July 31, 2018

This last full day in Malawi is set aside to “unpack” our experiences of Triennial and to review the concerns that had been expressed to me during our visits with the Daughters in the parishes. Of course, I also had to pack to return home.

This was the first time Triennial in Malawi had been held in a secondary boarding school and there was much to discuss regarding what worked and what did not, would it be worthwhile to try this kind of venue again. Ireen and Florence wanted to discuss our experience of Triennial in the U.S., specifically what might apply to their planning of future Triennials.

The concerns and challenges faced by Daughters in Malawi echo those faced by Daughters in the U.S. Daughters in Malawi want prayer partners, as do Daughters in the U.S. Budgets for dioceses and parishes in Malawi are tight and do not include funds for Bibles; often, there may be only one Bible for a chapter of over 50 Daughters. Daughters would like more Bibles, not only to offer more Bible study in chapter meetings but also to use when visiting the sick or elderly. The Daughters would also like a more current version of the Study Guide to be translated into Chichewa and we discussed how that could be accomplished, especially given that the Study Guide is available online. Daughters have the hands to perform many service projects, but funds to support those projects are also limited; that is a concern I have heard Daughters in the U.S. also express.

With our debriefing complete and each of us assigned a “to do” list, a small group went to dinner my last night in Malawi. Ireen had chosen the restaurant at the Sunbird Ku Chawe Hotel as the site, a beautiful setting on the mountain overlooking Zomba. The food, chambo prepared in a Malawian way, was excellent but the company was even better. We exchanged heartfelt thanks and prayers for the opportunities afforded all of us during this trip and made arrangements to stay in touch.