There wasn't much time or opportunity to blog while we were in Malawi. The resort where many of were staying did have some limited web access in their office, but there wasn't much time or opportunity to write.
Now that we are back, we hope to begin sharing our stories. Malawi travelers can add their comments to this posting as an easy way to begin telling their stories.
Phil
Monday, August 27, 2007
Tukumbo, Malawi.
After an 8 hour trip north, we were greeted at Aleke Banda's cottage in the dark by women dancing with great exuberance. That alone was worth 70 hours of travel. But just behind the cottage before our vans even arrived were the men singing dancing and drumming with the spirit that I dream of. Many of us wept with the astounding love given direclty to us through song and dance. We had come home to Masankho's village. Many of felt we really were home.
Beautiful Lake Malawi and this nothern area is the cradle of our species. The earliest human remains are found in Northern Malawi. The people here live that amazing breadth between ancient timeless community to cell phone entrenpenuersship. Young men have playful code names like Mel Gibson and John Howard.
The first full day we went on a tour of the village beginning with meeting the man who was newly given the chief's responsibility (out of his family line). Many of these folks have next to no income. I know that they are called poor, but I do not see that right now. I only see faces which are warm and truly open. Love. Children and animals flock to my daughter Katie and already seem to know her name.
Touring the KUDO projects. The power of our group and of this meeting is miraculous. We can see how resources are supporting education, health and women, YES! I know our relationship will bear fruit far beyond our imaginings. Emily Chintu, the Executive Director and our guide/interpreter is an ambassador of visionary proporations for her people. Just like Masankho and his family here are people who take next to nothing and create dignity and hope for many.
Guiding the spirit of the group with InterPlay body wisdom is a privilege. I am suprised at how much I know about traveling through the world with ease. What a gift to be able to share so simply and effiiciently. Traveling from village to village I was overjoyed as we really did become a kind of kinesthetic United Nations.
But it took three of us to lead a trip with this much grace. 40 people is a Big group. Masankho did a fanastic job. On his birthday we were picked up at noon and taken to a special place, a hot springs where he dreams of having a retreat center and later he showed us a place on the lake alongside his parents cottage where he hopes to build one for himself and future guests.
A third of us struggled with a viral infection that knocked us on our butt. We think we caught it in London. One afternoon both Phil and I sat on the veranda while Rich Citrin warmed everyone up and Masankho led the group through the InterPlay session. InterPlay was incredibly useful in helping us remember, exform, and share what we were experiencing. The gift for me was that a little girl named GRACE came and sat with me as we drew and played with a bag of little toys I carried around my neck.
One day we traveled to Nkata Bay where the first missionaries were buried, Scottish Presbyterains. I was surprised to learn that they are regarded as people who helped to end the slave trade here. You hear so much about the harm of colonialization. Once again ambiguity in all the cross-polinating. In the same area we heard the first hand accounts of a peaceful protestor who was caught in the crossfire of English and South African gunfire decades ago that killed a number of local people.
Even with our group there is no way not to affect people. I only hope the presence of so many American and Australians leaves a memory of grace. Our resources and western thinking is so FULL. We spill over without thinking about it. The gift of InterPlay is as Aleke Bande, Masankho's father, a member of Parliment and the founder of Kudo who has 110 self help projects in his district said, ~I am impressed that this gorup has blended in so well. It is like you have been here 10 years.~
With a common desire to meet and learn about people and to dance with them, we had three days of dance sessions, learning both mens and womens dances. Our willingness to dance had a profound affect. A guy that Jonathan befriended said ~I never thought anyone would come here to learn OUR dances.~ As I danced alongside one woman I began to focus on the song. Moni Moni Moni (Hello Hello Hello) The women sing so full out. Nothing in their voice is restrained. Its wonderful. They are not worried about their singing and dancing. But the best part was looking into her face while she was teaching me. She was so incredibly open.
The children observed us do InterPlay to help us process our experience. They replicate our deep breaths and sighs and know we are their playmates.
