Christmas Comes Early
Today was a day of great excitement - the
container that had left Strachur in June finally arrived. We had
been tracking its progress across southern Africa, and at last it had
reached its destination at Ekenwendeni Hospital and been released by
the local customs officials. Once the doors were opened it took some
time to get everyone organised, but soon teams were carrying the
various parcels to cars and lorries and individual piles - each one a
particular recipient of the boxes. We had taken a lorry down to the
site to collect material for the new Mission House, as well as items
for Ruth and Levi Nyondo - including some sewing machines for the craft
centre at Hill Top. Mind, we nearly did not arrive ourselves, as there
is one of the periodic shortages of fuel in the area - we had to drive
to three petrol stations to find any diesel at all; and we did find
some, the amount we could have was limited and only obtained after a
long queue. But we had arrived to retrieve our bounty - and after a
journey of 7 months, the container was cleared in two hours, as the
various departments gratefully received the gifts sent with love from
Strachur.
The drive back to Mzuzu was also affected by the fuel shortage. It began as a normal Malawian taxi journey as I hailed a passing vehicle to join five others on the journey to the city. But just before we reached the check-point on the edge of Mzuzu the taxi stopped. It had run out of petrol. Fortunately there was a mini-bus passing just as we stopped. Whereas the taxis carry between five and eight people, the mini-bus will carry up to 16 - and these are not like the full sized LDV's we use in Britain, but rather like modified old fashioned VW camper vans. They cost a little less than a taxi, but they are far more cramped.
But there have been other highlights in the last two days. Last night we went again to join the choir Witnesses for Christ for their Thursday night rehearsal - only this time they insisted that w also join them for an evening meal. Once more it was a treat as we sang and prayed together, joined now by their leader Flemings, who gave a strong bass lead to balance the clear soprano voice of Glory. The evening was enhanced by a power cut, which meant that for a while we were singing without the usual keyboard accompaniment with only a couple of candles to give us light - creating a very special atmosphere to the fellowship.
And after the fun of the container, this afternoon I was with the Guild - like our ladies' meeting on steroids. 63 ladies were present for the afternoon. They began with their Bible Study - a programme set out by the Livingstonia Synod, and followed by each Guild in the area. There is a set passage, and then a series of questions. These provoked a lively series of anecdotes as the responses were given. With the choir items, the main meeting took about two hours - and that was before they came to me. After the 'footing' with Watson on Monday I had intended to talk about the woman at the well, but following the Bible Study and discussion I put aside those plans, and spoke on Ephesians 6 - put on the armour of God. At the end I was presented with a ketenja - the fabric used by the women to protect their clothes from the African dust, but given so that I could have a shirt made. It was a good afternoon - if a little long. We began just after 2, and ended just before 5.
One other image stands out clear from today. As I was walking past the pre-school play group run by the Synod, the children were playing in the yard. The day was quite hot, and one of the supervisors had a bowl full of water - which she was using to spray the children. They were having a great time, with squeals of laughter ringing around the Synod compound, proving once more that you do not need that much to have times of great joy.
Today was a day of great excitement - the
container that had left Strachur in June finally arrived. We had
been tracking its progress across southern Africa, and at last it had
reached its destination at Ekenwendeni Hospital and been released by
the local customs officials. Once the doors were opened it took some
time to get everyone organised, but soon teams were carrying the
various parcels to cars and lorries and individual piles - each one a
particular recipient of the boxes. We had taken a lorry down to the
site to collect material for the new Mission House, as well as items
for Ruth and Levi Nyondo - including some sewing machines for the craft
centre at Hill Top. Mind, we nearly did not arrive ourselves, as there
is one of the periodic shortages of fuel in the area - we had to drive
to three petrol stations to find any diesel at all; and we did find
some, the amount we could have was limited and only obtained after a
long queue. But we had arrived to retrieve our bounty - and after a
journey of 7 months, the container was cleared in two hours, as the
various departments gratefully received the gifts sent with love from
Strachur.
The drive back to Mzuzu was also affected by the fuel shortage. It began as a normal Malawian taxi journey as I hailed a passing vehicle to join five others on the journey to the city. But just before we reached the check-point on the edge of Mzuzu the taxi stopped. It had run out of petrol. Fortunately there was a mini-bus passing just as we stopped. Whereas the taxis carry between five and eight people, the mini-bus will carry up to 16 - and these are not like the full sized LDV's we use in Britain, but rather like modified old fashioned VW camper vans. They cost a little less than a taxi, but they are far more cramped.
But there have been other highlights in the last two days. Last night we went again to join the choir Witnesses for Christ for their Thursday night rehearsal - only this time they insisted that w also join them for an evening meal. Once more it was a treat as we sang and prayed together, joined now by their leader Flemings, who gave a strong bass lead to balance the clear soprano voice of Glory. The evening was enhanced by a power cut, which meant that for a while we were singing without the usual keyboard accompaniment with only a couple of candles to give us light - creating a very special atmosphere to the fellowship.
And after the fun of the container, this afternoon I was with the Guild - like our ladies' meeting on steroids. 63 ladies were present for the afternoon. They began with their Bible Study - a programme set out by the Livingstonia Synod, and followed by each Guild in the area. There is a set passage, and then a series of questions. These provoked a lively series of anecdotes as the responses were given. With the choir items, the main meeting took about two hours - and that was before they came to me. After the 'footing' with Watson on Monday I had intended to talk about the woman at the well, but following the Bible Study and discussion I put aside those plans, and spoke on Ephesians 6 - put on the armour of God. At the end I was presented with a ketenja - the fabric used by the women to protect their clothes from the African dust, but given so that I could have a shirt made. It was a good afternoon - if a little long. We began just after 2, and ended just before 5. 
One other image stands out clear from today. As I was walking past the pre-school play group run by the Synod, the children were playing in the yard. The day was quite hot, and one of the supervisors had a bowl full of water - which she was using to spray the children. They were having a great time, with squeals of laughter ringing around the Synod compound, proving once more that you do not need that much to have times of great joy.
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