We set out at "8 Koloko" ( 8 o'clock) all 9 of us in the Landcruiser. Our family and our extended family which live on our propery and are also hired to work for us. Maxwell, our garden and yard worker and his wife Esther, who helps us out in the house and their two boys William and Wilson! "Tikupita ku Ulendo !" We are going on a journey......we said together. Squeals of excitement were heard by 4 year old Wilson who drives VERY seldom if ever before in a car. As we drove over a bridge his eyes were filled with excitement and he chanted " madzi" ""madzi" .......( water, water). We all clapped and cheered ! Where were we going? To visit Esther's parents in her home village and then onward to see some very special people in our life from our previous time in Malawi 4 years ago.
As we neared a police stop we slowed the car and while Wilson chanted quietly " polisi" "polisi" Stefan got out his drivers license to show the policeman who then told us he was thirsty and in need of a Fanta. A polite bribe to let us on our way.......and much to the amazement of Maxwell and Esther who laughed and laughed. We said " Ahhhh, now you see how it is to travel when you are an " azungu" ( "white person"). Our journey continued.......
The landscape is all quite similar this time of year - brown and dusty......very little green. Suddenly Esther said " TURN just there". No clearly marked road before us Stefan asked " HERE?"" yes here......just here." So offroad we went - bumping through the dust and dirt and between some trees and pass some goats until we came to a small and simple brick home which looked to me unfinished and in the middle of nowhere. As we got out of the car we saw Esther's parents coming to greet us. OH! they were happy to see us. They clapped and shook our hands and Esther's mother hugged our own children tightly much to their awkward amazement ! I didn't take photos so it's impossible for you to imagine the house we entered. Just cement and bricks.......and some furniture all closely arranged in a very small space. We happily sat down and exchanged greetings in Chichewa and English and after a short visit we left Esther and her boys to visit her family before we went onward to our day's journey. To our joy Wilson Sr. asked to pray for our journey and I marveled again to experience the Christian Church on Earth !
Moving on we were headed to the township/village of Mwanza. The home village of Martha and her 3 children: Fresda, Filmon and Philip. This is the family who lived with us 4 years ago and whom we cared for and knew very well for many years- even giving Philip his name at birth. And bringing Filmon to a private hospital which saved his life when he was near death with dehydration. Upon our arrival this July to Malawi it was our great hope to have this family live with us again only we discovered that Martha's husband, Elias, had divorced her and was now nowhere to be found. In our 4 years absence we had sent several packages of support to them only to find out that they never received them.......had never heard from us all this while when we were led to believe that they had. So we were eager to visit them........as we arrived at their village we discovered a row of branches blocking the road. A sign that a funeral was happening ahead. Maxwell got out and said he needed to walk ahead to see if it was okay for us to enter the village during this mourning process. Because we were expected visitors they allowed us to come. Just as I got out of the car a much taller than I remember girl came running to me and held onto me tightly ! Then a much taller Filmon came running and a shy but growing up Philip peeked behind a tree! Tears filled my eyes to the brim.......how good to see these children. Fresda, the oldest of all our children, stood by the car door and said in such a familiar voice " LOUISA, come" and held her hand walking her through the village. Ben and Filmon, only 4 weeks apart in age, walked together......now 8 years old, I remember them playing day after day when only still 3 and 4. Then Martha arrived and hugged me tightly! How good to see her. A reunion I wasn't sure would ever be and here it was. AND THEN.....we entered the house of her father where they stay. A typical very small brick home but different. This one was filled with animals skins and charms! and goats and chicken in the space so small you can't imagine. We greeted the father and saw his necklace. Stefan and I exchanged knowing looks. The local " medicine man". Without going into much description.....I'll say that these men do not practice western medicine by any means and are not christians. We spoke to Martha and shared our gifts for her and the children with many village kids crowding the doorways and windows to watch. Because of the funeral which was their relative, we were able to excuse ourselves and be on our way. I had to have a few quick photos and we promised to be in contact..........waving as we drove off.
We had a long discussion with Maxwell in the car about the conditions for the children and what if anything to do about it. We seek the Lord's wisdom.....if there were a way.
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