MIDPOINT REFLECTION

Monday, April 9th marked the mid-way point of my journey:
102 days out of 203 days;
14 1/2 weeks out of 29 weeks;
3 months, 10 days out of 6 months, 20 days.
Am I counting? Oh, yes!

The small, visible signs that I'm half-way:
-My anti-malaria medication bottle is half-empty. I have to continue to take the medicine for 4 weeks after my return.
-My water purification tablets are long gone. I thought I could get more here but I was wrong. Now I boil all of my water.
-January, February, and March are crossed off my calendar.

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Highlights:

-Term 1:
Exams are completed. Term 2 does not officially begin until April 16th, although Forms 2 and 4 students are having some extra classes because they write the year-end government exams.

-Video project:
Last school year, S.C.O.M. (the Christian students' club) students had performed an original drama titled, "The Only Way to Live." When they saw that I had a video camera, they approached me with a request to record their performance. I have gone a step further and made it into a movie. The DVD has just been completed this week. We will have the premier showing on a Friday afternoon this term.

-Guitar:
I've taught the school students the 12-bar blues. They've also learned the chorus to "It is Well With My Soul", one of Malawi's favourite hymns. The church's music team has just begun lessons, and they are determined to learn as much as they can. Mark is particularly quick and can already change chords in rhythm for "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever". Students graduate and move on, but these church youth will carry on the teaching to others.

-Singing:
There are a core group of students who LOVE to sing. Many come, but a few are especialIy committed, having a gift for music. I have had the pleasure of singing some duets with them.

-Baby Joseph:
My little godson (I named him--amazing!) is healthy and growing.

-Harry:
Wow. What do I say about Harry? He's had the stress of unpaid school fees removed from his shoulders. He's had a lifelong physical problem finally addressed and diagnosed. Harry had his first surgery on March 26th. There is a second surgery scheduled for later in April. His sister's
family has had help getting through the stresses of miscarriage, unemployment, and the collapse of their house from heavy rains. Life is different for them than it would have been had I not had the means--thanks to donations--to give assistance at this crucial point in Harry's life.
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Those are all external things.
What of the internal journey I've been on?

-Loneliness:
This has without question been the most difficult thing to deal with. Being separated from my husband/best friend, Marty has been almost more than I've been able to bear some days. I'm a family person first and foremost, so not being part of the lives of my children (Jesse, Mike/Grace, Rachel) and my grandchildren (Seth, Xander, Liam) has been agony at times. The support of my family and friends (through prayer, Facebook, email, and a few cards)  is the penultimate reason I haven't given up and come home early. Well, and also because I really hate to quit or give up! I was raised to honour my commitments, even if it's difficult. FOMF is not a big organization with a large Canadian staff. Here there is my aunt/mum (Rev. Phyllis Labrentz, and the only non-African), and there is the business manager. Then there is the principal and the school staff (also all Africans). I'm the foreigner, the visitor. There's no expatriate community to socialize with, no missionary coffee group or anything else like that. It's just my aunt and me.

-Culture differences:
It's a COMPLETELY different world here.

The chronic shortage of forex (foreign exchange) has created lack of fuel, medicines, and even electricity. Each day the mental checklist is: Is there power? water? petrol? The days with all three in attendance are in the clear minority. There has been some political unrest, though not as serious as some of the news services (with their political biases) would make out. Keep in mind the recent histories of most African countries as you consider this: Malawi has never had a war. They are a peace-loving people, extremely reluctant to engage in conflict.

Security issues prevent me from going for walks. Most houses are surrounded by high brick walls with either barbed wire or broken glass on top. Walking the lane to the main road is like walking down a blind back alley. As is the case in most developing countries, non-Africans are assumed to be rich. Being both "white" and female makes it dangerous for me to be out alone. Thievery is rampant here. The fuel shortage makes just getting into town a challenge, let alone sightseeing. Hopefully I'll get to visit a few places of interest before it's time to leave.

Note: President Mutharika of Malawi died suddenly of a heart attack last week. The country is in an official 10 day mourning period. The funeral is scheduled for April 23rd. Arnold says that Blantyre will soon be crowded with out-of-country dignitaries that will come for the ceremonies. Malawi now has its first female president (the 2nd in Africa and the 1st in southern Africa), Mrs. Joyce Banda. She is a Christian woman, owner of a private school, and an advocate for girls' rights to education. The entire country is feeling a tiny breeze of hope that the pressures of daily living may soon ease just a little.
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COPING

How do I cope?
I take it day by day. I try to get extra sleep, because fatigue negatively affects emotions. I pray--a lot. I journal every day. Of course, checking in online with friends and family helps immensely to keep me feeling somewhat connected to my life back home. I thank God for technology such as Skype!

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Back in Canada, FOMF has a board and a secretary (Ruth Martz) who all volunteer their time. Overhead is extremely low, with virtually every dollar spent on the work here. If you are looking for a worthwhile and trustworthy organization that is helping the young and disadvantaged, then FOMF would greatly appreciate your help. I hope that some of YOU will become monthly supporters.

FRIENDS OF MALAWI FELLOWSHIP (FOMF) AFRICA
Box 33042, Glenwood P0
Edmonton AB   T5P 4V8
Email: rmartz@shaw.ca