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