Kruger, Swaziland, Beira, and Gorongosa

adolescence at play

In our last blog we talked about our project in Swaziland with Helping Babies Breathe.  It was a great project and we were very blessed throughout the week.  On our drive to Swazi, we got permission to see Kruger Park, which is right on the Mozambique border.  Here are some pictures of Kruger.  We saw many elephants, impalas, and giraffes.  In addition, we saw hippos, cape buffalo, rhino, several fascinating birds, and a lion.  Seeing these creatures in the wild is so different than a zoo.  We loved it!!

Eagle scavaging

lonely giraffe

hippos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

female Kudu

The hippos were further away from the road, so we could not get a good picture.  But there were many.  The Kudu (above) is a big animal; the male being even larger with large horns.
The warthogs were plentiful; as were the impalas.   

We stayed here after exiting the park.  The next day we drove into Swaziland and spent the week working on the Helping Babies Breathe. 

 Sheri Smith, a nurse from SLC who is specialist with the project is here training hospital staff.

The hotel we stayed at while in Swaziland for the project.  

 One night while in Swaziland there was a thunderstorm and heavy winds.  Nests of a species of weavers were blown out of a large tree in the parking lot.  Amazing how they can weave.  The entrance is at the bottom.

Swazi Village

Helping Babies Breathe crew at our Swazi Village visit after a long day at the training.
Dr. Mike and Joan Madsen, us, Sheri Smith, Elder and Sister Blake (area office), and Dr. Tracey Frandsen.    

 Our next assignment was just 10 days away as the wheelchair specialists from CA John and Marcia Dow arrived in Maputo for a development trip.  They served as humanitarian missionaries here in Mozambique 10 years ago and wanted to visit the same branch where they attended church.  So we took them there.  They had a great visit.  This is the Magoanine Ward now that has split into the Mahotas Ward as well.

We also had a visit with the Ministry of Health representatives over physical disabilities.  From here we were directed to make a visit to Beira.  We had arranged for that ahead of time.  So we flew out of Maputo to Beira Monday morning and spent a couple of days there making contacts with the provincial government to see if they were interested and ready to work with us on a wheelchair project.  It looks good so far.  We will see.

 John and Marcia Dow with Priscilla at the provincial government of Sofala. 

Lunch on the windy beach in Beira at Biques restaurant.  Dows, us, and Sister Wilkins.  She and her husband are the senior couple in Beira.  They are leaving in March.  No one to replace them yet.  Not good!!  We need more senior missionaries!  
The Dows left Wednesday and we took a couple of days to visit Gorongosa National Park.  Wow!  In my humble opinion, it beats Kruger!  You really are out in the wild; just you, your guide and nature.  A great experience!  Here are just a few pics.  Teril has posted some on facebook.

Our guides, Montinho and Castro

Belbill tree.  Huge!

 The food was good there, too.

The area was thick with several palm varieties

Impala

 I may be wrong, but I believe these are Oribi antelope

 Nice pool at the lodging area.

 We crossed this river one afternoon, to visit a small village.  The water was low because of drought.  When the rains come and the water goes up, crocodiles will be here.  For now, they stay in other areas.  So they tell us!  We did see some big crocs in other areas of the park.

Yellow Fever Trees.  Green bark.  Beautiful

This picture did not turn out too well.  There were several species of antelope, warthogs, birds in this landscape. 

If I ever come back to Mozambique (which is unlikely) I will want to visit Gorongosa again. 

We are now working in 2 other projects; another school that needs help with latrines, and a clinic in Matola that we will be furnishing beds, equipment, furniture, etc. for them.  We love this work.  And we love all of you. 
Elder and Sister Petersen

Swaziland Adventure

We have spent the past week in amazing awe at the blessings of the Lord. 

Swaziland Nazarene Health Institute and Elder Petersen

These are the champions that we have been working with since July.  Dr. Ntshalintshali (prounounced Shauli shauli) and Dr. Bitchong at the Raliegh Fitkin Memorial Hospital are two of these amazing people.  We have become friends.  Our training was administered 3 days of last week, Oct. 18-20.  We (the Drs. and nurses from the States and 2 missionary couples)arrived Monday morning.

