Visit to Mooi Plaas

Now this was one unforgettable experience. Megan, Jaco, and I had a
great weekend in the end of May with Heidie & Lappies and Sonja &
Awie and all of there kiddos! This is one cool family that has
reached out to Megan and I since we first visited Mariental in
November 2005 before permanently moving in in January. Awie was
filling in as a relief teacher at Lappies' school and Sonja is
Heidie's sister, so there are many connections. In addition to spend
a day and night in the veld with the Bushmen (see below) we got to
touch Botswana, track a Black Mamba (the scariest, most dangerous
snake here!), drive in the veld in the night looking for animals,
braai, and hang out with two incredible families for a long weekend!

The Bushmen are traditionally nomadic people who live in the Kalahari
(Namibia and Botswana) as hunters and trackers. They have incredible
knowledge of the veld (open field) of the Kalahari and can survive
quite happily for a long time out in the veld.

However, there is little open land not owned by private people or the
government for them to live on, so many groups now live in
'homelands" which are like reservations. They are basically the
lowest when it comes to social rank amongst the different tribes of
people living in the homeland. Kids at school get teased for being a
"bushman" whether they are or not. We learned that many are ashamed
to dress in their traditional dress as other tribes can when going to
town because of ridicule. There are few opportunities for earning an
income on the homeland. In addition, their culture is sort of dying
out.

Awie, a farmer whose farm borders one of these homelands, has gotten
to know one special family of Bushmen. He has established a
relationship with them a created a camp on his farm where they have
built some of their traditional houses. He has worked with them to
establish Bushmen tours in a non-exploiting way for tourists. The
Bushmen come to his farm and stay in their own houses that they have
made. The tourists come to the farm and stay in stick and mud houses
built by Tswanas. The two camps are right next to each other, so the
tourists with Awie walk over and spend the day with the Bushmen
talking (Afrikaans is the common language), learning about their
lives, culture, and how they make things. Awie knows a lot about
their culture and wanted to help them to teach others about it while
also earning some money to help improve their lives in a way that
they are not exploited. He serves as a translator if the visitors do
not speak Afrikaans.

Luckily, the weekend that we (Megan, Jaco, and I) were visiting,
there was a tour scheduled. We were able to join in and were a total
of five visitors for the Bushmen. That is about the maximum size for
the design of the tour. We had a great day with the Bushmen. We
learned that the patriarch is one of the main leaders of the whole
Bushmen community in this homeland. His daughter who was paralyzed
at a young age and in this culture would normally be cast off is now
one of the main leaders and is a traditional healer in their
community. We didn't just meet any Bushmen, but some of the main
leaders! They were kind and enjoyed showing us things like how they
make ostrich egg shell jewelry and how they find water in trees in
the veld. They took us on a walk in the veld and showed Megan how to
track a springbok, don't think that she would survive very long in
the veld. What looks like a bunch of random marks in the sand is
actually a pathway to dinner for the trained eye and knowledge of the
Bushmen. They showed us how to make a traditional trap out of
sticks, string, and grass in hopes of catching a steenbok. The young
men taught us a game that they enjoy which involves throwing sticks
on a pile of sand and seeing which one flies the furthest.

In the evening we were invited to join them at their campfire where
they sang and danced into the night! The next morning, after a good
sleep in a stick and mud house in the veld, we went back to the
Bushmen to thank them for teaching us about their culture and say our
goodbyes. At this time we also had an opportunity to buy crafts that
they made. Megan and I both bought jewelry for ourselves and for
gifts. Jaco got a handmade walking stick like Awie and Oupa Bushman
(patriarch) have.

This was an experience that now of us will forget! We even learned
about a special connection between Oupa Bushman and Jaco's great
uncle who was from a farm only 60 kilometers west of Awie and Sonja.

Many thanks to Heidie and Lappies for arranging this weekend to visit
Mooi Plaas ("Beautiful Farm") and many thanks to Awie and Sonja for
hosting us!!!!!!!!!!!! We had a great time as you can see from some
of the photos!

Southern Girls Conference 2007

Again, Southern Girls Conference was a phenomenal  success.  This girls empowerment conference focuses on HIV prevention through esteem building, role model identification, women's health and reproductive health education, and much more!  It was held 21-24 June in Keetmanshoop this year, about three hours south of Mariental by bus.  Girls from Rehoboth, Mariental, Tses, Keetmanshoop, Karasburg, Bethanie, and Ludertiz came together for the conference.  The theme was based off of Maya Angelou's poem, "Phenomenal Woman" which the girls absolutely loved!  

