Arrived and Settled

Yes, we are finally settled and rested from our travels back to Malawi. We traveled without incident and arrived with all 8 suitcases! A small miracle for which we are very grateful. The kids travelled quite well and we all were happy to find a McDonalds in the Amsterdam airport for one last greasy burger and fries. The kids happy meal had a small Monopoly game in it--which is quite funny as they had been playing a lot of Monopoly since our Florida trip.

We arrived on a Friday and the kids went back to school on Monday. It was so helpful that they were returning to a familiar setting and both of the kids were so excited to see their friends and their teachers.

We went back to work mid-week and it's been good to start practicing medicine again. We were a bit rusty on the HIV protocols and the paperwork, etc.,--but it's all come back quickly. We are lucky to be working in a place where the patients are almost always very gracious and thankful for your care.

We've mentioned before that Lilongwe has a very transient population, especially in the ex-patriate circles. Much has changed in the 4 months we have been in the states--quite a few people have left for different reasons, and more families have arrived. One family, the Fielders, has arrived to work at Partners in Hope. Jon had set up an HIV program in Kenya and now he, his wife, and 2 small boys have come to Malawi to assist in the expansion of the PIH programs.