"Firsts"

A couple weeks ago, there were a number of “firsts” experienced out in the field. I went out with one my staff, Thomas, to look at a few of the villages we are working in. These are some of the “Firsts” (to the best of my knowledge) that happened that day –

First Time to See an “Azungo” (white person) tour their village school – our first stop was a rural school we are working with. The kids could hear the motorbike coming so many of them already directed their attention to us as we were pulling up on the property. Then when I took off my helmet and they realized I was a white guy, it drew even more attention. I could hear the buzz of laughter and talking about this strange visitor. We walked around the property with the school principal for a while and it seemed like every class had emptied out (granted, most of them were under a grass thatch roof with no walls) and many kids were following us around laughing and pointing at me. It was all quite funny, but I did apologize to the principal for being such a distraction…

First Time Having a Flat Tire in the Middle of nowhere – between our time in Africa 10 years ago, and the 6 months we’ve been here so far, I’ve been out to rural areas hundreds of times – by motorbike and pick-up truck. This was the first time to get a flat tire. We had to walk the motorbike about 3 km to the nearest place that could actually fix a puncture. Of course this happened at about 11am and it was a bright sunny day, so we actually got to walk the few kilometres in the heat of the day.

First Time to see an Azungo to WALK into their village (and walk out) – as we walked the bikemany of these places see only a handful of foreigners in any given year. So to see an azungo actually walk into their village (and walk out), was I’m sure the first for the village that we walked out bike through. There were a number young kids that followed us as we walked through. Thomas had to eventually tell them to turnaround and go back, otherwise they might have followed us the whole way.

First Time to Really Enjoy Stale Cookies – When we arrived in the village where we could get the flat fixed – I was thirsty and hungry. Of course, this happened to be the day that I decided not to take any snacks nor water out with me. We found a little shop that sold luke warm pops and had a coke. I asked Thomas if there were any shops in town that sold packaged snack food – chips, peanuts, or something. Being in quite a remote area, I didn’t want to risk eating something prepared locally. The only packaged food we could find were some cookies. I opened the package and had a bite of the first one – nice and stale. It didn’t matter though, I was hungry and this was the only thing to eat.

First time to Pay only $1.25 for Automobile Services – We dropped the motorbike off at “shop” at the end of the village. This shop was simply a guy with tools and some tire fixing supplies set up under a grass thatch roof that was maybe 10 x 15 feet. It took about a half hour for him to fix the flat – there ended up being two punctures in the tube to fix. In the end it only costed about $1.25 – well worth it!

We had had enough firsts for the day and had to start the 70km journey back to our field office after the tire was repaired. Besides, when we was the tube being patched we counted a total of 11 patches on the tube already, so who knew when we'd get another flat?

Becoming Immune...

(Sorry, no pictures or funny stories for this one)

Becoming immune has been a good thing for our family here in Malawi. Coming into a new climate and a whole new bunch of illnesses and viruses for our bodies to adjust to has caused some suffering. A couple months after we arrived, all of us except for Sarah (seems that she’s the strong one) got quite sick and had to fight through some sicknesses our bodies had not experienced before. Even now our bodies seem to still be adjusting to different things we eat and drink - details I don’t need to go into.

God did create the human body in a pretty amazing way, and we have adjusted to many of the new things here - be they illnesses, hotter climate, different foods - and we are becoming more and more immune to any ill effects of this different part of the world. Our bodies are not suffering through the adjustment phase like before, which is a good thing.

However, I think there is another immunity that I’m developing that I’m not so sure is a good thing. I seem to become immune to the wide spread suffering of others in a poverty-stricken country like Malawi. It’s all around me, but I don’t always give it a second thought, but just accept it as a “normal” part of life.

Whether it’s the suffering of the families impacted by flooding in different parts of the country - families that have been forced from their homes and have lost their crops. The suffering of the malnourished children I meet out in the villages we work in. The endless number of beggars both old and young - some of them inflicted with polio and other diseases we in the developed world receive immunizations for - that approach me every time I’m in town asking for whatever I can spare. The many people that come to our house asking for money because they or a loved one is sick or hungry, or some come asking for piece work to make some money. The stories I read in the local newspaper about all too common road accidents, children orphaned because parents have died of AIDS. Even those that we work with here have stories about suffering and death that I can’t even begin to imagine.

