April 2014 David & Joanna Morrison Family Update
After 10 years of living, playing, learning, and serving together, we left Patrick in Canada last September. This was really hard to do, a bit like an amputation. We are thankful for modern communication, but look forward to a face to face reunion. Patrick is having a fabulous year at Kings' Christian Collegiate in Oakville, thanks to friends who made this possible.
[Patrick climbing Malawi’s Zomba Mountain prior to leaving Malawi.]
As our Morrison kids grow, they are more and more involved in the actual work of Iris. Kalina is very good at wound care, and I often work as her assistant. We have developed relationships with several people with chronic wounds, and many kids who come with small scrapes and skin infections. It is good for us to work together at the gate, caring for those who come for some love and attention.
[Kalina assisting with the first aid/wound care ministry.]
Kalina is also very involved in the community, initiating dance, drama, soccer, or some fun games. She has been part of a Sunday School team developing over the last few months. There are three teams who work together, so Kalina is on duty once every three weeks. It is challenging to integrate our Iris children with village children, who receive so much less stimulation and encouragement.
[Village children excited about entering the village children’s program.]
Daniel has taken over Patrick’s role in the bike shop, helping with repairs, and supervising the shop. He also loves to climb baobab trees, and recently got the archery range set up, which has provided some good entertainment. He is a big brother to many of the younger boys, who love to be playfully thrown around and tackled. Daniel and David are training hard for a bike race which will take place here in June. They recently took us up to a beautiful spot they had found on their rides. It was so refreshing to look out on the rolling green hills of rainy season, and to get a different perspective.
[Joanna & Kalina enjoying the peace at our beautiful spot.]
[Daniel helping a boy with crutches maneuver through the rocky path.]
My favourite part of the ministry continues to be outreaches into the villages. Typically, we head out on a Thursday afternoon to do a women’s meeting at one of our small churches. I usually go with one or two of our commissioner’s wives, and a team to run a children’s program. Having the two programs running simultaneous is very effective because it allows the women to be more focused, and the children are entertained and happy. Last month we met a woman with only grade 1 education. God told her she would read his Word, and gradually she has learned to read. I left my Chichewa Bible with her, as she just had a small New Testament.
[Joanna with the women ministry leaders.]
David continues to work closely with the senior Malawian leaders overseeing the administrative operations, interacting with various government departments concerning the ministry, as well as facilitating relations with local traditional chiefs. If David can’t be found in the office, you might consider joining together with the children who are searching for him in a good old fashioned game of ‘hide-and-seek’.
[David meeting with a group of village chiefs.]