OCT-A-5
MESSAGE FROM MALAWI,
AS WE MAKE PLANS TO VISIT IN
APRIL/MAY OF 2003
From: "George Poehlman" <gpoehlman@ec.rr.com>
To: "Robert W. Holloway" <holloway@egyptian.net>, "Hollers, Bennie" <Bennie.Hollers@ncmail.net>, "Hogg, Scottie" <scothogg@mindspring.com>, "Hofmeister, Roger" <Rodohof@aol.com>, "Hoffman, Chuck M" <Chuck.M.Hoffman@disney.com>, "Hodges, Ann & Chris" <arosie72@triad.rr.com>, "Jonathan Hill" <Jhill@roperandquiqq.com>, "Gerri & Terry Hill" <gerrimhill@hotmail.com>, "Heyler, Virginia" <gingyh@montanaheylers.com>, "Kathy Hewitt" <katpgs@nativewave.net>, "Helfer, Tamara" <tamarahelfer@hotmail.com>, "Heath, Joyce" <Joyceheath@aol.com>, "Hathaway, Wendy" <wendyhathaway@mindspring.com>, "Sandy Hammett" <slhammett@msn.com>, "Hall, John E" <HallJE3@state.gov>, "John Hall" <sailbetz@eastnet.com.cn>, "Kate Hagelin" <lpmkate@yahoo.com>, "Chris Hagelin" <hagelin@cutr.usf.edu>, "Eva Haddon" <ebadackh@hotmail.com>, "Gore, Jeff" <jeffgore@hotmail.com>, "Gibson, Ann" <ann@killycowan.fsnet.co.uk>, "Geelhoed, Glenn" <msdgwg@gwumc.edu>, "Garrison, Lynne" <gps1@coastalnet.com>
Date: 10/3/02 10:23AM
Subject: Malawi news
Greetings all! October is here and we are pleased to tell you that the grain bank goal of $13,000 has been achieved. Jon and Mary Bennett seem to be "sustained" themselves near the end of their term by the news that so many family, friends, family friends, friends' friends and church families have supported their endeavor. They report that the grain facility is nearing completion, that prices for purchase are holding, for the moment, and that Embangweni people, themselves, are optimistic, though Jon and MB report that many are beginning to "run without".
I read in the Independent (newspaper on‑line) week before last, that the government is now estimating, country‑wide, that 80% of food stores are now depleted (September 16, if remember). The prediction of what may occur in southern Africa is frightening, with over ten million facing famine. Interestingly, the article noted that many in positions of leadership, dazed by the sudden attention by the media, seem immobilized. Comparisons made between present famine/drought conditions and the "earth famines" of Sudan and Ethiopia of the 80's reminded me of present warnings and past hurricanes to hit US coasts, and the associated bragging rights. Does it really matter, though, anywhere when the basics of human needs ‑‑ protected water and food security ‑‑ go unattended in any part of the world?
For us, for Jon and MB, and for all the others to know Malawi first‑hard, we, like Morris, the head of World Food Program on NPR Radio last week, can only articulate for others what we have seen. People are suffering, and what together we have all done for Embangweni, a small bush community in the northern part of the small nation of Malawi, means that some will live another year, at least not deprived of adequate nourishment enough to survive. And with the "bank", maybe next year more will live better. We'll hope.
Other news from Malawi. . .our good friends, Margot Leydic‑Boyd and Hayden Boyd depart for their two‑year assignment with Mzuzu University on Friday. Jon and MB will meet them at the airport in Lilongwe and help get them and their action packers transported to Mzuzu. Both will work at the university ‑‑ Hayden heading up the Research Division; Margot working on a number of issues with the administration and with women. Bill and Beth Rule begin the rather arduous intake with PCUSA in Louisville next week. If all goes well, they will be in Embangweni by February. Then they can pick up where we and Jim and Jodi left off previously with medical and station supervision and relieve Jon and MB of the work with computer education and grain storage facility, as well as Tikoleraneko AIDS Resource Center ‑‑ projects that Jon and MB have undertaken on their own time, in the absence of any other American on station.
Jon and MB are slated to arrive back in the US in December. They have already begun looking for job possibilities, Jon in applied medical anthropology, with AIDS work his preference; Mary Bennett with art direction. Research has gone amazingly well for Jon, as he had such a brilliant conception of his research, good research tools to use, including good components for evaluation. Mary Bennett has been his able helper, filming every step of the many, many data collections and interventions. Both have worked at Tikoleraneko almost daily in some capacity, but most notably really helping to give young people voice in response to AIDS. Mary Bennett has been Headmaster Jere's right‑hand person, helping him with teacher development, computer education training, physical education, and her regular art classes. How they will be missed in Embangweni for all they have done ‑‑ on top of living in the guest house and hosting dozens and dozens of guests at their table.
Our recent emails from them are sad ones. They know their time is coming to an end and they are feeling so much frustration about leaving so much undone. As Jon said today in their weekly email, "Embangweni can start to wear on you when you push and push to get things done. . . I bet they are also a bit frightened ‑‑ about rejoining the world in the West. My recollection is that George and I felt a bit intimidated about the prospect of being back home ‑‑ so many choices to make again after finding your choices of ways and work so straight‑forward. Please write to them, as I suspect these will be their hardest days ‑‑ disengaging from one world, while wondering about what's ahead.
George and I impatiently await the outcome of the long CDC job search for Medical Officer ‑‑ Malawi. George is on the short‑list, having apparently passed the security check. Now what? When will we know if he is the successful candidate/ if the job has been filled? For me when I get discouraged, I just laugh, imagining that there are at least two other crazy doctors in the world vying for a chance to move back to one of the poorest, sickest, and hungriest nations in the world. You'd think they'd hire all three!
Again, thanks for your support for the Embangweni Grain Bank. It is a success in the making. Please send our thanks to others who may have contributed that we may never know about. A loaves and fishes story once again. Betty and George
P.S. We need one new laptop computer, if anyone has set aside a good working one ‑‑ for the pre med student at Chancellor University. Also, a teacher at the Secondary School needs a replacement Braille Writer. He (and his wife) have used his for now almost twenty years. They need an "upgrade", too, as apparently Writers are improved. Maybe someone knows something about such things ‑‑ or knows someone else who does! Nutritional Rehabilitation Unit needs milk money, if any families want to make a Thanksgiving donation. Such contribution can go to Leesburg Presbyterian Church, where children's offerings sometimes are directed to NRU. Their address is Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176. For those sponsoring school fees, I am awaiting grades from the JC (Junior Certificate) Exam after sophomore year. We'll then know whether to forward additional funds for their ongoing schooling. Let's hope we hear positively. Lillian, for those who sponsor her medical school program, she has completed the year, having passed everything, some with honors! Mr. Jere is now at New Castle, pursuing his graduate work. I'm told Leesburg is still short $1800 for his tuition. Tikolerankeo is on target with the quarterly funding provided by Leesburg Presbyterian Church. And a final group of mattresses are installed using monies from St. James Episcopal in Leesburg. Finally, a lady in her nineties wrote to us last week, using her manual typewriter to suggest that she and her sister might send something from their trust, as they had heard about the AIDS work in Embangweni. The $1000 check that came this week, written with unsteady hand, says on the memo line, For AIDS ". We are incredibly touched by her gesture, transcending any generational gap and encompassing human need in a place she, like so many, can only imagine.