Groundbreaking
Dust devils dance along the ridge, down toward the valley floor, then disappear as though they never were. High Mountain peaks in front, behind, and in the distance form the backdrop for sweeping vistas that seem to extend forever. A strong breeze chases the dust away, and shakes the tarp that is attached to tree configuration that keeps the sun from finding our heads as we sit near the crest of the mountain. For a moment I wonder if the tarp is going to pull itself away from its perch above our heads and chase the dust devils down the hill.
It is Monday and we have finally been able to move forward with the ground breaking for the new hospital. I look around at the crowd gathered for the event. It reads like a who’s who of village life in this area. Starting with the chief over much of the northern part of the Dedza District, we can count down to the chief over 22 villages, then one over 10, then on down to the village headmen and assistant headmen. Many of them are women, which still amazes a lot of people back home. The way the Chewa Tribe has always chosen its leaders there is always within its leadership ranks large number of women. In fact, it is part of the culture and tribal law that it is the old women of the village who choose each new chief. Thus, the real control of the Chewa Nation can be seen as residing in the hands of women.
Chiefs Hard to Identify
It is interesting when you are in a large crowd like this to try to pick out the chiefs. Sometimes you can recognize one or two, or at a large event, a few of them, but for the most part to recognize a chief separate from his people is nearly impossible. This must be one of the last governmental systems left on earth where the top guys in the system still live next door to the lowest on the economic rungs, and where the chief looks, acts and dresses just like everyone else in the village from which he comes. That was apparently the plan of our forefathers for the system in America, “of the people, by the people, and for the people”, but in so many cases this does not continue after the election. Here, in Malawi it seems to still be in full force.
The MC opens the event with introductions and greetings, and begins by recognizing the joint effort of the Malawi Project and the Dzidalire Community Development Agency in the plans being unveiled at this event. Hanging between a makeshift stick easel is stretched the plans for the hospital and he goes into a great amount of detail explaining what this facility will be like, and the services it will provide. I looked around at the village women sitting on the ground looking up at the plans. All I could think was how many of them had delivered babies at home rather than try to make the treacherous trip down a mountain road, then along a dangerous tarmac road, for the 20-mile trip to the nearest district hospital. And to imagine they would have made the trip on the back of a bicycle, or lying on the hard wooden bed of an old ox cart. Then to get there, and find the hospital out of the necessary supplies to help, and then to be turned away, is just too much to comprehend. Imagine? I really can’t, I have never lived that life.
Speeches are Short and Sweet
Speeches begin, but are short and end quickly. Something new for politicians. No one speaks for more than 4 or 5 minutes. Scott does a really great job in his speech as he addresses the crowd from his heart about his love for the people, and the land on which the hospital, maize mill, vocational training center, and international school will be sitting. He later tells me how much he loves walking this land and dreaming of what it is going to be like when all of the 40 or 50 buildings are complete and students are here from all over the sub-Sahara gaining an education that will change their lives, and the lives of those they touch. He’s a great guy, and I really like traveling with him. His faith in God, and in the people in Malawi is something to see. It’s really impressive.
Then the time comes for the ceremonial shovel full of dirt to symbolize the beginning of construction of the facility. It has been a long time coming. In fact during the time our side has been trying to obtain the funds to build the facility, and we are still only at the beginning, the village people have used hand hoes to cut a road over the mountain, make by hand over 17,000 bricks for use in the construction, and plant thousands of trees in a Shoes for Trees program offered by the Malawi Project. This is where the Project offers new shoes to the village people who plant and care for thousands of seedlings for a year, and the government supplies the seedlings. For a group of people who are in deep poverty they are certainly rich in their commitment of support for this project. One by one, each of the government officials come forward to shovel dirt, then the chiefs and village headmen and women come forward. Some throw the dirt quickly, others with a loving pitch that seems to indicate their love for what it symbolizes, or perhaps simply true to their gentle nature.
Mama Arrives at the Event
Then, up from the valley road, a lone gold colored Land Rover lurches its way toward the crowd on the ridge. It weaves its way around rocks and gullies as it strains to stay on the makeshift road the villagers have made straight up the mountain. As the car approaches the clearing the village women are instantly on their feet, walking toward the Land Rover, and singing songs of greeting to Mama Cecelia Kadzamira, the founder of Dzidalire, and Mama to the Nation.
Mama sits with the door open for a time, and listens to the women sing. It is obvious their love for her, and the feeling is certainly reflected back to them as she smiles and listens attentively to their songs. At the conclusion she comes over to the makeshift tarp tent, and sits down near the end of the first row of plastic seats. A few more words from the MC, a number of pictures by the photographers, and it is a moment many have waited for so long to see. Mama goes to the front and shovels the ceremonial spade of dirt that really, really symbolizes the beginning of the medical facility.
Little Girl Dresses
Village women sing songs, a couple of skits follow, and the ceremony on top of the mountain draws to a close. We leave the mountaintop and go to Nkutu Village, where a large number of little girls have gathered. They give their A, B. C’s in English, count the months of the year, and follow their teachers lead in presenting a number of words and phrases they have learned in English, included a cute little song about how they are young and little, but they can count. After the little girl presentation we present about 50 of them with little dresses made by women in three different parts of America. Most of them have never seen white faces in their village before, but frowns of fear turn to smiles of joy as they hug, caress, and hold close the new dresses that have come from America.
Capped off with Soccer
A soccer game follows for everyone to enjoy, and then we turn the car toward the capital in a vain attempt to reach the lodge before dark. It has been probably the best day of the trip, and except for having a struggle trying to find the home of the newspaper reporter we carry back from the event, everything turns out about perfect. His problem is in the fact he has just moved to Lilongwe from Blantyre three weeks ago, and he doesn’t know the way home in the dark. Shades of the Area 25 experience. Finally we make it, he discovers his way to the house, and we are on the way to the lodge.
Dinner with Friends
Then the phone rings. It is a number of church leaders and friends from America. Join them for dinner, a long way from where we are currently located. “Sure, we’d be glad to”. We are glad, but this has sure been a long day. After dinner we head for the lodge, finally able to end the day.
Assisting Mama
Then the phone rings. It is the Founder of Dzidalire, Mama Kadzamira. She needs some help on a project so it is back into the city, and to her home to assist her. It is delightful to be of assistance, and is like putting icing on a cake. What else could we want from our last day in Malawi?