a project you can help with: Mariental Girls Conference

In June Megan and I took nine girls and one Namibian counterpart to
the Southern Girls Conference (SGC) in Keetmanshoop. We helped
organize and facilitate this three-day girls conference. The overall
goal of the conference was HIV prevention through the empowerment and
education of girls in grades 7-10. One of the objectives in
achieving that goal was strengthening existing girls clubs. During
the community planning time the Mariental girls came up with a plan
to share the best parts of SGC with other girls in their community.

The nine girls from Megan's and my girls' clubs came up with a plan
to host a smaller, one day, version of SGC here in Mariental for
other girls at their schools and two other schools who did not get to
attend. The sessions that they felt should be in a one-day "mini"
girls conference were women's health, appropriate relationships, HIV
and AIDS info session, self esteem poems and collages, and the
phenomenal women panel. The theme of SGC was based off of Maya
Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman". The girls want that to be the theme
again and also want to invite some phenomenal women from the
community to share their stories of how they got to where they are.
They came up with a list of eight women including the governor, the
mayor, a principal, a teacher, and some local business women. We
only need about four for the panel, so hopefully from there list at
least that many will be willing and able to come and speak as
phenomenal women and inspire these girls on that same path! We hope
to have ten girls from each of four schools come together for this
event to not only empower and strengthen the girls who attend, but
the girls clubs and the schools that they go back to. In addition,
we hope that this mini girls conference will promote interaction and
collaboration between schools in Mariental, specifically between
girls clubs in Mariental.

Now the time has come to take these ideas and make them into a
reality. We now have a schedule, a plan, a budget, and a date
(Saturday 13 October). Last week I applied to the PC HIV and AIDS
committee for funding. This morning I am meeting with some of the
SGC participants from the Danie Joubert girls club to make
invitations for the women they want to invite for the panel.
Tomorrow Megan and I are going to meet with the teachers who lead
girls clubs at two other schools to go through the schedule and see
how they can also be involved in the day. Plans are in motion.
However, if you are interested in this project you can help from the
US. While we have already received one donation from a gracious
RPCV's mom and have applied to the HIV committee, we still do not
have all of the funds secured for this day. The total cost of the
day including supplies and meals is US$350. So far we have received
US$100. If you would like to help us get a little closer to making
this happen by contributing financially, please send your check to
the following address with "Mariental Girls Conference" in the
subject line:
Beth Dixon
c/o Jill Dixon
W5380 Jolly Ave.
Medford, WI 54451

Thanks for your interest in my work here in Namibia. Over the past
two years, the girls club has been a highlight for me!

Today is the day

Dad and Mom had their combined going-away party at the hospital with Gary & Sherry and Dave (all people they've gotten to know at Craig). Gary & Sherry (Gary was Dad's first roommate) and Dave (another patient at Craig) are all leaving this week so they combined their party. I imagine that it went well and that all are excited and maybe also a bit nervous about going home. Gary & Sherry are the folks that Dad & Mom played cribbage and dominoes with, shared stories and struggles with, and sometimes got take away dinners with. They are at a similar place in life as Mom and Dad and became friends through the course of their time together at the hospital. They will also return in six months at the same time as Dad and Mom for the six month check-up. I am very glad for all of them that they found friends in each other right there at Craig who are fabulous, quality people and going through the same thing. Dad and Mom are not the only ones making the transition home this week, but new friends in similar situations are as well. All the best to Gary & Sherry and to Dave as they travel their paths home this week!

Finally, after over twelve weeks Dad and Mom are returning home to Medford. Uncle Michael is driving their car to the Minneapolis airport from Denver where they will fly in today (Thursday, 30 August 2007). He is then returning to Denver and Dad and Mom will drive themselves home. Those of you who are praying people, please pray for all of these aspects to be smooth, hassle free, and safe! There are SO many more things that they need to consider and deal with than they ever did flying before. This is their first longer trip in the car (nearly three hours). It would just be really great if some guardian angels guided them smoothly from Craig Hospital to their home on Jolly Ave!!

At this stage I cannot imagine the mixture of emotions that they must be experiencing. Probably loads of relief and excitement about finally going home, but at the same time maybe some anxiety about how it will all work out. I know that there is an overwelming appreciation and gratitude for all of the people who have reached out to them in so many wonderful ways!

Those of you in Medford or planning to visit in the future, enjoy your time with Dad and Mom! I wish that I could be there to welcome them home and to see their reactions to all of the changes that you al made! What they have been through this summer has changed the rest of their lives. There will be so much more, I imagine, to adjust to once they are home in their own surroundings. However, what has been really special about the whole thing is the response from friends and family, from near and far! All of those positive, encouraging, helping, practical responses combined with their own attitudes and determination has made a world of difference!!

Much love and appreciation to you all!
Beth (on behalf of the Dixons)

Dad and Mom almost home

It's true, Dad and Mom are down the homestretch now with less than a week
before departure from Craig Hospital and their return to Medford.

The main news that I have on Dad (and Mom) is that Dad's brace came off last
week. The hard, plastic turtle shell was part of Dad's body for about 9
weeks, so he was relieved I think to have it off. He did say that it feels
like something is majorly different with his back...no surprise when you
have several rods, pins, and hooks holding a section of five vertebrae
together! Since having the brace off he has been working on more get-fit
skills, wheelchair skills, and personal hygiene issues. All of this is
making him more independent, which is the goal.

