Traveling to the Chigumukire center the last few days has been an adventure for part of the group. The minibus rides have been eventful and full of new experiences! From beginning the day by waiting 45 minutes to try to get enough passengers to fill the van, to getting gas in a pop bottle after running out of gas even though they just passed a gas station, to hauling chickens, sawblades and bamboo in the trunk, the mini bus rides always kept us entertained. The group that has been going to Mkhomabasa has an hour drive each day with our driver, Peter. This area has a desert look with the baobab trees, cacti, and dry river beds.
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Today we all had an enjoyable day the the Mkomobasa and Chigumukire childcare centers. As we drive down the road, the children excitedly race behind the vehicle chanting "A Mzungu, a Mzungu" which means "a white person". We are barely out of the back of the vehicle when we are bombarded with fist bumps, high fives, and handshakes. It was heartwarming when we said Good Morning to the children, the replied with the usual good morning and how are you, madam. Then then said " you are all so special!" It was so nice to hear from the children themselves how the week we spend with them is so appreciated.
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Yesterday we went to church at the Mulinga childcare center. The pastor spoke a few words from the Westminster Short Catechism about prayer. It was also nice to hear the pastor preach a sermon on 2 Samuel 14:1-13 which was based on one of the Treasured Meditation booklets we had gifted him - “The Best Friend” by John Owen. We had Sunday soup with Florus and Janneke and also tried a “paw paw” fruit which we found out tasted like a cantaloupe.
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We started our last day at the center with the children running behind our Land Cruiser as we drove up the path to the child care center.
Each morning as we arrived at the center, the children were eating their porridge for breakfast. We told our last Bible stories and were amazed at how well the children knew their English Bible verse and Psalter after practicing all week.
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The past few days have been full of learning experiences. Yesterday at Mulinga Childcare Centre we had the privilege of teaching and helping at the agogo feeding (feeding the elderly Malawians) which is outside of our regular program. This is also a program through Timotheos which ensures the elderly are fed and taught from Gods Word during some of the dry months.
Read MoreOver the course of the past two days we have had a very thorough and welcoming introduction of a childcare center and foster home at both Mbulumbuzi and Mulinga. The teachers were very grateful that we were willing to spend a week at both centres. On both days we were able to help make and serve the nsima for lunch.
Today we had a very special day
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Visiting the New Canaan Church (Church that Gerrit and Gretchen attend regularly) on Sunday was a very special experience.
We were warmly welcomed in the church yard by the Reverend and his wife, as well as other friendly church goers. Many Malawians must travel a long distance to church, so they like to hold one longer service per Sunday.
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After a long, exhausting couple of days of traveling we finally made it to Blantyre, Malawi, yesterday afternoon around 4pm. The size of the airport in Blantyre was a surprise, as we were the only airplane there and were unloaded via stairs onto the tarmac. Finding all of our suitcases and getting them out the door was definitely another chaotic experience, but we were very thankful to find that all of our luggage had made it! Exiting the airport, we immediately experienced the helpful nature of Malawians as they were eager to assist us with our suitcases. Florus and James (the driver) greeted us at the airport. After an eye-opening drive from the airport to the guest house, we settled in and enjoyed a delicious supper made by Florus & Janneke and Bep, which was very much appreciated!
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It's hard to believe we have come to the last days at the Nyamithuthu Center which also means the last days of the Vacation Bible school. This week, we have had an increasing number of children attending every day. We find it very special that the older, mature boys really enjoy and focus on coloring the parable pictures. Our good-byes to the staff and children were brief, as there were many interviews and meetings at the center for cooking mothers, guards, and with the children being chosen for high school. Although it is exhausting to work in the heat with so many children that have an abundance of energy, we are all sad to be leaving behind the teachers and children we have built connections with!
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This week , we ran the program for between 250 and 350 children. We've again experienced the challenge of telling a parable while competing with crying babies, clucking chickens, children squabbling over who sits where or who gets to hold their shared plastic cup, and the many children walking in who are on Malawi time (aka whenever they get there). Just like at home, we notice that some children are attentive and some aren't. They are definitely doing well learning the Chichewa memory verse (Matt 25:13) and are making progress on the, for them more difficult, English Psalter we are teaching (290:1).
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Sunday
We traveled to Namitambo for church with Bep today. The choir was amazing, and the sermon was on Genesis 1 and 2. The minister urged the members to take care of this land God has given us. For the locals, the minister made it practical to planning trees when they cut them down for fuel for fires. We enjoyed a restful afternoon on the Lord's day.
Monday
We started the day with week opening at the Timotheos office in Blantyre.
Wow! How this week has flown by....
After a very busy first week we were happy to catch up on some much needed rest. The days start early here and there is much commotion at 5:30 so that in itself is a challenge. It was a surprise to see Mr.Peter here early to wash the cruiser but it made the ride to Blantyre all the more scenic.(The roads to Mulinga sure cake the dust on the windows, Canadian gravel roads are barely comparable.)
The Shoprite/supermarket was quite something to encounter, people sure seem to dress up to do grocery shopping.
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Every day we try to learn more and more Chichewa words, so our Thursday morning ride to the center was spent memorizing a Chichewa song to sing with the children. Our driver Mr. Peter said it made us "real Malawians". The children loved it. (Some of them already knew it, and the others seem to catch on quickly.)
Thursday's parable was about the prayers of the publican and pharisee. The children seemed to understand the concept and, as always, loved doing the coloring page that went along with it. The older ones enjoyed the word search on the back as an extra challenge.
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Well the ladies have been EXTRA, extra busy in Malawi… with close to 600 children showing up each day for Bible classes and activities they have been busy trying to keep things running smoothly and in an organized fashion. So because of that I am going to add some extra words for them to the pictures they have sent over. We hope they will continue to write a blog approximately every other day but also find it important that the ladies prioritize their well-being as well.
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Our driver James picked us up in the morning and brought us to the bank to exchange money and then to the store to buy groceries for the week. The Malawian currency is quite colorful. And, as the value of the Malawian Kwacha is much less than US or Canadian dollars, you get a very large stack when you exchange money. Due to the value difference, we also had to wrap our heads around spending hundreds on a bag of rice.
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After a few months of planning, we have finally arrived at our destination. We thank God for travelling mercies till so far. My sister, Wilma and I met the two other volunteers, Kendra and Kate at the airport on Thursday morning, and from there we took 3 flights from Toronto to Blantyre.
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A long awaited day for Wilma, Karin, Kate and Kendra (l to r).
Please pray for travelling mercies and a blessing on the work they hope to complete.
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