Nkhata Bay and Chintheche again

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NKHATA BAY AND CHINTHECHE AGAIN

Webster and Wilfred Nyirenda are brothers working with dedication and enthusiasm to set up SUPOCHO, an organisation recently formed to support vulnerable orphaned young people in the Nkhata Bay region, to have access to and learn computer skills. Derek met Webster last year when travelling in Malawi and following a simple enquiry from Webster about the cost of transporting computers, we are now awaiting the arrival of 10 donated laptop computers from Wales all the way to Nkhata Bay. A brilliant organisation called IT Schools Africa has helped and SUPOCHO has formed as a Faith Based Organisation with 3 Traditional Authority areas involved. Part of our visit here has been to attend a trustee/member meeting about the setting up of the computer school. There is still so much to do and fund raising is essential to the success of the project although there is much discussion about income generating activities. It is a privelege to be part of something which is growing organically and teaching us so much about a particular community . Nkhata Bay is the place we have most witnessed the impact of Western travellers/ tourists in the lives of a poor population. The computer school will be based off the tourist beaten track and we have been lucky to have some insight into the ordinary lives of people here.

While in Nkhata bay we witnessed the most amazing lightning display.....for several hours through the night and the best natural light show we've ever seen. The sky was lit up every few seconds across the bay and out over the lake.

From Nkhata Bay we returned to the peace of Chintheche for a few days, revisiting our artist friends who took us on a tour of their villages, to meet their families and friends. We had to do this over a couple of days and there was a lot of walking involved! My feet have been playing up chronically at times...... I don't know why! Heat and rough paths/ roads maybe! But it was all worth the effort. In one of the villages our friend Orlean introduced us to his wife, the "small chief" of the village and the 42 orphaned children they attempt to support. I have promised to meet with some of the women from this village who are attempting to work together to help the situation for these children.
Our stay at Sambani Lodge was like Paradise...... and then Derek met the snake in this garden of Eden! On the day we were leaving, I heard Derek in the bathroom say "Gill, I have a problem here!" He was returning from the toilet which had a narrow corridor past the shower before the door to the bedroom and in the corner of the shower was a snake.... about 4 foot long, thin (hungry?) and it was rising up as he saw Derek. I ran off to get help (always my forte in times of crisis!) and returned with 2 guys. Derek had very slowly walked past the snake with a towel in front of him. The guys killed it, unsure whether it was harmful or not.
It was actually quite an eventful stay in that room as there were a lot of bats in the attic and we had bat visitation as well....... Derek dealt with that one on his own and without killing it!

Our next destination was Mzuzu (Northern city) for a night and then off to Chitimba for Christmas. I'll write about that next time!

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