"Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."-1 Peter 4:8-11
Thanks be to God for allowing me to journey with him to Malawi Africa. It was a j
oy to serve in Malawi and I learned more how to listen to him and follow his way. The old saying, “Plan your work and work your plan”, is not applicable with God’s plan for us. Being open to and changing with God’s plan is more important. During the month of June, 2011 I experienced many blessing and lessons that I would like to share with you, as I tried to listen closer and follow God’s plan.
Quilts
One of the first lessons was with the ten quilts donated by Bethel Presbyterian Sewing Ministry. They are beautiful hand made quilts with the love and care from the women of the church. I thought I was going to need a tent, mattress, and sheets to live in a village, but a day before going Barbara Nagy, the missionary / doctor who lives in Nkhoma sent me a note saying I may not need the camping supplies. Well this changed my packing a great deal and allowed me to fit eight of the ten quilts in my bags.
The quilts were a great blessing to those who received them. Barbara and I wanted to give them to individuals who expressed the love and kindness of 
Jesus Christ to those around them. One was given to Justice Khinthi. Justice worked closely with me on helping others in the hospital, village and homes. He was having some struggles with site contractors and needed some extra love and care, which the gift of the quilt brought him. What a wonderful gift.
Sam Kabota is a clinical officer and head of the village clinics. I have been in surgery with Sam 
and he is a great teacher and caring person. He is Malawian and is a loving connection between the hospital staff and the patients. He has a great laugh and loves the Lord. The head nurse for the hospital was also a recipient of a quilt. She also shows extra love and compassion toward patients and appreciated the gift of a quilt.
Another quilt was given to Daniel Chimutu and his wife Mary. Daniel is a clinical officer in the orthopedic ward. He is going to medical school and I was asked at the last minute to pick up a laptop computer for him and deliver it to him. It was a gift to him from Della Wortham, a previous volunteer who wanted to help Daniel in his quest for becoming a doctor.
Daniel was a joy to be with he made sure I experienced Malawian main staple, nsema. Nsema is a corn flour made into patties that you use to eat with or if you don’t have anything else it is your meal. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, so not every one has a choice on what to eat or have any thing at all to eat.
Daniel had me in his home with Mary and is son. What a joy to be with someone in their own home. The little boy was tired and feel asleep and was carried to bed by his mother. Mary works with an orphanage for about 5000 children. The children live in individual home in villages around Nkhoma. They are able to stay connected with a family and continue to get the care need for a child to grow. Life in Malawi is tough and average life expectancy is 43. What a blessing to be with a family as they grow and adventure into the world of medicine and care for children, together.
A quilt was given to Barbara Nagy. Barbara is the main reason I go to Malawi. She has been a doctor in Malawi for seven years and continues to live there with her three daughters; Melia, Anna and Happy. Barbara is also a missionary for the Presbyterian Church, USA. She is primary supported by Western NC Presbytery. Melia and Anna were away at school in Kenya while I was visiting but Happy was home and a joy to be with.
I feel God lead me to help Barbara as I can by making her life a little easier. So, I do “honey do” things for her in her home in both Malawi and Morganton, NC. While in Malawi I helped repair the front and back door, replace torn screens, build a garage door kick-stand, paint, repair a cabinet and my favorite was to repair the gate I had made in 2009.
While working in Barbara’s home I was helped by Happy. She is six year old, bundle of joy, always smiling and laughing. We had great times together fixing things, telling stories and just laughing out loud.
During my past two visits to Malawi I had heard about Harvest Sunday. A Sunday, usually in June where all the villages of the church bring in a portion of their harvest. Well, I finally was able to attend Harvest Sunday. It was a blessing to see all the villages come into the church from different doors carrying there harvest. Items included, corn, goats, sugar cane, cabbage, and many other vegetables. It was at this time I was able to give a gift from our village; I gave one the quilts the ladies from Bethel had made. It was an honor to make our village’s contribution.
Meals Together
Eating in Malawi is a sociable event, just as in most places. I was privileged to dine in several homes. They included the Chimutu’s home, Barbara’s home, TerHaar’s home, Kuchapala’s home and Victors home.
Barbara was so kind to have me at her home many times for a meal and scripture. We were reading about the Kings in the old testament. Happy and I would listen intently as Barbara shared the old old stories, usually Happy and I would make up some more stories and sing some silly songs.
Singing and scripture is a part of the TerHaar’s family meal time also. I had a great visit with Reynier and Willeke. We talked about our families, faith and marriage. It was nice to have a genuine conversation with other Christians and sharing our journeys. I was able to share some of my loss with divorce and some of my joys from volunteering, taking care of my mother and being able to do mission work in Malawi.
