What a Time

How do I begin to describe the events which happened over the past 2 weeks?


Well I guess I will start from the beginning.

The last time I posted a blog was recently after surveying bore holes.  Since then I prepared myself for the coming of the team from America and even more the arrival of Araceli.  I cannot remember how many people told me that wanted to meet her, I kept on talking about her.

There is a lot to cover so I might get abbreviated at some points.

Timeyo and I headed to Lilongwe on Friday.  We had a few things to do that day so we left early.  We stopped at a village where I wanted to interview some of the people there along the way and then we finished heading to the city.

Once we arrived everything went like a blur.  We spent the night at a friends house where we had good eating and good beer.

Luckily I was tired that night which overwhelmed the excitement which I had.

The next morning I woke up and we all had some breakfast.  Big E drove in that morning and we all sat around waiting for 10 o'clock when we would head to the airport.  Finally it arrived and we were off.  The team got in at 11.

So we waited at



the airport, Big E and I talking about marriage and stuff.  Once 11 reached we went inside the airport and were waiting.  I told Big E that there was a large thumping in my heart which, as time passed, moved down into my stomach.  The anticipation was too much.

As we were talking, I glanced over and I noticed Ray emerging from behind the wall and as he did this short little red and white striped Mexican did also.

Oh how exited I was.

I went over and kind of ignored everyone, did one quick handshake and then Araceli was in my arms.

It was great to have her there.  I was so excited.  We left the airport and headed to the village.  It was a 2 hour drive.

The whole time we where chit chatting and such, until the jet lag kicked in and she fell asleep on my shoulder.  That night we relaxed at home and she told me all about her trip.

The next day we went out and since it was Palm Sunday we had a big celebration in the church which lasted for about 3 hours.  Araceli and I were dancing away.

After mass we headed to Kalembe and went and met up with Father joe and Livinus.  It was good to see them.  We spent the day then and at dusk we left back to Bowe.  On the way back it became so dark that all the stars and galaxies illuminated themselves.  It was quite a sight to see.

Monday came around and the group went into the city while Araceli and I stayed at Bowe.  We enjoyed the day together and I revealed to her where we were going for our honeymoon and we talked about that.  I showed her around the village and introduced her to people.

The group returned that evening and we all sat around talking and preparing for the next day when we would start medical clinics.

When Tuesday morning came we were off.  We had mass at 6:00 and by 8 we were gone.  The village we went to was called Phoka and we stayed there for quite a while and saw a total of 183 people.  It was a lot of fun, but at points I had to remind the doctors to get out of my pharmacy and just tell me what they want.  They finally caught on to this.

Heidi and Ray at Phoka

Araceli worked the pharmacy with me but I encouraged her to go and spend time playing with the villagers and handing candy out.  She enjoyed this and the people loved it.  We finished the evening with a cold bottle of beer and relaxed and shared stories.  This was a great group.

Araceli manning the Pharmacy 

The next day we woke up and we held clinic in Bowe.  We again started around 8 and we worked.  Araceli and I were working the pharmacy again.  We spent the day working and working and ended up working till around 8.  It did not seem like that at all.  We saw around 213 people.  We were exhausted but spent the rest of the evening around some cold bottles of beer and good chat.

 Timeyo explaining Chichewa to Araceli 

Thursday morning came around and the doctors had meetings in the city.  Araceli and I stayed in Bowe again.  It just happened to be her birthday also, so I spent the day doing as she wished and those types of things.  It was a good relaxing day.

That evening when everyone returned home, they had bought birthday gifts for Araceli, along with cookies and some liquor (similar to Bailey's).  So we ate dinner and sat around and had some cookies and drink and really enjoyed the evening.

Friday came and it was our last day for clinics.  We headed to a village called Nkanga.  There was a school there so there was many children.  We saw around 183 people here.  Unfortunately the people here were not grateful yet highly demanding, so it was tougher working here.  But we saw them all in the end.

