Hello everyone,
I started this blog on Saturday but then I had visitors and today the electricity was off from 4.30am and just came on around 6pm.........so lets hope I get it finished this time!
We have been doing a lot of training in different Presbyteries, and the last few weeks have involved a lot of travelling! We are training Presbytery Early Childhood Development Committees, to see if we can have sustainable ECD in our church. During one week we went to Ekwendeni and Henga Presbyteries, where the training was being run at the same time.
Ekwendeni...........
Henga.....
While the training was taking place at Henga, I was also interviewing for an Early Childhood Presbytery trainer in the Presbytery. We had 3 candidates and after a lot of laughter and deliberation, we finally chose a new EPT!
On my way from the interviews to the training I passed by the ECD centre and some of the children were very happy to pose for me!
The following week, Nicolas and myself headed out on another roadtrip to Wenya! The first day we arrived in Chitipa to a wonderful sunset (mind you every day these days we have amazing sunsets). Its is so nice to travel to Chitipa on the tar road nowadays - apart from the dust and the bumps it takes much less travelling time!
Next morning we set off early for Wenya - the road was not so good this time - it is very sandy due to having no rain for some months and in some places it is very dangerous and narrow! However, we made good time....
After arriving at Wenya, I was training ministers and session clerks about ECD for a morning session! There was a lot of discussion and its interesting as they are all men!
In the afternoon, I was interviewing again for a new EPT, and we chose an energetic and enthusiastic young man!
Later afternoon, Nicolas and myself went for a walk and met this child with an enormous heap of grass on her head! She said it was to feed the cows at home! Of course, with it being a rural place, I was like the pied piper with many children tagging on behind the whole way!
The following morning we stayed in Wenya for the opening of the ECD Presbytery training, and then left to go back to Chitipa to supervise the training there!
The following picture shows the main street in Wenya - very beautiful but very dusty!
Arriving in Chitipa just after lunch, we found that not all the participants had come to the training which was disappointing! However, it went on as usual!
We spent overnight in Chitipa and the following morning headed for Misuku Presbytery, where once again I was interviewing for new EPT's. We had good interviews and again found 2 people to assist us. Here you can see me with Rev T Gondwe who was doing the interviews with me! Again, we had a lot of fun!
Last week, we set off again, this time to Karonga and Ngerenge to supervise training! George was doing a good job facilitating in Karonga, but it was really hot! I think, had I been a participant, I would have been sleeping!
Later the same day we moved on to Ngerenge Presbytery where the training was very energetic and enjoyable!
Sometimes during our training, we have goats or chickens that come to visit us as we usually meet in churches or halls with open doors or no doors at all! At Ngerenge, it was a dog who came in, probably as it was cooler inside, he lay down behind Mercy and she kept talking and didn't even notice he was there!
Last week I had a lovely surprise 'farewell' party! I had been visiting some of the EPT's doing training in remote areas and suddenly they were in Mzuzu for a party! Of course not everyone came, but most! It was very humbling and touching to hear what some of them had to say and I received some beautiful gifts! I still have some weeks to go before I leave Malawi, but I think the EPT's were not sure of the date and wanted to make sure I didn't leave without a party! A very special day! I will miss them!
And finally for this blog.........a container arrived on Thursday from Ireland and there were some ECD boxes on board. I want to say thank you to all who put things on the containers for Malawi. ECD received boxes Ballysillan mothers and toddlers, Ballywalter Sunday School, Glengormley PW, Bushvale PW, Pots of Clay, Ballygoney & Coagh PW, Cregagh Presbyterian Church, and some others with no labels! Tawonga chomene on behalf of all our ECD centres in the north!
More travelling ahead this coming week, so please remember us in your prayers! Have a good week.
Blessings,
Diane x
