This is what the little boy said when told he needed to go to school. I was waiting for a minibus to get to the clinic, and as usual was surrounded by a group of preschoolers. A woman told them to go to school and they said something. Apparently, they said, "No, we are waiting for mzungus" which translates to "No, we are waiting for white people". Its pretty funny being such a novelty.
I had one of my best days in Africa this week. I have been helping the midwife some at the clinic in the mornings helping her with prenatal exams and family planning. On Tuesday, a woman came in labor. She was 19 and this was her second pregnancy. She arrived in active labor and dilated at 7cm. The midwife thought she would deliver in 3 hours. I stayed with her while Janet, the midwife, went to another room to do the prenatals. I felt pretty uncomfortable as this woman was in obvious pain and I couldn't speak her language to see if I could do anything to help her or if she wanted me to leave her alone. Her mother had brought her, but was waiting in the waiting area. From what I can tell, most women do not have family or friends present for the labor or delivery. I left her alone, but at one point, she was trying to massage her lower back so I tentatively started trying to massage her. For the next 3 hours, I became a masseuse/labor coach as each time I stopped, she would hit her back and point at me. She didn't progress as fast as Janet had expected and the baby's heartrate was dropping quite a lot so Janet was a bit worried. No fetal monitors here, just a fetoscope that you place on the tummy and put your ear to the other side. Just as we were hanging an IV, things started moving more quickly and she delivered a healthy baby girl after 5 hours at the clinic. It was amazing and such a privilege to get to share in this moment. Right after delivery, Janet had me take the baby to rub and suction and examine. It was tense for a few minutes as the baby was trying to breathe with lots of secretions, but after suctioning, everything was good and the baby was breathing well. I gave her to her mom and she immediately started breastfeeding. I was humbled again by what an amazing God we have, with such creativity to bring new life into the world through women. And I was humbled by the strength of African women. Baby and Mom will stay at clinic for 2 days so I got to see them again yesterday and all was well.
Things here are going by quickly and slowly at the same time. I can't believe I have almost been here 2 months, yet there are days that are very slow. Last night, I was in bed at 6:45! I'm looking forward to taking a week off in a few weeks to take a ferry to the islands and the Mozambican side of the lake. From pictures, it looks amazing.
Thanks for the comments you are posting. I love reading them. Thank you for your prayers. I continue to need them. Many blessings.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A picture says a thousand words
I'm finally at the internet cafe because we are nearly out of food so I offered to go to town. Things are still going really well. May left last week which was sad to say good-bye. I'm so glad she decided to come. Without her, I may have never gotten off the bus and would be home by now. Quite a few new volunteers have come which is great because I am not the newbie anymore. I decided to be lazy and let my pictures do the talking this time....
A child being weighed at an under 5's clinic. Definitely the most inaccurate scales I have ever used. I have given up trying to worry about the scales often not being zeroed, etc. Hopefully we are getting an estimate.
A woman getting her baby ready for vaccines at an under 5's clinic. I'm not sure how my patients at home would have felt about having their babies get vaccinated in the dirt. The under 5's clinics are always an experience.
A baby getting vaccinated at the under 5's clinic. We just line them up and poke away.
I am quickly becoming the sex education teacher around here, which is pretty funny. There is a huge need for it. This is me at a under 5's clinic giving a female condom training. Here I am putting my hand into a condom because the women were concerned that the condoms were too small. Planning to do many more of these trainings. I have realized that I am definitely a nurse because I don't even feel uncomfortable about it.
We run into many children on the path. Most of them run out to greet us shouting, "Mzungu", white person. The toddlers are often afraid of us though and the little one in the green shirt in this picture cried if we tried to come too close.
Some fisherboys that I ran into down on the lake. They were happy to pose for a picture.
A fisherman out on the lake. Most of the fisherman do not know how to swim. Unfortunately, I don't think my lifeguarding skills would help much here.
