I had only intended have three posts regarding Malawi. However, as I was looking over my photos again, I realized I had a number of photos I still wanted to share. So this post focuses on my immediate living circumstances in Malawi.
The compound where I lived is probably about the size of a city block. There is a gate at the top off of a very bad dirt road. Fortunately it’s a short distance to the main road from the gate. Sometimes there is someone at the gate to open it for cars, sometimes not.
There’s a red brick road that goes through the middle of the compound. At the top of the road on the left are classrooms for the high school students. In front of them is a large chapel like building which is where I held my classes. Further down on the right are the elementary classrooms. They were originally built as dorms for the Bible school students. Some sections still remain as dorms. At the bottom of the road on the right are some unfinished elementary classrooms. They are awaiting funding for roofs.
Offices and Secondary Classrooms 
My Classroom Building 
Dormitories and Classrooms 
The View from My House 
Unfinished Elementary Classrooms
The house I was staying in is about halfway down on the left just below the chapel. It also has a red brick driveway. Notice the very large rock on the right. This is where dogs would sleep, and white breasted crows would often strut around. The huge rock is an interesting part of the landscape.
My Residence for Two Weeks 
Resident Birds
The house has three bedrooms. It was a nice size for me, not too big. Here’s a few photos of the interior.
While I was not in Malawi to work with children, there were children around all the time as the compound houses a private school. Originally it had been an all girls school as girls are often neglected in terms of education. Now, however, both genders come. I would see the students out at their recess and lunch time. Sometimes they would venture close to my place and wave or greet me. Having been a teacher for so long, it seemed very normal to have all the children around.
The compound was still somewhat active even when school was out. My students along with older youth would be out playing soccer or just sitting under the trees relaxing.
Of course the main reason I went was to work those whose desire was to do pastoral work. Many were already serving as pastors. The goal was to develop and encourage them in their work. At the same time, they were an encouragement to me. I saw how much they struggle to serve. Their churches pay them very little so they need to find other means to make a living, yet they want to remain as pastors.
Two examples were Andrew and Steve. Andrew was hoping to go to college to study computers and communication, but he didn’t quite have the final test grades necessary. He planned to retest hoping to raise his grades. At the age of 20, he said he had already been pastoring for three years. Steve wanted to learn to drive big trucks. Driving trucks would provide sufficient income to pastor and have a family, but he couldn’t afford the $1000 cost for schooling and licensing. Despite this they were both enthusiastic students, excited to learn. I pray that I was indeed able to strengthen their faith as well as their resolve to continue in the work they feel called to do.
Taking a Quiz 
Watching a Video
My experience in Malawi reminded me again of how privileged I am here in the United States. It strengthened my resolve to find constructive ways to help and encourage those around the world whose life circumstances are so different than mine.
So I said good-bye to Malawi for now. However, I don’t think it’s a forever goodbye. I have already talked to Bern about perhaps returning in June of 2021. We’ll see if God opens the door for me to go again.
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