Desert for the trip was going to a game park where Hippos, Elephant, and Gazelle magically appeared.
The days were so rich and full I find it hard to write this much. But soon the stories will come spilling forth.
Read Alison Luterman's blog at see how we almost fly for some beautiful recountings.
Cynthia
After an 8 hour trip north, we were greeted at Aleke Banda's cottage in the dark by women dancing with great exuberance. That alone was worth 70 hours of travel. But just behind the cottage before our vans even arrived were the men singing dancing and drumming with the spirit that I dream of. Many of us wept with the astounding love given direclty to us through song and dance. We had come home to Masankho's village. Many of felt we really were home.
Beautiful Lake Malawi and this nothern area is the cradle of our species. The earliest human remains are found in Northern Malawi. The people here live that amazing breadth between ancient timeless community to cell phone entrenpenuersship. Young men have playful code names like Mel Gibson and John Howard.
The first full day we went on a tour of the village beginning with meeting the man who was newly given the chief's responsibility (out of his family line). Many of these folks have next to no income. I know that they are called poor, but I do not see that right now. I only see faces which are warm and truly open. Love. Children and animals flock to my daughter Katie and already seem to know her name.
Touring the KUDO projects. The power of our group and of this meeting is miraculous. We can see how resources are supporting education, health and women, YES! I know our relationship will bear fruit far beyond our imaginings. Emily Chintu, the Executive Director and our guide/interpreter is an ambassador of visionary proporations for her people. Just like Masankho and his family here are people who take next to nothing and create dignity and hope for many.
Guiding the spirit of the group with InterPlay body wisdom is a privilege. I am suprised at how much I know about traveling through the world with ease. What a gift to be able to share so simply and effiiciently. Traveling from village to village I was overjoyed as we really did become a kind of kinesthetic United Nations.
But it took three of us to lead a trip with this much grace. 40 people is a Big group. Masankho did a fanastic job. On his birthday we were picked up at noon and taken to a special place, a hot springs where he dreams of having a retreat center and later he showed us a place on the lake alongside his parents cottage where he hopes to build one for himself and future guests.
A third of us struggled with a viral infection that knocked us on our butt. We think we caught it in London. One afternoon both Phil and I sat on the veranda while Rich Citrin warmed everyone up and Masankho led the group through the InterPlay session. InterPlay was incredibly useful in helping us remember, exform, and share what we were experiencing. The gift for me was that a little girl named GRACE came and sat with me as we drew and played with a bag of little toys I carried around my neck.
One day we traveled to Nkata Bay where the first missionaries were buried, Scottish Presbyterains. I was surprised to learn that they are regarded as people who helped to end the slave trade here. You hear so much about the harm of colonialization. Once again ambiguity in all the cross-polinating. In the same area we heard the first hand accounts of a peaceful protestor who was caught in the crossfire of English and South African gunfire decades ago that killed a number of local people.
Even with our group there is no way not to affect people. I only hope the presence of so many American and Australians leaves a memory of grace. Our resources and western thinking is so FULL. We spill over without thinking about it. The gift of InterPlay is as Aleke Bande, Masankho's father, a member of Parliment and the founder of Kudo who has 110 self help projects in his district said, ~I am impressed that this gorup has blended in so well. It is like you have been here 10 years.~
With a common desire to meet and learn about people and to dance with them, we had three days of dance sessions, learning both mens and womens dances. Our willingness to dance had a profound affect. A guy that Jonathan befriended said ~I never thought anyone would come here to learn OUR dances.~ As I danced alongside one woman I began to focus on the song. Moni Moni Moni (Hello Hello Hello) The women sing so full out. Nothing in their voice is restrained. Its wonderful. They are not worried about their singing and dancing. But the best part was looking into her face while she was teaching me. She was so incredibly open.
The children observed us do InterPlay to help us process our experience. They replicate our deep breaths and sighs and know we are their playmates.
