There is a Moslem community within Malawi and Thursday or Friday marked the end of Ramadan ...apparently the timing was reliant upon which phase the moon was in( a little like Easter) and it needed to be in the newest stage. On the Thursday night we were still waiting to hear if Friday was to be a public holiday( to mark the end of Ramadan). Saudia Arabia was to be able to spot the moon before Malawi, so we were depending on the communication network set up by the Moslems, to spread the word around!!! At around ten PM Paola sent someone over to the neighbors to find that, yes indeed ,it was to be a public holiday, the following day!! Needless to say that we were now Jack's guests for at least another two nights! and in fact it turned out to be three as we were only able to use the Mastercard at Avis and they didn't have a vehicle available till Tuesday!!
Jack very kindly leant us his vehicle on the Friday and we were able to travel with five others, out to a local assembly which was about 2 hrs drive from Blantyre. We were welcomed by the local choir who sang their hearts out. children everywhere, all gathered around and in a small mudbrick hall they built themselves. Malawi RCI time is even slower (if it can possibly be believed!!!) than Malawi time...at this particular assembly we were over three hours behind the scheduled! In some cases, because we were late in getting a vehicle , we were a day behind!! Communication is difficult as villages are very far apart, transport is minimal and mobiles scarce. So getting the message out regarding changes, are hard to guarantee.
At each of the assemblies we visited, seven in all, we were always welcomed by singing and drums; surrounded by children all wanting their photos taken; Tony talked, we heard and gave testimonies; items were given; and each meeting went for a couple of hours , or more , at a stretch. It was a great time, we traveled to the Central Assemblies in a 4WD with 4 others...they were pretty keen for Tony and I to learn some local lingo (we managed a few basics, Tony much earlier than I did) and when he got up and used greetings he had learnt, there was often much amusement and hilarity, the locals having a good laugh at his expense:). Some of the young school-aged children spoke a little English (at one assembly we were able to teach them a chorus), mainly a lot of miming was played out on both sides in our efforts to talk.
Places we visited
Chikuli
The Choir
Being welcomed
Thyolo
Outside the hall
Mulanje
On the way
Welcoming committee!!
The band - a 3 stringed guitar!Blantyre
Village where hall is
Chorus leader
One of 23 baptisms!
Assembly outside the hall
Yesaya
Village where hall is
Assembly outside the hall
Tony and Pastor Grandpa
Lilongwe
Pastors and their wives
Loading up for the meeting
It's all in the body Language!Chimbiya
Outside the hall
The gals
Outsidethe Pastor's house
2 comments:
ha! first comment to me...
looks like malawi was awesome, the meetings look brilliant, and as always slightly humbling seeing how people with very little material wealth are so keen to be involved in the things of the lord. looks like an adventure... how do you think it would be with a 3 year old? possible?
back from cuba on saturday, great trip was great to catch up with davo and we had some good times. hopefully at some point i will get around to writing something in a blog about it somewhere :)
where are you guys now, are you at home, and if not when do you get there?
Hi Mattie
So good to hear from you...we are now in Sydney on our way home...caught up with Rosie who has already managed to pick up work !! Really want to catch up with you will try to skype today or thursday at 6 pm our time. Went through the London photos last night..thought you would enjoy Cuba and being a lad for a bit!!! love to Nic and Maddie
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