Thursday 27 March
We're all up early to finish packing and prepare for what is going to be a very long day (and night). We gather at the manse and following prayers for our safe travel we start to say our goodbyes and board the bus to the airport. More goodbyes here.....this time they seem the last....until we see our good friends (many dressed in their distinctive guild uniforms) waving from the airport balcony as we board our jet......what a send off!
Our first flight is south to Blantyre......the landing doesn't seem too bumpy....apparently they closed it last week because there were too many pot-holes in it. It is then on to Addis Ababa. Those with window seats on the 'starboard' enjoy wonderful views of Lake Malawi, the Rift Valley, Mount Kenya and Lake Victoria before the sun goes down.
Our stop-over in Addis is around six hours so there is time to explore the terminal......Janet is the most adventurous, buying an outfit for a wedding later in the year. But more so when in the restaurant, which struggled to provide coffee, but did provide 'National dishes'.......Janet plumps for Injir Firfir and finds that it is a grey 'pancake' filled with jar of gherkins! As we wait we find our flight has been combined with a flight to Rome, so the queues are long and the plane rather full, including members of the Italian rugby league team on their return from a tie with Kenya.
We settle down, with a few hours sleep being enjoyed by some.....we are woken for our in flight meal, as day breaks and we look down on the lights of Corinth......thinking of the advice to the Corinthians....'Love is patient....'. The light brightens as we see the snow capped Apenines before we start our descent to Rome, where more seats become available to stretch out on.......but what is the large aircraft parked in the corner of the airport......it is Airforce One.......President Obama has apparently also dropped into Rome to visit Pope Francis.
The Alps are plastered in snow and bathed in sunshine as we fly over them and Lake Geneva.....we think about putting on jackets for the firs time in two weeks as we move forward in the plane to help us disembark quickly - the combined flight means that our 'transit' time at Heathrow is squeezed. All goes well, however, and we make a slick exit from terminal three and are soon in the long queues at security in terminal five, arriving at the gate in time to enjoy a cup of coffee before we go.
It's not long before we are at Abbotsinch collecting our luggage; unfortunately three bags have not been as slick as we have been at Heathrow and are still in London (but they do make it home the following day). We say some hurried goodbyes as we split up before travelling safely back to Mid-Argyll.......just managing to stay awake!
What a trip, with so many fond memories of a wonderful country with beautiful people with a strong Christian faith.......as we left Glasgow, a taxi-driver asked what escapade were we going on.....this escapade has filled our hearts and minds, with much to do and tell on to others on our return.
Saturday 29 March 2014
Monday 24 March 2014
Down to the Lake
Saturday 22 March
On one of our school visits we had discovered that Lilongwe was at an altitude of 1076m, which surprised us, but also helped explain why we should expect much warmer temperatures when we went down to Lake Malawi, Africa's third largest lake situated in the Rift Valley. Today we are back on the bus, this time with our luggage, William and Wessi, Joel and Moses for our long journey to Monkey Bay and Cape Maclear on the shores of Lake Malawi, where the early Scot's missionaries set up their first base.
We stopped at Dedza Pottery in the late morning where we were able to see, and buy, some lovely African pottery with lovely glazed scenes of Malawian life. Then to the restaurant.....to sample the cheesecake which Desiree had promised us four week' ago during a Skype call. And what a cheesecake! Eaten in a garden filled with roses amongst pine clad mountains.
Just before we left, Janet came excitedly from the restroom for the camera.....she had just discovered where the painted wash-hand basin in our chalet in Kilmartin showing canoeists had originated.....it had been made at Dedza pottery as there was one in a similar style.....it is a small world. (The basin had been purchased there by the previous owner, Margaret Rayner, who had worked as a mid-wife in Malawi).
Before leaving Dedza we visit the local Prayer House, part of the Kasamba congregation, viewing their plans for their building (which as yet does not have a roof), and also saw the difficulties caused when the local pump stopped working. Lunch is taken at the roadside, 5 km from the Mozambique border, then it is down the hill into the Rift Valley. What a descent......hairpin after hairpin, with remarkable views out onto the plain.
