EMMANUEL

Dec. 21, 2009

Last month, as you are no doubt aware, a direct lightening strike to the Nursery destroyed our main computer & all-in-one. (Through the generosity of the Presbytery of Northern New York replacements are on their way!)

Last week, upon returning from Lilongwe both our water and electric were off at home. No surprise. What did surprise us was the huge swarm of African bees setting up housekeeping near the entrance to our house. We had to go through the garage and then figure out how to get rid of the infestation. The bees had settled in the space around our bathtub which is only accessible through an outside vent. (We ended up spraying them into oblivion after dark.)

Yesterday morning's earthquake tremor (plus a couple of earlier ones) shook us awake in the early hours and was momentarily frightening. However, Mzuzu is far enough from the epicenter so that we have sustained no damage.

This morning our newest and most vulnerable baby, Chawananga, died at St. Johns Hospital. When she came to us she was so malnourished that she simply could not recover. (See last month's blog: Marasmus.) It is a sad day but we are glad that we can entrust her to God's care before Christmas.

So, between lightening, earthquake, pestilence, and death it has been quite a month. Like Elijah, I did not hear God speaking in the lightening, or the earthquake, or the pestilence. Instead, I heard a still-small voice from the still-small lifeless body reminding me that: "In life, in death, in life beyond death, we are not alone. God is with us." (Emmanuel!)

Christmas Blessings,

Paul & Darlene

p.s. It is probably a good thing that most buildings in Malawi are simple one story structures. Otherwise the earthquake damage could have been much worse. However, another major tremor is predicted for Boxing Day (the day after Christmas.) A CCAP pastor from the earthquake epicenter in Karonga says that many people are fleeing the area and that mini-bus rates have doubled. His church has been condemned and his family, along with most others, is sleeping outside their home (except when it rains) for fear of another quake.

Smart Tembo on the scale

Darlene & Vincent at the computer

CRASH !!

Yesterday morning, while I was home trying to throw off a week's bout with bronchitis, Darlene sat down in front of her office computer with a cup of tea and POW!
The computer (not the tea) took a direct hit from an otherwise unannounced lightening strike. Screams, followed by tears, followed by hair pulling, followed by extreme frustration.

We took the computer to our IT person where it was pronounced D.O.A. Our main office machine, an all-in-one that we do all our copying, forms and paperwork on, also died in the blast. The lightening came in through the phone cable, so everything suffered fatal internal damage. It will take some time to sort out the way forward.

The good news is that although the lightening made a direct hit on the Nursery roof, the only other damage was a slight leak in the hallway. All babies and staff are fine.

While our main communication link has suffered a major setback we are reminded that the internet is not what truly links us together. "Blest be the tie that binds, our hearts in human love."