After our last entry on the blog, we finally made it home. The team celebrated two birthdays during the 4 flights home. Gordie enjoyed a mid-air celebration courtesy of KLM and in a very quiet Amsterdam airport the team, in fine voice after the Living Waters experience, burst into a dawn chorus of "Happy Birthday to Aileen". We're not sure if the impending glow was from the sunrise or Aileen!
Its great being back, sharing stories with family, friends and co-workers. I hope that we continue communicating the amazing work that Chisomo has done and is still doing in Malawi.
We want to keep this blog updated as often as possible with news, photos, stories and experiences. Please keep posting your comments, its great to hear from you!
We're taking part in a special church service in September which we'll tell you about in future blogs. So keep tuning in!!
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Nathan covers the Nation!
This is a clipping from the newspaper The Nation. This was some of the press coverage that we had whilst in Malawi as well as a feature on the 8 o'clock news! We don't know how they got to speak to Nathan, the only clue might be that they were mostly female reporters and Nath was wearing his kilt!!
Sunday, 29 July 2007
Sunday 29 July - Nairobi, Kenya!
Hi, just thought I'd give you a quick update between flights! We had a fantastic day yesterday at Liwonde National Park... I'd hoped to upload some photies but they won't let me plug anything into their computer here for fear of viruses. We went on a river safari and got pretty close to some amazing wildlife - elephants bathing, hippos (in and out of the water), crocodiles ("scary mary" - Emma) not to mention Turkington at feeding time! ...God is good! Actually that's been a motto for the last week (since our visit to Living Waters Church)... Presenter: "God is good", Congregation: "...All the time", Presenter: "And all the times", Congregation: "...God is good" ...we'll give it a blast at Riverside when we get back (I'm sure Andy Gray will love it!!!).
The mountain scenery on Friday was also something special - Nelson took us to a Lodge for lunch. Passed a tea plantation on the way. Every day on this trip has brought a new and very special experience.
I hope the Melville's enjoy their gifts from Africa - Gordon's spent the last three hours shopping... with various personal shoppers! The rest are playing 'bowe'... a Malawian board/strategy game. Emma's found a cafe that serves lattes and now is in a state of caffeine induced ecstasy! I guess already (even in Kenya) we're moving a little closer to Western life.
It'll be a little weird being back home. We're all looking forward to seeing family and friends again (and brushing our teeth with tap water!) but we've left behind some very dear friends. Saying "bye" to Frank and Gift and David and Chippy (all boys currently staying at the Blantyre centre) one couldn't help but wonder what the future holds for them - one thing's for sure the future is certainly an awful lot brighter than it would have been without the intervention of Chisomo Children's Club. Here's hoping (and praying) our relationship with Chisomo will continue into the forseeable future...
Next time I 'blog on' I'll probably be back home in Scotland - I'll try and add some pics tomorrow. Thanks for your interest... for your kind, encouraging and often humorous comments... and especially for all your prayers. Please continue to pray for Chisomo (and for The BIG Week - which starts tomorrow... life rolls on, new challenges, joys, heartaches and opportunities for service everyday!!!).
God bless you!
The mountain scenery on Friday was also something special - Nelson took us to a Lodge for lunch. Passed a tea plantation on the way. Every day on this trip has brought a new and very special experience.
I hope the Melville's enjoy their gifts from Africa - Gordon's spent the last three hours shopping... with various personal shoppers! The rest are playing 'bowe'... a Malawian board/strategy game. Emma's found a cafe that serves lattes and now is in a state of caffeine induced ecstasy! I guess already (even in Kenya) we're moving a little closer to Western life.
It'll be a little weird being back home. We're all looking forward to seeing family and friends again (and brushing our teeth with tap water!) but we've left behind some very dear friends. Saying "bye" to Frank and Gift and David and Chippy (all boys currently staying at the Blantyre centre) one couldn't help but wonder what the future holds for them - one thing's for sure the future is certainly an awful lot brighter than it would have been without the intervention of Chisomo Children's Club. Here's hoping (and praying) our relationship with Chisomo will continue into the forseeable future...
Next time I 'blog on' I'll probably be back home in Scotland - I'll try and add some pics tomorrow. Thanks for your interest... for your kind, encouraging and often humorous comments... and especially for all your prayers. Please continue to pray for Chisomo (and for The BIG Week - which starts tomorrow... life rolls on, new challenges, joys, heartaches and opportunities for service everyday!!!).
God bless you!
