Prayer Letter: February 2020

Malawi, like much of Africa, has a reputation for having a slower pace of life. However, that does not seem to marry with our experience as it feels like a few weeks since our last letter and it is actually over two months ago. While it is true there are many things that can’t be hurried (almost anything involving official documents) the rhythms of work and family life continue at a pace.

Before the busyness began, we enjoyed a lovely Christmas and New Year with Jacqueline’s parents free from the commercial and social trappings that we are used to from home. We had a great festive gathering with fellow Christian workers from various parts of the world. We managed to turn-out Christmas dinner between the water and power outages. Then we set off to explore Malawi and even managed a great lion sighting between the hunderstorms.

Back to ‘normality’ I have quarterly busy spells at work when reports are due and funders advertise new funding opportunities. Funding continues to be a challenge as the political uncertainty is causing many donors to put off their funding decisions. We’re grateful for support from Bargeddie, Greenhills and St. Blane’s congregations along with family and friends for their recent gifts which have been invaluable in this lean spell.

Part of this money has enabled us to pilot a new initiative to address the issue of child sexual assault. We’ve been able to bring the police, court and social welfare together to begin reviewing cases so that we can develop targeted activities to prevent such crimes and also to ensure cases are managed more effectively.

Jacqueline has also been incredibly busy. The family centre she is volunteering with is well into its building work now. Her role in helping with financial administration is at a key stage as the charity manages building expenses and prepares for full operation. She’s perhaps busier still editing a handbook for a community training programme to reduce lower back pain and injuries – a huge issue for those facing the toils of rural village life.

Eilidh and Morven are continuing to enjoy school and nursery. The pace of life of that age (6 and 2 now) shows no sign of being influenced by ‘Malawi time’.

After months of waiting for the outcome of a court case disputing the result of last year’s presidential elections, we gathered round to hear the radio broadcast the news that the result was to be nullified. While appeals have been lodged, work must still begin to prepare for a rerun within 150 days.

The outcome has been generally well-received in our part of Malawi at least, and thankfully there has been no further violence. Demonstrations are continuing as, buoyed by the court decision, they seek the removal of election officials. If the rerun is to go ahead this will be a huge effort for Malawi and frustrations will continue to run high as efforts are made to rebuild trust in the electoral process.

This is not our politics, but still, we celebrate with our Malawian friends and colleagues as they have fought hard to defend the credibility of their elections and the value of their votes. Recently, however, Morven and I joined in a demonstration calling for action to defend the rights of women and girls and to protect them from violence. There have been a number of incidents recently, including in Mzuzu, of girls being stripped of their clothes in public because they were dressing ‘immodestly’. It was a small, peaceful march through town with a fair amount of dancing on the way with similar marches held across the country.

Preparations are in full swing for us to be home (28 March – 10 May) which will mark the half-way point of my contract in Mzuzu. I’ve put some dates after the letter but more details should be available locally or feel free to get in touch. We’re looking forward to reconnecting with those who are following our adventures and praying with us.

We expect to be moving to a new house before we’re back home. We’re in a private rental and a church house has come up – complete with an established veg garden, chickens and a swing! The slow pace of decision-making and administration is in great contrast to the speed at which things actually happen once they’ve been decided. We’re making preparations in case we get a few hours’ notice that we have to move!

We look forward to enjoying the slow Africa that people talk about. For now, we appreciate your prayers in a busy period and look forward to seeing you soon.

Blessings

Gary, Jacqueline, Eilidh and Morven x

P.S. This post is the same as our ‘Partner Plan’ prayer letter which is sent out by the Church of Scotland.

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Home Visits

Dumfries and Kirkcudbright Presbytery

28th March – 6th April

• 29th Kirkcudbright Parish Church
• 30th Fellowship Dinner, Ken Bridge Hotel
• 31st Kirkmichael, Tinwald and Torthorwald
• 2nd Nithsdale Guilds
• 4th World Mission Conference, Kirkpatrick Durham
• 5th New Abbey Parish Church

Hamilton Presbytery

17th – 26th April

• 18th Guild Gathering, Dalziel St Andrew’s
• 19th Morning service, Cambusnethan Old & Morningside
• 19th Evening service, Claremont
• 21st Greenhills Discussion Group
• 22nd Musical Evening, St Columba’s
• 25th Afternoon Tea, Blantyre Old
• Entertainment evening, Cambusnethan North
• 26th Overtown Parish Church

We’re also at St Blane’s Church, Dunblane on 26th April and Kirkintilloch Baptist Church on 9th and 10th May.

This is not an exhaustive list and is subject to change. More information is available through presbytery mission conveners or feel free to drop us a line.