Dr. and Mrs. Madsen, Elder and Sis. Petersen, Sis. Smith (nurse) Elder and Sis. Blake, Dr. Frandsen

We met them for the first time Sunday afternoon and worked together all week.  What an amazing group of people with so much knowledge and teaching skills.

We spent Monday setting up for the training.  We used the Hospital cafeteria.  That was not ideal but the Nazarene Institute took charge of all the arrangements.  They offered the place the training took place.  They provided the snack and the lunch every day.  They provided the people who became the trainers.  They provided the transportation for the 24 that came from all over Swaziland to be trained by the trainers. They sent out the invitations to all the 32 people who came to the training, arranging for their work places to be filled at each of the health facilities they were taken from.  What great partners they are. 
The first day of training was preparing the 8 trainers.  THe transformation of these 8 was amazing.

training in Cafeteria

They came in as individuals and transformed into teachers.  They did not know much of eachother but after this day, they were knowledgeable friends in a subject of their interests.  These 8 were all from the hospital, some doctors, some nurses and mostly midwives.  You can see the kits the church provided.  There were 3 neonatalie mannequins per table, flipcharts, suctions, mask, ties, manuals.  All these packets had been prepared a year before to give a similar training that did not happen.  No champion stepped forward there.  We were so blessed to find the Nazarene Health Institute.

Teacher Sheri Smith acting the part of a pregnant woman delivering

Neonatalie with chord still attached

 This particular training was centered on what to do in the first minute after birth.  There is a process to follow.  THings must be ready so when the baby is born, you have what you need.  A minute goes fast either way.  Having things in order helps decrease infant mortality rate.  Heart beat, breathing...these are what we are looking for.  Stimulation, suctioning and then masking if needed can increase the chances of successful birthing.  We found out that here, in AFrica, they cut the umbilical chord right away to keep the mixing of blood from mother to child down in case of HIV.  I understand that in the States, the umbilical chord is still in tact until the placenta is delivered to allow all the nutrients the baby can get to be transfered at birth.
All the participants passed their final test with 100 % accuracy on the written and did extremely well on the practical.  Amazing transformation.

Bro. Sithole from the District Presidency of the church

Minister of Health Thembesile Kumelo

 The closing ceremony was good.  We heard from the ministry, from Dr. Madsen, from the church representative and the Hospital Administration congratulating the participants and handing out the certificates.  THere were pictures presented to the administration from Dr. Madsen.  The certificates were well received.  They were each so proud of this certificate.  THey were encouraged to now take this knowledge to the communities around the 18 hospitals and clinics owned by the Nazarenes in the country of Swaziland.

Stan and I along with Sis. Blake assembled the take home kits.  These will be used to train 4 people for every one that was trained in this training.  Dr. Ntshalintshali is in charge of recording the progress of this further training.  This further training should be completed within 6 month so the project can be closed.

Here are some pictures of the assembling of the kits to go home.  Each travel bag has an extra bag within.  There is a Neonatalie and all the paraphernalia that go with her (stethoscope, suction, mask, etc.)There is a big flipchart, 4 personal manuals and wall chart.  Each of the 32 participants will take one of these kits home.

What an amazing training!  What an amazing program. What great hopes we have to decrease the infant mortality rate in Swaziland. 

Review of Projects, Beira Vision, Ricatla, Joquim, Malhazine, Swazi HBB, Malhampswene

Dear family and friends,
We have finished the Beira Vision Project and are pleased to have it done.  Also, we turned in the final report for the closure of the Ricatla School project.(it was cold!!)  We are in the middle of the Joaquim Chissano school project and are pleased with its progress, in spite of the fact that it was delayed for over a month because the community would not do their part.  But it is now happening and things are moving forward.

Ricatla closing ceremony

Joquim Chissano construction progress

We are developing 2 more projects here in the Maputo area.  One is with the Malhazine school to improve their latrines and the other is with a newly built birthing clinic in Malhampswene, which is in the Matola area.  Defining the project, getting the community to work with us, acquiring the bids and arrangements with the contractors takes a lot of time and effort.  And all this before we can write it up and submit it for approval.  But we love the work. 
We will be in Swaziland again next week for the Helping Babies Breathe project.  Dr. and Sister Madsen will be here to do the training along with 2 others they have invited.  We have been working on the arrangements for this for a few months now and it is finally going to happen!

