Yesterday we celebrated the World’s AIDS day here at St. Francis Care Centre and Clinic with hundreds of visitors who came to learn about HIV/AIDS, be in solidarity with our patients, support our staff, and celebrate the progress we’ve made in dealing with the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. There were educational and inspirational talks, tours, and questions and answer sessions during the day, and a special evening mass at 6:00 pm followed by a candle-light procession to (and prayers at) our St. Frances grotto. Then, because December 1st just happens to also be Fr. Stan’s birthday (he’s the founder and head of all that goes on here, and is known throughout South Africa as a leader in care for AIDS patients -- and is tickled and pleased that his birthday falls on world AIDS day each year), our day ended with a birthday celebratory “tea.” I don’t know how many volunteers contributed foodstuffs to this “tea,” but in addition to the obligatory birthday cake, there were about 20 different other “sweets,” four different meats, chips, some fruit, and to drink: tea coffee, wine, and soda.
For those of us who stayed late enough to come to the party, the visiting, socializing, feasting, and general camaraderie served as an uplifting end to a worthwhile day.
After working four months in the hospice (working intimately with 20 to 40 patients), Tim has been rotated this week to the outpatient clinic (2549 patients minus those who have died or transferred to other clinics). We may now see each patient only every two months.
I (Tim) would like to give some personal reflections on our hospice work here. First, I am amazed at the results of the care we give with our meager resources. Latest statistics show that 46% of our patients are now getting well enough to leave us and live productive lives again -- likely the best record in South Africa.
Second, some examples of meager resources: a) for two months, we did not even have a pair of scissors; we had to cut bandages or adhesive tape with a knife or our teeth or nails, b) we have only one small, cheap nail clipper which just can’t cut the tough toenails of some of the patients, c) our one sphygmomanometer has broken twice -- for more than a week each time, we couldn’t take blood pressures, d) we continually run out of adhesive bandages, gowns, rubber gloves -- and must borrow from the children’s cottage or the clinic, e) there’s very little recreational equipment for the patients -- no books, some old magazines, no playing cards, 15 jig-saw puzzles (only 4 of which have all the pieces), no board games except monopoly which no one wants to play, no bingo cards, etc.
Third, we have food shortages. We grow our own spinach, cabbage, onions, beets, and some carrots, beans, and corn. Much of the rest of the food is donated by large grocery stores, so we eat a lot of close-dated foods, or foods just a bit past their expiration date, or slow-moving foods (food that “regular” people don’t want to buy. We have good cooks who make the most of what they have to work with: left-overs from one meal can be transformed into stew, left-over stew into soup, left-over soup into gravy; but they feed not only the patients, but the staff and full-time volunteers who far outnumber the patients. Ceil and I get tired of eating rice and gravy or corn meal and spinach, or chicken hearts and cabbage, and so about 20% of the time we skip a meal.
Fourth, the working staff (non-administrative) are underpaid. The average ward worker makes the equivalent of about U.S. $ 300.00 / month, while living expenses are similar to the U.S.
How do we get the results that we do? I attribute it to two factors. First, the workers and volunteers are here because they care; they want to be here, and they want to be part of something they can be proud of -- and they’re willing to make sacrifices to do so. Second, the general atmosphere of the hospice is that of family. The patients, the staff, the volunteers see themselves more as members of a large family than as a patient or as a ward worker or as a cook or as a volunteer. We’re all in this situation together; we laugh together, we mourn together, we work together, we play together; we care for and love one another. We share the African idea of unbunto -- of caring, sharing, and loving those around us.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
CHURCH MUSIC
In September Tim was asked to give a presentation for an all night vigil program which is held once a year for choirs in the area of the St. Francis Care Center. The Sunday before the event, all of those at Mass at the Care Center were also invited to attend.
The vigil was scheduled to start at 7 P.M. on Saturday, October 9, 2010, so Tim and I arrived at the hall about half an hour early. There were six people practicing singing in this hall that can hold over 400 people. Without any amplification they sounded like a full choir of beautiful voices in four part harmony. It was amazing.
Gradually more choir members came and the sound grew. Eventually there were at least two adult choirs and a youth choir. The only instruments for accompaniment were bongo drums of various sizes and a soft organ. All of the singing was in Zulu.
