An Evening of Malawian Cuisine

There are 6 high school students from our church that are going on 6 separate mission trips. The kids have been meeting on Thursday nights for months to Pray, Plan and Practice! Part of the practice is to learn to eat different foods that are placed in front of you, to eat it all, and do so with a thankful heart!! They came to our home tonight to experience a Malawian meal
Let me introduce them and tell you where they will be going! Travis May-Panama; Krista Kunkel- Kenya; Evan Zeigler-Honduras; Chelsea Killian-Brazil; Katelyn Bright-Inner-city Atlanta; Daniel Bayes -Romania.


They all met at the church which is about a mile from our home. Waiting for the ladies were the chitengi cloths that Malawian women wear over their skirts. They were each handed a paper with the Malawian greeting in Chichewa printed on it. They practiced the greetings as they walked to our home. The guys carried the drinking water for the evening in a bucket (Even though traditionally the women carry the water…on their heads!)
Once in our home, we gathered in the living room for a welcome, some instruction for how things would go, and prayer. Following the prayer, the 6 teens and various brave parents were lead down the hallway to a spare bedroom emptied of all furniture. This became our hut. As each person entered, Mike and I greeted them with the greeting they learned on the way here. They took their seats on the floor around the perimeter of the room. Next came the hand washing. Before eating, Malawians always wash their hands. The hostess pours water from a pitcher over their hands into a large bowl. Once all our hands were cleaned, Michelle served the food. The menu tonight was nsima, greens, tomatoes and beans. Nsima is boiled white corn flour that stiffens to a very thick, moldable food.Nsima is eaten with your hands, rolled into a ball and used to scoop up the other items on your plate. This can prove to be very challenging with a tomato-like gravy. Most everyone seemed to like the food and several asked for seconds! Once meal was done, hands were washed again and we left our ‘hut’. From the hut we went to the kitchen to taste a few sweet treats that are commonly found in Malawi: fresh pineapple, mango, and small, sweet bananas. We also had some Orange Fanta which is also common there. After all the tasting, each of the kids stood and told their testimonies, where they were going, what missionaries they would serve with and what they would do on their trip. Mike and I did the same and shared our plans. The evening ended with prayer time…and lots of hugs!
　

　

A Glimpse of Malawi

“What does Malawi look like?”

This is a common question, so we thought we'd share a small glimpse...

City buildings

Mountains

Rivers

Villages

Flatlands

Lake Malawi

And the best part...there are people everywhere you go!

Friends

We are thankful for the opportunity to visit with old friends and new ones. The family pictured here with Mike is Abusa (pastor) Dimba’s family. Abusa Dimba is from the village of Chidyamaani and works with Larry and Mandy on the orphan care program there. The photo taken at Lake Malawi is with the Makiyi’s. Mike worked with Mr. Makiyi on agriculture/government extension two years ago in Monkey Bay. Michelle and Modesta became fast friends. It was nice that they were able to travel to meet at Senga Bay. There was much discussion about the current agricultural situation as well as catching up on each of our familys’ news. The lovely lady pictured with Mike is Queen. She was a co-worker of Mike’s that became a good friend. The final photo is of two Christian Church pastors from the Southern Region of Malawi. Abusa Gama is on Mike’s right, and Abusa Kachipeso is on his left. They were in the Central Region to encourage a newly planted village church at Mphanda. There are other friends we were able to meet and visit with, but we do not have the photos to share with you; our host and hostess, Larry and Mandy Renfo, the Mama’s at the Crisis Nursery, several co-workers of Mike’s, and many more.

Michelle gets to the Crisis Nursery at last

Oh what fun!! There are 20 babies in the nursery right now. The youngest was born January 16. The other day she ate a few ounces and snuggled right up to sleep…melting my heart. I was so busy enjoying her that I didn’t get her photo. The smiley one of the bunch is Chisomo Joseph, I got his picture and he smiled on cue!

He is a rambunctious little one that loves to hear me sing. When I would stop, he would reach for my mouth and squint his eyes in a funny way. I really enjoy playing with the babies, seeing them reach for toys, listening to them giggle and feeling their little hands in mine. Each of them is so unique and precious, it is hard to leave each day.

