Synod meetings to farewells.....and visitors in between!!

Hello everyone,

I cannot believe it is so long since I last posted.  I have thought about it but have either had no energy or no time!!  Lots of things have been going one which is great but days fly past and it will soon be October!!

We had our Synod meeting at the end of August in Ekwendeni where the outgoing moderator, Dr TPK Nyasulu gave an address on being an alien in a foreign land.  He was talking about the difference between a good foreigner and a bad foreigner and how we as Christians should portray ourselves in the world.  Afterwards I asked him if he thought I was a good or a bad foreigner in Malawi and he said at least I tried!!

The incoming moderator is Rev D F Chipofya and he will be in the office for the next two years.

Sunday morning worship was delayed as we had the previous head of state, Dr Joyce Banda worshipping with us.  She also addressed the congregation.

Traditionally, when there is a church gathering in Malawi, the hosting village welcome the visitors and bring lots of foodstuffs for the occasion.  We had a large procession of village people with many local chiefs included.  They brought gifts of bananas, sugar and even goats!

the Girls Brigade were part of the welcoming procession

For me it is always a pleasure to go to such a large gathering as I meet many people who I knew from Zomba Theological College.  All of these ministers were students while I was at Zomba - its amazing to see where God has taken them over the years.

We have visitors from other Synods joining us and it was so nice to see the Deputy General Secretary of Blantyre Synod who was also a student at Zomba.  He is Rev Moyenda Kanjerwa and we had a great time catching up!

These two men have been good friends of mine since I came to Malawi - again they were students at Zomba and Rev J J Gondwe on the right is the new Moderator Elect of our Synod and he was also my Board Chairman for Early Childhood Development!  The other is Rev S Ng'anjo!

A very good friend of mine and Church of Scotland missionary, Helen Scott left Malawi a couple of weeks ago after 15 years in Ekwendeni.  We decided to have a day at the lake before she left!

Waiting for the morning catch...

Usipa fish in the boat which was out all night with the two paraffin lamps on the end!

with her share of the fish............

I also accompanied Helen (as her photographer) to one of the prayer houses which she had been involved in.  We had a wonderful day and she was given various gifts including eggs, groundnuts (peanuts).....

and a wonderful chitenje with Merry Christmas and a Happy New year on it!!

We were invited to one of the elders homes for Tobwa (a local drink made from millet) before the service!  We had breakfast in another home, and then lunch afterwards!!

Back to work and I met with some of the trainers in Lilongwe Zone of our synod.  We were continuing our exercise of looking at what makes a good ECD centre!

Mloyiso and Miness doing an activity

We had our meeting in Nkhamenya and it was interesting to find lots of these Black Headed Herons nesting high up in the trees!  The locals thought I was crazy taking photos!

the sign at the lodge we stayed at!!! The mind boggles.........

Nicolas enjoying sugar cane!

Of course while we were there we went to see two Early Childhood Centres - one owner was proud to tell us UNICEF and other donors have visited his centre.  I was horrified to see how he was 'teaching' the children!  But as it is no one of our centres, I can only advise.....

Another centre with no play materials and rote learning going on...

Its always a blessing to receive visitors and this past month I have been truly blessed.  I had Dibbie and Ann with me for some days, a visit from a team from Magherafelt on their way to Livingstonia, and then Sheena and Harry from Cregagh PC.  I collected Dibbie and Ann from Kasungu and on the way up the road we stopped to take a picture of the mice being sold by the roadside.  They were not tempted to try any...

We went out to see one of our centres within the city of Mzuzu - lots of children and lots of activity..........

 

At the weekend we went to the lake and had a wonderful relaxing time........

Green twinspot...

Nyasa seedcracker...

Mending the nets

on the lakeshore...

peeking lizard..

the yellow weaver building his nest......

frog on the beach...

Back to work again and this time to Karonga to meet the Livingstonia Zonal team.  Again we went out to two centres and not only found rote learning but caregivers using a stick - in the first picture here you can see the hand with the stick on the left hand side!

primary school children learning under a tree - there were about 6 classes like this!

me addressing the team!

