February Gender Retreat and Accident

Greetings.

I write this update with joy and sorrow in my heart. Joy for all of the wonderful blessings that I have witnessed and sorrow for suffering that others are going through.

I have had a great time working with the kids on a number of projects at school. All of the tree seedlings were planted around the school. They have built a good number of desks for the students to sit at. We are also working on creating a variety show to have the kids showcase dramas on subjects such as HIV, pregenancy, and enviormental protection. Many children are amazingly talented at singing and dancing so that will be welcomed.

Last weekend some fellow Peace Corps volunteers and I organized a wonderful weekend retreat for Malawian 10th and 11th grade students from around northern Malawi. The students were exposed to guest speakers (amazingly motivating and positive), new careers, goal planning, and more. The children seemed to really enjoy it and some appeared to take the challenge to heart. Gender equality will not come quickly but over time and education it can be improved. There was one negative note, my friend and I were walking back from the bus depot in the evening (read dark should have taken taxi) after looking for kids that had not shown up yet. Two men jumped us and mugged us. My friend recieved a good blow to the head and I got small bruises. Over all though it was as peaceful as a mugging could have been.

When I returned back to my house after the weekend program was over I recieved some very difficult news. There had been a horrible traffic accident including students from my school. It is quite common for trucks to be overloaded and this one had 90 students in it. This causes many of them to sit the flat bed or the railings of the sides. When the truck was following a turn in the highway the sides of the truck broke and 30 students fell to the pavement in what was described as a gruesome scene. Many people with big hearts came and helped the students to the hospital (one student passed away at the scene). On Sunday when I returned many of the students were still in critical condition. The reports on the students was continued improvement for which I was extremly grateful. I had paid school fees for one of the students the year previously, another two worked with me on the variety show.

There is no real way for the students to deal with it. There is no organized prayer or support groups. When I went into one of my classes I found a large drawing of the truck and the bodies on the ground with the word "Pepani" (sorry) written in large letters on the board next to it. It was difficult to teach after erasing that.

It has been a difficult time for the school, community, and myself. The community has shown a great amount of sorrow and suport for those involved which is so great to see in a time like this. I have also recieved a wonderful amount of support from friends and family. On monday I was considering whether I needed to be in Peace Corps or not. Today is friday and I have recieved a great amount of encouragement and spiritual guidance. For that I am so grateful.

My friend in the village, who is also my neighbor and my fellow teacher, is the one deemed responsible and the were discussing legal actions against him. He is a good person and would not intentionally harm anyone but is filled with regret and grief.

As the Malawians are strong they will continue. I am hopeful that the students will continue to improve in God's care.

Thats all for now.