There is a town far into the Lesotho mountains called Thaba Tseka, and it is lucky to have two Peace Corps volunteers named Matt and Rachel. They had both been living and teaching in New York City before embarking on their service here. They continue to teach in Thaba Tseka. Matt assists primary school teachers, while Rachel teaches English at Paray High School. Specifics aside, they are model volunteers and both of their schools have improved significantly since Matt and Rachel's arrival.
Down the mountains to the outskirts of Maseru, Lesotho's capital and only real city. A newborn boy was found in a field under last summer’s rainy skies. He was taken to Beautiful Gate orphanage and named accordingly. Pule they called him, which means ‘rain’.
Pule was one of many children Matt and Rachel saw and considered for adoption at Beautiful Gate. But after many visits they chose him, and after even more paper work they were able to carry him with them back up to Thaba Tseka.
They live there together now. Pule isn’t exactly speaking yet, but the sounds coming from his mouth might be attempts at Sesotho or English. He hears both all around. But come December he’ll be headed to the United States where he’ll acquire English solely as his mother tongue, where he’ll grow up as an American, where he’ll be known as Noah instead of Pule, and where he will have the best parents any child could hope for. Abandoned in a field at birth, then adopted by Matt and Rachel: One lucky kid.