[Previous post]
Leaving here's hard, so today we completely ignored the prospect and had one of the fullest days of the visit. After all, we're already thinking about projects for 2025! (Want to get involved? See contact details below.) We prepared an "assembly" (here, "morning devotional") for children and Mothers, on the theme, "Honouring those who work hard among you" (1 Thessalonians 5). Each child received some cut out paper hearts - happily here in the Guest House are some jolly good scissors! - to give to someone whose care they appreciate.
Seeing an opportunity to link a couple of things together we then diverted to the Secondary School area. Last year, some hard work transformed the Primary School. Today wasn't the day for builders and concrete and paint, but as a little gift to the older children who'll soon return to start the new School Year, we all spent a few minutes tidying up the place.
No kerb-side refuse collection exists here. Rubbish is deposited in shallow pits and burned - if the wind doesn't get to it first. Plastic packaging. Ugh!
A clear lead for Gillian's team!
Three bags full
Hard work deserves recognition, so after a bit of freshening up of the hands, it was over to the Guest House for some apples, and a team photo!
Off camera and elsewhere, Linda and some of the Mothers continued to find and pick-up bits and pieces. "From now on, every Friday this is happening," declared Linda, one of the management team under Lucy.
Meanwhile, Ruth, MOF Treasurer, organising trip funds for various purposes, for example an envelope with enough to buy 500 pairs of shoes - a need brought to our attention by the Mothers and Matrons
There's a lot to track financially on these visits, and we all really appreciate Ruth's perfect blend of pecuniary precision and passion for the purpose.
A fishmonger in the nearest town, Mchinji
Next! Thompson Chipeta drove Gillian, Phil and Ruth and I into town - the ladies hoping for final
chitenge finds (fabric: very beautiful and characteristically Malawian prints. See
emeraldstitcher for Ruth's creations out of this, to support girls' further education here) - and the lads hoping to sell 4kg of frozen tilapia! On the way, we discuss a possible location for a rubbish incinerator.
Thompson and Joseph Chipeta (left and right) discussing the price of fish
"Maldeco" is a large commercial fishery in Malawi, for which Rebecca is the "appointed retailer" in Mchinji. "It's win-win," she says. "We can sell fish from Home of Hope really fast, and we know it's helping the children." Nevertheless she's a business woman, and gives us the going rate for this size of fish: 6,500 Malawi Kwacha per kg. "The price is higher when Lake Malawi is closed for fishing," she reminds us. For 6 months out of the year, starting each October, fish stocks in the 365km-long lake are allowed to recover, covering the main breeding season. Phil's mental calendar whirrs. "We know when we'll be wanting to time harvests at Home of Hope, then!" More whirring. "I reckon restaurants are going to be where the real money is." Phil's in the [very large] building trade, but I'm not sure for how much longer ;).
Other fish on sale: "small ndunduma" from Lake Malawi - something like sardines
We go away happy, with cash to bank and dreams of the next catch.
It hadn't been ideal fishing conditions for Gillian and Ruth. "Perhaps it's cost of living pressure," they mull. "The fabric vendors aren't carrying much cotton chitenge, but man-made-fibre at around a third of the price instead. It's the cotton we're after." Malawi is not isolated from global financial conditions: COVID, Ukraine - the waves are still breaking here via the price of commodities like fuel and fertilizer.
We've a couple of hours before lunch, and another important topic to cover: macadamia saplings as an "Enterprise". With agreement that the macadamia nursery will be run as a distinct business - investment coming through Malawi Orphan Fund, and post-re-investment profits going to Home of Hope General Operations, we shake on it and make the funding formal.
These are big moments. Success in these revenue-generating projects will open doors (gates, even - see yesterday's post) to many more.
Our days here are not all about business and planning meetings! Jo started coming to Home of Hope in 2011 as a leader with our first Youth Group trip. Many young adults here have known her since they were little. It's a beautiful bond.
How far ahead can you see? When Lerato, Thandi and Mwai above are perhaps themselves grandmothers, what will be the Malawi of those grandchildren? What kinds of lives will they themselves look back on?
This afternoon Ruth led a session regarding the future of Home of Hope, with the future of Home of Hope: the young generation of leaders that is already taking over from Rev and Mrs Chipeta, and even their daughter Lucy the Executive Director. Succession here is assured. Ruth took us back over a document she compiled a couple of years ago from a Vision meeting, when with us the leaders of this place cast their minds forward - one, three, five .. fifteen years - and dared to dream. It was a revelation. On a hard march, your legs won't congratulate you - they hurt. It's necessary to stop and look at the map.
It's very significant that among the aspirations we marked off today as Done, or at least Doing, are those that will lead this remarkable village towards independence - the very vision held up for each child. Fish ponds - splashing! Bee hives - buzzing (years ahead of schedule)! Vocational Training Centre as a major focus between MOF and HOH - in spades!
Can you hear those gates opening?
Alex, Gillian, Jo, Phil, Ruth
---
Thank you for reading our blog! Tomorrow at 9am we'll be on the road to Lilongwe, then flights home via Addis Ababa.
Would you like to help vulnerable and needy children in Malawi from Infancy to Independence?
- Child sponsorship encourages children through a sense of outside connection and support, and provides the Home with a valuable and reliable income stream through Malawi Orphan Fund.
- Is your church, school or other group looking for links through which to make a positive impact? Look no further! Invite to come and speak and share stories.
- Development investment opportunities here abound. Bring your business on board?
- Want to put on your adventure hat and join a team to Home of Hope?
- then get in touch.
If you're in and around Bedford, UK, a couple of opportunities coming up:
- Light lunch with the team and a post-trip presentation
12.30pm to eat (come early and chat) 15th Sept, Christ Church, Dudley St, Bedford, MK40 3SX. If you'd like to, bring a cake to share. - A concert! Come and hear Bedford-based opera singers Ed and Kay Grint sing in support of Malawi Orphan Fund:
3pm October 13th, St Paul's Church, Bedford, MK40 1SQ
Thank you.
P.S. We usually add a "postlude" once we're back home, to report progress on the various stories you've read about here. Fellow MOF Trustee Jane will be at Home of Hope later this month and will share news and photos! Do check back.
A.
Comments
Post a Comment