Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Home Again
We departed Lilongwe on 1/2/09 at 1pm; we arrived LAX on 1/3/09 at 5:30 pm, Add 10 hours of time change in the air (we were chasing a sunset for several hours) and you get our return trip travel time. I am no longer exhausted - but I woke up at 4 am today - strange. We are collecting our thoughts, and preparing presentations and articles reporting on our adventure. We are grateful for travel mercies and returning home un-harmed. Thank you for all of the prayers we received.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
January 2, 2009
We got up early today and packed up. We had had our last meal with John and said good-bye to "Salima Village". We had some time to meet with the senior management: Yobbie, Tom and Lillian. It was a pleasure to share our experiences with them and a time of prayer.
We boarded our first plane in Lilongwe at 1 pm, Mary greeted us at LAX on the third at 5:30 pm. Add 10 hours of time change and our return trip took just 38 1/2 hours. It felt like 39.
New Year's Day
Pike joined us for breakfast at Salima Village, then we walked together to Mgwayi village (about 1/2 mile from the Njewa / Salima village complex). Pike is the contact between the village partnership program and COTN. His college training, and his heart are in community development - bot
h spiritual and improving the community's health and nutrition. He recognizes that a family's situation can be significantly improved through improved animal husbandry in this rural community.
h spiritual and improving the community's health and nutrition. He recognizes that a family's situation can be significantly improved through improved animal husbandry in this rural community.In this village, COTN helps poor families with school supplies for younger children, and helps pay for school fees for older children.
Pike introduced me to several familes that were keeping animals in the village. One man was raising pigs in a very progr
essive way - on a cement floor, with good health care procedures. He was proud of his accomplishments and credited the methods he used 
for improvement in his familily's situation. We also met families raising goats, ducks, pigeons and chickens.
essive way - on a cement floor, with good health care procedures. He was proud of his accomplishments and credited the methods he used 
for improvement in his familily's situation. We also met families raising goats, ducks, pigeons and chickens.I am looking forward to working with Pike to further encourage good animal husbandry in the village. We took some time to discuss how we may work together in this area of community development.
In the afternoon, we drove into town (Lilongwe) to do some shopping, and later we accepted the offoer to relax and watch some television at Michelle's rental house at Njewa.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
12/31/08 (New Years Eve)
Definition - "The Squawk of Dawn": the time before sunrise when birds begin their twittering.
Clayton woke at the squawk of dawn to enjoy the breeze off the lake, lack of mosquitoes, and the chance to photograph a beautiful African
sunrise. He took one last swim with the fishes while I slept in. We enjoyed breakfast on the island and left paradise behind. On the way back we passed fishermen in dugout canoes.
Our driver (and the car with air conditioning) were there to meet us. At my dad's request Shannon McPhearson had arranged for u
s to visit Stuart Grants Fish Farm (http://www.lakemalawi.com/) on our return. The route was up to Salima then over to Senga Bay. We ate lunch at "Cool Runnings" a camp site with rentals available on the lake shore. After a short drive south on a very poor road be arrived at the fish farm. My dad was in bliss. They had a very large and complex series of tanks that he would be glad to tell you about when we are not so pressed for time.
Our instincts so far have been to flinch and look away when riding on the roads at speeds up to 150 km/hr through the people, bicycles, potholes, goats, chickens, and cows that live on the roadway. We have suppressed these instincts enough to closely observe the traffic traveling along the roads.
The people on the roads: some have shoes but most are barefoot. Most walk, a few have bicycles, some bicycles have pedals - some do not.
On women's heads we have seen: (for example) water, wood, maize (large bags), machette, umbrella (closed - not raining), and baskets of tomatoes.
On bicycles we have seen: huge stacks of firewood (think at least 10 feet high), charcoal, 50 kg bags of maize (about 5 bags to one bike, sometimes more), and last but not least a live goat.
