Michelle in Africa

Doctor Clark

2012-02-16T10:33:00.001-08:00

It's 7pm,raining cats and dogs, lightening fills the sky and I'm called to check on a lady I know. Word has it she has a head ache and can't walk. The combination sounds like it could be cerebral malaria so I didn't want to chance it without checking her out. When I got out of the car to walk down the high grass, mud puddled path the rains were at their peak, I was hot so didn't mind getting wet but was a bit afraid of the lightening. My friend decided she wouldn't die during the night and would like to wait until morning . Her eyes looked ok so I decided she could wait . We drove back home and I was thankful that I didn't have to spend the evening in the hospital. I still haven 't gotten over jet lag. Mom was in bed by 7pm. Now it's my turn .

2012-01-28T10:59:00.001-08:00

The departure date

2012-01-28T10:57:00.001-08:00

I will be leaving Seattle on February 8th and arriving in Malawi on the 10th. Mean while we are frozen in here on the Island on and off. I am excited to go home and my families in Malawi are happy to have us come.

2012-01-03T12:25:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T13:27:00.001-08:00

I'm cleaning out my mom's storage space. It's amazing what gets stored just because we think some day we might use it or we just aren't sure what to do with it in the first place. I'm sure our mind, and bodies are the same way.
I was on a walk with a friend of my sisters and she told me last year she and her husband made 60,000 dollars more than this year and although year they aren't doing as much as they did , they are still well fed, clothed and live in a comfortable house.
She said no matter how much they make it never seems like enough.and imagine the women I'm working with make less than a dollar a day. No it is not all relative either.
I find myself wondering how they do it. How can they keep going in such suffering. I know that they have gained new hope in the classes I have for them, so I hope and pray that it won't be long before we can gather together again and sing and learn. I'm home sick and every day I cry out:"I want to go home, Lord I want to go home" PRAY that the finances come in so we can go back soon. I just need 465 dollars a month pledged and we can go, without those fund I will have very little to use for the women.

Permaculture training and trip to see the farm

2011-04-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

For the past two months the ladies class has been having Permaculture instruction. I will post some pictures of a planning lesson we had here in my drive way and another lesson we had on how to design your gardens and plan your living spaces. Planning is something strange in and of it self. So it was fun to see the ladies talk through where to put things. Each item took a major discussion, but in the end they all got a general idea. Over the course of the past few weeks I have take small groups of women out to see the teachers farm. His name is Biswick, which is father told me is short for Busy Working. Biswick has given these ladies hour of instructions but they had yet to see the actual result of what happens if you do the work. Because maise is a major food here he flet it was important for me to bring the ladies out to his farm before all the maise had been picked and it was critical for him to bring it in soon. Therefore for rather than small groups of ladies we decided to bring them all out at one time. There were about 25 ladies who still hadn't seen the farm. We rented a two ton truck and piled all the ladies in it. Then drove slowly to the sight. The ladies sang the whole way and it was beautiful. Once we got there we devided the ladies into two groups and Biswick took them on the tour. His brother did the other tour as he is also studying permaculture. Biswick comes from a Godly home which as it turns out is an added plus. While the ladies had their tours I wondered around to see if there wasn't anything I had missed on previous visits and then sat down with his mother and sister and helped depod beans, maise and popcorn. It was a lot of fun and the ladies were thrilled by what they had seen. They came back excited about planting trees and starting their farms. My friend told me that for a Malawian to be excited about planting a fruit tree is a big thing and Biswick gave them each a tree to bring home so they were excited. After piling back into the truck they sang all the way home. What was even my encouraging is they also sang as they walk home. You could tell that they walked away with hope in their hearts dreaming of a new future where they would have food growing year round. Fresh fruits and Vegetables.

Sauna or License Renewal office

2011-03-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

On my way into town I was stopped by the police which by the way is a sometimes daily occurance. I knew my licence was about ready to expire but had forgotten until I saw the cops on the road. Lucky for me I had one more day to go to the office and have it renewed. So after I did my errands I drove to the Renewal office and parked in line for a car inspection. It was almost eleven so I knew my time was short. I walked into the inspection office and asked what I needed to do, partly because I had forgotten and partly because I figured if you play dumb they are more likely to help you get through the misery of the job at hand. The men told me and half guided me to the office and line I needed to be standing in. Mind you there were 6 lines and 80 or more people standing in those lines inside a room that was about ten by ten feet. The fan in the room is broken, I was in the line closest to the door so at least there was some hot fresh air coming througth the door. After a thirty minute wait, It was my turn. I waited patiently because it keeps your blood pressure down and there were already 40 men moaning, groaning and complaining not to mention yelling in the room. Apon receiving a piece of paper they sent me to the bank,which had air -con. I'm not sure how long I waited there but it wasn't long enough to cool me off. I was sent back to the first room to stand in another line. This time I was as far back in the room as you could get. It was steaming there, but there was a glass seperating the waiters and the workers. That glass had two holes in them at each station. The workers had air con, so there was some cold air coming out of the two holes. I tried to get as close to the window as I could in hopes of getting some air. Before I said a word,the man behind the window looked at me and said you need to be patient madam. To which I replied : Thats eazy for you to say sitting in Air Con. He laughed and somehow gave me mercy. I put my hand in the lower window and fanned the hole in the upper circle to get more of the air out of his room into my room. After about 20 minutes he gave me my paper. But it was time for lunch everyone in the cool room left and the "Sauna" emptied out. I knew I needed to get this done but lunch is lunch and no man works during lunch. Besides by that time I was ringing wet and tired of hot have air and listening to all the angry people. So I decided to go home and perhaps come back early in the morning. On my way home my friend called and said the guest I was expecting weren't coming, so I planned on returning to the "Sauna" after lunch. At about two I returned and took my paper to the car inspector. There was a wait there too, so I decided to turn on the radio. It was a good African Station so I listened and tapped on the drivers wheel as if it was a drumb. The guys around smiled and enjoyed the music with me. Suddenly the inspector came and started his work. He was shouting commands and I was doing my best to follow, but finally he said if you would turn your radio off it would be eazier for us to work. Of course, by this time there were 20 men all standing around watching the inspector and I and I got the giggles. Why are you laughing? he said. I told him I felt like this was a tv show so all the men slowly turned as though they hadn't been intertained watching as I tried to follow his instructions. He sent me off to buy reflectors which I think was more to give him time to have my papers ready. Now back to the Sauna I went. My guy was gone, but after a few minutes returned. A man came in the room and started yelling in my ear. I asked him why and everyone laughed . Stupid woman . He said. Then another guy was fanning himself and I asked him if he would fan a little faster. He wasn't pleased. At anyrate finally the papers were done and so was my sauna. Apon handing me the papers the man said: See you next year and smiled. It was a long painful day, but all in all it pays not to get argry and just to take it as it comes, sauna and all.

Showers and a Funeral

2011-03-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

On the possitive side. We have Hot Water thanks to Scott Emerson an MK from Liberia days. Scott came for dinner and before we fed him, in the thirty minutes he had before sun down he climbed up on the roof of the house and hooked up the electrical wire so we could have hot water. Now to figure out how to get the solar part working.

A student at ABC contracted Malaria and in less than five days he was dead. I felt so bad for his family, but he's a fortunate guy.

We are up on the news in both Libya and Japan. Mom and I took flowers to the Japanese embassy to express our sorrow. We met both the Ambassador and his Assistant. They had a book for expressing your condolances so mom wrote a message in Japanese and I in english. We were the only two who had come in to show sympathy. I must say Malawi looks better every day when looking at the rest of the world. Thanks for your prayers for us here.

Ladies in Class

2011-03-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

When looking for Snakes don't Jump at Frogs

2011-03-01T09:26:00.000-08:00

This morning the ladies were digging in a broken brick pile and I heard some noise about snakes. I thought they had killed one and his skin was there in the heap. But in fact they had just seen it slip down a hole and they were looking for it as they picked broken bricks which we call Maduga off the pile. I was afraid for them because you never know if you find one if there will be more in the same pile. So there I was leaning toward them with my head and shoulders with my feet and legs trying to move away from the whole scene. As one of the ladies pulled one of the bricks back with her shovel I saw a reptile and jumped back squirming and flapping my arms like a helpless baby chick. While my head know it was a frog my body was saying snake and thus the antics. Everyone laughed at me. They know I want to save frogs because they eat Mosquitoes but they were taken a back by my antic. Anyway I left and had to take mom to her class.

I quickly dropped her at COTNI and then drove to town. As soon as I got out of the car I noticed a guy with one leg, his other leg was curled up into a ball. That was a normal sight, but what caught my eye was a nasty burn he had on his crutch arm. That's the arm he uses to move around with. Anyway it was oozing and looked painful. I asked someone to ask him what had happened and he said it was a burn. Anyway I took him to the hospital to have it looked at. The doctor put him on medications and had the nurse wrap it up. We paid a the bill and then took him back to where he sells pictures to make money. The crippled guys all used to just beg on the street, now they are trying to make a living by selling pictures.

After Picking up my mom, we went home and they said they had killed the snake. The left it where it was and tip toed over toward it to see it from about 10 yards. I'm not to keen on snakes. later that afternoon the dogs found it and started to bark and then they tipped toed up to see it. I just plane didn't want him or her around dead or alive so I asked one of the men to move it to a better home or burial ground. Wearing gloves and boots he got a stick and hung it off the stick caring out the gate. I pray that snake is the first and the last. They say snakes don't like smelly plants so guess what I'm going to look for.

