Malawi Journal 2010

July 17, 2010

It won’t be long, we will be on our way. This will be my fourth trip to Malawi and while the trip has become something of a routine, it also feels like this is my first trip. It is routine in that I know what to expect, yet like the first trip in that we face new challenges, new opportunities for growth. This trip has taken a special dimension with Karen going with me.  With Fr. Mark, Donna and Terry Kohl part of the team, I am again blessed to be serving with a great group of people.  Looking forward to serving with them.

July 19, 2010

We’re on our way. Things have gone well. Waiting now at O’Hare.  I look around the gate area, feels a little strange sitting here waiting to leave again. Again, things are familiar yet still feels like my first trip. Everyone is quietly waiting. We’ve still got a couple of hours until we leave. I know this mission will be a productive one. When I think of the challenges it can seem overwhelming yet I know this is God’s mission, not mine. As long as we focus on Jesus and place everything in his hands great things will happen, He will work through us. This belief leaves me with a good feeling. This trip will certainly be a leap of faith.
 
July 20, 2010

Arrived in London this morning, Everyone seems a little tired but doing well. The flight went smooth. Fr Mark celebrated Mass in the Multi-Faith room here in the terminal. Our flight leaves at 6:15 p.m. still five hours away.  We will probably get lunch later. Not much else to do but wait.

July 21, 2010

Arrived in Malawi today with all luggage accounted for.  Last night’s flight was a long one, I think it’s safe to say we are all pretty tired. Donna, Terry, Karen and I are staying with a friend of Fr. Philip’s, Fr. Vincent at St. Theresa in Chisitu. Fr. Philip and Fr. Mark are staying nearby. With Fr. Philip in transition  with his new assignment this is what works. I suppose I feel settled in after three previous
trips even though this is a new place for me.  Looks like we’ve got a pretty full schedule. Looking forward to a productive mission.

July 23, 2010

After taking care of business in town we had dinner at St. Anne where Fr. Philip and Fr. Mark are staying. The sisters prepared a very nice dinner. Fr. Albert made a toast in our honor, the sisters sang us a song of welcome. It was very nice.

Today we met with the leaders of the loan groups. The farming situation is a disaster. With the poor harvest, people made no money. The food situation is very bad. Current food supplies are projected to run out by the end of August or into September. The government has food the people can buy however they do not have any money to purchase it. With the recession outside jobs are few and supplemental income is a problem. We have discussed ways to address this situation as well as longer term steps to improve things. We are up against a timeline, the next planting season will begin around December 1st . The situation with the business groups is better. There are some internal problems however they will need to work things out. That is the only way for them to learn and grow.

I knew the situation resulting from the lean harvest was not good, I had no idea it was this bad. We first need to address this, then begin to research way of avoiding being put into this situation in the future. This is where Fr. David’s brother in law, Sam Sowah can be of help. It is indeed time to restructure the program.. A lot of work to be done.
  
July 24, 2010

Went to a Mass at one of the villages, it was a newly ordained priest first Mass at his home village. It is a custom that a new priest celebrates Mass at his home village and is a big event. He worked as a transitional deacon with Fr. Philip.

I was thinking about the situation at Likwakwanda. I see stores stocked with food yet the village is running out of food. I think of the stores in the states fully stocked.  I don’t know if I will feel as comfortable shopping at home as I have been after meeting with the villagers yesterday. No doubt they are concerned, scared, who  wouldn’t be. When I think of all we have the complaints I hear at home, shame on us. When people complain about minor inconveniences, about just having to have the new I phone or designer clothes. Complaining when things don’t go our way, shame on us. These people are running short on food, no complaining or whining, yet no doubt worried. I don’t think I have looked at life the same since my first trip here, I think my outlook has changed again. I feel more determined to continue our work here. We may think we have it rough at times, we have no idea how bad things can get.

July 27, 2010

Spent some time at Lake Malawi. Driving back I got a look at other areas of the country. The scale of poverty here is unbelievable. We have been focused on one small area, today it all came into perspective. Likwakwanda is not an isolated case, it is related to the rest of the country in it’s poverty. I realized that we in the U.S. with our problems are related to the people here. We do not face the scale or severity of poverty that exists here, yet we have our problems. None of us is isolated from others.  We share a common bond. Those of us who are more fortunate should be willing to reach out to others. I know our problems are serious yet when I think of all we do have at home it bothers me. I think it has helped me to more clearly see the need to work with others. Not to give them a handout but to work with them, to help empower them to improve their lives. It is a challenging task yet it really isn’t ours. We just need to do what we can and let God handle the results.

