This woman is absolutely gorgeous. Do you see that string tied around her neck? In Nkhotakota, Malawi they believe in traditional healing and witchcraft. This woman has neck, back and head pain and she believes that by tying this piece of grass around her neck, she will be healed.
On one of the Sunday’s we were in Malawi we got to witness an Anglican Commissioning Service.
Everyone from small to old carried water and food and plenty of other things on their heads.
One thing that is definitely different about Malawi is the use of bricks. Almost all of the homes we saw were made of brick, unlike all of the other countries in Africa where most of the homes are made out of clay and sticks and metal.
Most of you know by now that I love doors. This house sits in a completely Muslim village. This is the village where Eddie Sheko’s family lives. This is the village that he now has favor in because of his testimony and devotion to Christ. (It is amazing that he has such respect in a community that is 100 percent Muslim and at one time tried to kill him)
One thing you learn quickly after arriving in Nkhotakota, Malawi is that there are many Rasta’s who want to sell you their handicrafts. This is “Gift” and he and I sat and talked about Jesus even while he was completely high. Apparently, this town is known for having the best marijuana in the world – Malawian Gold is what they call it. Josh and I spent time sharing the gospel and the love of Christ with Gift during out time in Malawi.
The two green buckets hold the families water for the day. They go to the well and fill them up each day.
I just love all of the colors on the wall. The houses had alot of character with all the layers and layers of paint.
In 2002 I took my first mission trip to Tanzania and ended up ministering to Muslims on the island of Zanzibar. While I was there I learned the history of the slave trade and visited the old slave quarters and went in David Livingstone’s church. David Livingstone was the first missionary to Africa and not only did he share the love of Christ, but he set people free from the slave trade. So, when I went to Malawi I found out that David Livingstone also had come to Nkhotakota to end the slave trade. The slaves were taken from Nkhotakota up Lake Malawi and eventually to Zanzibar where they would be traded and sent overseas. In Nkhotakota during the time of the slave trade you had two options. Either you could become a Muslim, or you would be sold as a slave. As you can see on the sign above, David Livingstone met under the tree on the left with Jumbe, who was running the slave trade, and they made a treaty to officially end the slave trade. This also enabled Christianity to be spread once again to this area as men and women were no longer forced to believe in Islam. However, Nkhotakota is still largely a Muslim area. *I love how God put the pieces together from my first mission trip to Africa and this one, revealing more of the history of the salve trade. It is amazing how one man and his love for God and the people of Africa was able to set so many people free.
The women were always working in the fields, or at home pounding the maize to make flour. I admire these women.
Working in the rice fields.
The scarecrow that stood watch over the cornfields.
Everyone carried umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun. But, one other fascinating thing about the fact that everyone carried umbrellas is that when David Livingstone made the treaty with Jumbe to end the slave trade he gave Jumbe an umbrella as a symbol of their agreement. So everytime I saw an umbrella I was reminded of how God set his people free in this community.
This was the view from Satima Inn, a sacred place for Josh and I when we were in Malawi. Although it was an hour walk from our house, we would come and sit at the restaurant and order coffee and amazing food while enjoying the beautiful view. The dock in the picture used to be the dock where the slaves were sold and loaded onto the boats. I love looking at the lake and seeing that the dock in no longer in use.