Well folks, I've taken my malaria pill and sat up long enough for it to sink to the bottom of my stomach. They tend to burn holes on the way down if they don't get to the stomach so you have to wait until they make it there. Now for the fun part. Sleep. Sleep packed with crazy dreams that is. Which is a side affect of the drug.

Its raining so that means it will be a fresh and cool night.

Keep on Praying for Dorthy

2011-02-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

We have had four classes with the Ladies. Everyone seems excited to be in class and learning. This week we had over sixty ladies in class. We pray that as they come they will learn about the goodness of the Lord.

Please continue to Pray for Dorthy. Her flag is still flying so we know that she hasn't stepped back at all . Each day she continues to come to Bible study and hear the words of the Lord. Tomorrow we will take a look at Noah and Job and see why God called them the most righteous men . Both had remarkable faith and walked with God in spite of the circumstances that beset them. We are all called as believers to walk by faith and not by sight. Sometimes thats a very tricky thing for all of us to do. By faith we will pray that Dorthy will come to know Jesus and that Satan will be throw out of her life.

Everything is incredably beautiful here now. Such green. wish it was always this green and lush. I will try to post more pictures, but have had some tech problems with my camera and computer. Blessings, Michelle

Next step

2011-01-31T09:40:00.000-08:00

Saturday I went into the village to take some pictures. I visited with several groups of women and at the last home while I was talking with the women, I notice one of the children was lisless and asked her mother what was wrong. The mother said she had Malaria. I could see she couldn't wait till monday to get meds so I called a doctor and took her into the hospital. It was pouring down rain, we both got drenched . I had to go find the sleeping guard so we could go out of the gate and she had to go to get her daughter out of the house. It was raining buckets and the dirt roads were turned into muddy rivers. Once we made it to the main road, even thought it was paved it to was one big river. I felt like my Rav 4 was a speed boat we spayed water all over the place as we went. The hospital gave the girl medicine and this morning when I went into the village to check on her both mother and daughter were walking to the clinic. The little girls fever was gone and she looked good. Thank Jesus a life was saved from Malaria. You get to see the pictures I took on my walk and this precious little one gets to live another day. Sunday morning another mother and Child was at my door for the same reason and we did the trip again. One child, one happy mother at a time. Thankyou Jesus So far this week we have not seen any children dye of Malaria. It's a blessing not to have a funeral this week.

One step at a time.

2011-01-31T09:35:00.000-08:00

First of all, an update on Dorthy. Yesterday I found out that Dorthy has worked as a witch doctor. All the while she thought she was doing go and that the spirit she has been working with was a spirit from God. Today in Devotions we talked about testing the spirits in I John. She now sees that this is a false spirit, so keep praying. One step at a time. I think she want to do what is right. May God trasform her life.

Saturday Evenings Walk in the Village

2011-01-29T22:10:00.001-08:00

Back home in Malawi

2011-01-24T21:21:00.000-08:00

We have arrived back home in Malawi. As the sun rose this morning so did the little hummingbird like birds. The maze is growing in the fields. The country is a beautiful lush green. This is always a happy time of year. As I walked down to the village I noticed a white flag flying above the house of one of my workers. It seemed a bit precarious but no more so than Sunday morning's drum beat. The drums beat all day long. In the past three years there has there never been a time when drums were beating constantly all day long on Sunday. It reminded me a lot of growing up in Liberia in the Bush. At any rate I began to ask questions only to find out that Dorothy one of my workers has declared herself a traditional healer. I'm still doing research to find out what exactly that means. She says she belongs to a church called Zion which works with herbs. I have several people checking into exactly what her belief system is at present. Prior to this she has declared herself a Baptist but I also know that she has a lot of knowledge concerning the herbs that have medicinal value. It's my desire to try to work with her and help her understand how while medicine has a value it also has its limitations and it is God who we call on when man's knowledge falls short. Please pray for Dorothy and asked that God would open her mind and help her to understand his great love and power.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to be Greatful. Oh how blessed we are. Thank you Lord for giving your life for us. Thank you for coming to the lowest of Low. Would we think anything if you were to come today? Would anyone fight to get to know you or brag about being your friend? Would we make T shirts with your name on it. Your word says how we treat the lowest of these is how we treat you. I'm constantly challenged by that. Lord help me to be humble to love as you would love to give as you would give.

Merry Christmas!!!

Looking for Oppertunities a Christmas

2010-12-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

Walking around the mall for exercise because it is far to cold to be walking outside, I met three Isreali young men who are selling salt from the dead sea and lotions from there as well. These guys are friendly young men who came to the USA to make some money and be on an adventure.

I haven't bought anything from them but every time I'm in the mall I stop and chat with them. Yesterday I found out that Mount Carmel is engulfed in flames. Did you hear that on the news? Well neither did I, but now I know and I'm concerned for my new friends families that live near there. i want to have these guys for Christmas eve or something. They need Jesus and it would be cool if this trip to America to sell lotion and salts, brought them to a relationship with Jesus there savior who came from there home. Sometimes we need to be moved to another land, far from those we love to see what's in front of out face.

An update on Mia Ministry, Mom and I went to a church brunch yesterday and shared the Bucket list. Lets be in prayer about how we can reach out and touch those around us this Christmas season. Ask God to take you to someone who needs Him today. The best gift we can give Him is to bring a lost one home as the Father is waiting with open arms to recieve each one.

Dreams of yesterday,realities of today.

2010-11-29T19:54:00.000-08:00

It was dark , cold and rainy this evening when I started to bring the canoe down into the lake. I had a white rope from my brothers house that was all tangled. Hadn't thought about untangleing it before going down to the lake so I stood on the dock and slowly pulled the rope away from itself and got it untangled. By that time my fingers were cold and everything was wet. Even my back side wasn't all that surprised when I sat down on the cold wet metal seat of the canoe. It has been ten or more years since I once paddled that canoe across the lake to my parents home and yet in a way it seems like yesterday. The dreams of yesteryear as a girl at the camp next door, wanting to dress up in mocasons and wear the native american out fit. Somehow my dreams never included being in a canoe on a cold, dark, rainy night. But isn't that the reality of dreams. They always seem to leave the rough side out of the story. Roses are sure beautiful flowers but they do have thorns and those thorns can make you bleed, especially if you hold on to tightly. So perhaps there is a lesson in all this. Hold your dreams and your roses in an open hand. Then if they are taken or they dye they can be replace or just added to. The dream was always to make it accross the lake without sinking and once again it happened as I had hoped, but the dangers are always close at hand reminding you of how delicate your life and actions need to be.

Have you ever been miss judged?

2010-11-27T23:04:00.000-08:00

I f your the one who did all the work, you could be thinking" that was a lot of work and for what" Oh not that it wasn't nice and not that everyone didn't come and have a great time, but when it was all said and done would you say a lot of turkeys got stuffed today. Or would you say it was more about the relationships that were fostered and spirits that were nurtured? That was my plan, but I guess I'll never really know if it was well invested. Well maybe twenty years from now someone will say:" something about that day changed my life. Who knows and then it will all be worth it".

I'm not around my neices and newphews much , but one of them said something about my wanting waltz back into their lives after 5 years and be their friend. That hurt. Yes, I want to be their friends but more importantly, I want to live a life that they will be proud to tell their friends about. A life that speaks volume about Jesus and his love for the lost, about Jesus and His power over sin. I had a guy tell me he wanted me to be his lover and sleep with him, not so long ago. Honestly it was tempting, but I couldn't help but think about my neices and nephews and how that could potentially affect their lives. I told the man that it was out of the question, I have to much to loose and nothing to gain by those actions. The greatest gift of love and friendship I can give to those dear children is to be true (even at 50 ) to my Jesus.
So what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Name some things in others lives that you are thankful for.

In a land far far away.

2010-11-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

I'm in the state of Washington sharing my life and heart with woman about woman. Funny how we all have the same desires for life and living. You know, simple things like a warm bed, food in our children's stomachs, a dry night's sleep, warmth in the cold season, and shade in the heat. They want to talk to their friends and enjoy their surroundings. There greatest fears are offending the dead, even more so than having a child die. The dead or far more dangerous than the living.

So here I am frozen out of my mom's house wondering when we could go back, will it be in time for thanksgiving with the family all coming. Will they be able to come? In our world those questions all seem quite important, but when I think of how people my village are doing right now with the land as dry as a hardened brick from months of the sun baking the earth. They have very little food to eat. Wondering if what little maise they have left will last until March when a new crop of maise will bear fruit. It's eazy to see how the walls of poverty choke out dreams and hope for tomorrow. I'm listening to a woman in the resturant moan and groan about how terrible her life is right now. She's having a ten dollar breakfast in a nice hotel, says she has a generator at her home which provides power to the microwave, stove and all the latest amenties of life, but life is really terrible to her, oh yes we are checking into the hotel tonight she says. Are you kidding me or are those in the west just kidding themselves. Most of the time I cann't justify or find justice in life. Hasn't God given us as people the power to choose how we will live our live and how those lives will or will not affect others. What have we done with this power. How will we account for that priviledge and power?

