Journey to Malawi

In January and February, the three of us went to Malawi. We had long-standing plans to finally visit Malawi (again), but left rather suddenly. To get to know the country, and to see what the foundation's work in Kwanjana looks like. The journey there was an exciting one, so with a little one (aged 8 months) with us, but it went very well. There was something that struck us immediately when we got there: how green it was. And warm. The warm heart of Africa beamed at us, with lots of humidity. We arrived in the middle of the rainy season.

However, we were also welcomed by large signs warning against Cholera. As if ordinary life was not challenging enough. We heard that more than 1,000 people had already died from it. Immediately it was clear how great the poverty of many people is.

We also enjoyed the country a lot, good food, very fresh chicken, lots of nsima, very cheap cucumbers, mangoes and avocados in abundance, we wondered how it was possible that there was a shortage of food for so many people. When we got to Kwanjana, we saw how fantastically well the maize was growing, deep green, man-sized. But not everywhere. In many places, it was little more than yellowed plants that showed little hope. And that must be the food and income for many people for the next few months, maybe a whole year. And the harvest season had not yet begun. And with that, a lot suddenly becomes inaccessible.

The foundation's site in Kwanjana was impressively beautiful. A large kitchen and meeting building, a beautiful nursery, with 2 classrooms where we were cheerfully sung to. Singing, as is so well known, is really part of life as we saw it, joyful, loud and beautiful. In front of the nursery were 2 toilet blocks, for children and for adults. Until not too long ago, that was just a hole in the ground, with hut. The people working look motivated, and everything is well organised, the teacher has the children well under control, and mister Majawa the bikes and other toys. The children looked well cared for, and thinking back to the photos we saw in previous years, we could see them progressing and developing before our eyes. Hope radiated from them again, hope for the future, next year, tomorrow, this afternoon. For what is to come.

We saw with our own eyes what a difference the work makes, and we are very grateful to everyone who makes it all possible. That there are so many donations every time. That when the need is greatest, help is there. That we don't get to do all this alone.

When we return to the Netherlands, the weather feels icy cold, and efficient. But at the same time, the richness here is even more striking. And we are even more grateful for what we have, and pray not to be sucked into the endless craving for more, but to be able to live in contentment, and share with people who have it so much less. Our Western bubble, where we can grasp so little of what is happening outside, is a fine one, but also really a bubble. Which can be punctured in an instant so that we see others. Far away and close by.