The Bus Ride

Well what a weekend it has been.  Friday, Big E and I left for Lilongwe, we had to make it there early because I had to submit my ballot to the US Embassy.

Along the way we saw lots of children walking and Big E was telling me that these children could not afford their school fees and were leaving school.  Since the devaluation of the currency, there has been great inflation and it is still going up, this is including school fees which is making it difficult for kids to go to school.


After the US Embassy we ran a few more errands and then went to Teresa's house.  We spent the whole weekend there.  Of course we had a list of things to do.

While there we had ordered more medicine from the pharmacy there because we are running health clinics this week.  So we went by on Saturday to pick it up but lo and behold they were not there, although they had told us they would be.  So not getting upset because we were used to this in Malawi, we continued on the rest of the day.

I went with Teresa in the afternoon to go buy food at the market and then go and see a house she was building.

That night I held a talent show with Teresa's four daughters and it was wonderful.  They performed all sorts of magic acts and plays and different songs.  I had brought some candy for them so I handed that out.

The next day Big E and I went and visited the sisters and had a long talk with them.  We then headed to see a fellow Nigerian priest and see what he was doing.  While being introduced Big E told them my name was Luke and there was a big Ahhhhhhhh so you are Luke.  I asked them what they meant by that and they said the Archbishop has visited them during the week and was talking about me.  So I am going to have to call up the Archbishop now.

After finishing there we went home and I ended up getting a bad case of allergies and spent the rest of the night in bed.  Although I did come out to split a beer with Big E.

The next morning we were up at 5 (Today) and Teresa took me to the bus station.  We got there and the next bus leaving for Mzuzu (Bowe is a stop on the way) was not until 11.  We told them forget it and went to another bus station.  Those buses left aonly to Blantyre in the South.  So we tried one more station and there was a bus going to Mzuzu at 8.  Perfect.

It was about 7 in the monring when we got there so we paid for the ticket and Teresa left me there and I just sat on the bus waiting.  Well as it turns out there are some very shady people that hang out at the bus station.  I wrote down in my journal the full length description of what I saw but to censor for everyone I saw a handicapped man get robbed, two guys start hitting each other and then one guy get mobbed by two guys ( I think he owed them moeny) or at least I figured that after they started hitting him.

So I was glad wehn the bust left an hour later and we were on our way.  I sat at the front which turned out I think to be the best seat because nobody was standing next to me.

The total trip took 2:37 which was not too bad.

I am not back in Bowe and have prepared all the medicine to be taken out tomorrow.  Big E is returning from the airport as I type this with the 4 Texans and we begin our trip tomorrow.

On reflecting back on this weekend I realize how much of an effort it is to raise 4 girls.  I was there for 2 days and they wore me out.  So I commend and congratulate all the parents out there for what they have done.

The Archbishop

Well what a weekend it has been.  It is only now on Monday night that I can post this, I have been too busy before.  This story goes all the way back to Saturday.

Saturday the priests and I awoke at 5:00 in the morning for departure to Lilongwe at 6:00.  We were going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the sisters of the Medical Missionaries of Mary in Lilongwe.  So mass was at 10 and it takes 2 hours to get there.

So Father Stephen and Little E took one car and Big E and I took another one.  Well about 10 minutes out there were problems so we had to turn back and get another car.  Well this car worked and we were on our way. .......2 hours later we arrived at the sister's house where they had tea, bread and jam waiting for us.  This made me very happy.

This was a very big mass and was referred to as a jubilee.  I met all the sisters beforehand and they were just wonderful.  The mission started out of Ireland and a few of the sisters were Irish which was nice to see.  To say it was a big event is underplayed.  There were 12 priests, 2 bishops and the Archbishop to celebrate mass.  

After Mass had finished Big E and I left and went over to Teresa's house.  Teresa has four girls and she had declared that I am part of her family now.  I brought some different gifts for the girls and was somehow able to give them to them amiss the barrage of questions.

So here I am with the 4 girls.

We finished up at Teresa's house at 4 and headed home.  We got back at 6 and I was dead tired, so I ate and just went to sleep.

The next day we had to wake up early again because the Archbishop was making a visit out to Kalembe where the other parish is.  And since he was visiting on Sunday he was going to celebrate mass.

This time it was just Big E, Timeyo and I who went out there.  When we got there we toured the newly finished rectory which was very nice.  Then the Archbishop pulled up.

Well I was not prepped on the formalities beforehand......so when we went up to meet him people were bowing and kissing and saying all these different words.  Well when it was my turn to greet the Archbishop I just threw out my hand with a smile and shook his and we greeted each other.

The Archbishop then took a tour of the entire village including the rectory.  While walking around the village we got to talk a bit about who I was and what I did, he seemed to be interested.

We finally got around to mass and went to celebrate it.  Well 3 hours later we finished and it was time for lunch.  But we had to take a few pictures first.  So we finished that up and headed for lunch.

When we got there everyone let the Archbishop go first while I took a seat on the sidelines.  But as I was sitting there, Father Livinus told me to grab a plate and dish up.  Dish up behind the Archbishop.....well alright.

As I finished, Big E told me to take a seat next to the Archbishop.  So I sat down next to him and we proceeded to talk about all sorts of things for the next 45 minutes.

