We have been home for 5 days now. The Partnership of Hope Mission Trip to Malawi seems like a distant memory, but still at the same time, so very near. We now take safe water, food, shelter, transportation, and our quality of life as the norm. But now the norm has a different feel to it. Do we really need those things which we in our society chase after? Larger houses, cars. TV’s latest designer clothing. Do we need to take long showers, or leave the water run when we brush our teeth? Does it upset us when we see food being wasted? Does it really matter if we get upset over situations, like waiting in a Doctor’s office, sitting in a traffic tie up, or behind someone in the grocery store, who is slow in checking out? It was pointed out to me that these are the 1st world problems, and people in the 3^rd world counties do not have these issues. They don’t wait in Doctors office, as there is no office, if there is no Doctor. Grocery stores are few and far in-between, and foot traffic don’t really get backed up.

By having the experience of being part of the Malawi Partnership of Hope, has changed my way of thinking of what is important. Hopefully, I am a little more open to the needs of our families, friends, neighbors, and all those in need. It is not as important as to what I need to do to better myself, but to assist our fellow neighbors.

Matthew, 25, 34-40, “What you did this to one of the least of these my brothers and Sisters, you were doing it for me” In Malawi, it is easy to see the need. But it has awaken in me the need that is in our own family, neighbors, and community.

After going to Malawi 6 times, I still find it very difficult to put into words how Malawi has changed me. But it has.

2015 team was a team of 5, the smallest team that has been sent by the Partnership of Hope. The question is asked, what is the ideal size of team? My response, is the number that is currently on the team, as there is no ideal number. Each team is different, and has it own personality.  I will always cherish the opportunity to share this with our Grandson Mic, and look forward to being part of the 2016 team.

If there is any flame in you wanting to experience this, Please contact me.

God Bless

Len Pallas

 

Kathy and I were invited to speak to the Mkundi UMW. They wanted to hear what words of wisdom we had for them. How humbling to think that we might be able to speak to their problems when we can't imagine the life they live. Several of the women's husbands had left them with several small children to raise on their own.  They have no means to provide for their families but they have dreams of starting small businesses - one knows how to knit, another would like to sell donuts.  They also dream of going to a UMW meeting in Lilongwe, about 115 kilometers away in August. They were trying to figure out how to come up with the funds needed for the 3 day trip.  The price for each person is about $4.  They will sleep on the church floor and bring their own food,  

It was easy to see that this group of women cared for one another and supported each other.  They also prayed together and laughed together. Like every UMW they were the cooks for the days we were there.

After hearing their stories, I didn't feel like I could leave without doing something. It would be like the passage from James that talks about giving a person in need a warm greeting but ignoring their need.  The next day we gave them the money to send the 10 women to the conference and they were elated.  We also gave a little money to help them start ways to support themselves and the UMW will monitor the use of the funds.  The president, who is a very young woman, pledged that they will work very hard. I know they will. They already do. In just a short amount of time, language barrier and all, I fell in love with these women. I pray that God will bless them, provide for them, make their lives and that of their children easier and give them confidence to know that they are valued and loved.

Wouldn't it be great if our UMW could partner with them?!

 

Pizza in Malawi

After we finished cleaning up the kitchen from feeding those who had faithfully served us while we have been here, it was time for us to go out and get something to eat.  Our wonderful driver, Chifundo, gave us a tour around Mzuzu.  We saw the most beautiful sunset - too bad I couldn't get a good picture. We went to A-1 Restaurant that served Indian and Malawian food - and pizza!   We had such wonderful conversation around the table as we talked about the differences and similarities in our cultures. One thing common to both is that grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren and as a grandma myself, I don't see anything wrong with that!

What we did this evening may seem like just a fun night out, and there's no doubt that it was fun, but in the process we are learning more about the Malawi culture and building important relationships. If we sat down with more people who were unlike us no matter where, I believe we would bridge many gaps and have fewer problems as we each learn to understand and value the other. It's that thing God told us to do:  love your neighbor. 

Kitchen Kapers

Sunday lunch has been my favorite as a little girl.  It often meant going to grandmas house to share food and my cousins friendship.  Today was Sunday and we made lunch for our Malawi family.

The team invaded the kitchen of our lodge, experimented with unfamiliar labels, used 'guess-timates' with out measuring tools and managed to make a lunch we were proud to serve.  The antics of the team was yet another part of the fun.  You see, in the process of the preparation, we discovered hidden secrets.  Like, Mic and John are afraid of spiders!  yes we found one in the kitchen and their faces turn rather pale.  We also know that goulash is made with beans in one home and cheese in another.  Ask Angie or Kathy their opinion.

But the final product was full stomachs, lazy conversations in yard of the Lwinga Lodge, and in some cases, hugs and goodbyes.  Today we spent time with our family and we shared food and friendship.