Malaria, Yep Michelle’s got it

Malawi is one of the many parts of the world where Malaria is a big problem. People contract it when they are bit by an infected mosquito. Only certain species of mosquito carry it and only the females actually bite. Even with the precautions like bug spray, bed nets, and preventative drugs; a person still has a chance of being infected. Michelle received a few bites early in the month. After feeling slightly ill for a few days she was encouraged to get tested. It was positive and a mild +1. The degrees of malaria are graded as +1 through +4, +4 being the most severe. It is a common occurrence here, maybe similar to having the flu in the states. Each time we have been in Malawi we have known people who have had malaria. This time I guess it was our turn. In Michelle’s case it is very easily treated and not terribly painful, but for many people without access to testing or medication it can be painful and deadly. We are reminded of Tokhosani Dimba, a young boy who had a special place in our hearts that died from malaria last year.
In Africa it seems there is closer contact with issues of life and death. Sometimes it can be very depressing. Other times it is refreshing because you remember that today may be all you have, people here tend to live in the moment knowing that tomorrow may be gone. It reminds me to “Pray for the Harvest” because the Bible promises an afterlife in eternity for all … one way or another. Let’s Pray for the Harvest so more names will be written on the Lambs Book of Life.

Bwandilo Drive-thru

The market area near the house we are staying is called Bwandilo. On the way to the house, and actually in many areas of the city, you can find street vendors selling everything from cell phone minutes to fresh fruits. Below are some pictures of today’s fruit purchasing.

Church in a village/ Week in review

Church in a village
On Sunday we had the opportunity to worship God together with a newly planted church. Larry taught the Sunday school lesson, Sam presented the Gospel message, and Mike gave the communion meditation. We all sang together. Several people asked for prayer. There were about 60 people in attendance in the small grass church.
In the villages people suffer with the burden of poverty and oppression from evil. A struggle for many rural churches in Malawi is to have a trained pastor to preach even once a month. It is a difficult to grow in Christian discipleship with out someone to present the Bible message in word and example. Lets pray that we can all grow in faith and action.
Week in review
Mike again has been working this week traveling to different fields along the Zambian border. It is the rainy season now and, in most areas, the rains have been arriving as expected. The countyside looks lush with the green everywhere. The hungry season(when food gets scarce until the next harvest comes in)is starting, but in most areas, it is not as bad as we have seen in the past.
Thursday, January 15 is John Chilembwe Day, a national holiday here in Malawi. Mike has the day off so we have spent time in Lilongwe getting a few groceries and catching up on internet communication.

Below are a few photos to let you have a little view of the week

First Week in the Fields

Mike has been in the fields this week monitoring development of the crops and planting a small trial. Most of his work thus far has been on large estates. It is not an aspect of Malawi that he has been exposed to before; the majority of the farmers are small holders with less than 2 acres. There is a picture above of a field at a large estate. The crop looks outstanding. Another picture is at a different estate that has a very poor looking crop but a beautiful landscape. The third picture is of the planting process. The soil was prepared then holes are made with the stick along the wire for the seeds to be placed, the seeds are placed in the holes and covered with soil.

Visit to Chidyamaani

It was wonderful to see familiar faces and a few new ones. Pictured here are Agogo Ellen and her sister to her left. Agogo is a title of respect for an elderly person. It is always a blessing to visit Agogo, the oldest woman in the village of about 200 people.
While visiting I took a tour of the fields where they try to grow food to supply the orphan care program, walked to the dam that is being constructed for irrigation, and saw the brick kitchen that is being built. I shared many greetings with the orphans, and other villagers. Pictured here are a few young boys helping to carry seed, older boys fixing a thatched roof, and a few boys playing with a homemade car.

Where there is water…

Access to clean water in not always available. Below is a photo of a woman who has done laundry in the mud puddle in the street. She then layed the clothing on the bushes to dry in the sun. It is amazing how clean the clothes look.