Malhazine Primary School latrine

We will take a detour through Kruger Park on our way to Swaziland.  We will report on all that happens later next week. 
We also will have a visit from the Dows; a couple from California that are working with the church's wheelchair projects.  They will be here for a development meeting with the ministry of health which we have been trying to get set up.  Their trip will include a visit to Beira to view the hospital and see if it will be a suitable location for the project.  We hope to take a couple of extra days and make a visit to Gorongoza Park.  Again; when it happens we will report on it with pictures. 
I was so moved by general conference, as I am always.  What a wonderful blessing to have living prophets and apostles to guide us in these troubles times!

At the Malhampswene Clinic newly built. Left to rt. Vivaldo, Benildo,(interpreters)

 

Gatens, Malhampswene, Malhazine

Souveniers

Hello Everyone,
This last week we had a missionary couple from the area office visit us.  They are Elder and Sister Gatten and are the Area Public Affairs assistant directors.  They were here 4 days.  We had planned to have them stay at our apartment, but the first 2 nights we had to take them to a hotel because our power was out.  The last 2 nights they did stay with us.  We had a good time.  Monday we walked the Baixa and Mercado Central.  Then we took them to see the park where all the souveniers are sold to tourists.  You have to really dicker with the vendors, but there are interesting things to see.

Masks

 A major portion of what they sell are carvings of all kinds.  Bowls, keychains, wall placs, animals, etc.  There are also many batiks.  These are the fabric wall hangings that are dyed.  I have added a picture of one we bought.
We are close to closing 4 different projects; we just need some information and final reports from people and we can move forward.  2 are in Swaziland and 2 are here in Mozambique.  It feels good to finish and see the final results.  At least the final result of the present effort.  We are most interested in the value of what the people have learned about taking care of themselves.

Batik

Vivaldo, Benildo, E/S Petersen

We are considering 2 more projects with schools and one with a newly built clinic in Matola.  This clinic will be principally a birthing center and mother and baby care.  The city is requesting we help with furniture, beds, and some equipment.  We have not seem the list yet and need to discuss more with them before we proceed.  But I think it will move along all right.  It is sorely needed in this community, which is called Malhampswene.

Malhapswene Clinic

This first picture includes 2 of our interpreters, Vivaldo Maraquele, and Benildo Ujembe.  Both are return missionaries and are awesome young men.  Vivaldo served in Angola and knows Colin Montgomery.  We hope to see both of them married before we leave, but not sure if that will happen.  We are pleased to see them dating and taking seriously this responsibility. 
Just a few comments on things we hear from home.  We are mindful of and have fasted and prayed for Pres. Shanklin.  We hope all will proceed for the good in his behalf. 
I understand 2 of my granddaughters are planning a trip to Italy with their school music department.  We are excited for Aubrey and Danielle.  I am also proud of Joe for joining the group of Helping Hands to help the flood victims in Louisiana. 
We love our families so much and pray for you all everyday.  We do feel of your prayers for us.  This work is a challenge; to help in the Lord's way.  But it is the right way to do it. 
This is the Lord's church and it is being directed by inspired leadership.  They are human; the do make mistakes.  And the Lord often allows all of us to figure things out by trial and error.  But there are lessons to be learned along the way.  Faith in Christ will always be at the foundation of it all. 
Love, Elder Petersen, Stan, DAD, Grandpa

(Teril) We bought some souvenirs now we have experienced some of the Mozambique mission.  These things will remind us of here. Can you see the things I bought? Drum, mandalin, gourd rattles, batik.  Stan got the carved giraffe, and the Big 5 coasters in a carved holder.

Masks I want to purchase

3rd Stake Conference

3rd Stake Conference choir

3rd Stake Conference nice building

3rd Stake Conference choir and Stake Presidency

  One of the goals of the Mission President, President Koch, was to help create a new stake in Munga.  That should be complete soon.  We are also hoping a new Stake in Swaziland and in Maputo will be created before the end of our mission.

I wanted to show you this nice building.  This is the only building the church has built here in Maputo although there are 4 wards in Matola and 5 wards in Maputo.  These wards make up the Maputo Stake. 

There is a new building to be dedicated next week in Maputo.  The wards that will be attending that building are the Polana Ward and the Sommershield Ward.  We attend the Polana ward right now so we will be attending the new building. 

