Malawi Team 2007 Presentations - video, pictures and stories

Sunday, April 22nd, 7:00 pm - Island Wesleyan Church, TCH, Hampton

Sunday, April 15th, 7:00 pm - O'Leary Nazarene, Parkview Drive, O'Leary

All are welcome. We look forward to sharing about our rich experiences. Please call us if you or your group would like to invite us to share.

Day 20
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Home

Home and reunited with family! We are all grateful for a safe and uneventful trip home. Long waits in every airport and tired, but very thankful.

Hank spent quite of bit of time during the trip home editing video for a 15 minutes video clip that the team will present in our home church on Sunday. There will be much more work go into our final video and slide presentations. We look forward to sharing with all those who so lovingly supported us through thoughts, prayers, and gifts.

For now, it is time to spend time with our families. There will be lots to share and we trust that our families will be able to understand the deep impact all our experiences will have on our lives. We are forever changed.

We will continue to use our blog as a means to communicate our presentation times.

Again, thank you for your prayers and support. And thank you to Lifeline Malawi for being wonderful host partners for our team.

Malawi Team 2007

Day 19
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Nairobi

Our flight from Lilongwe to Nairobi was uneventful after a leisurely breakfast at the Kuka Lodge and ample time to get to the airport this morning. Dr. Brooks stayed with us until we cleared customs.

We now have a six hour layover as we await our flight from Nairobi to London later this evening. Lots of time to kill. Looks like we have Internet access, so opportunity to update our blogs, and add a picture.

(Here we are on Sunday, April 1st, after the dedication service, with Pastor MacDuff. The plaque above the door we brought with us, and the cross was carved and painted locally.)


Day 18
Monday, April 2, 2007
Lilongwe

By 7:30 this morning, we were all ready and packed up for the road trip to Lilongwe. Final goodbyes were said and we were off up the escarpment, out of the Rift Valley, which Lake Malawi is part of. What a scenic drive! We climbed about 4000 feet and enjoyed some great views.

Our first stop was the Dedza pottery. Here they make lovely pottery that is hand painted on site. Most of us bought some gifts to take home. We also enjoyed a coffee break in their beautiful café with a lovely view of their gardens. But what we really enjoyed was the cooler and dryer air up on the plateau – really the first break we have had from the heat since arriving.

From Dedza we moved on to Lilongwe and stopped at the market. This was the first time in a typical African market for most of the team members. African cloth was on the shopping list for some of the gals.

The rest of the evening was spent at the Brooks’ residence where we enjoyed a lovely home cooked meal by Heather. We debriefed with the Lifeline Malawi field staff. Then back to the Kuka Lodge where we will spend the night in preparation for our flight out tomorrow.

Day 17
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Ngodzi

Today was the summit of our mountain – exhilarating but also the start of our goodbyes and sadness to be leaving – a real roller coaster.

The dedication service was awesome with visiting church leaders, visiting choirs, and a full house in the new church (approximately 500 people). After introductions and music, we all went outside to the front of the church for the unveiling of our marble plaque, installed above the main entrance, with the inscription in English and Chechewa, “Thank you for allowing us to help you build this church – to the glory of God.” We were all deeply moved. This was followed by the dedication of the church by Bishop Matonga.

Next, after being reseated, were the necessary speeches by the pastor of the new church, Pastor MacDuff, Dr. Chris Brooks on behalf of Lifeline Malawi, Hank as Malawi Team 2007 leader, and Bishop Matonga. Everyone was highly appreciative of our contribution to making this church a reality in only two weeks – something no one here ever saw happen before and seen as a true miracle. To be honest, several team members were skeptical when we first saw the site that first Monday two weeks ago.

Then we were given the opportunity to sing the Chechewa songs we had worked on. The crowd literally cheered us on as we switched from English to Chechewa with “Alive, Alive.” Then we sang the original song inspired by Betty, “Mulungo Ali Pano,” which means “God is here.” It was a real hit and we were invited back up to repeat it, with the whole congregation joining in – a highly moving time for us all.

Bishop Matongo then gave a rousing message on “The Ideal Church” from Acts 2 in English and translated into Chechewa. Here is a quote from his message when describing the African tendency for events to start late: “Africans don’t have watches, but they have time; Canadians have watches but don’t have time.”

Following the service we were treated to a meal of rice and goat meat, along with the visiting leaders, while we were serenaded by the most beautiful African choir music we ever heard.
In the afternoon, there were a steady stream of people stopping by the guest house to say thank you and good bye. Some team members are already talking about the possibility Malawi Team 2009.

