Reflections on 2014..........and looking forward.............

Hello and a very Happy New Year for 2015!

I have had a relaxing time over the holidays and have had a time of reflection as I reach 20 years in Malawi this year, and ponder about what next!!  

Looking back on 2014, its been a really busy year with many times of joy and some times of sadness too!  I thought I would put a few pictures from each month which represent some of the things that happened during the year!  

January

I was in Northern Ireland as I was on deputation.  My lovely family had a surprise party for my birthday and also as a fund raising event for my work in Malawi.  I hope I have captured most of the folks involved here - if I missed you maybe its because I don't have a photo of you!!

I was also able to meet with the lovely folk in the teachers team who came out to Malawi in 2010!  

I spent a lot of time walking at Shaws bridge - such a lovely spot with lots to see and photograph! 

Deputation was quite busy and although I do enjoy talking about Malawi I also found it difficult being away from home for such a long time, in a country where I don't really feel at home anymore!  It was great to see friends and family though!!

February

I was due to return to Malawi in January and so would miss my real birthday which is why my family had the party in January but as it happened I was still there for my real birthday so my lovely nephews and nieces made me yet another cake with an African theme!!  

I left on 4th February to return to Malawi, having been away for over 3 months....

So nice to see the green again in the rainy season and find people busy in the fields.......

Coming into Mzuzu this new structure stands out - its the Reserve Bank building.  While I was away Shoprite (a South African supermarket) opened in Mzuzu too!!

It was great to see Nicolas again........he had been busy holding the fort in the office while I was away!

March

After I got settled, we had a workshop for all our ToT's to evaluate the past year and what we had achieved in terms of monitoring our centres and training.  We also discussed areas where we could have done better!

I had a young South African student for some months as she did research for her Masters degree.  Thandeka was a lot of fun and lived in the village most of the time she was here! She joined us for the workshop.

And Liz, doing research for her PhD stayed for some weeks at my home too!  She was a pleasure to have and of course we had to celebrate her birthday while she was here!

April

I was invited as guest of honour to one of our centres in Enukweni as they closed the school at the end of term!!

I was also invited to be part of a ECD materials redevelopment working group in Johannesburg!  It was the second time I had been with this wonderful group of people from all over Southern Africa - a real privilege for me to represent Malawi!

May

In May, we had a couple of workshops were the trainers came to work on translation of some of materials into their local languages for training purposes!  It was a lot of fun and as you can see the office was in my garden!!

June

A busy month!  I had some students from Stranmillis come for a few weeks to do some volunteering in our centres.  Here you can see Sarah, Laura and Holly!  I think they had fun!

A group of medical students from Queens also arrived to do their electives.  A couple were in Ekwendeni with the other four in Livingstonia - here with Rev Joshua Nyangulu the Ekwendeni hospital chaplain!

We had a zonal meeting in Mzimba with some of our trainers, doing some work on monitoring!

I also spent a week in Blantyre with the ECD technical working group for Malawi, working on some strategic issues!

and...........its the time of Presbytery meetings so I travelled to some of them to deliver the ECD report for the synod!

July

Had a few days away which was great!  With my friend Helen I went to Luwawa Forest where we walked and talked and ate too much! 

Then we had our Bandawe zonal meeting with the same programme as Mzimba only in a different location!

August

Our Synod meeting was at the end of August and I had to attend for three days!  A lot of deliberation and talking was done!!

As it was school holidays we had a week long workshop with the teachers from CCAP International Pre-school!

and one of the other organisations providing training for ECD caregivers had a closing ceremony at the end of one of their workshops which I was invited to attend!

September

We had the Lilongwe Zonal meeting in Nkhamenya - same programme as before (we have four zones!!)

and finally Livingstonia zonal meeting in Karonga...whew!!

September was another month for visitors - first Dibbie and Anne came and we had some laughs together (and a lovely trip to the lake)!

Then Sheena, Harry and John came for a visit and again we went to the lake.  I am just sorry I don't seem to have any pictures of them!

October

Another busy month.......had some training in a local community based organisation called Misipazi!

Then went to Misuku for orientation about ECD to the Presbytery - beautiful place, but what roads!!

Then unexpectedly, I took a trip to Northern Ireland to visit my very good friend Margaret who was terminally ill.  I am so glad that I was able to make the trip to see her before she passed away a the beginning of November.  It was a very difficult time and I miss her friendship a lot.

November

Gerrie arrived from the netherlands to work with us in ECD.  We took her to visit a few centres to give her an idea of what we do - I think she is a bit overwhelmed!!

I am also delighted that I passed my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Studies with distinction - the highlight of my year!

December

And finally (you will be glad I am coming to the end...) December!

I had to go and visit Rev Stephen Bota so Gerrie came too and here you see us with Mrs Linda Bota.  The visit was special as she was one of my students at Zomba Theological College many years ago!!

  

Just before Christmas I was invited to go to the Christmas party of Vwira Mental Health group where I am a Board member.  As you can see the clients were all given gifts which included live chickens!!

After Christmas I went for a few days to the lake..........

the lake flies

And so its been a busy year..........I have not had much time to think about 2015 as I am always rushing here or there!  It was good to take time at the lake and think about what I might do next.  I have no idea yet,  but I feel that my time in Malawi is coming to an end. I have set up an ECD programme here in the church which hopefully will carry on when I leave around the end of 2015!

God has a plan for my future, He just hasn't shared it with me yet!!  However, I look forward with excitement and also with apprehension as I face a new phase in my life!  In my plan, I would like to stay in Africa, but I will wait on God and see what He has planned for me.  Meanwhile, thank you for your prayers in 2014, and I wish all of you who take the time to read this blog - my ramblings - a very happy New Year and God's blessings for 2015.

With love

Diane x