The church has had to really watch their properties they have purchased here in Mozambique.  If the owner does not improve their piece of property, the Government will confiscate it.  Elder Ellis was here a few weeks ago to argue our case on confiscation to see if we could get the properties back that the church had purchased.
Our participation in stake choir has been quite an experience.  You know I love to go to choir and sing.  Stan is a great singer and musician but does not have the same drive I do to participate.  When we first were invited to sing, we went to practice and waited around for 1/2 hour for more than 3 people to show, even the choir director.  Then we didn't even open a piece of music for 45 minutes.  Then we practiced for 4 hours.  I was very tired but Stan was irate.  When I went to choir without Stan the next time, the member of the Bishopric that is a great musician approached me on why Stan was not singing any longer. I referred him to Stan to explain.  Stan explained that choir should start when the starting time is and he won't sing longer than 1 1/2 hours.  After that, the choir was there (Interject: Someone was just hit on the street.  I heard this screeching tires and a baby crying and lots of commotion.  We ran down to see if we could help.  We saw a Chapa driver out over loudly talking to a mother with a baby of about 1 year and 1/2 in her arms.  She was rubbing his head. They finally pulled over out of the traffic.  I hope she takes him to the hospital. Traffic in Maputo is horrendous.  I am surprised there are not more accidents.  And kids....how do they survive.  Amazing!!)on time and we were late.  Stan has supported the choir without complaining.

This past week, we had an assignment dropped into our laps.  Both the Stake Choir Specialist director and the musician mentor were going to be gone for the performance today.  They said to Stan and I that we needed to help the Stake choir director and the Stake pianist for the performances.  At practice last Sunday, our last practice before we performed, we went thru the songs.  They sounded pretty good on one song, a Sally De Ford arrangement of "I Need Thee Every Hour".  The other 3 songs were not good.  I suggested they just sing the hymns strait out of the hymn book without anything fancy.  We were able to get those songs pretty good but another arrangement of "Whenever I hear the Song of a Bird" needed some help on the final verse.  I suggested we just have a duet with two people who knew the parts instead of trying to teach everyone their parts in this one practice.  We chose one Mozambiquan who is a soloist and a sister missionary.  I worked with them this week on one extra practice.  They sounded good!

Then, President Koch, our Mission President told the missionaries they could only sing on Sunday, not for the Saturday session.  Wouldn't you know it!  "Whenever I hear the song" was to be sung on Saturday and we had chosen a missionary to sing.  No one would give.  Pres. Koch's directive stood and Pres. Castanhiera's directive that this song be sung on Saturday rather than Sunday stood.  So, Saturday comes to sing this song and we fell apart at the part the duet should be.

However, the Sunday performance of "I Need Thee" was so amazing!  I felt like the angels were there singing this song.  It was so amazing.
Talking of driving, I remember a chase scene in a movie that shows the one being chased going down the wrong side of the road and eventually driving on the sidewalk and thru little tiny alleys.  I saw that now that I have experienced Maputo driving and found it amazingly similar to daily driving here, although not at those speeds.  Even this morning, there was someone driving down the wrong way as we went to church.  You are not safe walking on the sidewalk.  People drive on the sidewalk and park there too, forcing the walkers to walk the roads.  Crossing traffic is wherever you want to cross.  I call it challenging the gauntlet.  People cross one lane at a time and stand there while the next lane charges past you until that lane has a little opening and then cross one more lane.  The problem with that is that there are motor bikes that charge through the traffic unaware of lines or lanes at all, so just when you think you are clear for one lane, you need to watch for the motorbikes.  There are many alleyways, mostly not paved that are used for roads too. 

vendors selling to passing cars.

Here is a picture of streets in Maputo.  Parking in the median, vendors selling to cars driving in the street.

Parking job

Parking is amazing or not at all.  Very little space to park.  We would rather leave our car in the apartment garage and walk.  Often it is faster and more fun to do it that way.  If we don't have to carry too much.  I haven't got the "wrap it up in a capulana and put it on my head" syndrome yet!  Hum!

At one point, Maputo was known as the City of Acacia trees.  You can see one of these old Acacia trees in the median that has caused a challenge with this guy's parking!!!  Poor tree.  The city is just not set up for the amount of traffic it has and the traffic is growing!  Even at the church building this morning, the parking was totally crazy.  The architects have not allowed for the members who have cars.  The number of members who have cars is growing but the parking lots are not.

