News and Views from Malawi

A letter from Donna Sloan, Long-Term Mission Volunteer serving in Malawi

February 2018

Greetings Friends, Coworkers, Sisters, Brothers and Partners in Christ:

First, let me apologize for not writing sooner. As most of you know, I began my mission as a Long-term Volunteer (LTV) in September 2016 in Zomba, Malawi, teaching at Zomba Theological College (ZTC). However, before my first semester began, I learned that I had a potentially serious health issue that required my attention and had to remain in the States until it was resolved. As it turns out, after numerous diagnostic tests, the health issue proved to be non-existent, and I was approved to proceed with my mission assignment. However, the “non-existent” diagnosis was made too late for me to get to Zomba for the fall semester, and I was delayed until the second semester.

When I arrived in Zomba in January 2017, I was immediately struck by the homey atmosphere of the campus, the warm welcome I received and the friendliness of the faculty, staff and students. I felt as though I had known them all my life! The campus is like a small town, where faculty, staff and students live as a community. Classrooms and administrative offices are here also. WOW, how amazing is that! I no longer have to drive 20 miles and fight traffic (and winter weather) to get to my classes as I did when I taught at Youngstown State University. I simply walk across campus, and — voila — there it is, there they are and here we all are. One great “cloud of witnesses” living/working together and enjoying the experience of teaching and learning; sharing and studying; friendship and worship, all in a spirit of love, kindness and caring, as God intended! Is this a little taste of heaven … or am I dreaming?

Malawi is very beautiful. Zomba is surrounded by beautiful mountains, trees and flowers. The weather is so different from what I’m used to in Ohio. When I left Ohio in January, the weather was frigid … below freezing. When I arrived in Malawi, everything was green, flowers were blooming and temperatures were in the 80s. It felt like July. I thought I had gone through a time warp!

The library.

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Zomba is also fascinating. Everything is within walking distance. The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) church is across the street from the campus, I walk to the supermarket, a clinic is nearby and there is a “marketplace” teeming with activity — shoppers looking for bargains, as well as vendors selling everything you can imagine (and some things you can’t). Malawians are generally very polite, and also curious about me. Apparently, I don’t look like a native, and I certainly don’t talk like one (I’m taking language lessons, but that’s a very slow process). Virtually all of the Malawians I meet, both on and off campus, are curious about “Ameerica” and ask questions about everything in the U.S. — the schools, the weather, politics, etc. Since arriving in Zomba, I have experienced an amazing panoply of new experiences and challenges — not the least of which has been learning new names and faces. Oh, yes, and learning how to pronounce these names. WHEW! My students actually laugh at my pronunciations!

My students are amazing! I teach church history to first- and second-year students. They are polite and well-dressed (no shorts, cut-offs, tank tops, etc.). They get involved in discussions — which are sometimes quite animated — ask lots of questions and seem to enjoy the learning experience. In addition, they often challenge my perspective as well as those of the authors we study.

Student life is punctuated by expressions of our shared religious beliefs. The day begins with chapel every morning, where students, under the supervision of the faculty, conduct the service, choose the hymns and deliver the sermons. The school has two choirs that sing for worship services, both on and off campus. Their music is angelic!

Then there are the classes, the lectures, exams, grading, etc. The teaching system and the curriculum are quite different from the United States system of education (with which I am very familiar), and have meant some adjustments on my part. Many aspects of this system are quite positive and seem to considerably ease the burden of teaching on individual professors. For example, the courses are standardized: the material taught, the questions on tests, when the tests are given, and the grading of the tests are all a product of collaboration with the other theological colleges in our consortium and are ultimately determined by the “Board.” On the given date, the students “write” the exam, after which they are graded three times, not only by me, but by professors from two other theological colleges. This means that all elements of the student’s learning and grading are based on the expertise of theological professors from a consortium of theological colleges rather than by one professor.

The terminology is also different. We don’t grade papers, we mark them. Students don’t take exams, they write them. College professors are lecturers. The college president is the principal. As I’ve said, there is much to get used to, but I’m ON IT! In fact, I’ve introduced them to some of our terminology, words and expressions such as shenanigans, razzmatazz, yada, yada, yada, etc. You get the picture!

The faculty at ZTC are all male except for a female who is currently working on her PhD in South Africa and me, of course. While most of the faculty and students have never traveled to the U.S., some of the faculty have graduate degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary. They are a very awesome crew, to say the least. No bearded old men (as in academe, typical of many universities in the U.S. of A.). These men are also quite “heavy” (a slang term from the sixties meaning “intellectual”). When you ask a question, you get not only the answer to your query but also the what, when, where, why, who and how … oh yes, and the “so what” about the issue.

You could write a term paper on the information you receive from one very brief question. And did you ever attend a meeting with a group of very erudite professors? Be sure to bring a lunch and maybe even a sleeping bag! All items on the agenda are unwrapped, shaken up, turned inside out and re-wrapped. No stones are ever left unturned!

The academic/educational standards of ZTC are second to none, on a par with colleges in the U.S. ZTC offers bachelor’s degrees, a licentiate program and a distance learning program. ZTC is currently experiencing some very significant scholastic expansion and is launching a brand-new era of education. The college has recently added a master’s degree program in collaboration with Aberdeen University in Scotland. In addition, ZTC is currently moving toward university status. The student body consists of more than a hundred students. The graduation service in November awarded degrees and/or diplomas to 32 students. The ceremony was impressive, as well as inspirational and academic.

Many wonderful things have happened and continue to happen since I’ve been in Zomba. To mention just a few … In March, the school received the gift of a much-needed vehicle from a former principal and lecturer. In April, I attended “The Rwanda All Africa Gathering,” which was a week-long conference for PC(USA) mission co-workers from all over Africa. It was most inspiring to connect with partners in mission, most of whom I had not previously known. When the spring semester at ZTC ended in June, I traveled to Ohio because my sister was ill. I returned to Zomba for the fall semester which began September 18 … oops, that should be “18 September.” While in the States, I made good use of my time. In July, I attended the World Mission Sharing Conference in Indiana. This was an exciting, inspiring experience. It was held at the very rustic, picturesque Wooded Glen Retreat and Conference Center and attended by mission co-workers from numerous locations. Getting to know them and connect with them was amazing. Also in July, I attended a few days of the New Wilmington Mission Conference (NWMC) on the campus of Westminster College, in New Wilmington, PA. Although I have attended NWMC several times and was commissioned there in 2016, I am always inspired by it.

In August, I attended the Malawi Mission Network Conference, held in Omaha, Nebraska. I had already sat in on this conference in 2016 at NWMC; however, this time I learned so much more. I was surprised and excited to learn that the Malawi Mission Network is a network of congregations from several states in the U.S. that support the mission work in Malawi.

In addition to the conferences, in late July I attended our family reunion that took place at Virginia Beach. Everyone in my family continues to be very excited about and supportive of my teaching mission at ZTC in Malawi.

All in all, I am very happy with my position, my experience and my mission with ZTC. To partner with the people of Malawi is one of God’s greatest blessings to me. It is a real joy to partner with them, learn from them, share with them and learn about their culture and traditions while sharing with them some things about ours.

As a retiree from three careers (as a registered nurse, an ordained minister and a college professor), I can’t think of a place I’d rather be than here teaching at ZTC. And I continue to marvel at God’s timing in calling me to this place, and this position, at this time in my life.

In closing, I want to thank each of you for your continued financial support. And I thank you for your prayers for me, my students, the faculty of ZTC and for the people of Malawi.

Peace and Well-Being,

Rev. Dr. Donna J. Sloan