We went to dinner at a local man's house. He used to own a restuarant and is very helpful with volunteers. Here his pregnant wife is preparing our meal outside on an open fire. They cooked for 11 of us the other day. We had chicken, rice, nsimma (cornmeal based), fries, and pumpkin soup.
Me and ay waiting for dinner at their house.
A child being weighed at an under 5's clinic. Definitely the most inaccurate scales I have ever used. I have given up trying to worry about the scales often not being zeroed, etc. Hopefully we are getting an estimate.
A woman getting her baby ready for vaccines at an under 5's clinic. I'm not sure how my patients at home would have felt about having their babies get vaccinated in the dirt. The under 5's clinics are always an experience.
A baby getting vaccinated at the under 5's clinic. We just line them up and poke away.
I am quickly becoming the sex education teacher around here, which is pretty funny. There is a huge need for it. This is me at a under 5's clinic giving a female condom training. Here I am putting my hand into a condom because the women were concerned that the condoms were too small. Planning to do many more of these trainings. I have realized that I am definitely a nurse because I don't even feel uncomfortable about it.
We run into many children on the path. Most of them run out to greet us shouting, "Mzungu", white person. The toddlers are often afraid of us though and the little one in the green shirt in this picture cried if we tried to come too close.
Some fisherboys that I ran into down on the lake. They were happy to pose for a picture.
A fisherman out on the lake. Most of the fisherman do not know how to swim. Unfortunately, I don't think my lifeguarding skills would help much here.
We went to dinner at a local man's house. He used to own a restuarant and is very helpful with volunteers. Here his pregnant wife is preparing our meal outside on an open fire. They cooked for 11 of us the other day. We had chicken, rice, nsimma (cornmeal based), fries, and pumpkin soup.
Me and ay waiting for dinner at their house.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The rain has finally dried up. Last week it seemed it would never end. Because of all of the humidity even things in our cabin are damp feeling. It reminds me of camping in the rain in Oregon. I had to put my shoes under the wood stove today. Luckily, I finally bought an umbrella which should make my life easier. The other day, May and I were both completely soaked walking back from the clinic.
I'm beginning to feel like I'm at a health retreat. Luckily, the daily 14km walk that I thought I would be doing is more like 5-10km, but that is still a lot more exercise than I was getting. Luckily, I have been feeling really good and the walking has not been difficult. I'm eating more vegetables than I ever have including things like okra and eggplant and I'm drinking more water than I ever have. Only a few cokes a week. As I told my mom, people should take all of the money they would use for diet programs to come here.
I went to church on Sunday and it was quite an experience. I had been warned that church can last several hours here so was a bit intimidated especially with the heat and not knowing the language. I and a few other volunteers attended a church just a short walk away and is African Presbyterian. We were told it started at 9am, but when we arrived there was only a handful of people. Apparently, they have a bible study from 9-10 and then the main service starts lasting until 12ish. Luckily, one of the church leaders is the education coordinator that we know so he was very kind to translate the service for us. An interesting thing is that the women and children sit on the floor on one side of the room and the men sit on benches on the other side of the room. After the 3 hours of sitting on the floor, my foot fell asleep and I had to limp out of the church with the paster asking if I was OK! I kept thinking that at least I was working on my core. Everyone was extremely welcoming and they seemed very excited to have visitors. There were about 70 people there. The service involved lots of beautiful a capella harmonized singing. As always, I was blown away by their ability to harmonize. (Sidenote: Mom-if my and Arike harmonizing was the highlight of your 1996 summer, then I can't imagine your excitement at hearing malawian singing). Also, I am so intrigued by the children's ability to keep rhythm. Tiny children of 2-3 yrs were clapping their hands to the beat. They should have been in Sharon Hollaron's dance class. We were brought up to the front to introduce ourselves and then they sang us a welcome song and each came up to shake our hands. I felt so priviledged to get to be a part of this. It felt like we should be paying big money for such an incredible concert. At the end of the service, the paster's wife thanked us for sitting on the floor with the other women for the entire time. I think they expected that we would sit on the benches and this seemed to mean a lot to them. In a place where life is such a struggle, people's hope in God is authentic and tangible. It makes me wonder if we have lost something in the West. I hope to attend about once a month. I think this is all my bum can handle.
