In this space I will post stories, events, photos, during the time I live in Malawi, Africa working with Adventist Health International. Please come back often (or subscribe) and comment frequently so that we can be connected.
“Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles with warm woolen mittens…” Does that bring back memories??
Last weekend a carload of us loaded up and headed to Cape Maclear for a three day weekend. It was a perfect time of resting, swimming, reading, and eating and getting some sun. Not sure how the mix of water, sun, and sand always brings so much refreshment! I realized that Cape Maclear is my favorite part of Lake Malawi!
me at the lake
When I got back to work Monday I was flitting about the hospital checking on everything and talking to the staff and a nurse asked me if we could get some burettes to use in Peds for smaller doses of IV solutions. After asking around in our warehouse we found something that might work until we can find them here in Malawi (and the money to buy them). I realized finding solutions to problems and making a difference in the resources available to the staff here is one of my favorite parts of my job. I just wish it could happen more.
cristy, nicole, leona, gene, & randy
Monday evening was our last evening with Gene and Leona Augustine. They had been here two months volunteering. So last minute and with not much in our cupboards I invited everyone over for soup for supper and a farewell for the Augustines. The soup was a success, Nicole brought cornbread and we had a lovely evening. Another favorite thing is having people over and feeding them with yummy food!
Tuesdays have become special because we have started a Women’s Bible Study group meeting at Cristy and my house. We meet late enough that the ones with little children can put them to bed while the husbands watch over them. We are studying a little devotional book about contentment which is so appropriate for all of us here. Good discussion, warm drinks, and a few snacks went a long way this week to help me recover from a long meeting with unhappy staff that ended 15 minutes before Bible Study. It is a blessing to have a time to be together in a spiritual setting with friends here… spiritual community is one of my favorite things.
Mrs. Kamwiyo (our head nurse) handing out buckets
Wednesday is the day we have ADCOM (departmental head meeting). This meeting is good but usually long and dealing with different challenges facing the hospital. I decided a needed a break from these meetings and got the idea of surprising everyone with the chance to give out treats to the children admitted in Peds. We had little red buckets donated from Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, some snacks, and stickers all just sitting here waiting to be distributed. So instead of ADCOM I piled everything up on the table and we put together about 70 buckets and handed them out to the kids at the hospital. After the other committee members realized I was serious and that we weren’t having a meeting they got excited and there were smiles on everyone’s faces – young and old, healthy and sick! Malawians love to laugh and smile and are so happy with little gifts like this and it is heartwarming! Surprising staff members, patients and all with a special treat and break in the monotony is definitely one of my favorite things!
a family who's baby is admitted for malnutrition (ok so candy may not be the best - but the smiles are!)
We have many people coming and going here so I wanted to talk about the volunteers in this blog – I’ll share a little bit. I was trying to come up with pictures of all of them but I don’t have them so – I’ll just tell you about them…
Chris Greenly is a student missionary from Andrews University and is a Physics major as well as a computer expert. He has been here since August and will stay until May. While here he is working on our computer network – both the internet and the internal network. He has also set up a small computer lab and started basic computer literacy classes for the hospital staff.
Jacquie with Ryan (my nephew)
Jacquie Cunningham is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from Tennessee. She was able to come between jobs and spend about six months here to help during the busy malaria season. She loves kids and enjoys her time here. She’s become a favorite of the missionary kids too. She’ll be here until the end of March.
Diane (pronounced “Gi-anee”) Lemos is a Physical Therapist from Brazil. She came in November and plans to stay one year. We have not had PT services here so she has had to build up her patient base. Many people come who have had strokes or other problems and she is able to help many people. She is enjoying the patients.
Megan Morton is a student missionary from Walla Walla University. She just joined us on New Year’s Day. She was in Namibia teaching at a mission and it had to be closed down. After Randy had contacted WWU about the possibility of them sending a student missionary here it worked out for her to come here to finish her SM year. She is teaching about 10 students in a room at the church and Nathan and Ryan are going to that school and enjoying her teaching. She is a natural born teacher and does a wonderful job with very few resources.
Gene & Leona Augustine are from Tillamook, Oregon here for two months. He is a retired contractor and she a retired nurse. Funny enough they lived in Tillamook when I was little and remember my family. Gene is working on various maintenance and construction projects and Leona is helping organize the supply closets and warehouses at the hospital. They seem to have endless energy and are a real help to us here.
Both Jacquie and Diane have spent time staying in our house. Our housing for volunteers is limited so Cristy and I cleaned out our “middle” bedroom and put a bed there so we can have space for a guest to stay. It is more like an office since there is no closet but both girls seemed to do ok. The challenge was three girls trying to get ready for work in one bathroom in the mornings. They have both moved out to different places so we have space for Cristy's parents to stay with us. We have also been working on adding two more rooms to the guest house so we have more space for short and long term volunteers. The first room is finished and is self-contained with a small fridge and hot plate and Diane has moved there.
