Stockers' Stories

 

Malawi, the “Warm Heart of Africa,” is a landlocked country in southeast Africa.  It is approximately the size of Indiana and includes a lake the size of Lake Erie.  Malawi was first settled in the 10th century and remained under native rule until 1891 when it was colonized by the British, who ruled the country until 1964.  Malawi has a democratic, multi-party government.  Approximately 80% of the population is nominally Christian and 13% is nominally Muslim.

Current time and date in Malawi:

An estimated 900,000 adults (14% of the population) was living with HIV/AIDS in 2003. There are approximately 84,000 deaths a year from HIV/AIDS, and approximately 250 new victims are infected each day.  At least 70% of Malawi's hospital beds are occupied by HIV/AIDS patients.Infant mortality rates are also high, and life expectancy at birth is 43 years.
(That makes us almost elderly!)

There is a very high degree of risk for major infectious diseases in Malawi, including bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, and schistosomiasis 
(When we left the Peace Corps, Penny had to be treated for a disease related to schistosomiasis, which she likely got during our visit to Malawi.)

The HIV/AIDS epidemic offers a tremendous opportunity for the Gospel. What is lacking the most is a sense of “hope”.  Of course, our ultimate hope is in Christ, through accepting what He has done for us on the cross.  Genuine conversion provides the power for uninfected people to live holy lives and be spared the awful fate of HIV infection.  Providing hope for treatment of HIV/AIDS has helped to break down the barriers that keep people from facing this epidemic and from finding out their own HIV status.

For further information about the HIV/AIDS epidemic, see the 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic at http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/GlobalReport/2008// or visit the World Health Organization's website at http://www.who.int/countries/mwi/en/.

Most of Lilongwe's citizens live on just a few dollars a day and many are unemployed. The population has grown to nearly one million as villagers, including young orphaned children, from the surrounding rural areas have relocated to the capital in search of jobs.  It is estimated that up to 20% of the urban population is HIV positive.   Also, the region around Lilongwe is experiencing extreme deforestation. It is feared that rural citizens will have no access to wood for cooking fires, heating fires, and building materials by 2015. Problems with HIV/AIDS and deforestation are interrelated to the rapid population growth the city is currently experiencing.

Malawi is one of the world’s least developed and most densely populated countries.  The economy is heavily agriculture-based, with around 85% of the population living in rural areas.  The main exports are tobacco, tea, sugar, and coffee, which together make up 90% of Malawi’s export revenue.

The official language of Malawi is English and our children will be taught in English, but we will also be learning the national language, Chichewa.

Lilongwe, Malawi,  has a warm climate, with average high temperatures varying from the low 70's (°F) in July to the mid 80's (°F) in November.  The rainy season runs from November through April.

 Here is the current forecast for Lilongwe, from http://www.bbc.co.uk