Saturday September 30, 2006

Week 3 in Malawi.
My sermon on Sunday went really well, with the exception of a couple of cultural things. First the women sit on the right and the men on the left. Ok first mistake, I head to the left sit.
Second I am supposed to sit in the chair of honor at the front. Nice chair very soft.
Any way my sermon went really well and 15 came forward to rededicate their lives to Christ. I preached a salvation message starting with the fall of man, showing historically that man always chooses sin and God being the loving Father that he is saved us by the spilling of his own blood.
After the service we went to the Pastors home for our first real village meal. It was fantastic. We had beef in a tomato sauce, green peas that are rather large and hard – tasty and rice. Again I was to sit in the chair of honor as I was the “Reverend”.
The events of the meal were unique. We sat at a table (the children sat separate) and a woman came kneeled before us with a basin and water pitcher. We put our hands out and washed them under the stream of water she poured from the pitcher.

(Jodi’s $0.02) Scott preached this Sunday at the district superintendent’s church and it went really well! He’s a great speaker and even I was impressed (it was nothing at all like the practice runs he had done at home!) It was really a great honor for him to be asked to speak there, and he was even invited to return the following week! Then he was asked to preach again at chapel at the bible school. This is not like our Bible schools in North America. The students are all pastors with churches that come to the school to increase their knowledge or work towards masters degrees. Some come from as far away as Zambia. One guy came from Sudan. Again a pretty big honor. It was really short notice for this. Scott was actually the last one to know he was preaching! Everyone else had it all worked out, and then they called to ask him! The professor/missionary who was scheduled to speak had a very bad flu.

Thanks for all your prayers especially for our health. The flu that was going around almost completely missed our family. I was the only one to get sick and by the time I could do anything about it, I was better (it only lasted a few hours in the night). The kids and Scott escaped. Also a lot of the staff have gotten malaria this last week. (they live on the same compound, so their mosquitoes are our mosquitoes.)
BTW, pray lots for Scott’s reactions to mosquito bites. He gets these huge water blisters. Very gross for the rest of us too!

Today Irish planted a garden with help from Scott, Jael, Janohah and David our guard. It involved moving around a very large heavy shovel, jumping on a big pile of dirt and getting yelled at for stepping on his sisters’ seeds, an narrowly missing an amputation via a large African hoe. (like a huge shalaly with a giant metal blade hanging off the side) Actually the girls, Scott and David did most of the work breaking up the ground and planting the seeds. It will be a beautiful garden despite all the effort Irish put into it. It was really funny to see him open a packet of seeds and just dump them onto the ground in one pile. The corn grows here!!

Scott starts work on Monday. He’ll be supervising a construction site (I think…) I’m still pecking away at my translation. Today I did it with Irish standing on a chair beside me, brushing my hair. A little bit distracting.

One thing about Malawi. The coca cola is awesome! It tastes so much better than at home! I’m not sure if it’s because it is better, or because I usually drink diet pepsi which kinda tastes like sweet stomach acid. But despite all the coca cola I’m losing a lot of weight. Could be the parasites.

We bought a painting from a guy with no hands today. Nothing funny to say about that. We’ve heard that some of these guys are refugees from areas where rebels go through villages and dismember people for political reasons. Not sure if that’s what happened to this guy, but there seem to be a lot amputees around. The girls are going to put the painting in their room. It’s actually a beautiful painting and reminds me of our drive to Blantyre.

Another thing about Malawi. The navy beans are awesome too! We soaked them for a couple of hours and some had already started to sprout! So we cooked them for a couple of hours and then they were ready to eat! No more waiting 3 days for baked beans! Toot toot!

Today we saw a chameleon. Very cool. They change color from the spine outwards. It was about 18 inches long. The girls were very excited.

Another thing about Malawi. The noises come in cycles at night. First all the dogs bark for about 10 minutes. Then the dogs are quiet and all the roosters crow. Then the roosters are quiet and all the hyenas whoop. Then everybody’s car alarm goes off. Over and over. All night. “In the jungle, the quiet jungle, the lion sleeps tonight…” Yeah, right!!

We have a neighbor that has an alarm that goes off frequently throughout the day. We now have a joke that he’s narcoleptic and the alarm goes off when his chin hits his chest.
There are lots of car alarms here. Usually they’re on the cars that at home have bumper stickers that say “please steal me,” or “my other car is a ford pinto”

That’s all from Jodi. I guess I owe you a penny.

