Winding down

Tomorrow we get on the plane for the long trip back home.... we are not looking forward to the plane ride, but we are ready to be back home. Yesterday was spent wrapping up last minute details - and of course, we did not get everything done. This IS Malawi, and everything takes twice as long as you think it will take / should take. We leave most of our clothes, plus tons of other things (printers, ice chest, tools, medical stuff, etc etc) here, so we don't haul it all back and forth. The Magaffees have graciously allowed us to use their storeroom until we return.

I want to take this opportunity to introduce you all to some of the guys we interact with daily. Mr. Whiskas (I think the official spelling is Wiskesi) is an old friend who has been our housekeeper every time we stay at the Assembly of God guest house. He is in his mid-70s and officially retired last year. He came out of retirement to work for us and we were delighted to have him. He is energetic and hard working. He and his wife live in a nearby village, Mslitsa, and he bicycles in to work every morning. He had asked that we bring him some barber shears when we came this time (we did) and he used the money he made working for us to build himself a barber shop attached to his house. He is going to embark on a new career: a barber! What a guy! He thinks he will be open for business by mid-Sept. I wish I could be here for the 'ribbon cutting'. Of course, he hasn't actually learned how to cut hair, yet, but how hard can it be? The folks here (men and women) usually just shave their heads. We went to visit him yesterday to see the shop and then bring them both over for dinner. They are very special people and we are thankful God has put them in our lives.

At the guest house, we have a day guard / gate opener / gardener and night guards. The day guard is usually Sampson, a charming, handsome young man whose favorite phrase is 'Thank You'. He is delightful but I am not sure we communicate very well with him! He lives in the same village as Mr. Whiskas and bikes in to work also. He is single but lives with his younger brother. We gave him a pair of Joseph's sunglasses and a Frisbee. I think he knows how to play with the Frisbee, although 'play' is not something they do very often here. He has this funny little wave that we love to see - something he does with a couple of his fingers...

Our night guards are David and Moses. David lives in another village and bikes in (see a trend here?), is married and has three children. He listens to Christian radio at night, reading his Bible and studying God's word. He was sick earlier in the trip and we were thankful that we had some medications to give him - he is recovered now and feeling 'powerful' again. Moses is the other night guard. He went to the same language school as Sampson ('Thank you, thank you madame').. he is always smiling. He is married with 4 children - and bikes to work! We gave our night guards items for their children, wives and a little something for themselves.

We are always happy to stay at the AG guest house. The AG missionaries are awesome folks, the house is well kept, and we love the workers here!

Today we finish packing, have lunch with the Spencer's, pay our clinic 'bill', and do any last minute things that need to be done before we head for the airport in the morning. If you have followed this blog, I hope you have enjoyed it, that you have learned something about Malawi and her wonderful people, and that you have taken time to pray for the people here - nationals and workers of all sorts that are here.

Thanksgiving / Praise: a productive, safe trip; all of our friends here; all our supporters back home.

Prayer: safety these last few days and travel safety on the trip home; all the folks we are leaving here to carry on / endure.

Pictures:

Joseph and Moses

The Whiskas' and Joseph at dinner - note the large bottles of Sobo (orange crush, a favorite drink here) - no Cokes! The country is in the midst of a coke /coke product shortage - go figure??

The Whiskas in front of the almost finished new barber shop

Joseph inside the shop (to give you some perspective on the size)

Joseph and Sampson with his Frisbee and sunglasses

David at the gate