official day 1 - morning

Good morning from Blantyre, we have had breakfast (I had corn flakes, a very yummy instant coffee blend and toast), others did omelette’s and sausages etc.
Wandered the grounds a bit and took some photos while Kevin and Shaori (our local Habitat co-ordinator) took the ‘missing luggage’ crew downtown to buy a few necessities (underwear) and to exchange our US money into Kwacha for the next week (we get 160 Kwatcha for a US dollar so we will sound loaded as we tour with 17000 Kwatcha for the next while.
Vera and Sue K were up very early and got a little walk in outside the grounds but most of us chose to enjoy the very comfy beds.
I was so tired yesterday as we drove through downtown that I am a bit sad I did not take in more of it (nodded off for most of the ride). What I did notice resembled the World Vision commercials that we see on TV. Children and teens everywhere, very few women at all (the area we are in has been ravaged by AIDS and there are not many) and smiles everywhere – they appear very happy with what they have – life.
We have learned that we will be building for an orphanage development that will eventually have several hundred homes for the thousands of orphan families. Some of the families have a grandparent to live with them but most have a teenage sibling as the head of the household.
The houses build by habitat will include a mat, pillows and possibly some blankets but will have no furnishings at all. We are allowed to give a gift to the family when we leave so I am inclined to put my blanket towards that gift. We will have a better idea at the end of the build as to a purchase of furnishings etc.
Unfortunately, Megan has been ill for the last 2 days but has been a trooper about it! Everyone else is doing great. After 4 full days in a variety of airports we have become one big family.
We will now sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather as we await the shoppers. Malawians operate in their own time - very relaxed - we will get there when we get there.
hope to write again tonight after we have spent a day at the build - still unknown what type of access we will have at the Lihkubula lodge. It is very cheap here - 15 minutes for 60 cents!
later!