God has blessed me with a wonderful, large house here in Malawi. I have been given the house to live in by the Synod so that I am able to entertain visitors, Malawian and international. The yard is expansive and colorful, with various blossoming trees and shrubs, so that every month, something is in bloom. I enjoy sharing the house and the grounds with those who come. In the past week, I have had plenty of opportunity to share, to be a welcoming, open house.
Monday a week ago, two of our pastors were going to Kenya for a short course in training in leadership skills. They were to leave at 8:30, which meant they needed to be at the airport by 7:30. Since one of them was coming from Zomba, she asked if she and her family might spend the night at my house, to be on time to leave. She, her husband and two of her children came Sunday afternoon so they could escort her for the Monday morning departure. I got up at 6 a.m. on Monday to prepare breakfast before we left for the airport. As I was opening the curtains in the living room, I heard a horn at my gate and saw the watchman run to let in a truck carrying the other pastor and her family. They were ready for the departure, an hour early. They didn’t want to be late. The airport is small and doesn’t open until 7:15, so they were going to be too early. I invited them in and suggested that we all have breakfast first and then head off. I prepare oatmeal and tea for 12. We ate buffet style. The fellowship was great and the laughter plentiful. We left in time for them to be the first to check in at the airport, eager first time flyers.
They were really helping me to prepare for this past week. A group of 14 from Waynesburg College in southwestern Pennsylvania have come to do work projects here in Malawi. Their group leader is a friend of mine, a pastor’s wife from Pittsburgh Presbytery. As we were emailing back and forth about the details of the trip, she was concerned to keep the cost down, since they are all college students. They were looking for places where they could do their own cooking. We found them in most areas, but Blantyre is a challenge in this regard. In a moment of inspiration or weakness, (depending on your point of view), I suggested they could use my kitchen, since they were staying just across the road from my house. So Wednesday and Thursday of last week, and Monday and Tuesday of next week, they are cooking here. We have pulled chairs from all the rooms of the house and have seating for everyone. Their leader has divided them into teams for cooking and cleaning, so I don’t have to do anything but provide the place. They have proven good at both cooking and cleaning. It is really fun to have them all here.
But that is not enough company. My daughter-in-law is about to deliver their second child and since they live in a remote area, they accepted my invitation to come here and have the baby in a city hospital. This was to be the first week in June, so there would be no conflict of schedules, but at her last appointment the doctor recommended that Alinafe stay in the city, since the baby seems to be just about ready to present himself. So Alinafe, Charles and my granddaughter Cathy are here as well. (Charles is coming and going.) They fit in nicely and have become a part of the group. Cathy has had a great time entertaining everyone as only a 3 year old can. The more, the merrier.
Thursday afternoon several of the artisans who make Malawian crafts, presented themselves in my yard, having learned that there were international visitors who might be in the market for authentic Malawian goods. I gave them room in the yard to set up their wares and the group visited, like an open-air market, but with quality and volume control. The students actually had a good time browsing and negotiating. They significantly boosted the local economy. They were please with their purchases and the artisans were please with their sales. At dinner that evening, we had “show and tell” of the treasures to go back to the States. I am grateful to have a place that can accommodate all this activity. God has given me a truly open house.
No comments:
Post a Comment