Beauty and the Beast

We got a new little girl named Beauty yesterday. Shes about 2 years old. Her mother left when she was about a month old and her aunt was taking care of her but just decided she didn't want her so she left her out in the bush to die. Apparently this happens a lot and this is what the story is for most of the kids at the orphanage. People in her village found her and gave her to the police who gave her to us. She doesn't cry or smile, she just stares wide-eyed at everything. I bathed her, put a diaper on her, and got her to laugh yesterday which was good. Already she seems happier because shes being fed and getting attention. She curls right up to me so its hard for me to leave her.

I on the other hand feel like a beast lately. At first I was feeling pretty hot here because my skin is like amazing from all the sweating and sun I get. I wanted to bottle some Africa to bring home with me because I've been glowing and feeling really strong. Also I've been eating so well here that I was feeling pretty healthy. Now, I'm pretty sick and haven't had an appetite for the past two days. I've had to force myself to eat rice and drink water. I have head to toe heat rash and I'm covered in all types of insect bites. I only came into town to get Beauty some dresses since she came to the orphanage in only a shirt. Then I'm going home to lay down for a few hours.

In the last two days I've encountered a lizard in our hallway. A mouse in the hallway. A frog in my shower. Then this morning I went to the bathroom and a scorpion was on the back of the door. I screamed and got Crystal who smashed it with a plank of wood which we use to barricade our front door. When we came back from the orphanage an army of small black ants were eating it. One of the ants bit me which was annoying too. Pretty soon I'm going to lose my mind and go Rambo on these insects and start killing everything in sight.

I think I'll be in a better mood when I feel better, have had a shower, and have spent some time with Beauty.