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Archive for October, 2009

Our Mission

Posted in Mission on October 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

From http://www.inwardoutward.org/

Mission is revealing to others their fundamental beauty, value and importance in the universe, their capacity to love, to grow and to do beautiful things and to meet God. Mission is transmitting to people a new inner freedom and hope; it is unlocking the doors of their being so that new energies can flow; it is taking away from their shoulders the terrible yoke of fear and guilt. To give life to people is to reveal to them that they are loved just as they are by God, with the mixture of good and evil, light and darkness that is in them: that the stone in front of their tomb in which all the dirt of their lives has been hidden, can be rolled away. They are forgiven; they can live in freedom.

Source: Community and Growth by Jean Vanier

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Monkey Bay

Posted in culture, family, Pictures, Uncategorized on October 27, 2009 | 2 Comments »

[written Friday morning at Monkey Bay while on holiday after our travels to visit churches in Mzuzu and Livingstonia]

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Between Mangochi and Monkey Bay

I was awakened this morning by the sound of mangoes being thrown onto the tin roof by a gaggle of monkeys. Although it was just 5:30am, I got up to check on everyone in our three-bedroom cottage in Monkey Bay. Jeff had already gone to the beach with his camera and I found Claire Marin and Marie Claire standing on the sink in the outdoor bath calling to the monkeys. Yes, the monkeys were in the trees just above the house and bath. And they would stay there through our showers to watch and taunt. (Surprisingly, Carter was still asleep and would sleep for at least another hour.)

I went back to bed, enjoying the serenity and nothing-to-do of it all. I read the book Marie Claire had given me, Half Yellow Sun, appalled by the horror of civil war in Nigeria and captivated by the beauty and dignity of the writing that enabled me to keep reading.

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reading by the lake

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Marie Claire is ready!

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relaxing together

The day continued leisurely with a beautiful breakfast on the deck, time to play frisbee in the sand and then a boat ride and snorkeling. After yet another delightful meal, the family has scattered to play, rest, and enjoy the day.

The view from where I sit is spectacular but also sobering. The deck could be an advertisement for Restoration Hardware, but just meters away children are washing plastic dishes in the lake. I just ate a lunch of breaded chambo (fish), mashed potatoes, green salad with peppers and avacados and a lemon slice in my water. But those same children within shouting distance are wading in the lake, their skirts pulled up around their wastes dragging a net through the water in hopes of catching a single fish for dinner. The computer next to me holds pictures of a picturesque morning on the lake in a 18 meter boat. On the sand in front of me are dugout canoes.

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the deck at Norman Carr Cottage

It’s like we straddle two worlds each day – each moment. Working and serving with Malawians to build a strong foundation for the church, provide encouragement and make progress towards their goals. But we can step out of that world any time we choose, to enjoy a hearty meal, banter with new friends from Ireland, or teach our daughter to snorkel.

After nearly four months in Malawi – the transition, the work and ministry, and intense amount of travel – we needed this weekend at the lake. The relaxation, a bit of at-home-ness in our Western-ness, and no work were all gifts. But even the relaxation is accompanied by a tension and unease about how easily we can walk from one world to the next. I walk down the steps of the deck to buy a necklace and bracelet made of seeds and an ebony bowl from men who rely on those 1500 kwatcha and then back up the steps to a world of purified water, soft blankets and gourmet meals.

It’s difficult to maintain my balance straddling these two worlds with all the tension, guilt and uncertainty that I juggle at the same time.

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Anachronisms

Posted in culture, Mission, Pictures on October 26, 2009 | 10 Comments »

1 of 22 hairpin turns as climbed the mountain

1 of 22 hairpin turns as climbed the mountain

Today at about the 10th of the 22 hairpin turns down the mountain from Livingstonia, we passed a man with a handhewn hoe balanced on one shoulder and a cell phone held to his opposite ear.  It’s like that here.  The primitive alongside the most modern technology.

We climb the mountain in our 4-wheel drive Rav4 at a seemingly snail’s pace and then we pass women walking to the top, with suitcases perched on their heads; it will take us 45 minutes; it will take them five hours.

We go to visit a borehole well drilled just one month ago that provides the only clean

Borehole at Miracle Church site

Borehole at Miracle Church site

drinking water within kilometers.  And we take our GPS unit to record the latitude and longitude coordinates for the government representative.

No matter where we go we take pictures, pictures, pictures.  And Jeff takes time to show the digital images to those he has just photographed – men, women and children who may have never seen themselves because they don’t have mirrors in their homes.

