Nurse Libby Laing

New Zealand

From New Zealand to Bangladesh

Elizabeth (Libby) Laing grew up in New Zealand. There she married, had 2 children, and lived her life in the hills around Wellington of then Taupo with a beautiful mountain backdrop. Her children grew up, and in 1990, her husband died. She continued on with life, though, and worked as a community nurse in New Zealand. Her specialty is the health care of mothers and children under 5 years old. After a time, Libby decided she wanted to work in a developing country. It is something she had always wanted to do, and now she had the time to do it. There was a need for a community nurse at the Thanarbaid Health Care Centre in Bangladesh. The focus was health care of mothers and children under 5. Libby learned of this need and, after renting out her house, left to fill the position. She arrived in September 1998 to the greeting of Dr. Edric Baker and Fr. Doug Venne (a correspondent for Thanarbaid). Since then she has spent her time learning Bangla (the language of Bangladesh) and working with the village program at Thanarbaid, which reaches out to mothers, young children, and others in need in the 10 villages the program covers.

The Stamina of a "Young Woman"

Although Libby is 59, she is as physically fit as a woman half her age. She has always lead an active physical life and continues to ride her bicycle and to take daily walks. The weather in Bangladesh is extremely hot and humid, but Libby has adapted extremely well. A lover of conversation, Libby has made friends quickly with SMSM Sisters in Dhaka (the capital) and those who run the mission where she lives. The mission is a 15 minute walk from Thanarbaid, and Libby walks the distance easily (or takes her bike). Learning Bangla is another matter, though. The language is much different from English, has its own alphabet, and has many sounds not made in English. Libby is getting along, though, taking classes, and soon she will be talking up a storm in Bangla as well.

Finding her Place (August 2000)

Libby is still working out her place in Bangladesh. Edric wishes her to lead the village program, but this is not to Libby's liking. She would rather work with Leo, a tribal Mandi gentleman who already heads the program. Libby likes to work with the people, rather than over them, and Leo is someone with whom Libby enjoys working. He is quiet around most people, and unassuming. On walks from village to village he teaches her about the plants, insects, and animals. His thoughts are that of someone you would expect to have a formal education. He once came to Libby with several topics written out in ENGLISH (which would be his third language after Mandi and Bangla). These topics included goals and self-doubt--topics related deeply to leadership and program building. Libby feels that Leo thinks deeply about many things, and she wishes to work with him to build up the village program.

Libby also feels that it is her duty to support the economy of Bangladesh. With the rent money from her home, Libby has a surplus of income which she uses to support the clinic and to go shopping in Dhaka. She has not forgotten the importance of having some fun now and then.

Update (June 2002)

As of June 2002, Libby completed her four-year course of stay at Thanarbaid. During her time there she worked persistently to build up the Village Program at Thanarbaid. Infant and child mortality rates in the area dropped over the past four years as the Village Program was built up. The Village workers have grown self-sufficient, which was Libby's ultimate desire. After leaving Thanarbaid, Libby accompanied Fr. Homrich from the nearby parish in Pirgacha back to the USA, since Fr. Homrich had broken his leg. From there she returned to Bangladesh and then headed to France to help her great-niece with her new baby. From France she will return to New Zealand. She will be missed.