solar panels, wells, streams, friends, and sinkholes

Visiting a village where Ron & the team set up a solar panal so that...

The family's water could be pumped out of this well and then down to the school nearby. They also did a handwashing lesson that day with the grubby little school kids.

Waiting for tajine near the stream below a waterfall nearby.

The stream runs between fun little hut restaurants.

A few years ago, I told you about our friend, Fatima Ezzahara's wedding. Here she is visiting with her little one-year-old, Janat. It was so fun to see them again! She is having a hard time in Germany where she says "I wish the Germans were like Americans, but they are very unfriendly!" I told her we have our share of unfriendly people too :) But I do wish someone would befriend her.

A week ago, we went on a 5 1/2 mile hike through a forest, past a lake, an old crater, and to this crazy sinkhole. Thomas, sitting next to me in the picture, found this place a few years ago. They had hiked on the flat ground near this many times, and finally noticed that the normally huge cedar trees were very short in one area. Coming closer, they discovered a massive cliff-ringed hole - at least 200 ft deep - with the cedars growing out of the walls of it (which is why they looked short). Apparently there is one route to the bottom that is mostly safe that I was hoping to try, but with all the kids along (Ron's too), it didn't seem to smart to do it yet. Ron took the youth group here the next week and made it to the bottom and came back up with ropes - alive :)