Technical Difficulties

Hi Malawi-Andy blog readers :)

I've been talking with Andy in email and he has definitely been having internet trouble there. That is the main reason there hasn't been a new post in quite a while, but also he changed a blogger setting that had an unintended effect. Everything sounds ok otherwise. He has been watching some of the World Cup, we talked about USA losing out. Also, Italy was in our group and of course there are Italians there. I can imagine the World Cup is a very popular thing there.

Well he has a few posts waiting to be published now so I'll publish those over the next few days for him and then it should be back to normal.

Thanks for reading,
Michael

African Jumper Cables

Rita and Dottie have been managing pretty well so far.  There has not been any major accidents or medical concerns since they've arrived and hopefully it stays that way.  They rented a car so that we could get around a little easier and not be at the mercy of the mini-bus association of Malawi.  I am not lisenced to drive so Dottie has taken it upon herself.  Luckily we got a car with an automatic transmission so she can focus all of her attention on staying on the left side of the road.  We took a trip to Nsanama to visit Kateri and were given a tour of her nutrition center.  After that the car sat for a few days and when we went to start it for a trip to the market, the battery was dead.  We were ready to search the Sister's garage for jumper cables but decided to contact the car rental service number and they actaully sent someone over the same day.  I was shocked.  Anyways, they brought another car battery and a pair of wrenches, and I thought they might just switch batteries, but the one they brought was way too big.  The man in charge of the operation then asked me to help out by starting the car when he signaled so I got behind the wheel and waited.  Through the space under the open hood, I saw him lean his battery forward and connect the terminals of the batteries together with the wrenches in each of his hand.  A few Westerner safety bells and whistles went off in my head.  I have been well trained for the situations so I was able to brush them aside easily and turned the key.  There were some sparks but not much engine activity.  After I stopped, he took a closer look at the battery and I heard a faint "Is that positive?" (More bells and whistles).  He reconnected the batteries with the wrenches and asked me to try again.  (Bells and whistles brushed aside) I turned the key and after a few seconds and more sparks the engine started.  I am wondering if it was not as dangerous as it seemed at the time and maybe I am thinking too safe.

Visitors

My sister and cousin have arrived in Malawi for a three week visit.  I think the first thing I said to Rita when she got off the plane was "you look terrible" which, while being very true was understandable after a total trip of about 48 hours including delays and layovers, was more for her peace of mind that I am still her brother and haven't changed all that much.  She suggested the possibility that since I haven't seen her in almost two years it might be just what she looks like now.  Of course, after a night of rest at the Sister's house nearby she was looking like the sister, plus two years, I expected to see. To ensure Rita's safety on the trip, my parents sent along our well-traveled first cousin once removed, Dottie.  She appeared to have handled the trip very well as she is an experienced traveler (Cuba, Antartica, etc.) and should be a lot of fun around the school.  There are plans for to teach of few classes and talk to the students as much as possible.  A few students were waiting at the house for us to arrive and Rita and Dottie were swarmed by the entire boarding that night after Friday adoration.  A student came up to me after greeting Rita and said "That is your sister?  She is beautiful!"  Now I am starting to wonder why she was surprised.