Thursday, November 25, 2004
Start the count down...
One month until Christmas!!
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
A funeral
I'm actually kind of amazed that I have been in the country for almost 6 months and it has taken me this long to get to a funeral.
On Sunday afternoon, the son of a woman in our office passed away. He was 2 years and 4 months. He has been in and out of the hospital for about a month now, but it was still a pretty big shock. That afternoon, we gathered first at the hospital mortuary, and then at the family's home - the men waited outside, while the women went into the house. It had been cleared of all furniture, and we all sat on the ground. The casket was put in the middle of the room, and we sang hymns and prayed until the vehicles came. When someone dies in Malawi, her/his body is taken home - to wherever the person was born. This is the most expensive part of funerals - gas is not cheap here. So the body was taken to a village near the Zambian border on Sunday evening.
On Monday, we took two or three hospital vehicles to go to the funeral. There was a short service in the village, and then we walked to the grave site. There was a longer service here - the body was first put into the ground, and then speeches were made by the families, the hospital, the police (the boy's father is a police officer), and the village headmen. After the speeches, wreaths of flowers were laid on the site. There was a sermon after that, and then we ate lunch together.
Anyway, it was pretty sad. He was so young, and this family already has so many other issues that they are dealing with. Sadly, that's not unique in Malawi - everyone has issues that they are dealing with, aside from those closest to them dying.
Please keep my friend and her family in your prayers over the next few weeks.
On Sunday afternoon, the son of a woman in our office passed away. He was 2 years and 4 months. He has been in and out of the hospital for about a month now, but it was still a pretty big shock. That afternoon, we gathered first at the hospital mortuary, and then at the family's home - the men waited outside, while the women went into the house. It had been cleared of all furniture, and we all sat on the ground. The casket was put in the middle of the room, and we sang hymns and prayed until the vehicles came. When someone dies in Malawi, her/his body is taken home - to wherever the person was born. This is the most expensive part of funerals - gas is not cheap here. So the body was taken to a village near the Zambian border on Sunday evening.
On Monday, we took two or three hospital vehicles to go to the funeral. There was a short service in the village, and then we walked to the grave site. There was a longer service here - the body was first put into the ground, and then speeches were made by the families, the hospital, the police (the boy's father is a police officer), and the village headmen. After the speeches, wreaths of flowers were laid on the site. There was a sermon after that, and then we ate lunch together.
Anyway, it was pretty sad. He was so young, and this family already has so many other issues that they are dealing with. Sadly, that's not unique in Malawi - everyone has issues that they are dealing with, aside from those closest to them dying.
Please keep my friend and her family in your prayers over the next few weeks.
Monday, November 15, 2004
Back to work...
Well, Mom and Dad have made their way back to Canada. Kind of hard to believe that "last week we were chasing elephants", as Dad says. Our safari in Zambia was lovely; we saw tons of animals. On one of our night drives, we saw a lion chasing an impala (a type of antelope). My poor vegetarian heart took a bit of a beating :). My goodness - Zambia is so much hotter than Malawi. I couldn't believe it. And Malawi is cooking these days, so you can just imagine what our week was like. Speaking of which, my Radio Canada International news bulletin tells me this morning that Nova Scotia has received the season's first big snowfall. That just seems a world away right now! Anyway, the three of us went out for a lovely meal once back in Lilongwe, and then I saw them off at the airport and made the long drive back to Ekwendeni.
And now it is back to work. In a few weeks I will be heading to the south of Malawi to do some work there (both for the project and for my own research), so my time these days is pretty well devoted to organising that. My research proposal is also due in the very near future... trouble.
And now it is back to work. In a few weeks I will be heading to the south of Malawi to do some work there (both for the project and for my own research), so my time these days is pretty well devoted to organising that. My research proposal is also due in the very near future... trouble.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
My first visitors!
I should have written this entry earlier this week, but Mom, Dad and I have just been too busy! They arrived safely on Sunday, and luckily the weather was nice and cool for the 5 hour drive to Ekwendeni. Thanks to all of you who sent little prezzies with them - they are much appreciated! On Monday we went on a little tour of Ekwendeni, and had dinner with my neighbours, the Msowoyas. Mom and Dad eating nsima with their hands - they are good sports! On Tuesday we went into some of the villages around Ekwendeni. To sum up - Mom carried water on her head, Dad was dancing, and we were given a live chicken that soon became our lunch. On Wednesday we visited Livingstonia. It was really hot that day. My favourite Dad quote of the day - "I disagree with dress codes that aren't functional" - as he walked under the blazing sun in long pants. Thursday we slept in, and then headed for some relaxation time at the lake. Snorkelling, trying dugout canoes (nobody tipped!), and lots of book reading. Tomorrow, Dad will be preaching at church (only at the English service!) and then we will head down to Lilongwe. On Monday, we leave for our safari trip in South Luangwa Park in Zambia. Fun!
It has been so good to have Mom and Dad here - to show them around, to let them see what life is like for me here, just to hang out together. Next Friday will come much too soon!
It has been so good to have Mom and Dad here - to show them around, to let them see what life is like for me here, just to hang out together. Next Friday will come much too soon!
