Nutrition Wrap-up

This is intended as a bit of a wrap-up on the nutrition part of the healthcare mission – again from the perspective of the theoretical mathematician (and old man of the trip).

Mary Jane conducted a total of 12 mini-workshops (about two hours each) over a period of nine days (M-F of week one and M-Th of week two). Seven of these were oriented primarily to volunteers who feed orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), three were primarily for volunteers who do home-based care, and two were a combination of the two groups. My role was to take notes, take pictures, and occasionally ask if she intended to talk about some particular topic and to sometimes assist with making changes in the slides for the next presentation.

These workshops were sometimes for as few as three volunteers, more frequently for six to eight volunteers, and occasionally for quite a few more. Each day we were driven by either Rosemary or Andrew+ Symonds and accompanied by two members of the Diocesan HIV/AIDS staff. Philile, Thulie, and Lungile took turns translating for us – Mary Jane’s method of teaching them. By the second week they were frequently getting ahead of her. They particularly liked Mary Jane’s statement that working men need energy (calories) but their need for protein is not higher than that of children and young women of child-bearing age. They could push that statement in cultural ways that always got the women laughing at the thought that they now had a reason to pursue change at home.

It was hard for us to judge just how successful these sessions were, but the staff kept assuring us that the volunteers were grateful. Good questions were raised in several of the workshops. Most of the sessions were held in a church or school, but in Mpandesane (site of the second dental clinic), the workshop was held under a tree (and the computer was quickly put aside since the sun was too bright). After all, “when two or three are gathered (under a tree) Jesus will be there”, we were reminded.

In addition to the workshops, we observed children eating their meals and also made four home visits with volunteer care providers to have a better idea of what is involved. After one of those visits we left the volunteer at the clinic where she was to pick up medicine for one of the patients. While we headed to our next workshop, she would be walking the three kilometers back to his home along the dirt track, through the rain. At one parish the 15 care providers have 12 critically ill patients whom they visit both morning and afternoon.

Forty volunteers from across Swaziland were invited to participate in a Friday night, Saturday workshop at the Thokoza Centre at the end of our stay. Thirty-eight came along with ten Iowans, the three staff from the HIV/AIDS office, and Rosemary and Andrew Symonds. Friday night was probably a bit too long for everyone – the dental team got back about 1 pm so had little time to recuperate before 4 pm tea. The participants came from all over the country – mostly by “kombie” – so were also tired.However, interaction was good.

Saturday morning was the “teaching” portion of the workshop with presentations on Palliative Care (Kendra), Oral Health (Terry), and Nutrition (Mary Jane+). Iowans participated in table discussions as listeners and recorders and were impressed with the stories they heard about the work of these volunteers.

The power-point presentations were left with the staff. It is our hope that they will translate the slides into SiSwati to be more useful for them to continue teaching.

It was a tiring experience, a humbling experience, and a joyous experience as we saw the work these people do with so little resources.

How far would you walk?

Throughout our clinic on Wednesday, October 5th, we saw a constant stream of patients. Mainly adults from the community and teachers from the school where the clinic was set. But October 5th will always remain in my mind.....Sabusiswa (Stevie Shively) SiSwati for "blessed"

Each time I peeked out the door of our operatory (head-mistresses office) to the "waiting room," which was a line of about a dozen chairs set outdoors down to the next classroom, there were people patiently waiting. The last couple of hours of the afternoon, I checked to see that we were almost through the line, then I would look again and the chairs would be full! As we finished what we thought would be our very last patient, there appeared a little girl, eleven years old whom I will NEVER forget. Fr. Gregory (priest in charge of several churches in his parish in the south) had announced a week or so ago to those in the congregation that our oral health clinic was coming. The gogo (grannie) of a young girl learned this through a friend and shared with her granddaughter. Nolwazi arrived at the mission clinic site early that Wednesday morning. She checked in with our nurse, Kendra and interpreter Manla. She learned that the "Minister of Health" of Swaziland required all children to have signed permission forms to be seen in the mission clinic. This may have discouraged some, especially a child, but not Nolwazi! Fr. Carl and Fr. Gregory heared her story and gave her a ride to a bus stop where she caught a bus to get closer to her home. She walked the rest of the way to her home where her gogo signed her permission form, then she walked back to the bus stop to patiently wait for Fr. Carl and Gregory to return from their other mission they were completing. They returned to the Mpandesane Anglican School where Dr. Terry removed decay, restored several teeth, and she was then referred to the Swazi hygienists (from the government clinic) who extracted several teeth for her. She planned to walk back to the bus stop, but we gave her a ride at the end of our day. We pray for Nolwazi, that she will have many opprtunities to develop her strong will and indomitable spirit! Nkulunkulu agubusise, Nolwazi...(God bless you, Nolwazi)

