Today I taught ladies’ class, 13 ladies, 1 baby. I taught them Ten Lessons on Honor from Romans 12, one of my favorite chapters. Romans 12 has a lot to say about how to treat one another. There were a lot of discussions afterward. Especially, questions about repaying evil with good.
Some ladies mentioned they cannot read and how this is helping them to understand the scriptures as if they were reading them for themselves. It’s. humbling.
These sweet sisters were also concerned for their sisters who are not receiving this teaching or understanding these scriptures. We talked about our example and sharing with their sisters what they are learning.
No-Bake Cookies
After the class was over I gave them a no-bake cookie. They really like these. I told them I was teaching Wanangwa how to make them and they teased they were not sure they could trust her to teach them.
Baby Blankets and Hats
When all our discussions were over we took out the baby blankets and hats and discussed the best way we as a group could use these for God. It was decided that most of them should go to the local maternity clinic. We will make little cards with a scripture on them and the church name. Four ladies will go to distribute these to the new moms. During our discussion, I found out that at least one lady can crochet. I have seen yarn in several shops but so far not the needles needed. I am excited to try to get crochet needles for these ladies to crochet.
Baby packsBlankets made by my mom and hats by the women at Woodson Chapel Church of ChristBaby packs
We said our goodbyes and went home for lunch. Wanangwa had a driving lesson and drove us home. The roads are not great but the rain has made them worse. Frequently, cattle are on the road.
Cattle in the RoadMuddy RoadsMud
Shopping Day
After lunch, we went shopping in Mzimba. I am out of kwacha so I exchanged money. We had so much fun shopping together. Wanangwa ran into a friend of hers who wanted to know where I was from. When I answered Tombolombo there was an uproar of laughter.
How Much Beef?
I have been wanting to make chili for the family. In one of the shops, I found ground beef and told them I wanted to 2. I meant pounds but they thought kilograms. That was a lot of beef!! We had enough beef for four meals and that was being very generous with the meat.
Local Farmers
The local farmer area of the market is one of my favorites so we went there. I bought some beans to go in the chili. We also purchased some tomatoes, onions, and peppers from a sister. Then we found some fresh green peas and bought some of them too. I was offered some things which look like bugs. They are roasted. They really wanted me to taste them. Wanangwa said they eat them on sandwiches and like them but she told me not to eat them.
Bugs?
On this shopping trip, I found some cool square containers for school supplies and a basket with handles which I put on my head and caused a lot of laughter.
My little basket
When we got home it was too late to cook the beans so I made a spicy meat sauce to go over rice and pumpkin for our dinner tonight. We also had bananas and fresh pineapple. Everyone liked it.
Today is the funeral of the neighbor, a family member. Mbwenu and Wanangwa are busy with the preparations for the funeral. The women cook for a lot of people. My understanding is that it is mostly those from far away not the neighbors. People come from all over when someone dies. If they are in South Africa they wire money to help with the funeral. Mbwenu will be the master of ceremonies so he goes and buys food and receives the money which is being wired for the family.
Whenever we have been out and about and there is a funeral a collection is made from relatives, neighbors, and friends. When I was shopping someone came around and asked for donations. On this occasion, they wrote the names down. The money helps pay funeral costs and anything left is given to the family.
Esther and I busy ourselves with washing dishes and doing laundry. We sweep and mop the living room and porch.
There are a lot of kids as usual. We entertain them by drawing, singing, and swinging them until I got dizzy.
Esther and I made no-bake cookies for tomorrow. These are easy to do here because we can find the ingredients and we can make them without an oven. Next, we cook lunch: skillet biscuits, fried eggs, and sliced tomatoes.
Hungry kids stayed all day. The family does not usually feed all the neighbor kids so I didn’t either. I did feel comfortable giving them snacks that I had bought. After lunch, I washed the dishes outside as usual.
As I was washing dishes the funeral procession started. Many people had walked 15-20 kilometers to get here. There were probably 500 + people walking by in front of the house. People I had met from all over the area. Many stopped to greet me.