Jodi doing the dishes - Africa style! 

Irish reaching out to the lost. 

Irish, Scott, Jael and Janohah (half of her) with Children at village church. 

This is me preaching at a village (I'm the azo0gooh on the left). My interpreter is on the right. 

These are the raw bricks. Some Malawian will let the raw bricks bake in the sun then built their homes with then. However the homes are not as strong as with baked bricks - Hey I think there is a parable here.... 

This is a brick kiln. The brick makers take the dried raw brick and build them into this form. They cover the brick structure with mud. The holes you see on the bottom are where they build a fire letting it burn for many days. During the burning process the bricks turn red and become very strong. 

Making brick for homes. The man will work the mud with his feet before loading it into the mold - no straw just water and dirt. 

Malawian houses 

Mad-man's house by our place. 

Malawian Village 

$1.00 in the market. 

Jodi and Janohah - the "piper" I think. At village outside Blantyre 

Jael, Janohah, Loveness, Chiwewe, Limson, Irish. The six amigo's 

Saturday September 16, 2006

Today the time change kicked in. I spent a good part of the day in bed. We tried to get to the big market today but it was too packed to even get close.

We stopped at the post office market. They sell a lot of carved goods and paintings. We kind of got swarmed by people trying to sell you thing, so this will be something we will have to get use to.

We went over to the Shop-Ko and picked up a few things. Our fruit man was there again and showed us where the fruit market was. We now have a new saying “not today”. We tried to get bread – “not today” no bread, maybe tomorrow.

Saturday September 23, 2006

Wow it has been quite the week.
On Monday we rented a car and drove down to Blantyre.

It is about 380 km south of Lilongwe. That was quite the drive. The road was packed with goats, cows, bicycles, people, cars, and trucks.

It is only a 2 lane road with a very minimal shoulder. It is rather frightening do to the number of children walking beside the road – we are talking 3 year olds here, walking all by themselves.

There are 4 permanent police road blocks along the way. Not sure what exactly they are looking for. This was a little unnerving as no one warned us about them. I had a flash back to things I have heard about bribing police in 3rd world countries. Long story short nothing happened at the police stops.

The landscape between here and there is beautiful. There are many craggy looking mountains. They range from white (I thought it was snow covered) rock to tree covered. There are many tradition grass roof villages along the way as well as several large markets.

Blantrye is a very busy city. The streets are packed with people, and bikes. The trucks and cars take up the remainder of the space. It is hard to describe the business in the cities here, all I can say it that you constantly feel like you are going to run someone over.

While in Blantrye we were able to tour the YWAM base and meet the staff.
The base staff was very nice and we enjoyed the interaction with them. While there we had to haul water from the community pump. It was one of the long handled pumps that you most likely have seen on TV.

On Monday night we were treated to a traditional Malawian meal of rice, and boiled eggs in a tomato and onion sauce. It was very good.

Tuesday morning we awoke to the smell of Malawian rice pudding and tea. It was also very good and a great way to start the day.

After breakfast we went to a huge market to buy our vegetables. It was really cheap as this was the main import market out of Mozambique. Tomatoes were $0.08ea, Potatoes $0.04, big bag of green beans $0.30 and a cabbage the size of a basketball $0.15.

We returned to the base for a lunch of nsima and tomato and onion sauce with egg mixed into it. It turned out the consistency of hominy grits. Again, very tasty.

After lunch we went to the local village and visited with many people. We are beginning to pick up the language which is making life a lot easier.

While at the village, school let out and that made us the center of attention. The children started to swarm and soon it began to look like we where leading a parade. White people are a real novelty in the villages. Most of the children want to touch you but some are scared, cry and run away.
We found out that in a similar fashion to our boogie-man stories the Malawian tell their children that if they are not good that the white people will come and eat them.

On Tuesday night we cooked beef stew (a traditional Canadian dinner) for the staff. It was a real hit as they have very little meat in their diets due to cost.

We spent the morning on Wednesday dealing with immigration before heading back to Lilongwe. The trip back was much nicer as the roads were not as congested.