The women of Malawi are strong and tireless

The women of Malawi are strong and tireless

As we cruise down the highway, it’s as if we’re running along a three dimensional timeline.  Starting in the village we pass women washing their clothes in a river and young boys herding goats with simple wooden staffs.  A little further along the road and this imaginary timeline, we pass a man riding behind oxen hitched to a cart or homemade plough.  Suddenly we come across roadside markets where women sit patiently with their beautifully stacked tomatoes and potatoes and children run to the car with bunches of carrots and red onions.  In more populated areas and a little furthered developed area, we see tuck shops (small wooden stands) stocked with small packets of salt, bags of sugar, toilet paper by the roll, matches, a few sweets and the fancy ones have refrigerators with cold Fanta.

Without fail, we are passed by swerving and jammed-packed lorries and mini-buses., the “time machines” that carry people from the village to the city.  The truck beds are overstuffed with cotton or potatoes or people.  The mini-buses each have large hand-printed signs in the front window advertising their route, “Mzuzu Livingstonia” or “Lilongwe Blantyre”.  They fly down dusty roads, hooting warnings all along the way to the bicyclists, pedestrians, goats and cows along the road.

As we hit the cities, we see cement trucks and heavy machinery laying down more

New road leaving Mzuzu

New road leaving Mzuzu

tarmac.  We find grocery stores and cafes advertising internet in the windows.
And we keep driving.  From small groupings of huts and lack of electricity and clean water to villages to towns and cities and then back again.  From South to North and back home again.  We move through the geography and the population as if moving from the Stone Age to the Digital Age, repeating the journey over and over again from Katondo to Madisi to Lilongwe.  From Kamwendo to Livingstonia to Mzuzu.

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Changes

Posted in culture, family on October 26, 2009 | 7 Comments »

I’m sitting in Mzuzu just three months into our Missionary commitment reading of another’s woman’s departure from Uganda as her family’s three-year commitment comes to an end. As I read her description of the farewell party, tears rolled down my cheeks. So quickly this place has become my home. And these people, my people. Speaking and teaching in the villages and churches, Jeff and I use the pronouns “we” and “us” not with great intentionality or forced solidarity, but as a natural and instinctual response to the welcome in Malawi and the affirmation of God’s call to this time and place.

But our at-home-ness does not dull the vast differences between the culture I came from and the one I now live in.  Sometimes the reminders are startling reminders of the difference in development, like my conversation with the pastor’s wife as we waited in line at the pit latrine between Sunday School and worship, “No,” I answered, “there are not pit latrines in America. No, not even in the rural areas.” Those of you reading this in America who have traveled more than I and done mission work in Appalachia and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina may correct me. But the fact that I have no firsthand knowledge of persons with pit latrines speaks volumes of the disparate worlds.

Sometimes the reminders of the differences reveal how quickly we have become accustomed to the lack of common conveniences at home, like the joy and awe I felt just moments ago when I saw a washing machine in the Anglican Guesthouse where we are staying. There is no electricity to turn it on, but the machine is a wonder and source of excitement nonetheless.

The change in culture is changing me as well. Some aspects are more trivial. Those of you who know me at all know that I love good food and lots of it! But a quick trip to the supermarket today yielded white bread, peanut butter, chutney chips (delicious!), apples, bananas and powdered milk for the splurge of Frosties cereal, complete with Tony the Tiger on the box. No brie or pastries or Trader Joe Kettle Korn, but still I’m quite satisfied.

Other changes are deeper, more substantial. This morning I prepared to preach a version of a sermon I have delivered before in Malawi on Mark 6. It’s a good one. It has resonated well with the people and seemed to strike a good balance of study, formation and cultural relevance. But I began to feel uneasy about it this morning; it wasn’t quite right for the church here in Mzuzu.

So as the choruses were sung and announcements were made, I chose a new text, a text that has called my attention several times in recent months for no apparent reason. But this morning it seemed perfect for the preaching, John 20: 19 – 29, Doubting Thomas.  And so I made a couple notes, stepped to the front, prayed for God’s guidance and preached a new sermon, a sermon I had not yet written. Nor had I read commentaries or had the opportunity to sprinkle in a few key and illustrative quotes from famous theologians. I simply preached the message as I saw it and see its relevance for us in Malawi. You’ll have to ask those who were gathered about the delivery, but I feel I made the right choice. If you are in my Covenant Group, chalk one up to following the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

The transition and changes have not always been easy, but each one binds us more closely to the people, the church and the land. Now on Sunday afternoon, I am lounging on the verandah, finishing a novel and writing. The boys are napping. Marie Claire is reading and Claire Marin is jumping rope. It’s a rare and welcome siesta on a Circuit Visit. It’s cooler in Mzuzu. The sun is shining, the breeze is in the trees. I hear children laughing next door. For now I will not think about leaving this beautiful country. The tears will come but not today.  I am at peace. May God’s peace also rest with you. Amen.

