Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

Bananas always grow in Malawi! 

Our first project, building biosand water filters with Malawi Water Project, will remind us to use water responsibly.

Boys and girls learning to sew with their teacher at the St. Mark's orphan feeding program gives them a marketable skill.

We had our first experience with HIV/AIDS testing in the village of Chilambwe.

Mr. Bernard Mainga, Diocesan Secretary, affectionately known as "THE DIAS"

St. Peter's Hospital Laboratory where Derek and I spent quite a bit of time testing upwards of 70 patients for malaria falciparum each day.

This mother allowed me to choose the name of her son. I chose Jacob after my brother. During my trip, I named several babies: Jacob, James, Marie, Martha, Margaret, and Derek. Two were also named after me: Katherine!

Derek and I hosted Form I history students in the Bishop's house for an extra Saturday class!

This is my friend Wisdom, and our God-child, Smith!

Derek with his new friend Blessings, the Dean's daughter.

Footballs donated to St. Peter's Anglican Secondary School.

Baby James, named after my father, after a successful Cesarean section delivery and resuscitation.

Eight weeks after we set out to Malawi, Derek and I have arrived safely home. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time there very much. As Bernard, the Diocesan Secretary, said to us, we have left a piece of our hearts in Malawi and they look forward to when it draws us back to our second (or for me third or fourth) home next.

We will begin this post much like we started, thanking the Posey Family and Alma College for supporting us financially in this endeavor. Secondly, we would like to thank our parents, Martha, Luke, Jim, and Jeannie, along with our grandparents, friends, family, and loyal blog-followers for all of your varied methods of support. Knowing we had so many at home cheering us on pushed us to do our best each and every day. Thirdly, we would like to thank all of our friends of the Anglican Diocese of Northern Malawi. You have made us your family, your friends, and your servants. It was our privilege to learn from you and we look forward to continued partnership. Our sincere hope is that we have given a fraction to you of what you have given to us.

With that being said, some questions Derek and I have received constantly now that we are home are: how did you find and plan this program/trip? Why did you decide to do it? How are you adjusting to reverse culture shock?

The answer to the first question is pretty remarkable. Derek found the Diocesan website and emailed the Bishop requesting more information about a possible internship. The Bishop immediately invited anyone with interest to spend the summer in Malawi contributing to Diocesan programs. What a leap of faith on both of our parts. Literally.

But, why we decided to take that leap is perhaps more complicated. For someone like me, it was natural. I jump into the unknown quite a bit when it involves travel and health care. For Derek, the reason is still unclear. He knew he was interested in the work, but we’ll get back to you about the rest. We agree though that both of us are motivated by service to others locally and hoped to broaden our global leadership skills by serving internationally.

The reverse culture shock is maddening for both Derek and me. We have noticed even more the disparities around us every day, but at the same time recognize that the poorest American would be wealthy in comparison to most Malawians. We have a new perspective on the role of the church and the community in combatting poverty and understand the often helpless feeling that many experience when attempting to unite cultural, financial, and modern realities for a more equitable future for all. Our hope is that the lessons our friends in Malawi have taught us will guide us in our future work to help make a difference in whatever community we settle.

We spent about 40 hours per week working, sometimes more, in our respective, sometimes-intersecting positions. Highlights include weekly 4 hour masses at St. Peter’s Cathedral, becoming a God-mother, learning how to make nsima, sharing local and exotic chickens with the clergy, carrying babies on our backs, resuscitating babies together, teaching history in the Bishop’s house, attending local soccer…excuse me, football…games, hearing small children scream “MZUNGU!!!” (meaning white person) from across impressive distances, and of course, getting malaria (yep…didn’t post about that one, but trust us we are fine now!).

In all of the time we spent in Malawi, though, Derek and I experienced the warm heart of Africa to the fullest. We have changed, both together and separately, becoming more in tune with the wants and needs of others in the developing world. What our senior year at Alma College holds, we can never be sure (hopefully a Bachelor’s degree!), but we are sure memories of Malawi will be ever present.