2009-01-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

Red Tape and paperwork

2009-01-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

I spent a lot of time getting to know these people as we ran from one office to another getting people to approve the signing of this land.

2009-01-10T12:04:00.001-08:00

Grandma Pat meets the Village Headman and leads him to Christ

2009-01-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

Even the children were dancing.

Ground Breaking

2009-01-10T11:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday after completeing all the paper work on the land we began breaking ground.

Visiting Mom, Family and Friends

2008-09-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

Hi! Im in the states for a few week. We had a great 80th Birthday for my mom. August was action packed as I moved out of my house with it's man eating dogs and entertained a group of people from Whittier Area Community Church who is paying and praying for the building of our new Hospital ward. It was fun to be with them and see the many faces who have worked so hard at making this dream for Malawi come true. We experienced some big disapointments together as the container they had sent did not come in time for them to do the painting they had hoped to be able to do. However they saw alot of the differant ministries here in Malawi and were able to experience the joys of meeting the Malawian people, and living life on the Lords terms and not our own.

Recently I heard of a family here in the states who were fueding over who was going to take care of a relatives child and I couldn't help think about how important it is to let others live and not to attach one self to things God doesn't have for you to do. Wouldn't we all be happier if we just gave of ourselves without demands recognition. I'm learning how to let go of what I think is best for what God deams best.

Apon returning to ABC I will be finishing up the hospital and then starting the food services around campus starting with the hospital kitchen and moving to the College Student Center, International Academy and then to a snack shack for the general public.
My passion is for training Malawians to succeed in business so that their nation can grow.
Because of my work last year 5 adults and 8 children are being fed. Not as a hand out, but because the adults are willing to work.

When I return to Malawi I hope to find a permant place to live. Please be praying for me on this, as I would like to purchase a half built house or build one to live in, thus providing jobs for malawians. Most rentals belong to the Indians in the country so the money you pay goes to making them richer. I'd like to see Malawians gain, by working, saving and then building places of their own. Thankyou for your prayers.
Blessings,
Michelle

PS I will be taking my mom back with me for a year. She will teach at the college and help me out. I'm sure we will be a lot less lonely.

Imagine this in the middle of the freeway.

2008-05-19T03:50:00.000-07:00

These are snacks, mice on a stick to be.

2008-05-19T03:46:00.000-07:00

2008-05-19T03:40:00.000-07:00

2008-05-19T03:37:00.000-07:00

Pine tree farm

2008-05-19T03:33:00.000-07:00

African Range, Wear shoes or it will send you hopping.

2008-05-19T03:28:00.000-07:00

2008-05-19T03:24:00.000-07:00

2008-05-19T03:16:00.000-07:00

Living in Africa and Loving it.

2008-05-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

It has been over a month since I last entered anything but perhaps it's because life has taken some wonderful turns. I have been able to get out of Lilongwe into the country side three times now. Several weeks ago I went with the Malawian staff to northern Malawi, where we tested students for entry into African Bible College. It was an incredible trip. I was surprized at a beautiful pine forest. It was almost as though we took a drive into Washington states. The weather was cool and moist. We saw men cutting down trees the old fashioned way and making boards that same way. Back and forth they sawed it was a steady motion full of sweat and determination, only to make less than a dollor for a 20 to 30 foot plank. I often here the word lazy among those who are in the money, but I wander how hard they would work for a pitance that wouldn't even buy a small bag of salt. Would you saw the length of a tree to make 80 cents?

In the middle of seemingly no where we turned onto this mud road which took us to a farm where small pine trees are grown for planting. My friend Maggie's dad had done this work most of his life and we were going to meet his friend who had taken a goat for grazing purposes. I guess the friend needed his lawn mowed. Anyway we were bring a note to the friend to let him know that the lawn service was over and the goat needed for services else where.
I was impressed by all the little seedlings and the fresh cool water that ran down the side of the field for bucket irrigation.

We left that little haven about as fast as we had come and off we went to Muzuz. It was 5 hours from ABC to Muzuzu. I wanted to find out what Missionaries did that irritated and enlightened the Malawian staff, so I asked lots of questions, something I'm good at, but not always appreciated for. Anyway I learned alot. When we got to Muzuzu we found a lodge, in or hotel, what ever you want to call it. It was basic lodging, not 5 star, but I'd do it again. No large bugs or snakes, however the next morning I realized there were no screens on the windows. So glad I didn't sleep on the bed next to the window. The rats or snakes would have to crawl over someone else before they got to me. But of course I presented my case in a far more loving a caring manner, by saying I'm sure someone else would like the fresh air and I'm used to sleeping on the left side of the bed. That morning while the staff were testing I went with Maggies husband Gilbert to find Bee's wax. We knew honey came from that area, so I figured where honey is is where I"d find wax. What a stroke of genious. We called the honey people and they let us have all the wax we needed for a price of course. I stared off with just 7 kgs. Now to make candles and soap.

Next Gilbert and I went to the market, It had been years since I had been in a market so it was simply wonderful that is except for the smell of rotting fish, but then somehow those are the smells I always miss when shopping in the states. We bought lots of fun things like beans, cassava flour and green peppers. I realized how wise it was to shop in the market vs shopping in the stores. One can save money. However it takes a lot more time to dicker on a price. I'm beginning to see that it is more of a social activity than it is anything else. Sometimes you save a lot of money, but mostly you help the stall owner pass time and give him something to talk about when he or she gets home. At noon we picked up the staff and took them to the market and then by 2 we set off for home. However the goal was to stop at roadside venters along the way. We picked up bananas, plantains, potatoes of various kinds, honey, watermolon and onions. The car was loaded on top and inside. There was no room in the end. We arrived home by 8 pm and everyone was ready for a nice restful evening.

THE SECOND TRIP
My friend Maggie has a business buying and selling Maise. Yesterday she did her first buying trip. I begged to go but she was afraid I'd hate it so she made me come late with her husband. Gilbert and l left at 9:30 to meet Maggie and the other couple who are in the company with them. It was only about an hour from ABC and most of it was on a dust road. Meaning it is red dirt/dust. I have Air Con. in the car, so we kept the windows closed. This was the first time taking my new used car on a "4 wheeling trip" . The car took the bumps like a dream and my heart was full of joy as we drove along the dusty African Roads. We came to a detour which was basically a dusty road next to another dusty road, they say the president will pave the one road right after the next elections. That means vote for him and you'll get a road, not and you may be eating dust for a very long time. I took several pictures for you which made my day. One must laugh when they see a "Reduce Speed" sign in the middle of the road.

When we found our buying team. There they sat on bags of maise, with a ski cap or scarf to cover their heads from the red dust. We sat on someguys front porch who had gone to the market and left Maggie and friends buying maise. The yard/ red dirt swept clean with a broom quickly got littered by peanut shells and the fiber of sugar cane we spit on it. I kept looking for a broom to sweep the mess up, and couldn't help but wonder how an american would react to some strangers pulling up next to his house, taking over his front yard and sitting on his front porch, spitting white fiber all over his grass. Don't think it would go over too well in the states , but the owner came home and if Maggie hadn't told me I wouldn't have known the man was even there. As we sat there I got some great shots of cow and donkey pulled carts. As I took the pictures I'd show the people and they were thrilled to see themselves in the camera.

We loaded up some 108 bags of 100lbs of maise on to a fat bed they hired and headed back, we stopped along the way to buy peanuts and some garden poles and to talk with a guy to ask him to help with the buying of the maise on Saturday. It was an incredible day, every moment was wonderful. Truely this is living in Africa. I cann't help but marvel at the simplicity of life and see an awsome God, I'm humbled as I see all that is accomplished with so little and realize how much our definition of life is attached to our way of living. Truely, I'm loving living in Malawi, Central Africa.

I finally did it!

2008-03-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

Did what you say? Well, the other nite my friend Maggie one of the Malawian staff works asked me for dinner. She had prepared a traditional Malawian meal for the Spiritual Emphasis speaker and when Maggie's husband couldn't make it back in time for dinner, she asked me to come.

I arrived in good African time to the meal and before me was a bowl full of flying ants. After prayer I scooped 5 or 6 onto my place and then quickly put one after another in to my mouth. Sure enough they tasted like bacon.

Pastor Carlton said you must have eaten them all your life. To which I replyed no this is my first time. The guy next to me tryed to push his off onto my plate, but when I tasted them the second time they weren't quite as good so I told him he better keep his own Ants on his plate.

I also must report that I'm in Jo-Berg South Africa having something taken off my nose and and shopping for the children's ward we've been building. The shopping hasn't given me much time to worry about the results of the byopsy, hopefully this was just a wart. Next time they take something off my nose they'll have to knock me out. The pain killing shots were worse than the cut of the knife, which I felt before he gave me a second shot of novacain or what ever it was.

I'm hoping they will let me know early next week so if there is more work to be done it can be done quickly. The other scar is still there on the side of my head, but it is healing. God is good and I thank Him for his faithfulness to me.

Until later, Blessings
Michelle

The WAR OF THE TOILET SEAT

2008-02-26T05:49:00.000-08:00

About a month ago I mentioned to my LandLord that my toilet seat was broken, the fact is, it was broken when I moved into the place, but not wanting to complain to much I waited for several months. After nearly falling off it, as it slid to the floor I decided that the timing was right. Apon mentioning it, my land lady went into a lecture about how Malawians don't know how to set the seat down properly and that's what breaks them. Since it had been broken from day one, I decided that wasn't the case with this one, but perhaps in the past someone has slammed her seat down and thus she wasn't happy about this one breaking.