Desert for the trip was going to a game park where Hippos, Elephant, and Gazelle magically appeared.
The days were so rich and full I find it hard to write this much. But soon the stories will come spilling forth.
Read Alison Luterman's blog at see how we almost fly for some beautiful recountings.
Cynthia
Masankho's Malawi touchdown
Greetings of peace and love!!
Wow!
Last night at about 8:30pm my plane touched down in San Francisco, as we taxied to the gate my thoughts were racing, or was it just the blur of the SFO landscaping passing by? All I know is that I was filled with an enormous sense of gratitude. i was home safely, my Mom was feeling much better and all of you were in some process of safely heading home or to your next destination. my cousin had been discharged from the hospital and nephew continued to show remorse and express having learned a very painful and hard lesson, my sister was happy and my daughter, grandson and son in law and I were looking forward to our next adventure together; and i could still hear the songs of the village and the sounds of the lake.........and yes I could also taste the lake flies between my rear molars............my Dad continues to express his pride in me and gratitude for what I am doing for him and for the people of tukombo..........
thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming on this journey with me. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude. Over the next few weeks and months I will do my best to write my thoughts and reflections.
When I left South Africa my Mom was feeling much better. I actually watched one of her Physio sessions where she gets to walk and climb stairs and even today she continues to improve. Thank you for all your prayers and dances on behalf of. I am grateful for the opportunity to stop and visit her.
Where are you today? How was your journey over the past two days? I hope that you arrived at your destination safely and that you found your loved ones in good health.
Stay tuned to the blog and e-mail and lets share our stories with each other and our communities. Also I would like to find a way for us to easily share our photo's. I welcome any suggestions.
have a great day wherever this day finds you and I look forward to staying in touch.
gratitude and blessings, Masankho
Wow!
Last night at about 8:30pm my plane touched down in San Francisco, as we taxied to the gate my thoughts were racing, or was it just the blur of the SFO landscaping passing by? All I know is that I was filled with an enormous sense of gratitude. i was home safely, my Mom was feeling much better and all of you were in some process of safely heading home or to your next destination. my cousin had been discharged from the hospital and nephew continued to show remorse and express having learned a very painful and hard lesson, my sister was happy and my daughter, grandson and son in law and I were looking forward to our next adventure together; and i could still hear the songs of the village and the sounds of the lake.........and yes I could also taste the lake flies between my rear molars............my Dad continues to express his pride in me and gratitude for what I am doing for him and for the people of tukombo..........
thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming on this journey with me. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude. Over the next few weeks and months I will do my best to write my thoughts and reflections.
When I left South Africa my Mom was feeling much better. I actually watched one of her Physio sessions where she gets to walk and climb stairs and even today she continues to improve. Thank you for all your prayers and dances on behalf of. I am grateful for the opportunity to stop and visit her.
Where are you today? How was your journey over the past two days? I hope that you arrived at your destination safely and that you found your loved ones in good health.
Stay tuned to the blog and e-mail and lets share our stories with each other and our communities. Also I would like to find a way for us to easily share our photo's. I welcome any suggestions.
have a great day wherever this day finds you and I look forward to staying in touch.
gratitude and blessings, Masankho
Saturday, August 11, 2007
The Peace of Lake Malawi
Tiomenene everyone! (that means Hello)
This is JONATHAN LEAVY...
using Masanhko's computer...
and at Phil's urging
posting my BLOG comments.
:)
It is difficult to put into words the peace
I feel here...
no highways, televisions, movie theatres, billboards, or traffic.
We sleep just 15 meters from the shore of
Lake Malawi...which sounds like the ocean...gently lapping all night.
:)
Our emotions are complex here...ranging from anxiety to shame
to guilt to JOY!
Today we learned 2 women's dances and a men's dance
from the locals of Tukombu Village.
Amazing...
and meditative and a little complex.
We have seen 2 orphanages, 3 schools and a dozen villages.
I am making local friends...and already dreaming about
the ways these connections will blossom in the future.