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an email home

Posted in Uncategorized on October 16, 2009 | 4 Comments »

I wrote this email home this morning between unpacking and repacking… seemed might be a good way to catch everyone up.

Hello Friends and Family!

Just wanted to send a quick email before we head off again…

Jeff survived the week but is pretty exhausted.  It was Science and Technology week at Claire and Carter’s school.  Claire and her group built a bridge and snuck some Lego “dudes” out of the house this morning for the final display.  Carter supposedly learned about wind but he has no recollection of it.  Both the kids are healthy after passing an upper respiratory infection back and forth for a week or so (and our pediatrician is sending more antibiotics to us through a friend visiting in a few weeks).  Carter has been glued to my side since I got home, professing his love to me every few minutes.  It’s nice be missed.  Jeff has been equally affectionate.  ;-)

Zimbabwe was a great experience.  While the United Methodist Church here in Malawi is barely 20 years old, it is 100 years old in Zimbabwe.  They are very well established, organized and impressive – over 300 clergy and 100,000 members.  Despite the economic disaster over the past 3 years and a 40-year dictator, the country seems to be recovering, but there is still a long way to go.  Even with all its troubles, it is still much further advanced as a country (economic and infrastructure) than Malawi.

The first set of meetings I attended was at Africa University, a long-standing United Methodist University in Mutare, which serves students from over 21 African nations.  It’s a beautiful campus like any you would come across in the midwest; the students are equally impressive.  Steve Bryant (from General Board of Discipleship) and I had the privilege of meeting with the Theology Faculty and 3rd Year Theology students to discuss the GBOD publishing plan to begin producing African resources for the church, written by African authors.  The facutly was thrilled by the idea; many have manuscripts just sitting in their computers but without any way to pubish them.  We discussed Bible Studies, books on church Polity, a theological reflection on Reconciliation, stewardship of the environment and many more.  The students will then serve as translators, as well as submit book proposals.

I also got to visit with the 7 students attending AU from Malawi.  It was great to see them, hear that they are thriving and that they will all be home for Christmas in early December!

Steve Bryant teaching

Steve Bryant teaching

Kara with Conference Communicators, Chinayi and Priscilla

Kara with Conference Communicators, Chinayi and Priscilla

Then Steve and I traveled to Harare to meet with Bishop Nhiwatiwa, the District (Regional) Superintendents, clergy and laity. There were about 70 people there in all.  The Bishop would like to initiate a push for spiritual formation throughout the church in Zimbabwe and wanted to hear from the GBOD about what resources are available and how Zimbabwe can partner with the GBOD to produce relevant and affordable resources.  I have met Bishop Nhiwatiwa before, but continue to be impressed by his candor, humor, depth and leadership.  We were welcomed warmly and the meetings seem to go very well.  We met in a beautiful retreat center, much like the one where our home church will be retreating this weekend – it was bittersweet to be there and think of the retreat we are missing this year.

Chapel at Resthaven Retreat Center

Chapel at Resthaven Retreat Center

This afternoon we leave for two more circuit (regional) visits to churches in the very north of the country.  This will make visits 4 and 5 of the 22 we hope to make.  The kids have this week off for fall break so it’s a great chance to trek north.  We’ll be staying in an Anglican Retreat House in Mzuzu and be the guests of a doctor and his wife in Livingstonia.  We will visit the churches, some farming projects and orphanages, as well as do some teaching and preaching (probably spontaneously and on the spot).

THEN we head to Lake Malawi!!!  We have rented a family cottage right on the lake for Fri – Sun.  The cost includes all our meals, paddle boats, boat rides out to an island, and snorkeling.  We are all looking forward to some time to relax and just hang out as a family.  Carter will surely still wake us at 5am, but it will be a vacation nonetheless.

When we return to Blantyre, my friend and editor, Robin Pippin, will have already arrived.  She and I will spend the week editing some resources that the Malawi Publications Committee has been working on, get printing estimates from local publishers and do some writing and editing training with local authors.

THEN on October 31, Robin and I will fly to Nairobi, Kenya for an international Writer’s Conference.  And I will return on November 6.

whew!  I feel breathless just typing it all, but also excited about all that the next three weeks hold.  Please pray for safe travel and family harmony – the Rav 4 is tight quarters for five people on these long trips.  We miss you all!  I think we will have internet connection during most of our trip, so we’ll try to email, facebook, and even Skype while we’re gone.

love you all,
Kara

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