The set up at Nkanga

We returned again when it was dark and I got a nice view of the stars which were beautiful.  I have begun to study astronomy and am able to start drawing out different constellations in the sky.

The next morning we headed to the airport.  we had to drop the doctors off.  After a sad goodbye all that was left in the car was Araceli, Ray, Timeyo and I.  So we headed South the Dedza where there was a famous pottery factors.  It took 3 hours to get there but we finally did and enjoyed the scenery very much.  We pursued around and bought some cool things.  We headed back to Bowe and got in just in time for dinner.  We ate and went to sleep.  Anticipating the next day was Easter.


As we woke on Sunday I got up early and went over to the guest house.  I knew which window was Araceli's and I went to it and whispered, "Chica....are you awake?"  After a few turns I heard, "Yes".  Excellent!!!!  Every morning of the week I had been doing this but before I had I brewed some coffee so that when she woke up we could sit together and enjoy a nice cup.

Araceli's wardrobe no-no being fixed

The day before we had a pig delivered to the compound.  We were preparing for a roast on Sunday.

Before church we got a few guys to come by and slaughter and prepare the pig.  It was not the most lovely of sights but just how things are.

We all got prepared for Easter mass which was planned for 10 but turned out to be at 11.  When we went there Araceli was wearing a dress which was above her knees.  This turned out to be a nono and one of the villagers gave her a skirt to wear to cover her knees.  The celebration was long but it was filled with a lot of dancing and singing.

Araceli and I after mass.  Both in traditional garbs

When mass finished around 2 we all hopped in the car and headed back to Bowe, we bought a large bag of Charcoal on the way.

When we reached Bowe I assigned Ray to fire crew and Araceli and I were seasoning crew.  So we went into the kitchen and the pig was in there all nice and butchered up and I began to salt and season it as Ray started the fire.

Preparing the meat and having too much fun while I do it ( I ended up chasing around one of the ladies there with the head.  I do not think she liked that very much)

Once all was ready we put the pig on the grill and let it cook.  it took a total of 5 hours to fully cook.

During that time we sat around and enjoyed the day.  Laughing and talking and spending the last day as it should have been.  Father Joe and Livinus showed up and we all sat outside as the sun set, drinking beers and enjoying ourselves.

Ray and I working the pig on the grill

I have to say the pirests were skeptical of the meat.  I am not sure why.  I think because they decided with their eyes rather than their stomachs.  When I saw this I called them all to the grill and cut into a nice thick piece of meat and pulled out a few pieces for them.  To say the least their minds immediately changed and they became very excited to eat the meat.

Finally it was done and everyone was inside.  As I prepared the meat there was also maize and rice.  I set the platter inside just and Little E started up the radio.

The set up in the living room for the party.

We sat there and opened a bottle of wine and began to laugh and eat.  It was a lot of fun.  Once we finished the dancing began.  All the priests, Araceli, Dinge, the cook and I were up dancing.  Oh my how fun it was.  Dinge had also prepared a cake for us so we brought it out and cut it up and ate it.....and then danced some more.  It was quite a ball.


The night finished, Father Joe and Livinus left and we all went to bed still dancing and being merry.

Araceli and I cutting her birthday cake.  It was a tradition the Priest's held for both of us to cut it together.

The next morning was when Ray and Araceli left.  We left for the airport around 8 and got there around 10.  We said out goodbyes and Timeyo and I went to the city to take care of business.  But as it turned out, everything was closed due to the day after Easter being a holiday.

We returned home and I went to my room and began organizing.  As I was I came across some of the used clothes which Araceli had left.  One of them was her old t-shirt.  I picked it up and happened to grab a scent off of it and immediately started to miss her.  The t-shirt held her scent which she always carried around with her.

So I was happy and sad at the same time.

Life is very busy again here.  I do not have much time left before I come back to America.  I am still preparing for the wedding and doing that stuff but also preparing things here.

I just returned from another trip from the city and am completely exhausted.  Tomorrow will be more relaxed yet intense at the same time.