I wanted to video the seemingly never-ending line but I was concerned about being disrespectful so I took a couple of photos from inside. I hope you can get an idea of what I was seeing,
Today is an at-home day for us. Mbwenu is still away teaching another Agriculture Workshop. This workshop will help a community in the south learn more sustainable gardening practices which will produce more food at less expense. Wanangwa will work at her shop in the afternoon.
At Home
Our first day at home without adults. I feel almost like a kid. We use the opportunity to do some cleaning. We do some study and writing today. There are always opportunities to teach so we must always be ready.
Kids
There are always kids around. I love to see them play for hours with a homemade ball, soccer, ball, bottle caps, an old tire, or a deck of cards. We teach the very youngest to say, “Hello, how are you?” I’m fine. The adults laugh at how quickly they pick up the English language. I wish I could pick up Tumbuka that quickly! Esther is learning a lot of Tumbuka. The young people teach her Tumbuka and she teaches them English.
Kids and Thoko, a neighbor who is deaf.Bless and the rainKids and the Clothespin GameKids!
World Bible School
Mbwenu arrives home from the Agriculture workshop. We chat some and soon he is on a mission to take the car back to the mechanic. It still has the check engine light on and isn’t running exactly right. He also has a package of World Bible School lessons to pick up from Davis Sauka. We brought a suitcase full (est. value $400) and we have almost depleted those. The number of students is rising daily. Sometimes people just show up and ask to study.
The sunset is glorious after the heavy rains this afternoon. In the evening Lawrence and I talk with Mbwenu and Wanangwa about their years in Swaziland. They studied Bible and ministry. All of the students at the school worked to help pay their costs. Mbwenu was in charge of the gardens where he learned lot of valuable gardening skills and first met Carl Burkybile from Healing Hands International. Life was different with electricity and running water. I asked Wanangwa if it was hard to come back. She said so because she missed her mom!
Glorious SunsetSunset!
Day 14 Our Second Sunday
We go early to sing English songs before church. Mbwenu picks out songs that they know in Tumbuka too. He tells everyone that Lawrence is a good song leader and has him lead the songs. Soon it is time for Bible class.
Bible Class
Today Lawrence is teaching Bble class on I Peter. Our class is small as we begin but people soon trickle in and we have a good sized group of adults. I counted more than 30 children going into the tiny room at the front of the building. The room is probably about 10 feet X 10 feet!
Washington Mumba
After class I see a familiar face, Washington Mumba has ridden his bike from Mzimba with a friend. They were both invited to lead songs for worship today. It seems to be a tradition to let visitors have the honor of speaking or singing in church.
Washington Mumba
Tenson
Today Tenson preached. He is one of the preachers working with us in our World Bible School outreach. We sing some songs in Tumbuka and some in English.
Esther Teaching with a lot of onlookers.
Esther Teaches
After church Esther taught the youth out of I Timothy 4:12. Tonny translates. I greeted the ladies. We were to have a class but there are several sick members and it is decided that the ladies should go visit them today instead.
Lawrence and Matthew Phillip Phiri
Village Headman
After church we met Matthew Phillip Phiri, a village headman over 16 villages. He invited us to come to his home later in the week because he wants to show us his farm. Lawrence and he chat about his work. He is retired from a government position in forestry and animal management. His second career was in training truck drivers. Now he tells Lawrence that they are to be advisors to the younger people and not doing the physical work now.
Visiting
We go home for lunch. After lunch we go visiting. First we go to visit Chewemwe that I met when going to purchase avocados. He cut his foot while clearing their land in December. He was hospitalized for two months. Because of the infection they were concerned he would lose his foot or his life. Finally, he made some improvement. It was discovered he has diabetis. The hospital was concerned about Covid 19 so they sent him home to recover. He has finished his antibiotics and is still changing the dressing on his foot every day. They apply honey to the wound. They are hoping the bacteria will like the honey and leave the wound alone. Still not much improvement.
We ask him if he would like to go to the Central Hosptal in Mzuzu. He said he would. We make arrangements to take him there this week. We have been making a long list of things to take care of in Mzuzu, the nearest large city.
Chemwemwe with a cut foot
William Bongwe
Next we visit William Bongwe whom we met during our first trip to Malawi in 2018. He has served as one of the elders of the Tombolombo Church. William is very sick and not able to leave his home anymore or get dressed. I believe he has some kind of cancer. William is 59 years old.
