Nkanowa

It's 2:30 am and you know it's raining hard when there is no wind, thunder or lightening and the sound of the falling rain wakes you up – especially when you're as tired as I am. I'm thinking the rainy season is making an early entrance this year. I feel so worried about people in the villages as many have not finished re-thatching their roofs. We've already had two afternoon rains.

We went to the remote village of Nkanowa today. We had a private Mass in the chapel before breakfast (grilled sardine and onion sandwiches – Big E's favorite) because it was All Soul's Day and the main mass was at 7:00 am. Big E wanted us on the road by then. I can understand why village trips are not possible when the rain comes. The journey was a core workout on a dry road.

Nkanowa appeared to be the poorest of the villages we have visited this week. I have no idea how many patients we saw today, but once again it wasn't everybody. We are such spectacle here. No matter where we go, there are crowds of children peering through the windows. Then as soon as you look or move towards them, only the bravest don't disappear. 

My office in Nkanowa. 

The church/school/clinic in Nkanowa .

The not yet re-thatched ceiling.

The exam room.

The most amazing medical mission crew!!  L to R: Margarita Padilla, Jennifer Verner, Luke Robinson, and Ray Misomali. 

Our amazing pharmacy personnel, Margarita Padilla and Luke Robinson.

Beautiful, curious Malawi children.

More spies on the mzungus.

A pop-n-squat.  I now empathize more with men and their aim. 

 A silo for ears of maize.

We arrived back at the mission around 4:30 pm and I sat on my bed to start editing photos. The next thing I knew it was 6:45.  I had been gone. I walked over to the priest's house for dinner and my one Carlsberg beer – the thing that really keeps me going each day. What a surprise to find that Father Levinius and Father Joseph had driven in for dinner and the evening from Colembe, a new mission site.  These guys are like five rowdy brothers when they are together.

The most amazing Christians I have ever met. They don't just talk the talk, they walk the walk.
 L to R: Father Levinius, Father Stephen, Father Emmanuel (Big E), Father Emmanuel (Little E), Father Joseph.