April 4, 2004

We are now official

Dear Friends,

After six weeks on the field we became “official” today. Since arriving in country, we paid an official visit to the American embassy and talked to the consular, but that didn’t make us official. We received email messages from the embassy, but that did not make us official. We made application for our Malawian work permit, paid the required amount prior to the 30-day expiration period, but that did not make us official.

Today, Sunday, April 4, 2004, in a 5½-hour service/celebration by the Dnenza Presbytery at the Lingadzi Church we were officially welcomed and installed. The celebration began at 0900 hours with praise singing by the congregation. Then at a certain time, the elders, ministers, synod and presbytery officials joined the congregation in prayer.

Everyone we met last week said to us, ”Sunday is your day!” We had no real idea what they really meant by this statement. We knew that our installation was scheduled, but we had no idea what it meant to be installed in Malawian style. Well, we found out today.

There was a three-hour worship service, where we heard eight choirs sing and the official installation by the presbytery moderator, a 40-minute sermon, words of encouragement from attending ministers, and then the celebration began.

We were given special seats facing the congregation. The senior pastor and his wife, who were our interpreters as the events unfolded, joined us. Congregations, one by one, led by pastors, wives, the women’s guild, elders, and choirs, gathered in the foyer, then entered the sanctuary with singing, dancing, and carrying gifts. Many of the women carried their gifts on their heads.

When they approached us, we stood to greet them and to receive their gifts. Earline noted that we should not have to buy rice, sugar, and soap for the next year. But their gifts to us were not limited to food stuffs. There were beautiful wood carvings, china, glassware, Bibles in Chichewa, and articles of clothing.

After we responded to their generosity, the service/celebration that began at 0900 hours closed at 1430 hours. We adjourned from the church to the two manses for a feast of native foods prepared in their traditional way. The women and ministers’ wives ate at manse number one. The ministers and elders ate at manse number two, and the youth ate at the church center. It took all of the above activities and rituals to make our stay and work “official.”

On the lighter side, you missed the treat of watching us drive a stick shift on the left side of the roads in our neighborhood and downtown. I was scared and Earline acted brave while trying to tell me how to shift gears and which side of the road to stay on.

Thanks for you prayers and gifts for our mission to Malawi. We welcome your email and letters.

Otis and Earline Smith