Minibuses (usually a minivan or sometimes a 3 ton) offer public transportation on "major" "roads" - which are filled to at least triple capacity plus whatever those people happened to be carrying with them. Near the lake we noticed fish being transported by hanging outside of the minibus - off the rear hatch, dangling from antennas, or in front hanging from the windshield wipers.
We arrived "home" to Salima Village in time for Jeremiah's spaghetti dinner. We spent a few hours chatting with Michelle and Grandma Pat (and using their computer to update this blog). They spent several days after Christmas at the northern lake shore. We called home to wish our family Happy New Year (WE GOT THERE FIRST!) and turned in for the night.
Clayton woke at the squawk of dawn to enjoy the breeze off the lake, lack of mosquitoes, and the chance to photograph a beautiful African
sunrise. He took one last swim with the fishes while I slept in. We enjoyed breakfast on the island and left paradise behind. On the way back we passed fishermen in dugout canoes.Our driver (and the car with air conditioning) were there to meet us. At my dad's request Shannon McPhearson had arranged for u
s to visit Stuart Grants Fish Farm (http://www.lakemalawi.com/) on our return. The route was up to Salima then over to Senga Bay. We ate lunch at "Cool Runnings" a camp site with rentals available on the lake shore. After a short drive south on a very poor road be arrived at the fish farm. My dad was in bliss. They had a very large and complex series of tanks that he would be glad to tell you about when we are not so pressed for time.Our instincts so far have been to flinch and look away when riding on the roads at speeds up to 150 km/hr through the people, bicycles, potholes, goats, chickens, and cows that live on the roadway. We have suppressed these instincts enough to closely observe the traffic traveling along the roads.
The people on the roads: some have shoes but most are barefoot. Most walk, a few have bicycles, some bicycles have pedals - some do not.
On women's heads we have seen: (for example) water, wood, maize (large bags), machette, umbrella (closed - not raining), and baskets of tomatoes.
On bicycles we have seen: huge stacks of firewood (think at least 10 feet high), charcoal, 50 kg bags of maize (about 5 bags to one bike, sometimes more), and last but not least a live goat.
Minibuses (usually a minivan or sometimes a 3 ton) offer public transportation on "major" "roads" - which are filled to at least triple capacity plus whatever those people happened to be carrying with them. Near the lake we noticed fish being transported by hanging outside of the minibus - off the rear hatch, dangling from antennas, or in front hanging from the windshield wipers.
We arrived "home" to Salima Village in time for Jeremiah's spaghetti dinner. We spent a few hours chatting with Michelle and Grandma Pat (and using their computer to update this blog). They spent several days after Christmas at the northern lake shore. We called home to wish our family Happy New Year (WE GOT THERE FIRST!) and turned in for the night.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
December 30 - Mumbo Island
Mumbo Island is an absolute tropical paradise by any measure. The island is pristine - barely touched by man. The 5 bungalows are each private with spectacular views of the lake. There is an additional double bungalow for families. Tasty meals with fresh produce are served in the open air dining area. Words cannot describe the island - see the pictures. I will add that there is a regular rhythm of water lapping at the shore punctuated by b
ird calls. There are no mosquitoes on the island - only gnats. The green lush beauty of the rainy is achieved by 80-85 F, and either 90 - 100% (rain) humidity.
The bucket showers are quite comfortable (addition of heated water optional - not necessary).
Swimming next to the shore reminds me of Hawaii. The water is warm and the fish are beautiful and numerous. The freshwater is warm and clear. The bright blue sky of yesterday turned into overcast wind and clouds this afternoon. In the morning, Bryce and I paddled around the island; we ventured into a cave - disturbed a colony of bats - and quickly retreated. After lunch and a siesta in the hammock, we tool a hike across the island to pod rock. We d
iscovered the source of the name - pods from the overlying trees accumulate on top. The view was fabulous.
The breeze off the lake combined with the lack of mosquitoes combined for the best nights sleep we have had in Africa.
ird calls. There are no mosquitoes on the island - only gnats. The green lush beauty of the rainy is achieved by 80-85 F, and either 90 - 100% (rain) humidity.The bucket showers are quite comfortable (addition of heated water optional - not necessary).
