Chikuuru

No pictures tonight guys, I'm too tired.  I'll try to add them tomorrow. The village today was quite far away and we were very busy. The clinic was held at a school and the poor headmistress had great difficulty controlling the students.  They were very excited to see the " mzungus".  This is what they call white people. It literally means traveler or journeyer. Every village has a guest book and all visitors sign it. They were very happy as we were visitors from the furthest destination yet.

On our way we saw 4 or 5 wells that ORANT has put in. You can literally see the difference in the communities when they have convenient clean water.

We cared for about 140 patients today in spite of the weather. The rain is not suppose to start unti late November, but after a west-Texas style dust storm, we had two pretty impressive thunderstorms. And the classroom we were working in had a tin roof. NOISY!!

I have been quite spoiled, but today had to use a traditional village latrine. This is what my youngest daughter calls a "pop and squat". Picture to come.

We mzungus celebrated Halloween by throwing dum-dums to the children in the villages on our way back to the compound. We felt like rock stars. Too much fun. They don't worry about taking candy from strangers here.

We were given chickens yesterday and today as gifts of gratitude. This is quite the sacrifice.

I am coping so much better than last year. I feel well and understand better this time around that  you can't do everything, but you can do something.   These wonderful priests who run the mission here once again make me believe there are true Christians here on the earth.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

A little more Chekuwi

Providing instructions for treatment.

Jennifer, Ray and Temeo triaging patients.

So we have settled in for the evening.  We found out that our remaining bags have arrived, so Big E and Ray will head to Lilongwe tomorrow and Father Stephen will escort the rest of us to our village mission, Chisuuru.

Chekuwi

Today was crazy busy and a very good day.  After Mass at 6:00 we had breakfast at the rectory, then loaded up and drove out into the bush east of the M-1.  I have no idea how far off it was because we sort of got lost, but Big E was driving and you know how men are about directions.  It must be universal.

We set our clinic up in the village church/school.  There were about 25 people waiting to be seen when we arrived.  We had seen 76 patients by the time we broke for lunch and somewhere around 123 by the time we quit at sundown.  There were about 75 people waiting to be seen when we had to leave.  We saw a wide variety of problems including several impressive chronic wounds.  I will not post those pics, you're welcome.  One of our patients was the village chief and I think he might have lost his big toe from recent trauma if we hadn't had antibiotics and dressings. We saw people from at least six different villages that walked there to see us.

Chekuwi women walk at least 8 km to get fresh water and bring it to their homes.  ORANT has drilled and repaired many water wells in the Bowe area, but it is expensive.  It would cost $10,000 to put a water in or near Chekuwi. Donations anyone?

When we returned this evening the Malawi children were running along the rode by our vehicles waving and laughing.  They are so beautiful.

Girls walking home from school in Bowe.

Downtown Bowe.

Family field plowed, ready to plant when the rain starts.

Luke setting up our pharmacy as we prepare to see patients.

Malawi

WE"RE HERE! With 3 of 5 of our checked bags... oh well, we have plenty of supplies to begin our work today.

Father Emmanuel picked us up at the airport and drove us north on the M-1(the only paved road running north-south) to Bowe.  I am very happy to say my impression is that there is much more commerce this year.  I am seeing more produce stands, stores appear to be stocked, and the little fields are all plowed (by hand or ox) and ready to plant when the rains start later this month.

We even stopped for lunch at a restaurant in Kusungu.  The place is run by a Scottish ex-pat, and apparently a hot spot for Peace Corps members.

Photos are loading very slowly, so I will add more this evening when I have a bit more time.

I cannot believe the progress that has been made at the mission since I was here a year ago.  Volunteers from ORANT charities and students here in Malawi have constructed a clinic with a reception area, two exam rooms and a pharmacy.  One of our jobs this week will be to organize the pharmacy according to government regulations.

Big E says he used to officiate up to five funerals a week.  Since our medical work began here, he says he now sometimes goes an entire week without there being a funeral.

We are heading into Chekuwi, an outlying village today.  More later with photos.