My dear friend and landlady wanting to please me, went out and purchased a wooden seat which of course wasn't cheap and then she hired two (Plumbers ) to install the seat. It took several hours to install it and finally the men left. That evening as I pirched apon the thrown I felt it give way and then it pinched me. Fearfull of causeing further problems I said nothing to my land lady, and continued to use it doing my best to avoid the parting pinch. But last week the seat completely came apart, so I decided it was time to break the news to her ( the Land Lady that is).

Last night she came home from the store and asked if she could have a word with my helper Leah. She quickly brushed by me and started to rant and rave at Leah about toilet seats and a number of other things. I realized I had made a big mistake in allowing her to talk to Leah and
in mentioning the broken seat at all. Aparently she had taken the seat back to the store and the store manager accused her of lying. Her daughter slammed her fingers in the car door and all in all she just wasn't happy. She was sure that Leah had broken the toilet seat and that this was the root cause of all her problem at this time. I assured her that Leah was not there at the time it broke and that there was an explanation for why it was broken. After praying with her over the events of the day and telling her I loved her and Mega her daughter too. I finally convinced her to go on a walk with me around the neighborhood. On our walk we talked more about the toilet seat, and about the problem of our compound, but by the time we arrived home, she was reminding me that she was the one who told me about Leah and that she believed Leah was a good lady. It appears God is working in her heart.

Apon preparing for bed, I realized that my toilet seat problems were not over, I could not go to bed leaving the toilet without a seat of any kind on it, less I drop into it in a state of sleepiness and ruin an otherwise tranquil night. So I pulled the seat out of the box and put it back together again. It was then that I discovered the true criminals. it was the (plumbers) they had thrown out some parts and put others in the wrong place thus putting the seat at an awkward angle which made it break when I pirched apon it.

Now the dilema, should I tell my dear Landlady or let her think Leah was the guilty party. This morning I asked Leah what she thought I should do, and together we agreed that it was best to leave things as they are. I'll go get myself a new seat and not say another word. However the next time she offers a plumber I will try to fix the problem myself. After all it doesn't take but five minutes to put in a toilet seat. This is unless you are someone who as never used a toilet and doen't understand all these extra plastic parts /washers, then it takes two men and two hours to install it so it will break instantly apon pirching.

What I saw in all this was that certainly we do not battle against flesh and blood just the day before all this came about the Hindi preast had been at the Landlords home to offer prayers. They are clearly seeking peace and having a difficult time finding it. However this search is causing them to draw closer to me and ask for prayer on a regular basis. Thankyou for praying with me for them. Blessings, Michelle

Life in Lilongwe

2008-02-21T23:31:00.000-08:00

My Dear Friends, I'm so sorry to have taken so long to write something to you. I was waiting for a day when I didn't have something pressing but I've decided that day will not come anytime soon. I continue to work with the Whittier Area Community Church on the bulding of a new hospital ward. It has been fun communitcating with them on a daily basis as they strive to fill a container to fill our new ward with all of the equitment it will need.

I'm also decorating a baby ward which needs some TLC. As always things in Africa take time and somehow more effort than they would in the USA. As I have gone to sort though piles of rolls of fabric in a warehouse pulling roll by roll out , unwrapping the plastic to make sure you see what it really looks like and then sorting roll into piles of likes and dislikes. I walk away with my hands covered in black grime. Sneazing from the dust and thirsty from the heat. The process takes hours just to find the fabrics you want to use, let alone bringing them all together to make it look like it belongs.

I ask the store owner where I can find a drink and he says check around the corner, around the corner on a street that has more potholes than pavement is Annie's Bar and resturant. A dive with a few bottles of beer on the shelves, a fanta, sprite and coke. Take your pick, their all full of sugar and with the heat you'll be thirsty in minutes after you drink it. All I want is a bottle of water, warm or cold that doesn't much matter. I decide to drive home, opening the door I"m blasted by oven like heat. Don't want to open the windows to much for fear that someone will reach thier hand in and grab the fanny pack on my waist. I've been trying to wear a hat to protect my skin from the sun, but decide the hat holding in the heat on my head, will kill me now, where as skin cancer will at least do it slowly. I fight traffic all the way home trying to take side roads to dodge the traffic, I find myself in a dead end. Great, try again. I turn around and head back on the busy roads, three cars from the light, I wait and wait finally realizing the first car's driver has climbed out of his car and gone to Bata to buy shoes or something. So I pull out into the on coming traffic and around the two car s ahead of me so that I can get to the intersection where the main road is. I'm clear, home is just minutes away. I arrive there feeling a bit tired. Lying down on the Bony Couch( meaning the springs on the back are pushing up against the fabric like ribs on a starving child) I drink a large glass of water and then fall promptly asleep. This is a day in Africa. It's eazy to forget that there is a world out there other than your own and without a radio or TV you quickly become out of touch with that other world.

I have a lady who is helping me with keeping the house clean, cooking and laundry, i've been trying to help her and her husband get ahead, go to school and continue their personal developement. Its exciting to watch them as they stay up late at night and wake up early to prepare themselves for each days lessons. I wish I had more time to help Leah learn more about cooking. But little by little she is learning. Last week we made chicken pot pies. They turned out really tasty.

Last night I was over at the Land Lords home, had a wonderful dish from Bombay and then she shared all the things she was worried about. I asked her if we could pray together and so we did. I'm excited about what the Lord is doing in the home.

Finally, please pray that God will do a purifying work during spiritual emphasis week on the ABC Campus.
Blessings, Michelle

A Week to remember or should I forget it.

2008-01-11T05:49:00.000-08:00

It's Friday and I'm glad it is finally here. We started the week with problems with the electricty on campus. Our clinic cannot run unless the power is totally up and running on all phases but we were without a phase. Therefore the X-ray man, Lewis was constantly at my door begging me to perform a miracle and get his power back up. Lewis is by far one of the most faithful workers I have in the clinic. He loves his work and is really good at it as well. He never misses a day of work and practically refuses to take a holiday. Anyway, because we were without power/x rays many patients came which we were unable to help.

One patient was a lady who was in a Semi truck brought her daughter who had broken her leg.
I was surprized to see her truck the first day when she pulled up. Never did I imagine that her driver would pull off the road, on to the grass and break through our septic system.

Yesterday afternoon the power problems were fixed but I had a new problem or challenge, it was this very large truck stuck in our septic system. We asked a truck who had delivered bricks to help us get the semi out of the hole and he did so. Now our only problem is the repair of the hole and the students from the college were in the hole today with masks and gloves to start the repairs.

The week had started with a sweet little girl who's father works for one of our doctors, coming in with a burnt leg. The poor little thing didn't even wimper when the doctor was looking at it. I was told that that was because it was third degree burns and the nerves are burnt off. It was horrible to see. We sent her to a specialist, I'll let you know when I find out what they were able to do for her. It's hard not to let some of these cases get to you.

Finally we have been searching all week for blood for a young man who has aid and will die if he doesn't get a transfusion. Even if people have the blood to give they are not always willing to give it and you cann't force anyone to give their blood. The blood bank keeps sending us the wrong blood which is also making me a bit wacky.

All in all, God is working in the lives of my staff. I'm encouraged by what I see in their attitudes, especially the attitudes of the cleaners. They came together on tuesday and helped me clean up the storeage room which was infested with Rats or at least things were covered with little black rat gifts. We had pizza for lunch and then drew names for the mattresses which the rats had made nests in. Somethings better than nothing I guess. Those who's names weren't drawn were really un happy and said I should make up for their losses. So, would you feel bad if you hadn't won a rat nest mattress? Sometimes the things we deal with are so un real it blows your mind.

Thursday I went home and decided to make a big pot of soup and feed all the neighbors, I think some people slept better that night. You cann't solve all the worlds problems but you can at least bless a few. Have a great week and enjoy all the pictures that follow this entry.

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Twas The Day After Christmas

2008-01-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

Twas the day after Christmas.
My neighbors the Indian Family
had taken me to Cape Town for Christmas.
The South Africans call the 26th Boxing day.
We went to Table Mountain and then headed
for the the Cape of Good Hope.

The Cape of Good Hope is a wild life reserve,
and because it was a holiday
there was bumper to bumper traffic with
two toll booths on the way in.
At each booth there were big signs
that read: It is prohibited to feed the
baboons, as they are very dangerous animals.
I didn't want to feel one, but wanted to get
close enough to take a good picture of one.

We walked up to the top of the Cape,
took lots of beautiful pictures and
tben waited to for our driver and
Mr Mittal as they walked down a long
plank walk way on the rocks which allowed
you to stand inbetween the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

As we waited sipping our tea, the sun began to set.
It was beautiful. And we knew we would have an
hour or more before it would be dark.
We walked slowly down to catch the bus
that would take us to the parking lot
reading aloud the signs which read:
Baboons are extremely dangerous it is against
the law to feed them as they are in their
natural habitat.

Once we arived at the parking lot, we stood
in a circle talking about the Cape and it's beauty.
At the corner of someones eye they spotted a
very large baboon and about the same time heard
someone yell, watch out for that baboon.