As you can see we have many people coming and going. Housing is a challenge as well. Some of the volunteers are staying in the house where Wes and Chrislyn Lutz lived except until about 10 days ago when the sewer blocked up (some were relocated to the guest house – others are staying there but using the neighbor’s bathroom). We are trying to get the sewer finished so that a group of 25 high school students from Laurelwood Academy can stay there for the month of March while they build One Day Churches in the area. They will not be doing much on our campus but needed a place to stay out here. They will be working with Maranatha people and helping with their projects.
There is never a dull moment around here. Over the past few weeks many people have been sick with some Malawian virus. The Hayton family was all sick for about a week, Randy was sick for a few days, and I felt bad for about a day. I’m not sure what it was but it had us all knocked down. It is the malaria season too so that is always a concern too. We seem to have avoided that so far. I’m thankful that I haven’t gotten anything serious and the little care that we need is available at the hospital. Unfortunately Ryan Hayton injured his knee in January and had to fly to South Africa for orthopedic surgery. Thankfully he is better and off his crutches without any pain now.
Cristy’s parents are here visiting for about 3 weeks. It is nice to have them here and we enjoy having a full house. Most days when we come home it is full of friends – whether our Peace Corps neighbors stopping by to use internet or take a hot shower, others coming by to drop something off or ask a question, or people staying for a meal – our house is always busy.
Although there are times when I wish for some peace and quiet, there are many blessings to having a welcoming house. I enjoy preparing food and a comfortable place for people to come and find rest. I’m thankful that people feel comfortable here and that we can share our home and food with others.
So you are always welcome! We still have an empty futon in the front room that is very comfortable.
Well I realize this blog is about "Missions in Malawi" but it's also wrapped around my life so as you know my writings have been fairly slanted towards my viewpoint on everything (since I write them, what do you expect?) and my experiences. Mostly though, I haven't delved too deeply into my personal joys or struggles in order to avoid unnecessary worrying or misunderstandings or other things that may come from sharing my frustrations. This time, though, I want to share some personal news that is GOOD!!
So if any of you are on Facebook you will have seen a recent photo album and have asked yourself (or me) "who is that guy?"... well I'll introduce you - his name is Drew Rogers from Walla Walla, WA and to answer your next question, yes, we are dating. (Here is a link to the photo album in case you haven't seen it yet: PHOTOS ) So to give you some background - we met in October of 2009 here in Malawi. He is working as the Director of Finance for Maranatha building churches in Mozambique (about a 24 hr drive from me). At the end of 2009 Maranatha moved their headquarters to Malawi and he was here to set things up. He went back to Mozambique to continue the project there. After seeing him briefly again at Thanksgiving 2009 I didn't see, hear, or think of him until a phone call out of the blue in May when he was back in Malawi for a week or two. Since then we've realized that the distance of one country isn't too much - phones work (sometimes) and email works (more often) and after he moved about 10 hrs away he came to Malawi every month or so.
One of the things that we have in common is loving to travel especially road trips. We had a long conversation one time about all the places we wanted to visit in the world - Greece, Alaska, Italy, Switzerland, Zanzibar, and others. One of those on the African continent was Cape Town, South Africa. So with some planning it worked out for him to meet me in Johannesburg when I flew back from the US just after Christmas and we drove to Cape Town, then back along the Garden Route and north to Johannesburg in 10 days and over 1,800 miles. This was a good chance to spend some time together and see an amazing country! It was a lovely trip - we got along well and had lots of fun - exploring little towns, taking pictures, getting lost, Drew went bungee jumping, learning history, shopping, hiking, and looking at the amazing stars in the African sky. So after such a trip - what is the consensus and what's next?
Hout Bay, South Africa (on the Cape)
As for what's next - only God knows and He's in control so we'll see. Drew is headed back to the US in February and will settle back in Walla Walla for now. I have not fully decided, but it looks like I will be back in the US for good by September so for now it looks like it will be a very long distance relationship. Neither one of us came to Africa expecting to meet someone special so this is all an amazing gift that we will see what God has in store!
This development sort of adds another dimension to "mission in malawi" but it wasn't part of my original plan. I've always been of the opinion that God knows wherever I am and if I'm meant to meet someone it doesn't matter where I am in the world - I guess this is true! Most of all it's important to be doing what I feel like God wants me to do and be doing it the best that I can. It's exciting to see what God is doing and be open to his plan so I continue to trust Him to guide my life in every area.
P.S. I am back in Malawi now - glad to be back after 6 weeks vacation. Things at the hospital are still challenging. We continue to face many financial challenges and staff seem to be unhappy right now (also due to financial problems). Please continue to pray for wisdom and guidance for our hospital so that we can make the best decisions for the future as possible. We are thankful to have many volunteers here right now... next post will be about them.
Home is the place you come from, the place you "hang your hat", the place where your family is, or maybe it's where you keep your favorite books. I was thinking about home this weekend since it was Christmas and I am "home". Well I'm at my parent's house which was home for me for a lot of years but now it isn't as much. Part of growing up is shifting from your childhood home becoming your parent's house with things the way they want them and you having another place that is your own. But since I'm with family in a familiar place in some ways it is "home". Yet I'm also torn because I've come to feel "at home" in Malawi - not just another city but another country and continent with another culture. My roommate and coworkers at Malamulo have become family and I feel at home there. This year even some of my "real" family is there and so that might be part of the reason I feel torn... It made me think more about the meaning of home, I guess and what it actually means.
