MONDAY:
I skipped out on school. Well, I actually went for the first hour to watch my kids practice for the long awaited Christmas Program. They did such a great job being patient, and of course sang their songs beautifully. I was kind of waiting to hear from my dad, so when he called around 9:am, I got out of there and headed toward the hotel to pick him up.
That morning, he and Larry Warren (African Leadership) had lead a morning devotion that is held at Four Seasons. It is a landscaping/nursery here in Lilongwe and the owners (the Sprowsons) are Christians. Actually, Jon Sprowson is on the board of African Leadership Malawi and my dad got to know he and his wife, Leslie, at a dinner when the team first arrived. Before their employees begin the days work, they all gather together for a morning devotion, so my dad and Larry were there doing that. Then, Dan and I (Dan had a 2 hour open window during school that day) went to meet dad at the hotel. The team was leaving that day, and so we said our goodbyes as they were packing up the van.
Then, after having breakfast number two at the hotel, we helped dad pack up his room, as he would be staying with us that night. Then, we headed off into town to run some errands. We came home and had lunch, and then dad took a nap while I cleaned and made banana bread and Dan went back to school. Dad was feeling under the weather (a little cold...nothing serious) so he slept for a good two hours.
Once Dan got home from school, we all just sat around the table, hanging out and playing Uno. It's funny because when Dad would visit us in Seattle, we would have a hard time deciding what to do (because of all the choices), but here in Lilongwe, we had already exhausted all of our options. So, we played Uno and had a great time being together. Then, we headed out for dinner at Four Seasons. It is a large piece of property, and there are three restaurants and many small boutiques that are clustered together amidst the trees and plants and nursery. Well, as we drove up, we realized that there was no power (actually, we drove past it because we didn't even see it). So we ate at Claud's instead which is a great little Italian restaurant (owned by one of my student's families). After a nice romantic Italian dinner, we headed home to watch ELF (Thanks Sarah and Nathan!!!). It was a great relaxing day, where we were just able to hang out and enjoy each other.
TUESDAY (Dad's last day): Tuesday was a whirlwind! We all got up early and headed down to the chapel service which ABC holds every day for the college students. Dad had been asked to play a song, so he sang "We're Gonna Rise, Cause He Rose" and the students LOVED IT. In fact, we went to the ABC Christmas banquet last week, and the students were still talking about it.
Anyways, chapel was fun, and it was great to show dad the college a little bit.
We went down to the Academy so that my students could meet Dad. They had been so excited to meet Mrs. Robbins daddy!!! Once there, my kids all told dad their names and their favorite colors. We sang some songs and just chatted. They were being so funny!!! Here are some great pictures I got of dad with the kids, and also some pictures that dad got of me with my class (I did have to do a little teaching while I was there).
Here, the kids are introducing themselves to Dad. He definitely had all of their attention.
Here is a class photo that dad organized. Aren't they so cute??? It's actually only 19 of my kids, as two were absent that day.
Here they are giving dad a big group hug. My kids love bombarding people with hugs, often times almost knocking the person down!
Here is a great video of my kids singing a Chichewa Christmas song for my dad, while dad, Owen (my assistant) and Dan do a dance. It's sort of a rocking chair move that the Malawian men do while singing in church.We said goodbye to the kids, and headed off to the wood market because Dan wanted to pick up a few more things for dad to bring home (Christmas presents). Here are some pictures that dad got of Dan bartering with the vendors. I just humored them by looking at their paintings and then saying "don't need, already have". Really I was trying to distract some of the vendors away from Dan, as he had a HUGE crowd around him trying to sell him stuff.
After picking up last minute Christmas presents, we stopped by our favorite fruit vendor at a nearby market. I was really craving some watermelon, and this vendor has the BEST watermelon in town. My friends had a great time meeting my dad, and were happy to have him take their photo.
This is our market. I come here once a week to buy watermelon, bananas (if i am making a bread and need extra), avocados, tomatoes, beans, pineapples, potatoes, etc. My vendor is on the far end, on the corner. It was a rainy day, so everyone had their things covered with trash bags.
"Mouli bwanji!" me / "Hey! How are you?" me
"Indili Bwino, Kaya Inu?" him /"Fine, and how are you?" him
"Indili Bwino, Zikomo" me /"Fine, thank you!" me
"This is my father. He is returning to America today!" me
"Ahh, your father, yes yes, sure" him
"Let's pose for a picture" me
"yes, sure sure" all three of them
Here I am checking out the watermelons. There are so many to choose from!!!!
The guy with the watermelon is the vendor. The guy I am speaking with wants to carry my bags to the car. I usually have my friend Gift carry my things (he is a young boy), but he wasn't there that day. So, I was telling this guy that he can carry my things today, but only because Gift isn't here and also because he is a friend of Ari's. (Ari introduced me to this market). The bag carriers get a tip. I usually give about 40-50 Kwacha, which is kind of steep but still only $0.35.
Here we are talking price. I only had 500 Kwacha left (about $3.50) but I wanted a watermelon, apples and a pineapple. They thought it was too cheap, but with a smile, I reminded them that I am their happiest and best customer:) and happily, I walked away with all of my fruit for 500 Kwacha.
While I was bartering for my fruit, Dan was making friends. This guy was asking Dan if he liked "Bob Marley" cigarettes. He was also trying to sell Dan some silly little door stops. It was really funny to see the two of them interacting.
After the fruit market, we sped over to Four Seasons. We were meeting Evanton, a man who runs an orphanage in Lizulu that was started by the CCAP church (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian). While my dad and I hung out on Saturday, the African Leadership team went to visit the orphanage. While they were there, they met a boy who could play a really mean guitar. Well, actually, it was a guitar like instrument, made out of an oil can and held together with nails. Apparently, the kid playing the "guitar" was really good. My dad had brought a guitar with him that he used while he was here, but then wanted to give it away before he left. The team suggested that my Dad give his guitar to the kid, as long as he could have the oil can guitar to take back to America.
So, we met Evanton at Four Seasons so that we could do the switch. Here are some great pictures of Evanton and my dad (Kenny). Here they are before the switch.
Here is dad with Leslie Sprowson, the owner of Four Seasons. She was so shocked that dad wanted to trade his actual guitar for an oil can guitar! He kept trying to explain to her that giving his guitar away was always his plan, and also that he has PLENTY of guitars at home, and isn't lacking. Either way, she was so sweet, and it was wonderful to meet her and the staff in the office at Four Seasons.
On our way home, dad took a photo of one of the many bill boards throughout Lilongwe that advertise against child trafficking, early marriages (as in 14 year old girls getting married off to older men), AIDS, child abuse and other issues. These are the result of the partnership between UNICEF and African Leadership Malawi. There are bill boards and also bumper stickers that you will see all over Lilongwe. Oh, and the man at the bottom is our president, Bingu Wa Mutharika.
Here we are, spending our last moments together at our house, watching dad try to play the oil can guitar. As Dan says in the video, "he plays a mean oil can!". Dan and I are eating our fresh watermelon from the market.
It was a busy day, as all of the above happened between the hours of 7:30am and 1:00pm. We packed up the car, and headed off to the airport for a 3pm flight to Johannesburg. It was such a blessing to have my dad here, especially during the Christmas season. I wasn't too sad saying goodbye because I knew that it was such a blessing that he was able to come at all. Plus, we know that it will only be about 4 months before we are back with my family in the States.
And thus concludes the "Kenny in Africa" update blog entries. Thanks for bearing with me as I post all these updates. Hope you enjoyed them!
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