At 4:30am the rooster down the hill starts crowing. Chirping birds start moving about. What used to be an annoying early morning wake up call on the first day or two has now become a refreshing reminder that if I get my butt out of bed in the next half hour I will be able to see the oranges and pinks disappear into blue behind the mountains with the rising sun.
Today is Christmas Eve: a far and abstract idea this year as I reside in the valley of Ramabanta in 100 degree weather and glorious mountains all around. Nonetheless, my heart is full and my mind is open. Today we played a soccer game against a team here in Lesotho. Even though we lost 3-2 after a shootout at the end of the game, we marked it as a huge accomplishment in our books. We not only expected to be dominated by the home team but also were able to connect to the Lesotho people through a game that has so much cultural significance. The smiles, high fives, and "good games" exchanged at the end of the game left us with a feeling of pure satisfaction, win or lose.
The afternoon held yet another adventure as half of us pony-trekked around the valley of Ramabanta. With only a few near death experiences but many more laughs, we were able to take in Ramabanta and all of its beauty from every angle. As we entered back into the village, the sound of the holiday celebrations welcomed us in. It may be small, but Ramabanta has been so full of life so far. While many of us have thoughts wandering back home as the holidays approach, Lesotho has without a doubt been winning our hearts over with our new found friends and new found love for this thing we call life. Merry Christmas and happy holidays friends! Cherish every moment!