Final Days in Swaziland

Our team had an incredible experience throughout our journey. We saw over 1000 children and adults through the dental clinics and nutritional assessments. We were treated to wonderful food, fellowship, and new friendships. Each of our experiences were different, but we shared a common bond as a team. The Swazi people take the best care of their guests, we could not have asked for better hospitality. Throughout the three weeks in the beautiful Kingdom of Swaziland, our team was able to truly witness the day to day challenges the people of rural and urban Swaziland face. Whether it's the shortage of food, shelter, and drinkable water in the rural areas, or for the people throughout the country faced with HIV/AIDS and lack of medicine to treat the variety of diseases and infections. As Americans, we struggled with daily showers and the shortage of Internet availability; such an insignificant problem when you look at all they face on a day to day basis. We will never forget the beautiful songs, the way they worship and dance throughout their church services, and the welcoming hugs and handshakes from everyone we met. Springtime in Swaziland is a definite "must see" along with the winding red dirt pathways that veer of into the distance from the main roads leading to a quaint homestead where a Gogo (grannie) and her grandson or granddaughter live in a one room thatched hut. In the morning that child will walk possibly 1-3 miles to school for their potential one meal per day. Again, as Americans, we take so much for granted and do we truly appreciate what we have? These scenes will remain in our hearts and minds until we meet again. Salakahle...Gugu (Elizabeth)

October 6, 2011

This is the last day of the dental clinic and there are four days until we return home. I am anxious to see my husband, family and friends, yet there is so much that pulls at my heart to stay. I pass through the gate on my way to the "toilet" and I wonder, "am I really here?" The country is so beautiful, but the disparity of the people is heart breaking. The children run by and wave at Father Carl, they are so beautiful. Their smiles are genuine and their eyes tell such stories. Their beautiful skin soaks up the African sun deepening their rich color. The children wear clothes that do not fit or are ragged and torn. Their shoes are too small, too big, worn to a frazzle, or they have none at all. As they pass by they may ask for a sweet, but mostly they want just a smile or some affection. To celebrate our last day they treated us to a feast. We were served rice, sweet beans, chicken, (fried and boiled) coleslaw, pasta salad, green salad, and beets. It was hard to eat so much food when so many of the children do not get the food they need. They also presented us with a goat, this is a great honor. They drug the goat into the classroom which was our dining room, so we could see what a wonderful specimen he was. Knowing that they were now going to slaughter it, sent Kaelly over the edge and she could not shut off the tears for hours. I wish it would not offend the people if we could give it back to the children. As the day wound to a close, the children entertained us with traditional song and dance. What a beautiful display of their culture. The tent comes down, the equipment is packed, the trailer is loaded and we say "Good-bye," leaving behind pieces of our lives and hearts; hopefully enough love and hope to last them a time. Holly

October 5, 2011

Today was like many others this week. Up around 5:30AM, take a very quick shower and then off to the kitchen to see what's to eat...aaaahhh a bowl of cornflakes, my favorite and of course Swazi bananas! After setting up our equipment at the school, we decided to get started with Part 2 of the Wall of Memories project. Elizabeth, Kaelly and I chose a color and painted the children's hands with a paintbrush. They all stood in line by class to receive their "painted hand" to place on the wall. Manla and Thando helped guide the children and placed their hands in various places on the wall. Grade 1-7 all got to participate along with the teachers. When we were all done they were full of smiles. That made all of us so happy. It was one of many things we did this week for them that they will remember us all from Iowa (and Minnesota) and we will remember them.
Jabulani (Evan)...SiSwati for Happy

October 4, 2011

Today is the second day of our dental clinic at Phandesane School. We are starting to get used to the hour car ride to and from Pasture Valley Farms where we are staying to the school each day. Yesterday when we arrived, one of the teachers approached me and asked me to give a presentation to the kids about the history of the American Indians and the United States. So Father Carl helped me out and we gave a 30 minute presentation to the students. At the end they were all smiles and asked a lot of questions. It showed that something so little can change their day! After lunch and "recess" we started a new project. We had asked the Head Mistress (principal) if we could paint a wall outside ad have the kids decorate it with us. Kaelly and I painted a 10 x 10 foot square on the end wall of the school building with two coats of white paint. My mom (Elizabeth) then wrote "Nkhulu Nkhulu Agubusise" but then was told it was misspelled...so we repainted it correctly in the Zulu form, since this part of the country spoke a different version of the language...all was fine once fixed!

