It was fantastic to have the opportunity to visit Malawi for the first time in September. Arriving in Blantyre by bus from Lilongwe late on the Thursday evening, we were a little taken aback to have our first meeting scheduled for 7am the following morning! A busy Friday led into an even busier Saturday when we attended two wedding ceremonies, one wedding reception and then an evangelistic youth meeting that evening.as guest speakers! Crawling into bed that night I was heard muttering "I can't keep this up."

Two weeks in Malawi (including 2 trips across the border into Mozambique) saw us spending an average of 5 hours in the car each day visiting people, places and projects I'd already heard about. As we drove along, so much was familiar, having previously lived in a number of African countries.

• women carrying heavy loads of water or firewood on their heads
  
• young girls carrying even younger brothers or sisters on their backs
  
• roadside markets teaming with people, chickens and goods for sale;
  
• village after village of small traditional houses, some with corrugated iron roofs, others with thatch,
  
• each with a small plot of land cultivated to grow maize or other crops

New to me were the "bicycle taxis" where men and boys peddled their passengers (and their loads) precariously perched on the improvised seat, for miles on dusty roads.

Malawi - the warm heart of Africa . that's what the slogan says, and that's how it was. Temperatures pleasantly warm, but much more than that; a warmth of welcome from everyone we met. Hospitality which included a warm Fanta Orange drink wherever we went and a share in the family meal.

Young Church Planting evangelist in Mozambique

Highlights of the trip

• Meeting a young couple committed to God and to each other, launching out in ministry in a large church with a troubled past. Their desire to see their church grow in a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation as well as seeing their children's, young people's and ladies' ministries strengthened and growing.

• Meeting two men just embarking on church planting roles in rural Mozambique. Aware of some of the challenges ahead of them, but trusting in the One who had called them to this tough ministry
  
  
• Meeting a midwife in a rural hospital committed to serving "her people" rather than running after status and extra pay in a larger "in town" hospital. Radiating the love of Jesus to the women in her care.
  
  
• Meeting 60+ women and children at an outreach clinic a few kilometres from the hospital. As they were being seen in a shelter with walls and a roof (no state-of-the-art equipment, or even chairs to sit on) their request was for water to be provided while they wait.not an unreasonable request when you've just walked several kilometres with young children, before waiting an hour or so to be seen!
  
  
• Meeting 70+ uniformed women who are part of the Chiyanjano (Ladies Fellowship) in that church. Wow, what life and exuberance! Singing - and dancing - with such enthusiasm and joy, with one lady sharing her thoughts from the Bible with such power and passion. It would be fantastic to be able to bottle that up and bring it to the UK!!

Janet sharing in Ladies Bible Study at Chiole