March 28-31
Today is Palm Sunday. Last Sunday it was announced in church that the service would begin today at 7am since we were going to have Communion in the English Worship Service for the first time. The service was from 7-9:30 am. There were a number of small children with their parents. Relatively speaking, the children did well!! The communion table was all set up and covered with netting. There was a chair at each end of the table with an elder sitting in each chair throughout the 21/2 hours. The main section of the church was filled with worshippers until after the sermon. Then things were said in Chichewa and about half of the congregation left. Then the elders passed out cards for you to turn in to receive communion. The two elders at the table removed and folded the netting and communion was served by the elders. We sang all stanzas of 3 hymns 3 times each. Four people were asked to stay after the service and Maralisa ( one of those asked to stay) said that the ministers and elders wanted their opinion about the service. Hopefully, they suggested it be a little shorter next time. However, the worshippers felt like it was a historical event for the Malawians.
Monday was back to school. Wianna Ter Haar(13 years old) came to help in our school (older Ter Haar children all go to Lilongwe to ABC School and are on holiday for the next 2 weeks). Wianna enjoyed helping the children in their learning centers in the Reception Class(3-4 year olds). She did a real good job. Her sister Joine came to help today and sister, Eva will come tomorrow. The 3-4 year olds respond beautifully to the older children.
Last night I had dinner at the Guesthouse with the young folks. It was the last night for Ruth before she began her 30 hour flight to Canaan today. A couple from Atlanta arrived this afternoon, and I had a delightful chat with them before they left to attend a dinner elsewhere. Thad is a lawyer and Suzanne is a dentist. They are here for only 4 days. They are collecting information to start a Dental Clinic at the Hospital. They are very much interested in our school and know of mission teams who have held teacher training sessions in a number of countries.
I have got to go pack and be ready to leave tomorrow at 12 noon.