As we come down we start to see Baobab trees, Stanley's favourite tree, one that is well adapted to withstand droughts. Sadly, we also see all too easily the effects of droughts as we travel for over 30 km through withered, browned maize crops with few signs of ears that can be harvested. Some have even been cleared and new crops planted. All is not lost, as the damper areas have rice crops which are growing well and the there is much more livestock in this area with green grasslands with cattle and goats. With Lake Malawi nearby, as we cross a number of rivers, we are left wondering whether there is scope for irrigation which would improve agricultural out-turns......but is there enough power to feed the pumps which would be required?
As we approach Cape Maclear we leave the Tarmac road and travel through the granite hills, clothed in trees of the Lake Malawi National Park. Our first stop is on the edge of Cape Maclear, right at the edge of the National Park, where we are joined by a recently established group of Christians who have been meeting since December. They take us up a footpath, past the local school to a tiny graveyard. It has five graves each marked with a wooden marker - Dr William Black, Ngunana, Captain G Benzie, Dr W Mackey, and a Mr Shadreck. A poignant place where we quietly remember those who were early missionaries in Malawi - William Black was from Fife and died at the age of thirty within a year of arriving there.
As the sun falls close to the horizon we make our way down to the lakeshore to watch the sunset, before going along to the Cape Mac Lodge, where we enjoy the cool of air-conditioning in our rooms......a luxury, along with the modern anti-malarial tablets which the early missionaries certainly did not have.
Pictures to be added!
On one of our school visits we had discovered that Lilongwe was at an altitude of 1076m, which surprised us, but also helped explain why we should expect much warmer temperatures when we went down to Lake Malawi, Africa's third largest lake situated in the Rift Valley. Today we are back on the bus, this time with our luggage, William and Wessi, Joel and Moses for our long journey to Monkey Bay and Cape Maclear on the shores of Lake Malawi, where the early Scot's missionaries set up their first base.
We stopped at Dedza Pottery in the late morning where we were able to see, and buy, some lovely African pottery with lovely glazed scenes of Malawian life. Then to the restaurant.....to sample the cheesecake which Desiree had promised us four week' ago during a Skype call. And what a cheesecake! Eaten in a garden filled with roses amongst pine clad mountains.
Just before we left, Janet came excitedly from the restroom for the camera.....she had just discovered where the painted wash-hand basin in our chalet in Kilmartin showing canoeists had originated.....it had been made at Dedza pottery as there was one in a similar style.....it is a small world. (The basin had been purchased there by the previous owner, Margaret Rayner, who had worked as a mid-wife in Malawi).
Before leaving Dedza we visit the local Prayer House, part of the Kasamba congregation, viewing their plans for their building (which as yet does not have a roof), and also saw the difficulties caused when the local pump stopped working. Lunch is taken at the roadside, 5 km from the Mozambique border, then it is down the hill into the Rift Valley. What a descent......hairpin after hairpin, with remarkable views out onto the plain.
As we come down we start to see Baobab trees, Stanley's favourite tree, one that is well adapted to withstand droughts. Sadly, we also see all too easily the effects of droughts as we travel for over 30 km through withered, browned maize crops with few signs of ears that can be harvested. Some have even been cleared and new crops planted. All is not lost, as the damper areas have rice crops which are growing well and the there is much more livestock in this area with green grasslands with cattle and goats. With Lake Malawi nearby, as we cross a number of rivers, we are left wondering whether there is scope for irrigation which would improve agricultural out-turns......but is there enough power to feed the pumps which would be required?
As we approach Cape Maclear we leave the Tarmac road and travel through the granite hills, clothed in trees of the Lake Malawi National Park. Our first stop is on the edge of Cape Maclear, right at the edge of the National Park, where we are joined by a recently established group of Christians who have been meeting since December. They take us up a footpath, past the local school to a tiny graveyard. It has five graves each marked with a wooden marker - Dr William Black, Ngunana, Captain G Benzie, Dr W Mackey, and a Mr Shadreck. A poignant place where we quietly remember those who were early missionaries in Malawi - William Black was from Fife and died at the age of thirty within a year of arriving there.
As the sun falls close to the horizon we make our way down to the lakeshore to watch the sunset, before going along to the Cape Mac Lodge, where we enjoy the cool of air-conditioning in our rooms......a luxury, along with the modern anti-malarial tablets which the early missionaries certainly did not have.
