Rainy Days

It is great we have had rainy days recently.  People are celebrating because the water is needed for the maize and for the reservoirs; very quickly the roads and paths get muddy and slippy. Usually it rains for a several hours then the sun comes out making it lovely and hot again.

Back To School

We have started back teaching our English Language Conversation classes.  The first lesson was about our Scottish Hogmanay Celebration so we gave the students some homemade shortbread which they enjoyed very much.

A taste of Scotland - shortbread for everyone.

Students involved in one of the group activities 

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Visiting Friends

Everyone here in Mzuzu has made us feel very welcome.  During the Christmas period we visited Mr Mvula's home to meet some of his family.  Mr Mvula is the link person between Katawa Primary CCAP and Caledonia Primary.

Mr Mvula, hiss 2 sons and grandaughter Stella

Mrs Mvula with Moses and Bonaventure, her grandsons

Paul and I with Bonaventure

Weather

We have been waiting on the rains. Although this is the rainy season, we have had very little rain.  It has only felt like a sprinkling of water on us occasionally. A couple of mornings over the past month we have had some rain but then the sun quickly comes and dries up the ground.  At least the temperature cools a little with the water.  Today we have been hearing thunder in the distance and it has been very, very hot so I think some rain will arrive.

Thunder rolling over.

In Mzuzu, we are needing rain and so are many other parts of the country.  The water table is low so on occasion we are experiencing low water pressure.  Fortunately we still have water but in some areas near us there is no water available for one or 2 days. People have planted the maize seed in the fields so now they are hoping the rain will come to ensure the yield will be good.  We were told it is actually good for the crops to have some ran then sunshine, rather than rain continuously.  Everyone claims global warming is responsible for the lack of rain and the hot temperatures in Mzuzu at this time.

Susanne & Annika shelter from a little rain in Mzuzu.

Christmas Celebration

We attended Mass at St. Peter's Cathedral on Christmas Eve at 8p.m.  Mass started in candlelight then when Baby Jesus was born all the lights came on and the bells were ringing.  There was a lot of singing, dancing and rejoicing. The church was decorated with balloon, tinsel and an artificial Christmas tree.  A life size crib was at the front of church made from banana leaves and branches from the trees.

Mr Thomas Mvula on the right in the photo above is the DHt at Katawa CCAP Primary and link person to Caledonia Primary.

Chaka Chiweme

Chaka Chimweme - Happy New Year to everyone, particularly the pupils at St. Mary's, St. Mark's and Caledonia Primary as well as everyone at St. Matthew's Academy.

On Hogmanay we attended Mass to bring in the New Year.  At midnight there was lots of singing and dancing then outside bangers were set off; a real celebration.

Special thanks to Caledonia primary for the gift of a Scottish Calendar which is now hanging in our living room.  The photo for this month is a highland cow.  I know it will be admired by all our visitors.

Mary Martha Christmas Celebration

Christmas time again at Mary Martha was celebrated on Wednesday 23 December due to the kindness once again from the community of St. Matthew’s Academy. Although prices have increased greatly due to the fall of the Malawian kwacha, Rodrick was able to get enough meat for everyone – offal.  For us offal is not something we would eat but here the children and adults were over the moon to receive it.  When we arrived the food was being cooked by the ladies and the men were starting to get the children organised for receiving their Christmas dinner.  YES – this is their Christmas dinner; meat, nsima, rice and greens.  It is still hard for us to take in that the children only receive meat at this time.  If they are very, very, lucky another donor may give funds for food. Someone explained that many of the children may only eat one meal per day – nsima and greens.

Many children, from the very young to the teenagers lined up patiently for their dinner then they sat and chatted as they ate.  Smiles all round.

The many volunteer helpers were extremely touched to receive the tops from St. Matthew’s bearing NAAC and they were only too happy to pose for a photo.

The children were very excited to receive the Christmas gifts carefully wrapped by St. Matthew’s pupils and they happily read the beautiful Christmas cards containing good wishes at this time of year.  After the giving of the gifts one of the helpers with a child on her back danced with the empty box which had previously contained the Christmas gifts. This was followed by the children singing songs of praise then several speeches praising and thanking their friends at St. Matthew’s Academy and in their community.

New Friends

Annika and Susanne are staying at Nkhamenya for 6 months at the Secondary School.  They came for a short break to Mzuzu so they stayed several nights with us.  we visited Mary Martha Orphan Care Centre.  Rodrick showed the girls the fresh pineapple plant growing in the garden.

Anyone who comes to stay with us is given the opportunity to cook a dish.  Annika and Susanne prepared a delicious Austrian dessert - Kaiserschmarren mit Affelmus.

Party Time at Women's Development

On the day the schools closed 18 December the ladies at the Women's Development Centre organised the Christmas Party for the children.  The party was scheduled to start at noon.  We organised the decorating at the Centre with the children; blowing up balloons, making decorations and looking out some of the decorations from last year.  The older girls and ladies set about preparing the food and lighting the fires.  We had a little rain previously so charcoal had to be purchased to get the fires going as some of the wood was still wet.

Chopping wood for the fire

Decorating the Centre

Cooking has started

Everyone was excited as they looked forward to the party food and gift from St. Matthew's Academy. The children had plenty to eat; rice, meat, greens potato and a bottle of Fanta or Coke (a real treat).  Some children as usual came prepared with a small container or bag to take away a little food for eating later or to share with others at their home.

Hand washing

Enjoying the food

Fr. Joseph, a Nigerian priest who is at the Parish to learn Chitumbuka joined the celebration too. Gifts were warmly received and luckily the candy Sticks we had carried were still in one piece so all the children and helpers were able to receive one.  There was a lot of laughter, singing, dancing and a prayer of thanks.