When the church first knew he was sick they collected money and sent him to the Mzuzu Central Hospital. They told him it was too late to do anything to help him. We meet his wife and teenage daughter. His first wife passed away and he remarried and this is his second family. He talked about his life of preaching and teaching. Mbwenu tells us his father trained William and now William has become a mentor to him. We pray for him and walk back through the path in the corn fields to the car.
Day 15 More Visits and WBS Meeting
Today we go to visit Denix who has served as an elder in the church but has moved away. He got a promotion and is now the principal of the school somewhere beyond Manyamula. His school has 395 Students and 7 teachers!
Denix has been sick with a lung infection. He has sores on his lungs and has had trouble breathing. They sent him home and he is recovering. Neighbors come by to greet us. It is customary for them to ask the home owner how we are today before he can greet us directly. With all the introductions complete we talk a little while longer. He tells us he is the Uncle to Chewemwe that we visited yesterday with the hurt foot. We pray for him and leave.
New Shelf
Our shelf is ready that we ordered for the WBS materials and Bibles! We pick that up and go home. On our trip home we. have another passenger, the daughter to a neighbor we find out has just passed away. Everyone is anxious to get home. We drop her off first and then we are dropped off. Wanangwa and Mbwenu go to comfort the neighbors.
WBS Meeting
Lawrence meets with the 4 World Bible School workers and collects lessons. They talk about the work and he answers any questions they have.
We cook some porridge and eat. Soon the heavy rains come again.
Heavy RainLawrence and the DogThe goat runs on the porch during the heavy rains
As we continue our Malawi Journal, Esther and I met with the tailor next door this morning. He made me a wrap-around skirt for 1500 K which is less than $3 US. He also made me two matching masks. I showed him a picture of a dress Esther wanted to be made from some chitenge we found at the market. Both items were finished today.
Today was a. rather slow day. I played with the kids, let the kids color pictures, and read Bible stories to the neighbor kids. The kids played with the soccer ball we brought for. hours in the yard.
Soccer playing for hoursKids coloring picturesNeighbor kids love to color picturesKids coloring
WBS Work
Lawrence met with the elders and the four workers and talked more about the plan for the WBS (World Bible School) work. After the meeting, Lawrence prepped for the training meeting he will conduct tomorrow for the four workers. He also ordered some more World Bible School lessons from Zomba.
I did some Bible study for my next class and then spent the afternoon organizing our belongings. I finally managed to get the mosquito nets hung.
The internet was not stable today so I could not do any work on the computer. Less technology can be frustrating at times but most of the time it is a blessing.
Esther spent the afternoon playing with the kids. They love teaching her their language. She is a much better student than I. There is a lot of laughter floating around the house.
Day 12
I was up at 6 this morning. Most days are early here. Most people follow the daylight hours for working. Many are up at 3 or 4 and into the fields. I feel lazy in comparison. This morning I wash the dishes from the night before. It is dark by the time we finish supper so the dishes are always washed in the morning. When the water is hot I take my bath.
Driving
We drive to the building to drop Lawrence off for the training meeting. Our spare tire falls off of the car. We have to call a mechanic to come from Manyamula to fix it. We pay him 2000K (about $3)
Then I drive me and Wanangwa to Manyamula to do some shopping. My shopping list may look a little weird: flip-flops, tissue, pegs, copies, sugar, notebooks, zippers, cookies, and Cokes for the training meeting. The weird part about my shopping list is that my husband wanted some flip-flops! That is a story in itself.
I am rather enjoying driving in Malawi but I am not really excited to get on the more populated roads yet. Driving on the rutted roads makes me want a jeep or something that sits up high.
It is common to be greeted from the roadside and we frequently hear asungu (white person). Today was the first time I heard them laughing saying asungu driving. It was especially humorous to them because I am a woman.
We drop the snacks off at the training meeting and I visit the bakery next door. The one lady is baking but nothing is ready for purchase yet. I will stop by later. I go home and wait for the call that the training meeting is over and Lawrence needs to be picked up.
Modester kneading bunsHot buns fresh from the oven. The best!
