CHE

I must admit when I first heard of CHE I had no idea what it was...it only reminded me of Che Guevara. It's an acronym for Community Health Evangelism. I still didn't know what it was. However, I've been doing interviews at work with a couple of projects...the one I'm involved in Mozambique and another in Mexico...about Transformational Development and how it is lived out in the field. I knew that CHE was somehow related.

Well, this week I had a chance to see how it is related by attending a workshop where I was trained with 31 others on the principles of CHE. I would have to say that it was one of the most practical, respectful and humbling trainings that I have ever had. It clearly reminded me of my Community Organizing class, but we had a chance to practice and participate in the Participatory Learning Activities (PLAs) rather than just theoretically learning about them.

Since Transformational Development integrates the spiritual with the physical, social and econmical aspects of life, we learned about how to bring up spiritual topics within community groups. I admired that nothing was forced upon anyone, but the whole person with all their needs was recognized.

We'll see how this plays out for me, but it was foundational for whatever I do.

Just over 4 months and counting!

It's been that long since I've been at my new job...career! I'd like to share some of what I've experienced. I was at a family picnic on Labor Day and someone asked me, "What would be one thing that would summarize your experiences at your new job?" I responded that it was a nurturing environment...especially in my department. You might ask how I am nurtured, and I would say I am mentored, given freedom to spread my wings (and fail - a good way to learn sometimes), and allowed to work managing the project in Mozambique from many different angles (report management, desk research, coordination of communication between partners, etc...).

I also love relational things about my job. I love eating lunch with people from programs or finance or admin...we talk about such funny things (sorry I can't share them all here), and I've even played speed scrabble between bites. Next week I'm going with a group from Africa, Asia and Disaster Response regions to a conference on community health evangelism. I love the inter-departmental interactions, but more importantly I love getting to know people. I even have biked from home to work with a human resource staffer....we're both in our 40's and are proud of ourselves. We'll see what happens when the rains start.

So overall, it's been a wonderful transition for me into practicing public health. As I notice with most of my life experiences, including the bad, they shape me and help me grow as an individual.

I'm right where I should be.

Casey Makes Us Happy

Josiah, Gabrielle and I each have our own friends, but sometimes we come across a friend that we all share. Casey fits that definition. He started out as Josiah's friend in middle-school, then moved to Gabrielle's boyfriend in high school, and has become my friend along the way. He just moved back in town from Spokane. He doesn't have a car or a job yet...and he sleeps on our couch. Somehow I think his job right now is to make us happy. Thanks, Casey.

We are the World....

Today it is fitting to post this video. The last time I saw it was last summer in Burundi at a very unexpected place...in the home of a local Ministry of Health official in rural Kibuye put in the VCR by his 12 year old son. RIP MJ.

Happy Father's Day

I just listened to Paul Farmer speak at the Global Health Alliance online. He always inspires me and validates my work. Again, he stressed that poverty and access to care are critical to the health outcomes of a given population. This interview made me think of my father too (Happy Father's Day, Dad!)because he was a surgeon that worked across all levels of medicine to meet the need of the patient (including the smallpox eradication that Paul Farmer talks about). I remember hearing if Dad didn't know what to do, he would look it up in his medical books and move forward. Another great example for me!

Perpetua's Visit

The Project Director for our partner project in Mozambique came to visit our headquarters this week. It's been a busy whirlwind of meetings and greetings. My favorite part of the week was going with my supervisor, her husband, and Perpetua to the Washington Park Rose Garden for an evening picnic. We started our own laughing club and made the decision then and there to grow roses in Mozambique.

Another important feature of this week was Perpetua's understanding of why I want to go back to Africa. She said,"But of course, your placenta is buried in Africa." The only problem is that my parents did not plant a tree above it. I think Perpetua and I will take a roadtrip through Burundi with that mission in mind. She has an adventurous and warm spirit which suits me well.

Bean Town aka Boston

Please pinch me. I think I've fallen into a dream and can't wake up. I love my new job, except for one painful day when I felt like I took 10 steps backward rather than any steps forward. Overall I am learning and contributing to work that I always wanted to do!

Most recently, I traveled for a week of Monitoring & Evaluation training in Boston with the renowned John Snow Inc. This is all because the project I'm working on for Mozambique is a New Partners Initiative project with the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and they want to make sure we're well trained.

Not only was it a great week of training, it was a wonderful week to meet new colleagues also involved in similar work and to have some fun exploring one of the most beautiful American cities. Here's a peek at our week:



We got the doorman to get in a picture with us at our swanky hotel. We definitely enjoyed the jacuzzi and yoga at 6:30 am, but room service was a bit much.



Boston is famous for the midnight ride of Paul Revere. I walked the Freedom Trail and got to see his home near this statue. I also visited the Old North Church where he established a lantern signal to warn of the Red Coats approach, "One if by land, Two if by Sea." I had to call my dad to ask him to remind me of the significance of that church. It's funny how you forget American history, but it can come alive hundreds of years later.



Guess how we got to the airport from our hotel? We took a water taxi through Boston Harbor. Here's a picture looking back at our hotel and Boston's skyline. Lovely.