Hello everyone and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration.
I have decided to update this blog for one last time to finish off my time in Malawi. Since my last post much has happened. I was busy until 20th October with training in Euthini...
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| with my very good friend Rev Brian Theu |
then Nkhamenya...
Chitimba....
Rumphi...
and Hewe...
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| in the church in Hewe... |
Unfortunately on 14th October in the evening I heard loud crackling noises outside and when I looked out I found that Mzuzu market was on fire yet again - this time it was really bad and some of the nearby shops and houses were also burnt. Of course the fire brigade did not come and so it was a real tragedy!
I finished work on 20th October and handed over everything to Rev G Chirambo! Then I had some annual leave to take and so I went on a trip to Zomba via Nkhotakota, to say bye to some people on the way!
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| pied kingfishers... |
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| going out to let down the fishing nets... |
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| Some of the fish caught later in the day... |
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| with Alex Mkuwu at Zomba Theological College...so nice to see him after so many years... |
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| With Rev Isaac Malongo... |
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| meeting old friends, Ephraim, Dustin, Enala, Medcine, Alex and Hope (who I knew as a baby!!) |
Back from Zomba, and I headed off to Likoma Island, a small Island on the Mozambique side of Lake Malawi. I went with Bishop Fanuel Magangani who is the Anglican Bishop, and the Anglican Cathedral is on the Island! We went on the Ilala ferry which travels at a slow pace overnight and reaches the island at sunrise!
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| at Nkhata Bay....point of departure |
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| arriving at Likoma Island early morning! |
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| Bishop Fanuel Magangani on the Ilala |
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| The Anglican Cathedral...an incredible building on such a small island. |
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| Inside the Cathedral |
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| on the Island... |
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| travelling back to Nkhata bay on the Chambo boat |
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| stunning scenery as we come into Nkhata bay with the Usisya Mountains behind... |
Just before I left Mzuzu, it was good to meet with some visitors. Jim and Ruth Campbell and Una Brownlie came for a visit and we had lunch together with Liz Banda who many laides in Northern Ireland know!
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| Ruth, Jim, Liz and Una |
I also had the lovely Christine from Scotland staying for a week - we had a lot of fun!
The Synod organised a farewell function for me where all Heads of Department were present! It was a lovely occasion and I received lots of gifts and a lovely certificate from the Synod...
I also had a farewell function at our CCAP International Pre-school which was a lot of fun!
Still on my holidays I spent a week in Zambia with a friend which was wonderful fun...some pictures below most of which are self explanatory....
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| Orphaned elephants... |
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| with friends on a river safari.... |
So....its been a very busy few weeks and then I began packing my house and putting stuff into storage as I prepare for my next adventure! I have had an amazing 20 years in Malawi - I have been through very happy times and very sad times here! I will miss many people but I hope I will have the chance to visit and meet people again in the future.
Some very special people are Nicolas who you can see below in the picture with his mother! Nicolas and I have been working together since 2008 when he became a trainer in ECD and then came to work in the office as Monitoring Officer! Nicolas and I shared a lot of experiences together and I wish him well for the future - I will miss his fun and his ideas for the future of Early Childhood but I hope and pray that he will continue to do great things in Malawi for the children.
Luso and her family - very special people in my life. We also have shared a lot together and were part of a Bible study group. Luso's children, Blessings, Bongiwe and Asimenye are like part of my own family - they spent much time at my home playing and having fun! I will miss them all so much but I know that we will meet again!
And finally Fidelis, my Malawian 'son'...who is such a wonderful inspiration in so many ways and I am very proud of the young man he has become! I will miss him very much but I know that we will be visiting each other in the future!
There are so many others but you know who you are!
So finally, the Malawi chapter comes to an end! Boxes were packed, barrels were packed, furniture was sold, and suddenly the house was empty and it was time to leave!
As I flew out of Malawi, it was with very mixed feelings - wondering had I done the right thing but yet knowing in my heart it was time to move on! I will miss Malawi, its people and especially the children who I have worked with over many years!
But, as I look to the past in Malawi, I can see that God was with me during all those years - He guided me in so many ways, He opened doors and He closed doors, and I believe that He will move forward with me into the future as I look forward with hope and excitement of what is to come in 2016. Just like the sun rises over Lake Malawi and gives us a new hope each day, God will be with all of us as we move into the future in 2016.
Wishing you all many blessings in 2016, and thank you so much for following me during my time in Malawi!
with much love...
Diane x
