wk 15 (didn't skip a wk except in wrong counting but now i think i'm right)

I had a meeting planned for Monday in the youth office but I woke up not feeling all that well and really didn’t see myself getting into Lilongwe for a productive meeting…so I rescheduled for Tuesday which Abusa Juma said was fine. Then I got a text saying there was a training and could I be in town by 7 so we could leave and be in good time. As long as I was back in nkhoma for 630 because the women’s bible study was at my house (starting at 730 but still). So in with the school bus (leaves at 6) and picked up by Abusa at 7:15 to pick up two more ladies and off to Bowe (2 hours north of Lilongwe)…when we arrived I couldn’t get out of the car for all the kids crowded around staring at the azungu! We went a bit farther to the church and with teachers urging the kids back to class I was able to make it out…it was a follow-up meeting for the Behavior Change Program they did. So the people filled out a questionnaire about how they feel the program has impacted their communities and whether they have shared what they learned, etc. Then we took the girls aside and asked them what they thought they needed from the church—what we could do, what they saw as problems for girls, hoping for a starting place or some common ground that we can use—but it was all in Chichewa so I was still in the dark. After that we ate nsima with the abusa there and left around 330…there was no way I was back in time for BS…luckily I had the foresight to leave my key with someone. Back in Lilongwe to drop the 2 ladies around 615 and then Abusa Juma drove me to nkhoma and dropped me off at 725. I walked in just before most of the Bible study women…in time to make tea and welcome them…and all I wanted was a shower…
Friday I drove the kids to Lilongwe to school. Seems like everyone in nkhoma is sick…some flu is going around and taking out all of the families…one member at a time. I was free so was asked to drive the bus. I was a bit nervous—it is a pretty big vehicle but actually easy to drive…plus it came with country music cd which made the early morning as I could just turn it up to drown out the kids bickering in the back…Garth Brooks to the rescue. It was actually one of the most relaxed days in Lilongwe I’ve had as it was last minute that I was asked so I didn’t have time to come up with my endless list of things needed.
That evening Mirte had her farewell nsima party at the Guesthouse. Daniel came over to make the nsima and help with the relishes (greens, chicken, tomatos)…it was a good gathering—about 15 people and afterwards they broke out the musical instruments—drums of differing sizes, spoons and a banjo (that won’t really tune)…it was not well done but it was fun.