A letter from Debbie Chase in Malawi
December 2011
Graduation at the College of Education Auditorium
Dear Friends,
Joyous Advent and Christmas greetings!
During Advent we prepare for the joyous celebration of the birth of Christ through whom all our hopes and fears are met. Traditionally Advent has been a time to reflect upon our lives, a time to remember the joys and the sorrows, the faithfulness and unfaithfulness of our lives. Indeed, there is much to reflect upon in the past year that fills us with much sorrow related to the economic and political state of affairs in the United States, Malawi and throughout the world, and we may wonder if the people of the world will ever find that peace and joy, love and justice that often seems so elusive these days.
College of Theology Graduates
As we of the College of Theology look back over the past few months we look upon trying times: Financial Challenges—delays in paying monthly salaries; Life and Death Challenges—the death of a daughter of one of our students and many other deaths of extended family and friends; The Political and Economic Challenges of the Nation—people gathering for peaceful demonstrations, going on strike and petitioning the government to resolve the current economic crisis and end the suppression of human rights, events that were marked by government intolerance, threats, abuse, tear gas, and death. As these matters of grave concern remain unresolved the local currency continues to devaluate, now at MK 166 to the U.S. dollar and predicted to go lower. Fuel shortages along with the U.S., U.K. and other governments imposing economic sanctions on Malawi due to human rights abuses contribute to rising prices: petrol now is at $9.92 a gallon and bread, sugar, maize and other basic commodities have increased in price by 38 percent over the past four months.
All of these events are deeply felt and experienced in the lives of our students, faculty members and their families, and we reflect upon what we could have done differently or better or what we failed to do to overcome these adverse circumstances and bring forth justice and abundant life. Through refection we once again encounter within us and amongst us the sincere hope and deep belief in the promise of redemption for the future. This promise and hope flows forth from the crucible of the refining fire of these challenging times as the grace and love of God and God’s faithful people lift us above the storm through countless blessings.
Rev. Debbie Chase, Yamikani Hara and Dr. Joel
Among these blessings are the gifts of new life, redeeming life: children born to our students; a stronger sense of community amongst faculty and students; messages, phone calls, prayers, solidarity and support from all of you. These are among the many grace-filled moments, showers of blessings, that daily sustain us and give us determination and hope to strive to make this world a better place as we courageously walk into God’s future together. Thank you for sharing the journey. Your fellowship, the communion and presence of your lives with us, makes a difference, gives us hope and life!
Graduation was a time of great blessing, a wonderful celebration and time of rejoicing! The University of Livingstonia conferred the Bachelor of Education degree on 50 College of Education students and the Bachelor of Theology degree on five College of Theology students. See pictures below of four of our five College of Theology graduates. We deeply regret that our fifth graduate, Ms. Ruth Kumwenda, was ill with malaria and graduated in absentia. Thankfully she is now well.
Our two female graduates, Ms. Ruth Kumwenda and Ms. Agnes Kachali, were both primary schoolteachers who entered our bachelor degree program to upgrade their education. They are now serving as secondary schoolteachers. Our other three graduates (Rev. Lewis Mwazembe, Rev. Witcane Gama and Rev. Reuben Msowoya) are ordained ministers of the Word and Sacrament who were serving congregations prior to entering the bachelor degree program. They are now once again serving as pastors of congregations and leaders in the community. We give thanks to God and God’s faithful people who have made this possible!
College of Theology Principal Dr. Overtoun Mazunda
Graduation celebrations began with a baccalaureate service of worship in which Rev. Dr. Joel Manda preached on the vocation and calling of these future leaders and the principals of the Colleges of Education and Theology shared wisdom to guide them into the future. "Renewing Tradition for Shaping the Future" was the graduation theme. Scottish missionary, minister and medical doctor, Rev. Dr. Robert Laws, who established Livingstonia Mission in 1878, was remembered for his focus on education. In partnership with the people of Malawi Robert Laws helped to established 700 schools, and he envisioned a university as well, a dream that remained unfulfilled until the Synod of Livingstonia established the University of Livingstonia in 2003. Mr. Yamikana Hara, a third year College of Theology student, was given the honor of presenting Dr. Law’s moderator’s hat (in the box—see photo) to the vice chancellor, who capped each student with the hat to symbolize the tradition being passed on to them and the call upon them to take this tradition into the future to give life to the people of Malawi.
Such memorable moments of redeeming grace inspire us to go into the future with a hope that cannot be extinguished by the stormy gales of this earthly life. The incarnation of God through Jesus Christ who came into our world to give us redeeming life 2,000 years ago remains a living presence with us today through the Spirit of Christ who dwells within us. You and I and people throughout the world are the body of Christ here on earth. Christ’s love and compassion and justice are made real as we give our lives in Christ-like love to one another.
O come to us, abide in us, our Lord Immanuel! A Joyous Christmas to you all!
Grace and Peace,
Debbie
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 67
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 106
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