Thursday, July 16, 2009

We have indeed been blessed in our short stay here in Mzuzu. We have really enjoyed our time at the Crisis Nursery, and we know it will be really difficult to say good-bye to all of the infants and toddlers this afternoon. We see how many of them, especially the older ones, have all developed such unique and wonderful personalities. The Hellers have told us how difficult it can be once these babies start walking, and it is time to take them back to the villages. On the one hand, it is a joyful occasion, as these babies in most cases are going back to family members who love them and want to provide for them. Sometimes, however, the families (and the entire villages) are so poor that you know the child has little chance of being adequately nourished, clothed, and cared for. We all feel strongly that the babies should go back to their families, but it is difficult when you know the villages are so full of children that the babies’ chances of receiving individual attention and loving attention are slim.

Yesterday I (Luke) went with Jim McGill, the water and sanitation coordinator for the Presbyterian Synod in Livingstonia, on an all-day tour of various latrines, water pumps, and other sanitation devices. I am sure that all of you in the US are so jealous that I got to spend all day looking down at latrines in grass huts! In all honesty, it was pretty interesting for me to see how many of the new latrines and sanitation projects are coordinated by local schools and communities. Each primary and secondary school in this district have a sanitation committee that encourages proper hygiene and promotes proper use of the new latrines. Many of the new latrines are ingenuitive designs, whereby you mix ash and soil with the human waste to create an excellent fertilizer. The latrines then essentially become a compost, where after a year the fertilizer can be used to improve crops and increase yields. We saw some latrine systems that really were being tended to well, while we saw others that were being neglected. We discovered that while non-profit organizations and churches can install compost latrines and clean water pumps all day long, ultimately the success of this technology depends on strong leadership in the communities and the communities’ willingness to take ownership in it.

This morning we went with an Irish missionary woman who has organized a Montessori school here in Mzuzu. She is the Education coordinator for the Livingstonia Presbyterian synod, based here in Mzuzu. It was amazing to see the stark contrast between the supplies and resources in this Montessori school and the lack of supplies in most of the village nursery schools. They had all of the geometrical shapes, patterns, puzzles, letters, and words that I remember from my time at Montessori way back when! It was also refreshing to talk with an educator here in Malawi who is really committed to child-centered learning and bringing this to the 300 village nursery schools under the synod’s supervision. (Quite a big job!)

(Jan Scott typing now…)
We leave Mzuzu tomorrow for Lilongwe and like Luke said, we will definitely be sad to leave. We have met some wonderful people- including a longtime partner and friend of Myers Park Pres in Charlotte (my home church). Rev Highson Gondwe is the pastor at a big Presbyterian church in Mzuzu and we had a wonderful visit with him over tea on Tuesday. He sends his love to everyone at MPPC! (especially the Tuckers and Lydia, the apple pie lady ) He actually got to meet both of my brothers last summer- so that was fun!

We also met up with Owen, a driver for the synod who has driven many of our friends- especially from Myers Park. He was so excited to take us to his home to meet his family. Martha, a woman from Peachtree Pres, visited Malawi almost 10 years ago and was so touched by her friendship with Owen that she has helped him build a house for his family. He took us in every room and was so proud of his home- as he should be. After spending just a few hours with him, we could see why he was so special. God has certainly blessed us with wonderful people like this here- what a gift!

Not sure how internet will be in Lilongwe, so this may be our last post until we are back home in Atlanta on Tuesday morning! (Bring on the Chic Fil A! Kidding… kind of…) Keep checking if you’d like, as we hope to post a few more pictures once we are back home. We are still processing this whole experience. The time has gone by quickly, but we also feel like we have experienced so much! God has absolutely stirred our hearts (sometimes shaken them up!) and we feel truly blessed to have spent a month here in Malawi. We are sad to leave but we are really excited to come home and see all of you and share!

Blessings sweet friends!

xo, js (and luke)

1 comment:

  1. Wow!!! Jan Scott and Luke, what an amazing thing you both are doing over there in the "warm heart of Africa." I love reading all of your posts and seeing the pictures, but I am not going to lie... I can't wait for you to get home so that I can give you a big hug and hear about all of it in person! Chic fil A all around!
    The pictures from Crisis Nursery are so touching as are the stories. And I am so glad that you got to visit with Highson. Thank you for taking my little gift and letter to him and his family :)
    Be safe in your travels back to the US and give me a call when you get home so that I can drive over there and give you a big welcome home hug!
    Love,
    Lydia

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