Welcome to Malawi …
Although I had set the alarm for 7am, at 6:45am I heard an insistent knock upon my door:
“Stan, there’s been a change in your program.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. The youth are meeting this morning at 8:30. When were you meeting—10 or 10:30?”
“10:30, I thought. From 10:30 to 12noon. And the funeral?”
“Ah, yes. Those arrangements have been changed. The service will be tomorrow. So today you lead the youth, and then you’ll go out to lunch. And tonight we’ll have dinner as planned. Gary will pick you up at 8:00.”
“Okay … at 8:00. Who’s Gary?”
“From the church. You have time to shower and have breakfast—it’ll be ready for you. Like always.”
From a US perspective, in a land that does not experience dramatic seasonal changes, Malawians are regularly subjected to change: life here requires flexibility, but then flexibility becomes a lifestyle, whereby patterns and behaviors encourage, if not dictate flexibility. One’s program might change, if for no other reason than that the electricity was switched off—it happens at some time most every day for approximately six hours.
Elsewhere: Yesterday I received the following text from one of the pastors (abusas), who attended the pastoral retreat at Mutheto Lodge. The following are Paul Mawaya’s reflections:
“Stan, I write to inform you that I did arrive home last night after 4 hours of driving.
I must state that the Ministers in-service Training was renewing. It renewed our exegetical and hermeneutical practice that has rusted over the years of service. It was also renewing because it provided an opportunity for ministers to rest from their strenuous pastoral tasks in the various congregations. It created an opportunity to worship God and pray together as one body in Christ Jesus. The training offered more than what one would expect. I have already shared the verbal report to the Director of Missions, Evangelism and Training for CCAP Blantyre Synod ... He is equally excited to mobilize the first cohort of 25 ministers and will together work out logistical requirements for your guidance. So I praise God for your ministry that has left us recharged and energized to serve His flock with renewed mind and commitment.”
Although I have not had the opportunity to review the retreat evaluation forms, my sense is that Paul has articulated the overwhelming consensus: abusas were greatly energized and refreshed by their four-day experience. For this I am thankful.
Faithfully,
Stan
Ps. The youth didn’t meet where they do regularly: a wedding was underway.