Email #6 "Happy 4th of July!"
Hello everyone! I know this email is a little early, but I have a feeling that I'll be kind of busy on the 4th. We have a bit of a fete planned. Things are going well, as always. As my first three months at site are winding down, I'm getting more settled and seriously thinking about the feasibility and priority of projects that I've been thinking about.

Basically, I'm looking at a continued latrine project in my village, consisting of about 40 shower/latrine combos in people's courtyards and in public places where there are NO bathrooms, such as at the school, market and mayor's office. I'm also looking at a clean water source for a neighboring village - it used to be two separate villages that each had a water pump, but they decided to come together so that they could be a bigger village and get (more) funding for public works types of things. Since the move, they've gotten a new school built and are about to start a latrine project with an Italian NGO, and I'm working on the water. Unfortunately, when they moved locations, they couldn't bring the pumps with them..... the water company came and took the pump pieces, but never informed the government agency in charge of village water sources...... so the government isn't even really recognizing that these two villages came together and even if they do, they insist that there are two water pumps. And no one seems to care to try to fix the mistake.... VOILA the real reasoning behind much of our work here. So the village, Gbieguhe (beg-way), is left with a small, dirty spring that's almost a 1km walk from the village center. Other projects include school rehabilitation and some groups interested in raising livestock, pigs and fish.

I feel like I should have some riveting stories to tell, but at the moment I'm stumped. Please email me, as I'm in Abidjan indefinitely due to some dental issues and can't get to my normal supply of snail mail which is 6 hours away in Daloa. I've gotten some wonderful letters lately and miss you all.

Oh, and for those of you that haven't already checked it out, please frequent the web page all about yours truly, made by the much-loved Joscelyn (Webmaster's NOTE: That's me, again!), erininafrica.freewebspace.com

Peace out!

Love, Erin