Our dear friend Lizzie is spending some time in Malawi, helping a friend of hers who is working over there.
She’s been gone about two weeks, and we’ve been talking about her everyday and wondering what she is doing and how it is going. We got our first update report this morning and it sounds like everything is going great!!!
Here’s the message we got:
Hi all,
We have found some Internet, hooray! Lets see, it has been days since we have left the Lilongewe. We have spent a few days in Nkata Bay where we worked with the agogos, which means elderly. They were so sweet.
Before we arrived they cooked us lunch and the custom was for them to all sit and watch us eat. It was a bit strange, but they want to see us enjoy the food. Then when finished, we all made art together. It was wonderful!
We then traveled to the center city or Boma of Rumphi. There we visited St. Magdalena’s school and worked with the adolescent girls. They also have a school for handicapped children. We made art and sang songs with them all afternoon. They all have amazing smiles and just want lots of hugs.
Next we traveled to Elenyeni which is a village an hour out of the Boma. It is very poor. Lori has been trying to build a resource center there for five years. That way they can have a library and place to do art and play sports. It has been very frustrating because every time funds are sent the tribal chiefs pocket the money. She says they have raised enough to build it five times over, but it is still not done.
Everywhere we go we are received with a chiefs welcome. The villagers sing and do tribal dances, we are introduced, and Lori makes a speech thanking them for welcoming us and showing us so much kindness. Since she has visited them many times before, they are always extremely excited to see her.
We then give out the donations we brought such as, clothes, pencils, paper, yarn, thread, books, markers, and sports equipment. They are overjoyed by the gifts and usually sing again. Yesterday, the village was so happy they presented us with a goat. We had to take it back with us or it would be an insult.Most likely we will give it to another village that is very poor.
Lately, we have been traveling by public transport because everything is over an hour away. (the other day we walked at least 15 miles between villages and the Boma so we need a break!) This means when a truck drives by, we all jump in the back and hold on. It is the only other choice besides walking.
As we drive the dirt roads we wave to the villagers walking. They are so excited to wave back and smile, the little children sometimes chase the truck for a while waving and screaming “Monire, azunga!” This translates to hello white person. Most people can not afford the privilege of ridding in one of these broken down vehicles, it is very sad.
In Nkata Bay we picked up Lori’s friend Jimmy. He is from the Tumbuka tribe and is working toward going to school in the states. Jimmy and I have made a deal. I will teach him computers and he is teaching me Chitumbuka the local language. (I think he is a better student than I am.) So far I am able to make very simple conversation, but practice, practice, practice. We always say: “Thank you musambizi” which means teacher.
I also spoke with a man named Happy Coconut. Lori says Happy and Joyous are common names. I love it!
I hope that gives you a picture of what is going on here. Today we are going to work at the resource center in the Boma of Rumphi. Then we are off to Candy Beach at the Lake shore. There is no electricity there so it may be a while before I can write. (Hopfully once more tomarrow we shall see)
Love to you all and talk to you soon.
-Lizzieps-I still don’t know what we will do with that poor goat.
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