Our Gracious Hosts and Great Accommodations

David and Marquita Mosher have been missionaries for over 30 years in Africa.  They have made us very welcome in their home. Marquita is a great cook. George may not make his goal to lose 25 lbs.

Lynda took this picture across the table at a local steak restaurant called The Spur-Pensacola. Lynda was teasing David that he looked Amish or Mennonite with his beard so he buttoned his top button to fit the part!

The front yard of the home of David and Marquita

Looking at the right side of the house from the corner of the lot.

We are quite safe in the missionaries' home. Notice the bars on the window.

We sleep on a King Sized bed with a mosquito net that looks like a royal canopy.

Looking from the garage you can see the inside of the security gate. Look closely and you will see the  electric security fence at the top of the wall.

Lynda Likes the Many Birds Found in Malawi.

These are Crows. Notice the white belly and ring around the neck.

We Have Met Many New Friends

Elvis washes the floors of the main building each day.

 Lynda and Elvis

Lynda and Itai. He is from Zimbabwe. He is taking the Computer class and the Statistics Class. He is an excellent student. He has really enjoyed learning technology.

Lynda and Chisomo. Chisomo is also taking both courses. He is from Dedza, Malawi which is about 60 miles south of the College.

Lucie and Elysee (El-Esay) are married students. They have two children and are from Rwanda.  This month was the 20th Anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. Lynda asked Elysee how he survived.  He said "I just survived."H

This is Timothy.  He is from Malawi. He is the only one of our students who lives off campus. He rides his bike to the college.

Itai loves his smartphone.  George showed him a free app called "Lookout" that backs up his contacts. He was impressed that one can log onto Lookout.com and the software will locate one's phone. Itai is also one of our students.

These children have taken to Lynda. Their parents are students who live on the campus. They come by the classroom each day to get a hug.

Bicycles transport many things along with the rider.

Fascinated by the Women Carrying Loads on Their Heads

George is fascinated by the women carrying loads (sometimes very heavy or very large) on their heads.

Notice that the man isn't carrying anything!  His is also where a T-shirt supporting a political party.  In May, Malawi will have their elections.  The women usually have skirts that advertise their political preference.

 

While exploring the neighborhood where we live we came upon these two women. When they saw George taking their pictur they posed. Lynda decided to get in on the picture.

They make it look so easy.We probably couldn't carry the bundle of firewood in our arms, let alone on our heads. 

This is Pastor Joyce. She is a District Licensed Pastor in the Church of the Nazarene. She and her husband Goeffry live in a small house behind  David and Marquita's mission home. They help maintain the beautiful yard.

Goeffrey is also a District Licensed Pastor.  They hope to pastor a church in the near future.  Currently the district superintendent is using them for pulpit supply.  They are both graduates of Nazarene Theological College, where we are teaching.  Joyce is carrying corn, that Goeffrey has grown on the property, to the mill to be ground into meal.  The corn here is white with very hard kernels.

Transportation in Malawi

We get to the college at 6:30 a.m. Chapel starts at 7:25 a.m.  Yes, George does get up at 5 AM.  Quite an accomplishment for him!

George teaches the Computer Class from 8:30 - noon (1/2 hour Break).
We usually go off campus with the Principal (Missionary David Mosher) to lunch and to run errands.

At 1:30 p.m. We teach the EDUC 462 Statistical Evaluation in Education. George is still teaching the stats and Lynda has finished teaching assessments, objectives, Bloom's and table of specifications. Class ends at 3:00 p.m.

 The Principal usually works until 5:00 pm. so we have from 3:00 - 5:00 to prepare for our classes.

One day this week, we decided to walk around on the other side of the gate. The man pictured here called to us from across the street  wanting us to take his Bicycle Taxi. (Note the padded seat on the back of the bike). Lynda told him that George wouldn't give her any money for a ride.  Bicycle Taxi "drivers" are very fit!  Lynda saw a mother with a baby on her back as well as a small child sitting on the padded seat in front of her along with the "driver" traveling down the road.  Four people!  It was amazing.

Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa

Sign at the entrance of the college and private school.

The entire college is enclosed in a 5' high brick wall with electric security wires on top.
The buildings all have bars on the doors and windows to prevent thieves from accessing any buildings.

The buildings you see here are the Primary School.  The rounded structure are teacher offices.  Approximately 400 students attend this school.  It is private and under the jurisdiction of the Principal, missionary David Mosher.

The Kitchen where meals are prepared for boarding high school students as well as college students.

A wood fire is still used to cook much of the food.  The meals usually include maize porridge, rice, beans, and vegetables.

Another picture of the Kitchen

Scenes of the College Campus

 The Library. Lynda asked the librarian if any of the books in the library came from Christian Literature for Africa. He told her that a lot of them come from CLA.

The campus also has a private pre-school.

The main college building. This building houses the faculty and administrative offices, the secretaries office, the chapel and several classrooms.

The high school building. There are offices for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster. There is a staff lounge and four large classrooms. Their "technology" includes a chalkboard and chalk.

Windows into the Chapel. Notice the bars on the windows.

This is the door we enter every Monday through Friday at 6:30 a.m. The computer lab, our classroom, and the Principal's Office are straight ahead.

The road looking from the main building back toward the entrance to the main road.

 The campus looking in another direction.

Another view of the campus from the main building.  Notice the wood pile on the right.  That is wood used for the cooking fire.ls

Lynda was trying to get a picture of the crows. They are black with white bellies and a white strip around their necks.

Palm Sunday at the Ufulu Church of the Nazarene

 

Ufulu Church of the Nazarene

On Palm Sunday we attended the Ufulu Church of the Nazarene. The District Superintendent is the Pastor.
There were only about 20 people in attendance. The sermon was preached in English and translated into the local language, Chichewa.

Public Transportation in Lilongwe, Malawi

They pack so many in it is surprising that no one falls off!

One can ride in these privately owned vans for about $0.50 each way if you don't mind being packed in like sardines.

We visited a war monument to those who have died for their country.

Lynda insisted on getting her picture taken with the tour guide at the monument

We converted $300 US and got 123,000 Malawi Kwachas. The bank gave us all 500 Kwachas bill. It is weird counting out money at the store.We struggle dividing 518 Kwaches by 410 to find out how much a Diet Coke costs ($1.26 US)

Lynda teaching formative and summative assessments as part of the stats course.

Lynda wasn't sure if she could teach adults but she is doing a great job. The students really appreciate her.

We only have six students. They will all be graduating in May.