Pictures to be added!
Out of Town
Friday 21 March
This morning we were all on a bus for our first visit outside Lilongwe. Before we leave, prayers are said for out journey.....this is the Malawian way.....quite different from Scotland.
After heading north through the city centre we headed east on the road towards Selima. This took us through agricultural land, mainly with maize crops, but also with small areas of a crop with yellowing leaves. Soon we were seeing small open sided sheds with rush roofs and realise the crop is tobacco and the sheds are drying sheds. Tobacco is one of the few cash crops of Malawi.....this seemed strange to us as we had seen very few smokers, of evidence of advertising.
The road wound through low hills, but at one steep brae we find two large lorries jack-knifed across the road (following what appears to have been heavy rain); maybe now we start to understand the 'Malawian' way, and find that our prayers are answered as the driver gently eases our bus round the arctics on the hard road verge carefully avoiding the storm drain culvert.
In just over an hour we reach Chezi orphanage, established in 1986 by the Sisters of St Mary Mediatrix (a Spanish based organisation). Stanley and Mollie Hood had visited previously when in Malawi, and we were given an update and tour of the site.
.
More to be added.....
This morning we were all on a bus for our first visit outside Lilongwe. Before we leave, prayers are said for out journey.....this is the Malawian way.....quite different from Scotland.
After heading north through the city centre we headed east on the road towards Selima. This took us through agricultural land, mainly with maize crops, but also with small areas of a crop with yellowing leaves. Soon we were seeing small open sided sheds with rush roofs and realise the crop is tobacco and the sheds are drying sheds. Tobacco is one of the few cash crops of Malawi.....this seemed strange to us as we had seen very few smokers, of evidence of advertising.
The road wound through low hills, but at one steep brae we find two large lorries jack-knifed across the road (following what appears to have been heavy rain); maybe now we start to understand the 'Malawian' way, and find that our prayers are answered as the driver gently eases our bus round the arctics on the hard road verge carefully avoiding the storm drain culvert.
In just over an hour we reach Chezi orphanage, established in 1986 by the Sisters of St Mary Mediatrix (a Spanish based organisation). Stanley and Mollie Hood had visited previously when in Malawi, and we were given an update and tour of the site.
.
More to be added.....
Kangaroos and Lilongwe wildlife centre
Tuesday 18 March
A fascinating morning, spent at the Bwaila Maternity Hospital. This is the main hospital for Lilongwe and the surrounding area; servings population of around four million people. Fifty to sixty babies are born there every day......quite a difference from the Mid-Argyll Hospital.....more like a hospital serving most of Scotland!
Our first visit was to the ward for premature babies, where we found around forty tiny cots and a few incubators. These were for the smallest babies. One was just 600 g, and sometimes there were two babies keeping one another company, and warm, in each cot.
The next ward was the 'Kangaroo' Ward, where mothers with premature / small (under 2.5 kg) babies were kept as their babies grew. Babies were strapped to their mothers (or fathers / grand-parents) to keep them warm. This helps the baby bond with their parents, while also keeping them warm as they grow. There are possibly lessons to bring home to Scotland from this part of our visit....
We were also given more details of the other facilities in this relatively modern unit (opened some four years ago by Dr Mary Robinson and the then Vice-President (now President) Joyce Banda. The unit was clearly working beyond its capacity and our overwhelming impression as we departed was of the hard-work, love and practical support provided by all of the staff, so ably led by Dorothy.
Afterwards we went down to the Lilongwe Wildlife Sanctuary where we were introduced to some of Malawi's wildlife. This is not a zoo, but the sanctuary provides a recuperation site for injured animals, some of which, when well, are returned to the wild. As it was around mid-day during our visit it was particularly hot and some of the animals were having a siesta....so we saw a sleeping porcupine and rock python. More active were the olive baboons, Malawian vervet and blue- faced monkeys.
During lunch, the skies started to threaten, and then the rain came.....being from Argyll, we thought that we knew about rain, but this rain was impressive.
More to be added.....to be completed
A fascinating morning, spent at the Bwaila Maternity Hospital. This is the main hospital for Lilongwe and the surrounding area; servings population of around four million people. Fifty to sixty babies are born there every day......quite a difference from the Mid-Argyll Hospital.....more like a hospital serving most of Scotland!
