Day 9 - 3rd Advance Team YC Malawi (07 May)

On Wednesday morning we were treated to breakfast at the home of Dr. Chris Brookes, the founder of Lifeline Malawi. We enjoyed hearing about Lifeline’s beginnings and their current goals for the future. We travelled back to the hotel compound where we met with Steve Bowler of Visionledd (http://www.visionledd.com/about.html). This group will provide ministry opportunity for our AIDS Awareness team. Our conversation was highlighted by in depth insight into the challenges facing Malawi and suggestions to prepare our teams for ministry including encouraging each member’s prayer life and the need to triple the amount of water we would estimate per person.

Following the exchange of Canadian and American currency into Malawian Kwacha and a visit to the African Enterprise office where we met Enoch Phiri, the Malawian Team Leader (http://www.africanenterprise.org/malawi/index.html), we filled-up our tank for the second time and left for Lake Malawi. We said good-bye to David Chigamba and Cheepo who were heading to the northern part of the country to prepare for another outreach. The 90 minute drive to Livingstonia is highlighted with incredible views of mountains, thatched hut villages, tropical foliage and the city of Salima. Just prior to the lake we stopped at a craft market where Mike and Matthew scouted bargains while I tipped the driver seat back and slept. My thanks to Junior and Ivy for a very comfortable seat! They returned to the truck much too quickly. We travelled a few more kilometers east and entered the gates of the Sunbird resort at Livingstonia. The hotel borders on a lengthy sandy beach, includes a great swimming pool, and a delicious buffet of Malawian delicacies. We chatted with the manager regarding the possibility of teams visiting the resort on the rest-day. The drive back included the purchase of curios-a drum for Mike’s son-and an inspiring sunset over the mountains.

Returning to the hotel we met with the Campbells for supper and enjoyed great conversation and lots of laughter. The night finished with a final conversation with hotel management and the packing of our gear for the trip tomorrow.