Here's what's happening in our neck of the woods...

Sanibonani :) 

On Saturday, Simanga picked me up from Baylor, and we headed to the glass factory. There, we met up with the team and the Myers. Simanga and I had a good time catching up and then it was fun to introduce him to everyone. It was also absolutely amazing to be reunited with my sweet friend, Lora, and others on the team. We shopped a while and then checked into our hotel in Mbabane - Mountain Inn. We began sorting through medicines and supplies before going to dinner in Ezulwini. We attempted to do some more medicine packing after the hotel but ended up giggling more than counting pills and organizing medicines. This is such a fun team, and I am so glad to be with them.

Organizing our supplies 

On Sunday, the team split into two groups and led church services in different locations. Lora and I went to Nsangweni along with half of the team. We had a great service and ended up having another church that was meeting at the same school come and join us for worship. We met the team back at the Mountain Inn for lunch and worked some more on medicines before going to our first night of revivals at Hawane.

Mr Jack Cherry dressed as Peter for Sunday School

One of the children at Nsangweni

After church

So excited to serve in Swaziland with Lora! :) 

Monday was our first day of clinics. We set up at a community building in Nsangweni. We easily saw over 300 patients. Allison (our eye doctor) was potentially the most popular person in Swaziland that day. Mr. Jimmy Moore screened out all the school children for us that were just coming to see the Americans. Teresa Rehmeyer, Dr. Mike Crawford, Dr. Michele Larson, and I saw patients while Lora and Eloise (our two nurses) ran triage, Jason Berry ran the pharmacy, Jack Cherry shared the gospel, and Joan Hanson helped with registration. All things considered, the clinic ran flawlessly. The Poes and Mr. Connell Purvis delivered BGR buckets (palliative care buckets) to various people in the community that the local church members had identified. Baptist Global Response is such a cool ministry as we get to meet a physical need and then share the gospel with people in their home. Plus, the local church members are the ones who find the need and then follow-up. 

Triage

Lookin the part :) 

The community building where we held clinic

Our eye doc hard at work

Lora and Make Ngidi

Hanging out at the clinic

Waiting in line for glasses

Our clinic on Tuesday was in a community building in Ntsintsa. When we arrived, there were not that many people waiting, so Lora and I joined the BGR bucket team. We were able to divide up and have two teams visiting houses. We went with Mr. Connell Purvis and Mr. Wayne Myers along with our translators from Hawane and members of Peace Baptist Church who had identified those needing then buckets. We had a wonderful experience. I love visiting the homesteads and have so many stories to share. Most memorably was an elderly woman who lived alone after losing her husband and all of her children. She told us she could not believe "the Americans would choose to come visit someone who has nothing." Heart breaking. We were able to share with her, pray with her, and then present a bucket of much needed health and hygiene supplies. Another memorable moment would be walking uphill for 30-45 min because the truck could not make it up the mountain. We had quite the workout and clearly felt the call to the ends of the earth. :) 

Presenting the items in the BGR buckets to this gogo

A typical Swazi homestead

Our clinic on Wednesday was at Hawane. We set up in the new church building which really worked well. As a doctor, I was able to see several of my friends and the Hawane church members as patients which was fun. Looking at the picture below, you may notice Jimmy Moore at the front of a line of children with a stethoscope around his neck. He has been screening all of the school kids for us and then sending them inside if they need to see a doctor. At some point during the day, he added orange juice to a syringe with a long wooden Q-tip at the end and pretended it was an injection. That quickly cleared out those who were just coming to see the Americans. :) We were also joined by several midwives and midwifery students for clinic. I enjoyed getting to know them. After our clinic, we stayed and visited with the church members while we waited for the revival to start. During that time, several of us taught the Swazi women about business skills for the necklaces and bracelets they are now making. Our last night of revival was bitter sweet for sure. Saying good-bye is never easy so that held true. I have learned over the years to say "see you later" instead. This church has helped us in a tremendous way over the last week, and it has been such a blessing to serve alongside of them. I miss my friends already. 

Dr. Moore...

