Mother Malin's Blog from Malawi- Saturday, 9 August, 2008 The Bullets v. the Wanderers, and a trip to Mulanje

Saturday 9 August 2008 The Bullets v. the Wanderers, and a trip to Mulanje

We enjoyed a relaxing morning, leaving Pedro’s at 11:00 am to drive to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s where we met Dean Kalilombe.  We were to dine with his family before heading to the stadium to watch two of Malawi’s best soccer teams play, the Big Bullets and the Wanderers.  Dean Kalilombe has three delightful daughters: Mphatso, age 12; Priscilla, age 8; and Promise, age 4.  They are bright and precocious and they were delighted to host us, giving us a tour of the neighborhood and church, while Dean Kalilombe took care of some Diocesan business. 

After lunch, Dean Kalilombe dropped us near the stadium and went to pick up Steve Smith and his kids Kyle and Christie, who had come down from Zomba to join us for the game.  Fr. Lymon from Mulanje Parish met us at the gate and we entered the stadium.  It was quite the scene.  These two teams are very competitive and quite athletic.  It was exciting to experience the crowd and listen to the fans.  The game was a draw and most people seemed satisfied. 

After saying our good-byes, John, Mom and I piled back in our van and John Msusa drove us out to Mulanje where we are staying overnight at the Mulanje Mountain View Motel before going to Manyamba for church on Sunday. 

The Mulanje Mountain View was more like your most basic dormitory.  The rooms were individual cells, with a bed, a chair, a mosquito net and some hooks on the wall.  There were no outlets and the communal bathroom was a distance from our rooms.  I was exhausted and I still had a sermon to write.

We had dinner in the restaurant with John Msusa our driver and Fr. Lymon.  Mom and I ate chambo like true Malawians, with nsima and a tomato dipping sauce they call soup, picking up the fish and eating every bit off the bones.  We did not eat the heads, but John our driver willingly at them for us!

I crawled into bed with my bible and Chichewa prayer book to prepare for church the next day.  We will be returning to Manyamba, the community I fell in love with last summer, and we needed to leave at 7:15 am to pick up Fr. Lymon, get some bottled water, and make the trip out to Manyamba in time for church at 8:30 am.