From the evals, the girls really enjoyed all of the informative, interactive sessions on self esteem, relationships, HIV and AIDS, women's health, reproductive health, yoga, and creative movement.  Many of them, although shy in the beginning to meet other girls, noted that making new friends and communicating with girls from other girls clubs were highlights.  They also said how much they liked all of the energizers, games, and songs that they learned.  Megan's rendition of "Boom-chick-a-boom" was a BIG hit!  

During the planning session for the future of Girls Clubs in the respective communities, the girls from the two different schools in Mariental came together.  This was cool because they don't usually interact and one is known as being a "better" school than the other, so Megan and I were quite happy to see them working together.  The Mariental girls want to host a one-day Mariental Girls Conference for the other girls from their schools and other schools with girls clubs in Mariental.  Actually, the idea came from Megan and I, but once we shared it with them they took over, sharing which sessions were most important and should be included, volunteering to help with or lead different parts, and generating a list of "phenomenal women" in the community to invite to speak on a panel for the girls.  I must say, I am quite proud of all of these girls!  Of all the girls there, these were some of the most respectful and well behaved girls.  I have no doubt that the Mariental Girls Conference will be phenomenal as well!!

Saturday night was a dance party with mostly Namibian dance music and they were begging for it to go on all through the night.  The conference closed Sunday morning with a farewell ceremony including a final reading of "Phenomenal Woman", presentation of certificates (hot pink ones), presentation of t-shirts, and a group photo.  

National Launching of AIDS Awareness Week

The Ministry of Education in Mariental was asked to host the national
launching of AIDS Awareness Week. I am part of the Regional AIDS
Committee for Education (RACE) which headed up the whole thing. The
week before the event, the week of my dad's accident, the rest of the
organizing committee was out of the office. I was left in charge of
the final preparations. Thankfully most of the team had their
sections organized AND one of the secretaries jumped in a helped my A
LOT with phoning schools and finalizing last details!

Monday, June 18 came and went and the national launching of AIDS
Awareness Week turned out just fine :-) It ended up being a HUGE
event at our soccer stadium involving all of the region's school and
all of the national ministries as well as many community
organizations. Four school groups from Hardap Region were invited to
present HIV programs from their schools (Window of Hope, My Future is
My Choice, and AIDS clubs as well). Famous Namibian artists (the
Namibian equivalents of Akon or Black Eyed Peas) were invited and
gave positive messages about HIV and performed in between speakers
from national and international organizations. The grade 8-12 kids
from the local schools were there as well as members of the community
at large.

Here are some comments shared between Megan and I via sms during the
event. Megan was sitting with her students and I was running around
behind the scenes getting school groups ready to present and helping
the program to flow.

"this guy is fun, i even want to jump around and dance" - to megan
during Phura's first performance

"this is almost more than i can handle, 800 kids, 10 listening, no
one knows what NANTU is" - from megan during NANTU representative's
speech on teacher unions' involvement in fight against HIV

"positive speaker up next, kids should really like her" - to megan
during NANTU speech

"i really like this lady, she is great" - from megan during positive
speaker

As you can see it was a mixture of engaging, entertaining, and boring
to be honest. The positive speaker is a woman who has been living
with HIV for 15 years now and does a lot of public speaking about
education and prevention, focusing on youth and their responsibility
in taking control of their future with the choices they make! She
really got the kids attention and the whole place was quiet while she
was speaking openly about safe sex and the responsibility of the
youth for HIV education, not just the teachers' responsibility.
Overall, the event turned out well. Ah, first big project checked
off the list for the week!

Dad moves into Craig Hospital

The news on my dad is that he moved into Craig Hospital in Denver, CO which is one of the best rehab facilities for spinal injuries in the nation! He started PT, OT, etc. on Wednesday. He had a real shower/bath for the first time since the accident. HE got a pair of Crocs since his sneakers don't fit on swollen feet. No, they are not tie-dye, but a plain brown pair. I spoke with him last night and he sounded like my same. old dad. He said that he is working hard and doing everything that the doctors tell him. You know that he is Mr. "Perseverance in the Face of Adversity" :-)

He has received many fabulous cards and a great live plant! Thank you for the emails, calls, cards, and the especially all of the prayers and thoughts!!! That means a lot, really!