July 28, 2010

We went to Nansato School today to see the work that is being done with the money sent by the school and RE program. The money is being used to rehab a couple of houses in the teachers’ housing. The reason being they are understaffed there, the teacher to student ratio can be as high as 100:1. In an effort to attract teachers the houses are being rehabbed. It is felt that this will decrease the ratio and help teachers do a better job. Money is also being used to wire a block of classrooms. There will be three lights in each with a computer hopefully being placed in one. It will be all on one circuit being controlled in the office. I saw the repair work that has been done the last couple of years. It was a god feeling to see the completed work. I feel the money is being well used. The headmaster, Mr. Alexander is a good man. He has control on the work and is not hesitant to jump in. He seems to me to be the right man for the job. He told us Nansato is the top school in the district. We saw porridge being prepared for the students. The food is donated from Scotland. Volunteers from the surrounding villages cook it in big pots over wood fires. The students bring a cup to eat out of. We saw an attendance chart in the office showing how enrollment declines the higher the grade. This is due to children working at home and the fact they do not come to school because there is nothing to eat once they are there and stay home to eat. It is quite a problem. Despite this it is a good feeling to see the progress that has been made and that we have been a part of it. The school and RE program have put the Gospel into action here. They have a lot to feel good about.

July 29, 2010

Visited Nansato School again today, sat in on a class taught by Mr. Alexander on Agroforestry. He had me paying attention. They presented material to Donna and Karen for the chitanga skirts. It was a very nice visit. It is good to see progress being made. Thoughts about the food situation, while we should be ready to render necessary assistance, they should work through this as much as possible. We do not want to establish an attitude of dependency.

July 30, 2010

Met with some of the people from the farm loans. Sounds like they have done their best however mother nature hasn’t cooperated.  No doubt they are willing to work through this however it appears they may come up short. Irrigation seems to be the key however the location of the creeks and terrain make it look like digging wells may be the only option. This will not be easy to work through but all we can do is our best, leave the rest up to God.

July 31, 2010

Travelling around the country I for some reason this time am getting a real sense of the contrast in this country, the haves and the have nots. It is like two different worlds. I felt a sense of anger but I thought how many other places in the world are like this place. I can’t help them all, but I can work with others to make a difference in one small place with God’s help. There is a real need in the villages. When I told them we would try to help them they expressed gratitude. Terry said one in their group asked for help so they might not go hungry. You can see situations like this on the news and it doesn’t hit home. You see it in person, see the people, where they live, how they live it really hits home. I can describe it to people however until you see it firsthand you can’t appreciate it. It can change your perspective on life. I don’t think I can live they way we live and not feel a sense of guilt at times. I hope that sense never leaves me.

August 1, 2010

Had a slow day today.  Went to Mass at a mission church.  It was basically a mud and brick building  roughly the size of a four car garage. Looked like dried hardened mud for a floor. The Alter was made of the same material. An open doorway with shaped holes in the walls for windows. The rafters looked like tree branches, the roof was tin. The wind was blowing through, blew out the

August 2, 2010

Met with people from the business loan groups today.  They said the organizational format is working out however there are some internal problems. It sounds like there are differences with policy matters.  We told them that is something they will have to work out. The recession has hurt business, income is down. They said more money will allow them to increase inventory, however I think the problem will only be solved when the economy improves. There is not much of anything we can do. I believe they are better off than the farmers. Stopped at a market in Blantyre where Karen, Donna and Terry got to do some real bargaining. Karen has gotten pretty god at it. She got some gift items at good prices. Tomorrow we will do some last minute shopping and get ready to leave. Time has gone by fast here as usual.  Now it’s almost time to leave. Strange thing is I am going to have to start thinking about next year’s trip soon. Things just keep moving along.

August 3, 2010

Another mission comes to an end. It doesn’t seem like we did very much in terms of activity, however I think this has been a very productive mission. I think we accomplished what we set out to do. We obtained the information we needed and have a better picture of the situation. I think we have a feasible plan to assist with the food shortage.  Sad to say we don’t have the resources to help everyone but we can do what we can. I’m ready to go home. I guess leaving is maybe a little easier knowing that God willing I will lead the next team. It will be good to get home no doubt, much as the people here have gotten to me, the U.S. is home. There will be a lot of work to be done when we get home, presentations, overseeing the fundraiser, organizing next year’s team. I believe we will be involved here for a while, there is a long way to go. I pray we all remain open to God’s guidance to do the work he sent us here to do. Until next year.