The Mass started about 8 P.M. and of course the music was great. After Mass there was a break during which there was the first rain storm in many months. After the break there was an inspirational talk by Sister Connie. More singing followed this and then Tim gave his Bible Study presentation. Tim and I left then during the break that followed. On the program for the remainder of the night was the Rosary, 3 hours of Spiritual Revival/Faith Sharing (probably all in Zulu), and from 4 A.M. to 10 A.M. praying was scheduled.
The Sunday Mass was celebrated at 10 A.M. with all the choirs in attendance. There has always been great music at the Sunday Masses since we have been in South Africa. But this Sunday's music with all the choirs from the Vigil was incredibly beautiful.
During the normal Sunday Mass every week there are three groups that lead the singing. One is a group of singers and drummers and an organist from Malawi. Another group also sings in an African language. The third group sings in English. There are 17 times that there is song during the Mass, and the groups take turns preparing and singing for these hymns by a pre-planned schedule. Most of the congregation joins in with voice, clapping, and body swaying. I have been asked to chose, post, and begin the English songs on October 31 since the usual leader of English songs will be out of town.
The Our Father that is sometimes sung is set to the tune of Kum-Ba-Ya. This may be a common adaptation known to many of you. But I will include it in case it may be useful to some.
OUR FATHER (KUM-BA-YA)
Father God in Heaven, Lord most high,
Hear your children's prayer, Lord most high
Hallowed be Thy name, Lord most high,
O Lord, hear our prayer
May your Kingdom come, here on earth,
May your will be done, here on earth,
As it is in heaven so on earth,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
Give us daily bread, day by day,
And forgive our sins, day by day,
As we too forgive, day by day,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
Lead us in your way, make us strong,
When temptations comes, make us strong,
Save us from all sin, keep us strong,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
PAUSE:
All things come from you, all are yours,
Kingdom, Glory, Power, all are yours,
Take our live and gifts, all are yours,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
______________________________________
Tim and I wish you well. We encourage you to respond to our blog.
The vigil was scheduled to start at 7 P.M. on Saturday, October 9, 2010, so Tim and I arrived at the hall about half an hour early. There were six people practicing singing in this hall that can hold over 400 people. Without any amplification they sounded like a full choir of beautiful voices in four part harmony. It was amazing.
Gradually more choir members came and the sound grew. Eventually there were at least two adult choirs and a youth choir. The only instruments for accompaniment were bongo drums of various sizes and a soft organ. All of the singing was in Zulu.
The Mass started about 8 P.M. and of course the music was great. After Mass there was a break during which there was the first rain storm in many months. After the break there was an inspirational talk by Sister Connie. More singing followed this and then Tim gave his Bible Study presentation. Tim and I left then during the break that followed. On the program for the remainder of the night was the Rosary, 3 hours of Spiritual Revival/Faith Sharing (probably all in Zulu), and from 4 A.M. to 10 A.M. praying was scheduled.
The Sunday Mass was celebrated at 10 A.M. with all the choirs in attendance. There has always been great music at the Sunday Masses since we have been in South Africa. But this Sunday's music with all the choirs from the Vigil was incredibly beautiful.
During the normal Sunday Mass every week there are three groups that lead the singing. One is a group of singers and drummers and an organist from Malawi. Another group also sings in an African language. The third group sings in English. There are 17 times that there is song during the Mass, and the groups take turns preparing and singing for these hymns by a pre-planned schedule. Most of the congregation joins in with voice, clapping, and body swaying. I have been asked to chose, post, and begin the English songs on October 31 since the usual leader of English songs will be out of town.
The Our Father that is sometimes sung is set to the tune of Kum-Ba-Ya. This may be a common adaptation known to many of you. But I will include it in case it may be useful to some.
OUR FATHER (KUM-BA-YA)
Father God in Heaven, Lord most high,
Hear your children's prayer, Lord most high
Hallowed be Thy name, Lord most high,
O Lord, hear our prayer
May your Kingdom come, here on earth,
May your will be done, here on earth,
As it is in heaven so on earth,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
Give us daily bread, day by day,
And forgive our sins, day by day,
As we too forgive, day by day,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
Lead us in your way, make us strong,
When temptations comes, make us strong,
Save us from all sin, keep us strong,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
PAUSE:
All things come from you, all are yours,
Kingdom, Glory, Power, all are yours,
Take our live and gifts, all are yours,
O Lord, hear our prayer.