After some time at home, Wanangwa decides she needs to take the transport to Mzimba to make purchases for her shop. I drop her off at the bus stop and stop back by the bakery just in time to purchase hot buns coming out from the oven, 300 K for 7 wonderful buns.
While waiting on my buns walked through the cornfields to speak with Edward about translating. He was spraying weed killer and my legs soon began to sting.
Lawrence completed his training meeting and gave each man a WBS Bible, pen, and notebook to do his work with besides the lessons.
A good day. If you have any questions about our Malawi journal or the work please send me a message or post your question in the comments.
Today Lawrence met with the elders of the Tombolombo church about World Bible School work. Together they are working on a plan of outreach using the World Bible School lessons. * They will oversee this work and four workers who are working short term.
World Bible School
The elders selected four men they knew who would be good. Then asked them if they were interested in training to do this. The men said this is what the Tombolombo church is all about Bible study. Initially, they have chosen a 3-5 meter square area to work. They are talking with their neighbors about Bible study and offering the World Bible School lessons as one way to study the Bible and English.
Lawrence has been a World Bible School teacher as well as his mother for several years now. They receive their lessons as pdf files by email and grade them and return the lessons to the local study helper who answers any questions or helps with understanding English or the Bible.
They had a great meeting and came up with a working plan and closed with prayer.
In the afternoon one of the young men, Isaiah, who works with the youth came by with Bible questions. He is a very serious student of the Bible. He and Lawrence sat down and studied. They had a great time looking at the scriptures.
In the evening I shared pictures from our previous trips to Malawi.
Day 10
Today Esther and I walk to the building to teach the ladies at Tombolombo. Esther takes the teen girls and they have their Bible study and then play games for a while after class.
Ladies class Tombolombo
We study The Power of Our Words. They assured me we all have the same struggles. We had a great time looking at the scriptures in English and in Tumbuka. We talk about next week’s study and then close with a prayer.
AaronGertrude and Grandchildren with Aaron
Gertrude, one of the ladies in the class wants us to stop by her house on the way home. She has a grandson, Aaron, who is suffering seizures. At one time some American doctors came and treated her grandson and the seizures stopped. Now they cannot find the medicine in Malawi and they have lost the name of the medicine. He suffers from seizures every day. He has scars on his arms and legs from injuries he has suffered. We pray. I have encountered some sad things in this community and some amazing people.
I Drove
This afternoon I drove the car to Manyamula to do some shopping. The kids along the way always get excited when we go by but today they got really excited to see me driving the car.
We did some shopping in this small shopping area. One farmer came by with eggplant. Wanangwa asked me if I knew how to cook them and I told her yes. We bought a few eggplants and headed home to prepare dinner. I enjoyed sitting on the mat shelling beans for dinner.
Shelling beans for dinner
Most of our evenings end with songs. Mbwenu, our host is marking all the ones that we both know. This reminds me of so many friends and singings over the years.
*If you don’t know about World Bible School or would like to study the Bible this way message me at redaredding@gmail.com
In September of 2019, we visited Milala as a possible sight for our Rutherford County Walk for Water Well. Our son Gabriel made a wonderful video of the community, the people, and the source of water. We carried their story home with us and shared it with many of you.
Milala 2021
Yes, their dream of a close water source became a reality in 2019 and an Agriculture workshop too! Thank you Healing Hands International, Smyrna Church of Christ and the Rutherford County Walk for Water 2019 for providing this well to the Milala community!
When we arrive we are greeted by many villagers. We gather in the building and hear speeches of welcome and then the history. Elders of the village and local officials are hear to show appreciation for this life-changing gift and to share the it’s impact.
Ruth Orr
The leaders tell the story of Ruth Orr coming to visit. When Ruth came the church was meeting under a tree. Ruth helped them with the funds to build a church building. We met the man who donated the property. They spoke with heartfelt thanks for the gifts they have been given. These gifts improve their community, their health, and their lives.
District Leader Kefase speaks
They take us to the well. It is so rewarding to visit and see the well first hand and gardens. As we hear their stories of how improved their lives are and how thankful they are, we rejoice with them. This is our first time to have met the people who received a well we helped raise money for!
