Malawi welcomes two new missioners

By Gwen Westwell
October 2006

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Our first week in Malawi was kind of a blur.The day after we arrived, we learned about the death of Scarboro missioner Fr. Joe Young in Toronto. It was a very emotional day for me. Michael and I think of Joe often. The last time we visited him he gave us advice on what type of shortwave radio to purchase. We picked one up a few days before we left for Malawi, so every night when we sit down to listen to the radio Joe is with us.

Within our first week here, we went to Marymount School for Girls to introduce ourselves. That’s when we found out that the Grade 9 English teacher was resigning.

I was able to sit in on two classes before having to dive in with a big splash. Not the way I thought things were going to happen, but then I have to remember the ninth beatitude... flexibility. Thankfully I took that Teaching English As a Second Language course in Toronto as part of my mission formation. The course follows very similar teaching pedagogies that Marymount is trying to follow. My hope is that I will teach the three grade 10 classes next year and see them through to their graduation.

In addition to completing a pre-installation computer lab evaluation for Marymount Secondary School and working part-time as an education consultant for the Mzuzu Diocese Education Secretary, Michael is also teaching grade 9 Mathematics at Marymount.

We have been housed in a large home with several fruit trees—banana, guava, peach, mango and avocado—as well as other beautiful flora on the property. The house has many windows so I have quickly put my fears of sewing behind me and learned to be creative, with Michael’s help.

The people are friendly and welcoming. We have not had many difficulties adjusting to the culture thus far. Fr. Duschene took us to an outstation yesterday about 50 kilometres away in the mountains. All I can say is “Wow!” This was our first taste of life outside the city. On the way home from the outstation I said, “I am a missionary, driving on a windy, narrow, rural dirt road in Africa!” It’s still very hard to believe, but what a wonderful life experience.

I have managed to get my parents involved as well. My students love Anne Frank so I have asked my parents to send some information about Anne. My Mom grew up quite close to Anne Frank’s house. The last time my parents visited Holland, they took photos of the Frank House, which has been turned into a museum. My folks are busy putting a little research project together for the girls, which I hope to put on display in the library. They have also mailed some fairytale books that some of the girls have asked me about. New additions for the library.

Peace and blessings from Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa.

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