“You can’t get there from here”[A New Way to get to Malawi]
“You can’t get there from here,” is a famous New England Yankee phrase that epitomizes Yankee practicality. Of course when spoken properly, there is no “r” in “here,” — it’s pronounced “heeyah.”
Our trip to Malawi came close to proving this old Yankee aphorism to be true. We arrived at the JFK Airport on time last Friday morning only to discover that there was a surprise airport strike in Nairobi, Kenya, that resulted in our flight being canceled without any prior notice. Our first call to our travel agent yielded the news that there were no available flights to Malawi and that we’d best return home and try to arrange a trip later in the week. As we were preparing for our return, our agent called back and let us know that there was a flight on Qatar Airways at 1:40am the next morning to Doha, Qatar, (think Strait of Hormuz and the Iran conflict), from Doha to Johannesburg, and from Johannesburg to Lilongwe, Malawi.
We said “yes,” and arrived in Malawi two and a half days later, both exhausted and happy, having proved that even in the midst of an airline strike, “you can get there from here” — It just may take a while. Along the way we saw the Hamid International Airport in Doha (one of the most beautiful airports in the world) and experienced what it is like for all international passengers to go through one security line in Johannesburg. But God made a way.
Growth at God’s Pace
We are growing! God has blessed us with 107 students, of which over 40 are new Form One students. The halls were echoing with the excitement and energy of a new school year!
Our reception area has been filled with parents and students waiting to take entrance exams. For you see, in Malawi, many things, such as schooling for one’s child, are arranged at the very last moment. All staff were on deck, giving tours of the campus, administering entrance exams and collecting fees from those of our families who are paying tuition.
Orientation!
Our new students are participating in an Orientation Week before the return of our Form Two students. On Monday they were issued their school uniforms, were greeted by the District Education Officer for the Malawian Government, and heard from two Christian women who have achieved positions of leadership and corporate responsibility in Malawi. Temwa Kanjadza, National Director of Sales for the Sunbird Hotels, gave a heartfelt wisdom-laced talk on what it takes to become a leader in Malawi. The Teachers took turns serving as Master of Ceremonies, and each new Form One student received their GSA bracelet and their distinctive orange GSA bag.
Temwa Kanjadza interacts with our Form One students.
Tuesday we focused on the character development of our students. Two speakers this morning met with the girls and talked about how to have healthy friendships and set appropriate boundaries. I spoke on the values of Good Soil Academy and Wambula Saka, our Director of Operations, spoke on the subject “Living One Life - a life of faith and integrity.”
Our Banner
Good Soil Academy now has a banner. It not only beautifies the school, but it has become useful as an easy way to identify the school from a distance. It is visible from outside the campus and makes it a lot easier for visitors to find our school. Our off-campus sign at the turn-off is subject to theft attempts with some regularity, and the banner makes the school identifiable from quite a distance.
Most importantly, the banner identifies who we are as an institution. We “transform Girls into Christian Entrepreneurs and Leaders.”
A few of our new Form One students gather in between orientation sessions
Thank you for your prayers and support. This year we had far fewer scholarships to offer young women from the villages, and sadly many otherwise qualified students had to be denied admission. If you have a heart for this need, please consider making a four-year commitment to sponsor one or more students. It is not too late.$3400 will fully sponsor a girl at GSA for the entire school year, this includes her tuition, uniform, room and board. We also offer ½ scholarships of $1700 for those families that are able to pay the other half of the tuition. Donations can be made through our website at: www.goodsoilpartners.org
They can also be sent to:
Good Soil Partners, Inc.
PO Box 1354
Concord, NH 03302
For His Kingdom,
Dean B. Eggert