Sending you all deep breaths and cleansing sighs!
Osadandaula! (means don't worry!)
Jonathan :)
This is JONATHAN LEAVY...
using Masanhko's computer...
and at Phil's urging
posting my BLOG comments.
:)
It is difficult to put into words the peace
I feel here...
no highways, televisions, movie theatres, billboards, or traffic.
We sleep just 15 meters from the shore of
Lake Malawi...which sounds like the ocean...gently lapping all night.
:)
Our emotions are complex here...ranging from anxiety to shame
to guilt to JOY!
Today we learned 2 women's dances and a men's dance
from the locals of Tukombu Village.
Amazing...
and meditative and a little complex.
We have seen 2 orphanages, 3 schools and a dozen villages.
I am making local friends...and already dreaming about
the ways these connections will blossom in the future.
Sending you all deep breaths and cleansing sighs!
Osadandaula! (means don't worry!)
Jonathan :)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Yes, we are here!
It is early evening at Kanda Resort on Thursday, and the sun is already setting. The waves lapping the shores of Lake Malawi, which is so large that you won't see the opposite shore, sound like the ocean. Most of the 43 of us are staying here, traveling on two buses to the various places where we tour, eat, meet villagers and play.
We got here yesterday, after a several hour drive. We have all arrived, now, not without adventures that will turn themselves into stories: lost luggage (Diana has turned her lack of clothes-changes into a fashion challenge), having to leave one of our travelers at the airport in J-burg (poor Karen, but she finally made it the next day!), a flat tire on one of the buses.
Otherwise we are here, safe and sound, and full of curiosity and wonder. I can't imagine an easier large group of people to travel with.
Today we toured the village where Masankho's people live and meeting these warm and gracious people. They have welcomed us with open arms, and the more gregarious among us have already made many friends, even in our short time here. I watched James do magic for a group of children on the beach. Emily Chinthu is here, who visited San Francisco and Seattle, to show us around.
When we drove up after several hours crammed in buses, they were singing and dancing for us on the lawn. What a way to be greeted, a group of women on one side of the cottage, and a group of men on another, each doing their separate dance.
The group is settling into this new place and learning the lay of the land. We have been close to each other in transport and are opening our hearts to each other as well. Tears of wonder, joy, and grief have already been shared. It is incredible to be in Masankho's homeland!
There isn't a whole lot of internet access here, but we hope to stay in touch.
For now, though, back on the bus to go to dinner.
Love from all to all!
Phil
We got here yesterday, after a several hour drive. We have all arrived, now, not without adventures that will turn themselves into stories: lost luggage (Diana has turned her lack of clothes-changes into a fashion challenge), having to leave one of our travelers at the airport in J-burg (poor Karen, but she finally made it the next day!), a flat tire on one of the buses.
Otherwise we are here, safe and sound, and full of curiosity and wonder. I can't imagine an easier large group of people to travel with.
Today we toured the village where Masankho's people live and meeting these warm and gracious people. They have welcomed us with open arms, and the more gregarious among us have already made many friends, even in our short time here. I watched James do magic for a group of children on the beach. Emily Chinthu is here, who visited San Francisco and Seattle, to show us around.
When we drove up after several hours crammed in buses, they were singing and dancing for us on the lawn. What a way to be greeted, a group of women on one side of the cottage, and a group of men on another, each doing their separate dance.
The group is settling into this new place and learning the lay of the land. We have been close to each other in transport and are opening our hearts to each other as well. Tears of wonder, joy, and grief have already been shared. It is incredible to be in Masankho's homeland!
There isn't a whole lot of internet access here, but we hope to stay in touch.
For now, though, back on the bus to go to dinner.
Love from all to all!
Phil
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Virgin Atlantic baggage allowances
ECONOMY BAGGAGE ALLOWANCES BY PIECE (checked luggage)
Width + Depth + Height must be less than or equal to 158cm. Maximum weight of 23 kilos.