Here is another one of the Archbishop talking with Big E and Father Livinus

We finished up eating with speeches from both Big E and the Archbishop.  And then proceeded to say our goodbyes and as my turn came around the Archbishop came up to me and shook my hand and told me, "Please come out to my cottage by the lake so we can have some coffee and tea."  I told him that would not be a problem.

After the Archbishop left we hopped in the car and headed back to Bowe.  It was not a very fun ride but we made it and I had to sit back with a cold one for a while.

Now it is Monday night and we have been working on the clinic all day and running to different schools to check on sponsored children.

I am preparing for next week when a group is coming from the US to do health clinics.  We will spend 3 days out in the villages and 3 days in Bowe.

Getting Accustomed Again

Well it has almost been a week since I have been back here in Malawi and I have to say it has been tougher than I thought to get accustomed to life here again.

Adada preparing the coals for cooking

Just the other day after morning mass I returned to my room and felt sick.  I went to sleep for 5 hours after that.  It was quite strange.

The other problem is that I have picked up a book on St. Augustine called The Restless Flame and I have been staying up too late reading that also.  It is quite a fascinating book.

So in-between discussions on philosophy with the priests I have allowed myself time to get re-acquainted with the villagers.  I have been meeting new ones and old ones.

Some of the villagers pumping water

Yesterday the boys from the school invited me to join in on a futbol match.  So I did and I realized I needed to get back into shape.  But we are playing again tonight so that will be good.

There have been a few projects which I have been working on since I have been back.  The commerce center for Bowe, the guest house for Kalembe and documenting/mapping Bowe.

But as I have learned all things take time here.

What I have learned is that I have become more comfortable with the priest's and I have found myself challenging them more philosophically.  Posing questions to them about morality and values.  Not so much to make them fumble their words or stutter or even to prove them wrong.  But to have a discussion with them about these things.  I am very happy I can do that with them.

On Sunday, Big E and I went to mass together.  The village was about an hour away.  when we got there not many people had showed up for church, but we started anyways and soon people started to trickle in.  At the head of the village asked two questions to us:

1)  Can we help finish the roof of their church.  The roof was half metal and half grass, which was not a problem until it started raining and the grass did not do much.

2)  Can we bring them water.  The closest water source for them was 4 miles away.  And they had to walk it everyday.

This was the church we went to.  You can see where the metal roof ends and the grass roof begins.

Today was a very special day.  Today we decided to go back and see the blind girl (who is being sponsored by the charity) whom we dropped of at school when I was here last time.  There were 5 of us who went.  Big E, Dinge, Amama, the girls mother and I.

The girl did not know that we were coming to visit.  So we took the 35 minute trek to the school and went into the principal's office and we all sat down while the principal went to get the girl.

We were all sitting around talking when we saw them enter and so we kept quiet.  The girl was not too sure what was going on until her mom uttered a single word and the girl jumped into her arms with a big smile yelling "mama".

We sat down and talked with her for a while and she was doing very good, a very sharp girl and was learning braille quickly.

We finally departed and headed back to Bowe.

It was good to see that and to experience it.  To see that the support which people provide from all over the world is helping this little girl.  Soon she will be able to do everything by herself and will not need to rely on people to help her around.

Back in Malawi

Well I started thinking about writing this post a while ago.  Wondering what I was going to write about.  I cannot say much for the flight to Malawi.  Having a rather large man on my left and an oblivious African on my right I can only say the flight was quite unpleasant.  But it gave me a lot of time to reflect about life and such.

Getting on the plane leaving for Washington .  I was talking to Araceli at the same time

I remember stopping and laughing in the Ethiopian airport where they had a section marked off for smoking which was open air and seeing a few guys down the way ashing on the floor.

There were really only three things on my mind during my trip back.  The first was how excited I was to see my brothers again.  It had only been 3 weeks but I missed them very much.  The second was exercise.  Being uncomfortable on the flight led me to this.

The last was my fiancé.  Yes, about 2 weeks ago I proposed to my girlfriend.  So now I am engaged and ten thousand miles away from the one I am going to marry.  Well seemingly not an opportune situation but she will be joining me here after our wedding.

So I kept running these 3 things through my mind and finally made it through that flight.

Pulling into Lilongwe airport I recognized Big E's truck in the parking lot so I rushed in and grabbed my bags and before I made it too far out the door he rushed up and greeted me.  It was great to see him.

Waiting at the Ethiopian Airport.......tired

Since I had left the gas prices had gone up twice again and there was a shortage.  So on our way back we were surprised to find a gas station......with gas........and nobody there.  We took advantage of this and stopped and filled up the truck and a container we had in the back.

After making it home I showered and had a nice cold beer.  I went to sleep and woke up today at 8:30.  At first I was shocked by this, being so late in the day but I took it easy on myself seeing that I just traveled the previous day.

I spent the day inventorying the pharmacy as we have a trip coming up at the end of October and would like up-to-date medicine here.

And that was about the day.  Big E and I talked about different plans we have for the future but I took it easy today.

Tomorrow we head out to the villages for mass and then continue on with life as usual.

I do appreciate all the support which I have received from everybody.  Getting e-mails here and there helps a lot and hearing from home does also.

On the 21st of October the Archbishop is celebrating mass in Kalembe so I think I will tag along with Big E to go and have mass out there (probably only 3 hours this time).