After returning from Blantyre, Jodi and I have decided that YWAM would not be a fit for our family.
However God has once again come through and the National A/G church will be sponsoring us for our visas.

That’s about it for now. I am preaching tomorrow. This will be my first time preaching in a village church so lift me up in pray.

In Christ
Scott

This is a traditional Malawian stove. Wood is fed in through the hole in the front. As the wood burns it is just pushed forward. There is a hole through the center wall allowing for a hot and simmering "element". I would guess that 95% of Malawian's cook outside on this type of stove. 

African sunsets are so beautiful. This picture does not do justice to how awesome it is in real life. 

Lunch time! Sandy Miller leading the way into the restaurant in little market. The walls are cardboard.
Janohah in foreground. 

The meat seller at the little market Lilongwe. Fresh - killed today 

Irish & "Mia Irish" (this is how Jodi is refered to mother of 1st son) shopping for fruits and vegetables at little market Lilongwe 

"Lonely", Kettie, Janohah, Jael in our Kitchen in Lilongwe Malawi 

Jodi and Kettie (pronounced Katie) Our house helper's baby girl. I think Jodi wants to keep her. 

Nurse Monica Bottoman, Jodi, Janohah, Jael, Irish and another nurse after glove delivery.

Little Market in Lilongwe Fish Vendor 

Friday September 15, 2006

Our bags arrived – yeah!
Now we have enough sleeping bags and a tent for our outings in the new year.

We are starting to establish ourselves now. We now have internet service, cel phones and credit at the 4X (kind of a money exchange place – it is hard to describe, but anyway we can write checks there and get money).
The money is crazy. You almost need a pack-sack to carry it all around. None of the Malawian stores take credit cards and I don’t feel led to shop in the ex-pat stores.
I cashed a $500 check yesterday and got 3 inches of money back.
I am finding the money difficult. Since I normally shop with a credit card I now find myself never knowing if I have enough money when I get to the cash.

Jodi now has a job typing up a new children’s program in Chichawe. Her help is really appreciated.
As for me I have been invited to preach most Sunday at different churches around Malawi. I start on the 24th.

I am looking forward to developing an African flavor to my sermons.

Sermons here are much different than in North America. Where we would say Paul said or John said, a sermon in Malawi would say the Bible says. This alleviates any confusion as to who Paul and John are.

Last night we went to the hospital to deliver the gloves. We met with Nurse Monica Bottoman from the article. She was very happy to receive all the gloves. They still did not have any gloves and our church family has been the only people to answer the call.
For those reading that do not know this nurse works in the HIV wing of the hospital. The hospital does not have any gloves.
The hospital conditions where so horrifying that out of respect we did not take any pictures. There were people laying everywhere, on the hall floors, some on grass mats, some people on beds. The family members were out in the yard cooking over small fires in order to feed their sick relatives.
The visit to the hospital was horrible, scaring and life changing for me. I can not begin to describe the conditions and the smell.

If anyone reading this feels led please send gloves to:
Monica Bottoman
c/o Kamuzu Central Hospital
P.O. Box 149
Lilongwe, Malawi

This morning I went to the Bible School Chapel for service and to meet with the pastors and teachers there. The service was inspiring and it was great to meet with everyone.
I am now officially “Pastor Scott”.

We went to the market today it was an experience. We bought some vegetables and rice and ate some french fries. The fry cooker was an aluminum plate with a basin in it and a wood fire under the basin. Good fries.

Friday September 8, 2006
We made it!
Our trip here was pretty seamless with the exception of loosing one of our bags and our tent. Our water filter and 1 of our sleeping bags were in that bag so please pray that it shows up.
Jodi and I both discovered that we do not sleep on planes. 58 hours awake – that definitely was the longest overtime stretch I have done. (HA – the guys from work will see the humor in that)
Malawi is awesome – I love it here.
Denny & Sandy Miller picked us up at the airport; wonderful people. They have been showing us around and have been a real God send.
We have also meet Cheryl Miller and her boys. She is also a God send. She spent the day driving us around town and to the grocery store.
Tonight Denny & I and a whole bunch of guys from the bible college went to a village to plant a church. It was a great experience. After driving down a very rough dirt road in the pitch dark and we ended up in a school yard. The village was very simple mud brick, grass roof, very low roofs.
Anyway we set up a screen in the playground of the school and showed 2 reels of the Jesus file, sang & preached. About 350 people from the village showed up and about 250 came forward and accepted Christ as savior. It was and awesome experience.
We will be back tomorrow night and Sunday to close the Crusade.
The house we are staying in is beautiful as are the grounds. We have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. God is good.
We got internet service today – totally painless and totally dial up.
However we tried to get a cell phone today and everyone is sold out until maybe next week.
On a high point beef is way cheaper than chicken! 2 big t-bone steaks for $4.00. We will be eating a lot of beef. It’s a sacrifice but we are willing :)
That’s all for now.

