Lost in Transition (Prayer Letter October 2022)

“Transition” has become life’s theme this year. There are many changes to update you on following a gap in our Partner Plan letters and an eventful past six months.

In April and May, work began apace at establishing my new role with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian. This meant wrapping up work with Church and Society and saying farewell to dear colleagues. I look back on almost four years of working together; those relationships with colleagues are perhaps the most substantial legacy. Time working, travelling and laughing together, sharing perspectives and frustrations were, I hope, of great benefit in both directions.

I have spent a lot of time on Malawi’s roads visiting the Synods and re-introducing myself. It was a listening tour, and I aimed to hear about the life of the church, particularly in its departments that serve the practical needs of Malawi like education, health and development. Working from the CCAP General Assembly, I will connect with the five synods across Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Under the title of ‘Capacity

Development Facilitator,’ my responsibilities will include supporting the General Assembly, Synods and their departments as they seek to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of their work. The primary way of doing this will be by supporting the development of upcoming leaders within the church. There will be plenty of time to explore these ideas in future letters!

With some groundwork in place, I travelled back to Scotland to reunite with the family who had travelled six weeks earlier. Our last UK visit was during the height of COVID-19 restrictions, so it was great to reconnect with family, friends, and so many supporting individuals and congregations. At General Assembly and Presbytery visits, I was reminded that the Kirk is going through many transitions too. We’re grateful to those who, during uncertainty, took the time to host and talk with us about the work of Christ’s church here in Malawi.

July brought a significant moment of change for our family. We were delighted to welcome Caitlin Rosie Brough to our wee clan. Morven and Eilidh have relished their promotions to big- and big-big-sister, respectively. We’re grateful for a safe delivery and good health for Jacqueline and Caitlin. These meant that we could return to Malawi on 1st September 2022 as planned – a feat I never imagined we’d manage together, so we thank God.

Our house and pets had been well looked after, and a well-stocked fridge welcomed us! Of course, we’re grateful to friends who kept an eye on things for us, but we’re incredibly grateful to our house staff. Our prolonged absence would undoubtedly have caused uncertainty, particularly when Malawi is experiencing sharp rises in costs of living fuelled by global trends and a currency devaluation, yet they remained diligent in their work.

Since returning, we’re still trying to find a new routine. We no longer live in boxes and suitcases like in the UK; we feel at home again. There are plenty of changes in our household – Morven has joined Eilidh in primary school, I’m adjusting to a role that will include remote and in-person working, and Jacqueline is balancing new priorities! We’re all adjusting to being a family of five.

Some of this transition looks set to continue for a while to come, and we’re learning to be okay with that. It does make life’s everyday bumps feel a little harder at times. But it also reminds us that the true constant in our lives is our Father God, our salvation in Christ and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:1-2

As ever, our letter comes with gratitude for your prayerful support, which is often a reminder of God’s constant love and protection.

As I hinted above, this is a challenging time for Malawi. A weakened Kwacha and lack of foreign exchange mean there is little protection from the current global financial crisis. This is compounded by the fact that development partners are continuing to keep their focus closer to home. There is currently a fuel crisis across the country. People are spending hours in lines, often sleeping in or abandoning their vehicles, hoping to find fuel at the pumps. Prices of everyday essentials are increasing, and the upcoming farming year is overshadowed by a shortage of (usually imported) fertilisers.

Yet we are not like those with no hope. As the church, there is an opportunity to be present with people in these trials. I look forward to the opportunity to support my colleagues here as they respond to the needs of their communities.

Every blessing,

Gary, Jacqueline, Eilidh, Morven and Caitlin x