I'll be darn if I didn't wake up because of a mosquito bite this morning about 4:30 am. The mosquitos here are tiny and don't really buzz a lot. Then once bitten, the area burns like crazy and itches like hell. If you scratch it, it burns worse. Then it drives you crazy for about two hours. And then it is never noticed again.
Except then I was wide awake and thinking about my mission partner, Martha Ann Flint, sound asleep in the bed on the other side of the room and one of the craziest broads I've ever met. "Ochencheda" is the word for "crazy" in Chechewe - the native dialect here. I have been virtual friends with Martha via email and Facebook for a while now. But we are just meeting in person this trip. She is a long time friend of Stephen's and he put us in contact with each other a while back. One of my favorite posts ever by her was "Jump and a net will appear." Martha is that person who is willing to try anything and everything from balancing a sack of grain or a bucket of mangos on her head, to playing the drums with the choir, to playing soccer in the dirt with the local children in the villages. It has been a riot being here with her. She has the biggest heart of almost anyone I have met. On her first trip to Malawi, she fell in love with a malnourished, ill little boy named Christopher, who she now supports in school.
Today we were busy in Chimwendo but not swamped. I had visited this very poor little village when I was last here in July, 2014 and Martha had been there with Stephen this past April. I saw my first snakebite today. It occurred 5 days ago and fortunately there was only local pain and inflammation - simple as pain meds and antibiotics. We saw cases of children with malaria, but mostly body aches and arthritis because almost everyone in these remote villages farms manually. We played a great game of "don't let the balloon touch the ground" with a blown up latex glove and about 20 kids. And Martha got her but whipped in one on one soccer by a kid she was foolish enough to challenge. Today, after we arrived back from Chimwendo, I found her passed out cold only halfway on her bed. I guess it's good today was our last workday.
And finally, the "shoe that grows". Before my trip here I learned about this awesome non-profit, "Because International" founded by a young man who had spent time in Africa and was touched by the need for shoes for children. One of my FB friends, Marcelena Racatune had actually posted about it. To make a long story short, I did a little research and decided I had to bring some with me. I ordered 100 pair and even had friends pitch in to fund them. They are amazing - weather proof and adjustable over 5 sizes. I gave half of them to my friend, Fr. Levinus, but they have yet to be distributed. He promises to send photos to me.
There was concern that once we started giving shoes away, we would be swamped. But after our clinic in Bowe, there were some young boys, 11 or 12 years old hanging around, and barefooted. I asked if they had shoes and only one had a pair of flipflops. Martha and I pulled out the shoes and fitted them right then and there. You should have seen the delight on their sweet faces. Afterwards I left about 15 pair with Fr. John to distribute at his discretion.
Then yesterday we fitted all the little kids that sang and danced to entertain us. Some people said kids would just sell the shoes if they were given as a gift, and that giving away shoes is not sustainable. Guess what? I don't believe you and I don't care. I'm bringing 100 pair next time, too. I'm not putting a local vendor out of business because none of these families can afford to buy even second hand shoes. I may have to give them away as free raffle prizes since I can't provide shoes to every kid in a remote village in this area but I can protect the little feet of at least some of these beautiful babies. I can't wait to post the pictures of them for you!
Yes! Go Martha, too!
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