Our photo gallery

Your can view our pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/MalawiTeam

Presentation

Everyone is invited to a presentation of our recent mission on Sunday, October 3rd, 7:00 pm at Island Wesleyan Church in Hampton.  We will be sharing slides, videos and stories.  We are looking forward to the opportunity to share with family, friends and supporters.

Day 18
Sept. 12, 2010
Home
We all made it home today, but our bags didn’t.  As soon as we arrived in Halifax we heard word from Air Canada that all 12 bags were left behind in London.  We had a very tight connection and the Ethiopian flight from Addis to London was 30 minutes late.  So we had to scurry along to even catch the Air Canada flight ourselves – we had to go through security and one team member had the thorough search, and then we still needed boarding passes.  But we are grateful to be home.  Hopefully our bags will follow tomorrow.

After being together for 18 days, we will miss each other.  We have shared a lot these days.  We look forward to opportunities to share of our experiences with our supporting churches, Englewood School, and any other group who would like us to present. 


Day 17
Sept. 11, 2010
Addis Ababa Airport, Ethiopia
Our day began with breakfast at the Kuka Lodge.  It turned out to be quite an experience to get our eggs just right, especially for Sarah.  It proved our growth in the spiritual fruit called ‘patience.’

While we awaited our ride to the airport, Victoria met one of the Kuka Lodge staff whose dad is a pastor and who was able to listen to one of the songs from Sunday’s service and translate the words into English.  She marvels at these “God incidences” that have so marked this trip. 

Due to the diesel shortage, a mini-van was hired to take us all to the airport.  We decided to arrive early for our afternoon flight to avoid being bumped due to overbooking.  Limbani joined us for the trip to the airport, and we were also seen off by Gift and Haldon.  Checking in was uneventful and we breezed through customs.  Our flight from Lilongwe to Addis Ababa was uneventful.  We now have a several hour layover while we await our Ethiopian Airlines flight to London. 

Final good-byes to Malawi were hard.  Some team members sense it is their last trip; others are already thinking of the next mission.  What is for sure is that for all of us, Africa has left its mark in our hearts and we will be forever changed.

Day 16
Sept. 10, 2010
Kuka Lodge, Lilongwe

Our journey toward home has begun.  Our itinerary called for a trip to Lilongwe via Dedza, but due to a shortage of diesel fuel that part of the journey was scrapped in order to take the shortest route.  That meant we wouldn’t take the interesting drive up the escarpment with the switchbacks and drive up along the Mozambique border.

We said our good-byes this morning and left the Lifeline Malawi compound at 9:00 am.  Although we are ready to return home, saying good-bye is hard – bittersweet.  For those of us who were her for the first time, many new friends have been made.  And for us returning ones, re-acquaintances made and also new friends made.  

Since we arrived in Lilongwe earlier than previously planned, we had lunch at an Italian restaurant, Mama Mia.  From there some last minutes shopping for souvenirs and some interesting foodstuffs we want to take home with us.  Our returning bags might be pretty heavy. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing at the Kuka Lodge.  Chelsey and Hank have begun the colossal task of selecting the 100 or so best photos from all our pooled pictures (one team member has taken over 1000 pictures).  

This evening, we went out for supper with the Lifeline Malawi staff who work here in Lilongwe.  It was pizza.  The staff very much appreciated our work and commitment as a team, and we in turn are very grateful for our Lifeline Malawi hosts.  We are very thankful that we have been able to accomplish our mission and we all feel fulfilled and grateful for the seeds that have been sown and the lives that have been touched.  It has been a privilege to serve, and again, our gratitude goes out to our family, friends and supporters who have sustained us through prayer and financial support.

Tomorrow we begin the long flight home and tonight will be our last horizontal sleep until we get into our own beds at home.  

Day 15
Sept. 9, 2010
Lifeline Malawi Mission House, Ngodzi

So, here we are.  It’s hard to believe that we are spending our last
night here at the guest house at Lifeline.  We arrived 2 weeks ago –
strangers some of us and old acquaintances for others.  But we leave
friends.

A final reflection was shared for the morning devotions with staff by
Hank.  He encouraged and challenged the host team to fix our eyes on
the prize – the author and finisher of our faith and to run the race
towards Christ throwing off all that hinders.

Marilyn was delighted to be asked to name a beautiful newborn baby
girl. She chose the Biblical name Esther.

Connie and Sarah were escorted by James into Salima to purchase some
soccer balls to leave at the compound and school.  They also purchased
some buckets to leave at the latrines at the local Chilambula School.
It didn’t seem right to do a health talk on the importance of proper
hand washing when there was one bucket to share between 700 plus
school children.