I am still getting used to know instant internet, lack of electricity, no ATM's, and eating mostly vegetables. But I am definitely enjoying it. I felt a bit homesick today and I don't think the rain helps, but mostly I feel so blessed that I am able to do this and experience this way of life that has so much to teach us. I haven't figured out what it means for my future, but I know that it is changing me.
Following some children down the path to find our community English class. We are teaching English to some of the local women. I keep feeling like an old missionary woman with my long skirts, straw hat, and no makeup.
I may have already put this photo on here, but I love it so wanted to make sure it got posted.
Learning to play Bao. Alex is a local carver and carved the game for me. It's actually really fun.
May's project of painting blackboards at the primary school. I kept suggesting we hire it out, but she was determined to do it and it is now completed and looking great.
I'm beginning to feel like I'm at a health retreat. Luckily, the daily 14km walk that I thought I would be doing is more like 5-10km, but that is still a lot more exercise than I was getting. Luckily, I have been feeling really good and the walking has not been difficult. I'm eating more vegetables than I ever have including things like okra and eggplant and I'm drinking more water than I ever have. Only a few cokes a week. As I told my mom, people should take all of the money they would use for diet programs to come here.
I went to church on Sunday and it was quite an experience. I had been warned that church can last several hours here so was a bit intimidated especially with the heat and not knowing the language. I and a few other volunteers attended a church just a short walk away and is African Presbyterian. We were told it started at 9am, but when we arrived there was only a handful of people. Apparently, they have a bible study from 9-10 and then the main service starts lasting until 12ish. Luckily, one of the church leaders is the education coordinator that we know so he was very kind to translate the service for us. An interesting thing is that the women and children sit on the floor on one side of the room and the men sit on benches on the other side of the room. After the 3 hours of sitting on the floor, my foot fell asleep and I had to limp out of the church with the paster asking if I was OK! I kept thinking that at least I was working on my core. Everyone was extremely welcoming and they seemed very excited to have visitors. There were about 70 people there. The service involved lots of beautiful a capella harmonized singing. As always, I was blown away by their ability to harmonize. (Sidenote: Mom-if my and Arike harmonizing was the highlight of your 1996 summer, then I can't imagine your excitement at hearing malawian singing). Also, I am so intrigued by the children's ability to keep rhythm. Tiny children of 2-3 yrs were clapping their hands to the beat. They should have been in Sharon Hollaron's dance class. We were brought up to the front to introduce ourselves and then they sang us a welcome song and each came up to shake our hands. I felt so priviledged to get to be a part of this. It felt like we should be paying big money for such an incredible concert. At the end of the service, the paster's wife thanked us for sitting on the floor with the other women for the entire time. I think they expected that we would sit on the benches and this seemed to mean a lot to them. In a place where life is such a struggle, people's hope in God is authentic and tangible. It makes me wonder if we have lost something in the West. I hope to attend about once a month. I think this is all my bum can handle.
I am still getting used to know instant internet, lack of electricity, no ATM's, and eating mostly vegetables. But I am definitely enjoying it. I felt a bit homesick today and I don't think the rain helps, but mostly I feel so blessed that I am able to do this and experience this way of life that has so much to teach us. I haven't figured out what it means for my future, but I know that it is changing me.
Following some children down the path to find our community English class. We are teaching English to some of the local women. I keep feeling like an old missionary woman with my long skirts, straw hat, and no makeup.
I may have already put this photo on here, but I love it so wanted to make sure it got posted.
Learning to play Bao. Alex is a local carver and carved the game for me. It's actually really fun.
May's project of painting blackboards at the primary school. I kept suggesting we hire it out, but she was determined to do it and it is now completed and looking great.
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