Some Random Pictures--George's Post

Many of you have been very patient--wading through page after page of my observations about our mission experience--much of it pretty dry stuff.   But Malawi is anything but dry--it is constantly on the move and colorful.     Let me share a few pictures from the last few days, capturing far better than I can the vibrancy of living here:

 

Newly- constructed entrance to the Zingwangwa Building.  A ramp has finally be built to improve access.   It's a bit of a hassle, with the switch backs, but at least it's much safer for the sight impaired, the elderly and the young.

 

Church has been cancelled in the past when the building lost water, not an infrequent occurrence in Zingwangwa.   With this huge water tank, we should be able to eliminate that problem.   When first built, the wrought iron support beams buckled due to the weight of the fully-loaded tank.  The support has been reinforced so the tank should stay where it's supposed to stay--on the top of the platform and not rolling down the backyard.

Some of our favorite people.   President and Sister Chikapa, Nimrod leaning against his mother.   This past weekend President Chikapa was called to serve as the first counselor in the new Blantyre District Presidency.   President Matale is the new District President and Gabriel Chinomwe the second counselor.

Two women walking above the Limbe market, wearing the traditional wrap called as "chitenge."

This past week I was visiting with Amos Monjeza, a returned missionary from the Zimbabwe Harare Mission, and recently married to Chisomo Phiri.   He asked me to explain the differences between the United States and Malawi.   I was standing on this corner during the conversation.  I am afraid my answers were muddled and probably misleading.   In any event, Malawi is distinctive in that many people carry heavy burdens on their heads and walking is the most common mode of transport in the city.

This is a very common scene.   Men standing on the back of a flatbed truck, catching a ride or on their way back from an afternoon job.

A truck carrying a huge load of bed mattresses.



Sisters Thueson and Solomone, helping out with the preparations for the post-wedding receptions for Bring Andrea and his wife.

Saturday last the Blantyre 2nd Branch celebrates a dual wedding ceremony.   Brother and Sister Gopani and Brother and Sister Bring.  Both couples had been married tribally, but did not have a paper certificate.   To get a certificate one must be married either in church or civilly.   The Church requires a paper certificate to go to the Johannesburg Temple.

The Gopani's youngest daughter.   Until recently, she would cry whenever she saw me. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bring Andrea and his wife on their "white" dress wedding day, waiting in the District President's office to sign the wedding certificate.   It took Carole and me a long time to figure out whether his surname was "Bring" or "Andrea."   Usually he is called Brother Bring at Church, and the family is called the "Bring family."

You can see who is in charge here.  Young children are amazingly well-behaved during church services.

Sister Nancy Masoo and Sister Chikapa.   They spent the entire morning on Saturday preparing the cultural hall for the Bring's reception, after spending the day before assembling the decorations.   All of this, even though they  don't know the Bring family, nor will they be compensated for all their hard work. 



Elder Slade (from the United States, via Germany, where his family currently resides on a military base), carrying drinks for the reception.  He helped out but didn't stay around to dance, I wonder why.

Carole with Sister Bring and Sister Banda.

 


Lyford Ngwira of the Blantyre 2nd Branch.   He is always willing to help out with music for wedding and engagement receptions.

Sister Mwale and Carole taking a breather at the reception.   Like all Malawian women, Sister Mwale is an excellent dancer.

Yes--this mother is really carrying two children.

This is "Shupe."   Her real name is "Hlupekire," so you understand why she goes by Shupe.   She is the Mwale's granddaughter and the daughter of Juliet Simbeye. 

Matched pair and wonderful dancers.