UNIVERSITY IN MALAWI? WAIT.

I've found out more information about what happens with secondary school final exams and applying to university in Malawi. The system is difficult and extremely long.

The secondary school government exams are written in July. The results are usually not ready until late September or early October. Prospective post-secondary students must WAIT until MARCH of next year to write entrance exams. Then they wait some more. IF they are chosen, they likely won't get to actually begin until the FOLLOWING September.

These students essentially must put their lives on hold and try to hang on for up to TWO YEARS before they can hope to begin their post-secondary education. I'm sure that many of these prospective students find themselves unable to go to university by that time.

                

      

ANIMALS: AWWWWWW & EWWWWW

I took these photos at the Chichiri shopping center last Tuesday.
My cell phone camera was set for multiple shots, about 2 seconds apart.

These next photos were taken yesterday.

Mambas are venomous and extremely dangerous.

A green mamba had gone into the gardener's bathroom (it has a doorway to the outside). He had been bitten on the ankle by one last year, so he really wasn't keen on this snake being anywhere near him. From nose to tail I would say it was almost a metre long. Widest point would be maybe 2 cm; narrowest 1/2 cm.  You can see how easily a snake like this could hide in the grass--hence the expression, "snake in the grass".



Andrew Murray: Waiting on God

These are excerpts from Andrew Murray's book titled Waiting on God.

Psalm 25:3
Let none that wait on Thee be ashamed.

Just think for a moment of the many waiting ones who need that prayer, how many are sick and weary and alone and feel as if their prayers are not answered. They sometimes fear that their hope will be put to shame.

With all these, it is only that they have not yet learned the secret of full waiting on God. They just need what we all need, the living assurance that waiting on God can never be in vain. Let us remember all who are in danger of fainting or being weary, and unite in the cry, "Let none that wait on Thee be ashamed!"

Let this be the message to all God's tried and weary ones, that there are more people praying for them than they know about. Let it inspire us all with new courage--for who is there who is not at times ready to faint and be weary?
From many a witness, the cry comes to everyone who needs help--brother, sister, tried one, "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that wait on the Lord."

Blessed Father, we humbly beseech You let none who wait on You be ashamed; no, not one. Some are weary, and the time of waiting seems long. And some are feeble and scarcely know how to wait. And some are so entangled in the effort of their prayers and their work, they think
they can find no time to wait continually. Father, teach us all how to wait! Teach us to think of each other, and pray for each other. Father, let none that wait on You be ashamed!
For Jesus' sake.
Amen.

My soul, wait thou only upon God!

TRIP TO ZOMBA MOUNTAIN: PART 2

Okay, all you plant enthusiasts: name the plants!
The gardens at the Sun Hotel on Zomba Mountain were absolutely lovely.



#1

#1



#1

#1



#2 (the tall tree)



#3



#4



#5 (in foreground & #6 (just behind)



#7



#8



#9



#10



#11



#11



#11? or...?



#12



#13



#14



#15



#16

#16

#17



#18



#19



#20



#21



#21

TRIP TO ZOMBA MOUNTAIN: PART 1

We went to Zomba Mountain on April 23rd.
Many more photos to come!


We live on the other side of that mountain.

Everything's packed on the head. I have yet to see a dolly in Malawi.

First glimpse of Zomba Mountain

Approaching Zomba

Little mosque on the prairie?

Mum wanted to stop and find out what those strange things were.
Those things on top were bigger than watermelons. They had little bumps all over them.
The vendor said they tasted kind of like watermelon.
It was way too big for the two of us, and Arnold didn't want to try it, so we didn't buy one.

 


The light shining through the leaves was glorious.



Sun Hotel on Zomba Mountain. There's a whole chain of these hotels.



The two Arnolds



It's not a soap bubble or an idea bubble: it's a patio light.



Chess, anyone?



Arnold Jr. He was anxious for his food to arrive.



Jemimah (pronounced "jeh-MEE-muh")

The lovely Isabel



Name this plant.
Its petals are rather thick and waxy looking.
It's about 3cm in diameter.

 Many more photos to come!