The Leonard Kamungu Theological College and Blantyre
We were awakened at 3:30 am by a confused rooster who was about two and a half hours off schedule. By 6:15 am we were packed and ready to go to the Theological College for a 7:00 am mass, at which the Rev. Steve Smith would and preached. After a delicious breakfast at Stev
e’s place,
at last we toured the Kamungu Permaculture Farm. Fr. Mgeni point to an area covered in scrub and dust, and told us that that is what the land used to look like. He then showed us lush crops growing in healthy soil . The first wave of this transformational project is already producing such bounty. Corn that was planted just a month ago is now taller than I am. Bananas will bear fruit next year. The college had enough food from this farm to cut its overhead costs by one-third.
While the Kamungu Farm still exemplifies a more traditional style of planting, Fr. Mgeni and Pastor Joseph will now introduce the true permaculture method of raising crops. Each bit of land will have 3 if not more plants growing together. The natural stream nearby means th
at wa
ter is not a problem and the college will be able to grow food year round. As we walked, Pastor Joseph explained the transition to full-scale permaculture farming. What was a bumper first crop of maize this year, producing 65 bags, will be two and a half times that amount next year. Maize has skyrocketed in price; one bag now costs as much as two weeks pay.
The farm will be expanded, with our help, to be a comprehensive demonstration farm and livestock complex for training seminarians to support and encourage people in their parishes; to serve as an education facility for priests from all over Malawi to come and spend four or five days learning about permaculture; to provide a revenue stream for the theological college; and of course to provide food for the college. The farm has the full support of the Dean of the Seminary and Fr. Mgeni, who is passionate about ensuring its success. They see, as do we, the potential to give new life to the land of Malawi as well as new life to the Anglican Church.
This vision was revealed in a stirring meeting over tea with Dean Alinafe, Pastor Joseph, Fr. Mgeni, Fr. Goodwill (another seminary professor), Dean Auster Kalilombe, Steve Smith and our team abou
t the Love’s Harvest/Christ Church Bronxville partnership effort. We experienced such positive, creative collaboration: hard questions were asked, realistic goals were set, relationships were affirmed and celebrated. John and I left the meeting energized and confident that the demonstration farm will be at the heart of our future work in Malawi.
After lunch, Steve asked me, John and Dean Kalilombe to join him for the seminar about the Episcopal Church which he was leading for the entire student body. He gave a brief introduction to the Episcopal Church, up to and including our present controversy, and then asked me to speak about my experience as a woman priest. I do
n’t think many of the students had ever seen or spoken with a woman priest, and they were quite intrigued. They asked questions of me, including whether I experienced being “sidelined,”
or discrimination from male priests, and whether my husband served a typical “clergy wife” role. John spoke about the Episcopal Church from a layperson’s point of view, and Dean Kalilombe talked about his experience in the U.S. last year when he studied at General Theological Seminary and served at St. James’ Church. It was quite intense, and a true honor to address these young men.
We then drove on to Blantyre, where we met with Yasinta Mtambo, the head of the Mothers’ Union and director of the Kitchen Gardens project, at her home. We had a productive meeting to plan out the coming week, including where we were to visit Christ Church’s goats! Then she produced a marvelous meal and we had good visit with her husband Leonard. We planned to meet at 9:00 am the following morning and at last we checked into Pedro’s Lodge for a good night’s sleep.
Photos: Kamungu Farm; More of the farm; Initial Sketch of Fr. David’s priest’s garden; Steve Smith’s seminar on the Episcopal Church
or discrimination from male priests, and whether my husband served a typical “clergy wife” role. John spoke about the Episcopal Church from a layperson’s point of view, and Dean Kalilombe talked about his experience in the U.S. last year when he studied at General Theological Seminary and served at St. James’ Church. It was quite intense, and a true honor to address these young men.
We then drove on to Blantyre, where we met with Yasinta Mtambo, the head of the Mothers’ Union and director of the Kitchen Gardens project, at her home. We had a productive meeting to plan out the coming week, including where we were to visit Christ Church’s goats! Then she produced a marvelous meal and we had good visit with her husband Leonard. We planned to meet at 9:00 am the following morning and at last we checked into Pedro’s Lodge for a good night’s sleep.
Photos: Kamungu Farm; More of the farm; Initial Sketch of Fr. David’s priest’s garden; Steve Smith’s seminar on the Episcopal Church
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