Nairobi

Good morning everyone,

We are here in Nairobi, safe and sound but pretty worn out.  We board in about 2 hours and should be in Lilongwe around 11:00 am (2:00 am for you).   I'm almost glad TSA threw the 10 pounds of peanut butter away as I might have ditched it myself by now.

Today I hope to get a team photo and introduce us to you. The drive from Lilongwe to Bowe will be at least two hours more.  Last year there was a fuel shortage and gasoline was nearly $8/liter on the black market.  I believe the shortage has resolved.

Other than the minor TSA issues, the journey so far has been uneventful.  We are excited to get to the mission, settle in and get organized so we can start work tomorrow. Typically, Mass is at 6:00 am, breakfast follows and then off to see patients until sundown.

London

A very long day and night. First, the TSA threw away 10 pounds of peanut butter I had purchased for the priests.  In retrospect I might be glad as there was already more checked in our bags and now my carry-on is much lighter.

I was able to sleep some on last night's flight so I didn't feel too bad when we got to London at 8:00 am (3:00 am at home). We were able to leave our luggage at Heathrow and ride the train to the British Museum. It's so awesome and we only saw about 15% of it.  Then fish and chips and ale in a pub and back to the airport.  Ray ran into some security issues and they destroyed his hand sanitizer and toothpaste, then searched him. Glad we got here early because that took about an hour.  I know somebody who probably would have gotten himself arrested if that had happened to him.

Now another overnight flight to Nairobi (9 hours) , a two hour layover, then a short flight to Lilongwe.  The priests will pick us up there around noon and then a 2 1/2 hour drive to Bowe.  Again, so far so good.  We are all doing well and will catch up tomorrow.

This is a guest post by Jimmy. Rochelle is at DFW airport. She asked me to put the pictures from last fall's Malawi trip on this blog. But there are 139 pictures, so I'm just going to give you a link to Mike Heatley's SmugMug page where they are all online. Click 2011 Malawi photos

Ok, so I think I'm packed.  The thing about Malawi, is if you forget it, you can't buy it when you get there.  Malawi is a very poor nation, but is nicknamed "the warm heart of Africa".  The average life expectancy is 39 years.  The primary vocation is sustenance agriculture.

Last year I was pretty overwhelmed and found myself in tears at least once a day.  So much that when Father Emmanuel introduced me, he would say " and this one, she is full of tears".  I think I'm better prepared both emotionally and physically this time around.

Our flight departs at 6:40 tonight and is an overnight to London.   We than have another overnight to Nairobi, and will arrive in Lilongwe Tuesday around noon.

The bunkhouse where we will stay.

Our waiting room.

Last year's team. L to R: Scott Beathard, Mike Heatley, Heidi Cordi, MD, Esteban Lucio, yours truly, Leslie McKown.

The wonderful priests who care for the poor people of Bowe, Malawi and who will be our generous hosts. L to R: Father Levinius, Father Joseph, Father Emmanuel (Little E), Father Stephen, Father Emmanuel (Big E).

Ok,  need to do a last minute check and head to the airport within the hour.  All prayers and thoughts are appreciated!

Ok, wow.  I've never done a blog before, so here goes.  So many people have asked

me about the Malawi mission, that I've decided to embrace technology (with the help of my awesome techie husband, Jimmy Verner) and try this blog thing.  Who came up with the word blog anyway?

We have a team of four departing tomorrow on the final medical mission of this season.

A little history...

Many of you who know me well, know that I hit one of life's walls almost exactly a year ago.  As part of my reassessing my situation, I had the opportunity to join the inaugural medical trip to the mission run by the St. Paul missionaries in Bowe, Malawi.  ORANT charities is a small NGO (non-governmental organization) that does work in Malawi as well as Cambodia, Mozambique and Guatemala.  They had a trip planned that they were going to have to cancel because one of the doctors had to have surgery somewhat urgently.  Because I was just standing there staring at the wall I had run into, I signed on, dragged my adorable niece along on the adventure and we did good things, I believe.

As soon as I figure out how, I will post a link to photos from last year's journey.

More soon.