Two pieces of luggage per passenger, each weighing up to 23kg (51lbs). When added together, the three dimensions of any piece of luggage must not exceed 158cm (62in).
My reading of the South African Airlines website is that the baggage restrictions are the same as on Virgin Atlantic.
PP
Width + Depth + Height must be less than or equal to 158cm. Maximum weight of 23 kilos.
Two pieces of luggage per passenger, each weighing up to 23kg (51lbs). When added together, the three dimensions of any piece of luggage must not exceed 158cm (62in).
My reading of the South African Airlines website is that the baggage restrictions are the same as on Virgin Atlantic.
PP
Items that might be needed in Malawi
Here are some suggestions from Masankho and Krista about items that we could take with us that would be helpful in the village.
Linda Breitag also wrote a note in another spot on the blog suggesting bringing an inexpensive bag with items that could just be left as well.
Possible gifts/donations for the villagers
When the group traveled to Malawi with Masankho in September of 2006, some of us wanted to bring items that were needed by villagers in Tukombo where we stayed for four days. It was fun to invite friends, relatives, spiritual companions, and colleagues to participate in the trip by donating items. They were enthusiastic about sending concrete items with us. This was totally voluntary and was not expected. Many of us brought our belongings in one suitcase and filled a duffle bag or second suitcase with donations. Here are some of the items that Masankho suggested:
Items always needed by school kids:
Notebooks / Pencils / Colored Pencils / Drawing pads/Soccer Balls / Netball Balls/ Storybooks (basic 1st, 2nd, 3rd, grade level)/Books for secondary school children for reading/Money to purchase text books.
Supplies for the small clinic that is in the village:
Tylenol / aspirin / aleve / cough medicine/ band aides / simple bandages / cough drops/imodium / pepto bismal/medications/money for the clinic to buy supplies
For men, women and girls & babies:
feminine products / condoms / diapers / formula/soap
A note Masankho sent us before our September, 2006 trip: “Please keep in mind weight restrictions on luggage. If you are able to collect large items (e.g. desktop computers), I can let you know the address to which they can be shipped using DHL (3 to 5 days). Most of this stuff is available in stores but folks just don't have funds to purchase them for their children or family members and so if you wish to bring cash, my Dad and Sister will ensure that it goes to help families that need help including Aids orphan kids. If you have questions about any item you might want to bring, contact me.”
Linda Breitag also wrote a note in another spot on the blog suggesting bringing an inexpensive bag with items that could just be left as well.
Possible gifts/donations for the villagers
When the group traveled to Malawi with Masankho in September of 2006, some of us wanted to bring items that were needed by villagers in Tukombo where we stayed for four days. It was fun to invite friends, relatives, spiritual companions, and colleagues to participate in the trip by donating items. They were enthusiastic about sending concrete items with us. This was totally voluntary and was not expected. Many of us brought our belongings in one suitcase and filled a duffle bag or second suitcase with donations. Here are some of the items that Masankho suggested:
Items always needed by school kids:
Notebooks / Pencils / Colored Pencils / Drawing pads/Soccer Balls / Netball Balls/ Storybooks (basic 1st, 2nd, 3rd, grade level)/Books for secondary school children for reading/Money to purchase text books.
Supplies for the small clinic that is in the village:
Tylenol / aspirin / aleve / cough medicine/ band aides / simple bandages / cough drops/imodium / pepto bismal/medications/money for the clinic to buy supplies
For men, women and girls & babies:
feminine products / condoms / diapers / formula/soap
A note Masankho sent us before our September, 2006 trip: “Please keep in mind weight restrictions on luggage. If you are able to collect large items (e.g. desktop computers), I can let you know the address to which they can be shipped using DHL (3 to 5 days). Most of this stuff is available in stores but folks just don't have funds to purchase them for their children or family members and so if you wish to bring cash, my Dad and Sister will ensure that it goes to help families that need help including Aids orphan kids. If you have questions about any item you might want to bring, contact me.”
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