Reflections on Malawi - Sue

Hi everyone, Sue here. Thank you all for your encouraging comments and prayers :) As you can probably imagine, I have my hands quite full keeping these three guys in line!

As you may know, I have been to Malawi many times and have experienced much. Poverty, death, sadness; yet also lots of fun and happy times. I really love this country and its people. Many things stand out to me each time I come and I would like to share two of them with you.

Firstly, a few days ago I had the privilege of working at ‘Open Arms’ orphanage. This centre specialises in care for abandoned new born babies, up until they are two years of age.

I fed and cuddled this tiny baby – he looked very premature yet was actually 3 months of age!

He was discovered in a village being cared for by his 12 year old sister, as their parents had both past away. Tragically this story is typical of so many of the children cared for at this orphanage.

The second experience I would like to share with you, is from last week when I had the privilege of giving a “basic health and hygiene” talk to around 80 women! I hadn’t expected such a turn out, and as such only had 30 toothbrushes with me to hand out! So we took the names of all those present, and I quickly went out and bought another 50 toothbrushes to hand out the next day! Seeing this group of ladies wait patiently in line to receive their toothbrush was quite something. I even did an aerobics session with them! Wow!! – is all I can say!

“God is good, all the time – All the time, God is good – and that is his nature!”

Sue

More on Orbus…

John and Sue in Blantyre have pursued with energy and personal commitment the mission of Orbus orphan care. Sue gives herself to ministry for the orphaned children who come in daily from the village. John is committed to seeing Orbus established with long-term and sustainable strategies that will minister to the most vulnerable of society in the name of Jesus for years to come. To give you a better “picture” of Orbus and its people we have decided to include a number of photos with this post, demonstrating some of the highlights of the Orbus campus and our memorable times spent there.

- Orbus: A brief history -

ORBUS orphan care ministry began as a vision embedded in the heart of one Malawian pastor: Colin M’Bawa. His heart was touched by the plight of orphaned children in his district of Namatete. This vision struck a chord with some Christian men in Melbourne who decided they could help move from vision to reality and very generously backed and funded the project until it reached the stage we see today.

John with Blessings

In turn, each of these Christian men have made the trip from Melbourne to see the project and offer their own expertise – some more than once.

To be sure ... we struck some very serious difficulties along the way. Progress has been rough, and we have learned some valuable lessons in it all. But now Orbus is a project we can give thanks to God for. We have gifted the whole property and assets to the Blantyre Synod and have committed ourselves to funding the ongoing management of its programs.

One of the very attractive Orbus buildings

John and Sue with the orphans and their carers

One of the keys in this project is Craig Manners’ dedication to it. Craig and Jayni (with five boys!) are currently in their second stay in Blantyre to see that the project continues smoothly and develops in the right direction. Craig and Jayni deserve the highest praise for their commitment to Orbus and we (PCV) should get behind their support. It’s not overstatement to say that Orbus would not be running as it is today without Craig’s tenacity and Jayni’s full support.

You can appreciate from the photos that Orbus’ property is today one of the best designed and most attractively set out project owned by the Synod.

- John Steendam’s Orbus Update -

            Last Friday, we had a celebration barbeque at Orbus orphan care. Many people from the surrounding villages came, and afterwards the local Orbus volunteers put on a ‘soap-opera’ genre play, which helped us to better understand the plight of these local orphans. The need for Orbus to eventually become self-sustaining was very apparent.

The Play!

The beautiful BBQ setting on the Orbus property

Already, during the last wet-season, 59 bags of maize were grown on the Orbus property. To add to this, plenty of paw-paw are ripening on the trees and lots of other vegetables are being grown. We are now in the process of building a goat enclosure, to supplement the diet of the orphans with better protein. Soon we hope to also have a chickens, which will produce eggs and also be a source of food. Up to 100 orphans are attending Orbus daily, and we have just acquired small plastic chairs for them and we are in the process of getting bamboo matting. We are looking towards establishing a primary school in the near future, there’s certainly exciting times ahead for Orbus!

Paw paws growing!

Carey gives the water pump a go!

Sue with one of the many beautiful children

In other news…

Meanwhile John and Carey have had a most full (almost gruelling) Sunday in Nairobi. More so than I could have imagined. 6 & 1/2  hours in morning church was too much ... even for this experienced campaigner. The mosque next door called me awake at 5.25 am ... in church at 7.30am, 3 services, preaching twice, with the final service winding up with an altar call at 1.45pm! And the singing and worship style was so much and amplified so loud and prolonged that it made my head spin. The PCEA worship here is more Pentecostal than I’d expected. Not at all like the more conservative Malawian CCAP.

Finally, it’s been a great privilege to be in a neighbouring country to Sudan. This morning’s papers are full of praise for the new nation of South Sudan. Kenya is proud to be one of the first nations of the world to officially recognise the new nation and to congratulate the new President Kiir. In his speech he gave praise to God for deliverance from the oppressor and they celebrated with joy tinged with sadness as they remember nearly two  million southern Sudanese (mostly Christian) who died in the prolonged and bloody conflict.