Lucy and Foster

Grace, Prescott and Eliza

 On the way home from Karonga we spotted this sign.....Karonga district is trying to ensure each home has access to a pit latrine.

On a different note, I had the Malawi olympics in my garden one weekend - the boys decided to have high jump which they constructed themselves, long jump, javelin, basket ball and other sports - it was a fun time and the winners got pencils for going back to school!

I went with Sheena and Harry to Nkhotakota which is such a lovely spot.  

Little Egret...

doing the washing...

 The fishermen spent all afternoon taking a large net out in the boat and then pulling it in by hand.........

only to be rewarded with almost a full bucket of fish between them!

A few other things have been happening.....I took some pencils out to one of the more rural primary schools just before it opened (thanks to people who donate them!)

I was invited to the closing of one of the ECD trainings held here in Mzuzu......

I was shocked to find the local medicine man selling his wares outside our CCAP International Pre-school........... I didn't buy any but he told me what wonderful things would happen if I used them!

and lastly for today........

its not often I waken up at 4am to the sound of hymn singing - I woke to hear this amazing four part harmony outside my window! During our Synod meeting some of our ministers were transferred and this particular church were not happy that their minister was being taken away and they decided to protest........ by singing hymns until their voice was heard!  Not sure of the outcome!!

Wishing you all a good week,

Blessings,

Diane

Time off............

Hello everyone,

Time is flying so fast these days!  It is a month since my last post and yet it seems like yesterday!  I had some time off which was great as I was tired and needed a break.  It can be lonely here when it comes to holiday time as I don't have anyone I can go on holidays with........my holidays are generally when other folk are working!  However, I took myself off to the lake for a few days and ended up at Ntchisi climbing the mountain!  Here are a few of my photos - I had a great time as I just visited local people in the villages and was delighted that I remembered enough Chichewa to be able to communicate with them!

Kids at the lakeshore......

an amazing moth............

this lady makes these pots - an incredible woman.  I bought this one - it cost 50p!

Making a mud house - bricks made from mud and then covered in mud!

Fish were in short supply as it was very stormy on the lake!

Did a spot of potting...........as you do!!

Ntchisi - such a beautiful place!

Estan - the guide up the moutain.  He is 72 years old and was doing acrobatics in the trees - quite incredible!

a grasshopper.....

the view - on a clear day you can see lake Malawi in the distance!

two boys with their double bass and guitar and they made a great sound!  These boys were 18 and had not been to school!

Estans family!

Picking coffee beans!

 All in all I had a lovely time and met some amazing people on my travels!  Came back to find lots of holes dug up in the garden - by what...........I have no idea.  For the next few days every time I opened the curtains there were more.  Whatever it was seems to have gone now!

Last week Nicolas and myself spent time teaching the caregivers at our school here in Mzuzu.  It was a challenge - not the teaching, but the scenarios we were being told about and having to try to solve.  There was an exam at the end of the week and Maria -the one in red in the middle was the winner.  There were 7 caregivers in all but they are not all in the picture!

Just to prove I was there!!

Over the weekend I had lots of visitors including 6 students from Queens doing their medical elective - in fact they are on their way home and seemed to have really enjoyed their time in Malawi!

On Sunday I usually go walking with two friends in the late afternoon.  Yesterday we met this child with an axe and when she came close to us she took one look and ran off in the opposite direction - we must have been really scary!!

Like most people in the world, we have been having amazing suns and moons these days - last night I took this quick shot of the moon - if I had had my tripod I could have had a much better picture but I was pleased none the less!

The week continues to be busy as I have an Early Childhood Development Board meeting on Wednesday of which I am the secretary so I spent the day getting organised!  More to be done tomorrow too!  

Spare a thought of the poor people in Gaza and Iraq and of course in the four countries in Africa where Ebola has been causing havoc.  We hope and pray that it does not come to Malawi.

Please pray for my health - I used to play a lot of squash and I injured a shoulder a long time ago - sometimes I get rotor cuff which is really painful and requires a lot of rest.  Of course its my right shoulder  and I use that arm for so many things so resting it is not easy!

Hoping you all have a good week where ever you are in the world.

Blessings,

Diane