When I really think about the suffering in this part of the world seems endless. So how have I become so immune to it? Why has it become so “normal” and “acceptable” in my mind? Even to the point that I get annoyed when some of these people in need “inconvenience” my day or “invade my privacy”. I seem forget that these people are just as much a human being as I am.

The needs of the poor here do seem endless, and we could give and give until we have nothing and there would still be needs. It’s hard to find that balance between helping others because I have been blessed with so much, and still being realistic about it all. Unfortunately, there are those that will make up fictitious tales to try and get some money as well - which in the end adds to my immunity. Yet as a Christian wanting to following the clear direction on helping those in need, I’m also challenged by the fact that Jesus does NOT say “Only give to the poor who you judge to think are deserving”. Am I deserving of the opportunities I’ve had in life because of the country I come from?

I guess this blog is more about questions than answers. I just hope that this immunity to the suffering of others can turn into a little more compassion. I’m sure that showing compassion is part of the reason why God has us here.

Back home in Canada, I don’t see the physical suffering that I see here (there is this suffering, we just have an easier job of hiding ourselves from it), but there are other types of suffering. How many times have we been too busy, or too consumed with our hectic schedules (full of worthy activities), or simply disinterested in showing compassion to those that could use it? We all need it at different points in our life.

I better stop before I get (even more) preachy. But please don’t get me wrong, I’m preaching to myself as much as anyone else.

Ode to Josiah (his 1st Birthday)

On February 8, 2008 we celebrated Josiah's first birthday. For those of you that couldn't "pop over" and make the quick visit out to Malawi, here are some pics of the one year old....

Eating Birthday Cake

On the 8th (Friday) we celebrated his birthday and Chinese New Year with other EI staff and friends. Two of the EI staff are Chinese-Canadians...

With his "popper" on the morning of his birthday - a toy we may live to regret buying because Caleb and Thomas also enjoy the noise it makes...

With his soon to be cut off curly hair...

Having a birthday dinner on the Saturday with our neighbours - the Martinsens (from Norway) who have two young boys that our boys like to play with. Josiah and Irene Martinsen share the same birthday.

Getting his first haircut.... Sarah does a good job, even when she has spectators!

Anyone got an Ark?

There has been a lot of rain here in Malawi - 48 days straight here in Zomba where we live. In other parts of the country there is more serious flooding - some flash floods, and in some areas complete flooding thathas forced many from their homes.



We've had difficulty reaching some of the village sites that we are working in because of the poor conditions of the road. We are only able to travel to our sites by motorbike now - even so there have been times where the roads are just not passable.



With the heavy rains we've also discovered some leaks in our roof - thankfully not over anyone's bed! We get a thunder storm 5 out of 7 nights a week, and the town being at about 500m elevation, we sometimes get quite close to those clouds... There is about another 6 weeks (predicted) left of the rainy season.



We had the guys from the Water and Sanitation team over for lunch. As you can see from the picture, Caleb and Thomas were happy to show them a few hockey moves, and I had to tell about the best Team in the NHL (okay, so maybe not this year, but I think next year they'll have a chance at the Cup) the Leafs. We then went on to burn a Montreal Canadiens flag (just kidding).



Not only is Josiah starting to walk, but he is learning to skateboard as well! Well, almost...

Here's Thomas helping to defrost our freezer (which needs to be done frequently because ice forms when the power goes - which happens a couple times a week).

Sarah and Caleb and their house of cards..

I took this picutre in the capital - Lilongwe. This is a typical site: diesel fumes spewing out of a truck as it climbs a hill. They don't really have the same emissions testing here!






Mike & Sarah Eggert
Private Bag 12
Zomba, Malawi
Central Africa

e-mail: mseggert5@gmail.com
Blog: http://www.eggertsinmalawi.blogspot.com/
Church Blog: http://forestviewchurch.ca/Blogs/Eggert/