______________________________________
Tim and I wish you well. We encourage you to respond to our blog.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN FMS MISSIONER AT ST. FRANCIS CARE CENTRE
First, a bit of physical background. Our workplaces consist of two five-acre walled and gated compounds in what was until recently, a rural area.
The first compound contains:
1) St. Francis Guest House, the original old farmhouse, where long-term volunteers and other guests live.
2) House of Mercy, an inpatient treatment center for drug & alcohol addiction.
3) Outpatient clinic and two satellites (where Cecilia works).
4) a sheep pasture for twenty or so sheep that we keep.
5) a large recreational field for soccer, volleyball, etc.
6) a house for some staff people.
The second compound houses the following:
1) St. Francis Care Centre (the hospice where Tim works) which consists of two wings with a roofed patio between them; maximum capacity = about 50 patients.
2) Rainbow Cottage for children with HIV/AIDS (about half), or orphaned by AIDS; maximum bed capacity = about 25.
3) about thirty other buildings (administration, chapel, chaplain’s office, laundry, morgue, large community room (@ 350-400 capacity), nursery school, training room, handyman’s office and shop, etc.
4) three playgrounds, open grassy areas, many flower beds, three fruit and vegetable gardens, and a large pasture for 3 donkeys, many rabbits, and many geese.
Second, a bit of background about the patients. Technically, we are a hospice offering palliative care for patients who are terminally ill. In reality, we do much more. We serve about 300 to 500 patients per year, giving them full medical, physical, emotional, and spiritual care until they leave, either through death (166 last year), becoming healthy and strong enough to live out a relatively normal life (106 last year), or because they either develop conditions which we don’t have the capability to treat, or they decide to leave for personal reasons (35 last year). All of our patients have HIV/AIDS, and most of them have other diseases or infirmities. The majority have TB, and most who die here do so because of TB or related disease. Our youngest patient was 14, and the oldest was 84.
A (more or less) TYPICAL DAY IN MY DAY
7:00 a.m. Arise from our suite in the guest house, eat, say morning prayer, and walk the quarter mile to the hospice -- a nice walk with sheep on both sides, palm and fir and deciduous trees, many flowers, and nice grassy areas.
8:00 a.m. Say “good morning” to each patient individually, and to each staff member, and help collect breakfast trays from bedridden patients and return them to the kitchen. Read night shift’s “patient’s report” and/or make rounds with doctor and nurse.
Pass meds, treat sores, change bandages. Help patients to move outside: help them dress, change “nappies,” lift from bed to wheelchairs, “drive” wheelchairs to outside place of patient’s choice,
9:00 a.m. Tea time. Prepare and serve tea and sandwiches (egg, tuna, peanut butter, jelly), and partake thereof myself.
9:30 a.m. Make beds, give massages, cut nails, and (some days) prepare for mass and help move patients and children from rainbow cottage to chapel.
10:00 a.m. Mass (some days) or personal time with patients (individually or in small informal groups): talking, praying, playing games, doing crafts, etc.
11:30 a.m. Lunchtime. Serve patients, clean up, and eat lunch myself.
1:00 p.m. Personal time with patients: visit, sit with dying, walk with some.
2:30 p.m. Begin to move some patients inside and into beds.
3:00 p.m. Tea time. Help prepare and serve tea and snacks (cheese crackers, bread and jelly, cookies, biscuits, candy -- whatever is available).
3:45 p.m. Say individual “good-bye” to each patient and staff person.
4:00 p.m. Leave. Perhaps walk to store and buy some food. Walk home,
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Do miscellaneous jobs as needed: charting, intakes of new patients (5-page examination and interview), prepare dead bodies and take to morgue, check oxygen or IV, change position every 2 hours of bedridden patients, prepare electrolyte solutions, clean patients’ cups and water jugs, fill water jugs, etc.
6:00 p.m. Supper time at home.
7:00 p.m. Watch evening news.
7:30 p.m. Personal time: Read, study, prepare class or homily, talk with Cecilia and/or other residents of the guest house, E-mail, evening prayer, etc.
11:00 p.m. Bedtime.
The first compound contains:
1) St. Francis Guest House, the original old farmhouse, where long-term volunteers and other guests live.
2) House of Mercy, an inpatient treatment center for drug & alcohol addiction.
3) Outpatient clinic and two satellites (where Cecilia works).
