To Chipoka

One day break gives us just enough time to do some wash and tell you about the excitement as food was distributed in the area of Chipoka, a district that lies along Lake Malawi but just doesn’t get enough regular rainfall.

On Monday we drove the beautiful road to Salima and on to Chipoka. The landscape is magnificent! Three months ago the land was dry and brown. But as soon as the rains began a wonderful transformation also began. The whole land becomes a beautiful, green garden all tilled by hand! The hope also blossoms for blessings of God.

As we drive along we love seeing all the people who take the same road as a footpath to school, markets or to their gardens carrying their hoes on their heads.

I can’t get enough of the baobab trees. They each seem to have their own character and the stories about the trees are plentiful. Actually the stories are all told under the baobab tree!

The off loading went well. One thousand bags of 50 kg each filled the church from back to front five bags high. The pastor was overjoyed. Because we had to buy maize flour this time, the young men who did the off loading turned quite white and needed as shower of sorts!

At the first distribution day, Henni had the privilege of sharing our love from the churches of Canada with a few words and Hans did the same the second day. The first day was extremely hot and fortunately a little cooler the next day. But how patiently the people listen to all the speeches and prayers that must be made before the actual distribution can begin.

Imagine the folks who are lifting bag after bag and so when a different village gets its turn, new lifters take a shift. The elderly often had someone with them to carry their bag and often the very ill or handicapped would have someone else come to pick up their bag. Hans probably carried over a dozen bags out himself, a few bags to the side of the road. It was so appreciated but today his shoulders are still feeling it!

It was a day of celebration and all the singing and dancing was in thankfulness to God, the God of all, Canadians and Malawians included.