Malawi Ministry
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Dear Friends and Family,
 
Robin and I are safely in Malawi after spending an uneventful night in Johannesburg.  On the flight to Malawi we met Mrs. Mathanda and her husband.  They helped us to practice our Chichewa.  (Robin has mastered "Zikomo" - Thank you!).  Mrs. Mthanda is a member of the Malawian Parliament and she was very interested in what we are doing in Malawi.  She gave us her address, phone number and e-mail contact information.
 
Malawi is very different from South Africa.  It is much less developed.  From the plane we could see only dirt roads.  There are no computers at the airport customs, for example.  Along the "highway" are children walking home from school, people selling food and crafts, even live chickens!  Our host, Shadreck, was at the airport to meet us and he is a delightful person and knowledgable tourguide.
 
We took a cab from the airport to Shadreck's sister's house in the "suburbs".  All the homes there have walls around them with barbed wire or broken glass at the top.  The flowers and grounds around the homes are beautiful.  We then rode to the U.S. Embassy where we registered our presence as a safety precaution.  We also asked about U.S. assistance for rural areas.  They told us of the U.S. Ambassador's Fund which helps people in rural areas with loans for development projects.
 
Now I am sitting in the U.S. Information Services building where computer access is available at the nominal fee of 100 kwacha for 30 minutes.  That translates to about 80 cents.  The response time is very slow, but we can access the internet, so we're happy to be back in touch with all of you.  Robin's international cell phone has worked well, too.
 
Tommorow we will travel to meet the orphans.  The area will be quite a bit more rustic, so I don't know when I can write next.  Probably from the hotel in Zomba early next week. 
 
Thank you to Betsy Adams who is helping to get the word out to everybody.
 
Prayers for those in London affected by the attacks today and for all British subjects.
 
Peace
Amy
 
Hi there!

 

Just to give you an idea of how slow the computers are here...it took me 12 minutes from the time I logged on to writing to you now. The attendant has been very helpful and reassuring that AOL would come up...just that it is very slow. Slow is not the right word!

 

Our brief stay in Johannesburg was pleasant. We arrived at 6PM and it was pitch black outside. Both Amy and I anticipated it being light out but because it is wintertime, it gets dark at 5:30PM. From the airport to the hotel, it was obvious how the West has influenced Africa.... prevalent were the Golden Arches and Big Macs and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The strip we drove on reminded me of the Boston Post Road with its shops and eateries.

 

The flight to Malawi was great. Each leg of the journey has been like clock work. We were supposed to be going to Mlanda today but Shadreck's sister who is driving us could not get out of work, so we are staying in her home or the home of another sister tonight. The cost to hire a taxi or drive would cost about $200.00 US dollars and is not how we want to spend the money. So, we will wait until tomorrow to go when his sister can drive us. Plans may continue to change like this...typical of the Malawian way, so Amy and I are going with the flow.

 

We just registered with the US embassy. Everyone we have come in contact with in Africa is gracious and inviting. There is a calm about the people we have met thus far and we are not even into the real leg of our journey yet.

 

In terms of the typography and look to Malawi so far, it reminds me of Arizona. There is a lot of dry, small brush, and rocky land. We can see some mountains in the background but most of the land we have seen even in Johannesburg is very flat. The mountains are very rugged and jagged looking. We can see typical African looking trees with the green, rounded tops. There is a main road that is well paved but 95% of the roads are dirt. We have yet to travel on those.

 

We see women in traditional dress walking along side the road with baskets balanced on their heads, small straw shacks on the side of the road selling local goods, children walking home from school, some small brick homes (fenced in communities). There is a definite combination of the old mixed with the new.

 

ON the plane ride to Malawi, we met a woman who works for Parliament in Malawi. She is very interested in the work we are doing and would like future contact with us. In NYC, at JFK, we were approached by a young high school student who noticed Amy's AIDS pin and inquired about it. She was traveling to Johannesburg with her aunt (who is a nun) to find out about aids and teens so that she could go back to California and talk to her high school and bring about more awareness to teens in general. Everywhere we turn, we are meeting people doing God's work. It has been a wonderful feeling. It's an affirmation of our coming her to Africa for sure.

 

I feel very blessed to have this opportunity. I feel calm, relaxed and comfortable with my surroundings. It helps no doubt to have Shadreck as our guide and companion. He is charming, sincere, and very bright with a good sense of humor.

 

It's hard to think of everything I want to say. I think this fills you in on the first couple of days. We are currently at a library using their computers and the building closes on 15 minutes, so I am going to close for now.

 

Mwah!

 

Rob

 
I spoke with Robin yesterday afternoon. Here is a brief update.
 
The orphan school is actually in Mthindisi. They have arranged to stay in Mlanda, about 45 minutes to an hour by car from Mthindisi. Also, they have secured transportation to take them to/from the village as needed. No more waiting for a ride to come along ...
 
In Mlanda, Robin and Amy are staying with Yohanne and Victoria Mkwamba. They sleep on a raised platform bed in a small, damp, and cold room. "It's tough on the my sinuses," says Robin, "but thankfully, the Claritin-D helps!" She has been sleeping in a turtleneck 'top' to try to stay warm in the cold, overnight hours. Unfortunately, her sweatshirt got left behind at the house where they stayed in Lilongue. She has been getting a little more sleep lately, 4-5 hours.
 