Thanks to Doug and Patty, Mom and Dad were able to host a little brat-fest
at the hospital with an assortment of brats from Nolacheks. This was
something that Dad wanted to do at the cottage this summer. We made it
happen in his honor, but it's nice that he was able to grill his own with
friends out in Colorado. Dad and Mom have had visits from Bill and
Arshebeth Hrabe and Steve and Anne Hayes recently. I know that they
appreciate seeing old friends and spending time together.

The plan as far as I know is for Dad and Mom to fly Denver to Minneapolis on
August 30. This means only one flight and NO Chicago O'Hare or tiny
propeller planes that fly in Mosinee. They are looking forward to it being
a smooth trip. I think that they have made arrangements for someone (not
sure who) to drive their car back to Wisconsin and someone to fetch them
from the airport. Pray that all goes smoothly.

I haven't heard exactly, but I am guessing that their room is pretty much
finished. There is a nice deck off the back with ramps, thanks Mike! I
wish that I could be there to see their reaction to the house starting with
the garage which has some new paint inside, a ramp, and a wider door into
the house. Then they have a fresh coat of paint and a wider door into their
room and finally their nice new room and bathroom!! WOW!!!!!!

I know that I always say this and some say I don't need to, but THANK YOU
ALL! We all deeply appreciate what you are doing!!

Much love,
Beth (on behalf of the Dixons)

getting back to namibia

well...the return trip was definitely not as smooth as going to the
US. after missing my connection in joburg and dealing with
unhelpful, sometimes rude airlines employees I had to stay overnight
in Joburg. my guardian angel was this girl about my age who was also
trying to make the flight to windhoek. we shared a room at a
guesthouse run by nice, old ladies and had pizza for dinner -- not
bad for being stuck in joburg, but still both of us wished we had
made the flight to windhoek. after being hassled a bit a passport
control going back into namibia, i arrived at the baggage claim to
find that neither of my suitcases made it. my luggage had spent the
night in the joburg airport basement, the last place that i would
want to leave my belongings, but i was not allowed to claim them the
night before in joburg because "it would take too long". i was at
the point of oh-well-what-else-can-go-wrong.

a friend was supposed to fetch me from the airport and then take me
to the bus later in the day for mariental. I sent him as sms saying
that i was still figuring out my luggage situation and would be out
shortly. when i finally came out into the arrivals area at the
airport i didn't see anyone that i recognized a first and then...jaco
came out from the crowd with a big smile on his face. at this point
i just started to cry. i had missed him so much and didn't expect to
see him until that night when i got off of the bus! what a fabulous
surprise after a not-so-fabulous trip! we drove to a lodge down the
road from the airport and enjoyed coffee while catching up and
watching wildebeast, ostrich, springbok, and warthogs come up to the
watering hole. this part was a really nice welcome back to
namibia :-) when we went back to the airport my luggage came on the
next plane and everything turned out fine.

as much as i enjoyed being in the US and seeing so many family and
friends, i also really missed namibia and my life in namibia. i have
six months left and much to wrap up in that time with projects
through the TRC and the girls club.

new room nearly finished

Words truly cannot express the depth of gratitude that all of us Dixon feel towards the community of people who have rallied together to put this addition on the house with tremendous care and quality work! As you can see from the progress in the photos, this has been a huge project and it is being done quickly! When I have seen folks in Medford who have worked on it, more than one has told me, "Beth, we are happy to do this for your parents because we know that if the shoe was on the other foot, Paul and Jill would be at our house everyday." This has really shown all of us the depth of bond and appreciation and care that exists between our family and the friends around us! Amazing seems an understatement to me!

rock wall and drywall

Having some fun along the way

Dad was not too excited about biking, but once he got out there he really enjoyed it. He came back with a huge smile on his face!! Mom and I were glad that he got out and had some fresh air and was able to have fun doing something out of his chair :-)

The cooking was an assignment for Occupational Therapy. He wheeled to Safeway and got the groceries a couple of days before. Then he knocked everyone's socks off with the deliciousness that he cooked up! Most people make things like hamburger helper or chocolate chip cookies. Not Paul Dixon. He made pork tenderloin stuffed with proscuitto, dijon, and fresh herbs with an amazing vegetable summer stir fry on the side! For an extra project he had Mom and I make stuffed squash blossoms. Everything was a big hit! NO surprises there :-)

On Tuesday Dad stood up in a standing frame. He slowly pulls himself up in it with a lever and then stands for a while. Um, I think that it makes him even taller than normal because I don't remember him being THAT much taller than me! It was great to see him be able to do that and it is also really good for his legs to have some weight on them AND some circulation in those legs!

In addition to all of this, we went for a picnic by a lake and some other patients went out in canoes. Dad went swimming yesterday. Mom said he even wore his goggles and was actually swimming around in the pool, not just sitting on the bench in the water. GREAT! This Friday is "Hobie Day" when they take practically the whole hospital boating, sailing, and have a huge bbq. I hope that Dad and Mom enjoy that and maybe even get in a boat out on the water.

Overall, it was wonderful to finally be able to spend some time with Dad and with Mom!!! The planned release date in August 30th, so Dad still has some time to wrk with the therapists after he gets his brace off. No one really knows exactly when he will get his brace off.