You may use the following addresses to send things:

Craig Hospital
3425 South Clarkson
Engelwood, CO 80113

or

Michael Dixon
1315 Elm
Denver, CO 80220

My mom's email address is jadixon54@hotmail.com if you want to write to her.

We (my family and I) all really appreciate the support and kindness that you all have shown to Dad and the rest of us as well. Many have offered to help in whatever way they can. Mom said that those of you in Medford should please make use of the gardens so that they don't go to waste. If you want to weed that would be awesome. If you just harvest the produce that would also be wonderful. Also, a huge thank you to the Robsinsons for taking Arlo in and to Doug for coming over to feed and check on the horses! Luke will be home, so maybe check on him from time to time since he is going to be taking care of the house, etc until Mom and Dad can come back. Thanks to Mike Malchow who is going to drive my parents' car out to them in Colorado. That's a tremendous help! For those of you in Medford, maybe check with the Malchows and see if Mike can take cards, etc. that you want to send out to Dad.

To look on the bright side...his accident was about a week ago and MANY good things have happened since. THANK YOU, GOD!
1. Accident was in Denver where one of the best rehab centers for spinal injuries are
2. Surgery on spine went really well according to doctors
3. Luker and Ellen were able to get there by the time Dad came out of surgery
4. ALL of us have been tremendously blessed by love, support, and prayers from all of you AND by the friends and families here in Namibia who've never even met Dad
5. By Friday last week Ellen gave me the report of the sensory tests showing that tiny bit of feeling in the thigh when poked in the ankle AND the tiny bit of muscle flextion in the hip flexors and gluts
6. Dad is really trying to stay positive and work hard on the exercises, etc that he has to do
7. The insurance companies agreed and Dad is able to be in Craig for rehab
8. By Monday this week he moved into Craig rehab facility!

Surely there is more, but these are the things on the top of my head right now. Please continue to keep my dad and mom in your prayers and thoughts as it will be a long road to recovery!!

Aunt Kathi is there now. Mike M. is coming on Friday. The Robinsons are planning to visit in early July. Aunt Barb & Jason might visit mid July. I'll be there July 25. I can't wait to see my dad and my mom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

many good bits of news

After a long, hard week I am quite pleased to bring you all some good bits of news.  Ellen phoned me about a hour ago...much to report.

 

1. Dad's condition/progress: 

Yesterday he sat up in his back brace for 59 minutes and physical therapy people had him doing somethings with balance, etc.  His broken ribs and broken scapula on the right side and lots of painful bruising on the left made this challenging.  However, you know my dad, takes on challenges :-) 

 

They did a lot of sensory tests on him and found that there is a bit of muscle twitching or flexing in his gluts and hip flexors.  WOHOO, that's great news!  Also, Ellen was there during the tests and when the therapist poked Dad in his left ankle he felt it, but thought it was in his left thigh.  Hey, we are extremely greatful for the tiniest bit of sensation, of hope!!!!  All in all, God is good, healing and progress are already taking place. 

 

Dad is still in ICU, but only because there are not any other rooms available.  He is not hooked up to any monitoring machines or IVs or anything.  He even put on his glasses yesterday and watched some History Channel.  Being in the ICU means he gets even better care than he would in a regular room, so I guess its fine that he is still there.

 

His attitude is good.  He is staying positive and working hard on the exercises that they give him.  This could be quite a long road, so pray that that positive, perseverance spirit remains! :-)

 

2. The Craig Rehab situation:

As I said in a previous email, this is quite a reputable place for spinal injury rehab AND it is right next door to the Swedish Medical Center where Dad is now.  Mom's working hard with the doctors and social worker to get Dad in there.  The hang up in the insurance right now.  They want him to be in a rehab center in Eau Claire or Marshfield, but hello people he is paralyzed in Denver and one of the coutnry's best spinal rehab centers is next door!!!  To me it seems like a no-brainer, but the insurance world is a bit more complex than that.  Ellen reported that the Craig doctors are going to talk with the insurance doctors and hopefully they will agree that it's fine for Dad to go to rehab there.  Pray that this goes smoothly and that insurance will allow for Dad to move next door to one of the best spinal rehab facilities.

