A letter from Debbie Chase in Malawi
April 2012
Dear Friends,
Holy Week greetings from Malawi!
Holy Week! It is a time of deep reflection as we relive the events that take place when Jesus enters into Jerusalem knowing he will be beaten, mocked and crucified, yet never swerving from his mission to overcome sin and evil with goodness and love. He does not take up the sword to defend himself. Through suffering and death his love remains steadfast, as he says, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Deep darkness covers the earth at midday as Jesus is nailed to the cross, his suffering so great that he says, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and then he says, “It is finished,” and he breathes his last breath, and the earth shakes and the rocks split and then there is silence, and it seems that the powers of darkness have triumphed.
During these challenging times in Malawi, at the College of Theology and throughout the world, it sometimes seems as though darkness has overcome us and gained the victory, and we wonder: Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? But then I remember we carry the light and love of the Risen Christ within us through these difficult times.
The political-economic climate of the nation remains tense without resolution as the scarcity of fuel increases, the cost of basic commodities rises daily, foreign currency remains in short supply, and the threat to dissent looms strong, resulting in the suspension of foreign donations, which account for almost half of the national budget. The atmosphere is tense. People are weary, discouraged, restive, not knowing where to turn or what to do. The church and civil society along with the government make empty promises. Leadership is easily bought into compliance, their palms oiled with Malawi kwacha by the powers that be. Yet there remains a faithful remnant of people who risk speaking out, putting their lives on the line. They are light in the darkness and hope for tomorrow.
For members of the faculty who live in Mzuzu just getting to the college at Ekwendeni has become a daily challenge due to the tremendous shortage of fuel. My car has sat in my driveway on empty for over a week because of no gasoline in Mzuzu. Daily now we take a taxi to and from Ekwendeni, a 15-mile journey, twice a day. The taxi drivers often get their fuel from the black market, which costs them about $15 a gallon and this fuel is often laced with kerosene.
At the College of Theology we began the January semester a month late due to financial constraints. Though our overseas partners remain faithful in giving, support from our Malawian Presbyterian church has been waning due in part to these challenging economic times during this global economic recession but also as a result of divisions within the church and a loss of vision for the future. This scenario should sound familiar to those of us who are Presbyterians in the United States since our own denomination, the PC(USA), is experiencing similar struggles.
To address these challenges the college faculty has held ongoing meetings and the college leadership has met numerous times with synod officials to find a way forward, to establish a common vision and mutual commitment for the future of the college. Sometimes we feel like we are groping in the darkness to find our way when a shared vision seems elusive. Then we catch glimmers of resurrection light and hope through the devotion and perseverance of our faculty, messages and gifts of encouragement from overseas partners, and generous gifts from individual Malawians that sustain us.
Our students and their families are adversely impacted by these challenging times. It becomes difficult to focus their attention on their studies as they listen to the news and worry about the future of their nation and worry about their families who experience the financial hardship of these times. When we meet weekly to discuss their practical work in the churches we hear that our students experience that the church has lost its way in the world, floundering and swept away by every wind of change. We share their concerns. We counsel them. We worship and fellowship together, sharing joy and sorrow. Through the grace of God they continue to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God so that they will carry the light and hope and new life in Christ within them into a hurting world.
When I’m discouraged a good friend of mine loves to remind me that I once told her that “God is in the struggle.” We walk on not knowing what the future holds. I guess that’s why we speak of walking in faith, not by sight, trusting in the one who created and redeemed us in love, the one who is with us every step of the way as we relinquish full control and place our lives into the loving embrace of our Risen Lord.
We send our deep gratitude to all of you for your steadfast love and encouragement, your support and your prayers that lighten our load and are light in the darkness to us.
The children of Malawi are also light and hope and life to us!
Wishing you a Blessed Holy Week and A Joyous Easter!
Grace and Peace,
Debbie
Rev. Deborah A. Chase
http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/chased.htm
P.S. On Maundy Thursday the President of Malawi died from a massive heart attack. Vice President Joyce Banda was sworn in as president on Saturday. Those who were trying to unconstitutionally usurp the presidency from her were a minority. She will need wisdom, perseverance and support to turn around the current downward economic spiral. I think donor nations are ready to work with her. We hope Malawi parliamentarians are also ready and willing to unite and work under her leadership. We are hopeful and thankful!
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 106
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