Village elder Sebastian takes us to the wellMilala well
The Agriculture workshop gave them new skills to improve their crop yields and therefore improve their lives. They were able to use money from their first crop to help the church in Milala. They have high hopes!
Reda and the oldest villager
Cecilia
We say goodbye to Milala and travel to Mzimba. Our car needs some repair. Wanangwa, Esther and I do some shopping while the car is at the mechanic. We meet up with Cecilia one of our students from 2018 who is a prison guard. She also helps to teach the women inmates. It is a joyous reunion,
Lunch at the Take-Out
We eat lunch at a local take-out and visit with our friends. After lunch Lawrence waits at the restaurant while we finish our shopping.
Lunch and visit at the take-outPreacher Washington Mumba we met in 2018
Esther finds a beautiful piece of material for a dress and a black skirt. I purchase mosquito nets and water. We go back to the restaurant to wait and I realize my mosquito nets are missing. Retracing our steps we find the shop keeper has held the nets for us! I am happy. We head back once again to the restaurant and find the car is still not ready.
Mbwenu decides he will wait with the car while Bless will transport us home. We ride with three other passengers who question us about staying in the village. They wanted to know if we find it hard. It certainly is not what we are accustomed to at home, but I am loving it all the same. I have never experienced any greater hospitality and I have certainly experienced some great hospitality. I am thrilled to be a part of such a Christian community all over the world I am just at home!
Esther, Lawrence and I take on the task of doing our laundry by hand. Soon it is on the line and drying. After a while a rainstorm blows in and we make a mad dash to retrieve the laundry and drape it all over the house.
In the evening Mbwenu and I talk about childbirth practices and the maternal mortality rate in Malawi. I would love to do something to improve this situation. I feel so helpless at times.
Today is a very exciting day. This is our first Sunday with the Tombolombo church. Because of the heavy rains service is a bit later than usual. Today is a special Sunday because several of the area churches will be with us today.
Tombolombo Church has been central to the church in this area and helped to train preachers and start area churches. They have made it a practice to assemble together about once a month.
When we arrive Bible class is in progress. The children head outside for class and the youth stay with the adults. After class, we get ready for our regular assembly. Esther and I are sitting with the ladies and soon they call for us to come and sit with Lawrence upfront. We would rather blend in with the other ladies but alas we move near the front.
Communion
We have announcements and there is a chalkboard with the order and who will lead each part. The beautiful singing begins which always thrills me. Lawrence is preaching! Then we have communion which is about the same length as Lawrence’s lesson on I John. Today the church is using the new communion set. The bread looks like small marble shapes. Did the bakery ladies make it? I’m not sure but I think it is clever. For the juice, we use soaked raisins.
Welcoming After Church
After we conclude the service there is an official welcome for us with speeches. One of the leaders mentions that we have brought gifts for everyone. I get nervous, then he explains it is the communion set. I feel relieved.
Group Photo
They announced for us to all go outside for a group photo. After the photo, I saw Lawrence sitting on a bench studying the Bible with someone. I prayed with an elderly lady who has a hurt knee. The church is helping her get the medical attention she needs.
Group PhotoGroup Photo
Glory
While we were outside I turn around to see Glory, one of the tutorial teachers. I first met her in 2018. Last year we brought her school supplies and soccer balls and snacks the first year. We ran into her at the market yesterday and were thrilled to see her at church this morning. She brought us fresh corn from her garden.
Potluck Malawi Style
Soon we were called to eat. The custom is to serve us separately. I would like to understand this better. I would prefer to be served with everyone else. The food was good and then we had more visiting.
Esther is Playing Games with the Kids
Esther was playing games with the kids. She was doing duck, duck, goose when I saw her. She stayed with the youth to play some other games and a group of young people walked her home later. Then they took her to visit some neighbors.
Esther playing with the kids
Our host Mbwenu has not been feeling well. He has the symptoms of malaria with headache and joint pain. I was thankful I brought extra bottles of Ibuprofen to share. Something I take for granted. The pain reliever gave him a little relief. He and his wife make a trip this afternoon to the health clinic. It is not malaria but the doctors are able to help him. They gave him two shots and some oral antibiotics. We hope he will be feeling better soon.
Glory gives me corn she grew!Lawrence and one of the brothers at the church.
