Week 2 - Feb 28, 2024

 There's a steep learning curve ahead of me, but thankfully our trainers, the amazing Gattens, are in no hurry.  They took it easy on us relative to our sinus infections and continued jeg lag recovering.  Monday started with a bang as we met four elders at the clinic to be seen by a dermatologist for staph and fungal infections, all of which seem common for young men who sweat all day and don't attend to personal hygiene as they should.  But I won't bore you with the humdrum of learning the office and nursing responsibilities I face other than to say that I anticipate spending about 20% of my time on secretarial work and fully 80% on nursing.  

                  

   

We had a dreadful incident occur in our mission this week.  Two of our young elders were walking home after dark when one of them felt someone brush against his back.  It was pitch dark on the street, but instead of continuing to the safety of his flat, the two decided to turn around and investigate why another had brushed against one.  This was a most unwise decision and led to one of our sweet young elders from Tonga engaging with a dude up to no good.  Both elders' phones were stolen and both ended up with injuries, one of which was a knife stab to the arm.  Luckily, the perp spooked and fled and both elders went to the ER where our trainers met them.  Stitches were applied, antibiotics administered, and the area mental health coordinator stepped in to counsel with the young men.  Lastly, our president held a mission-wide Zoom meeting to reconfirm the importance of safety.  Our Tongan Elder will need to meet with a neurologist to assess some nerve damage.  The safety of these young people is surely my main concern. 

                 

                 

The people of Botswana are precious and endearing.  They possess a different body structure than your average white American in that they are slender with long, lanky bones, and a curvature which exaggerates the tummy to the front and the rump to the rear in almost an S design.  They are quiet, soft spoken, mild mannered, and as one new friend said, "We are a peaceful people."  We've learned just a couple of words of Setswana to which they immediately brighten up and engage with us, helping us whenever we need.  These adorable school girls were giddy with questions for us and laughed and laughed at us.  We feel like novelties.  Botswana sees a great deal of safari tourism but not so many travel to Gaborone, and we frequently meet people most curious about us.  Several young people we've encountered tell us how much they want to go to America. 

                   

                    

Traffic is more a free-for-all activity with much light running and spontaneous course changes.  Their music is rhythmic and catchy, and I love listening as we drive.  The food is quite recognizable but horrifically expensive as this country does not feed itself but rather imports a vast amount from South Africa.  The meat is local and affordable as it comes from the famous Botswana cattle which roam freely about the neighborhoods.

                               

                 

During a long evening of training for new missionaries at President Walker's home, we encountered yet another young African elder who lost both of his parents the same year.  He quietly recounted how this devastation almost overwhelmed him, but then he turned to God for hope and with faith and support from who knows who is serving his Savior as a missionary hoping to give hope through the Gospel to others.  My heart aches for these faithful young people; they are my motivation to do my best to set up the support structure necessary for them to accomplish their work of sharing the Gospel. 

                   

Our first real P-Day we spent exploring the environs of this capital city visiting The African Mall filled with local goods as well as a cemetery where they shield their dear deceased ones from the heat and glaring sun.

                 

                                                 

All in all, I feel most fortunate to be here under the endless blue skies in the baking sun and heat.  

We can't help but love these gentle people, most of whom are Christian and the vast majority of whom are good, honest folk doing the best they can.