2011.01.30: January 30, 2011: When Mike and Gail Messick sold their house and gave away all their material possessions after retiring in 2008, they had no idea there journey would take them to Swaziland

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Swaziland: Peace Corps Swaziland: Peace Corps Swaziland: Newest Stories: 2011.01.30: January 30, 2011: When Mike and Gail Messick sold their house and gave away all their material possessions after retiring in 2008, they had no idea there journey would take them to Swaziland

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When Mike and Gail Messick sold their house and gave away all their material possessions after retiring in 2008, they had no idea there journey would take them to Swaziland

When Mike and Gail Messick sold their house and gave away all their material possessions after retiring in 2008, they had no idea there journey would take them to Swaziland

Mr. Messick, after 30 years at IBM, could have been considered for a business position. But he said raising his own children prepared him and his wife for Pasture Valley. "It's like raising a family all over again, with 23 kids," he said. Mrs. Messick, a former dental hygienist, doesn't just make sure the kids are keeping in good health. While her husband keeps records and helps with homework, she is heavily involved with planning a Christian curriculum for the children. While the couple has lots of experience raising their own children, the African children aren't like those in UA. None of the children at the orphanage have come of age to graduate high school and move on yet, so one of the Messicks' responsibilities is to create an exit strategy for them. Doing so can be difficult when the children can't imagine a life outside of Swaziland, where many are afflicted by HIV and AIDS, men are soldiers and women are mothers. Asking one of the children a simple question such as, "What do you want to be when you finish high school," "What is your favorite color" or "What is your favorite food," only results in a blank stare. "Critical thinking is nonexistent," Mr. Messick said. "They've never given any thought to blue vs. red. That whole mentality is foreign to their culture. They're just trying to get through every day. We're trying to get them to see that there are teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers. There's more than just soldiers and mothers," in their future.

When Mike and Gail Messick sold their house and gave away all their material possessions after retiring in 2008, they had no idea there journey would take them to Swaziland

Messicks put their skills, affection to work in Africa

By MELISSA DILLEY

Published: Sunday, January 30, 2011 9:05 AM EST

When lifelong Upper Arlington residents Mike and Gail Messick sold their house and gave away all their material possessions after retiring in 2008, they had no idea where their lives would take them.

They spent most of their time traveling across the country, visiting friends and sleeping on couches. When they weren't catching up with long-lost friends, they were working on their Peace Corps. applications.

It wasn't until six months ago that the couple learned from the Peace Corps. that they would spend the next 27 months in Swaziland, Africa, caring for 23 orphans at the Pasture Valley Children's Home.

"The decision was as simple as, 'We're ready for a little bit of adventure and to do some good in the world,' " Mr. Messick said.

"I wouldn't just work at a job to make money."

The Messicks weren't always prone to travel and moving, despite their recent nomadic tendencies. Both went to UA schools as children and after college, returning to raise their four children and build careers.

However, there was one great adventure before settling down in their hometown. They joined the Peace Corps. and spent three years on the island of St. Lucia as small business consultants to help the local economy.

"We knew all along that once our kids were gone we would do something like this," Mr. Messick said.

"We did it 35 years ago and had a great time so we figured we'd try it again."

The Peace Corps. application process is time-consuming and tedious, but since the Messicks had volunteered before, they hoped they would get the chance again just as easily.

After being chosen, they were sent to Africa with 35 other Americans for training. They spent two months learning the language and customs while their instructors chose which roles each member would best fit.

Mr. Messick, after 30 years at IBM, could have been considered for a business position. But he said raising his own children prepared him and his wife for Pasture Valley.

"It's like raising a family all over again, with 23 kids," he said.

Mrs. Messick, a former dental hygienist, doesn't just make sure the kids are keeping in good health. While her husband keeps records and helps with homework, she is heavily involved with planning a Christian curriculum for the children.

While the couple has lots of experience raising their own children, the African children aren't like those in UA. None of the children at the orphanage have come of age to graduate high school and move on yet, so one of the Messicks' responsibilities is to create an exit strategy for them.

Doing so can be difficult when the children can't imagine a life outside of Swaziland, where many are afflicted by HIV and AIDS, men are soldiers and women are mothers.

Asking one of the children a simple question such as, "What do you want to be when you finish high school," "What is your favorite color" or "What is your favorite food," only results in a blank stare.

"Critical thinking is nonexistent," Mr. Messick said.

"They've never given any thought to blue vs. red. That whole mentality is foreign to their culture. They're just trying to get through every day. We're trying to get them to see that there are teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers. There's more than just soldiers and mothers," in their future.

While visiting home last week to meet his new twin grandchildren, Mr. Messick stopped by his sister's sixth-grade language arts class at Jones Middle School.

His sister, Molly Miely, has been teaching her class Siswati phrases as part of their service learning project.

In preparation for Mike's visit, the class collected basic school supplies such as erasers, paint sets and scissors to make school packs for each of the children at the orphanage.

M. Messick spoke to all the sixth-grade classes during an assembly and met with a few others for a discussion over lunch. Students asked questions about the children like they knew them personally from hearing his stories.

They were interested in how the one child who broke his arm was doing, how others did in school and some even asked if they could send toys to the kids.

"The best way they learn from service learning is to weave it in slowly," Miely said.

"Some days we take whole days, but it needs to be long term. That's when it becomes deeper and meaningful and they make the connection."

In social studies the students have learned about the geography of Africa and in health they will begin to learn about AIDS and HIV and how it affects the African culture.

The class was especially interested to hear from Mr. Messick about how the students learned about their school grades and the classes they take.

Instead of getting a report card, students in the seventh grade that will be moving on to what would be considered high school in America, learn if they passed by reading the local newspaper, where the grades are posted for all to see.

Jones students were tickled to think that while they were learning Siswati, the orphans were learning all about English because it is the only language spoken in schools.

Messick said he tried to stay on the lighter topics of the Peace Corps. mission because not only did he not want to bring up topics students might not understand, but because there is more to the orphans lives than HIV, poverty and death -- thanks to Pasture Valley.

"There are lots of things that happen there that they don't understand and I don't understand. I've tried to stay away from that stuff," he said.

"Some kids asked, 'Is it sad there all the time?' The answer is, These kids are in a good place.' "

"They're just trying to get through every day. ... There's more than just soldiers and mothers."

--Mike Messick




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2011; Peace Corps Swaziland; Directory of Swaziland RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Swaziland RPCVs; Older Volunteers





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Story Source: Columbus Local News

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Swaziland; Older Volunteers

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