Derek enjoyed cuddling the new little guy after seeing his first delivery!

Bertha, a patient attendant at St. Peter's hospital, and her family, who invited us to her home for lunch.

Fish (Somba) from Lake Malawi!

Every time we went out, we met friends that we had made from previous island events! This family and their littlest one, Deborah, enjoyed having a "mzungu" (white) friend.

Derek enjoyed participating in Mass with the Cathedral clergy.

Nurse Fred helped us hike to the western side of Likoma to see the gorgeous view of Malawi.

Family planning Tuesdays will be forever remembered.

My favorite little friend, Jovin! What a special guy!

Rock climbing with the Dean

Derek's best friend, Confi, LOVED speaking English with us!

Late night delivery and resuscitation sporting my head scarf to cover my African weave!

Bertha and her family visiting us in the Bishop's home.

Derek, Shaun, and Bernard enjoying conversation on a relaxing afternoon in Mzuzu.

Cooking rice for the last Saturday orphan feeding program for which we were in Mzuzu 

Derek's parish of Trinity Episcopal Church in West Branch, MI donated this beautiful stole for the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Malawi. We presented it to the Vicar of St. Mark's as the Bishop is currently studying in Wisconsin!

Vwasa Marsh: Home of the Hippopotomuses

The thought of leaving Malawi without observing some of its local wildlife would be tragic, so Bernard scheduled a trip for Jonathan, our driver, Derek and myself to Vwasa Marsh. Vwasa is a national wildlife preserve on the border of Malawi and Zambia and is one of the best places to see hippos!

After a 4 hour drive through northern Malawi, swerving on many asphalt and dirt roads, we arrived at a small gate. The guard there checked us in and told us directions for picking up a park ranger to ride with us, in our own (well, Diocesan) vehicle through the park. Let’s just say that there were many stretches of road that we were not sure were passable, but that Jonathan can figure out how to drive anywhere!

We found an armed ranger to ride with us at the main headquarters just inside the gate of the preserve, which has a large fence stretching around it to the Zambian border. It is meant both to keep animals in and poachers out. However, some nearby villagers who do not have indoor plumbing or access to safe water are allowed to use the river inside the park for any of their needs. Though it would be incredibly difficult, there must be some beauty in being so close to the wildlife (along with some danger).

Starting off, the ranger listed a few animals we might look for as we drove through the rocky dirt of the forest. He said usually people see elephants, lions, warthogs, and always hippos. At first it was difficult to peer through the trees and even the smallest movement of a leaf made us jump! But, eventually we decided to divide the labor—Derek took the left and I took the right—so that we could be sure to watch as much as possible.

Our first glimpse of life were the many biting deer flies that swarmed our van and perched on our windows for a ride. Finally though we happened on some small monkeys swinging in a dry tree. Soon after, we saw in the road ahead of us several warthogs (Lion King!) followed by some guinea fowl. Unfortunately, we did not encounter elephants, though we did encounter evidence of them…tracks and droppings littered the trails.

For the final portion of our tour of the preserve, we drove towards the river and lake, the home of many, many hippos. As soon as we approached, we could see large gray lumps littering the scene and then heard the pig-like noises the lumps were making. Sure enough they were hippos! Apparently, hippos are fairly non-aggressive, so our ranger walked with us to the edge of the water over the cracking, muddy ground. Once there, not a single hippo took notice of four curious humans, until the ranger blew a whistle and we were afforded a collective groan!

After a picnic stop inside the park, antelope and impala sightings, we headed back to Mzuzu. That evening, we enjoyed a delicious home-cooked dinner with a woman we met at St. Mark’s who is also a member of the local Rotary club. This woman, Elizabeth, was a nurse by profession who received her degree from a school in Israel in the 1960s. After that, she spent time traveling and living throughout Africa and Asia with her family before returning and settling in Malawi once again. It was a joy to exchange stories!

Typical scenery at Vwaza

Elephant footprint

Lots of hippos!!

Katherine, the park ranger and our driver. Notice the machine gun with the park ranger!

Antelope on the run