This morning we attended Sunday worship at the Cathedral. The opening hymn was "Amazing Grace" sung in Chichewa. There were three choirs, as well as a brass group consisting of 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 baritones, and drums. The congregation was very enthusiastic about their response to the brass group. Our leader, Pastor John Sutherland, gave the sermon based on Matthew 13:1-9, the parable of the sower. The service lasted from 9:30 until approximately 11:30.
Afterwards, our friend Stywell stopped by the guesthouse. I had seen him at worship and asked him to stop by so I could give him some things. (He was our driver for the 2015 visit.) I gave him a package of AA batteries, a candle, matches, and a roll of duct tape indicating that my son works for the company that made the tape (3M). He brought Pastor John a shirt made of African fabric.
Later, we walked to the area of the ELCM compound where some of the employees live. Pastor John wore his new shirt so that he could have a photo taken with Stywell. We stopped to visit with Chicondi because he had invited us the previous evening. I was afraid that he would have gifts for us because he had made a point of finding out exactly how many were in our group. We were all invited into his home, and he led us in singing happy birthday to John's daughter, Ella, since he was aware that her birthday was shortly before we arrived. She was given some African fabric in the colors of the Malawi flag (red, black, and green). He also asked to share some words he had written regarding character, which I will share at a later time. As I suspected, he had gifts for everyone in our group, which were fabric and paintings. He involved his entire family in presenting the gifts. His daughters presented to the girls in our group who were nearly the same age. His 5 year old son presented to the grandparents in the group, and his wife presented to me. It was a humbling experience to say the least.
Afterwards, our friend Stywell stopped by the guesthouse. I had seen him at worship and asked him to stop by so I could give him some things. (He was our driver for the 2015 visit.) I gave him a package of AA batteries, a candle, matches, and a roll of duct tape indicating that my son works for the company that made the tape (3M). He brought Pastor John a shirt made of African fabric.
Later, we walked to the area of the ELCM compound where some of the employees live. Pastor John wore his new shirt so that he could have a photo taken with Stywell. We stopped to visit with Chicondi because he had invited us the previous evening. I was afraid that he would have gifts for us because he had made a point of finding out exactly how many were in our group. We were all invited into his home, and he led us in singing happy birthday to John's daughter, Ella, since he was aware that her birthday was shortly before we arrived. She was given some African fabric in the colors of the Malawi flag (red, black, and green). He also asked to share some words he had written regarding character, which I will share at a later time. As I suspected, he had gifts for everyone in our group, which were fabric and paintings. He involved his entire family in presenting the gifts. His daughters presented to the girls in our group who were nearly the same age. His 5 year old son presented to the grandparents in the group, and his wife presented to me. It was a humbling experience to say the least.
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