Another Ministry of Hope village clinic

Yesterday (Thursday, July 1) Jose went out with the Ministry of Hope to do another clinic. The weather was cloudy and cool, which made it nice for everyone. They think about 200 patients were seen that day, turns out last week it was closer to 300 (after they finished all the counting up). I will admit that we are not as good in keeping count of how many we have seen. The Ministry of Hope has a pretty neat set up - one station for blood pressure and pulse (that is where Jose is stationed), another for weight and temp, a lab (Jose isn't sure what they can test for, but plans to find out next time), the clinical officers, the 'recorders' (who try to get all the info from the patients) and then the pharmacy. One of the photos has two white girls and an empty chair - that is where Jose usually sits. You can also see the lab table with the microscope in one photo, and then outside the building where people are waiting their turns to be seen. Jose has posted some of the videos from this clinic on his facebook. They help you see and hear the clinic. We have gotten used to the crying babies and the general noise overload, but when you hear it on a video it makes it more real. One of the photos he took was of the mountain in the background of the village.

For those of you who do not know, this is a very beautiful country. In fact, other folks have told us that it is the loveliest of all east Africa, and for sure west Africa!

I spent Thursday morning in the clinic, and came home to no water! Well, no real water, just from the holding tank. And for some reason the pressure was even lower than usual and we could get no hot water. Jose got home from the clinic - we had to run to the store (long story) during the 5 o'clock rush hour. There are not a lot of cars in Malawi, but I think most of them are here in Lilongwe and the other large city, Blantrye. It is a zoo. And the drivers are crazy! Think Mexico drivers on steroids! I started dinner when we got home and poor Jose took a cold shower! And last night it was 59 degrees with a strong, strong wind blowing. The power was off and on, but the generator was working... interesting though that with the generator, when you turn on the oven, the kitchen light goes out! I am certainly glad we brought little head lights with us this time. I guess I will have to post a photo of me using that! More later.....