The final night...

Well, things are coming to a close.  Today we did the dedication of the library.  We expected about 100 people and then found out that there were three funerals in surrounding villages this morning.  We started the ceremony and as time went on, people trickled in as they walked down the dirt roads to the build site.  We ended with probably over 100... all of them eager to be there.

The school serves 41 villages and over 1000 kids as of the June enrollment... all of them walking to school normally.. Several village chiefs showed up... weathered old men who walked in wearing mismatched clothing, suit coats, and some barefooted.  Their faced told stories of long hard lives.  Dark skin, tangled hair, deeply wrinkled skin, sunken jaundice eyes... dry chapped hands and feet covered with hard leather skin.

The kids were excited that we were there and after playing, sat eagerly as Jimi, Timothy, Lawrence, and a village chief spoke for all of the chiefs.  Once the speaking was done, a group of dancers from the Makalani village walked out from behind one school house and gave us a surprise dance with native headdress, and beating dried animal skins.  Very interesting!

Once the dedication was made to Annie Grace (the child who died in February of AIDS at age four) the ribbons on the door were cut and the spectators got to enter.  The children eagerly lined up for cookies and Gatorade... a treat they do not often get.

The time came to depart and we had to load up.  Saying goodbye and seeing the little faces as we drove away made your stomach turn... Do they know we wont be back tomorrow?  It bothers me.  Sam smiled so big in his wheelchair, and Jimi gave him a big hug.  Left sitting there wearing Jimi's St. Louis Cardinals hat.  It brings tears to my eyes to think about it.

We unloaded the loot we had in our bags... balls, frisbees, candy, books and drove down the red dust road, bouncing through the ruts one last time on this trip.  Its good to have done this, but it is sickening at the same time.  They need so much more, and we have so little to give.  We will all go back to our lives, our homes, our hot water, our beds, our loved ones... and they will wake up tomorrow to the cold Africa air, filled with dust to continue another day in their lives.  One more day that looks just like yesterday.  The only thing in the future is hope, and somehow they guarantee happiness amidst the agony they live in.

After lunch we drove to Derek's ranch about 50 km away.  He is the local contractor that organized the build.  Without his generosity and contribution it would not have been possible.  He invited us for "high tea."  He is third generation removed from Scotland and moved to Africa.  They own about 3000 acres where he farms and has businesses in building, livestock, tobacco, hunting and safari expedition.  His groomed yard hosted us with his wife, two small blond daughters, ducks, dogs, rabbits and the shade of a beautiful afternoon.  While it was wonderful, it wreaks of the third world... where you either "have" or "have not."  The drive back home took us through more mud hut villages, roadside shops, butchers, goats running loose and pedestrians all along the way.

As of the moment, we are at a dining establishment in Lilongwe "Kip's Summer Place" the same place we were for John the Irishman's birthday.  We will eat and celebrate Jacquie's birthday.  (I think she is 29 or so.)  :)

(Look at it in Google maps)

When tomorrow comes, we will organize our things and begin out long journey home, going backwards in time.  We fly out at 3:05pm and will fly a total of 23 1/2 hours with our longest trip being 17hrs and 25 minutes.  We will arrive in Kansas City at 4:19pm (I believe.)

Everyone is still well and in good spirits. A part of us wants to come home, and a big part of our hearts want to stay.  This will not be my last trip to Malawi Africa, and for sure not my last trip for Be The Change Volunteers.  Maybe you can join next time and experience this for another person, and for yourself.

I will end this and get back to the dinner group.  God bless all of you for the love and prayers you have sent.  Send a few more prayers for this final journey.

I will miss these people of Africa, the faces I know with names I do not know.  I will miss my fellow travelers and the feelings we share.  I have so many new friends for life... I am so grateful, I cannot ask for anything more in my life.  (Except some hot water.)

The blog will not end... I will compose on the flight and post when we get to Washington D.C. Sunday morning.  The blog will continue, more pictures, more thoughts.... and live on for future missions.  Something this good cannot just die.

Goodnight....

--Dusty