Our final day at the clinic was bitter sweet as we worked alongside
our new friends for the last time.  It’s hard to believe our time here
has come to an end. It was interesting (to say the least) to work in
the clinic during the power outage. The flashlight (torch) sure came
in handy!

John (who attends the church in the village where Sarah and Victoria
attended on Sunday) went above and beyond the call of duty today.  He
located the newly converted Muslim man, who gave his heart to the Lord
on Sunday when Sarah and Victoria were present.  He also brought along
the church elder who gave testimony of his conversion from Muslim to
Christian faith.  Sarah and Victoria had both been wondering how the
man was getting along and concerned that he was being discipled.
Unknowns to them, he too was requesting prayer from them.  It was a
wonderful experience to be reunited at the Lifeline mission house and
to be able to share and encourage and have a time of ministry through
prayer.

The clinic renovation project was “handed over” to the village leaders
with a short ceremony.  It involved speeches by our team, as well as
words of thanksgiving from the village chief.  Some work remains to
complete, but we have been assured by Lifeline that it will be
finished in a timely fashion.

We were graced by Pastor Matemba at the supper hour who came to
deliver a final farewell and deliver a note of thanks to the team. We
were delighted to share the supper meal with him – traditional nsema.

Day 14
Sept. 8, 2010
Lifeline Malawi Mission House, Ngodzi

Today was Chelsey’s day to meet up with a long lost friend, Den-deni!
He just showed up at the “Jesus” film which we showed in the
Chilambula Church this evening.  She had given up hope, evening
checking at the school when we did our health promotion talk and
vitamin distribution this morning.  So she is thrilled.  Although he
was taller, he looked exactly as we remembered him in 2007.

The church filled for the film and several indicated their desire to
become followers of Jesus.  We were thankful that the technology
worked well (generator, projector, sound and indoor lighting).  Thanks
for the Lifeline staff who assisted hooking everything up.

Marilyn again gave the health talk this morning to a general assembly
under a tree.  From there the screening for scalp ringworm and vitamin
distribution became somewhat chaotic as there was more pushing and
shoving by the kids then in the Matowe School.  However, we
accomplished our goal.  Connie had a ‘moment’ when Mr. Vincent told
her that it is fine to give a health promotion talk on hand washing
but that they only have one bucket of water for over 700 kids.  So,
off to Salima tomorrow to get a few more buckets.

Sr. Gertrude was thrilled to attend the Matowe Roman Catholic Church
for a visit from the bishop.  She rushed to be there on time (9 am)
but he didn’t arrive until about 11 am so she said, “I had lots of
time to pray for you all.”

It’s hard to believe that tomorrow will be our last day here in Ngodzi
and that it will be time to say good-byes.  The clinic renovation
project as been proceeding smoothly, but it won’t be completely
finished before we leave.

Day 13
Sept. 7, 2010
Lifeline Malawi Mission House, Ngodzi

6:30 am  Brian’s devotions had a focus on the prayer of Ignatius
Layola – “Work as if everything depended on God and pray as if
everything depended on you.”

7:00 am  Breakfast

7:45 am  Sr. Gertrude took charge of putting together one of the long
lost wheelbarrows that had showed up yesterday.

8:15 am  The whole team departed for Matowe, the outreach clinic site,
half the team to do a medical clinic and health promotion at the
school and the other half to work on the building project. Today at
the worksite the mudding of the walls was being done with great skill
by the local tradesmen. The breeze block windows and the moving of the
never ending pile of bricks were completed by the PEI team. For the
medical portion, Marilyn was the key note speaker for an assembly on
health issues. The assembly was held under a tree in the school yard!
She did an amazing job. The children (numbering around 700) sang after
the talk while Hank and Marilyn danced for them. Vitamins were
distributed to each child at the school by visiting each classroom
(grade 1 class had 153 students with one teacher – wow).  The children
were all screened for scalp ringworm and anemia.

1:00 pm  The team headed back to the compound for lunch.  After lunch
Connie starting counting pills for distribution tomorrow in the
Chilambula School.  Sr. Gertrude and Brian stayed on at the building
site.

2:00 pm  The medical team worked the afternoon clinic

4:00 pm  More pill counting while Marilyn, Chelsea and Victoria headed
out to do a home visit on a palliative care patient with some type of
cancer of his leg and dropped off a wheel chair.  They ministered to
him with prayer and encouragement.

6:00 pm  Dinner of Chambo fish, head and skin on!

7:15 pm  Back to pill counting and blogging, finishing around 9 pm.

9:00 pm  Some heading off to bed.  The roosters start crowing outside
our windows around 5:00 am.