For Christ

Scott

Saturday September 9, 2006
Correction – I thought we had internet – the guy phoned and said we did but alas no go on the internet.
Tonight we went to the Easter’s house for a traditional Malawian dinner. It was awesome! We had nsima – it is a boiled corn based food that is like an overcooked cream of wheat that forms into a big lump – very very good. We also had what could best be described as a boiled chicken with tomato and spice, beef stew, beans, rice, coleslaw with noodles in it and a chopped greens and onion dish.
The whole meal was fantastic.
You eat a Malawian meal with your hands. You take a lump of nsima and roll it into a 1 inch ball. Place the ball in the soft part between your thumb and index finger, then pick up some of the other food with your thumb and index finger (think lobster claw action). This can get messy, remember the stew and greens.
Irish was funny, his hands were completely covered with the white nsima paste.

Jael, Charity and I went with Denny to the village we were at last night.
It was another great experience. The girls were very popular as the village children have never seen white people before let alone a white child.
All the children wanted to shake the girl’s hands. Most just stared and stared at us.
The Crusade was well attended again with approximately 300 people. After the sermon we invited the sick to the front for prayer.
I was able to pray for healing of and HIV positive couple, a woman with a chronic headache and a young man taking an examination on Monday.

Please pray for God’s healing touch for the headache and the HIV couple.


Sunday September 10, 2006

Today we all went out to the village and I had my 1st experience driving on the left side of the road. This is a crazy country to drive in. There are people, mini-buses, farm animals, bicycles with at least 3 people on them or 50 chickens hanging from the handle bars, or a 7 foot stack of wood on the back or 2-45 gallon drums on the back of the bike. Anyway, no accidents but 1 near head-on. On the way to the village we passed and open air meat market – half a cow hanging off the front of a little brick shed. We also passed a guy selling mouse-kabobs (we looked for him on the way back for a picture but he was gone).
Church was a wonderful experience for all of us. This was a church plant and held in a school classroom.
Church in Africa is a lot different than in North America. The Africa’s dance during service and instead of a worship leader at the front someone in the congregation starts a song and everyone follows along.
The service format was normal: praise & worship, sermon (on baptism of the Holy Spirit) then in lieu of prayer and healing at the front we gathered at the front for prayer to fill all the believers with the Holy Spirit – very cool. Many were filled and began to speak in tongues.
The HIV lady from the night before was slain in the spirit and was done for a good 20 minutes. I believe God healed her.
The kids were very popular. All the other kids wanted to sit beside them. They just stared and stared at our “whiteness”.
After the service we went to an Indian restaurant. The food was good.

Stranded at Sea! Found by Pirates.

Yesterday was exciting we were stranded and adrift.

The day started with a nice picnic planned on my father-in-laws boat.
Up river we went, the picnic was fun.
Down river was the problem.
As we were heading back the gears piled up and that was that. Have you ever tried to paddle a cabin cruiser? – that ain’t happen’in.
So a call on the radio brought Captain Diem to the rescue. This was funny as he was flying the Jolly Rogers on his sail boat. Irish was very impressed that it was a pirate captain.

The long and short of it was we flagged down a power boat and got towed 10 or so miles down river to the marina and pulled the boat out.

There was an up side to things. My father-in-law had his 2 son-in-laws to help him pull the boat out. It is definitely fall here, getting cold and it was time to pull the boat for the season.

We had been beliving in faith that God would provide us with a place to stay in Malawi.
Well on Tuesday - 1 week before departure, God provided us with a 3 bedroom duplex in Lilongwe until our course starts in Blantrye in January.
I must admit that I was starting to worry a bit - 1 week to go and no hotel, no nothing to live in.
As always God provided beyond our expectations.

Scott