Day 3, Part 2

We got to COTN and unloaded all our stuff, saw where we'd be staying, got acquainted. It's pretty nice, right?!



Our host Henry gathered us all up and he and Stephen gave us some cultural info, tried to teach us a few phrases in the local language of Chichewa (none of which I ever learned), and generally tried to find out if we were all ok. We were, and we were so excited!

Stephen and Henry teaching us a song in Chichewa


Next we put on our long skirts for the first time and went off to Chitipi, the children's home where most of us would be spending the bulk of our time (more on that later). Every time teams come to Malawi, the kids put on a little program with singing, dancing, introductions, and showing their house. It was much more special for us than for most, because we knew we would be hanging out with these kids all week and this was our first glimpse into their world. It was even more special for me, because I had heard about this place and so much about these kids for almost a year by this point! I already loved them, and this was my first time seeing them.

I enjoyed watching their program at the time, but watching video of it now makes me really emotional. I guess thinking on how special these kids are, how much God loves them, me wanting them to understand that and know and love Him too, that Stephen is leaving soon, all these things equal a teary Ann.

Here is a clip of the kids singing about El Shaddai (God Almighty)



Katie S. watching with one of the girls



After the kids sang, they showed us their house, their rooms, and the farm with plants and animals. I walked around with an older girl named Grace and a little one named Zione who I grew to love over the week. Here is a picture of her eating some corn on the cob (they eat it as a snack. Seriously, they walk around with corn in their hands allllll the time, and you see little kernels everywhere inside the house and out. And they want you to eat it, too! Which sounds fine, but it's pretty tough and not sweet like ours. Not horrible, though. It's actually pretty cool how God provides them a portable snack.) Little Zione was just the cutest thing! She would crawl up in my lap every chance she got and she "helped" me with any project I was working on. Don't be fooled by the face, though, she's a feisty little thing!!



To be perfectly honest, that whole first night at the house was totally overwhelming for me. I was thinking so many things that I couldn't actually think about anything, you know? So I was there at the house, but not fully there...

When we were leaving that night, one of the little girls (I think it was Edria?) had come down with malaria, so we planned to take her by the clinic at African Bible College on the way home. I was glad about that, because it was another place I'd heard a lot about, but that poor poor girl was miserable. Now I get it.

We got there, got her to the clinic, and while we were waiting we just hung out. Stephen and I went for a walk so I could see the campus, everyone else wandered around and watched some soccer and basketball. I told the guys I thought they should challenge the Malawians to some b-ball, but no one stepped up ;)

I was going to post a picture of everyone (minus S and I, we were on our walk) on the bus getting ready to leave, but I have this video that is much more representative of the discombobulation of our time there. That, and you get to hear a Malawian accent!



After ABC we went home and ate some dinner (which was actually pretty good! Usually rice with some kind of meat and vegetable stew on top), then relaxed from the big trip. We were so excited to lay down in a bed after 3 days of traveling!!! I hung out with the team, got some catch-up time with Stephen, then headed off to bed. Church was the next morning!


PS- Let me know if you can't see these videos so I can figure out another way =)

Getting back in the game!

Unfortunately the mosquito that bit me didn't look like this. The guy that bit me looked more like this:



Luckily, the malaria has come and gone. I was in the hospital about 4 days (took them a few days to figure out what to do with me... they don't see malaria too often. Ever, actually), then home in Jax. for a week, back to work for 2 days, then back to Jax. again because during the madness that was plasmodium falciparum, my Ma-Ma died. It was a rough April, let me tell you.

The tiredness and headaches lasted a couple weeks, but I was happy enough being able to talk and walk. I think I'm back to normal now, praise Jesus (please hold the "normal" jokes)!! One more blood test next week to check my liver enzymes and I'm in the clear!

So, it was a rough road, but I definitely know Jesus better than I did and love his sweet face even more, I met all kinds of amazing people, and was reminded (again!) that my friends and family are out of this world!!!!!!!! I really wish I could thank everyone individually, but there are so many of you that took such wonderful care of my body and my spirit that it is impossible. Also, I'm sure that you did things that I don't know about or remember, b/c I was so out of it. I do appreciate all the hilarious texts, e-mails, and Facebook comments about mosquitoes, though. ha. ha. ha...

Yep, right in the middle of all that red is where I was hanging out.


If you have $10 laying around, it would be cool to buy a mosquito net for someone. I had every creature comfort known to man while I was sick, and this was still the most painful thing I've ever witnessed, so I can't imagine dealing with malaria in a remote village somewhere. Go here: Nothing But Nets, UN Campaign

All that being said, if you have a choice, don't get malaria. It sucks more than you will ever know. And to answer the 2 questions I get every day:
-Was it worth it? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!
-Would you go back? Heck yes!! With pocketfuls of drugs...

Moving on, and back to life, back to reality,
Ann :)