4) a sheep pasture for twenty or so sheep that we keep.
5) a large recreational field for soccer, volleyball, etc.
6) a house for some staff people.
The second compound houses the following:
1) St. Francis Care Centre (the hospice where Tim works) which consists of two wings with a roofed patio between them; maximum capacity = about 50 patients.
2) Rainbow Cottage for children with HIV/AIDS (about half), or orphaned by AIDS; maximum bed capacity = about 25.
3) about thirty other buildings (administration, chapel, chaplain’s office, laundry, morgue, large community room (@ 350-400 capacity), nursery school, training room, handyman’s office and shop, etc.
4) three playgrounds, open grassy areas, many flower beds, three fruit and vegetable gardens, and a large pasture for 3 donkeys, many rabbits, and many geese.
Second, a bit of background about the patients. Technically, we are a hospice offering palliative care for patients who are terminally ill. In reality, we do much more. We serve about 300 to 500 patients per year, giving them full medical, physical, emotional, and spiritual care until they leave, either through death (166 last year), becoming healthy and strong enough to live out a relatively normal life (106 last year), or because they either develop conditions which we don’t have the capability to treat, or they decide to leave for personal reasons (35 last year). All of our patients have HIV/AIDS, and most of them have other diseases or infirmities. The majority have TB, and most who die here do so because of TB or related disease. Our youngest patient was 14, and the oldest was 84.
A (more or less) TYPICAL DAY IN MY DAY
7:00 a.m. Arise from our suite in the guest house, eat, say morning prayer, and walk the quarter mile to the hospice -- a nice walk with sheep on both sides, palm and fir and deciduous trees, many flowers, and nice grassy areas.
8:00 a.m. Say “good morning” to each patient individually, and to each staff member, and help collect breakfast trays from bedridden patients and return them to the kitchen. Read night shift’s “patient’s report” and/or make rounds with doctor and nurse.
Pass meds, treat sores, change bandages. Help patients to move outside: help them dress, change “nappies,” lift from bed to wheelchairs, “drive” wheelchairs to outside place of patient’s choice,
9:00 a.m. Tea time. Prepare and serve tea and sandwiches (egg, tuna, peanut butter, jelly), and partake thereof myself.
9:30 a.m. Make beds, give massages, cut nails, and (some days) prepare for mass and help move patients and children from rainbow cottage to chapel.
10:00 a.m. Mass (some days) or personal time with patients (individually or in small informal groups): talking, praying, playing games, doing crafts, etc.
11:30 a.m. Lunchtime. Serve patients, clean up, and eat lunch myself.
1:00 p.m. Personal time with patients: visit, sit with dying, walk with some.
2:30 p.m. Begin to move some patients inside and into beds.
3:00 p.m. Tea time. Help prepare and serve tea and snacks (cheese crackers, bread and jelly, cookies, biscuits, candy -- whatever is available).
3:45 p.m. Say individual “good-bye” to each patient and staff person.
4:00 p.m. Leave. Perhaps walk to store and buy some food. Walk home,
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Do miscellaneous jobs as needed: charting, intakes of new patients (5-page examination and interview), prepare dead bodies and take to morgue, check oxygen or IV, change position every 2 hours of bedridden patients, prepare electrolyte solutions, clean patients’ cups and water jugs, fill water jugs, etc.
6:00 p.m. Supper time at home.
7:00 p.m. Watch evening news.
7:30 p.m. Personal time: Read, study, prepare class or homily, talk with Cecilia and/or other residents of the guest house, E-mail, evening prayer, etc.
11:00 p.m. Bedtime.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Spring message
A couple of days ago I tried to send both pictures and a written message. The pictures made it to the blog, but I couldn't get the message from my document page to the blog. So now I will try to tell you what the pictures are all about.
September 1 is Spring Day in South Africa. The weather has warmed into the 40's at night and into the 70's or 80's in the daytime. The trees have leafed out, the flowers are blooming, and it is really pretty. Tim likes to watch the African Daisies that are just outside the St. Francis Care Center where he works with the adult hospice patients every day. Tim enjoys watching the flowers that have closed up at night open their petals in a variety of colors each day.
I have been working in the St. Francis Clinic, which is a walk-in clinic for HIV/AIDS patients. I have been doing the office work, especially with the paper records. There are currently two volunteer seminarians doing this job, but they are returning to their studies soon, so I am being trained into the job.
