The St. James' Church August Malawi Missioners arrived this evening in Blantyre after one 17-hour flight, an overnight in a hotel in Johannesburg, and two shorter flights today. The group pictured here includes: (clockwise, back to front) Jonathan Bays, Karla Taylor, Bartholt Clagett, Lees Patriacca, Adams Pinckney, Jennifer Brown, Juan Valles, Catherine Hilyard, Abigail Huffman, Leeanna Varga, and Madeline Schroth. (Not pictured: the Rev. Jon Eden; he'll be joining us tomorrow.)
We were overjoyed to see the our friends Father Justice, John, and Douglas who came to the airport to greet us and drive us to the Malawi Sun Hotel. Beside the van in the hotel parking lot, Father Justice gathered us together and offered prayers of thanksgiving for our safe travel and blessings for our partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi, and our work in the days ahead. We offered him our blessings too; on Saturday he'll be traveling to New York City to spend the next four months ministering to our congregation at St. James' and taking classes at The General Seminary.
Tonight we checked into our rooms, shared dinner (Indian food) in the hotel restaurant, and met for our first spiritual reflection, discussing a poem by Mary Oliver, called "The Summer Day." Tomorrow we begin working on the health clinic in Mindante -- St. James' missioners built the foundation a few years ago. We've been told the building now boasts walls, roof, window and doorframes, even the plumbing pipes -- our group will be plastering and painting interior walls. We can't wait to get started!
We were overjoyed to see the our friends Father Justice, John, and Douglas who came to the airport to greet us and drive us to the Malawi Sun Hotel. Beside the van in the hotel parking lot, Father Justice gathered us together and offered prayers of thanksgiving for our safe travel and blessings for our partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi, and our work in the days ahead. We offered him our blessings too; on Saturday he'll be traveling to New York City to spend the next four months ministering to our congregation at St. James' and taking classes at The General Seminary.
Tonight we checked into our rooms, shared dinner (Indian food) in the hotel restaurant, and met for our first spiritual reflection, discussing a poem by Mary Oliver, called "The Summer Day." Tomorrow we begin working on the health clinic in Mindante -- St. James' missioners built the foundation a few years ago. We've been told the building now boasts walls, roof, window and doorframes, even the plumbing pipes -- our group will be plastering and painting interior walls. We can't wait to get started!