Homecare/OVC

Just a bit about the nutrition part of this from the resident mathematician.

Tuesday was spent driving to Mpandesane, holding a workshop under the tree, visiting with the dental team, being involved in some problem-diagnosis where prayers are needed for a young one, and driving back to Mbabane. The workshop there involved care-givers from both Mpandesane and Matsanjeni where the 2008 group had supper in the very small church with cardboard stuffing the spaces between the "logs". Some of the women who prepared that meal were at the workshop - which meant a lot to Mary Jane.

Today it was to Lomahasha in the northeast corner of the country. I was there in 2004 for the dedication of St Thomas's new church that some other Iowans had helped to build. There was a group of 11 caregivers this morning who asked lots of good questions and very clearly are doing God's work in visiting the sick -- sometimes in the morning and again in the afternoon. "This is our Christian sacrifice," we were told. This group gets some coordination and training from another friend of Iowans, Clementine Mashwama, widow of the late Rev. George M, who along with the Noahs started much of this exchange.

Tomorrow we head back south -- about halfway -- for our final mini-workshop. Friday morning the dental team will be returning, and Friday afternoon we will have 40 of the Neighborhood Care Point volunteers and Home Based Care volunteers here at Thokoza for a workshop. Hopefully, we will be ready for that -- there won't be all those "freebies" that some expect at workshops and conferences, but there will be singing and sharing.

Thanks to all for your prayers and words of encouragement! We look forward to seeing you soon.

Dave

Elizabeth on Monday

Our first day of our second dental clinic is where we travelled to three years ago, when I handed out my children's clothes in Matsanjeni. So this area of Swaziland is very dear to my heart. The clinic is located at Mpandensane Primary School and is run by the Anglican Church. We left at 7:15 AM to travel 1 hour 15 minutes to set up -- finding out we were without electricity to begin. We finally got everything situated and began seeing students after they ate their lunch. We saw 90 children and were amazed at their dental health. Due to the lack of food and money their diet does not have the sugar that normally is seen so their teeth are healthier, but that's not the case for their overall health.

As the children waited today, Evan and I twirled the ropes that we brought for them to jump with, they loved it. I read them some stories, and blew some bubbles. They are so well behaved and are so anxious to be seen by the nurse and dentist! I am even learning SiSwati!

As Kendra said Jeremiah 29:11 is "our verse" for this journey. Whenever a situation arises that brings that verse to our minds, she and I can exchange a glance and we know He has a plan for us -- we are at His mercy. Thank you to all who have been praying for us back home -- we miss you all --

Nkhulu, Nkhulu Akubusise
(God Bless you)
GuGu (Elizabeth)

Kendra's Sunday

Sunday morning our team attended church at Mhloshene Parish for the Western Archdeaconry of Swaziland family and fundraising day. Church was held in a large tent and over flowing with people. The Holy Spirit was strong and mighty during praise and worship. Once back at the Thakoza Center it was a quick lunch and packing for travel to our next dental clinic in Mpandesane and Matsanjeni, a 4 hour trip from Mbabane. We are being housed an hour away from our clinic at Pasture Valley Farm that has an orphanage. The beauty of the area and the children are amazing.

We are being housed tn their education and training center. There are 12 of us with our mats in one room. The most interesting part is trying to keep it quiet when the early birds are ready for bed. God on multiple occasions has spoken the following: "For I know the plans I have for you ... Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Love and Blessing to all. I will see you soon.

Nolwazi (Kendra)

Nkhaba Home Based Care

Greetings One and All!
Tomorrow David and I will head south with Fr. Andrew and two members of the Diocesan HIV/AIDS office. The Staff from the HIV/AIDS office translate for me, and they are learning what I am teaching. We will be presenting two more workshop presentations tomorrow (I think), and take some additional supplies to the dental team at their worksite. We are anxious to see how the dental team are doing in this second location, and will be better able to report tomorrow night.