Taking care of my sweet Hawane friends

Lora and Khumbuzile

I love this lady. --Gogo Shandu--

Make Ngidi and her little granddaughter

Saying good-bye to my sweet friend, Nono

Thursday was our travel/shopping/touristy day. :) We went to two different markets and to the candle factory. After shopping, we headed to the northeastern part of the country which is where we will be staying until heading out to South Africa next week. On the way to our new hotel, we got to see Simanga to say good-bye because we passed right by where he is working and staying. 

At the market in Manzini

Friday was an early morning for us. We had the opportunity to lead the morning assembly at Lomahasha High School which is right beside the Mozambique border. The apostle, Peter, aka Jack Cherry, made an appearance and the students loved it. After morning assembly, we had clinic at the high school and others went to deliver BGR buckets. While we were setting up the clinic, something super exciting happened. I greeted several young people walking up and then realized they were my friends from the southern part of the country! I had only seen one of them this trip and didn't think I would see the others. They will be serving as our translators for the next few days. :) I cannot wait to spend more time with them! Last night was our first night of revivals in this part of the country. Instead of meeting inside a church building like we did at Hawane, we had a huge tent set up for our tent revival. We had a great night of worship, and I am looking forward to what the Lord is going to do this weekend. The excitement continued as our vans sort of kind of got stuck as we tried to leave the revival services last night. Then we had a slight detour through the sugar cane fields on the way home. Gotta love Africa. :) 

Mr Jack speaking to the students at morning assembly

Seeing patients with Ndumi 

Today was another clinic day, and we will have revival again tonight. I will update more later! Please continue to pray for us as we finish up our last 3 days of ministry before heading to Kruger on Tuesday. We have had an amazing time and are learning a lot. Nkulunkulu muhle. God is so good.

In Him,

Hunter

Seriously?? I've already been here a month?

I am writing this update as I anxiously await the arrival of the team from First Baptist – Washington. This has been a really good last week with Baylor, and I have been really busy. Wednesday, I went to Hlatikhulu where Baylor has a satellite clinic. This is in the southern part of the kingdom and is near Nhlangano for those of you familiar with Swaziland. I worked with a Baylor doctor that I had not spent any time with yet and got to know her. I thought I was going to do homestead visits, but instead I stayed at the clinic and saw patients.  I joined the pediatrician at the Hlatikhulu for rounds that morning and was given a tour of the hospital. I absolutely loved my time in Hlati. I really felt like these kids were sicker and had more extreme poverty than what I see on a daily basis in Mbabane (the capital city where I am staying). There were also a lot more social issues and the Swazi culture was much less watered down by western ideas and practices. Wednesday evening, I went to a nice restaurant with my two roommates. We sat on the patio and watched the sunset. I have included a picture from the clinic, one with my roommate, Nina, and a snapshot of the sunset that does not do it justice. As a side note, when you look at the photo of Nina and me, you can probably see why several of the Swazis thought we were the same person and others thought we were sisters. The resemblance is unreal. ;)

The clinic

My roommate, Nina

                                                                            Sunset

Thursday, I went to Mbabane Government Hospital with one of the Baylor doctors to do morning rounds with the pediatricians there. Out of anything I have done in the hospital, this most resembled my 3rd year of medical school. There were several physicians in training that the attending was teaching as we went along. I learned a lot and saw a few things I have never seen. I continue to be amazed at the lack of resources at these facilities…whether it’s labs, medications, imaging, or available physicians. Some children were simply there waiting to be transported to South Africa so they could see a cardiologist willing to see patients their age.Thursday afternoon, I went over to the Rehmeyers and helped sort through medications for the upcoming clinics. I joined them for dinner as well, and then Nina and I watched Little Mermaid when I got home. Friday was my last day at the clinic. I saw a few patients and attended some of the meetings and teaching sessions before saying good-bye to everyone. I have had a great experience and learned a lot. I am going to miss several of the staff members at the COE (Center of Excellence – aka the Baylor Clinic) and really enjoyed getting to know them. Nina also completed her rotation yesterday and left sometime before lunch. When I got back to the visiting scholar cottage around afternoon, I spent a little while packing and then headed to town. I met up with one of my friends, Ntombi, and also ran into another friend, Sakhile, who joined us for ice cream at KFC. Then, I met Joelle Rehmeyer in town, and we went to a dinner at her church. I had a wonderful time. It was actually a Shabbat meal so we had worship, sharing, Lord’s Supper, a meal, games/fellowship, dessert, and prayer time.

