(EDITOR'S NOTE: Katherine Cox, a graduate of Abilene High School, is a senior at Davidson College in North Carolina. Interested in women's reproductive health issues, she is participating in a medical mission in Mwandi, Zambia. She is the daughter of Bart and Jackie Cox.)

(From an e-mail to family and friends on Saturday, July 15, 2006)

Today was very unique and wonderful. In the morning we went to the outpatient clinc and scrubbed and scrapped the walls clean. It was so nice to feel like we were finally giving something back to the community which has given us so much. We ended up getting the first coat of a pale green all over the walls. It already looks so much better! Before it was covered in chipped paint and spiders and now it actually feels clean.

This afternoon one of the cleaners at the house we are staying at gave us a tour of the town. We started at their small market and then walked through the residental area. Their house are made of mud with roofs of reed. I cannot imagine living in a house with no running water or electricity and with only one room for around 8 people. I was surprised, howeverk, by how clean they kepy their houses and areas. You can tell they take a lot of pride in what they have. I wish we could do a homestay where maybe two of us would spend the night out in the bush with them, however, I'm not sure if this would be possible.

On our walk through the neighborhood we ran into the choir practicing for church tomorrow. The music was so beautiful! The women's voices rang out strong while the men beat on the drums. They even got up and danced in circles. I cannot wait for churhc tomorrow to hear them sing again.

Our guide also took us out to the part of the Zambezi River where they get their water and was their clothes. The sun was setting right as the men came in on their boats, which was a stunning sight to see. I'm pretty overwhelmed by the natural beauty of not only this place, but also the people.

Thank you all so much for your emails. I hope that you are all doing well and enjoying the summer. Please keep writing, it is wonderful to hear from you.