Climbing Mt. Mulanje

If I were going to use an analogy to describe what my time in Malawi has been like, I would say it was like climbing Mt. Mulanje. It seems like a perfect comparison because it begins even before I climbed the mountain. I have spent the whole year admiring this beautiful mountain, thinking and planning to climb it but never really finding the perfect opportunity to go. Just like all the years I have spent dreaming of returning to Malawi, without knowing when the perfect time to do that would be. I had to trust that I would  hear God’s call to go.  Since I got here, the mountain has been calling, just like Malawi, so I had to go. 

Just as we spent time gathering supplies and packing for our trip here, we again gathered and packed for our time on the mountain. We prepared as best we could, taking everything we thought we could possibly need for 3 days of hiking. Before arriving in Malawi we wrote letters of support and gathered a strong support system we knew we would have throughout our time here. This time we gathered a team of two, a guide and a porter, who would be invaluable during our hike. With our supplies gathered and ready, and our team assembled, we were ready to go!

Our first day of hiking began in a village about 20 minutes away from our house and ended about 6 hours later with us finally on top of the mountain. The hike up the mountain was filled with many of the same thoughts and emotions I have experienced throughout the year. There were certainly highs and lows. There were moments when I wasn’t sure what I was thinking doing something like this. There were moments when I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else in the world. There were people I met along the way who showed me the strength and resiliency of the Malawian people. There were points I wanted to turn back and just go home. There were moments I laughed, and moments I wanted to cry. There were moments I thought I would never stop sweating ever again. There were moments I will remember forever. Most importantly there were many moments I looked around and thanked and praised God for this amazing opportunity.

Our second day on the mountain we hiked across the top, looking down on the town we have been looking up from for a year. We then spent about an hour and a half going up a very steep incline in order to reach the next cabin we would spend the night in which is located at the base of the highest peak. Our time at this cabin was very special. Unlike the cabin from the night before, this cabin had no one else staying in it. Lauren and I spent the night laughing and talking about our time in Malawi so far. We talked about all the things we are nervous for as we begin to think about readjusting to life back home. We also talked about our hopes and dreams for all of our students. Although it was chilly so high up and our legs were tired from 2 days of hiking, having that time to reflect around a fire was worth every step.

Our final day on the mountain began early when we watched the sunrise over the valley below. I think our hike down the mountain is a good comparison to what leaving Malawi and adjusting to life back home will be like for us. We knew that the 6 hour hike down the mountain would not be easy, just like we know that leaving here will not be easy either. We know that the experiences have changed who we are and that we are leaving both the mountain and Malawi as better versions of ourselves (sore, but still better). We also know, that however sad it is to be ending such a great experience, the lessons and memories we have gathered will stay with us long after we have reached the bottom (as will the blisters that have formed on our feet). Reaching the bottom was bitter-sweet. We were happy to be home, but sad to leave the mountain behind. 

 

Climbing Mt. Mulanje is something I will remember doing for a very long time (mostly because I will still be sore for a very long time). Every time I look at a picture from my hike on this beautiful mountain I will think of the highlights, the challenges, the steep climbs, the cold nights, the laughter, and the memories. Mt. Mulanje will forever hold a special place in my heart, and will always serve as a perfect reminder of my year here in Malawi. 

Milonde Manse Walk

One of the main things that I admire about the people of Malawi is their willingness and fortitude to help one another. The most recent example I have seen of this is the Mulanje District Presbytery, which is made up of all the Presbyterian churches in the area, working together to build a new Manse for the Milonde church. As part of  being a Pastor here, one of the things you are given is a place to live. Most churches are built with a Manse next to it for the Pastor and their family to live in. Not all of these homes are equal however, some are large and well kept, while others are small and in desperate need of repairs. The Milonde Manse unfortunately is the latter. 

I had the opportunity to visit the Milonde Church and Manse and to meet the Pastor and his wife who are currently living there. The church is about a 30 minute drive off the tarmac road, and what an eye opening experience it was to visit. The manse they are currently living in was affected by the earthquakes earlier this year and there are large cracks running through most of the walls that are made of clay bricks. The one room of the house is so bad, the family has completely moved out of it in fear that the walls will give out and the roof will collapse. The house is in no shape for a family to be living in, but as I talked to the Pastor he explained that they make it work in order for them to be close to the community they are currently serving. As we left, the Pastor’s wife gave us a hug and a bag of peanuts and thanked us for visiting. I was touched by the generosity of these people who were living in such poor conditions. 

Thankfully, the Mulanje Presbytery has partnered together to help build a new Manse for this congregation. The building has already begun, and when we visited I was excited to see the beginning stages of the new manse. Although the project was started, more money needed to be raised in order to complete the task. In order to raise the money they need to finish the construction, a fundraising walk was planned.

