I can't believe that it has already been a week and a half since I set off for Malawi.
I arrived safely in Balaka last Wednesday and was met by our partner Margaret. Since then, I've been busy going from school to school paying tuition fees for the children that are being sponsored. We will be meeting with these kids on a regular basis to receive their progress and attendance reports and to make sure that they are staying healthy and fed, and have basic necessities such as notebooks, pens, school uniforms, mosquito nets, and soap.
On Thursday, Margaret and I went to the community garden that we helped to start in November. It was doing rather well considering that Margaret has not had much help in its cultivation. The corn is healthy in all areas of the garden except for a few patches in which too much water has gathered (if you haven't heard yet, Malawi spent the last three years with not enough rain, and this year, the rain has been so abundant that it is destroying much of the crops). Next week, we will be planting some mango and papaya trees as well as tomatoes and sweet potatoes in the garden.
It is a difficult time to be in Malawi. It is in the midst of what is
called "the hunger season." It is the season in which last year's harvest has run out and Malawians are struggling to get by until the next harvest arrives. It is, on one hand, exciting to think that we can make a difference in the lives of some of these people but, on the other, overwhelming to realize that we can only help some.
For those of you (mainly family) who are concerned for my personal health and safety, I can assure that I am in great hands. One, I think, cannot find a people more hospitable (and peace-loving) than the people of Malawi. I am constantly welcomed into people's homes and being treated like a king. Not because I am an Mzungu (a white man) nor because I am a foreigner but because I am a guest in their home and, in Malawi, to merely to welcome a guest is a great honor.
All is well and moving right along. I am missing Cara and can't wait for her to join me here in March. We are both eager to see what the next 5 months has in store for the two of us, for Bola Moyo, and for the communities of which we have become a part. We look forward to keeping you up to date as it all unfolds.
Take Care and Tsalani Bwino (Stay Well),
Dustin
P.S. If anyone feels like sending any kind of letter or package to us in Malawi, our address here is:
Dustin and Cara Pattison
P.O. Box 196
Balaka, Malawi, Central Africa.
Please make sure to write "For Donation Only" in big letters on the package. This will deter tampering and prevent us from having to pay customs fees.
Thanks.
I arrived safely in Balaka last Wednesday and was met by our partner Margaret. Since then, I've been busy going from school to school paying tuition fees for the children that are being sponsored. We will be meeting with these kids on a regular basis to receive their progress and attendance reports and to make sure that they are staying healthy and fed, and have basic necessities such as notebooks, pens, school uniforms, mosquito nets, and soap.
On Thursday, Margaret and I went to the community garden that we helped to start in November. It was doing rather well considering that Margaret has not had much help in its cultivation. The corn is healthy in all areas of the garden except for a few patches in which too much water has gathered (if you haven't heard yet, Malawi spent the last three years with not enough rain, and this year, the rain has been so abundant that it is destroying much of the crops). Next week, we will be planting some mango and papaya trees as well as tomatoes and sweet potatoes in the garden.
It is a difficult time to be in Malawi. It is in the midst of what is
called "the hunger season." It is the season in which last year's harvest has run out and Malawians are struggling to get by until the next harvest arrives. It is, on one hand, exciting to think that we can make a difference in the lives of some of these people but, on the other, overwhelming to realize that we can only help some.
For those of you (mainly family) who are concerned for my personal health and safety, I can assure that I am in great hands. One, I think, cannot find a people more hospitable (and peace-loving) than the people of Malawi. I am constantly welcomed into people's homes and being treated like a king. Not because I am an Mzungu (a white man) nor because I am a foreigner but because I am a guest in their home and, in Malawi, to merely to welcome a guest is a great honor.
All is well and moving right along. I am missing Cara and can't wait for her to join me here in March. We are both eager to see what the next 5 months has in store for the two of us, for Bola Moyo, and for the communities of which we have become a part. We look forward to keeping you up to date as it all unfolds.
Take Care and Tsalani Bwino (Stay Well),
Dustin
P.S. If anyone feels like sending any kind of letter or package to us in Malawi, our address here is:
Dustin and Cara Pattison
P.O. Box 196
Balaka, Malawi, Central Africa.
Please make sure to write "For Donation Only" in big letters on the package. This will deter tampering and prevent us from having to pay customs fees.
Thanks.
posted by Bola Moyo at 9:59 AM
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