On July 25, Abusa (Pastor) Kelly Derrick, Lizzie Franz, Kathleen Radtke and Selise Miller from St. Philip, Roanoke, and Heidi Speakman from Trinity, Martinsville, begin their journey to Malawi, arriving in Lilongwe on the campus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Malawi (ELCM) on Sunday, July 26. We traveled over the country of Malawi until Aug. 11 before heading back to Virginia.

We visited the Mponela Parish where we made about 1500 bricks for a future parish center and the Chitenje Parish where we laid bricks for the new vestry. We had Bible studies with adults and children at both locations, giving the children a mirror so they could see themselves—many for the first time.

We were at Mponela for the dedication of a bore-hole well and a feeding center, a joint effort between Habitat for Humanity, Thrivent Builds, St. Philip and the ELCM. This center will provide a meal for kids under the age of 5, a porridge made from corn and soy flour, oil and water, possibly the only meal they have for the day. The well, a gift from St. Philip, provides clean, safe water for drinking and cooking.

This three-hour celebration of singing, dancing, skits and speeches gave great praise to God. We attended church in Mponela, with Abusa Kelly taking part in the service and ordination of three new pastors. We were in church for six hours that day but the music provided by all the choirs was beautiful, a true testimony of their love for God.

In the second week, we traveled to different villages. We visited the Chigumukrie feeding center where they have been self-sustaining since 2009. They grow their own corn and soybeans, feeding an average of about 50 kids, six days a week, year-round. We gave health kits containing a towel, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb and Vaseline to the children. Thanks to the churches of St. Philip, Trinity and St. Michael’s,Blacksburg and two monetary gifts from individuals, we made 150 health kits and left supplies for more.

Many of the young kids were afraid of the Azungus (white people) but with the help of the older kids they came up. We left this village just as we were greeted with lots of singing and dancing.

We visited Liwonde National Park and saw a wide variety of God’s creations in their natural habitat. We saw elephants, hippos, baboons, kudus, impalas, warthogs. crocodiles, hartebeests, guinea fowls, peacocks, mongoose and bushbucks. We arrived at Luther Cottage on Lake Malawi for a very restful and serene sitting, spending two nights and awakening to lapping water and giving thanks for another of God’s wonderful works.

We visited the Malembo Health Clinic to talk about malaria. After a simple finger prick, patients are told in 20 minutes if they have the disease or not. They are given medicine (if available) and told to follow up if symptoms should not improve. Patients could have walked as far as 12-15 miles. Pregnant women and a baby are given a mosquito net. John Bvumbe, an ELCM worker in the HIV/AIDS-Malaria program, says that through educational programs they have seen a drop in malaria cases but still have a long way to go.

John took us to the village of Malembo where we were greeted with singing and dancing, These are very joyful souls. Villagers have established a “savings and loan program” where they can buy shares, receive dividends monthly and take out loans that have to be repaid in 30 days. From this, many members have opened a small business,  selling rice, oil, sodas, cookies, or goats with their small loan. They are able to buy netting to sleep under, improvements to their home, such as metal roofing, or donate money to the Health Clinic with their profits.

The drive from Luther Cottage to Lilongwe was beautiful. We traveled up mountains with unbelievable turns and thanks to our great driver, Dereck, we arrived back in Lilongwe safely on Saturday, Aug. 9.

On the last full day in Malawi, we worshiped at the Cathedral Church on the ELCM campus. Again the music was beautiful–youth choirs singing and drums playing. Music truly is a part of this nation. Abusa Kelly delivered a wonderful sermon with an interpreter speaking in Chichewa. After lunch we started packing to head home and hoping the suitcases were under the weight limit. We gathered after dinner to reflect on our trip and talk about plans for a 2016 trip.

Malawi is not a country rich in wealth but the people are rich in the love of each other, their country and customs. Malawi so long, we will keep you in our prayers.

Mulungu akudalitseni (God bless you)

You can read more about our trip at stphilipmalawimission.blogspot.com. If you would like to travel with us or support this mission. please contact St. Philip Lutheran, Roanoke or stphiliplutheran.net.

by: Selise Miller