I have heard from my Malawian friends, and from my friend Tom Gebhard that the road is impassable during the rainy season. It is easy to see why. And today, the day when we go to what I consider to be the remotest villages to date, it is raining. So, it would seem that even in the dry season, there is the occasional day or two when it rains. Fortunately, it is a light rain, as rains go. We pass perhaps two small stores and a sign for a Ministry of Education project that is 3 km away. I have no idea what this project is. Perhaps it refers to a primary school in one of the many villages that we pass.
After about 45 minutes, we get to Mindanti. We see the uncompleted building that is to be the maternity clinic. An American Episcopal Church funded the construction of the clinic. Unfortunately, they ran out of funds before they could finish. It is a large building, as buildings in Malawi go. It lacks doors, windows, and a roof. After the clinic building is completed, the plan is to staff the clinic with a government–paid nurse. We do not see any sign of the well on this visit and Emmanuel thinks that the well has yet to be drilled. However, Emmanuel is careful to refer all questions to Father Patrick, the Anglican Priest who is working in this district.
I get a couple of pictures, but it is raining lightly, so I put my camera away. I stand under a tree to keep dry and watch Julie, Margo and perhaps one or two others dancing with the village children.
According to Emmanuel, World Vision constructed many of the buildings in the village, a Church and at least some of the residences. There is one building, not a World Vision building, that is to be a Church that is without a roof.
Emmanuel says that Father Patrick is waiting to meet with us, and will be able to answer our questions. He says that he is a short distance away. A short distance away turns out to be a 30 minute drive over many bridges, passing many villages and one more small store on rutted dirt roads.
When we arrive at the village where Father Patrick is, the villagers are singing a song of greeting. It is still raining and we go into the Church where they are just getting ready to celebrate the Eucharist. Father Patrick invites our leader, Don to introduce his group. We each stand up and introduce ourselves. He invites one of our group to give what he calls a testimony at the end of the service. Julie offers a very good and moving testimony.
The Church is a simple structure that appears to be made out of mud with benches made out of mud. This is truly a holy place. The singing is very joyful. Everyone in the group feels that the Church service made this long drive on a rutted road to this remote church worth the drive.
The rains seemed to pick up a notch while we are in the service. At the end of the service, Don speaks privately to Father Patrick. It seems best not to intrude, so we stand outside waiting for him. His visit is not long, and we start the long drive back to the main road.
I admit to having some anxiety because of the rain and the bad stories that I have heard about this road. Our van driver, Luzu confirms this.
On our way back, we drop off one guest from Mindanti back at the village. Emmanuel is riding with Don and Mary. I expect that Don, probably through Father Patrick, has confirmed that the wind–mill powered water project is currently under construction. We see the wind–mill that is being constructed, but I decline to get out and take a picture. It is raining, and I can not get a good picture without getting my camera wet.
We drive to our hotel at a Sugar Plantation. More on that in tomorrows blog. I am emotionally weary and very homesick. The homesickness eats away at me. I know that others our homesick as well, cropping up at times that I least expect it to. We have some down time this afternoon and tomorrow morning. A welcome respite by all.
From top: Mindanti, inside uncompleted maternity clinic in Mindanti, Anglican Church where we worshipped, note the "mud" pews and the thatched roof, sugar plantation.
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