Weddings and Funerals

Weddings and funerals are big events in Malawian culture. The poorest of the poor are compelled by tradition to give, even to the point of borrowing money to do so, in order to attend. Our neighbor, Harry, was to attend a family funeral in Mzuzu, which is in the far north of Malawi, 582 km from Zomba. He does not own a car. Not even a bicycle. He left his wife and five children here and rode a

series of minibuses to get there.

 

He was gone for three days, and when he returned today, it was in the middle of a huge tropical downpour. He came over to tell us he had returned and was ready to work, but he also told us his family was hungry. Instead of holding a sign on a street corner, he began to work in our garden. George and I didn't have to wonder or pray about what Jesus would do. Harry is our friend.

 

Harry inspires me. The experience I described moved me deeply and got to the core of how I relate to the deep poverty here. There is dignity in work, none in patronizing handouts from the West. This is what has been happening in Africa for the past 50 years, and over that course of time, it has only gotten worse. Did you know that in 1960 Africa fed itself? 

Our work here is not the solution to all the poverty we see here, but as we build relationships, what we offer that addresses poverty are knowledge of Biblical principles and entreprenural opportunity. For those who will receive it, the quality of their lives will improve.

On the back of the truck that delivered our household items was stensiled in bold letters these words NO FOOD FOR THE LAZY MAN, an underlying theme of the culture. There are beggers who sit outside of some shops, but they are fragile old people and people with extreme disabilities.