We had our dental appointments today, okay not even appointments, they told us to come at 9ish and they would try to fit us in this morning. We filled out the necessary paperwork (that yes is even required in Africa) and took a seat to wait our turn. This place is actually the Adventist Health center next door to the main Adventist Church in Malawi. So one half of the building we went into was the dentist and the other a clinic. Some time passed as we chatted and waited when all of a sudden an ear peircing screem came from the dentist side. Bryan and I looked at each other nervously then Bryan says “Not the kind of noise you want to hear at the dentisit.” Soon a young girl came out with a wad of gauze in her mouth, tooth in hand and a large smile as her Mom asked, "Was that you that screemed?!"
Luckily our visits with the dentist went well and we actually like this place a lot more than the other we went to last year. We both had cavities but are having them taken care of. Halfway through our visit to the dentist we started to hear funneral wailing… someone passed away on the clinic side (clinics can be hospitals here) so by the time we left the funneral service was taking place and lots of family and friends had gathered. What an experience!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
In Transition
A lot has happened since we had last posted!
First we returned to Sharpevale and settled beck into our home. We knew our time there was drawing to an end very quickly.
We got to see the puppies… two look like their mom with floppy ears and long bodies on shortish legs, the other two however look like chiwawas!
Alicia moved in with us the end of January. We had two weeks together for us to show her around and say good bye to all our friends. We did a lot in that time.
Our last week in the village was very crazy. Starting Sunday night with me burning my foot by stepping on a hot tea kettle which dumped its contents onto my foot! It hurt so very bad but the next day (first photo) it looked almost normal! I felt bad it hurt so much then it got bubbly then well took the course burns tend to go, the last photo is just two days ago.
Because of the foot I stayed home while Bryan and Alicia attended meetings Mon. Monday night a member of our village family passed away. She had been very sick and had lost her infant son just the week before. She was HIV positive but since the babies birth had been very ill. Bryan and I did all we could to support her and the Liwonde’s who were caring for her. So starting at 1am when the medical person announced her dead a wailing went up and on for an hour. The people from Angoni decent really wail, like what it talks about in biblical times. All Tuesday was funeral activities and lots and lots of people.
Wednesday we met and said good bye to our Africare counterpart Mr. Ching’amba. Thursday was move day. But first we gave a rooster to our village chief as a thank you and remembrance.
Also all local PCVs cam together to say goodbye! Front row left, Jen (ENV 08-10), Me, Caitlin (Education 08-10), Alicia (ENV 08-10), Bryan and Mr. Liwonde back row.
Because of the funneral all the family to our village family came in. We got to say good bye to everyone! This photo is me, Loveness and Mrs. Liwonde in the back row. All these women are sisters! The baby belongs to Loveness.
This is Mordesta with Alicia'a sunglasses!
Thursday we moved out. Our messy house.
The largest two things we own
The neighbors helped to load us up even though they didn't want us to leave.
We got everything in two trips! But it was close and very stressful but it is done!
So where are we now?
We are currently living in Liwonde National Park. Our new home will be the northern end but because the roads are impassable we are to wait at the southern end till the roads clear or they will take us by boat up the river a 45 min boat ride! We are so excited to be living in the park! Our nearest volunteer is Kory
She lives at the Southern end in staff houseing wich is very near where we are temorarilly living so we hang out alot. We have been doing dinners together...
We have decided to start making lots of flat breads because we will be unable to get any type of bread on the northern end or snacky foods!
We are looking forward to this new chapter in our service here in Malawi. We will miss the village and our friends but we will return to visit them and continue on some projects. We are in town now to do our end of service medical stuff that has to have results soon to officially let us extend so we will be around town awhile. I maybe able to post a more in depth closer look at what is coming next working with Liwonde National park!
First we returned to Sharpevale and settled beck into our home. We knew our time there was drawing to an end very quickly.
We got to see the puppies… two look like their mom with floppy ears and long bodies on shortish legs, the other two however look like chiwawas!
Alicia moved in with us the end of January. We had two weeks together for us to show her around and say good bye to all our friends. We did a lot in that time.
Our last week in the village was very crazy. Starting Sunday night with me burning my foot by stepping on a hot tea kettle which dumped its contents onto my foot! It hurt so very bad but the next day (first photo) it looked almost normal! I felt bad it hurt so much then it got bubbly then well took the course burns tend to go, the last photo is just two days ago.
Because of the foot I stayed home while Bryan and Alicia attended meetings Mon. Monday night a member of our village family passed away. She had been very sick and had lost her infant son just the week before. She was HIV positive but since the babies birth had been very ill. Bryan and I did all we could to support her and the Liwonde’s who were caring for her. So starting at 1am when the medical person announced her dead a wailing went up and on for an hour. The people from Angoni decent really wail, like what it talks about in biblical times. All Tuesday was funeral activities and lots and lots of people.
Wednesday we met and said good bye to our Africare counterpart Mr. Ching’amba. Thursday was move day. But first we gave a rooster to our village chief as a thank you and remembrance.
Also all local PCVs cam together to say goodbye! Front row left, Jen (ENV 08-10), Me, Caitlin (Education 08-10), Alicia (ENV 08-10), Bryan and Mr. Liwonde back row.
Because of the funneral all the family to our village family came in. We got to say good bye to everyone! This photo is me, Loveness and Mrs. Liwonde in the back row. All these women are sisters! The baby belongs to Loveness.
This is Mordesta with Alicia'a sunglasses!
Thursday we moved out. Our messy house.
The largest two things we own
The neighbors helped to load us up even though they didn't want us to leave.
We got everything in two trips! But it was close and very stressful but it is done!
So where are we now?
We are currently living in Liwonde National Park. Our new home will be the northern end but because the roads are impassable we are to wait at the southern end till the roads clear or they will take us by boat up the river a 45 min boat ride! We are so excited to be living in the park! Our nearest volunteer is Kory
She lives at the Southern end in staff houseing wich is very near where we are temorarilly living so we hang out alot. We have been doing dinners together...
We have decided to start making lots of flat breads because we will be unable to get any type of bread on the northern end or snacky foods!
We are looking forward to this new chapter in our service here in Malawi. We will miss the village and our friends but we will return to visit them and continue on some projects. We are in town now to do our end of service medical stuff that has to have results soon to officially let us extend so we will be around town awhile. I maybe able to post a more in depth closer look at what is coming next working with Liwonde National park!
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