Day 10
Saturday, Sept. 20
Ngodzi
We were awakened early by an elephant in the camp! Apparently he had been regularly making an appearance at night and this morning he was being chased from reception by a staff person. He ended up helping himself to tree branches for breakfast between two chalets, before finally moving on to the river’s edge.
During breakfast we had a visit from a monkey, who stole a muffin from a child’s plate. Apparently he usually targets a child’s food rather than an adult. After finishing our omelettes we were off on our boat safari. Again, there was lots of wildlife to be seen – a couple herds of elephants, lots of hippos, crocodiles and birds.
After the river safari, by 11:00 am, we had checked back and were on our way back to the guesthouse. The power was out when we returned but came on in a couple of hours. For supper we had Malawian food: nsema (maize) and goat (very tough and lots of bones). Then we had a visit from a critter (rodent) that has been making the rounds to our bedrooms at night checking for food. Mark thought he could catch it by throwing the volleyball at it.
Tomorrow we are going to village churches two by two, so those sharing the message have been busy preparing.
Weather today: Hot (30 degrees C). Weather tomorrow: Hot. Next month will be the hottest month of the year here, we are told, sometimes up to 40, so it seems to be headed that way.
Day 9
Friday, Sept. 19
Mvuu Lodge
Liwonde National Park
Since today was a break in our work, we were allowed to sleep in until 7:00 am breakfast, followed by team devotions led by Connie centred on serving the poor. Then, by 8:30 we were headed off to the Liwonde game park for our safari. We arrived just in time for a delicious lunch in the thatched roof lodge overlooking the Shire River, which drains out of Lake Malawi at its southern end.
After lunch some of us enjoyed a refreshing dip in the pool while others had a nap. Then at 3:30 we went out on our safari game drive which lasted about four hours, to well after dusk. The dry season weather was PERFECT for game viewing – all the animals were congregated close to the river. So within minutes of leaving the lodge, we saw a herd of elephants! We were all very excited, especially to see the baby ones. From there it was sighting after sighting of impalas, baboons, waterbuck (“toilet seat antelope”), sable antelope, kudus, bushbuck, mongooses, many beautiful birds, etc., etc. We stopped at the water’s edge to watch the sun set, where we saw a hippo come out of the water, crocodiles, a turtle and warthogs. It was so peaceful with the Land Rover’s engine shut off, listening to the jungle sounds, and we so enjoyed seeing the creatures God made for us to enjoy!
After the game drive, we were treated to scrumptious dinner around an open fire to the beat of African drums and dancers. There was a huge spread which included four kinds of meat. We felt guilty being treated to such a feast while we remembered the poverty of the people in Ngodzi. It took us a while to process our feelings.
At 10:00 pm the generator supplying power to the resort shut off but they have solar powered batteries for backup lighting. Since we could hear the hippos coming up on shore, it was time for the guys to walk the gals back to their chalets. We look forward to the river safari in the morning.
Day 8
Thursday, Sept. 18
Ngodzi
Kim started our morning with devotions based on Philippians 1:29-30 on how we deal with pain. Right after breakfast, Mark did his presentation of “fits” – the local English for seizures. He did a great job and was well received.
The net distribution in the village of Chiwaula wasn’t as orderly today as previous days. Apparently the HSA’s started calling out names from a wrong list (another village) and the villagers became agitated. Finally, things settled and 215 nets did get distributed. Stephen brought greetings and Myrtis also shared on “gifts” – the best gift of all being the gift of Jesus.
Mark and Mary went out to the outreach clinic today. They saw 28 people and 8 were tested for HIV, and 3 were positive. Here at Lifeline, they see about 50 new cases of HIV infection every month.
This afternoon, we had a chance to check out the stores and markets of Salima, the nearest city about 40 km up the lake. Kim found her fix of chocolate (Snicker bars) and Connie found the Coke (cola) she was craving. We stopped at St. John’s Anglican Church for Stephen (same name as his home church) and he went in during a youth choir practice. He exchanged addresses with the leader and took pictures. Kim also wanted a picture of the Church of the Nazarene (her church at home).
On the way back to the guesthouse Kim, Connie and Mark tried the local bicycle taxi service for the last stretch from the highway. They thought it was great fun! Reactions: “I feel more African now” – Kim. “It was fun because of the reactions of the villagers to the sight of an azungu (white person) on the back of bicycle” – Connie.
Fright of the day: A mouse in the girl’s room eating Connie’s and Myrtis’s treats.
Laugh of the day: Mark and Eric examining a patient in a dark mud and thatched makeshift clinic – Eric thought the patient looked pale and Mark figured if you can see him he must be pale!
Weather today: Hot! 30 degrees, humid and no wind – getting hotter.
Evening view: Candlelight (to keep the tiny flies that gather around the lights at bay) and about 40 fishing boats on the lake with lanterns (fishing tiny fish like minnows).