There have been many metanoia/turning around/conversion of the heart experiences here in Swaziland, but none more powerful than today. We drove out northwest this morning, and picked up a woman waiting for us. Sandra climbed into the SUV with us, and then onto to some even more rural roads to see one of her success cases - a 27 year old mother of two who has AIDS and TB. Through Sandra's efforts and the care of her uncle and his wife, she is regularly receiving drugs for both diseases. Sandra and the aunt kept telling us how well the young woman was doing. She is still very thin with obvious muscle wasting- and walking is difficult for her. The aunt told me, "She was so sick, I thought she was dying. But, this woman came and said, "Don't worry. I will help you, and we will get the help she needs. And by God's grace now she is better." Much of the activity of the morning was to keep the large, guard rooster out of the house, who was not sure we should be in the house. I don't think Dave realized that shooing the rooster, as well as a hen and her chicks out of the house would be part of the day's job description.
Then around to the second place on even more challenging roads/trails. Rosemary Symounds was driving today, and she did a masterful job on difficult roads and conditions. This patient was a 40 year old male, who had been in denial for a long time, and only started on ARV's for full-blown AIDS last week. This two room house was constructed of tree branches, and red clay ( not bricks) filling in between the branch poles. Sandra marched in and talked to the man, and a relative who was cleaning the house this morning. I was glad to see that the woman who was cleaning was wearing gloves, and one could smell the chlorox. When I was outside with Sandra, I asked if she had training as a nurse. "No, but I am Christian, and have taken all the training the Diocese has offered. I think I have a gift for this work, and it is my calling." Sandra heated water over an open fire outside, and then when she had adjusted the temperature of the water, she added a little chlorox, and a bar of soap, and I helped her bathe the man. I am in awe of her gentleness and strength - her courage and persistance. Her patient needed some medication for a urinary tract infection, and so after our training session, we drove her to the clinic to get the medicine, and then she would walk back to the man's house with the antibiotics. Yes, Sandra, has indeed responded to God's call to visit and care for the sick in her isolated, rural community! What an example! I started working in hospitals at 19, and have met a number of very talented and gifted health professionals over these many years, but Sandra is right up there at the top! Tonight I know myself as a coddled American, and will spend the rest of my days praying for Sandra, and others, for their works of mercy with AIDS patients here in Swaziland.
As we are Enfolded in God's Love,
Mary Jane+

Sunday in Swaziland

Just a bit about the weekend and where we are.

Yesterday was "fishing with Fr. Charles" for Three Guys from St. Alban's and Swazi Candles (and area shops) and Ezulwini Market for the others.

Today we were off at 8:30 for the Western Region Family Gathering at which Fr. Charles was the preacher. We had to leave early but did receive communion before departing. Lots of singing with Fr. "Victor", who drove us around in 1998, leading the singing with his beautiful voice.

The dental team got on its way south -- later than hoped. They were going directly to where they will stay while Thando and Fr. Charles and three youth from Ezulwini were to set up the tent at the clinic grounds before Charles returned with the youth. The team will be cooking their own breakfasts before beginning their 40 km commute to the clinic each day.

Mary Jane and I met with Fr. Andrew and Rosemary this afternoon to do some more planning for next weekend's workshop. Then walked to town to see if we could get on the wireless at Pablo's before dinner -- only to find at 5:30 pm that they close at 4 pm on Sunday. I'm still hoping to get there to try to add a few more pictures to some of these posts but don't know when/if that will happen.

The nutrition mini-workshops this week will be close by on Monday and Wednesday. We go south on Tuesday with two workshops plus checking in with the dental team. On Thursday we go to the northeast corner of the country to do a workshop in Lomahasha. It has been an interesting and inspiring and heart-string-pulling experience.

Greetings to all of you!
Dave

Terry on the 1st week

Sawubona (Greetings) to All

You that have been reading this blog are sensing an experience unfolding - with the rich details of our travel and clinic - and all that is going on with it.

In this segment, please allow me to give you a bit of a different side.

The SwaziHealthcareTeam2011 is truly experiencing, I believe, the aura of the Holy Spirit. That is to say, as I have a few moments to observe each member in our travel and clinic, it becomes clear how dedicated, committed and loving they are with their brothers and sisters in Christ. It is practically beyond words for me to describe.

As a team leader (for those who "Have been there") you will appreciate that each "has got the others back". Truly in the Body of Christ we are a family following our Lord's call.