                                           Enjoying time with my friend, Ntombi, at KFC

                                                      Sakhile wanted a “funny picture”

This morning, I am waiting for my friend, Simanga, to pick me up so we can go and meet the team at the glass factory. I am so excited to see everyone and really looking forward to spending more time with Simanga as well. I haven’t even begun to truly reflect on these last 4 weeks with Baylor so sharing about specific situations in my blog updates is rather challenging for me. I have, however, written out a few stories from patient encounters for one of the missionaries to use in her prayer letter. If you are interested in reading some of those, feel free to email me, and I will forward them to you: hunterjohnsonmd@gmail.com. Thanks again for your continued prayers and support. I am loving being here…feels like home to me. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Hunter

PS – By the time you see this, the team will be here!!

What are you looking at?

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“Mom wants to go to Syria. She wants to go into the warzone where people are dying every day to tell them about Jesus.” These words were spoken by my sweet Swazi friend, Nono, this weekend as we stood in her kitchen waiting for the wood burning stove to heat the pot of water for our baths. She was speaking about her mother, one of the most precious Swazi women I know. I have gotten to know Make Ngidi over the last 8 years and love her deeply. This weekend, I saw her heart in action. I remain speechless at the way this woman shows Jesus to those around her. On Saturday, I met Nono in town and we took public transport out to her homestead. We still had to walk another 30min or so with our weekend bags and groceries after being dropped off at the “station.”  When we arrived at her homestead, Nono immediately began caring for her brother’s 14-month-old while also working in the kitchen to help prepare dinner. As the guest, I was instructed to sit and relax and was given the largest mango I have ever seen. I enjoyed catching up with Nono’s brothers, Sakhile and Thokozani. We’ve been friends for years, and I feel like I have watched them grow up. Make Ngidi then asked me to go do homestead visits with her. There is an American girl who is a Peace Corps volunteer living in the same area. Make heard she had been sick so she wanted to go check on her knowing that seeing another American would likely be comforting. We walked to her “neighbor’s” homestead where she was staying. After meeting her and then talking some with the Swazis who are hosting her, Make Ngidi wanted to go sit and share the Gospel with this American girl. Unfortunately, she already had a visitor and did not want to have more people over at that time. Instead of being discouraged, Make decided it was a great opportunity to encourage the Swazis that were hosting her and then walk to another homestead where there was someone else who was sick. This neighbor was an older lady who had just gotten back from the hospital. She wanted to go check on her and pray over her. Just another Saturday afternoon for Make Ngidi. This is her rhythm of life. Nothing out of the ordinary. People are sick or hurting or in need in her community, and she is right there to encourage and pray…and if she has something extra to give, she gives it. This is the same woman whose asthma is so severe she has to stop every 2-3min while walking to catch her breath. This is the same woman who has single handedly raised 4 children not knowing if her husband is alive or dead. She is now raising her first grandchild as well. This is the same woman who lives miles off the main road with no car and no income. This is the same woman who was searching her kitchen for the nicest tea cup to give to her American guest (me) when Nono began telling me about her dreams to share the Gospel in Syria. Standing in the kitchen Sunday morning, tears filled my eyes. I want that kind of perspective. Make Ngidi doesn’t always know where her next meal will come from but she wants to go to Syria…and I have a hard time talking to the neighbor in my apartment building. Thank you, Make Ngidi, for your example and for being Jesus to those around you.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I can commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20
 

 

"I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you."  Isaiah 41:9

                                             Tires and wires make great toys in Swaziland

                                       Sunset while walking back from our homestead visits

As you can imagine, I had a wonderful weekend at the Ngidi’s homestead. Saturday night, we enjoyed potatoes, pap (corn meal mixture), carrots, and goat. After dinner, we had family worship, Scripture sharing and prayer. Saturday night, I had the rain on the tin roof as my background noise, and Sunday morning, the rooster was my alarm clock. I had lots of new experiences over the weekend but these are stories for another time. However, one of the most well documented events was learning to make thin porridge Sunday morning. This is another corn meal-based dish that is a staple in the Swazi culture. Nono taught me how to make it, and I taught her how to use a camera.

