Whatever is Right

This morning we worked in the Pediatric ART clinic counting Anti-Retroviral drugs, weighing kids, taking their heights, and recording information in the master books. Meanwhile, Josh interviewed ten mothers. All of the kids received new clothes today. As the Matron was handing them out, they all waited patiently to be handed a new piece of clothing, instead of jumping on the box like a pack of Americans—I mean wolves.

Chase and I made a good team this morning. We made up a game. Not a serious or competitive game, but just something to make counting 6000 pills pass more quickly. You see, we count 30 pills out by weighing them on a small scale. The game is to pour exactly thirty pills on the scale without having to add or remove a single one. Since I’m the one writing right now, I should say that I supremely whooped Chase. But it wasn’t competitive at all;)

Later, we met with the headmaster of the primary school across the street. We discovered some interesting things about the situation at the school. Fifty or sixty of the kids board at the school (for various reasons- they live too far away, they don’t have families), and we got a chance to tour their boarding rooms. There are about fifteen kids living in every room (by room I mean a concrete slab smaller than my bathroom). Dishes are everywhere, and there are clothes hanging on wires that run across each room. All of their things are stacked in the corner, and they sleep on the floor on bamboo mats. To say the least, it is project worth investing in.

Chase and I made stuffed peppers today (courtesy of his mom). We have had more than enough food to go around! Alex’s twins get cuter every day. The pictures speak louder than words.


This afternoon, Chase, Josh, and I trained the hospital clerk to use a '98 Mac iBook. If you can believe it, the computer he was using was older and slower. They were transitioning from an all-paper system to an Excel system. Unfortunately, their computer had no USB port, only a floppy drive with little or no internet connection, so there was no way of communicating the information. They were ecstatic about the new laptop.



I have included a few pictures from yesterday's successful cell phone training session.

Tomorrow will be a day of traveling. First, will be walking to Matthew’s house (he wants to make us rice). I think we will accept the invitation, but pass on the rice. Then, we will head to Lilongwe by mini-bus to meet up with Deus, Regina, and Prince. That is bound to be an adventure. Fifteen people, four children, three chickens, and one mini-bus. That is how it is in Malawi. Malawi needs a national slogan: “You can always fit one more.”

Martin, a photographer from Luxemburg who is living in the guest house with us, visited the Luxemburg nun’s convent yesterday. He said that they were teaching the nuns different ways to communicate with God. The ways included: prayers, letters, thoughts, SMS. SMS. We had a good laugh. Josh and I were thinking the same thing… To what number do you send the SMS?

Perhaps more will come tomorrow, after our adventure. Every day is an adventure.