Banaya Kuchapala (Kuch) is a maintenance supervisor for the hospital. He was my guide and friend for most of the construction work. He took me under his wing and helped with most of the projects, especially the work in Mlanda. Kuch and I have known each other since 2007 and have tried to keep in touch. I am able to help with his children going to school. He invited me to join him in his home and village for a meal.
His wife, Alda and son James joined us in a room of their home for nsema, relish and eggs. As with all meals with Kuch and others we prayed. Most of the time we prayed in Chichewa, but this time Kuch prayed in English. I brought several gifts, a hammer, bread, peaches, and a wood carved nativity scene. We set the three wise men up, the Sheppard, animals, the star of Bethlehem, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. Then we started to sing some Christmas songs, same tune different words. We also danced to some of the song. The village chief also stopped in for a visit and welcome. It was great to be invited into someone’s home and enjoy the love of Christ together.
Victor’s home was one of the three nurses’ homes we painted at the Mlanda Medical Clinic. Victor was so appreciative for us coming to paint his and two other homes. The homes had not been painted for over 20 years and were dark brown from hands and skin oil. We were given enough paint for one house, but we made it last for two houses. Every one helped; the homeowners helped, two painters from the hospital – Jabas Kapula and Greento Chalera, Kuchapala, Lapous (Barbara’s yardman) and myself. Even the driver helped who came to pick us up, he brought more paint, so we were able to paint most of a third house. Lots of hard work for the Lord, God’s plan.
Not only did we work hard but we were able to go to the village store at night for a coke or fanta. It was fun to be part of the community, even though I stood out as the “mzungu”, white person. Chalera was always a steady hard worker, but when we got out he could tell some stories, I never knew what they were but we all laughed and laughed at them. Great feeling to be with others and share a brief part of our lives together.
I was so glad to have spent time in the village. Especially with Victor
and his family. One day we were eating and chatting and he looked at me and said, “what are you thinking” and I share my thoughts. I was thinking about how pleasant it was to be sitting with friends, his family and neighbors outside in God’s glory. It was nice to just be in each others presence and not have to be any where else. Near the end of our stay in the village after Victor’s home was painted and every thing moved back in, we stood together holding hands and looking at his newly painted and repaired home. It was a time of thankfulness and kindness with each other. It was a very special gift for him to share with me his appreciation.
Little Whispers
I wanted so bad to stay or go back to the village but God had other plans for me. I was able to stop and listen more to God this trip to Malawi. I appreciated the comfort from trying to listen and do as God wanted me to do. God’s way not mine. Some of the little whispers were: Mary Elise’s home, Abusa’s Home, Nurse supplies, Lumber, Excell, Ball caps, Empty Box, and Happy Hugs.
Mary Elise is an older nurse who lives in an apartment at the Guest House, where I stayed. She needed some help keeping bats from coming down her chimney. Well that was not all she needed help with, she need her tub tile repaired, painting in two bathroom, curtains hung in four rooms and a new light fixture. Seems like easy task, but supplies are at least a day or two away and is at least a day to go and pick them up in Lilongwe. But I felt God’s hand to help Mary Elise with these items and prayed she would feel the love of Chirst. Well not every time did I feel the love and stopped and tried harder to share love with Mary Elise.
Near the end of my visit I saw Kuch and Chalera carring a ladder around 10’oclock, tea time. I asked where they were going and they said they were painting their Abusa’s house. Abusa is Chichewa for pastor. So, I took the hint from God and said, I will help them paint their Abusa’s house. The next morning was Wednesday Chapel at the hospital. I arrived on time but no one was their but the hospital Abusa, Rev. Laston Kachumba. So we visited and chatted for a while, then I asked him if Kuch and Chalera were painting his house. He said no, but he need some work done in his home. The Chapel service started, which included a part where Rev. Kachumba sang and danced as part of the worship. I love the dancing. He and I meet at his home for tea where I learned of the disrepair of his home. The worst was his bathroom. It needed tile and painting, it was a mess.
I took the hint from God and started to work, I only had two days to get it all done before I left. No way could I do it but I started out again with God’s help. First day was frustrating could not get to Lilongwe to get supplies, so started scraping the walls. Rev. Kachumba’s son, Noah helped me as we took off more than half the wall back down the original concrete surface. Ok, now got to re-plaster before painting.