Our driver yelled at us and said head for the
car, he's coming toward us. Instantly we all
took off running. Mrs Mittel and Mega ran to
my side of the car and jumped in.
I ran toward the other side and jumped in as well.
But the Mittels are Short so their side of the car
didn't have as much leg room as mine had and
so I had to jam my legs in and slam the door
at the same timmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
The door swung back open and instantly the
baboon was on top of me. I could hear everyone
screaming, and my mind SHOUTED HIM THE NUTS AND
FOOD YOU HAVE IN YOU HAND. My heart had leaped up
and wrapped itself around my neck or something because
I wasn't feeling much of anything nor did I see the Baboon.
Most of what I know was what the others told me about
what had happened. They said he was pulling on my
hair and they were hitting him with water bottles and
whatever they could find to try to beet the Babboon off
of me. Once he was out of the car, people came
from all over the Parking lot to see the damages.

I look my body over and discovered blood running down my leg.
There was also a large piece of glass stuck in it.
So I pulled the glass out and then several men stepped
in and started to administer first aid. They called
the Reserve office and who sent down a first aid kit.
It was pretty clear that the leg needed a doctor or at
least it needed stitches. I'm thinking of carrying a
suture set with me so I can save money. If you can
upolster a chair you can stitch up a leg.

It was tough finding a doctor or any clinic opened on
Boxing day but there was a Muslim clinic opened so what
to do, but go and let them sew up my leg, hoping Osama's
brother isn't my doctor. Not that I know of any brothers
of his who work in South Africa.

The Doctor came in and announced he had the flew
and didn't want to be there but he would do what he had
to do. I wondered if he might have the bird flu, not really
but I wasn't thrilled about his honesty.

He put in three stitches but I forgot to take out the camera
until the last stitch, I hadn't gotten a picture of the baboon, so
why not the process of haveing stitches put in. I'm getting more
and more brave these days now that I'm working in a clinic.

The best part of the stiched up knee was that the Mittels made me
sit in the front seat for the rest of the trip, so I was able to get lots
of great pictures.

When I told some of the Clinic Staff about my baboon experience
they started laughing, saying : you were boxing with a Babboon on
Boxing day. Hope you had a great Christmas.

On our little trip, I bought three Francine Rivers books and got the
whole family reading. I'm praying that God will use those books to speak to them.
Blessings to you all.Michelle

For those who want to help.

2007-12-19T04:18:00.000-08:00

You can send donations for the clinic or toward a maternity ward by clicking on African Bible College which is under Donations on the right of this post. Then click on give now and mark your donations for :ABC Clinic, Michelle's Maternity Project.

If you want to send new baby blankets, and towels, cloth diapers, pins and baby clothes send them to ABC USA PO Box 103 Clinton MS 39060. Anything you would send to Malawi directly is hightly taxed so it is better to send it via container when they are sent out which is twice yearly and it is far better to send new items than used for this same reason.

Thankyou Charlene for asking about how to give, I'm sure others are thinking the same way.

No room in the INN or Hospital.

2007-12-13T23:06:00.000-08:00

The staff was all at the College Christmas banquet, and the program had started when our head Dr came to me and said:"We have a pregnant mother in the ward taking care of her 6 year old child malnurished child, who is now in labor her self. She has had two cecerians so she must have a third. And she is in labor. Please take her to the national hospital to have it done. We do not have a trained surgeon on staff and the risks are two high here. Go now."

I rushed to the ward with one of the men on staff who would do the driving. We picked her up and the nurse told us to take her to "Bottom Hospital" which we did. Apon arrival this young mother was given a black plastic bag and told to proceed to the ward. I went with her to see what the situation was like. As we walked down the halls I was struck by a smell that reminded me of a cattle milking stall. The futher we walked in the more women we saw and the more humid it became. The smell was more like a sweat box than anything else. Their were pregnant women lineing the halls, lieing on bentches and lying on the floor. Some facing the aisle and some toward the wall. Then we came apon a room that was packed solidly with pregant women. All the beds were full and under the beds were others lying like boards on a deck, with barely enough room to turn over. The floor was solid concreate. I began to panic. What is this, how can this be that people would be in such a place as this to bare their children. Has no one seen this situation, does no one care? My heart was torn in two. I finally reach the place where the babies were to be born and their was a nurse. The nurse told me she would take care of the ladie I had brought and perhaps the baby would be delivered in the morning. I turned and walked toward the car. As I got there I asked the driver if there wasn't a better hospital in town where this child could be delivered. He told me we could try central hospital. There was no way I could leave this lady here I would feel responsible for her death if she didnot make it and I felt it was likely she wouldn't make it in these conditions.

I walked back in to the delivery area past all the women in labor, and took the lady I had brought by the hand leading her out. The nurses asked me why and I told them there are to many people waiting for delivery. How could I tell her what I was really thinking. Mainly that this was no place for anyone to deliver a child.

Arriving at central. As we walked down the dark hall ways we came apon a couple men, with rain boots, masks plastic aprons and surgery caps on. They were moping the floor. The sight reminded me of the bird flu movie I saw on TV last year. Great I thought, I have brought her to an even more dangerous place. However as we moved along it was evident that this was a better place for this lady. The nurse wasn't very friendly, but she saw it it that my friend was taken care of and seen by a clinical officer/Doctor. He told me he would have her operated on in the morning and that she would be in a semi private room with two other ladies. I would have to pay about 50 USD for this but to me this was worth it. How could I in good concious leave anyone in the other place. I was so depressed yesterday that I went home to try to process all that I had seen. WE MUST DO SOMETHING. In America we treat our dogs better than these ladies are being treated. We need doctors and we need a hospital wing to take care of these women.

When I went back to the hospital to check if the delivery had taken place and If my friend survived she was coming out of surgery and they told me she had delivered a beautiful baby girl. As I walked down the halls of this hospital I could see that the moppers I had seen the previous night were simply moving mud arround. Please pray that something will be done on behalf of the Malawian people.

Merry Christ Mas. A child is born today!

Pancakes with flying Ants or Without Ants

2007-12-11T23:42:00.000-08:00

On Friday the College students put on a lovely Coral. It was a mixture of Jazz and Malawian Christmas songs. All in all it was beautifully done.

Sunday night as the church service came to a close, their were flying ants swarming all over the place. This usually happends after rains and praise the Lord rainy season has come.

How refreshing it is to sleep in cool of the night rather than in such heat. Anyway after the service on sunday nite the children ran to collect the ants because they are a favorite treat to eat. Free flying protein. Even the missionary children were collecting their ants for eating.

After church on sunday nites the staff generally have waffles and pancakes. A friend of my from toastmasters speaking club gave me a grill for Valentines day, so I have been putting that grill to good use frying pancakes on Sunday nites. As I was frying pancakes the children came in and asked me if I could grill some ants. Of course I said yes and so their on my grill were pancakes and gumi or ants. The strange thing was that it didn't bother anyone that I was frying ants on the grill and to tell you the truth it didn't bother me either. They seemed very compatible together there on my grill. One of the older missionaries suggested I fry some pancakes with Ants for Bob Stauffacher one of the newest missionaries. But I decided we better wait until he has at least ventured out to try a raw ant first. Besides poor Bob and his family has been sick for over a month now and they are just now on the mend, so I didn't want to take any chances.

By the way, my face is on the mend and slowly but surely it should recover. Blessings to all as Christmas draws near. Don't forget it's about Jesus.
Love, Michelle

Mission Accomplished

2007-12-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord I have done it. You know the project I have been working on for the past month that should have taken a day. It would be easy to be discouraged but I decided that I should be happy because at least one thing got done and who knows maybe it will only take me a few months to get the staff to follow the work schedule two days in a row. Perhaps we are progressing, but at a snails pace. Sometimes I wish I could just forget the projects and enjoy relating to the people without trying to get them to get some work done. Life would be so much more pleasant.

We had a lovely little music program the other night done by the students at ABC College. They are new students so the songs are elementary, but never the less thay are trying to play music on these strange new instraments. They also did a stomp which was quite good. The music teacher had shown them a video of one in the states and they made their own up with broom sticks,pots, cans and other things. The president of the college had refreshments served afterwards so we had quite a turnout. Food will do it every time. My friends and I didn't quite make it to the table in time to join in on the tackeling of the refreshment person in order to get out drinks and donut,so we decided to go to a place where there was to be a jazz concert. However the players of the concert didn't show up so there was no concert. This is life in Africa. No use getting up set or you'd be mad all the time.

My Friend Maggy came by today to see the Dr so I had her come in and use my computer, the network was down all last week so we are catching up. Any way she was encouraging. She is a Malawian, but she says the people seem to have some serious mental or spiritual blocks. I think we need to be praying for the ability to think clearly.

Sure hope you are enjoying your cool wheather, cuz we are being steam cooked around here. Blessings to all. Michelle

Hot Nights in Malawi

2007-11-28T07:10:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday and the week is flying by without my being able to catch up to it. Sunday it was 104 we suffered as we sat in church and the sun felt like it was beeting down on our heads. It was a though we weren't even under cover. The heat waves crashed down on us again and again. Malawi needs so fans to suck out the hot air in buildings.

