Birthday Bash

'Me oa ka dancing as she lights the candles.

Ntate Mosa - brother of Malineo and my favorite man in Ramabanta. He always wears this smile - not just when he's drinking.

Malineo - my counterpart, my village mother, and the mastermind of the party - and I toasting to another year in Ramabanta.

Sister Elizabeth, Sister Pascalina and Sister Catherine participating in the festivities.

Gotta be a once in a lifetime opportunity...

Ntate Mafa Nkesi, our village chief, and me at the table of honor.


The red-faced wonder.



Where can you find a pregnant lady cutting a rug in a fur jacket? Nuns pouring champagne for each other? Casey rockin' out to the dance remix of "wind beneath my wings"?

My "surprise" 24th birthday party in Ramabanta. "Surprise" because two people approached my on my birthday to tell me they were "coming to the surprise party tonight" (no lie) and because my neighbor told me to arrive an hour early so I interrupted setup. But it was one of the best birthdays I've ever had. 'Me Malineo ordered a big cake, bought refreshments and made tons of food (and brought KFC all the way from Maseru!), organized decorations (see below - I'm not nearly a good enough writer to describe the way they decked out the clinic waiting room for the event), and invited teachers, nuns, our chief, and women who work at the clinic. It was amazing - we ate, drank and danced. A few people brought me cards and Malineo had a gift of a warm hat and scarf wrapped up for me. Everyone laughed at how bright red my cheeks got after a glass of champagne. I wish we had good enough internet to upload videos (I'm not complaining, I swear it) because I have some amazing footage on my camera of nuns line dancing to house music.

Kjessie's all about spoiling me for my birthday...

My chocolate-orange-Guinness cake (with cream cheese frosting) compliments of Kjessie (Heart).

Thank you all for the birthday wishes via email, text messages, facebook, etc. I'm in town for the weekend, so hopefully I'll be able to get back to everyone soon!