Yesterday's church service at CCAP church was "wonderful" she says, despite its 3 hour length! ("FCC should consider itself blessed!") During the service, various elders and visitors spoke (including a bishop from Blantyre 5 hours away) and Robin and Amy were given a warm welcome. Gifts were exchanged. Amy and Robin presented the Chalice from FCC and they received a walking stick and a church banner/flag to bring back to FCC. One comment made was that it surprised them (the church elders) that two women came to Malawi from the U.S. and that no men came along. In their society, women travelling such a great distance to represent our church was very impressive. I took it to mean that this was a tribute to Amy and Robin, their courage, and fortitude. (I'm not sure what it says about "us guys!")
 
Robin said they see goats, cows, and oxen pulling carts along the road. The people are very open to talking with strangers. Most speak some English. "And above all else," she said, "they love to sing and dance." For people who, from our perspective, have so little and endure so much, this speaks volumes about their spirit and the everyday things that bring them joy.
 
Jack (for Robin)
 
July 05
 
Dear Friends,

 

Hello again. Here is another update on Robin (and Amy) in Malawi based on a phone conversation we had today (7/9 at about 11:30 AM our time, 5:30 PM their time). Unlike the previous message, which was written by Robin from Lilongwe, I've prepared this re-cap based on what she told me.

 

Yesterday, Robin and Amy met with the orphan children and elders of the Mthandizi CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian) in Mlanda. Robin and Amy sang and Amy played the flute. Then the children performed, singing and dancing to native songs they had prepared.

 

In the previous email, Robin mentioned that it was too expensive ($200) to hire a driver to take them to Mlanda the first day. Well, it seems the alternative is to take a ride to where you want to go. This, of course, has been a point of frustration for Robin and Amy as they stand by the side of the road waiting an hour or more to get a ride each day from where they are staying in Ntcheu to/from Mlanda, an hour and a half away. And, when in need, you are willing to ride with almost anything heading your direction, including a truck full of chickens! They are currently trying to make arrangements to stay in Mlanda, rather than waste so much time on transportation. Meanwhile, because of the uncertainty, they have decided to cancel plans to travel south to Zomba.

 

Normally, when someone mentions Africa in the western world, you assume the weather is hot and/or wet throughout the continent. Well, its wintertime in Malawi. And though it may not snow there, it does get cold overnight. We're talking low 40's! With only a light blanket for cover, no secondary heat source, and minimal protection from the outside air, its very uncomfortable sleeping in the makeshift beds. For Robin, 2 hours sleep in the last 48 hours.

 

Meals and diet have proven to be difficult as well. Rice is a staple and served with every meal. Though this may be fine for Africans, westerners like Robin and Amy are accustomed to having more protein. Without it, their energy level has been low and they have had difficulty adjusting to it. The next time they ride with a truck full of chickens, they should probably buy a few at the end of the ride!

 

Robin also explained that there are many unusual smells. (More than just B-O, folks.) She described that a wood burning smell always seems to prevail wherever she goes. She's not sure of the origin for the smell, but it seems likely they are cooking related. She also said there are countless points along the roads they travel where people are selling cheap trinkets and used clothing from rickety shacks and stalls. This is an example of the subsistence living that the people struggle with on a day-to-day basis.

 

Despite the hardships, Robin emphasized how friendly and welcoming the Malawian people have been. Hopefully, she and Amy will work out their living arrangements and spend more quality time with the children and the adult caretakers in assessing the needs of the community.

 

In closing, Robin and Amy want me to express again their deep appreciation and gratitude to all of you who have offered your prayers and financial support for this work. They both look forward to sharing pictures and their experiences with you so that you may know what God has written on their hearts.

 

Jack

Hello there.

 

My apologies. I spoke with Robin yesterday morning and am only now getting a chance to let you know the latest from Malawi.

 

Amy and Robin sat down yesterday (7/12/2005) with leaders of CCAP and FOCAS to discuss needs and priorities for the mission efforts currently underway. As a group, they reached an agreement to focus on 25 of the neediest Nthandisi children and their families at a cost of about $16/month per child. The costs to support infants would be slightly higher because baby formula is expensive. During January and February, the need for food is the greatest. Children will sometimes go 3-4 days without food. Over time, this can lead to malnutrition and sickness.

 

In addition to direct support of the children, some monies from FCC fundraising efforts would also go towards a general fund to assist the village with securing the means to help themselves. These monies would be used to buy fertilizer to help villagers increase their productivity in growing corn and rice and to help educate them in its application. Other uses might include the purchase of a maize mill to strip the kernels off the corn or treadle pumps to help farmers irrigate their fields. In time, the maize mill would likely pay for itself since farmers from surrounding towns would bring their corn to Nthandisi and pay to have their corn milled in this way.

 

For those of you wondering about the current process in place for dispensing monies in the fund, Robin explained that three leaders currently must signoff on payment for any expenses.

 

Personally, Robin said she is sleeping well now (6 hours is what she usually runs on at home). Having a driver has been a big help in making the best use of time. She drinks hot water in the evening to make sure she is sufficiently hydrated.

 

Robin also wants everyone to know how proud she is of the work that Amy has done in dealing with the various contacts they have made. Her dedication, leadership, and patience during these meetings have been tremendous. And her complete focus on the helping the children and their caregivers and the love she engenders towards them have been truly inspiring.

 

Tomorrow will be Amy and Robin's last day in Nthandisi. They plan to visit the children and families of the 35 children FCC currently supports. On Thursday, they will return to Lilongwe. Once there (rested and showered!), I expect they will reconnect directly with us via email. Then on Friday, they will travel  back to Johannesburg. Finally...finally, on Sunday, they board a 7:15 PM flight to JFK and the USA, arriving early Monday morning.

 

Thank you all again for your support, interest, prayers on behalf of this mission and Robin and Amy. And thanks especially to Betsy Adams, for creating the web space we are using to share all this information.

 

Jack Edit Text

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