I believe that when you go through challenging times with a friend or with anyone you become bonded to that person in a deeper way. I think that is part of the reason I feel close to the people I live and work with in Malawi because we have been through SO MUCH together. I think specifically of Cristy - we have lived together for the past 2.5 years and have been through highs and lows and every days and all in between together. She is the closest friend I have and knows me very well and feels like family. For me our house in Malawi feels like "home" and I think it does for her as well.
Maybe the holidays bring out this kind of reflection and the meaning of "home". I guess for me there is more than one place and maybe more than one meaning. Home is where I feel the most comfortable and where I can be myself the most....AND i think my favorite books might also play a part. :) I'm thankful for these safe and comfortable places that are a shelter and haven for me in so many ways.
Recently Southern Adventist University decided to do a feature mission story on Randy, Cristy, and I who all graduated from Southern in 2000 and are now in Malawi working together. The story is HERE
It is ironic, I suppose, that we are still friends and all working together in Malawi. Funny how God has a way of working things out and leading us along the journey that we have called life. I am so grateful for Randy and Cristy both and how they are such an encouragement to me personally.
Much has been happening and I rarely seem to have time to update my blog. So here's some updates and photos:
The MU President is far left in suit - others are area Chiefs
Official handshake
ADRA Malawi contacted me about the bicycle ambulances that they are distributing around Malawi. They asked if the communities around the hospital would be in need of them. We discussed and requested 15 set ups for the area villages that Malamulo serves. They came back and said they would give 14!! We arranged to have the official "hand-over" with the Malawi Union SDA church meetings so the president of the church handed them over to the "Head Chief" of the area. It was an amazing gift and neither me or the head of ADRA were the focus but rather what the church is doing in the community. We were merely facilitating and that was so wonderful! Now the communities around Malamulo that can't get vehicle access have a way to get patients to the hospital easier.
About 3 weeks ago Cristy and I went to Zomba Plateau to Plateau Stables to go horseback riding. Maggie and Brian run the place and are lovely people and we have ridden there several times. It was a beautiful day and we were so excited to be out in nature. We got suited up and I was riding "Duchess" who loves to gallop especially following another horse. You can guess - we were going at a good gallop, my horse closely following Cristy (thus you can't stop) and I began to feel a bit out of control in my English saddle. Suddenly the horse took a sharp turn on a trail to the left and I took a sharp turn to the right and landed HARD on my right hip. Thankfully I had a helmet and landed on pine needles so only had some deep bruises and scrapes. Needless to say my riding was cut short! I got back on and we rode back to the stable but I couldn't go much further.
Maggie was so sweet and offered for us to come to to their house so I could take a hot bath and drink some tea. While in the bath they decided that Cristy and I really shouldn't camp as we had planned but rather stay in their guest room and rest in their house. So instead of riding I got to rest, read, walk around their garden and take photos. It ended up being a lovely weekend (Cristy went riding again the next day) and we have made even better friends with Maggie and Brian. Bella also got to know their great dane/rhodesian ridgeback mix dog in hopes to eventually have puppies! Here are a few photos of the house and flowers.Thought I'd spare you the bruises and scrapes. :-|
hibiscus
The house - our room was the door at the bottom. Butch and Bella in the foreground.
View from the yard - spent some time on the bench.
bougainvillea
amaryllis
Thanksgiving was a lovely feast as was last year. We had about 40 people get together at Dave & Susan Woods' house in Blantyre. There was lots of food and good time with friends. This year we actually thought if EVERYONE was invited (American or not) there would be way too many people so we just tried to invite the Americans and a few others and still ended up with a houseful. We have many volunteers here now and also some additional families of Ryan & Sharlene Hayton, Randy & Nicole and all of their kids. Before eating Ryan gave us a 5 minute history lesson of what Thanksgiving is and where is started. After lunch Jacquie (Peds NP) pulled out her colorful paper, blow up balloons, and kept the kiddos entertained making turkeys, indian headbands, and balloon animals.
After making stuffing, finishing making the soup, and all the craziness of my long week I enjoyed sitting down and putting my feet up after stuffing myself! Sharlene's apple cranberry crisp was a hit as well as Drew's pumpkin cream cheese pie (and even better the next day).
Friday after Thanksgiving I was busy wrapping things up in the office and packing to leave Sabbath morning. Earlier that week we had 2 days of board meetings and the week before was meetings all week for the church. Needless to say I was exhausted and found it difficult to even find the energy to be excited to go home. (Some of that might have had to do with the people I was leaving behind in Malawi as well!) I have so much to be thankful for this year - especially for the life I've been given since last year's Thanksgiving. There have been many hard days, many happy days, tears, laughter, and for all of it I'm VERY grateful!
A volunteer named Alex Roddy was here for about 7 weeks and then has moved on to Ethiopia and Rwanda. He is a recent graduate of Walla Walla University with an engineering degree. We certainly enjoyed having him here and he was MOST helpful! I thought you might enjoy his perspectives on life here -- See his blog: HERE
