Malawi Trip
The women from the Canton First Presbyterian Church who will be going to Malawi, Africa this July as part of a women's mission trip. Front row - Linda Potter & Katrina Hebb; back row - Vicki McLain, Grace Chiumia, Sam Chirwa & Ellen Grayson. Grace and Sam from Malawi were in the North Country this spring to increase awareness about the Widows' Fund they administer in Mzuzu, Malawi.
Rev. Mike with Grace Chiumia and Sam Chirwa. Grace and Sam are from Malawi, Africa where Grace runs the Widows' Fund in Mzuzu, Malawi which assists women who face extreme poverty after the death of spouse. Sam assists Grace in her work with widows and Sam works at the school which provides care and education for the children of the widows and the orphans they have taken into their homes.
It is hard to believe but the 18 days has come and gone. More than anything, I am so grateful to all who helped make this trip possible. It was well worth it and lot's of good will come of it. Like a dream, the images are bright and colorful but seem too fleeting. My time in Malawi was packed full of learning, meeting new friends, sharing prayers, worship and laughter.
Malawi is a country full of joy despite seemingly overwhelming problems of extreme poverty, hunger, sickness and disease. Maybe this is because they are surrounded by natural beauty, maybe it because of their deep and abiding faith, maybe because they are a gentle, loving, kind and compassionate people. It is hard to understand how these people can be so grateful, so joyful and so loving in the face of so many challenges. It is truly inspirational! The longer I was there, the more I realized I was leanrning from them not vice versa. But they are desperately hungry for ideas. They want to be self-sufficient. And we can help them with that.
We spent alot of time and had so much fun thinking of things we could do together as partners. Many women there belong to Women's Guild and they make crafts to raise money to help care for Aids orphans and widows. I am working with them on a catolog of gifts that can be ordered and shipped in 4 days. There are beautiful fabrics made by strong women who want to care for all God's children. That is just one idea we came up with.
And that reminds me. The children of Malawi are so amazing! The children I met were so happy to hear they could have pen pals in the US. They eagerly pored over the letters and pictures I brought. They loved the friendship bracelets. I took pictures and brought back letters from 20 very excited Malawian young people who are dying to learn about their brothers and sisters here. Answering back is an important commitment to make as I learned that they have been dissapointed in the past. I promised it wouldn't happen with us!
We will get the chance to extend our own hospitality when they come here this fall. And I, for one, can't wait to give back some of the warmth and generosity they extended us on our visit to Malawi, "the Warm Heart of Africa." I have pictures, stories and lot's more to share. I need your help getting invited to any organizations that would let me come and tell the story of our partnership, the work that is being done and the help that is needed. Please call me with your ideas and contacts. I want to get going on this as soon as possible. Thanks again and I hope to hear from you!
-Molly
Synod of Livingstonia's Select Choir has a great tape out! If you like good choir music, world music with a little bit of gospel thrown in, you'll love this tape! The cost is only $10. Proceeds will go back to the church in Malawi. Checks should be made payable to First Presbyterian Church in Canton with notation on memo line "Malawi Money." Supplies are limited, so get yours today!
Language: A few common phrases used in Malawi
History: A brief history of the trip
Women to Women: A new Malawi Partnership Project
Listen to the interview with Linda Potter and Grace Chiumia.
Used with permission of Listener Supported North Country Public Radio.