Hartwigs, Medical Missionaries in Tanzania Supported by CTK, came to Christ the King November 22-23, 2008

Past newsletter for the Hartwigs posted at the bottom of this page.

The Hartwigs - some basic information

 

Some Examples of Correspondence from the Hartwigs

 

10/13/07

Nurse Paulina Natema, the Selian Hospice veteran, asked me to stop by and see the elderly woman who had recently been started on oral morphine. Usually there are issues to work out when a family first starts, and a doctor's presence is really helpful. The woman has recently had a leg amputation ‑ due to gangrene ‑ and when healing became protracted the family asked for her to be cared for at home. Things had not been good the week before, when the morphine had been initiated. The group of 6 of us crowded into the room and were treated cheerily by the Bibi (grandmother). Somehow visitors are always welcome, whether from relief of boredom or simply the honor of being graced with people from outside. What an easy culture in which to do home care! After introductions, Paulina asked how the pain medicine seemed to be working. The rough translation, after a moment's pause: "Ah, THAT medicine. It's REALLY GOOD!!!" and she leaned forward to give Paulina a slap on the hand, "high five" to emphasize how great it was to sleep and be out of pain. We all laughed with her and shared in the pleasure....  A week later ... Bibi had died....

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10/14/07

Gonja has funding now, and from mid-November is expected to move forward with a lot of energy. Capacity is quite good, and a lot of key people have been trained. Pray for the core team to keep up their strong work of the past months, and to gain the clinical skills to make them better care providers. Pray for the supporting team, Dr. Amini, Nurse Kissenge, Dr. Msemo, and many other Nurses, to provide the necessary support to the core team, which will need lots of help. Pray for successful interaction and integration with the several other programs operating in the area.

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1/01/08                                   A New Year in Tanzania

Dear Friends,

Many greetings of the New Year. May it signify for you the kind of renewed hope and determination that we also consider in our Christain faith. A reminder of renewed hope at Christmas. A renewed determination to follow the way of that one we call the Christ.

In our lives here and my work especially we have different ways of looking at hope.

In work:

That we might be wrong about colleague John's apparent brain tumor. That he might find hope in resolution of family and community issues close to him. That 'healing', for him, would be profound and everlasting.

For continued healthy growth of our many hospital programs, which each face many, many challenges. We so hope that the service provided means a kind of hope even for those who might be dying.

Thankful and hopeful that our palliative care "team" in Arusha is now a strong 4, that we might grow in relationship, teamwork, and dedication, as we try to manage truly daunting travel and meeting schedules.

In our lives as a whole:

Hope that energy and health continue strongly, that we might continue our ministries here in medicine, music, and community.

Hope that our children stay and grow well, that we might see more of them next year, and experience less of the melancholy that comes from being oceans apart at Christmas time.

Hope that the complex planning for the coming year, including 2 necessary trips to the States, works out for all of us.

Hope is so mixed with gratitude, is it not? We hope because we have experienced Grace. And so we are grateful for 2007.

In brief, our hope for travel to the States this coming year includes July/August and then again November/December (at least for Kristopher). It is our "Home Assignment" year as missionaries, and we have an obligation to personally connect (visit, if possible!) most of our 40 plus supporting churches. I also have two major examinations to take, one in Family Medicine and the other in Hospice/Palliative Medicine. Every 7 years or so I have to "recertify", and by chance this year both exams come due. One is late July and the other early November. Thus we will attempt church visits, family connections, and other obligations around those fixed times. A letter on possible visit dates to your community should be coming soon.

Kristopher, Rebecca, and Nathan (whose Kenya boarding school return has been postponed at least a week due to post‑election violence ‑ another area to hope for a kind of peace that will be meaningful)

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Feb 24, 2008

Dear Friends at Christ the King in Mankato,

This is our year for home leave, and we hope to connect personally with you during this time.  Now we would like to propose a time to see you, understanding that schedules may not be as flexible as we'd like!  In general, we have over 40 churches to visit (!)  That is actually not possible, and for some places we will suggest joining or visiting at a nearby congregation. Please consider (a date in) NOVEMBER ....

Kristopher and Rebecca

Pastor Steve Kidder emailed back February 27, 2008 saying that Nov 16 or 23 would be best for us.

Kristopher emailed back setting the date for November 23, 2008

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May 24, 2008

Shukrani.

In May Rebecca and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. We took some flowers and visited our neighbors, Dave and Eunie Simonson. Some of you know of the Simonson's, coming here as missionaries over 50 years ago and subsequently dedicating their lives to the Church in Tanzania. We shared stories and laughter with them, as seemed appropriate since we first met at their home in 1981. We are grateful for such sweet memories, such special neighbors, and such a special gift of being together these many years.

Our children are all well, and we are looking forward to seeing each one within the next two months as time in the States approaches. That they can be so far from us - and each other - and still bless our being here, is a precious thing for these parents. Daniel, Jenny, Kirsten, Heidi, Nate: cherished gifts.

We have an amazing web of family, friends, and supporters. In July and August we will visit so many churches, so many friends, and see so much family - it's a grueling schedule, yet loving relationships every day, and the privilege of sharing stories, feelings, and time with those for whom we care a great deal.

Our work and relationships here continue well. We can hardly believe the richness and complexity of the roles we each have, the ongoing possibilities for the future, and the loving prayers that continue to support us.

Shukrani means gratitude in Swahili. We use it a lot in the language, but never loosely. The culture has inherent awe and gratitude towards our Creator God. That our God also Redeems is a cause for great gratitude and joy, yet still a great wonder as sickness, tragedy, poverty, and war continue to afflict this world.

Shukrani.

Kristopher and Rebecca Hartwig in Tanzania

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