A letter from Debbie Chase in Malawi
August 31, 2009
Dear Friends,
Warm greetings from Malawi!
Students singing during morning devotion.
Whenever we celebrate Holy Communion as Presbyterians in the northern region of Malawi, whether worshiping in English or Chitumbuka, we always begin and end the service singing the Communion hymn, “Behold the holy Lamb of God, behold the man that bears for us a heavy load.” I have often thought that was a fitting way for the people of Malawi to express the grace they experience through Christ. For the people of Malawi daily carry heavy loads. Women walk miles carrying heavy loads of water, maize or firewood on their heads and an infant swaddled on their back and toddlers by their side. Men cycle uphill and down carrying heavy loads of timber, or you may see a furniture deliverer in the city of Mzuzu pushing a wheelbarrow up a hill with sofa and large chairs lying across the top. It is a balancing act to carry these heavy loads, and if your foot slips or your strength weakens or you lose you balance, it can be very costly.
Malawians carry other heavy loads: being a resident of the fifth-poorest country in the world, with malnutrition, unclean water and lack of adequate shelter and medical care and where 15 percent of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS, where death rules the day and thousands of children are orphaned, the heavy burden of school fees beyond the means of most parents. The load is indeed heavy for the people of Malawi. Yet through it all the light of amazing grace glimmers. Help comes from the body of Christ, the people of God and the load is lightened, the burden shared.
The College of Theology has had its own heavy load to carry, as we began second semester with 24 new first-year students, who joined our 14 third- and fourth-year students. We faced the challenges of inadequate dormitory and classroom space, the need for more beds, desks and chairs, insufficient lecturers to teach the courses for three different programs and the ongoing challenge of feeding students and paying staff while looking for funds to expand our overcrowded facilities.
As in the past, God has surprised us, and ongoing support from God’s faithful people has seen us through. Ekwendeni Girls Secondary School lent us desks for three weeks, giving us time to have desks made. Gifts of student sponsorships, donations to the general budget and offerings of food lighten our daily load. Our students sleep without complaint four and five in each ten-foot square bedroom. They huddle together in our cramped library, which is a classroom with 3,000 books, to do research and study. They work diligently, perform well and are an inspiration to us, which lightens our load. We experienced grace beyond measure when partners helped us construct a house for female students. When they learned we had no women students in residence and needed more classroom space, they gave us their blessing to use the house temporarily for classrooms. We do have two female non-residential students, and a room in the new house is being made into a lounge for their use. With the help of our partners, we hope to have more women candidates for the ministry next year.
The wedding ceremoney of student Corneluis Mwanza.
We have also experienced those times of conflict that seem to come more frequently when everyone is carrying a heavy load. But the Lord has brought us together to meet this challenge, helping us to find a way to bear one another’s burdens with patience, forgiveness, understanding and love. Indeed, our load is lightened as we worship and fellowship together, as we laugh and commiserate, resolve conflicts and start anew, as we celebrate the life of each member of our community. One such celebration was the wedding of fourth-year student Cornelius Mwanza. Another was a celebration to bid farewell to founding principal, the Rev. Dr. D.S. Mwakanandi, and to the Rev. David Steele, our New Testament lecturer. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and countless contributions to establish the college and teach and shape quality ministers for Malawi.
Founding Principal Dr. D.S. Mwakanandi was honored at his farewell celebration.
I am scheduled to be in the United States on interpretation assignment from January to June 2010. I would be greatly honored to receive an invitation from your church or organization to tell you more about Malawi. To date, I am scheduled to speak at churches and gatherings in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Washington, California and Michigan. There still remain many weekday slots to fill and the following weekends are open: January 16-17, January 23-24, February 27-28, March 13-14, March 20-21, March 27-28, April 10-11, April 17-18, May 29-30 and June 5-6.
To schedule a speaking engagement, please contact me at dachase26@africa-online.net or Julie Burton, director of congregational resources of Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery at (800) 533-1324 or eop-rc@sbcglobal.net.
We in Malawi remember that you also carry the heavy load of this global economic recession. Many have lost jobs or experienced significant losses. You face the challenges of providing quality health care for all and decreasing the carbon footprints for the health and welfare of future generations. Please know we share your heavy load. May your burden be lightened by our love and prayers as together we trust in the grace of Christ who shares with us the heavy load and inspires the God-surprises that give us hope for a brighter tomorrow for all God’s children.
Grace and Peace,
Debbie
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 44