Tailoring School Graduation!

As our friends in the U.S. were celebrating the 4th, we were participating in the graduation ceremony for the Hope Tailoring School.  16 women received their diplomas for completing 9 months at the school. It was a different graduation than most of us are used to.  The women danced and sang praises to God.  They presented a drama.  We gave them gifts and they gave us gifts of bags they had made.  Finally, it was time for me to give the graduation speech.  I wanted to give them a word of encouragement as women stepping out to provide hope for their families and communities through their new skills.  I told them the story of Tabitha in Acts 9. Tabitha, even though a woman, was called a disciple.  She committed herself to caring for widows who had no one else to support them.  She was a seamstress who made clothing and coats for those in need. When she got sick and died, it was a blow to the community and they sent for Peter.  Peter prayed calling on the name of Jesus, and brought her back to life. God agreed that her ministry was too important to die.  In this way God affirmed the importance of a woman. In a culture in which women are not always affirmed, I felt it was important to let these women know that they are important and valued.

When the women received their diplomas, family members came right up front to get their pictures taken.  The women were so elated!  Five of the top students plus the two most improved students received sewing machines. The top student had perfect attendance and walked 15 kilometers to school every day.  What commitment!  When she received her sewing machine, she wept with joy.  Those sewing machines are huge for them as it gives them the opportunity to start their business right away and to begin making an income to support their families.

Over and over AFUMC was thanked and asked to please please continue this school. It means so much to them.  Thank you for your generosity and keep these women, their teacher and Hope Tailoring School in your prayers. 

Welcome, Welcome🎶🎶

"Welcome, welcome,welcome, welcome, we are glad to see you". This song welcomed us to yet another nursery school.  Children sitting in straight rows, in a dirt floor brick building.  A thatch roof over head.  They were so quiet and still. (Did I mention that we were late?). I shook each of their hands and said, 'How are you?' And they replied in English, 'I am fine and how are you?'  The teacher, pastors and interpreters all helped in sharing and again they sat so still and well behaved.   As a former kindergarten teacher, I am amazed at this.  When all was done and we left, they were also dismissed.  Then I heard shouts, giggles and laughter as they ran from the building.  The same as in any part of the world!😊

Blessings to family and friends

Since arriving in Malawi last Monday afternoon, we  visited the Mafikeni 

church, where last year, our brothers and sisters from Lenox put in a bore hole. We walked around the new church that is being constructed, 

Devotions and dinner at Bethany circuit.  Tuesday saw us at Kanvati Village, where a new bore hole was dedicated. Land has been donated by the chief for a new church, Thursday a nursery school was visited, where all of  the children received a  knitted cap,and a cross

We are so Blessed to have the Partnership of Hope. Through the projects  that is supported by the Partnership, lives are being saved by having access to clean water, families are strengthen by the graduates of the tailoring school, and the farm is showing that food can be produced by using the proper farming procedures,  and the nursery  schools provide education, and in some cases, food for the children.

The most exciting accomplishment, is that because of these activities, people are learning about God, thereby,becoming part of the Kingdom. This is very visible, as you can see there love for our God. Praise the Lord

 God Bless each of you for your support

Len

LAKE MALAWI

So many more great memories today...

After breakfast at Luwinga Lodge, we made our way to a nursery school.  These little kids (3-5 years old) were so proud to sing us songs in English and their teacher was amazing.  I am told that this nursery school outside of MZUZU was visited for the first time by our team last year.  We had a chance to give these little kids a cross necklace and a hat to keep their heads warm.

After this, we made our way toward Lake Malawi. I've been to this lake before, but never to this particular park.  I was told it was THE FAMOUS park where NATE AND BRITTANY got engaged. :) What an amazing place.  It was such a beautiful park.  FINE white sand, and warm fresh water.  Lake Malawi is the 3rd largest lake on the continent of Africa. It moves much like an ocean. I felt blessed to sit by this lake for a few minutes in the warm sun while we waited for a lunch.  We feasted on chombo (local fish variety) and drank pineapple fanta.

That's when it hit me. (now, before I get deep / emotional, the rest of the day we traveled to a gift shop and then headed home after the lake) ...  back to the story - THAT's when it hit me.  What a beautiful park. I played in the lake and ate fresh fish inside this resort.  100 meters outside of this resort, people are starving.  No clean water.  No food. Small mud-brick shelters. Children without parents, women without help, people without hope.  And there I was... eating a big plate of fish inside a gated resort and staring at a beautiful lake.

Our team took a break... and that's ok.  We were tired... we needed a minute to relax.  But I'm still trying to process the contrast between excess and emptiness.  It sucks.  I probably sound selfish and ungrateful saying that... but its hard to process.

I'll sleep on that tonight.  Give God praise for the things you have, and even the things you don't.  In all things...give thanks.