Friday, 27 July 2007
Friday 27 July
Hello everyone to what is likely to be our final blog from Malawi! As you'll see from the photos the mural is pretty much complete - thanks not only to the team but to the input of the Chisomo staff who were delighted to get involved. The makeover has attracted a lot of interest from people passing through and the staff and kids seem to be delighted. By the way Eleanor, cheese and jam pieces have been replaced by Peanut butter and bananas (and the tray bakes are aff)!
Over the last few days a Tearfund evaluation team have been working with the Chisomo staff and children and visiting other projects. They were assessing HIV/Aids awareness and talking through some scenario situations with the children. We got the impression that this may be related to the 'Work a Miracle' campaign that Riverside have supported.
We are glad to report that Ron did return with an unblemished record from the Magistrates'. He had a fascinating and insightful afternoon with two magistrates who are working on a pilot project on juvenile justice. Ali G will be particularly keen to hear more on our return.
Aileen continued her sterling work yesterday (ably assisted by the West Sound heart-throb Mike Buick). She wouldn't want to admit it but her work has made a huge impact on children, staff and their families. Presently Aileen is visiting the Eye Clinic - a modern hospital. She is delivering the left over spectacles and following-up on the needs of one of the Chisomo staff's children.
A small group accompanied Nora (one of Chisomo's finest social workers) on a street visit. Again this helped them catch the flavour of the environment that Chisomo staff are operating in day in and day out.
In the afternoon we brought a little of Scotland to a corner of Malawi! Nathan and Ian causing a stir (and a draught!) in their fine Scottish regalia!! After a demonstration by the team the children and staff threw themselves into the wheeling, jigging and 'hoochting and choochting'. A fine time was had by all... we should have brought some Irn Bru to revive everybody!
Our visit to Namatapa made the 8 o'clock national news and p3 of a national newspaper! Despite our new found celebrity status we were able to walk home last night without autograph hunters besieging us - although pot holes and electricity cables presented their own hazards as darkness fell... Aileen allowed Mama K to be escorted by the strong arm of her husband!
We are about to head off with Nelson up a mountain... and may be gone sometime! Tomorrow we visit the wildlife of Liwonde before heading home to the wildlife of Ayr! It will be sad to go but I know some fathers, aunties and granny who are looking forward to seeing family again.
Hope you all enjoy the BBQ at Stevie & Eleanor's on Sunday afternoon - we have an interesting recipe for rat kebabs. Remember to tune in to West Sound's 'Sunday @ 7'!
Over the last few days a Tearfund evaluation team have been working with the Chisomo staff and children and visiting other projects. They were assessing HIV/Aids awareness and talking through some scenario situations with the children. We got the impression that this may be related to the 'Work a Miracle' campaign that Riverside have supported.
We are glad to report that Ron did return with an unblemished record from the Magistrates'. He had a fascinating and insightful afternoon with two magistrates who are working on a pilot project on juvenile justice. Ali G will be particularly keen to hear more on our return.
Aileen continued her sterling work yesterday (ably assisted by the West Sound heart-throb Mike Buick). She wouldn't want to admit it but her work has made a huge impact on children, staff and their families. Presently Aileen is visiting the Eye Clinic - a modern hospital. She is delivering the left over spectacles and following-up on the needs of one of the Chisomo staff's children.
A small group accompanied Nora (one of Chisomo's finest social workers) on a street visit. Again this helped them catch the flavour of the environment that Chisomo staff are operating in day in and day out.
In the afternoon we brought a little of Scotland to a corner of Malawi! Nathan and Ian causing a stir (and a draught!) in their fine Scottish regalia!! After a demonstration by the team the children and staff threw themselves into the wheeling, jigging and 'hoochting and choochting'. A fine time was had by all... we should have brought some Irn Bru to revive everybody!
Our visit to Namatapa made the 8 o'clock national news and p3 of a national newspaper! Despite our new found celebrity status we were able to walk home last night without autograph hunters besieging us - although pot holes and electricity cables presented their own hazards as darkness fell... Aileen allowed Mama K to be escorted by the strong arm of her husband!
We are about to head off with Nelson up a mountain... and may be gone sometime! Tomorrow we visit the wildlife of Liwonde before heading home to the wildlife of Ayr! It will be sad to go but I know some fathers, aunties and granny who are looking forward to seeing family again.
Hope you all enjoy the BBQ at Stevie & Eleanor's on Sunday afternoon - we have an interesting recipe for rat kebabs. Remember to tune in to West Sound's 'Sunday @ 7'!
