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 :)

When you've just returned from Africa...

... and you start to feel like crap, chances are it's malaria! And in this case, my theory is right.

I spent most of today in the hospital, and the nurses and doctors were fighting over who got to take care of me, since they never see cases here. They were thrilled to see"the little bugs swimming across the slide." Yes, I agree, totally entertaining :/

I'm feeling totally awful at some moments, partially lucid at others.

Anyway, I could use your prayers, and some company if you're in the area!

MAJOR SHOUT-OUT: Jessie and Theresa who have skipped classes, work, and life to listen to me groan and bring me random items. It's long been known that I have the best friends in existence, here once again confirmed. Thank you. You girls are proof that God loves me!!!!!!!!!!

Day 3, The Arrival!

Going from Nairobi to Lilongwe


Saturday morning we got to Nairobi (right now after writing all this is the first time I'm realizing just how long the travel was. To leave on Thursday and get there on Saturday?!). When I walked off the plane and into the airport, I knew that I was now somewhere different. The airport is set up like a horseshoe, with lots of people and not very much space. Everything concrete, metal, and glass. It was also super hot, and super smelly (you know, lots of non deodorant-wearing Kenyans). There were a couple fun shops, and a coffee house where I got a wonderful chocolate milk!

Derrick at Java House, which provided the ice-cold chocolate milk


I spent a few minutes charging up my amazing new phone so I could check my e-mail and be able to say that I called my mom from Kenya. (Seriously, though, this phone is so cool! It comes with plugs for everywhere in the world! And if you know me, you know that I do not like to get new technology- phones, computers, etc. Once I know how to work something, I like to keep it around. I'd had my old phone for 3 1/2 years. That's commitment. But the Storm has won my heart. Peace out, Razr!)

Neal found a spot to rest while I was charging


Now that I've spent an entire paragraph talking about my cell phone (who am I?!)...

We were only in the airport maybe 2 hours or so. When we went to the gate, we went through security and I hadn't thought to empty out my water bottle. For some reason, I was totally boggled, no clue what to do about the predicament, since she definitely wasn't letting me through with it (which, knowing what I now know about Africa, I'm really surprised by). I wasn't trashing my perfectly good, pink, water bottle. Fortunately my genius friend Charlie was behind me and grabbed it and chugged 32 oz. of water in a single gulp. Wonder what he was up to in college... ;)

After you go through security in Nairobi, they put you into this glass room to wait with everyone else who's getting in your plane. It is hot in the glass room. And stinky. And when there's something wrong with your plane, you're there a long time. All these combined started to make me anxious. I got a little teary. Then they announced that since there was something wrong with the plane, we needed to go down to the runway and take a bus to another plane. And since we were already late, the seating plan was out the window and it was every man for himself. AHHHH!!!

Cue the waterfall! Everyone started running for the door and squeezing out. I was paralyzed, crying, and was going to stand there until everyone else was out. I do NOT do big running crowds. Jessie and Katie S., however, had different plans. Each grabbed one of my hands, and the next thing I knew, I was running. As soon as we got outside, I saw that there was a storm coming, and it was actually pretty chilly out. The coolness definitely calmed me down, and we made it on a bus and on a plane, albeit in the very last row. I met a super sweet Kenyan flight attendant (wish I could remember her name...) who told me I was ok, and brought me a huge jug of water that she insisted I drink.

The storm's a-brewin'


The throng of people


This is why we were in the last row


Ok. So. Here it is. The last 2 hours before I see Stephen!!! (And judging from all of you that I've gotten to talk to so far and questioning e-mails I've received, this is all you're interested in hearing about. So let the anticipation end.)

I wasn't too nervous, but totally, out of my mind, excited! Katie S. tried to get to do crossword puzzles with her b/c I was pretty much jumping in my seat. Didn't really work, but a valiant effort from a sweet friend.

SO excited!


When we landed in Lilongwe, we walked across the runway to the airport, and since we were in the very last row on the plane, we were the very last off the plane, and the very last through customs. I had wanted to get through fast b/c I knew Stephen was waiting somewhere close, and I didn't want him to be nervous waiting. Didn't go according to plan, though.

We had just discussed not taking pictures in the airport, but Heather made sure we were properly documented. She took the heat from the customs, guy, too. He wasn't happy.


Took a while for the guys to gather up all our luggage and get us through the lines. There was a policeman who checked the first 2 peoples' bags, but got lazy and gave up after that. At some point, I went around the corner and saw a yellow shirt and I knew it was Stephen!!!! I saw his face and right away I remembered everything about him, mostly how safe I know I am with him (but also how cute he is!). He was a little way away greeting someone, but then he saw me and we closed the gap and hugged for a minute. We were both a little emotional (come on, it had been 9 months since we'd seen each other!), but nothing out of control. Totally surprising coming from me, right?! It's weird, but he makes me really calm.