Our first visit was to the ward for premature babies, where we found around forty tiny cots and a few incubators. These were for the smallest babies. One was just 600 g, and sometimes there were two babies keeping one another company, and warm, in each cot.
The next ward was the 'Kangaroo' Ward, where mothers with premature / small (under 2.5 kg) babies were kept as their babies grew. Babies were strapped to their mothers (or fathers / grand-parents) to keep them warm. This helps the baby bond with their parents, while also keeping them warm as they grow. There are possibly lessons to bring home to Scotland from this part of our visit....
We were also given more details of the other facilities in this relatively modern unit (opened some four years ago by Dr Mary Robinson and the then Vice-President (now President) Joyce Banda. The unit was clearly working beyond its capacity and our overwhelming impression as we departed was of the hard-work, love and practical support provided by all of the staff, so ably led by Dorothy.
Afterwards we went down to the Lilongwe Wildlife Sanctuary where we were introduced to some of Malawi's wildlife. This is not a zoo, but the sanctuary provides a recuperation site for injured animals, some of which, when well, are returned to the wild. As it was around mid-day during our visit it was particularly hot and some of the animals were having a siesta....so we saw a sleeping porcupine and rock python. More active were the olive baboons, Malawian vervet and blue- faced monkeys.
During lunch, the skies started to threaten, and then the rain came.....being from Argyll, we thought that we knew about rain, but this rain was impressive.
More to be added.....to be completed
Back to School
Monday 17 March
St Patrick' Day - Ruth C is in good spirits, particularly after hearing the rugby result in Paris!
But we have a busy day.....four schools in the morning, then a visit to the Scripture Union office in the afternoon.
The first school was the SOS High School, which was at an orphanage, and also catered for local children. Mollie, Ruth and Janet were in their element as this school catered for disabled children and they had worked as speech and language therapists or special needs teachers. We first visited three classes for primary children, two (one in English, the other in Chechewa) for children with learning difficulties, the other for deaf children. The latter were being taught to sign (American sign language). It was wonderful to see the real desire of all these children to learn, and the understanding between them as they supported one another to communicate in class. Our next class was a secondary English class with around 90 pupils in a large hall with a corrugated iron roof and sliding walls to let the air in. The class had two teachers - one of whom signed for the deaf pupils who were fully integrated into the class.
The second school was a private primary school.
After the second school we witnessed a citizen's arrest. The accused was being marched to the local police station by a group of 10-12 men, one of whom was carrying his shoes. There is one policeman for every 1200 citizen in Lilongwe, so these arrests are regular - it sometimes takes them around 30 minutes to respond to an incident. While we do not know the reason for this arrest it may have been for assault or robbery. Once handed over to the police there is an investigation and then the case is handed over to the Public Prosecutor.
The third school was a government run primary school with 2200 pupils.
More anon.....to be completed
St Patrick' Day - Ruth C is in good spirits, particularly after hearing the rugby result in Paris!
But we have a busy day.....four schools in the morning, then a visit to the Scripture Union office in the afternoon.
The first school was the SOS High School, which was at an orphanage, and also catered for local children. Mollie, Ruth and Janet were in their element as this school catered for disabled children and they had worked as speech and language therapists or special needs teachers. We first visited three classes for primary children, two (one in English, the other in Chechewa) for children with learning difficulties, the other for deaf children. The latter were being taught to sign (American sign language). It was wonderful to see the real desire of all these children to learn, and the understanding between them as they supported one another to communicate in class. Our next class was a secondary English class with around 90 pupils in a large hall with a corrugated iron roof and sliding walls to let the air in. The class had two teachers - one of whom signed for the deaf pupils who were fully integrated into the class.
The second school was a private primary school.
After the second school we witnessed a citizen's arrest. The accused was being marched to the local police station by a group of 10-12 men, one of whom was carrying his shoes. There is one policeman for every 1200 citizen in Lilongwe, so these arrests are regular - it sometimes takes them around 30 minutes to respond to an incident. While we do not know the reason for this arrest it may have been for assault or robbery. Once handed over to the police there is an investigation and then the case is handed over to the Public Prosecutor.
The third school was a government run primary school with 2200 pupils.