Thursday, 26 July 2007
Thursday 26 July
Hello everyone in Blogworld! Gordo and I have just read your comments - it is so great to hear from you all! Sorry we weren't able to get online yesterday - we spent the whole day at Namatapa School (more about that in a moment). Billy G - I don't think we can determine how many 'hits' our page has had (where did you learn to use lingo like that?) but we'll check it out. There were 17 comments left for us today - a record so far! Thank you to everyone, we hope that we've been able to communicate something of the experience of being here - 'awesome' may be a cliche but I think its possibly appropriate. It's been humbling, moving, exciting and challenging - sometimes all at the same time!
Aileen's off with my camera but we'll get some photos uploaded l8r 2day - got that Billy?! Katie and Niamh, we'll definitely include a photo of aunty gigi - Granny and gigi send their love and are always so excited to hear from you. Hazel, your medical observations have proved strangely prophetic - Gordo has indeed been tending to his fellow bandanna boy who was a bit off colour yesterday (Don't be alarmed - nothing too serious - just a touch of the 'toilet 2 step'!). Jack & Ann: I'm sure your boy loves you, he's mentioned his dad and skinny dipping on more than one occasion (please DON'T feel the need to post any photos!!!) - 'young' Mama K also sends her love. And BobRob, it was good to hear from you at last - where've you been?!
Yesterday proved to be a very special day. We were all at Namatapa Primary School with some of the Limbe based Chisomo staff. The headmaster Mr Joe Mgumba had arranged for an 'official' presentation of the resources which they had purchased from some of the money raised by Belmont Academy and Lainshaw Primary. The pupils performed some amazing dance routines. There were also speeches from the head and his superiors - local advisers and a representative of the Ministry of Education! Mama K also had to give a speech - she handled it brilliantly. The whole thing was covered by reporters from the Malawian press, a Reuters journalist and Malawian tv!!! Malawian tv have promised to get a DVD of their coverage to us before we leave! Normally you would expect all this coverage and excitement to be a highlight in itself but what was really exciting and rewarding was just meeting the teachers and children and hearing their stories. We went into some classes and told them a bit about Scotland. Jean had brought with her tartan bags filled with 'Scottish stuff'. Al delighted one class by chasing a fluffy haggis around the room - as we all do back home!!! Gordy had managed to get some pictures blown up to A2 size - thanks to his cousin at Paw Print in Irvine. Katie got in some extra teacher training practice... Shortlees Primary was a good preparation for teaching in Malawi.
Nath and Ron gave their kilts an airing once more - adding a further touch of tartan hysteria to the occasion. The African ladies have been very impressed... so much so the boys are now insisting upon wearing them everyday! Mind you, this afternoon we're going to teach the kids some Scottish dances (!?!) so I guess that's a good excuse.
A special mention must be given to Mike and Aileen who got through a power of work yesterday. Aileen tested over 40 kids (normally a week's work!) who had been identified by their teachers as having vision problems. Today she's returned to test some of the teachers. Thank you again to Newton PS, Lainshaw PS and others who donated or collected spec's. In between times she's also been testing Chisomo children and staff. This has been an incredibly worthwhile aspect of our trip.
Today the pressure's on to get the painting and mural work completed - Victoria's cracking the whip and getting everyone organised! The kids are in this afternoon - painting, dancing and crafts are all on the agenda. A big thanks to Glebe PS whose P3 Enterprise project raised the money which bought all the craft materials - the kids have been really excited to decorate their hats and bags.
Tomorrow may be our last chance to post a blog. On Saturday we're heading to Liwonde National Park - will the boys wear their kilts? This could be the true test of their manhood! We fly out from Blantyre at 7 am (6am your time) on Sunday. We'll try to get online in an airport en route. Tune in to Sunday @ 7 on West Sound. It coincides with our stop-over in Nairobi and Mike is hoping to achieve a live link.
It's strange to think about leaving here. Yesterday when we arrived at Blantyre centre Frank, David and Gift (who are all currently staying at the centre) ran out to greet us as usual. However they were a little perplexed when we didn't come in to play with them (we were heading to Namatapa). Frank's face looked particularly confused and disappointed - I think he may have thought we were leaving. It's important for them that we have less time with them over the last few days. We head back to our life in the West - Malawi, its people, Chisomo, the staff, Frank and all his friends are still here. The true value of this trip will be the long term impact on our lives - how can we continue to serve our friends and neighbours in Malawi?
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