Malawi Journal Day 6. Today we are visiting wells. I am very excited that we will be dedicating a well in honor of my mother-in-law, Jo Redding. We had planned to leave early because we will be making a long journey today. We were a bit slow this morning and did not leave until 7:30 am.
The roads are muddy from the heavy rain last night. The earth looks so green after the rain. The houses surrounded with cornfields are a beautiful sight to see. I see corn planted almost to the doors.
This is our first time to travel this far north in Malawi. It is more mountainous and very green this time of year. There are signs of forestry management. I have heard this is a logging area but I have not seen any logging trucks.
Monkeys
Esther saw a monkey! I started looking and only saw one in a tree. She saw two today! We passed a mountain called Elephant Mountain. It does look like an elephant. I am sure my children would love to climb these mountains.
We are on our way to dedicate the well for my mother-in-law but there are a lot of delays along the way. Most of the delays are caused by the heavy rains. There was a big traffic jam going over a bridge. I am not sure what is causing the delay but cars and trucks are backed up on both sides of the bridge. It looks like they are building a bridge beside this one. Erosion of the banks nearby seems a concern to me though I cannot really tell what is going on.
Rumphi
We are soon on our way and enter an new district for us, Rumphi. At Rumphi we pick up Brighton who will be our guide. The rivers and streams have overflowed in several places as a result of the heavy rains last night. This slows our travel once again. We make it across this road and soon cross a larger river with lots of rushing water. I believe this river is called the Mbirizi River.
Buwira Village
Our first village is Buwira Village. We drive down a road which is much like a cow path. Soon we get stuck in the mud caused by last night’s rains. We decide to continue on foot while Lawrence stays with the van and some village young men who help to rescue the car. This village has a well that has already been dedicated in memory of Natalie Ennis Church. We are here to place the plaque. The village leaders come out and express how much this well means to them. They want us to walk down to the stream where there water used to come from. They sing songs of gratitude.
Stuck in the mud
Chikwawa Village
We walk back to the car and I am very happy to see that it is out of the mud and on dry land. We all climb in and head to our next stop, the dedication! The car is running rough but we make it to the village of Chikwawa. Drums are playing and people are dancing and singing to welcome us.
We greet one another and gather under a tobacco shelter with the village leaders. There are always speeches and welcomes. Lawrence speaks about his mother and her long life of love and dedication to God. And because her life lived for God we honor her this day with this well. The people rejoice. We know that Jo Redding will be very happy these people have received clean water.
We walk to the well to cut the ribbons to open it for use for the very first time. Lawrence pumps some water and puts some on his head to cool off! Everyone laughs. Esther and I also pump some water and then the women. The women put buckets on their heads and sing songs of celebration. Esther is given a bucket with a small amount of water to try to carry on her head. Everyone cheers and laughs and sings as the drums continue to play. This is truly a wonderful day that life has come to this village. This well will supply water to 450 households! Average household is 5 members.
Betere Village
We get back in the car and proceed to our third stop, Betere. This well is in memory of Sarah Elizabeth Hart and has already been dedicated. The village leaders and some members come to welcome us and express their appreciation for this well. We place the third plaque and head for home. Two preachers accompany us. Well after dark we reach home and eat and fall asleep quickly.
Well dedication ChikwawaBuwira VillageBetere Village in Memory of Sarah Elizabeth HartBetere VillageBuwira Village in Memory of Natalie Ennis ChurchChikwawa VillageRibbon Cutting opening Chikwawa WellEsther – Chikwawa VillageEsther- Betere VillageWell at Betere in memory of Sarah Elizabeth Hart
9:00 is the official meeting time of most meetings. This morning we met with the area preachers and found out even more history of the church of Christ in this area as well as the work each man is doing.
The Start of the Tombolombo Church
In 1968 the Tombolombo Church of Christ was started with Mr. Chirwa, now deceased it’s first preacher. He helped train ten men in the Bible and preaching who went out into the surrounding area. This congregation has a great connection with the surrounding area and even into Zambia because of the gospel of Christ and Mr. Chirwa’s work. Many of these men are still living and preaching the word in area churches. These preachers rotate each Sunday to provide preaching and instruction to many churches. Much like circuit riding preachers in our history. There are now over 50 area churches as a result of their work. Churches are more localized in the villages because of the lack of transportation. They still go on foot but not as far if their is a church in the community.