Let me close by quoting the opening stanza to their inaugural national anthem:

“Oh God!

We praise and glorify you

For your grace on South Sudan

Land of great abundance

Uphold us united in peace and harmony.”

South Sudan celebrates!

David and Lisa Pearce

David and Lisa Pearce are permanent residents of Nairobi while they
serve the Lord with MAF. This short video was taken at Lake Nakuru
National Park (about 3 hours drive from Nairobi).

David (from Australia) and Lisa (from Canada) and their three
children: Mark, Anna and Nathan took the day to show us around Lake
Nakura where we rejoiced together at this magnificent and beautifully
flamingo-decorated lake.

David and Lisa have been very helpful since our arrival and we have
gained an appreciation for the strategic work of MAF in this part of
Africa - and especially in the fledgling country of South Sudan.

Tomorrow (Sunday) I will be preaching and speaking at three services
for a PCEA congregation nearby.

Kenya Update

Kenya Presbyterians are a massive "force" in this country. Formally
gathered together under PCEA (Presbyterian Church of East Africa),
they are a huge church probably ten times larger than our PCA. I'm
sure I heard them say that they have 50 presbyteries each with over
100 congregations.

This is where they have housed us ...

PCEA has an amazing property in Nairobi South C but strangely situated
next door to a huge and decorative mosque (prayer time call at 5.30am
is a nuisance!). Next to the church central offices is a 4-storey and
very well fitted out guesthouse. It's a properly run "business" with
large conference and dining facilities as well.

I was met by the Secretary General, Rev Festus Gitonga, and he showed
me around the site, and he has arranged for me to preach in churches
on Sunday.

PCEA is a strong church in its own right with partnership support
coming from the Church of Scotland, PCI and PCUSA. The Secretary
General said that one of their greatest needs is the shortage of
support for pastors and evangelists, especially in the rural and
poorer areas of Kenya.

Aside from encouraging PCEA congregations on Sunday, I think our next
priority is to encourage and support our missionaries: David and Lisa
Pearce (MAF).

After some time located in Lokichoggio (near the Sudanese border) they
now are residing in Nairobi - not too far from where MAF have their
planes locatde at the Wilson Aerodrome.

Being a close neighbour here in Kenya, we are hearing reports from
South Sudan and the air of expectancy regarding the formation of their
new nation. David flew to Juba recently but said that it was difficult
getting permission to land due to the constant arrival of VIPs from
other countries.

Onwards to Kenya!

John and Carey take another quick video before takeoff to Kenya!

Colin and Shirley M'Bawa Video Update

Neno School Update

Neno Girls mission school is a strategic ministry of the Presbyterian church in Blantyre with which we in the PCV, and especially through PLC (Melbourne), have maintained an active and generous interest in recent years.

 

This short video is designed to bring you the feel of the school, to allow you to hear the moving singing of the girls and to meet head girls, already appointed for the new year. Neno provides a safe and stimulating place for girls of Malawi to study and prepare for a better future.

Yesterday John and Sue, Carey and I took the long and difficult road to Neno Girls Secondary School. Our usual road being closed meant a longer route of nearly 3 hours from Blantyre. I was in the back of the tray section of the vehicle and was bounced and bounced around for too long for this "old man" of the church!

Seeing the smiles and cheers of Neno girls makes up for all the discomfort. After a cooked lunch we inspected the PLC dorm (see below) - which is the best and smartest of the three girls' hostels.

On the day we were there they were putting to final touches to the paint work. The proposal is to officially "open" the PLC hostel on the day that Russell Downie and I arrive in September. PLC should be proud of this contribution to the school. FOR THE FIRST time the girls of Neno will be able to sleep one per bed. The girls of PLC have made a significant difference to the lives of these Malawian girls.

We were ushered into the CCAP church (Rev Michael N's church) and the head girl and the acting Principal gave speeches and then I gave an address to the girls. A beautiful moment was when they sang two Christian songs. Powerful singing ... so moving.

In the Head teacher's speech he mentioned proudly that in this last year they had their FIRST Neno girl enter university. We need to put this fact into context - their context, not ours! The school is making progress, their results are getting better. Their performance is the best of all schools in their district.

There are still plenty of ways that we can support this school. Russell Downie's visit is the key - to have an educational professional there will be vital.

  

After fond farewells we set off from this happy place not knowing what lay ahead! The driver decided to take the short cut down a very steep slope and across the river (with no bridge). Only one trouble - the brakes overheated and seized. There we were ... walking along a very rough road "in the middle of nowhere" wondering if we were to spend the night in the bush! Thankfully, the driver eased the empty vehicle down the slope and the evening air also helped cool it down and we eventually returned to Blantyre.