Malawi News
Update * From Debbie at the College of Theology * August 2009
Dear Friends,
Warm greetings from Malawi!
Whenever we celebrate Holy Communion as
Presbyterians in the northern region of Malawi, whether worshipping in English
or Chitumbuka, we always begin and end the service singing the communion hymn,
“Behold the holy Lamb of God, behold the man that bears for us a heavy
load.” I have often thought what a
fitting way for the people of Malawi to express the grace they experience
through Christ. For the people of Malawi
daily carry heavy loads. Women walk miles up hill and down carrying heavy loads
of water, maize or firewood on their head with infant child swaddled on their
back and toddlers by their side. Men
cycle up hill and down carrying heavy loads of timber, or you may see a man in
the city of Mzuzu pushing a wheelbarrow up hill with sofa and large chairs
lying across the top, delivering new furniture. It is a balancing act to carry
these heavy loads, and if your foot slips or your strength weakens or you lose
you balance it can be very costly – maize spilled across the dirt road, new
furniture broken into pieces, the pail of water empty.
Figuratively speaking there are also other heavy
loads that Malawians carry: The heavy load of being the fifth poorest country
in the world with malnutrition, unclean water and lack of adequate shelter and
medical care; The heavy load of 15% of the population infected with HIV/AIDS,
death ruling the day and thousands of orphaned children; The heavy burden of school
fees well beyond the means of most parents and guardians. Indeed, the load is heavy for the people of
Malawi. Yet through it all there are
glimmers of light and experiences of amazing grace. Help comes from the body of Christ, the
people of God, and the load is lightened, the burden shared.
The College of Theology has had its own heavy
load to carry as we began this years second semester with 24 new first year
students (15 diploma program and 9 licentiate program), who joined our 14 third
and fourth year bachelor degree students.
We faced the challenges of inadequate dormitory and classroom space, the
need for more beds, desks and chairs, insufficient lecturers to teach the
courses for three different programs and of course, the ongoing challenge of
scarcity of resources for the daily running costs of feeding students, paying staff,
meeting other expenses as well as seeking funds to expand our overcrowded
facilities.
As in the past, there have been those God
surprises as well as ongoing support given through God’s faithful people who
have seen us through when there seemed to be no way forward. Ekwendeni Girls’ Secondary School lent us
desks to meet our need for three weeks, giving us time to have desks made. Gifts of student sponsorships, donations to
the general budget and offerings of food stuff from partners near and far daily
lighten our load. Our students without
complaint sleep four and five in each ten foot square bedroom. They huddle together
in our cramped library facility, a classroom with 3,000 books, to do research
and study. They work diligently,
performing well and are an inspiration to us, lightening our heavy load. We also experienced grace beyond measure from
partners who gave us large donations to construct a house for female students.
When they learned we had no female residential students and needed more
classroom space they gave us their blessing to temporarily use the house for
teaching bachelor degree students. We do
have two female non-residential students and a room in the new house is being
made into a women’s lounge for their use. With the help of our partners we hope to be
proactive in making a way for more female candidates for the ministry to join
us next year.
Students Singing During Morning Devotion Bachelor Degree Class in
House for Female Students
At the college we also have experienced those
times of conflict with one another that seem to come more frequently when
carrying a heavy load. But the Lord has
brought us together to meet this challenge, to find a way forward as we strive
to bear one another’s burdens with patience, forgiveness, understanding and
love. Indeed, our load is lightened as we worship and fellowship together, as
we laugh and commiserate, resolve conflicts and start anew, as we celebrate the
life of each member of our community. One such celebration was the wedding of 4th
year student Cornelius Mwanza. Another was
a celebration to bid farewell to founding Principal Rev. Dr. D.S. Mwakanandi
and to New Testament lecturer Rev. David Steele. We are deeply grateful for
their dedication and countless contributions to establish the college and teach
and shape quality ministers for Malawi.
Student Rev. Corneluis Mwanza’s wedding Founding
Principal Dr. D.S. Mwakanandi Lecturer Rev. D.J. Steele bids farewell
bids farewell and receives a certificate of appreciation
As I shared with you in my April newsletter, January through June 2010 I am scheduled
to be in the U.S. on Interpretation Assignment. I would be greatly honored to receive an
invitation from your church or organization to tell you more about Malawi. To date I am scheduled to speak at churches
and gatherings in the states of Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Washington,
California, and Michigan. There still
remain many weekday slots to fill and the following weekends remain open
awaiting your invitations:
January 16-17 January
23-24 February 27-28
March 13-14
March 20-21
March 27-28 April
10-11 April 17-18 May 29-30 June 5-6
To schedule a speaking engagement, please contact me (dachase26@africa-online.net) or Julie
Burton, Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery Director of Congregational Resources (1-800-533-1324 or eop-rc@sbcglobal.net).
But before I arrive you can learn more about world
mission and celebrate what God is in doing in the world through two upcoming
PC(USA) events. The first is World
Mission Challenge (September 25-October 18, 2009): Forty PC(USA) mission personnel will visit congregations
in 123 presbyteries to tell how God is at work around the world. For a list of participating
presbyteries and speakers go to http://www.pcusa.org/missionchallenge
or call Ellen Dozier at 888-728-7228, x 5916. This will be followed by World
Mission Celebration (October 22-24, 2009), a large gathering for
Presbyterians who are deeply committed to world mission. This event will take
place in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Learn more at www.pcusa.org/missioncelebration
or contact Lis Valle lis.valle@pcusa.org
or 888-728-7228 x5279.
We in Malawi remember that
you also carry the heavy load of this global economic recession. Many in your communities have lost jobs or experienced
significant losses in savings for retirement.
You face the challenges of providing quality health care for all and
decreasing the carbon footsteps for the health and welfare of future generations.
Please know we share your heavy load. May your burden be lightened by our love
and prayers as together we trust in the
grace of Christ who shares with us the heavy load and inspires the God
surprises that give us hope for a brighter tomorrow for all God’s children.
Grace and Peace,
Debbie
Rev. Deborah A. Chase, Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) Mission Co-Worker
dachase26@africa-online.net
http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/chased.htm