We are very blessed and thankful for your prayers.

Sala Kahle (be well),
T.R. Shively

Shop til We Drop!

We arrived at Thokoza last night at 8pm after a long, dark drive from Maphungwane. We were served dinner and we bolted to the long awaited hot showers. We all had a great night's sleep and were totally refreshed in the morning. We spent the morning cleaning and reorganizing our equipment for next weeks clinic, which will be in the southern part of the country. After lunch we travelled to Ngwenya Glass Factory where we toured and saw how the figurines and glasses were made by hand out of recycled glass. Little did we know that the speed limit was 80km/hr, when our guide...Carl+ was going 96km/hr. Ask him about when you see him! Then we were off to the market, it started to rain and the "boys" were getting antsy...imagine that! So we will be off again tomorrow to get more shopping done and to visit the Swazi Candle Factory. We returned to Thokosa Center for more food and fellowship in the thunder. Now I am blogging with Nolwazi (Kendra) and Sabusiswa (Stevie), everyone else in playing cribbage. Hi to Emma and Chris, and my Make Vera. Love, Gugu (Elizabeth)

Thursday by Kaelly

This morning we said "Good-bye" to our families. It was sad for my "Make" (magay=mom) and me to leave our new family because we felt so close in such a short time. The ride to meet the others was quite funny. Peter+ tried to tell us he had a ten year old sister, when he had to be in his fifties. He asked,"Why do you always laugh at me?" I told him because, "You are too funny," I said. Later Father Charles explained to us that cousins, nieces, and nephews in a America are called brothers and sisters in Swaziland. So what Peter+ was telling was true for him :-).
Our long, bumpy journey to the clinic felt shorter than usual. When we arrived at 8AM, there were many older women already waiting for Dr. Terry. There were less children seen today, but more restorative dental work was done from previous exams earlier in the week.
Bhekani (Begani) greeted us in his native dress and the smile that he always brings to our faces. Carl+ and Elizabeth traveled with Thokosa to two primary schools to hand out dental pouches. They were greeted with warm smiles by the children and given tours by the principal. They gave over 500 children toothbrushes that morning.
Lunch was served again by the ladies taking such good care of us. We had the remainder of the goat, which I did not eat, due to seeing it before butchering! We were also served pumpkin, beets, cabbage slaw, and a trifle...which was really yummy.
Father Charles and Thando showed up with the trailer, than the "good-byes' started to come faster. It was hard to say good-bye to the nursing staff because we had become so close. We packed up the trailer with all of our equipment and off to Thokosa we went. We learned many things from Father Charles on our ride home. It was another amazing day in Swaziland. Love, Nothando(Kaelly)

Clinic Update by Holly

It is the third of the dental clinic the things are going smoothly, but at a much slower pace than the first two days. The group of preschoolers that came on Monday with no permission slips, came again with slips today. As they waited for Dr. Terry we were treated to several songs. They may be little in form, but mighty in voice. During our slow times, Evan keeps us entertained as Charity and Mpumi teach him Siswati. He is a willing student, and is doing quite well. I am so thankful for his presence, he gives me the lift I need. On our way back to our homes we learn that we would be leaving our homes after Thursday morning. This news made Kaelly and me sad. We have enjoyed our stay with our family and wish we could spend more time getting to know them. They will always be in my heart. We do look forward to a flushing toilet and a shower though. Kaelly did better than I thought she would with our toilet "accomodations!" So as I sit here Thursday morning writing, I realize I will even miss those (bleep) roosters that start crowing at a an ungodly hour...before 3am. From now on when I hear a rooster crow it will bring me home to Swaziland. God does have a plan for me. My heart has become hardened at home and here God has broken it and turned it into clay so that He can reshape it and provide me with a heart that is filled with passion and joy, one that can receive love, as well as one that can give love. He has broken my heart open so that it may be filled with joy. Blessings to all...Nokuthula (Holly)

St. Thomas Parish

Photo of youth at one of Father Charles' Parish...they were all over Evan and Kaelly for Facebook addresses! This was taken on Sunday after our wonderful service that Father Carl presided with Father Charles.

