tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319690312009-02-21T07:50:42.693-05:00This is where our friends stay in touch with us and share in the work we are doing in our medical mission in Malawi. We encourage your comments, as it let's us know that we have friends that care about our work, our struggles and our successesPat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1162157845649994382006-10-29T16:21:00.000-05:002006-10-29T16:37:28.226-05:00

My humble appologies. I had heard others say it was hard to keep up a decent flow of blogging, but I never REALLY understood until we came to Africa. There is very little time really, and the dial up speed is SO SLOW. We get high speed internet on December first then we can Skype, send pictures etc. HURRAY!!!!Anyway, we are not only busy with the day to day work, but we have a team of ten from

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1160508380452326132006-10-10T15:13:00.000-04:002006-10-10T15:26:20.463-04:00

Hi all;We have been in the house for over three weeks but it has been the life of a gypsy anyway. First, the kitchen had to be emptied for two days to do the semi-annual bug spraying, then the painters came and were here every day for two weeks. All of our stuff had to come out of closets, put onto beds and tables and wait for the paint to dry. This week, they were finished. We spent the weekend

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1159823086205901332006-10-02T16:34:00.000-04:002006-10-02T17:04:50.366-04:00

Whoever said time flies, was NOT kidding. Having the internet down for the last FIVE DAYS did NOT help!We are settling into our house, and Ann is busy putting her mark on the place. She turned into Martha Stewart overnight! We are about half way through the painting, and we made kitchen and dining room curtains, and have started improving the small things. We cannot wait until they get to

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1158786140654094352006-09-20T16:17:00.000-04:002006-09-20T17:02:20.810-04:00

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times....Pat's Tale: I had a very busy day, drove to the clinic about 140 Km from Lilongwe. I got to meet the staff and was quickly immersed in the details of the work. It was great to feel like I was finally getting started! Chris Brooks and I worked late into the night preparing his information for the upcoming fundraising trip. I had called to see

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1158602447621525172006-09-18T13:40:00.000-04:002006-09-18T14:00:47.673-04:00

We jumped out of the nest on Friday. We moved into the house we had waiting for us. Living with Chris and Heather Brooks was a godsend, really. It gave us a few days to get oriented. Our first night was not easy though.We had lots to unpack, but the living was a lot different when there are not friends in the next room. The house is fine, lots of room and grounds. We met Alan, the gardener/day

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1157998435299736392006-09-11T14:01:00.000-04:002006-09-11T14:13:55.323-04:00

We have arrived in Malawi safe and sound, but tired. After a tough and tearfilled goodbye at the airport, we got on the plane headed for England. We had a seven hour layover, and my brother, Mark, who lives in England came up to join us for lunch at the airport.The next leg to Johannesberg was the toughest, eleven hours in the same chair, and me snoring in Ann's ear. It was a long night. There

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1157417904563258942006-09-04T20:47:00.000-04:002006-09-04T20:58:24.576-04:00

Time has been flying past!We have had a sendoff party from our church and nearly 70 people came. It was very touching to hear comments and words of encouragement and support. They were also generous in their financial support for Ann and I.We have been spending a lot of time with family and getting completions done. Everyone is encouraging and supportive, but we all know it will be quite

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1155684112892157592006-08-15T16:08:00.000-04:002006-08-15T19:21:53.106-04:00

I was expecting a document via courier, and when I got home and opened it up, it wasn't what I was waiting for, it was the airline tickets! WOW, we really must be going!We are now at the three weeks mark and counting. My business contacts have been told, and the calls are coming in. Well wishers abound, I just need a few more "financial" well wishers to show up!The AIDS Conference is on in

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1155135758982742632006-08-09T10:46:00.000-04:002006-08-09T11:02:38.996-04:00

What a process! Ann has spent two months getting all of the boxes and packing ready to go. The moving company had advised us that we could not seal the boxes as they all had to be "inspected" Perhaps we were shipping things we shouldn't, like cake mixes and toilet paper!!Anyway, it was a mad rush all day. The team arrived at 9:00 am and worked relentlessly until 5:30 pm. Arron, our son worked

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31969031.post-1154382119662236182006-07-31T17:33:00.000-04:002006-07-31T20:01:12.986-04:00

Hi all;Just a note to open the blog. We want to thank our friends and family for their support and their ongoing generocity and encouragement.In case you have not heard, Pat has accepted the position of Managing Director for Lifeline Malawi and will be working in Africa starting September 6, 2006. Please visit the website at www.lifelinemalawi.com to get more background and history. Pat and Ann

Pat Laforethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10150386359831057879noreply@blogger.com2