Being able to participate in the walk to raise money for the Milonde Manse will be a highlight of my time here in Malawi as I look back on this year. We gathered with about 50 other people, and a truck full of the church’s praise team to begin our 7.5 km walk from Mulanje Mission Hospital back to St. Andrews. As we walked wearing our matching shirts, the praise team sang and people from the community all stopped to see what we were doing. People lined the streets and donated money as we passed. Some members of the walk were much better at fundraising than I was. I don’t think being an Azungu helped me raise any money, but I was able to smile, wave, give out high-fives and hold the banner! 

I was amazed at the amount of people who stopped their cars to donate money, the people who reached into their pockets as we walked by, the ladies selling things along the road who donated money from their daily profits in order to help our cause. Malawians in general have so much less than we as Americans, but they are so willing to help a neighbor, support a good cause, and give back to others. The money we raised as we walked will go towards finishing the Manse at Milonde for the very deserving current and future Pastors and their families, but the lessons I learned from the people I walked with and the people that supported us as we walked will stay with me long after the house is finished. The example of willingness and fortitude to help one another is a lesson I will carry with me far past the 7.5 km walk, but one I plan to carry with me for all my miles to come. 

Class of 2018

Although the school year is by no means over yet, the 2017-2018 school year has begun to wind down, and there are many mixed emotions.  It will be sad to leave our friends and colleagues, but we are proud of what we have accomplished over the school year. This week there was a lot of excitement for the Form 4 students who will be finishing their secondary school education and beginning the next chapter of their lives. On Friday June 8, as a school we got to honor and celebrate all the hard work, accomplishments, and achievements of the St. Andrews Class of 2018 by participating in a graduation ceremony in their honor. 

 

Graduation day here was a beautiful mix of the traditional elements we are used to seeing in the United States, and the traditional energy and flare that all Malawian events have. The day started with the students of the Form 4 class (they would be considered Seniors in America) dancing in a line all around the school. The smiles on their faces and the energy pouring out of them explained perfectly how excited and proud they were to have made it to this point. After dancing for a while the students did what every student does on graduation, they took a bunch of selfies with their friends. As I walked around the school watching them gather in groups to take pictures, I was touched by how close this class has become in their four years here at St. Andrews.

After the dancing and picture taking, it was time for the actual ceremony to begin. The students once again lined up and danced their way into Southminster Hall, which had been decorated and prepared for the big event. The ceremony itself was very similar to what a graduation in the States would look like. The Head Girl of the Form 4 class stood up and gave a speech, during which she eloquently thanked all the teachers and staff at the school, she also took time to thank all the parents for supporting their students and valuing their education. It was a beautiful speech. Then the incoming Head Girl (currently in Form 3) stood up and gave a speech thanking the Form 4s for being such a good example for all the other students at the school. One of the teachers then gave a speech informing the students that this is not an end to their journey, but a beginning, and encouraged them to keep growing, keep pushing, and keep striving to be the best they can be. All who spoke during the ceremony did a wonderful job.

Throughout the ceremony students from all the Forms gave performances. Some sang, some danced, some recited poetry, and some performed plays. All who performed did a fantastic job, and as their teacher, I sat there with pride at how talented all the students at this school truly are. 

The final part of the ceremony was the awarding of their completion certificates (this is the equivalent of a diploma). I spent the last two weeks working on the certificates for the students as part of the graduation committee so I was personally very excited to watch the students receive these. This part of the ceremony was more than I could have ever imagined. Not only did the students cheer very loudly as each of their classmates was called forward to receive their certificates, but as they were called their families would also come forward and present gifts to their graduate. The pride in the faces of all the family members was so touching and so genuine. These families have worked very hard, and sacrificed greatly in order to give their student the opportunity to advance in school. This day was every bit as much for families, friends, guardians and teachers as it was for the students who were actually graduating. 

After the ceremony finished, the graduates enjoyed a lunch prepared by the cooks of the school and spent the rest of the afternoon dancing and celebrating together. Although the graduation ceremony was over, the students are not actually finished with their schooling yet. Beginning on June 21 they will sit for their Certification Exam. The results of these exams will determine if they will move on to receive a collegiate education. They will spend every day until the exams reviewing and studying for them in order to be as prepared as possible. 

I am so proud of all the students finishing up their education here at St. Andrews. I know that these students will make a difference in the future of this country. Please join me in lifting these students up in prayer as they sit for the exams that will determine their future. Congratulations Class of 2018, you have made your school and families proud. We pray that you will continue to be bright lights as you move forward in this world.