Saturday, Sept. 20
Ngodzi
We were awakened early by an elephant in the camp! Apparently he had been regularly making an appearance at night and this morning he was being chased from reception by a staff person. He ended up helping himself to tree branches for breakfast between two chalets, before finally moving on to the river’s edge.
During breakfast we had a visit from a monkey, who stole a muffin from a child’s plate. Apparently he usually targets a child’s food rather than an adult. After finishing our omelettes we were off on our boat safari. Again, there was lots of wildlife to be seen – a couple herds of elephants, lots of hippos, crocodiles and birds.
After the river safari, by 11:00 am, we had checked back and were on our way back to the guesthouse. The power was out when we returned but came on in a couple of hours. For supper we had Malawian food: nsema (maize) and goat (very tough and lots of bones). Then we had a visit from a critter (rodent) that has been making the rounds to our bedrooms at night checking for food. Mark thought he could catch it by throwing the volleyball at it.
Tomorrow we are going to village churches two by two, so those sharing the message have been busy preparing.
Weather today: Hot (30 degrees C). Weather tomorrow: Hot. Next month will be the hottest month of the year here, we are told, sometimes up to 40, so it seems to be headed that way.
Day 9
Friday, Sept. 19
Mvuu Lodge
Liwonde National Park
Since today was a break in our work, we were allowed to sleep in until 7:00 am breakfast, followed by team devotions led by Connie centred on serving the poor. Then, by 8:30 we were headed off to the Liwonde game park for our safari. We arrived just in time for a delicious lunch in the thatched roof lodge overlooking the Shire River, which drains out of Lake Malawi at its southern end.
After lunch some of us enjoyed a refreshing dip in the pool while others had a nap. Then at 3:30 we went out on our safari game drive which lasted about four hours, to well after dusk. The dry season weather was PERFECT for game viewing – all the animals were congregated close to the river. So within minutes of leaving the lodge, we saw a herd of elephants! We were all very excited, especially to see the baby ones. From there it was sighting after sighting of impalas, baboons, waterbuck (“toilet seat antelope”), sable antelope, kudus, bushbuck, mongooses, many beautiful birds, etc., etc. We stopped at the water’s edge to watch the sun set, where we saw a hippo come out of the water, crocodiles, a turtle and warthogs. It was so peaceful with the Land Rover’s engine shut off, listening to the jungle sounds, and we so enjoyed seeing the creatures God made for us to enjoy!
After the game drive, we were treated to scrumptious dinner around an open fire to the beat of African drums and dancers. There was a huge spread which included four kinds of meat. We felt guilty being treated to such a feast while we remembered the poverty of the people in Ngodzi. It took us a while to process our feelings.
At 10:00 pm the generator supplying power to the resort shut off but they have solar powered batteries for backup lighting. Since we could hear the hippos coming up on shore, it was time for the guys to walk the gals back to their chalets. We look forward to the river safari in the morning.
Day 8
Thursday, Sept. 18
Ngodzi
Kim started our morning with devotions based on Philippians 1:29-30 on how we deal with pain. Right after breakfast, Mark did his presentation of “fits” – the local English for seizures. He did a great job and was well received.
The net distribution in the village of Chiwaula wasn’t as orderly today as previous days. Apparently the HSA’s started calling out names from a wrong list (another village) and the villagers became agitated. Finally, things settled and 215 nets did get distributed. Stephen brought greetings and Myrtis also shared on “gifts” – the best gift of all being the gift of Jesus.
Mark and Mary went out to the outreach clinic today. They saw 28 people and 8 were tested for HIV, and 3 were positive. Here at Lifeline, they see about 50 new cases of HIV infection every month.
This afternoon, we had a chance to check out the stores and markets of Salima, the nearest city about 40 km up the lake. Kim found her fix of chocolate (Snicker bars) and Connie found the Coke (cola) she was craving. We stopped at St. John’s Anglican Church for Stephen (same name as his home church) and he went in during a youth choir practice. He exchanged addresses with the leader and took pictures. Kim also wanted a picture of the Church of the Nazarene (her church at home).
On the way back to the guesthouse Kim, Connie and Mark tried the local bicycle taxi service for the last stretch from the highway. They thought it was great fun! Reactions: “I feel more African now” – Kim. “It was fun because of the reactions of the villagers to the sight of an azungu (white person) on the back of bicycle” – Connie.
Fright of the day: A mouse in the girl’s room eating Connie’s and Myrtis’s treats.
Laugh of the day: Mark and Eric examining a patient in a dark mud and thatched makeshift clinic – Eric thought the patient looked pale and Mark figured if you can see him he must be pale!
Weather today: Hot! 30 degrees, humid and no wind – getting hotter.
Evening view: Candlelight (to keep the tiny flies that gather around the lights at bay) and about 40 fishing boats on the lake with lanterns (fishing tiny fish like minnows).
posted by Dr. Hendrik Visser at 11:38 AM
<< Home