Thank goodness, no thank God that I had made friends with Lukas, the tile man. He had helped with Mary Elise’s home and so I asked if he would help with the Abusa’s bathroom. He agreed but would like a cell phone as part of his payment. Now, I have to get the supplies to do the work, along with a cell phone. The next morning I find a ride on a flat bed truck going to Lilongwe to pick up supplies for the nursing school (more on this adventure to come). I was able to get all the supplies and cell phone to get the job completed. Friday, the last day I would be available, I made all the arrangement for Lukas to do the tile and plaster work and Kuch or others to paint the bathroom. The work was completed after I left Malawi and that the Abusa’s home is a little better to live in. I was also able to buy more paint to help Kuch and Chalera to paint another room in their Abusa’s home. God’s hand was again at work with me to better understand his plan for me to trust in him and walk in his path.
Now back to the trip to Lilongwe, like every other trip there you try to do a million things in one visit. I needed supplies for the Abusa’s house, a cell phone, gifts from the wood carvers, and groceries for Barbara plus all the items needed by the nurses. Little did I know the reason for the flat bed truck was that they needed tons of stuff, like: flour (1000 lbs), beef (800 lbs), chicken (800 lbs), boxes of paper, sugar (200 lbs), etc. The truck was full and we did not get it unloaded until about 9 PM after starting out at 9 AM. Long day but the Lord provided at his pace and way. Oh yea it was great to help with the supplies and men on the truck that day. I was able to live and share my life with them as we worked and road together in the back of the truck.
On a previous trip to Lilongwe we made many stops, as always but we were running out of time to buy lumber. The lumber yard closes at 5 PM and we got there right at five. The gate was open so in we drove in. The lumber yard workers were waiting for a shipment to come. We chatted and said we only needed seven 14 foot 1” x 8”. They agreed but could not give us a receipt, fine I made my own receipt and off we went. One more for the team. Yes, I was praying we would make it on time to the lumber yard. Thanks again.
The wood was used to make new benches for the patients in the Eye Hospital. Mark made the benches, he is a carpenter from Holland who was in Nkhoma with his wife Maretta, who is a medical student working in the Eye Hospital. The benches were so nice that the Main Hospital started asking for some bench, also.
It is strange how things you have learned in your past come back to help you in the future. Twice I was asked to help with Excel spreadsheets. Barbara needed to analyze the infant mortality for the pediatric ward. I made the spreadsheet and taught her how to use it. She has lowered the mortality to 2% which is substantial below the national average for Malawi of 12%. Hopefully this little bit of help will save other lives.
The second request came from Henny Schmit. Henny and his family have lived in Malawi since 1989 and he was responsible for the Water System in the Nkhoma area. I was able to help him build a spreadsheet to simply his monthly billing. It felt like magic sharing with others and seeing the joy come across their face as they see how it can be done so much easier and faster. I was appreciative of my past experience and ability to use to help others now.
My past experiences with the Greensboro Housing Authority and Love INC made it much easier to work in a persons home that was filthy, roaches, spiders, droppings, and even chickens. Some of the house in the village were very dirty and you just get down on your knees and clean. God thank you for the past experience in people home before, so that I can help others in need, today.
Helping others were the men in blue jump suits. They are the custodians of the hospital. I was able to give most all of them a ball cap. Tommy Burleson had left 20 to 30 ball caps. So, I started giving them away to the men in blue as well as other workers, including Lukas and other professions that help me along the way in Malawi. Gifts of ball caps, little gifts from God, thanks.
Children in Mlan
da village were very curious with our work, especially our trash. We replace door locks and handles, which came in a box with plastic bags. The children were excited about their new toys, empty bags and boxes. One of the boys took a box, added bottle caps to make four wheels and a smoke stack, put his prize rocks and other goodies inside, added a string and how had a new toy truck. What a gift. What a way to see the good in all, little whispers.
Many little whispers came through Happy. She was such a joy to be with. The last day was sad for us both. I showed up to say good-bye to her and Barbara. Barbara had been called to the hospital but I did not know that at the time. So, Happy and I just sat on the couch and held each other, both sad and never had to say any thing. We held each other and began to say our good byes with one or two more laughs before I left Malawi with our little whispers. Thanks be to God.
So What
God has blessed me with these opportunities to learn and grow. I have tried on this journey to listen more to the Lord for the joys he has laid out for me. I tried to share more the word of Christ in my language and actions. I am grateful for all that God has given me and know my walk today is closer to God than my walk before my trip to Malawi. Looking and listening for God’s next call, big or small I hope to see them all.
Jesus said, "Who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves." -Luke 22:27