From angie

Yesterday we went to a remote village to dedicate a bore hole. I assumed that certainly they were already using it and our dedication would be a formality. But when we arrived, it was covered in plastic with 2 balloons tied to it. They waited until we arrived to use the precious water. They practice patience far better than I do! The women and children led us to the bore hole with singing and dancing. I wish you all could have experienced seeing the look of joy on their faces when the water - cool, clean water - came gushing out. This single bore hole will provide water for 700 families or 6000 people. What an impact the generosity of AFUMC has had on these people. The dedication ceremony was a wonderful evangelism tool as the pastor said that there are currently only 10 members of the church. But many were at the dedication ceremony who heard God's praises over and over. I pray through this gift of water and the church that will soon be built there many come to know the love of Jesus. I can see and am convinced of the wonderful work that is being done, but the question that nags at me is : what is the next step for this village? How do we walk alongside them in the future to help them further better their lives in Jesus' name? I will be looking for and praying about the answers to these questions. May we truly continue to offer hope. Pastor Angie

The wheels on the bus.....

Today was the best day yet!  We slept in til 7:00, had devotions and sit down to a relaxing breakfast and then started to Mzuzu. 

 Bus riding is an adventure in Malawi, especially this distance.  There is the seating arrangement (where do all the bags go?), the passing of food around the bus and who gets the last one, the teasing and picture taking when you fall asleep, the check points ( no one smile or show a camera) and then the calculations of the next bathroom.

BUT also you get to enjoy the scenery as it changes to mountains,the joking, the varied modes of transportation you see, the amount of cargo piled on bicycles, and maybe a quick nap.  For me, seeing familiar sites as we approached Mzuzu, recognizing familiar faces, relishing in the improvements made this the best day yet.  Oh, yes, Robert welcomed us at Luwinga Lodge.  He is just the same with his big smile!

2 days full of God's grace

It has been a few days since we have had internet access sufficient or stable enough to blog.  I am sure that many of us will be blogging tonight about the experiences from the last 2 days.  

Rather than just give you the play-by-play, I'd like to describe 3 experiences I had which touched my heart.  (for those who like play-by-play...bus, borehole, bus, hotel, bus, borehole, bus, bus, bus, mzuzu) :)

When we arrived at our first village, we were greeted in song and dance.  The holy spirit was certainly moving and we could see real joy in peoples faces.  We met with chiefs and saw so many changes since last year when the team visited.  The borehole was still working well, and there was now a new partially completed brick church structure in front of it. LENNOX UMC donated the borehole, and AFUMC donated resources for the church. It will be amazing, and will serve the community well.

We also had a chance to go back to the "Bethel circuit" and worship at St. Johns. We were encouraged to hear that they are planning to restart all of the childrens/orphan programs which had been closed during turmoil, as well as add programs for women and youth.  The elder Pastor Nkata delivered a powerful sermon on the need for salvation and his own conversion experience.  

Finally, yesterday, we were able to visit a village (VERY REMOTE) where a brand-new borehole was waiting to be used.  We arrived again to singing and a short presentation.  With literally hundreds of people around, Len was able to "unwrap" the borehole (it had been decorated) and pump it with the project manager for the very first time.  Then, along with the 16 village chiefs, we were able to drink from the well.  700 families (an estimated 6,000 people) will now have access to clean water for the first time.  After the dedication, we were invited into a leader's home.  We sat together with the chiefs on the floor and ate a meal of chicken/beef (mystery meat) and rice.  It was delicious, and it was clear this was a HUGE offering to us as the village was very remote and poor.  We then shared a word with the entire village on bore-hole maintenance and God's gift of clean water and grace.  We may or may not have also been given a live chicken as I gift (which I named buster) which was then swapped out for another chicken that I was not as attached to and which will be dinner tomorrow... but I digress... lol. 

Now we're in Mzuzu connecting with old friends and preparing for another day of mission and relationships.  PLEASE KNOW THIS!! TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!! JESUS IS REAL!  GOD IS FAITHFUL!!

We need you to believe that even though we don't dig/build/hammer anything while we are here, we are building REAL relationships that change lives.  We have already been changed as a team as well. When we meet people we haven't seen in 2 years, and continue conversations as if it were yesterday it gives me confidence that God has us here for a reason.  We share the love of God and hope of God with each other.  I heard the DS for Malawi (BIG PASTOR BOSS) say that he is so glad we come because it gives people hope that there is a God... if there wasn't a God, why would these people travel so far to tell us God loves us?  We respond by saying we travel here to be reminded that God loves Ankeny.  God calls us to be ENGAGED in our community in service and love.  

BE ENCOURAGED AFUMC!  YOUR PRAYERS AND GIFTS ARE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR JESUS CHRIST IN MALAWI!!  See you soon.