                                                               Cooking thin porridge

After breakfast, Nono and I walked over to church following our mini photo shoot.  Make left ahead of us as she has to stop multiple times for her asthma. When we arrived at church, Make taught the children and I taught the youth. I was excited to see about 20 or so young people that came early for the lesson. The church was full for the worship service, which was so encouraging. We had a wonderful time worshipping together. After church, Nono, Thokozani, and I headed back to town, and then I went back to Baylor. This weekend was one of the highlights of my trip without question. I was so thankful for the opportunity to literally do life with this family. I loved spending time with my friend, Nono, and growing our friendship. I was literally treated like royalty all weekend and given the best of everything, which is the Swazi way but is simultaneously very humbling. I was also definitely challenged by Make Ngidi’s faith in action and willingness to go...to whomever and to wherever.

 

                                        Nono, me, Make Ngidi, and Tibusiso before church

                                                                        Homestead

 Sunday night, Andrew, Nina and I all reconvened at the cottage. Nina had been in Mozambique and Andrew had visited a game park. We ate dinner together and watched Harry Potter.  I also had a friend stop by Sunday night – Mpumelelo Dube. I had not had the chance to see him yet, so it was good to catch up. Monday and Tuesday have been clinic days for me. They have been super busy, and I have been seeing my own patients to help with the patient flow. If we have down time, I hang out with some of the Swazi staff.  A few are trying to teach me medical siSwati. Tomorrow I will head to a satellite clinic in Hlatikhulu and will likely be doing homestead visits. I am hoping Thursday will be spent at one of the local hospitals doing inpatient rounds. Friday will be my last day at Baylor and the team from FBC-Washington will arrive on Saturday. I continue to learn a ton medically, culturally, and spiritually. Each day brings an incredible amount of opportunities to be taught something and to grow somehow. Praying I continue to be open to what the Lord is saying and where He is working. I love every minute of being here while missing my friends and family back home at the same time. Can’t wait to see what is in store for tomorrow.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

Hunter

                                                                      Nono and me

Death by chicken

Hello friends. Halfway through my trip! Thanks for your faithfulness in reading these updates and for your prayers. I didn’t include this in my last blog post, but Tuesday afternoon I started to get sick. And it got worse from there. I am quite sure I had a nice case of food poisoning and am also pretty confident that I got it from KFC. Colonel Sanders and I are no longer friends…in real life or on Facebook. The good news is that I am basically back to my usual self today. Praise. Tuesday was also a rough day for one of our Baylor doctors. She splashed some fluid in her eyes while doing a procedure and had to start HIV prophylaxis along with several other medications. She is breastfeeding so has to be even more cautious. She has been sick as a dog the last few days because of the ARVs she now has to take for a month. Please remember her in your prayers.

On Wednesday, I only worked the second half of the day since I was sick. That night, Nina (my roommate) and I went out to eat with several of the Baylor doctors. We went to a restaurant run by a Swazi lady who cooks traditional Swazi food for her customers. We sat on a porch overlooking the mountains and a small waterfall while the sun set. It was so nice.

Yesterday was another clinic day. I began the morning by helping the TB nurse do gastric aspirates. I definitely felt like a real doctor since I made multiple children cry. I saw a few patients in the Challenge Clinic with one of the Challenge Clinic doctors and then spent the rest of the morning seeing patients on my own. Mid-afternoon, Nina and I walked to town to get groceries. On the way home we purchased some roasted maize and felt very Swazi. J Last night, we had a pretty chill evening at home and watched NCIS during dinner.  Afterwards, I went over to the Rehmeyers and Nina prepared to leave for Mozambique.