There is also a live-in place for the children to age eight. It is called the Rainbow Center for Children, and there are pictures of the building and some of the outdoor play equipment among the blog pictures.
Tim and I both have ideas for future blogs, and perhaps Tim will be writing the next blog for us.
September 1 is Spring Day in South Africa. The weather has warmed into the 40's at night and into the 70's or 80's in the daytime. The trees have leafed out, the flowers are blooming, and it is really pretty. Tim likes to watch the African Daisies that are just outside the St. Francis Care Center where he works with the adult hospice patients every day. Tim enjoys watching the flowers that have closed up at night open their petals in a variety of colors each day.
I have been working in the St. Francis Clinic, which is a walk-in clinic for HIV/AIDS patients. I have been doing the office work, especially with the paper records. There are currently two volunteer seminarians doing this job, but they are returning to their studies soon, so I am being trained into the job.
There is also a live-in place for the children to age eight. It is called the Rainbow Center for Children, and there are pictures of the building and some of the outdoor play equipment among the blog pictures.
Tim and I both have ideas for future blogs, and perhaps Tim will be writing the next blog for us.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
We've Arrived in South Africa
On Tuesday, July 27th we departed from Chicago for Johannesburg, South Africa and arrived on Thursday, July 29th, after nearly a day stop over in London. If you are wondering, of course we did not stay in the airport. We ventured out into London for the day (but sadly took no photos to share).
It is our third week here; we are slowly getting to know our jobs at the St. Francis Care Center and the St. Francis Clinic (more to come on that later). We received a visit from Kim Smolik -- a photo from our day long tour of Soweto with Sr. Connie (a sister of Mercy) is below. Sr. Connie is a native of Soweto.
We look forward to sharing more about our work and our adventures soon.
It is our third week here; we are slowly getting to know our jobs at the St. Francis Care Center and the St. Francis Clinic (more to come on that later). We received a visit from Kim Smolik -- a photo from our day long tour of Soweto with Sr. Connie (a sister of Mercy) is below. Sr. Connie is a native of Soweto.
We look forward to sharing more about our work and our adventures soon.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Enroute to South Africa!
On July 27, 2010 we began our journey from the U.S. to South Africa. We are excited and happy to be starting our new mission assignment at a Franciscan mission center in Johannesburg.
But now a little background information about us. We both were born, attended schools, and were married while living in Chicago, Illinois. We moved to North Dakota in 1971 and raised our five children there. Tim was ordained a deacon in the Catholic Diocese of Fargo, ND in 1979. We started short-term overseas missions in 2000.
In 2003 we participated in the 12 week Franciscan Mission Service (FMS) training program for overseas missioners. As members of FMS we went to Bolivia, South America on mission for three years from 2004 to 2006.
Since returning from Bolivia we have reconnected with family and friends. Tim has been involved in diaconate activities at the parish level. And we have both done local volunteer work. But we felt called to a second 3 year committment overseas with the Franciscan Mission Service.
We participated in some re-training for mission before and after Tim's prostate cancer surgery. Now that Tim has completed his cancer treatments, we are preparing to leave for mission.
When we are living in South Africa we will keep updates on this blog as we experience our new life in the Franciscan mission. The web page for that mission at which we will be living and working is: www.st-anthonyscentre.co.za/st%20francis.html .
But now a little background information about us. We both were born, attended schools, and were married while living in Chicago, Illinois. We moved to North Dakota in 1971 and raised our five children there. Tim was ordained a deacon in the Catholic Diocese of Fargo, ND in 1979. We started short-term overseas missions in 2000.
In 2003 we participated in the 12 week Franciscan Mission Service (FMS) training program for overseas missioners. As members of FMS we went to Bolivia, South America on mission for three years from 2004 to 2006.
Since returning from Bolivia we have reconnected with family and friends. Tim has been involved in diaconate activities at the parish level. And we have both done local volunteer work. But we felt called to a second 3 year committment overseas with the Franciscan Mission Service.
We participated in some re-training for mission before and after Tim's prostate cancer surgery. Now that Tim has completed his cancer treatments, we are preparing to leave for mission.
When we are living in South Africa we will keep updates on this blog as we experience our new life in the Franciscan mission. The web page for that mission at which we will be living and working is: www.st-anthonyscentre.co.za/
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