More anon.....to be completed
Sunday services - in English and Chechewa
Sunday 16 March
Today was our first 'host change' change day so we all packed our bags and following breakfast said a heartfelt thanks to our hosts before going to the Church for the eight o'clock English service.
More anon.....to be completed.
Today was our first 'host change' change day so we all packed our bags and following breakfast said a heartfelt thanks to our hosts before going to the Church for the eight o'clock English service.
More anon.....to be completed.
Meet the Guilds
Saturday 14 March
Janet and I after a good night's sleep at Jelita's made our way to the manse via, Chigo's (Jelita's niece) school. This was a new private primary school with only twenty-five pupils. There are quite a few private schools in Lilongwe (Monday's post).
The morning was spent in the Church attending each of the three of the Church' Guilds meetings: the Men's, the Women's and the Youth Guild. Beth Carruthers was greeted with open arms by the CYF, becoming a card-carrying of the Youth Guild and was presented with one of their ties.
Each of the Guilds has it's own uniform, all based on the same design and similar meaning. For the men:
Black shoes and trousers - the dark world around us
White shirt - the light of the gospel
Black tie - persistent evil that tries to entangle us
Badge - crown of faith
White jacket - the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ that covers us
The meetings had formal agenda, receiving apologies and reports from each of the vestries (parishes) in the congregation. Each Guild also has it's own choir....there are many strong singers with soloists often providing the lead and the main part of the choir signing in parts....there are no word sheets, with songs being learnt by heart, or lead by the soloists.
Like in some parts of Scotland, the Women's Guild is one of the powerhouses of Kasamba Church, earning itself the nickname.....the government!
More to be added....
Janet and I after a good night's sleep at Jelita's made our way to the manse via, Chigo's (Jelita's niece) school. This was a new private primary school with only twenty-five pupils. There are quite a few private schools in Lilongwe (Monday's post).
The morning was spent in the Church attending each of the three of the Church' Guilds meetings: the Men's, the Women's and the Youth Guild. Beth Carruthers was greeted with open arms by the CYF, becoming a card-carrying of the Youth Guild and was presented with one of their ties.
Each of the Guilds has it's own uniform, all based on the same design and similar meaning. For the men:
Black shoes and trousers - the dark world around us
White shirt - the light of the gospel
Black tie - persistent evil that tries to entangle us
Badge - crown of faith
White jacket - the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ that covers us
The meetings had formal agenda, receiving apologies and reports from each of the vestries (parishes) in the congregation. Each Guild also has it's own choir....there are many strong singers with soloists often providing the lead and the main part of the choir signing in parts....there are no word sheets, with songs being learnt by heart, or lead by the soloists.
Like in some parts of Scotland, the Women's Guild is one of the powerhouses of Kasamba Church, earning itself the nickname.....the government!
More to be added....
Malawi - the Warm Heart of Africa
After a good overnight rest, Jelita took us into the Manse, but as a short detour we visited the local government primary school in Area 36. What a revelation...the school had 65 teachers.....and an amazing 6970 pupils. Classes were taken in shift with some pupils attending in the morning, others, with different teachers in the afternoon.
Once we all gathered together at the manse we moved off to the new city centre, visiting the City Council chambers where we were met by the Head of Information, before moving on to the Kamuzu Mausoleum, to President Banda, the first president of independent Malawi.
Afterwards we went to tour the new parliament building.....
More anon
Once we all gathered together at the manse we moved off to the new city centre, visiting the City Council chambers where we were met by the Head of Information, before moving on to the Kamuzu Mausoleum, to President Banda, the first president of independent Malawi.
Afterwards we went to tour the new parliament building.....
More anon
What a welcome!
After an over night flight and early morning stop in Addis Ababba, we touched down at Lilongwe under lovely warm sun at Kamuzu airport. Once we were through immigration, collected all our baggage and through customs, we were met by our friends, Rev William Tembo, Beatrice Nyirongo and Joel Kandodo Phiri.
We were soon crossing a leafy African city, home of around four million people, full of new sights, sounds and smells which were challenging our minds. After a short rest at the Kasamba Church manse, we walked down, through fields of soya and beans to the Church. What a wonderful welcome we received with loud welcome songs filling the air as we approached and a dancing throng at door. This church, which is a young church, is no ordinary church - it is situated in a former hotel. Like a large function room with a low roof, with a mezzanine floor and a split platform area at the front. It seats around four hundred.....with different choirs coming forward to greet us.