Clinic Update

We are at the mercy of the Swazi wireless...so here are words from Stevie Shively from our week at the first healthcare clinic:
Prayer partners have been essential to our time here, "I cannot thank those you who did this for us enough! Your support and prayers are so important to us all! Matthew 6:25-34 "But strive for the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." How small our contribution seemed compared to what we received from all those who touched our lives during the clinic!
Our days started EARLY with our alarms (roosters) going off anywhere from 1:30-5:00 AM. Kendra and Elizabeth stayed with one family, Evan and Carl+ another, they were close in proximity, and Holly and Kaelly were with another, while Terry and I stayed closer to town with Nezzie and Ethel...the same family Bishop Alan stayed with while he was here. We ate breakfast each morning with our "family" then were on the road to Maphungwane with Carl+ and Father Peter (The Rock) by 7:15AM each day. The drive took us 30 minutes down a a road that looked and felt like a dried river bed. The clinic was very close to the Mozambique border. We passed many rural home and children walking to school in their uniforms and back packs, some over two miles away.
The clinic consists of a "waiting/reception" area outside the building on wooden benches where the children sit until their names are called. The teachers bring the students with their "Parent Permission" forms which are required by the Minister of Health in Swaziland before they are allowed to be seen by the doctor. One by one they come to Kendra. She and the nurse evaluate their health before sending them to Dr. Terry for treatment. Three nursing students help us each day, Francis started the week and and then Charity, Sibosiso, and Mpumi continued from a local hospital called the Good Shepherd where they had just finished their two year training. Some patients are given the "green light" to go on their way, as their teeth are healthy. Kaelly and Evan are in charge of keeping the children occupied with songs, books, crafts (friendship bracelets) and/or games. Evan's soccer ball was a hit, as were the bubbles that Kaelly blew. Charity and Elizabeth maintained a smooth flow of patients while Sibosiso assisted Dr. T and Stevie in the "operatory." Holly made sure all instruments, etc. were sanitized and sterile throughout the day. Carl+ was our "mann" with many hats! He either repaired a dental chair, kept us happy and hydrated, or was the "go to guy" when we needed something! Mostof all, he was always praying...
Lunch was served each day around 2pm, by the women from Fr. Peter's parish. They delivered wonderful food, filling two six foot tables with meat, vegetables, salad, dessert, and soft drinks each day. We were serve goat the first day, a total honor here in Swaziland. We worked until 5PM each day due to darkness falling so early. We saw 119 patients Monday, 160 Tuesday and more to come.
Our families were waiting for us each evening with dinner being served shortly there after. Many memories were shared and information exchanged at the dinner table with our new found friends. We each were given a bucket of water to wash up in, and it was time for bed...ready for the next day...what a priviledge it is to serve the people we are working with....Stevie

Carl+ -Tuesday, 27Sept

Sanibonani,

Usually I'm not at a loss of words, but after only three days I'm not sure of what to talk about.

On Sunday we went to St. Thomas Parish outside of Mbabane, which is on of Fr. Charles' four congregations. Fr. Charles had asked me earlier in the month if I would preach, for which I was prepared, but when I arrived he also informed me that I was celebrant too!

The whole service was a combination of SiSwati and English including my sermon which was translated sentence by sentence. After communion Fr. Charles had me bless the children who had not received the Holy Sacrament and there were about fifty of them, one by one. All during this time the congregation was singing, and it was truly one of the most blessed and holy moments of my priesthood to date.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this mission and I look forward to coming home and sharing more moments such as these. Someone please say hello to my wife and let her know I miss her.

Blessings,
Carl+

Kendra--Sunday 9/25

[MJ and I did see the team this afternoon; they also have not got wireless working so sent some posts back with us]

This morning we attended Fr. Charles' church, St Thomas, west from Mbabane. It is a very young and lovely congregation. After church it was back to the Thakoza Center for lunch and to pack for our first clinic near Siteki. The trip to Siteki took about two hours, this allowed time for the goats and cows to move off the road. Once in Siteki we set up the clinic, had tea and were dropped off at our host families homes for an evening of conversation and preparing for our first day in clinic.

Kendra

Wednesday am

Just a brief note -- expect to have more to post tonight.

MJ and I are off to Mpaka (that is approximately "ba-ga") where she will do another mini-workshop at Christ Church/school. We will then go on to see what the rest of the team is doing. We will be taking another jug of Sidex for sterilizing equipment and some diet coke for those who need that "fix" along with a few more supplies.

Rosemarie just drove up; not sure if she or Andrew will be going with us today but we will also be joined again by Philile and Thulie.

Nice and cool this morning but did get hot yesterday -- mostly 60s and 70s here at Thokoza.