Sleeping in it is no picnic either. I have a new form of Air Conditioning. Before going to bed you soak your PJs in water and then put them on soaking wet. Afterwards you climb into bed and and cover yourself with a sheet. Without a sheet it is too cool and you feel a bit damp, but with a sheet the water warms up just enough so you don't notice you are wet and as it evaporates it keeps you perfectly cool. Not something I's do in the winter in Colorado or Washington, but it's great for the hot climates. By morning your PJ's are dry and you can hang them up for the next nights drenching.

Christmas is coming and I must confess I don't even feel like this is the right time of year.
My Clinic work continues. At times I feel like I"m chasing my tail. That is if I have one.
I'm working on a schedule of work. It has only taken 3 weeks to get it typed on a word document and now we are haveing it traslated into the the local language. I thought it was a day project, silly me. There is no such thing as consistancy I'll let you know why when I find that out for myself. I might get a grip on things if there were four of me to station around the clinic to remind people what they are to do.

On the bright side, we had a visit from the ministry of Health and our parent medical
association. They had two comments, one was that the Clinic was very clean and the other was that we had a great selection of Medications. I was thankful I had spent three weeks pushing my cleaning crew to get the place up to par. Blessings, Michelle

Sunny Days

2007-11-17T06:20:00.000-08:00

I recently hear from my mother who told me to be more positive. So I won't tell you about driving out to visit the Children of the Nations farm and children's home, it was dusk, but by the time I got to the main headquarters it was so dark I could hardly see it. I knew the farm was further out, but wasn't sure how far out it was. After driving for some time I decided I must have missed it and turned around. I drove to the COTN office and found a guard who was willing to take me out the farm. We started out, for the farm and drove for some time and before I knew it there was a large reflector in front of me. I knew we were in trouble, so I hit the brakes. We slide for quite a distance and then hit the reflector and a large dirt mound in the middle of the road. The reflector was made of tin, so it made a loud crashing sound. Then every thing was quiet for a couple of seconds and then I could hear men yelling and screaming. We have been told not to stop on the road and that people get mugged or robbed at night on the roads so I knew we needed to get out of there real quickly. I wasn't sure if the car would run, but it started up easily and I thru it into reverse. We fled like a couple of robbers from a bank hold up. A few minutes later we were at the COTN farm and they were happy to have me there. They served a traditional Malawian dinner and then the kids sang and enjoyed devotions. It was a blessing to hear the children singing. It really lifted my spirit. The next day I took a good look at the truck and it wasn't damaged. But I recalled a conversation my older brother Bill had had with my mom about my driving at night on the african roads. He had said that I should have a rule for myself not to drive at night on the dark roads. I have decided he was right so the rule is now in place.

Did I tell you about the family that lives next door? They own the house that I live in and have been like having my own family. In fact they invite me to come over often, some days Mrs Mittel sends and indian breakfast over for me and they have had me over for dinner as well. Today I decided to do something nice for them, so I made a big pot of soup and sent half of it over to them for lunch with some freshly baked rolls. I had been cooking for the whole week so decided once it was all done to go and take a nap. About 15 minutes into my nap Mrs Mittel came over and thanked me for the lovely rolls, then she said you know Michelle, Poojah and I are vegetarians and w e do not eat meat. I knew that but somehow it had slipped my mind. Then she said what kind of meat did you use for the the soup? I said Beef. Oh Michelle, we do not eat beef, but we shouldn't waste anything so we will send the soup back to you. She was so gracious, I just felt bad that I hadn't thought of those things.

The winds are blowing this afternoon, which was a fantastic change, in that it has been rather uncomfortably hot. Even the Africans are complaining. I can hear the thunder in the distance so perhaps that means we are in for a cooling down. I'm praying for rain. I went swimming this afternoon which was a lovely refreshment of both body and spirit. The pool is not far from the clinic but it is closed when I have time to use it. I've heard that there are requests for a lane or two to be left open for staff to use during the day. That would really be a blessing if that happened perhaps you can pray for that for me. I need some way to cool down and relax after chasing employees down all day. There seems to be a bit of acceptance about the new administrator and her expectations that work must take place during work hours. However some feel they are simply being paid for being present. HMMM The time clock seems to be causing some inconviences as employees have been sighted down town when in fact they are on the clock. This will be my next challenge. To round up the offenders.

There are many more stories this week, in an effort to keep this possitive i will wait till later. Thanks for tuning in and mostly thanks for your prayers. God is faithful and Truely He is at work in our lives. My Love to all, Michelle

Welcome New Viewers.

2007-11-07T00:24:00.000-08:00

A joyfilled welcome to all my viewers in Iraq. As you know each and every day we take two steps forward and one step back. On sunday I thought I had killed all the cockroaches in my house but on Monday morning I found one large one crawling across my pillow. I tryed to knock him to the floor but he jumped on the curtains and managed to escape my foot. They are clever little creatures.

Sunday night I stopped by to see my friends who's small dog had run away after hearing the neighbors fire crackers. They were feeling pretty bad because it had been several days and the dog had not returned. So I told them I wanted to pray with them. After all, I God cares about even the little sparrow that falls, why wouldn't he care about the dog that was lost. So we prayed and asked the Lord to protcct the little dog. That night they made an anouncement on the radio that the dog was missing and that they would pay a reward to anyone who found him. The next afternoon some men notice an animal in the distant fields. Thinking it might be a monkey or baboon but also knowing there was a reward out for this strange little dog. The africans are afraid of dogs so they found a band of 20 people to round him up. After trying for sometime to catch him. They decided to hurd the dog through the field. accross the road and through the college gate. Apparently it was quite a commotion but Little MollY- the dogs name, was finally home with his family. I was thankful that the Lord had answered my prayer with a yes.

Speaking of chasing, I still continue to chase my cleaning people around the clinic. They were having hearing problems this morning but after talking with the head of personel, there ears were healed and they were willing to do what I was asking them to do. They had gone to the head of personel and asked her if they could do something else, so she not knowing what I had told them to do gave them permission to do what they had requested. When we all talked I let them know that they were not to be running way from what was requested of them.

I had asked them to clean up at our baby ward, and on the way walking up there one of the ladies pulled the mop out of her bucket and dropped it in the middle of the side walk. She didn't stop to pick it up so I asked her if whe was planing on leaving it there. Yes she replied with a look that said" why not" at times I'm shocked at the things they do. This was one of those times. I was seriously wondering what on earth could have been going through her head. I'm wondering if I should find a protein drink for them and see if that helps a bit. That will be my project for today.

I must get back to my chasing as yesterday I found three of my cleaning ladies sitting on the Ward couch chatting. They said they couldn't work all day, so I said Ok I will just pay you for half a day and get others to do the work the rest of the day. Oh no they replied. We need the money for the whole day but could you please let us rest for half a day. Hmmmm

Thankyou for tuning in and have a great day.

Monday or Friday?

2007-11-05T07:22:00.000-08:00

Last week I spent observing the happenings of the Clinic and decided that working on getting the cleaners cleaning, would be a great place to start. Little did I know what a tough job that would be. I must have walked 5 miles today. Moving from person to person, making sure they were doing the job that they were supposed to do. The job for the majority of them was to was the walls. They are white with spots and drips as well as foot makes on the door bottems. I've heard all the excuses i care to hear. Mother i'm dizzy, mother I need my tea break, Mother I need to break for lunch. No I didn't finish ironing the ten things you asked me to do, because I was mopping. Mopping for 6 hours? no mopping for 30 minutes. Surely I will loose wait running from one to another.

One of the doctors said he had never seen so much activity. Another said it sure smelt good around here.

At lunch I went into the lunch room and found all my staff lining the walls, when I asked what they were doing they told me they were having a staff meeting. I asked them why I hadn't been informed of this meeting and told them the meeting was over. An hour later I got a letter from my " hard working staff" which wanted wedding days off and a raise in pay. You can imagine my frustration.

I'm writting this a little backwards but I must tell you my bottom biting next door neighbor dogs came over this morning and somehow tore a hole in the screen, so that when pooh came out to pee in his face, be was able to sink his teeth in Pooh's chin and the right side of his mouth. I screamed bloody murder and then went for my bear spray. Now I was ready for the dog. When he came back again I said come on baby I'm ready for you. Once his head was in the hole of the screen I sprayed him real good in the face and he silently walked away. Hu I got him. Mean while my dog was covered with blood. I got a dish towel and washed him off with detol. Then later this afternoon I took him to the vet. She cut some hair off his chin and gave us some Anti Biotics 25 dollars and rude talking to about how dare I come with my dog when she was on her way out. I was finished. She's the only vet in town, so she can say and do as she pleases. Customer what?

I think my staff has a bit of the same attitude. They know we are the best clinic in town, so they feel like the patients should wait on them. Oh my dear do I have my work cut out for me. Thankyou for your prayers.

Birthday Flowers

2007-11-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

2007-11-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

2007-11-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

2007-11-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

2007-11-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

2007-11-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

2007-11-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

Homeward Bound!!!

2007-10-24T20:26:00.000-07:00

It's 5:30 am and all my bags are packed, and I'm ready to go. Connie and I are happy to be going home to Malawi. The modern world is really quite hectic.

We had a good appointment with Dr Chait yesterday. He gave us the final instructions on which stitches come out when. I showed him that he had missed the cyst that I had hoped he would take out and he said: Oh my we must do that right now, if anyone hears of this they will think I am a complete idiot. Will you stay so I can take care of it. It will only take ten minutes.