Swimming next to the shore reminds me of Hawaii. The water is warm and the fish are beautiful and numerous. The freshwater is warm and clear. The bright blue sky of yesterday turned into overcast wind and clouds this afternoon. In the morning, Bryce and I paddled around the island; we ventured into a cave - disturbed a colony of bats - and quickly retreated. After lunch and a siesta in the hammock, we tool a hike across the island to pod rock. We d
iscovered the source of the name - pods from the overlying trees accumulate on top. The view was fabulous.The breeze off the lake combined with the lack of mosquitoes combined for the best nights sleep we have had in Africa.
December 29
We woke up before the sun today and were collected by Joel in a newish, perfected Ford expedition owned by Derek Macphearson's safari company. The 3 1/2 hour drive was our first experience on air conditioning since we left Dulles Airport. The landscape and details of the mud huts changed as we headed 
east to the lake, but much was the same. Hand dug rows of Maize are everywhere with occasional rows of tobacco in between.
There was no rain on our route this morning - sunny skies and white clouds greeted us. The last 18 Km of the trip as we pulled off the track to Monkey Bay was a washboard dirt dirt road through the a national park. We saw a few baboons peering through the brush.
The receptio
n at Kayak Africa on Cape McClear was comfortable and tastefully decorated. We could hear children playing in the waves and shade of the dockside sitting area. We enjoyed a 1 1/2 hour rest in our travels, expecting the boat at 10:30am. We made it to the island at noon in time to settle in before lunch.
In the evening, we took a cruise around the island in a motor boat with a family from South Africa. We lingered off the coast to take in the beautiful sunset.
east to the lake, but much was the same. Hand dug rows of Maize are everywhere with occasional rows of tobacco in between.There was no rain on our route this morning - sunny skies and white clouds greeted us. The last 18 Km of the trip as we pulled off the track to Monkey Bay was a washboard dirt dirt road through the a national park. We saw a few baboons peering through the brush.
The receptio
n at Kayak Africa on Cape McClear was comfortable and tastefully decorated. We could hear children playing in the waves and shade of the dockside sitting area. We enjoyed a 1 1/2 hour rest in our travels, expecting the boat at 10:30am. We made it to the island at noon in time to settle in before lunch.In the evening, we took a cruise around the island in a motor boat with a family from South Africa. We lingered off the coast to take in the beautiful sunset.
December 28
First thing this morning we finished our measurements on the fields by the river. We said our good-byes to Froedrick, his wife (whose birthday is today) and their son Blessings and their daughter Margaret. On the way "home" we stopped at the Macphearson farm and saw his processing area for his cattle, his animal records system, and veterinary supplies. We also visited his Butchery - a model of 
cleanliness and efficiency.
Derek had to cut our time short as he had been called away to a village that had been alarmed by a lion attacking their cattle. He planned to capture and relocate the lion. He offered that we could join him - we declined to continue on our schedule.
We returned t
o our "home" at Salima village, ate a fabulous tuna sandwich, and left for the nearby village of Mtsiliza. COTN feeds just under 500 children in this village once a day and also cares for orphans - one girl's and one boy's 
home. Mary and Innocent took turns proudly showing us their homes. We saw the facility used to fees the children (though they had finished by the time that we arrived).
cleanliness and efficiency.Derek had to cut our time short as he had been called away to a village that had been alarmed by a lion attacking their cattle. He planned to capture and relocate the lion. He offered that we could join him - we declined to continue on our schedule.
We returned t
o our "home" at Salima village, ate a fabulous tuna sandwich, and left for the nearby village of Mtsiliza. COTN feeds just under 500 children in this village once a day and also cares for orphans - one girl's and one boy's 
home. Mary and Innocent took turns proudly showing us their homes. We saw the facility used to fees the children (though they had finished by the time that we arrived).
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