Our Surroundings
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.
