After talking to Bryan on Saturday, April 7 he was feeling pretty sick. All he could do was lay in bed and talk so that is what we did. He had been sick for 3 days before and was having a lot of stomach problems. They all decided it was something he had eaten. He was in the dorm room at the Dadza College. Everyone else was out enjoying a going away party. He hoped he could eat dinner but felt that his stomach could not tolerate it. All the trainees were heading for their villages on Sunday. They would go by bus - not hitchhike this time. Their village we be in the Sharpevale area.
Since they had found out what their assignment was going to be I thought maybe everyone would like to know what they would be doing the next 2 years. They might have a few changes but basically this is what they were told so far.
The village they will live in for two years is a farming village, as most villages are. The Malawians grow a lot of their own food. They have to since they make so little money. The problem is they do not know how to make the most of their land to produce the most they can. This follows right a long with what Bryan's Great Grandfather Shuhart did all over the world. He was in Ethiopia in the 1940's teaching the people how to get the most from their land.
Bryan said they will be living in the Chief's area of the village. This is a great honor. The chief is the landlord of their hut. In Malawi their is two forms of Authority: Normal Government and Traditional Government. The two work closely together. Each village has a chief then several villages are represented by the group village head man or women. They are usually in charge of 12 villages. So the Chief and group village head person work closely together and then work in accordance with the Parliament.
About 3-4 KM, which is around 2 miles North of their village, is a small health clinic. It is run by another Peace Corps person. South of them is an educational center with another Peace Corps person.
Since I began this writing we have found out a few more tidbits of information since Bryan and Keah actually made it to the village to visit. They have a Library in the their village. It is run by a gentlemen that use to be a government official. He is retired and volunteers his time to run the Library and teach people to read, English included. Bryan sent us some pictures of the Library. It needs books, so my school is going to send books to the Library. I hope this will be a program our school can help with for years.
They have also found out that they will be working with a program called Africare. Bryan said they are the only group working with them. He said it will be a great opportunity. They will work with them in many ways but one way is through leadership development which goes along with their undergraduate degree. They hope to help them improve their leadership skills to become a better working machine.
Bryan and Keah have mentioned that corn is their main staple food. The farmers will need to learn how to get more from their fields using a program called Permaculture. It is a program that requires less work to get a better life. The program consists of 1) water catchment, 2) Natural compost, 3) Planting system, (less hoeing, certain plants help with this), 4) trees that can be used for good (like shade for some plants like beans, legumes and peanuts which will require watering one area for a lot of product), 5) No water (reserving water and using little for things like a bafa or bath). The farmers are only planting once a year and the people have three seasons (1) Rainy - plant and grow, (2) Dry season, (3) Hungry season. Hopefully Bryan and Keah can make a difference, I truly believe they will.
Bryan and I talked for another hour after their visit to the village. They were able to meet a lot of people that they couldn't speak to yet. They met the people from Africare and 12 or more chiefs from the region they will be working in. The language was a major problem. They seemed a bit frustrated with that but I believe they will get help from Mr. Johnes Kadzakumanja from the Library. He speaks English.
Their home is just great. It has 4 rooms, living-dining-kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and a store room. The toilet is out back and the bafa is out the back door.
They said the garden area needs a lot of work. The house has a great front porch and even though the red brick is visible on the picture it was being covered by the white clay. I think this home is pretty new. I am telling everyone they have a lovely brick home with a clay roof. God has definitely blessed them. One funny story Keah shared was the mosquito ritual they have when they get in bed. Once they get into their bed they of course have mosquito net over the bed and they begin their mosquito hunt. Killing all the little critters that got in when they opened the net. They get their flash lights and hunt them down and squish them. Sounds like a night camping at the lake in our tents and campers.
Their village is 30 minutes south of Monkey Bay, which is on the South end of the large lake Malawi. IT is a resort area and from Google Earth you can see lots of houses along the the bay.
They are hoping that you keep them in your prayers. With only two years they seem to have a lot to do! Mom Payne
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