Connie had wanted to see the first operation which they would not allow, so this was her chance to see this one. Dr/Professor Chait had me lie down on his operating cot and then told me to bite down on this thing that looked like a plastic bullet. He called it a bullet too. We were back in the wild west or so it seemed when he stuck the first needle in my face to numb it. I wanted to scream but just cried instead and reached for Connie's hand so I could squeeze it to death as he proceeded to poke me again and again. Once it was good and numb he started his incision and then took out the cyst. It was a bit of a battle to get it all out and in the end the Dr won, but he was surprised at how large and hard the thing was. I could feel most of the stitches going in, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the injections so I decide it was the lesser of two evils. Connie made it through the whole procedure without fainting and I managed to keep my whits about me as well. I guess his bullet treatment worked. The the patients on the other side of the door didn't know he had done a thing, although I wanted to shout it from the roof top. I cannot tell you how grateful I was that he had knocked me out for the first procedure. I really liked Dr Chait. He is a man of great humor and Connie and I had a wonderful time joking around with him. He wants to follow up on me via the Internet. I will send him pictures as the days go by so he can keep an eye on his work. What a wonderful thing these computers are. I think he did a beautiful job. He is a Jewish surgeon which was a plus. The only other Surgeon I ever go to is Jewish as well and he makes all things new. His name? Jesus!!

I'm praising the Lord this morning for His unfailing love and faithfulness. He is all we need in time of joy and trouble. What a wonderful savior,husband and friend. Truly the Lord has carried me through. My love to all. I love your comments so keep leaving them. Thanks Kendal, Cheryl, Shari and Michele.

Home From the Hospital

2007-10-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

Yes it is true. I am home and feeling fine from the neck down. My head feels like my hair has been pulled much too tight and ear as though someone has pulled it off and sewn it back on. Everywhere there is stitches it's as thou I'm bursting from the seems. I think thats more of a feeling than a reality.

The ladies/nurses were very nice and helpful. I woke up at 4am and they brought me coffee as I asked. Then I asked for toast and got that as well along with hot chocolate. I tried to watch tv but other than an evangelist preaching at 4am there wasn't much to see. Finally I fell back to sleep and woke up to Connie setting her bag on the floor next to the bed.

The Doctor came in about 7 and said he thought it all looked pretty good. I didn't have the heart to tell him he hadn't cut out the cyst I wanted him to get on my left cheek. He said he had taken out two other bumps, who knows what they were. I wanted to mark the right spot the day of the surgery but we couldn't find a pen to mark it. Anyway at least he didn't remove my nose or a chunk of my lip. We'll just pray that the scar goes away. There is always so much to be thankful for.

Connie and I tried to go to Nelson Mandella Mall today which we saw, but I wasn't much fun cuz I wanted to come home and go to bed. It was my idea to go to the Mall and it was fun. We even found Cinnabon and got some rolls to bring home. Not long after we started walking around I started to feel a bit dizzy so we came home. We are here now in our locked up house where we are staying. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get back to Malawi.

Happy Birthday to you too!

2007-10-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

Hello, all of Michelle's friends and family!

Michelle is "in hospital", as they say here in South Africa, and resting comfortably. She and I left for the hospital at 5:30 a.m. and she was treated to a lovely hospital gown and a pair of very exciting underpants! Can I use that word on a missionary's blog??? Anyway, she was rolled out of her room at 10, but she said she wasn't rolled into surgery until about an hour later. She came back to the room at noon with stitches on her left cheek, behind her right ear, and a gauze patch over her right eye where they did the graft and removed the cancer, not in that order. She groggily climbed into bed and a few minutes later uttered her first words, "How long did you have to wait?" Sweetie, thinking of MY wait on HER birthday after HER surgery! Anyway, she was able to eat lunch an hour or so later. She had a good dinner and after getting a bit more medicine for pain, was doing well when I left her about 6:30 this evening. She prayed with me for my trip home alone in Joburg which I greatly appreciated. (One very heavy chain on the outside street gate, another locked gate into the yard, another one into the entrance way, then one into the house and then dash to turn off the alarm where there is another gate in the middle of the house and one on each of the room doors so that if the bad guys get in through a bedroom window, they won't have easy access to the rest of the house! Things are different (in a creepy sort of way in regards to security) here in Johannesburg!

So, Michelle should be discharged tomorrow after breakfast. I know she is so grateful for all of your prayers. God is faithful and good.

In this Rock,
Connie

Happy Birthday and Pass the scalpel.

2007-10-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

To day is my Birthday and the day of my Surgery. I will have Connie write an entry in this blog after all this is over today. I covet you prayers. God Bless you. Michelle

Navigating through JO Burg

2007-10-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

Good evening. Connie and I have been trying to navigate this very complex city. We are both(buggared) that is South African for tired. This city is full of robots which means full of traffic lights. It seems to lack street signs however so every one tells you how to go by telling you how many robots and stops you need to go by. There are also alot of y's in the road, so we feel like every other y we have managed to not be on the proper side of. We went out shopping again today and it took 5 or six maybe more stops to ask for directions before we got it right. We do know how to get from East gate to home now, but we won't be going to east gate again.

After talking to the doctors I realized that the bill will be closer to 3500 or 4000 dollars. However that will include my stay in the hospital and the plane ticket as well. I am trusting God for his provision at the time. He is able. Thank you Jesus for providing for all my needs.

I am a bit nervous but, trust that my life is in the Lord's hands. Vanity will get me no where at this time. It's amazing how attached we get to this house me live in called our bodies. We are called to take care of them because they are the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells, but when He decides to remodel them we must trust He has a purpose and plan in all of this. My hope and prayer is that we will be able to share Christ with Dr. Chait.

I'm also very thank you to the Lord for my friends the Dehnerts. Connie has been a lot of fun to be with and has kept me positive as well. Her husband Kelly is home with his 3 kids and my dog, what a willing soul. Pray for this family as they are separated from one another in order to walk with me during this time. What a blessing they are. Good nite and may God bless you. Michelle

Taking JO Burg by Storm or Something?

2007-10-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Connie and I rented a car. We decided that Connie would be the only driver in that It was likely that I would not be able to drive after surgery. Connie's neighbor's mother(Marjorie) met us at the Airport and brought us home. We are staying with her.

This morning we woke up early to go see the doctor. Marjorie used to work with this Doctor 30 some years ago, so she had a picture of him at her wedding, which we took to show the doctor-Larance Chait. My neighbor in Malawi, Kush asked a good friend of his Mr Barney Herwitz to recommend a plastic surgeon and that's how I got Dr. Chaits name. Anyway he was very fun and friendly. He said"your a missionary? Then why did God do this to you? I said, if God hadn't allowed this, than I wouldn't have met you. What does one say to that?

So here's the game plan. He will operate first thing Monday morning. His plan is to take the cancer out and make sure that he got it all. In order not to make it impossible for me to close my eye, he will be taking a skin graft from behind my ear and placing it over the spot. Then he will put something he said will look like a small pumpkin on the skin graft and when the pumpkin falls off the skin graft should be well taken. He plans on putting me under for the operation and keeping me in the hospital for one night after the job is done. He doesn't want me to be uncomfortable so he said it would be best if I spent the night in the hospital. I will have Connie take pictures so we can post them later for you who are into seeing how it looks.

Connie and I decided to try and make the rest of the weekend fun, as Monday is my Birthday and that's the day I go in for surgery. Today we went shopping for all the missionaries on campus. They all gave Connie a list of things to pick up for them while we are here. I picked up a few essential things as well, but the Bank didn't know I was coming down here so they cut me off.

Driving home from the Mall it was dark and raining. The people have warned us that this is a very dangerous city, so we tried not to stop to long anywhere, especially at stop signs. We made several U turns because we were lost and the street signs are tough to see. I kept telling Connie to "Keep moving" it's hard to hit a moving target. We made it home and we are proud of ourselves. Marjorie locks every door in the house to keep the thief's out or localized if they should break into a room in the house. She's quite a kick. Connie is writing down famous quotes from our trip, so I will share them with you. We have done alot of laughing thus far.

On my way.

2007-10-18T01:02:00.000-07:00

In about one hour I will be leaving the house for JO Berg. The appointment is set for me to see the Doctor on Friday Morning and then have the surgery on Monday morning. That will give my friend Connie and I some time to have a little fun and relax a bit before I "go under the knife" as they say. It has been a tough two weeks and I feel as though the Lord is blessing me with a rest.

The nurse at the Clinic in JO Berg gave me an estimate of the cost of this whole procedure and it will be a little over 2000 dollars US. That is if they don't insist I go into the hospital.

Thank you for your prayers. I will keep you posted and take some pictures along the way.

Blessings,
Michelle

A need for Grace.

2007-10-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

I had written the below posts several times over the past three days and lost it several times. I'm sorry for the mistakes but I'm thrilled that the post was made today. thank you for your grace.

First Days in Malawi

2007-10-13T08:23:00.002-07:00

Day 1:
I arrived in Malawi at 9:45 am local time just 60 hour after leaving Washington. There were two people at the Airport to meet me. Dr Paul Chinchen- the Director of the college and Toni Moffet, the present Clinic Administrator. They brought me back to the college and then took me to my new home.

