The Three Luisas

It appears to me that Luisa is a common feminine name in Sena. It sounds pretty in Portuguese, especially when you put Dona (“Madame”) in front of it. Try saying it a few times, “Dona Luisa.” Pretty as it sounds, life for anyone, even a Dona Luisa, is tough here.

Let me tell you about the first Dona Luisa that I met. She’s the nurse on the project and has a strong, slim frame, short cropped hair and high cheekbones. She sees patients throughout the day and often refers them to the local health clinic for HIV testing. She keeps a log of patients and their HIV status so the project activists (lay health workers) can follow through on treatment adherence and home based care services. I don’t know if she has a husband or children, but I think she probably does. Basic medical services are lacking in Sena so this Luisa is an important conduit to care in the community. She also has some wicked dance steps that I witnessed one evening as I gathered in a circle with other project staff and danced the night away.

The second Dona Luisa I met was actually with the first Luisa. She was a client of the project seeking treatment at the local health clinic for the late stages of AIDS. I’ve never seen someone so near death from AIDS. Trust me, it was difficult to see. It was obvious that this Dona Luisa had been beautiful and was still in what should have been her prime years. However, AIDS had ravaged her frame to a thinness that looked extremely fragile. Her eyes were gaunt, her throat was white with thrush, and a sexually transmitted disease had produced cankerous sores on her most private areas. I only know this because she asked the others to leave the room so she could show me and the project director her suffering. Her sister was caring for her in the clinic as is the custom in Africa, but her husband had abandoned her after realizing she was dying. A couple of her children came to say “goodbye.” I asked if there was morphine to ease her pain, but discovered there was not even a Tylenol. I wished my touch could do more than show my acknowledgement of her deep suffering. She died later that week, and I can’t help but think that this was a blessing. I ask myself how she became infected, whether she was tested in the early or late stages of HIV, and why she had to suffer so much.

The third Dona Luisa was a maid at my little hotel. Before I talk about her, I must tell you that this is the finest hotel in Sena, but the worst hotel I have ever stayed in my entire life. It is brightly decorated with slogans to advertise the local cell phone carrier MCell and has a center courtyard where the proprietor’s goats and dogs live. The room itself is more like a cell than a bedroom because it literally has no windows. The toilet, sink and shower taunt you about better days when there was running water. Lately, women and children ride their bicycles or walk with their jerry cans full of water to fill the barrel from where all water comes. The air conditioning in the room cancelled out all other faults. I would trade running water for ac any day in Sena. It was unfortunate that the hottest day there (about 125 degrees) the electricity went out, and I baked overnight with mosquitoes blistering my flesh. Dona Luisa #3 is beautiful and young. She wears a pink checked outfit like the other maids and seems to have a limited amount of work because the place is never full. Still, she comes every morning about 5 am with the other maids and hollers loudly outside my room about what, I don’t know. This Luisa is probably my daughter’s age, but with a life that many young women could never imagine. Is she educated? Will she marry soon? Will she be a first or second wife?

All in all, I believe the three Luisas are beautiful, strong, courageous women.

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.

Lover

About four years ago, I stuck a yellow post-it note on my white kitchen cupboard that read (in red ink), "Everyone, remember to love." It was meant as a reminder for my kids and myself. A lover is someone who is an affectionate and benevolent friend while a hater feels extreme enmity toward something or someone. Granted, sometimes enmity is warranted, but overall a love or graciousness toward others opens up friendship and opportunity. I believe it also heals us. We all have wounds or hurts. We all have an understanding of life that varies depending on our experiences and understanding. Still, I choose to be a lover.

As I prepare to leave those I love, I am cognizant that love travels wherever you go. So I will take it with me, but I ask that you, my friends and family, keep loving each other. Be a friend to those who need it.

Happy Birthday, Josiah!

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)


i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)
i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you



here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart


i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

e e cummings

Happy quarter century, my son.

Explorer

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
T.S. Eliot "Little Gidding"


Africa calls me back. I want to dance and sing! This time my celebration will be tempered with mourning, not because I grieve the journey, but because I will see the face of sorrow. This face is the child who lost both parents to AIDS, the face of the woman dying without medication. These faces demand dignity and hope.

I have a new job. It will be to support an organization who knows this child and this woman and hasn't passed them by. I am humbled and ready. Until next year at this time, I will be preparing from a distance. Then Mozambique, here I come to join in the process of restoration already unfolding.

Iz NOT Fun-neey!

Ten Random Thoughts About Our Family Vacation:

#1 It's not a good thing to smile at the Policija!

#2 The gelato in Croatia is as good as it gets.

#3 All mountaintop towns and coastal islands are eerily deserted except for the ever present town dog and town cat.

#4 Polka music is alive and well!

#5 The game, Rich man/Poor man, mimics life. So unfair!

#6 Muesli and yogurt are the breakfast of champions.

#7 My nephew, Austin, is a great sport on vacation with a bunch of "old" people.

#8 FKK means clothes optional beach. It was too cold for anyone to try this out.

#9 We have lots of leaders in our family. Good thing most of the decisions were already made for us.

#10 My brother, Dan, mimics "The Scream."

Extra #11 Thanks, Dad, for another fun adventure!

Unpruned and Dormant

I've been doing some more housesitting in Martha's vineyard. This time of year, the vines are dormant, but in need of pruning. I find a great similarity between the vines and my own life. I am in a waiting period...waiting for a public health job, waiting for a relationship, waiting for my children to be self-sufficient, waiting on the Lord. I'm not always so good at waiting. It helps me to see nature imitating life. Not always are we moving forward, sometimes we are resting and replenenshing for the next spurt of growth. Have I ever told you Spring is my favorite season?! Bring on the growth...it's coming, and I will share with you as it unfolds. However, the pruning part might have to come first. I hope it doesn't hurt too much.

I'm Proud to be an American (African)!

“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility.” President Barack Obama

What do those words mean to you?

I realize former U.S. Presidents took the responsibility of their job seriously, but in my lifetime I can’t remember a president evoking so much unity in our people. So how are things different today? There are ramifications for our world both near and far.

What do these words mean for a white, middle-aged woman? They mean that I do not give up my dreams to work among the poor and vulnerable and that my hopes for my children, my country and the world are not in vain. They mean that my county, not of my birth, but of my citizenship, will help me shoulder this responsibility. God bless America.