On we go!

I have been at my site for about 3 weeks and must leave for my mid-service training in Dedza, central Malawi. I still can’t believe that I’ve been at my site for 1 year already and am halfway through with my service. It’s kind of a strange feeling… It’s a combination of many different feelings. I feel like I haven’t done anything in my community, things have been moving exhaustingly slow (Malawian time) and there’s just no way of speeding things up. I’m excited that I’ve survived this long and excited that I’m on my way to being home-home again. I’m also kind of sad that I will have to eventually leave this place. I also feel like time is running out to accomplish everything I want and need to accomplish before I go. Then I fall into the perpetual problem of idling, waiting for the Malawians to meet me halfway. Well, here are a few good and bad updates.

I gave Alindiyani the clothes and she fits most of them so well! The clothes stayed cleaned for about 2 minutes on her and then it was covered in dirt and snot. I gave Lumanda a thick jacket I bought from Old Navy. They were super excited and danced as I took pictures of them in their new clothes. Also, I finally know what the kids’ mom’s name is, Mary. She’s always been referred to as Lumanda’s mom. The dresses that my mom and Mrs. Shinar donated to their mom fits her perfectly. She was very grateful. The donations that were going towards this family is being planned. First and foremost, I will be having a pit latrine constructed so that they do not use the bushes nearby as a bathroom. A bath structure will also be constructed so the mother does not have to bathe at night in the dark. I am also in the process of seeing about getting her started in raising chickens for eggs and food and also a piece of land so she can farm and feed her kids. More updates on this family to come.

I arrived at my site and discovered that A, my village dog, died while I was in America. B is still around and was pregnant. She just recently (June 18th) had 1 boy puppy, C. C looks exactly like B and is the most adorable thing ever! My friend from the library committee came and helped me make a cave like hole in my backyard for mom and pup to stay. He is also helping me feed her while I’m away.

A ground laborer, Maxwell, for the health center passed away in February. He was HIV+ and was receiving ARVs from the district hospital but continuously fell ill of pneumonia, TB, and Malaria. For some reason, everyone at my site knew about it but all assumed that I knew also. Last week, I sat in the outpatient clinic and realized I hadn’t seen him in a long time. I asked Henry (medical assistant at the health center) where Maxwell was and he told me.

The most exciting update is the roof of the library is finally finished! I used some of the money that was donated to purchase building materials in Blantyre. We purchased the roofing timbers locally to help the local carpenters and also eliminate the transportation issue. My library committee told me they would replace the rest of the roof of the library on Saturday (June 20th) and they did. 8 committee members came early Saturday morning and finished at 2pm.

We never really fully understand the extent of how truly lucky we are until we live in a developing country like Malawi. So I went to visit my 2 VSOs (Volunteer Service Organization), Gemma and Andrew, in the district town. They have been building a playground for the kids in their community. The playground is practically finished, 3 tire swings, obstacle course, a soccer field, netball court, and 4 swings. Gemma and I were appalled at the fact that these kids did not know how to use the swings. They don’t know how to use their legs and their bodies to swing themselves. They sat on the swings and held on for dear life as the other kids continued to push them. I thought again at my childhood and the kids at home; all of whom if put on a swing, would know exactly what to do. It hit us that these kids have NEVER had a playground. So Gemma and I had to get on the swings and show them what to do. By the end of the day, maybe 2 kids understood and attempted the maneuver. It’s really amazing how many trivial things we take for granted.

One other thing that we take for granted is the quality of care and customer service that is available to us in America that is not available in other parts of the world. I see first hand the lack of care and customer service that the people here do not receive on a daily basis at my health center. Patients will wait for hours to be seen while the health workers sit around and talk or the nurse goes and buys vegetables or cooks her relish for lunch. It’s even worse when they’re in the labor room, being yelled at by everyone. I decided that I couldn’t stand to see that anymore so I haven’t spend much time there. But the other day, I decided that I was going to sit in on the labors. It was June 19th and the health center already delivered 34 babies. There were 4 women all in labor and it was a race to see which was going to deliver first. One of the 4 was an 18 year old girl with her first pregnancy. She was scolded by a neighbor and the nurse. Then the nurse slapped her. I have never seen anything like that. It was horrible! That may have been the last day that I will spend in the labor room. I couldn’t say anything because I was in shock. I can’t believe the nurse SLAPPED the 18 year old girl as she’s suffering from labor pains! I just could not believe it. That wouldn’t have happened in America, right? It’s no wonder many of these women choose to have their babies at home in the village. I would too!