Beira

Dear family and friends,
We just returned from a trip to Beira.  We had 3 assignments there.  The first was a final inspection of the vision project we helped to complete.  The church provided hardware and some software for a computerized patient records system.  We found all well and the vision department very happy with the time saved and the increase in patient services.  The second was 2 surveys we were given concerning 2 previous projects there with equipment donated.  The church wants to know after a few years how things are being utilized and what areas they need improvement in.  We were able to complete both surveys since these projects involved the hospital.  The 3rd was just a hope we might be able to connect with someone there to discuss issues with the Helping Babies Breathe project.  We had emailed contacts, but did not hear anything.  As it turned out we were able to have a few minutes with Dr. Wing, a pediatrician who also is an administrator.  His insights were very helpful.  We will see how things turn out. 

The rest of the time there we were able to enjoy with Elder and Sister Wilkins.  He was a mission president in Brazil a few years ago.  They are from Utah.  They were such wonderful hosts.  They showed us around Beira and we had a great time.  They are CES coordinators/trainers and are doing a marvelous job there.  (This picture was actually taken in Swaziland a few weeks ago where we had a couples conference/training. It is a good picture of them so we included it here.) The rest of the pictures are of our sights and visits.  Beira has a different feel all together.  It has a more rural feel to it; a more "African experience" if you will.  We enjoyed good food; I ate lots of seafood and it was awesome!  We don't know when we will get back to Beira, but we loved it up there.  It is about in the middle of the country, while Maputo is in the very southern tip. 

This is what is left of the Grande Hotel Beira.  It was a luxury hotel/resort.  After the Portuguese were kicked out it deteriorated and is now just a slum for squatters.  Every piece of wood, metal, wiring, plumbing, etc. has been ripped out and sold or burned.  All that remains is the concrete and steel.  There is concern that some of it may collapse and people will get hurt or die. You can go on the internet and look it up to see pictures of it when it was at it height in the 60s.  This is not the only building like this there.  We saw several.  This actually is quite common here; not just in Beira.  We see similar things here in      Maputo, but the contrast is more visible in Beira.

This is a little piece of the market just outside the church gates. 

Here are gardens planted on the church property by members.  Nice produce they share with one another. 

We rose early one morning and took a walk along the beach.  This is a functioning lighthouse, but is being phased out.  We found someone near by and asked if we could go inside.  He left and then came back shortly with someone who had keys.  They opened it up and gave us a tour.  We walked the circular stairs all the way to the top.  It was fascinating!!  Afterwards they asked for money.  I gave them what I had; 200 meticals.  They were hoping for more, but that is all the cash I had.  We had spent the rest of it on capulanas (fabric) in town the day before.  Presently, 200 meticals is about $3.00.  

Sand crabs will be boiled and eaten

Drying fish.

This shoe washed up on the shore

Our walk along the beach produced some interesting sights.














This was a grouper that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Woodcarvers kids

This week we hope to have a visit with a member of the Ministry of Health to let them know what we are doing and find out more about their priorities and how we might be able to support their efforts.  Right now, after getting the feedback we did from Dr. Wing in Beira, it seems that there are many other organizations working in the same area and it may not be in our best interest to try and put together a project that everyone else is doing.  The coordination with the governments officials is just too much for them to handle.  We want to help them; not cause more problems.  So we will see where all this leads. 

We bought this floating bird

Wood carver in Beira

Last week we visited 5 schools in the Kamubukwana district.  We want to work with a couple of them to improve the facilities and conditions for the students.  Determining who is going to make the best partner is a challenge. 
We are so grateful to serve this mission.  Our eyes have been opened to many things and it has given us and continues to give us growth opportunities.  I am learning more things about myself; some good and others not so good.  Change is difficult, but it is necessary and in the end it is what this life is all about.  I am grateful for Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for me.  His perfect example is the anchor of my life.  My hope is that all my children and grandchildren will seek to know Him and exercise their faith in Him.  This church is His church and is being led by true prophets of God.  What an awesome  blessing that is in this troubled world!!
Love to all,
Elder Petersen, Stan, Dad, and Grandpa