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Afghanistan so far….

Dubai: I arrived in Dubai at 10 pm at night and it took almost 2 hours to go through passport control and to the airport. The hotel (Le Meridien) was the nicest hotel I have ever been to in my life and the service was incredible. Their continental breakfast was everything I could ask for and more.

Trip home from Kabul airport: We got stopped on the road by two Afghan military men and they had to pat down the driver and search the car. They were both holding very large guns and I almost pooped my pants.

MSH in Afghanistan: The compound that we own is really really nice. It is almost as if you enter a new a world. There is grass and lots of flowers everywhere. The people are SO friendly and hospitable. We had tea and cookies to celebrate Eid (holiday after the end of Ramazan) and I ate in a separate room with the women. I wasn’t offended it was just so interesting!

Personal life: My daily routine is this - Work (7:00 am - 3:30 pm), come home, roll around in my room, dinner at 6, workout, shower, sleep. The guesthouse here is really nice and there is a little gym here too. I eat with my project director every night who is a 60 year old hobbit looking man. We’ve been bonding. I’m eating well, pooping well and have not gotten sick from anything yet!

4 notes

“Federal Agency tries to write polar bear plan”

This is the title of one of the front page news stories in Anchorage, Alaska. And you wonder why people have crazy stereotypes for Alaska.

Lucy Sakala

Lucy Sakala is an HIV counselor for one of my projects in Malawi. She recently was diagnosed with cancer and the team was trying to help her access the necessary radiation therapy, which is not available in Malawi. We reached out to staff in the US offices asking for any donations to raise the full $2,500 which would cover the cost of Lucy’s treatment and travel to and from Zambia. We successfully raised the full amount and Lucy’s husband, Samuel, sent us this note:

We, Lucy and I, would like to thank the entire management and staff of MSH for being supportive in times of need.

Without you guys we couldn’t have made it to Zambia to get the treatment. We appreciate for the love and care you showed us and believe we shall also be among the group in helping others as you have done to us. God bless you all.

Maureen Kamanga, Rudi Thetard, Kuzemba Mulenga, Guy Banda, just to mention afew, you carried the flag of our problems and your fellow staff followed you in assisting us. God is good.

Just to let you know that the treatment in Zambia went well but we are still facing challenges as Lucy is supposed to be on treatment again right here in Malawi (Blantyre) due to some other problems she is still having.

Its just unfortunate that the MSH contract is no long there but I wish I could work with you because the team spirit you showed us is extraordinary, guys, keep it up!

Kind regards, MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS THE ENTIRE STAFF OF MSH, We believe you shall be blessed abundantly.

Samuel and Lucy Sakala Kandulu

Not going to lie - I teared up a little. I complain about my job, but it is moments like these when I am truly thankful to be here.