her schooling and the wreck that this country is in starts to take hold, then I would wish for her to be able to improve her opportunities for life, even if it means moving abroad. I feel so badly for these children who have so much potential, yet will never be able to develope it.

In closing, I discovered today, another quality in Ivette that I admire. She effortlessly opens coke bottles with her teeth. I suggested it may damage them, but she insisted that it didn't. By the shape of her teeth, I couldn't argue.

Amen