This morning, there was a big ceremony at the Baylor clinic for the opening of the breast and cervical cancer screening program. The Swazi staff dressed in traditional attire and performed several songs and dances. There were lots of important people there including Teresa Rehmeyer. J I really enjoyed it…mostly because I got to take a lot of pictures with my new friends. After the ceremony, Mr. Wayne Myers picked me up, and we ran a few errands before heading to South Africa. I am only allowed in Swaziland for a certain amount of consecutive days without leaving. So today I went to South Africa…for lunch. The usual. :) I really enjoyed catching up with Mr. Wayne. This evening, I have been at the Rehmeyers and am spending the night at their house. Tomorrow, I will head out to Hawane and stay at Nono Ngidi’s homestead and teach the youth on Sunday morning.

I only have 4.5 clinic days left with Baylor. Unreal. This week has been so good (despite being sick), and I have been able to spend time with a lot of the Swazi staff. I am also finally getting the hang of some medical siSwati and really enjoying my roommate, Nina. Looking forward to the next 3 weeks!

Have a great weekend! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Hunter

Friends are friends forever

Sunday, I got to spend time with one of my oldest and dearest friends. If you have heard me share about Swaziland, then you know the name Simanga. In fact, some of you know him as well. I have literally grown up with this guy. We have been through a lot together. He came to pick me up in the morning, and then we drove to his home - Thunzini. His grandparents are also precious friends of my family so I was really excited to see them as well. Unfortunately, gogo was out of town, but I was still able to see mkhulu (Simanga's grandfather). I was also able to see several of my friends and their families at church. For those of you who are familiar with this place, umfundisi Nkhosingiphile was there and preached. After church, I had quite an epic photo shoot with a bunch of the guys and enjoyed catching up.

Simanga’s grandfather with 2 little ones on the homestead

Greeting the church with Simanga translating

Umfundisi Nkhosingiphile : The pastor of Thunzini Baptist

With the bomake (women) after church

Hanging out with Thabani and Simanga

On the way home, we stopped in Nhlangano to drop off some people from church and to pick up another one of my friends, Mavayi. I was able to see her mom along with all 3 of Mavayi’s children, including the youngest that I had never met before. We took her to Manzini where she is in school now. Riding in the car with Simanga and Mavayi was beyond entertaining. They taught me about Swaziland and I quizzed them on their knowledge of the United States. We also had some serious conversations about future plans and dreams. So thankful for the time we were able to spend together. It’s amazing how despite differences in continents, language, culture, and skin color, we can still be incredible friends. PTL. :)

Simanga, Mavayi and I call ourselves “Triplets.” I am sure the resemblance is obvious.

Spending time with Amanda, Mavayi's oldest daughter

Another missionary friend, Julie, met Simanga and me in Manzini, and I stayed with her and her 10-year-old adopted Swazi daughter, Ellie. I had a blast with them and taught Ellie how to use a microscope and stethoscope. In return, she “put on a show” which included dancing to a Lecrae song.  

On Monday, I worked in Manzini at the Baylor satellite clinic there. When I got back to Mbabane, my friend, Sandile, came by for a visit. It was really good to see him, and I think I will get to again before I leave. Later in the evening, our 3^rd roommate, Andrew, arrived. He is an infectious disease fellow at Baylor and will be here for a month.

Today, I traveled to Piggs Peak with one of the Baylor doctors. We did gastric aspirates (TB testing for children) on a few kids from one of the king’s homesteads, which was pretty cool. Then, I headed out to do sputum collections and TB education with 3 Swazis on staff with Baylor. They refused to call me Hunter and instead called me Dr. Nomsa, which is my Swazi name. We had a lot of fun. Plus, finding the homesteads was an adventure in itself. No one has addresses here…all word of mouth and landmarks.

I know this is just a short update, but I wanted to send a lot of pictures. It has been a wonderful 4 days filled with seeing and making lots of friends. The Lord continues to grow my love for these people and this country. He also continues to remind me of His faithfulness, attentiveness, and willingness to respond to our prayers.

“But God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.” Psalm 66:19

(I suggest reading all of Psalm 66) :)

Hunter