A letter from Rochelle and Tyler Holm in Malawi
Winter 2013
Greetings from Malawi during this Christmas Season—
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Mzuzu market—Christmas hats
As we have been in Malawi for over a year, we are continuing to settle in and also appreciating differences between Malawian and American culture. In Malawi the vast majority of people are Christians and therefore it is interesting to see the differences in how the holiday is celebrated. Some things are universal; the importance of gathering with family and friends is a part of celebrations around the world. On this note we are happy to have just celebrated pre-Christmas at Lake Malawi with some American, Dutch and South African friends. Their large families adopted us and it was a wonderful time of fellowship, good food, and sharing of joys. Malawian celebrations are continuing to be influenced by American celebrations, but things are still much less commercialized here. Some of the big chain stores are starting to decorate with Christmas lights and decorations. What we don’t see are Christmas lights lining the city streets, Christmas carolers, neighbors' houses filled with decorations, or Advent wreaths at church. We were quite surprised, though, to find a stall at the local food market selling Christmas fur hats when the temperature was in the 80-90° F range. Despite the differences and missing family and friends in the States, we are excited that the holidays have given us some time to relax from work, visit with people here, and remember the reason for our service in Malawi.
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Jealous on his internship in 2012
Tyler’s work at the University of Livingstonia is on a long break between terms and for Christmas. The second semester of the calendar is scheduled to start up on January 6. Tyler appreciates this schedule at the University of Livingstonia College of Theology because it has given him a good break between terms; he will be teaching two new courses and has many lesson plans needing to be written. Once the term begins he will be very busy teaching a total of four courses.
Rochelle has been working the last two months on a large water quality investigation in the North and Central regions. In 2012 Rochelle had two Mzuzu University students working with her on her doctorate, water quality research in Mzuzu. At the time these interns were in their third year studying to be chemistry teachers. When they started their internship with Rochelle they had never collected a water sample or performed analysis due to a lack of testing supplies in the University teaching laboratories.
Since then they have both graduated, and one of them, Jealous, has now joined the Centre of Excellence in Water and Sanitation as a full-time water quality technician. Jealous is from the Northern region, speaks five of the local languages, and is the only one in his family to have been to college.
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Now in 2013 as a full-time Centre water quality technician
Just as Jealous started as a student at the Centre on an internship, in January 2014 there will be two more Mzuzu University students on internship with the current water quality investigation. These students will be in their third year and are studying in the Water Resources Department. They again will be sponges for hands-on experience just as Jealous was in 2012. The current investigation not only helps us understand the water quality in the region but is also building up trained scientists with valuable practical experience for their future employment. Although Rochelle does not lecture at Mzuzu University, in 2013 a total of 10 undergraduate students were on a research internship at some point in the year from the Mzuzu University Chemistry, Biology and Water Resources Departments. Pertinently, it is exciting that the interns starting in January 2014 from Mzuzu University will be trained in the water quality lab, not by Rochelle but by Jealous.
2013 was quite an exciting year for us, and we have been blessed with so much. Thank you for partnering with us to serve alongside the people of Malawi, and we are grateful for you. There are many ways to partner with us in the coming year:
1. Prayer support.
2. Engaging with the mission ministry so that you learn what to pray for.
3. Financial support.
Wishing you and your family a 2014 full of happiness, laughter, family and adventure!
Tyler and Rochelle Holm
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 143
Read more about Rochelle and Tyler Holm's ministry
Write to Rochelle Holm (rochelle.holm@pcusa.org)
Write to Tyler Holm (tyler.holm@pcusa.org)
Individuals:Give toE074868 for Rochelle and Tyler Holm's sending and support
Congregations: Give toD507572 for Rochelle and Tyler Holm's sending and support