Faithfully,

Dave

Memo to families of team

Yesterday after our first mini-workshop I went downtown to access an ATM, activate the phone the Rockwells had sent with us, and find a place to access wireless. I was successful on only the first task. Mary Jane and I can access her gmail and the blog (but can't post pictures) from the Thokoza computer, but the version of Microsoft Explorer is apparently too old to speak to the Microsoft Outlook that would access my email account. Fr. Charles has his computer with the dental team but I don't know yet how their access has been. We will know more tonight.

Fr. Andrew Symonds spent yesterday with the dental team while his wife Rosemarie took MJ, Philile, Thulie and me to our first clinic in the mountains between Mbabane and Piggs Peak. Today Fr. Andrew will be with us while Rosemarie will be with the dental team.

Thando, who helped move the team on Sunday reported that the set-up went well. We understand there was some delay Monday morning with consent forms, but that the dental clinic was in operation at least by afternoon. We should know more by tonight how their work is progressing. Once I get the phone working we should be able to check in more easily; once I have wireless access we should be able to post some pictures; once Elizabeth gets Fr. Charles' computer communicating, she will also be posting.

Thank you again for your interest and support. Your prayers sustain us especially when we can't talk face to face. Your prayers for the people of Swaziland and for the Anglican Church in Swaziland also give our companions hope and encouragement in an uncertain time.

We are well and about to head our for Day 2.

Blessings!
Dave

First Sunday in Swaziland

What a beautiful, sunny spring day! We all were driven up the mountains to St. Thomas, one of several to many churches served by Fr. Charles Kunene. Fr. Charles admits to still dreaming "in Iowa", and what a delight to worship this morning with Fr. Charles and Thulie. Fr. Carl Mann of St. Albans, Spirit Lake was the preacher/presider. Young people from the congregation read the lessons in English and Saswati. We sat next to the Sunday School Superintendent who shared her hymnal to "encourage our singing". They sang the refrain to "O Come All Ye Faithful" within the eucharistic prayer. At announcement time Fr. Charles introduced us, and told all of us that the green frontal was a gift from St. Paul's Cathedral. And in the back of the church is a clock from Shenandoah, affectionately reminding him of Bud Ferrel, his sermon time-keeper. After getting acquanted it was back through the hills to Thokoza Center for the dental team to pack, eat, and head east to move in with host families and to set up the space where they will start screening and treating school children tomorrow. Yesterday a government official spent a long time with Terry and Fr. Andrew to finish the credentialing process which was a lengthy process of sticky government control. But, at the end she became excited to see what actually would be done, and will be sending several of her para-professionals to the eastern dental clinic for training with Terry. This is very positive and excitin! Dave and Mary Jane enjoyed a leisurely lunch with Fr. Andrew and Rosemary with much conversation about the Neighborhood Care Pointes, and our schedule for tomorrow. We will meet with the women working in the HIV/AIDS office and then off to Ekufikeni to begin program assessment, gather input from all I meet, and then do a mini-workshop for those who prepare the food and care for the children there. We feel so supported by your prayers - and we are grateful! Know that you are in our prayers. Sahle Kahle! (Stay well!) MJ+

In Swaziland

(written Saturday evening; posted Sunday evening)

We arrived at the Thokoza Centre around 3:30 Friday afternoon and got most of the dental team supplies sorted and ready for the next two weeks before our Welcome Dinner. We were joined by Bishop Meshack and Lucy Mabuza, Archdeacon Bheki Magongo, Rev. Orma Mavimbela, Rev. Charles Kunene, Rev. Andrew and Rosemarie Symonds, Thando Mnisi (driver and soon-to-be electrical engineer), and the HIV/AIDS office staff: Philile Ndlela-Hlatswayo, Thulie Ncongwane, and Lungile Shongwe.

Saturday morning we left Dr. Terry Shively and Fr. Andrew in Mbabane to negotiate with the official from the Health Ministry. The rest of us traveled to Hlane Royal Game Park to get energized for the next two weeks of work. Only one lion (male) posed for us this time and no leopards or zebra, but we saw quite a few elephants, white rhinos, hippos, impala and other antelope, giraffes, warthogs, wildebeest, and many interesting birds.

Thanks for all of your prayers for this mission.

Blessings from springtime!
Dave

We are here!!!!