I stepped out of the car and was bitten by on of three dogs who had come to greet me. They looked like I was food to them and not anything short of that. The bite was the size of a silver dollar but turned Ugly black.

I was excited to take a shower and try to rest for a moment. So once Toni left, I grabbed a bar of soap and jumped in the shower. They had told me there was hot water, so I was looking forward to my hot shower. The water was stone cold, so I fiddled with the nobs encluding one nob which was to the far right of the normal shower fixtures. I thought it mignt be a hot water valve, but it didn't seem to make much if any differance. Cold, Cold, Cold. Oh well this is Africa and I'm lucky the water is running at all. I turned off the water and went to dry off. It sounded like there was a water fall in the house. strange, I thought but then decide to go investigate. Walking out into the hall I saw a gushing water fall coming from the ceiling tiles. The floor in the call was flooded and the water was moving out into the living room very quickly. I was horified. I ran back to the shower and turned that strange extra knob I had thought was for hot water and the water was shut off. I then asked the next door neighbors house help if he had a mop and he came back with a small mop with about three strands. This of course was no match for the lake that was now in my hall way and livingroom. I decide to use the only towel I had and a trash can to mop up the mess. Once my Landlord"s wife was home I talked to her about the problem and she said she would send a crew in the morning. Night fell and I took some sleeping pills to rest. They worked.

Day 2:

The 5 member repair team came to help with the plumbing problem. They worked 8 hours, crawling up and down the stairs and in the end declared the hot water tank fixed. It was about 5pm so I checked their work and it was not done. The water was stone cold. I needed a shower however, so I jumped back in the shower and when I got out I once again found the flood in the hall and living room. I think we have a problem, I thought.

Day 3: A two man crew returns to solve the water problem. By this time I was a bit tired of hanging out at my house, but this crew only took 2 hours and the water seemed warm so I was happy. My Landlord Family are Indians from India. They are very kind and loving. They had me over for at least one meal each of the three days.

Day 4:
I jumped into the shower and turned on the hot water, knowing it would take a while for it to get warm enought to enjoy. Once it got hot I reached for the cold water. Suddeningly there was a strong electrical current running through my body. I hadn't had my coffee quite yet, but I was now wide awake. Quickly I decided to jump out of the water and run away. I put on my clothes and opened the locked doors to run out of the house and tell the Landlord. On the other side of the outer pattio gate were the three dogs barking and grawling like ferousious lions ready to tear me from limb to limb. I stood there and yelled:" HELP HELP HELP" This was Drama at it's best. Apparently the house help had gotten a shock at about the same time in the Landlords house, so they came a running to my rescue. I decided showers aren't all they are cracked up to be and went to work with dirty hair and smelling like one of the locals. Oh MY I don't think they noticed, but I was longing for an out of body experience.

Day 5
I had been to the clinic and had decided to check out my E-mail. There were several notes from my mom in which she complained about not hearing from me and also saying that she had not told anyone about my problem. She didn't know about the ones I have just told you about so I was wondering what on earth she could be referring too.

After scanning down the mail entry page, I notice a note from my Doctor, called Biopsy results. As I read his note I Knew what my mom was referring too. I have a basil Cell Carcinoma on my face just right of my right eye brow. Great, when it rains it pours. But what can one expect when they are doing what God has called them to do. I will not cower or be afraid, for the Lord my God is with me.

Day 6-10 They have fixed the water heater and stopped the electrical current in the shower. We are makeing calls to South Africa to see if we can make an appointment for surgery. Please pray that we will be able to find a doctor and make any appointment quickly. A missionary friend well be flying down with me to help me through this process. God is providing. A lady here on Campus has family in South Africa and they will host us while we are down there. I will need to rent a car. I do not have heath insurance so you can be praying that the Lord will undertake for me in this as well.

There are two doctors and an EMT coming in to help out in the clinic this week. Our main doctor's wife is having a baby. They have lost three children so pray that every thing goes well with the Birth of this child. We also need to begin out team building at the Clinic. Pray for UNITY. There is talk in the country that the "whites should be asked to leave. The president will be making a statement about this soon, so pray that the people will hear and that God will do a miracle in this land. We need revival. The ABC campus is also in need of Revival. I want to pray, pray, pray. Drop me a line if you will. I have to go to people's house to get the internet access, so I'm not exactly in an eazy place to get to communication.

Man makes his plans, but God.....

2007-09-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

Just when you think the coast is clear, than something happens. My friends the Skagens came and spent the last two days here at my Mom's place, so we could get a few last minute things done and then they said they were willing to take me to the airport.

We left here at 8am sharp, and arrived at the airport with 3 hour to make it on the plane. Plenty of time, right? Wrong! When we got to the front of the line the attendant asked me for my visa, there was no visa in my Passport and they refused to look at the letter the mission had given me. They simply sent me away. We tryed for hours to get the papers in order, but after 6 hours of efforts we gave up and came home. We left the car full of stuff and pulled our way across the lake . I keep missing things like my wallet and passport, but that's what happens when you .
are running back and forth between airlines and making calls on cell phones. All is found.

Tomorrow is a new day and we will see what the Lord will do with it. My heart is at peace. I will try to get some rest this week-end and trust that the Lord has a purpose in all this. Thanks for your continued prayers. Michelle

On My Way

2007-09-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

Well the day has finally come and I am ready to go. Thanks to all you who are praying and or have prayed. God has done above and beyond all that I could ever ask or think, truely He is faithful.

The last few days their have been complications with my ticket but it seem that the Airlines have cleared all the problems up now. Keep praying for a safe and restful trip. Can 30 plus hours of traveling be restfull? We will see.

I also had to have a byopsy on my face this week and would appreciate your prayer on my behalf that this won't be cancer but just a funky groweth.

I will post again tomarrow once I'm through the ticket line.

In Oregon

2007-08-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

Hi I'm checking in from Springfield Oregon. Yesterday my dog Whinny the Pooh and I drove for 9 and a half hours up the 5 highway. I'm always captured by the beauty of the Mount Shasta area. I think that drive is one of my favorites. It's pretty clear that we have entered an area where there is rain. The trees have become so lush and green. Beauty at it's best. Pooh and I will be going to Sisters Oregon today. But my friends the Snyders have invited me to hang out at their home for a few hours to do laundry and rest.

I recieved a letter from Malawi today and the people there are anxious for me to come. they say they are praying. Thankyou also for your prayers as I visit with old friends and encourage others along the way. Blessings Michelle

2007-08-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

2007-07-31T12:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Blog page.

2007-07-31T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hi, welcome to my new Blog page!
My Name is Michelle Clark, and I'm excited about embarking upon a new adventure in Malawi, Southeast Africa, where I will be running the clinic at the African Bible College. The clinic plays a vital role in the local area, providing much-needed care to people who don't always have access to good, reliable medical treatment. I'm very honored to have been asked by college president Paul Chinchen and head physician Mark Borsma to assist the doctors working there. I will help them by taking on a variety of administrative tasks, which will free them up to treat more patients.
At this point, I'm in the preparation stages for departing my home in the US for Malawi. I'll be visiting various churches on my way from California to Washington state, where I'll have time to visit my mother and speak to the local churches before departing for Africa. It's very important for me to build a support team of people who will commit to praying and/or giving financially to the ministry in Malawi. I will be working full-time at the clinic, overseeing a staff of 40-plus individuals. It's a very busy position, and I will not have the ability to earn a salary while I'm in Africa, so finances are needed and much appreciated.
So far, my support team consists of some Individuals and American churches. I am very grateful to each person as well as each church that has made this important commitment, and I pray for my support team daily. I welcome your prayer requests and would enjoy reading your comments and answering your questions while I'm away, which is why (in part) I decided to create this blog page. I feel that it is very important to stay in close contact with my support team and anyone interested in my work in Africa. I want to support you, too, by praying for you. Please don't hesitate to ask!
On the 20th of July, 2007, I closed up my apartment in Colorado and drove to Chandler, Arizona, where I was introduced to The Grove Bible Church. They have committed to supportting me with prayer and finances, for which I am very grateful. While I was speaking to the church, a generous man donated money to purchase mosquito nets, which are needed to protect Malawian children from contracting malaria. I will be overseeing the distribution of the nets, in conjunction with LIVE LOVE.
While in Arizona, I met with a couple of doctors and shared my mission with them. I also had a chance to talk with the donation-supplies clerk for the local Mayo clinic, who donated some Dopplers and IV poles, along with other medical equipment. These supplies will be greatly appreciated by the doctors working at the African Bible College clinic.
My next stop was San Diego, California, where I met with three pastors. All three were positive and encouraging, and I enjoyed meeting with them. Today I'm in Idyllwild, California, visiting my friend Sharilyn Miller. She's a jewelry artist who works with wire. We thought it would be fun to take a break from my support activities to spend some relaxing time making jewelry, which I'm quite new at but enjoying very much. You never know where a new skill can be used for God. I'm hopeful that I can teach the African widows how to make jewelry, too, so that they can make a living.
Thanks so much for reading my very first blog. I've never done this before, so my travels in Africa will be coupled with new adventures in cyberspace as I attempt to share my daily life with you. I welcome your comments, questions and prayer requests. If you'd like to know more about supporting my efforts working at the clinic in Malawi, please visit the various links I have posted and feel free to e-mail me anytime.