 

God willing, he'll move to Craig on Tuesday. :-)

 

3. Sending things/visiting:

As you all email, even though I can't write back to everyone, I write Mom a summary of who said what and to pass the messages on to Dad.  Some asked what to send -- not flowers.  Luker reminded me today how Dad says that flowers just die and then their water starts to stink.  Maybe send a funny card and write a personal message.  I sent a Father's Day card in Akrikaans which he won't understand, but then I translated it to English and sent some photos.  You certainly don't have to send things, but I know that some asked about it so I thought that I would put this part in.

 

4. How's the family doing?

Mom is totally a trooper and you all know that.  She is getting things done.  Last time I talked to her she was going for greek food and visiting with some old friends from Medford who know live in the Denver area.  Sounds like she takes breaks from the hospital to get rest and is hanging in there.

 

Luke is going to have Q-doba (oh, I am jealous) for lunch and run nine miles later today.  Ellen has visited with friends from Medford who are randomly out there.  Both Luker and Ellie seem to be better than earlier this week and are taking care to get a little R&R as well.  I think that they fly back on Sunday.

 

Many have asked how I am.  Even though I am far away, I stay connected through email and phone calls.  Dear friends and my Namibian families have been AWESOME.  Many colleauges and other friends in Mariental and abroad have smsed and emailed that they are praying for my dad and family.  That means so much to me!!  People's kindness has been so overwelming that I sometimes cry because my heart is just so full.  In the beginning of the week it was scared and sad tears for my dad, now they are happy, I-cannot-believe-how-great-people-are, tears!  I will go home the end of July for a visit.

Dad's Surgery, etc

Wow, thank you for all of the prayers, thoughts, and emails!  I've been really blessed by the response, kindness, and offers to assist in any way possible.  The kindness that people have shown to me here and abroad has made it much easier since I am so far away from my family right now.

 

Now for some news on my dad.  His surgery went well.  The doctors were able to clean up the T12 and then put pins and rods in the two vertebrae above and two below to stablize his spine.  The doctors are quite happy with how this six hour surgery went.  Yesterday Dad was fitted with a back brace and was sitting up for a while.  My mom has been in touch with Craig Something rehab facility in Denver which is supposedly one of the best in the US for spinal injury rehab.  It seems quite likely that he will get a place there when it is time to move to rehab.  Today they are planning to move him out of ICU or where ever he was just after surgery and into a "normal" hospital room.  He is at Swedish Medical Center in Denver.

 

On not such a happy note, I learned last night that there was more to the injuries than Mom first told me.  Dad has +/-3 fractured ribs and his right scapula is also fractured, doctors wanted to try to splint that if possible.  All of these other fractured bones are quite painful, so even though he can move his upper body, it's not very nice.  He also has a lot of bruising and swelling.  However, despite all of this, he has a positive attitude.  Mom said he is smiling and teasing the nurses, probably calling them all "Sweet Pea" or "Suzy".  That shows that even in these circumstances he is still my same dad with the same contagious personality and slunky spirit!

 

Please continue to pray for the recovery process.  There is still no feeling in his legs.  Join me in praying my father through to a walking recovery!

My Dad

Last night I received a call that every Peace Corps Volunteer dreads. My mom phoned around 8pm, she never phones out of the blue unless we have a phone date or I call her first to tell her that I am home. I knew something had happened. My parents are in New Mexico, I think, helping someone build a new house. My dad fell from a loft in the house and is now paralyzed from the waist down. He is having surgery at 7:30am New Mexico time oon Tuesday June 12.

People, please pray for my dad and for my mom! They are in a hospital far from home, far from my sister and brother (I think they are making plans to join my parents),and far from so many friends who also love my dad so much. God IS the Great Physician, Healer, Comforter, He is the God of Peace, and so many more names are used to describe Him in the Bible, but these characteristics of God are what I am praying for my dad and mom to experience right now. I know that this paralysis is not final. It is only the second day. Please join me in bending His ear toward my dad's healing, inside and out, and for my mom as she is seeing him through all of this.

Many of you reading this know my parents and also love them dearly. Please just pray for them.

I was already planning to go home in about a month, but if the condition changes I think that Peace Corps allows us some kind of emergency leave for circumstances like this. I will keep you posted.

Thank you for reading, for praying, and for also loving my dad and my mom! They are so great!!!!!