We have safely arrived in South Africa...all 10 team members, 24 pieces of checked luggage and 20 carry on bags! Father Charles Kunene and Thando greeted us at the airport and made sure we were safely tucked into the Life Hotel in Kempton Park, South Africa. We are very tired after our 15 hour journey from Atlanta, and ready for a shower and a good night's rest before we continue on to the Kingdom of Swaziland in the morning.

Days to Departure...

The Health Care Ministry team is on the threshold of our travel to do God's work. We have been updated on our accommodations for our first clinic in Siteki. We will be divided into four groups of two, staying with four lovely families about 20-30 minutes drive from our clinic site in Maphungwane. We are excited to hear that we will be staying with these families and be enjoying breakfast each morning with our host family before our departure to the clinic site by 7:30AM each day. Our site will be a school where we are scheduled to care for 500 students throughout the four day clinic. Stay tuned for weekend posts of updates from both the dental and nutrition teams. The grace of God will keep us where the will of God has called us.

2011 Iowa Episcopal Health Care Ministry Visit to Swaziland ~ September 21 -- October 11, 2011

"To support a lifetime of health & wellbeing for the next generations of faith in Swaziland" ~

On September 21, 2011, ten Iowans will embark on a journey; to Swaziland, Africa, to work with and provide an educational workshop for local health care givers and neighborhood care point volunteers who form the Anglican lifeline for orphans and other vulnerable children in Swaziland.

During two full weeks in-country, eight team members led by Dr. T.R. Shively will hold dental clinics in villages near Siteki (east) and Nhlangano (south). As the dental clinics progress, Rev. Mary Jane Oakland, retired ISUnutrition professor, and David Oakland will survey nutritional needs and opportunities at Anglican feeding centers/care points throughout the Diocese of Swaziland. After the completion of the clinics and nutritional assessment, the whole team will offer a health care workshop at the Anglican Thokoza Center in Mbabane for 55 caregivers of the 14 Neighborhood Care Points.

2011 Health Care Ministry Team members in photo from top left: David Oakland, Ames; Evan Ward, Ceylon, Minnesota; Dr. Terry Shively, dentist & team leader, Spencer; Rev. Carl Mann, Spirit Lake; Kaelly Scherff, Ft. Dodge; (bottom left) Stevie Shively, dental assistant, Spencer; Rev. Mary Jane Oakland, team nutritionist, Ames; Elizabeth Ward, Ceylon, Minnesota; Kendra Thilges, registered nurse, Spirit Lake, and Holly Scherff, dental assistant, Fort Dodge.

Fundraising efforts continue across the diocese to raise $5,000 for oral health supplies and critically needed medicines/vitamins for children served at the Neighborhood Care Points, and the $5,150 required to transport the 55 volunteers from the outlying neighborhood care points to the Thokoza Center, as well as provide food, lodging and workshop materials for the health care workshop participants. The team happily reports that as of July 15, 2011, it has raised a little more than half of the $10,000.

Prayers & donations are genuinely appreciated to support this 2011 health care endeavor for orphans and other vulnerable children with our partners in Swaziland. Donations can be given to: Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, 225 37th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50312-4305: Attn: Bob Joy - Swaziland Health Care Ministry.

Celebration! +Dedication+ Christ Church, Mpaka, Swaziland ~~ Saturday, April 9, 2011

In 2004, a team of Iowans in Swaziland were invited to enter into a dream to build a school for orphans and other vulnerable children in Mpaka, an impoverished, drought-stricken area in Swaziland.

In 2005, Bishop Meshack Mabuza, Anglican Diocese of Swaziland, presented plans to construct a multi-purpose facility to serve as a school, a church, a clinic & a community center in Mpaka, and gave his blessing for this cooperative companions project to proceed. Episcopal parishes and individuals across the dioceses of Iowa and Brechin, Scotland, responded generously with funds to help make the dream come true.

In 2006, a team of Iowans contributed sweat equity to the dream... making concrete building blocks with Swazis for the school ~ church ~ clinic ~ community center at Mpaka.

By 2008, steel girders were in place and a steel roof had been purchased. In 2009 & 2010, work progressed on the building foundation and walls. In 2011, the roof was added & the facilty was ready to be dedicated during Bishop Alan Scarfe's six-week sojourn in the Diocese of Swaziland.

Now, we celebrate the completion of the dream of building & the beginning of creating a school for the children of Mpaka! Christ Church dedication ~ April 9, 2011 ~ Mpaka, Swaziland!