Then we loaded all our junk on a bus full of Malawians and curious Americans and headed to the Children of the Nations headquarters, where we'd be staying.

My nosy and enterprising friend Jessie (ok, she has a right to be nosy, she's walked through every part of this rough year with me) found the opportunity to sneak a pic of Stephen and I on the bus. He was giving me a crash course on Malawian scenery and daily life. A lot of things I'd heard about I was now getting to see!!!


Here are some things we saw on the 20-30 minute bus ride from the airport to COTN






Whew, that took me forever to write! I'll finish up Day 3 on the next post. Love you all!

Day 2

So we land in London (I think around 10am London time, maybe), get off the plane, head straight to the bathroom to change clothes and get ready for the day. Gotta love 5 American girls totally taking over a bathroom!

We tried to find Terminal 4 for about an hour so that we could check our carry-ons and head out into the city on our 9 hour layover. We finally found it and got settled, then set to the task of finding me and Jessie's college friend Kim O' Brien. Kimmo lives in Cambridge and came up for the day to shuttle us around the city so as to maximize our time there. Jessie had lived in London for a semester in college, so she was thrilled to relive some memories.

3 generations of Kappa Delta bigs and littles!


We finally found Kimmo and spent the tube ride catching up with her (congrats on the new job, by the way!!!). We got off the tube and saw, in no particular order: Big Ben, Parliament, the London Eye, the Thames, Westminster Abbey, ate fish 'n chips at a really cool pub, St. James's Park, Buckingham Palace (the queen was in!), some really old families' houses, Trafalgar Square, and some really famous pieces of art at the National Gallery.

Whew, that was a lot of stuff in a short amount of time! And on about 2 hours of sleep. Totally worth it!

Jessie, Katie, Heather and I at Big Ben


Katie, Heather, and I with some English police. Don't they look like they'd keep you safe from the bad guys?


Derrick and Katie at the awesome pub where we had a rejuvenating lunch


Derrick could not, in good conscience, leave London without smoking a pipe while walking through the streets. Ok, then...


The whole team at Buckingham Palace. This would prove to be the only group picture we took the whole week. We were busy...


I was apparently very excited to get on the Tube


These guys showed up and played us some tunes on the Tube, complete with piccolo, accordion, and plastic container as a drum. The Londoners and Charlie (blue jacket) were totally unconcerned, but I thought they were awesome! Everyone did give them some change at the end though. That was weird b/c it seemed like they were annoyed. Maybe they just had to be cool about their excitement.


Josiah and Katie on the tube. Yeah, we needed sleep.


So, I saw a lot of London! I don't know anything about any of it, or what the inside is like, but I saw it!! And miraculously, I wasn't tired at all. Way too excited, I guess :)

We made it back to the airport and retrieved our carry-ons in plenty of time. The girls and I shopped a bit at the Harrod's in the airport, then got in our PJs and ready for the 8 hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya. While we did this, the guys sat in the pub in the terminal and had more fish 'n chips (but mostly more beer...).

5 of our group decided to head to the gate and get ready for the plane while the other 5 of us decided to just hang out where we were. A restaurant was much more comfortable and interesting than the gate, we figured. We still had over an hour before the plane left, anyway.

Bad choice. After a bit Neal convinced us to head on down, so we're ambling along, chatting, laughing, remembering the day, you know, the usual banter. Until we hear the last call for our flight. No one talked or even looked at each other, we all just started booking it! I had on loooonnngggg pajama pants, flip flops, a 50 pound backpack, and the floor was slippery. Bad combo. Katie Sullivan was in the same boat, so we did what we could to truck it and not fall, while Jessie, Neal, and Josiah left us in the dust.

We finally arrive at the gate, all of us on the verge of cardiac arrest (although, I must say, running on those bouncy moving sidewalks is really fun) to find Charlie, arms crossed, disappointed father look on his face, and an airport worker with our names on a list. Not only were we late, but we had done something wrong with checking our luggage, and needed to answer some questions.

Lesson learned: Be super early when flying out of Heathrow.

Katie, Josiah, Jessie, Neal, and I. We affectionately termed ourselves "The Runners" because we continued to realize throughout the rest of the trip that we were always the 5 hanging back, taking our time, being late. You'll hear more about these jokers later.