Lawrence asked them if there was still. need for more workers and work to be done teaching the gospel and they answered with a resounding voice. They said this is what Tombolombo church has always been about.
Centrally Located
The Tombolombo church is centrally located at the heart of the community. This provides a great place to reach out to neighboring villages. Tombolombo Church is serving their community through a Famer’s cooperative, the Mtendere Bakery, a health clinic, and a nursery school.
Mzimba School of Preaching
After Mr. Chirwa passed away they realized the need for a preacher training school in their area so that people did not have to leave the country for more training. Hence, Mzimba School of Preaching was begun.
HIV Educational Task Force
In the afternoon we met with the task force for HIV which is hosted at the Consip Cooperative. This group was started by a local church. It is an inter-denominational group of young professionals, teachers, medical people, etc.
The goal is to educate youth about the cause and prevention of HIV as well as to provide resources for those already infected. Soccer, drama, and music are used as teaching tools to dispel myths and teach facts. They are allowed to travel all over the district and provide these educational programs. We were able to gift them with two soccer balls and a pump to use in their program because of some generous donors.
We got up eager to see our surroundings by day. Having arrived at night we didn’t really know anything about our surroundings. We knew it was rural and the roads narrow and rutted. Now we know we are staying on a farm nestled among many other farms in Tombolombo. Beautiful fields of grain, beans growing, goats, chickens, a dairy cow, beehives, and a grieving dog are all part of our surroundings.
This farm is a part of family land with several family members living nearby. They have their own fields to plant and their own homes. They share a common well and several families share a common outhouse as we would call it.
Our Hosts
Our hosts, the Chirwas are an amazing, hardworking, talented, inventive, family. I can’t say enough. They are up early tending to the animals and daily necessities of life cooking, sweeping the area around the house, and heating water for baths, as well as managing their farm. There are 4 sons in the family which are 8,13,16, and 19 years old.
The only source of electricity is solar. These solar panels once installed should last about 25 years and yield free power. Mr. Chirwa teaches sustainable gardening workshops and practices it too. Looking at his fields and those surrounding them there is a very obvious difference. Mrs. Chirwa has a small grocery shop and is a part of a bakery co-op. Mr. Chirwa is the director of a farmer’s cooperative that has over 700 participating farmers. This cooperative allows them to sell to customers needing greater quantities as well as other things which I am learning about. There is more opportunities available when small farms band together. This family is very active in their church and community! Special people for sure yet they share the same struggles and needs and goals that most of us deal with. The Chirwas have welcomed us into their home in a beautiful way.
Meeting with the Local Elders
Today we met with the elders at the local church. Everyone gave self Introductions and the church leaders made speeches of welcome. Speeches and welcoming are a normal part of the culture in Malawi.
The elders shared the history of the church and its current ministries. We talked of working together for the glory of God as we shared our hopes and future possibilities.
Mtendere Bakery
After a very nice meeting with the elders and church leaders, we got to visit the Women of Hope’s sponsored Mtendere Bakery.
It was an incredible bakery and I was so intrigued by their ovens. I really wanted to join right in as they kneaded the loaves of bread. Esther got involved in making cupcakes. The ladies had a great time with Esther teaching her to cream the sugar as they do. I am hoping to get to try these earthen ovens while I am here. We are treated to their singing and dancing as the ladies share the story of how blessed they are to have this opportunity to work in the bakery and provide for their families. Many women are widows or left to provide for themselves and their families while their husbands have gone away to work in South Africa ( this is a very big problem in Malawi).
We would love to see more opportunities for work right here in Malawi. The bakery is one of these wonderful opportunities. With their success may be many people will see they can create work right here in Malawi, as these women are doing.
After we returned home some of the youth, as they call them came to get to know Esther.
Goat PenHuge cactus in our yardA new shoot on the huge cactusEarthen oven – Cupcakes!Bread, sconesHot Cross BunsBakers – Giving thanks for the Bakery and opportunities to support themselvesEsther getting baking lessonsMtendere Bakery – Women of Hope