Closing thoughts as we are packing up to leave Ngodzi in the morning:
“Kind of like you’re leaving your other home.” – Fred
“Sad to be leaving; we grew on them and they grew on us.” – Garnet
“It was great to be called up to repeat our song; it made us feel so appreciated.” – Paul
We started out as acquaintances, we became friends, now we are leaving as brothers.” – Darren
“God is here. Mulungu ali pano.” – Connie
“Thankful that we got the building serviceable, and that we had a good connection with the Malawians.” – Kees
“The Malawian spirit of gratitude is a humbling experience.” – Janet
“We demonstrated that across the racial and geographic divide, we can truly be united and join hands in working for the greater good.” – Hank
“I will always remember the children – their joie de vivre.” – Betty
“To come to Africa, and walk with the poor, is to walk with God.” – Chelsey

Day 16
March 31, 2007
Ngodzi

The day began at the school where Fred and Hank led seminars for the leaders of the surrounding churches. Fred spoke on tithing and Hank on the Four Pillars of Leadership. Both seminars were well received and many questions were asked and answered.

Our afternoon consisted of leisure time in preparation for the evenings festivities. The Jesus Film arrived and Hank spent much time jury rigging a system that would function properly to display the film!!

The heavens opened up and the rain came down at the start of the evening so the sound and film was moved inside the church. Once everything was in place and a few choirs had sung, the moon came out as did a beautiful clear sky. The decision was made to move everything back outside as the church was filled to capacity and many people were outside looking in. There were approximately 2000 people in attendance for the celebration.

Arriving back home we found we were locked out, and Daren squeezed through the bars on our windows, breaking one on the way, so that everyone could fit through. What a sight!

Day 15
March 30, 2007
Ngodzi

Mission accomplished!

We finished up our work on the church today – the ridge cap on the roof, poured the concrete stage, and finished up the front outside. We also installed the plaque we brought with us and installed the wooden cross we had carved and painted. Both of those events were moving moments for the team.

This evening the opening festivities began with an outdoor rally using the flat bed of a truck as a stage set up beside the church. There was lots of music, dancing, and a guest speaker from Lilongwe. We participated with three of the songs we prepared, one we had learned in Chechewa. We were disappointed that the “Jesus Film” that was planned was not available, but they are hoping to have it for tomorrow evening’s rally.

We are all in wind down mode now, but very thankful to have been able to contribute as we have. We look forward to the rest of the weekend festivities, especially the official opening on Sunday. And we are looking forward to be being reunited with family at home and sharing about our incredible time here.


Day 14
March 29, 2007
Ngodzi

Great progress was made on the church today. The steel went on the east roof so all that remains for tomorrow is the ridge cap. Chelsey and Fred took the wooden cross to a painter and it should be ready for installation tomorrow. They also ordered six doors which won’t be ready before we leave. We decided to install the plaque above the front door and that should be done tomorrow. And we have started cleanup of the grounds. So everything is looking good for completion of our mission tomorrow. The finish line is in sight!

The gals spent part of the morning at the orphan daycare. They presented storybooks and soccer balls to the volunteer teachers, and demonstrated the “parachute” with the children. Connie took her Poloroid camera and gave them photos to keep.

Chelsey enjoyed playing soccer with the Malawian kids on the compound this evening. Then we enjoyed a wonderful cool breeze off the lake during supper – a real treat.


Day 13
March 28, 2007
Ngodzi

Today was the big day for naming of the new baby. Proud Garnet along with the ladies of the team went to the home of Moses’ sister Emily. The baby was Christened “Garnet” by his Godfather Garnet Stewart who prayed that the baby would become a strong man in the Lord. Gifts were given to the mother and baby Garnet. All the relatives were in attendance for this special occasion.

Hank attended a meeting of the area village Chiefs along with Lifeline Malawi staff. The purpose of the meeting was to allow the Chiefs to express the medical needs for their villages and on how Lifeline Malawi might assist in improving public health. The Chiefs gave Dr. Chris Brooks and Lifeline Malawi a strong vote of confidence.

The steel went up today on the western side of the roof, it of course the hottest day we’ve had since arriving in Malawi. Fred, Kees and Darren got to experience what it was like to be a fried egg on a skillet as they put on the steel roofing. The inner two office walls are completed and the parging (plastering with cement) on the front of the church is complete. The pointing (finishing) of the brick is well under way. The cross for the front of church arrived back from the carvers with the inscription looking wonderful. At the school, one of the latrines is dug and the brick to make the pit safe during the rainy is near completion. The other latrine is being dug.