Beth, our youngest, was soon whisked off by the Youth Guild, to see downtown Lilongwe, enjoy a milkshake, before heading to her hosts for a welcome night's sleep.
Access to wifi has been very limited, so I shall be posting a few 'skeleton' blogs from this location and adding detail in due course.
We were soon crossing a leafy African city, home of around four million people, full of new sights, sounds and smells which were challenging our minds. After a short rest at the Kasamba Church manse, we walked down, through fields of soya and beans to the Church. What a wonderful welcome we received with loud welcome songs filling the air as we approached and a dancing throng at door. This church, which is a young church, is no ordinary church - it is situated in a former hotel. Like a large function room with a low roof, with a mezzanine floor and a split platform area at the front. It seats around four hundred.....with different choirs coming forward to greet us.
Beth, our youngest, was soon whisked off by the Youth Guild, to see downtown Lilongwe, enjoy a milkshake, before heading to her hosts for a welcome night's sleep.
Access to wifi has been very limited, so I shall be posting a few 'skeleton' blogs from this location and adding detail in due course.
Tuesday 18 March 2014
Safely Here
Just a short blog; we have been out of internet contact for a while.
After a long journey we received a wonderful warm reception at Kasamba church on Thursday afternoon. Since then we have been very busy, more of which I shall tell in due course. All are well and having a very uplifting time in " the warm heart of Africa".
DCJ
After a long journey we received a wonderful warm reception at Kasamba church on Thursday afternoon. Since then we have been very busy, more of which I shall tell in due course. All are well and having a very uplifting time in " the warm heart of Africa".
DCJ
Wednesday 12 March 2014
We're off!
Wednesday 12 March
It's a bright sunny morning, the 'Rest and be Thankful' has been re-opened.....all our bags are packed and we're ready to go, we're leaving on a jet plane......but I guess John Denver didn't have the same content in his bags......footballs, blackboard dusters, tinned haggis, hundreds of pencils, shortbread, baby clothes, and plenty of other strange things besides!
Glasgow to Heathrow, then on overnight to Addis Abba where we change and fly on to Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. There we will be met by the Kasamba congregation of the Church of Central Africa. We look forward to joining them, hoping and praying that the journey will go smoothly.
DCJ
It's a bright sunny morning, the 'Rest and be Thankful' has been re-opened.....all our bags are packed and we're ready to go, we're leaving on a jet plane......but I guess John Denver didn't have the same content in his bags......footballs, blackboard dusters, tinned haggis, hundreds of pencils, shortbread, baby clothes, and plenty of other strange things besides!
Glasgow to Heathrow, then on overnight to Addis Abba where we change and fly on to Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. There we will be met by the Kasamba congregation of the Church of Central Africa. We look forward to joining them, hoping and praying that the journey will go smoothly.
DCJ
Monday 10 March 2014
Moni Mid-Argyll Greetings Mid-Argyll
Moni Mid-Argyll Greetings Mid-Argyll
2 March 2014Good evening.....well it's less than two weeks to go and we have all just returned from an inspiring and encouraging service of dedication at the Free Church in Lochgilphead. Fittingly, this was the Church in which Donald Fraser grew up before he left for his long years of service in Malawi.
With friends from the neighbouring churches the nine-member party heard of the history and strong connection between the Churches in Malawi and Scotland from 'Abusa' Stanley Hood and also received a fitting message from Robert MacLeod about Barnabus....."The Encourager", a very timely message for us all before our visit to Lilongwe. Hearing of the size and growth of the Church in Africa was itself an encouragement; I am sure that we shall all learn much during our visit.
Our group comprises:
Mollie and Stanley Hood
Beth, Ruth and David Carruthers
Paul Daye
Janet and David Jardine
David Logue
As I am new to writing / creating a blog I'm keeping this first entry short, but hopefully as things progress, my confidence and skill may increase....you may even see some photos once I have mastered how to put them in!
Abusa Stanley Hood tells us of the history of the Church in Malawi
DCJ
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