Malawi, Day 1(ish)

I've been so slow to update you all, so here it goes! I say this is day 1, but really with the travel, I have no idea where day 1 ended. So here is the info from the time I left up until I got to London. Hang in there, it's sure to be long...

I got up Thursday morning and went straight away to get my hair done. This was totally necessary because I had gone to a lady who had seriously fouled it up. Twice. There were tears involved, and she still hasn't cashed my check. Hoping it stays that way. Anyway, my usual place couldn't squeeze me in so I went to the place above Cup O'Soul, and the lady was super sweet and my lovely roommate Aubrey had gone before me and paid and left me a sweet, sweet note!!! Talk about a great start to the day! Moral of the story: don't go cheap on your hair.

[Side note of thanks to Aubrey and Theresa, without whom I would have showed up in Malawi with a t-shirt, a pair of jeans, a pair of tennis shoes, and nothing else. Well, definitely nothing so organized, anyway. Don't underestimate the power of community even when packing! Thanks, girls!!!!!]

Then I went to work for a while, which felt so crazy, not being fully packed, and the kids were so full of questions. But they were excited and that got me excited, too.

Went home, got to talk to Stephen for a few minutes, and he helped me calm down some. That was definitely a blessing. Finished putting little stuff in my carry-on and I was out the door!

I got to Casa de Salzman at about 4, we loaded up alllllllll our junk (2 suitcases and a backpack for me. Although one was my stuff and one was full of Stephen's.). On the way to the airport I started to get pretty antsy, and then when we got there I was a ball of nerves. Thinking, "What am I doing?! It's so far away, I don't even know that I can handle it." My friend Lauren prayed for me right there on the curb at MCO, then Charlie scooped me and all my stuff up and chauffeured me through the check-in line, instructing me to "act married, with different last names" if necessary. It wasn't. He secured me aisle seats throughout the trip, and then it was all decided. I was really going. (You may or may not be surprised that it took me that long to decide I was truly going...) After that one bout with tears, though, I was fine for the rest of the trip. In fact, I think I only cried 4 times the whole 9 days. That's a record for me!

On the way to DC I watched a movie on my Zune with Katie Sullivan and talked to a lady from DC. Katie was annoyed that I wanted to chat over her with the lady in the window seat, but I explained to her that me being Extrovert Extraordinaire, I needed to get the woman's story. She didn't get it, but she got over the pain.

Here I am in DC-->


On the flight to London, however, it got even better. I was in the 2nd to last row on the plane, on what I had been told was a full flight. It looked as if everyone was on the plane, though, and there was still an empty seat next to me! Until... the Australian showed up. Bruno, a world traveling Aussie, and chatty as can be. We got going as soon as he sat down and talked for probably a good hour. He was full of advice as to my fear of flying, which food to choose (why were they serving us dinner at 1 am anyway?!), and what to do when I saw Stephen/how to relate having not seen him in so long. He was actually pretty insightful and caring. Pleasant to talk to all around. I asked if he was a counselor, but he was, in fact, an insurance guy. Told me his company doesn't insure Malawi b/c it's unstable. Awesome, Bruno, just what I needed to hear...

I slept a maximum of 2 hours that night, due to Bruno's snoring (he'd had a few drinks and passed out), the loud flight attendants right there in the back of the plane with me, the lights left on because clearly we need dinner at 1 am and breakfast at 4 am, and just being so stinkin' flat-out excited!!!! During the little bit of sleep, though, I clearly recall waking up and asking Jesus to make Bruno disappear so that I could lay flat. Didn't happen.

So we make it to London, I have no idea what time, but early in the morning. (Travel time vortex? Check!)

me, Jessie, and Dan at Heathrow Airport-->


The saga ends here, for now. Stay tuned, it gets better!

As sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. [cue dramatic music]

Malawi here I come!!!!

Ok, my loves, I'm headed out! (Making like a baby, if you will...)

I am SO excited!!!! I'm totally ready to get on that plane, to hang out in London, have fun times with my friends, be with Stephen (!!!!), love on some people, and learn and see some new stuff to bring home, implement, and pass on.

I really do covet your prayers.
-That I would feel safe (especially on the plane), and that even if I don't, I will know Jesus so much more closely in it.
-That I would be full of our Father's grace and love.
-That the aunties would feel His grace and love, and get the rest they need.
-That the kids would have fun and feel loved by us.

I don't really know what else specifically, but if I or my team come to mind, throw one up right quick, would ya?

I love you all so much, and am encouraged by your lives and your love for me. I really apologize if I never got to call you back before I left...

PS-I think I'll have e-mail on my phone while I'm gone (def. when I'm in London and Nairobi) so let me know what's going on at home! annmsalter@yahoo.com