The Festive Season

The days prior to Christmas here is very different from Scotland.  There is not the same anticipation or rush about the shops.  In fact you hardly notice Christmas is coming; Shoprite has a Christmas tree at the entrance and even some Christmas music playing and the Coffee Den has put a little tree on the counter.  However, there are little developments as this year the workers in Shoprite were wearing red and white Christmas hats.

It is not part of tradition here to put Christmas trees up in houses although the national newspaper did have an article describing how some people could prepare their house for Christmas.  We put up a Christmas tree, we made our own decorations and played the one Christmas cd over and over again.

We attended the Christmas vigil at 8p.m. Fr. Mkandawire who has just come to the Parish from Nkhata Bay ensured the service was very lively.  Some of the youth performed a short drama of the Christmas story. For the first time there was a real family with their newborn baby in the crib; during Mass the baby was baptised Emmanuel.

On Christmas day we attended the English Mass at 7a.m. This was an extra special event because Bishop John Ryan came to celebrate his first mass here.

Our Christmas tree with our wooden giraffe standing by

Celebrating with our friends

Drama at the Christmas Vigil

Bishop Ryan addresses the congregation

Thank You St. Matthew's Academy Community from women and children at W.D.C.

Our next Christmas Party celebration was at the Women's Development Centre, here in the Parish.  Some of the senior girls help to prepare the party food of rice, meat, a potato and greens.  After eating, the Christmas party gifts from St. Matthew's are distributed; at first there is silence as gifts are unwrapped then the children burst into song and laughter.  Today will be a wonderful memory!

Enjoying the party food

Receiving a Christmas gift

"Thank you friends"

Tawonga St. Matthew's

Thank You St. Matthew's Academy Community

Just now in Malawi we are all waiting on the rains so the crops for the coming year will flourish.  This is the lean time in the country.  Prices of basic household goods and food including vegetables have been increasing.  There are fewer tomatoes and onions which form the basis of the tomato sauce to accompany nsima or to be cooked with the greens available.

The arrival of the Christmas gifts from St. Matthew's Academy community bring smiles and laughter to children and adults. The first party we attended was at Mary Martha.  Christmas party food consisting or rice, meat (offals) and nsima was prepared. Prayers of thanks were offered as everyone felt touched that people in Scotland were thinking of them at this time.

Gifts from St. Matthew's at Mary Martha

Playing with the yoyo is fun

Reading a Christmas card from one of our friends at St. Matthew's

Tawonga - Thank You

Thank you to the Scottish friends who have given donations to help support the needy in St. Peter's Parish.  The members of S.V.D.P have a monthly programme (December until March) distributing a bucket of maize, pkt of salt, bars of laundry soap and some dried beans which is much appreciated by the beneficiaries.  Without this support these people would go hungry.

Wrapping up the maize in the chitenge, to carry home

Some of the beneficiaries at St. Peter's

Distributing goods at St. Albert's, one of St. Peter's outstations

We were also able to give out some baby clothes knitted by friends in Scotland.

S.V.D.P. member giving the mother of twins some baby clothes

Weather Update

As we are approaching the wet season, we have been experiencing a few thunder and lightning storms.  The rain has been sporadic, so the locals tell us this is just a warning; we are not yet experiencing the full force of the rains. At least the rain brings the temperature down a few degrees; it is still hot around 26 degrees Celsius. The strong winds have been bringing down many large branches from the trees, seeds and fruits therefore you have to be careful when walking near the trees. Usually the sun comes after a couple of hours and certainly by the afternoon it is really hot. Amazingly the  grass becomes really green and long very quickly.

Short cut to town on a sunny afternoon

Driving to Nkhata Bay on a rainy morning