Yesterday I returned to Customs House in Blantyre to pursue my long-running application to import our Nissan Bluebird at the concessionary rate of 15% normally allowed to church groups, instead of the normal rate of nearer 100%.
It had all been agreed with Customs during my visit a few
days ago, but via a phone call to me that afternoon they reversed their
decision on pressure from higher up.
Well today, they arranged for me to see the highest official
in Blantyre, the Controller of Customs who has a large office in Plantation
House in central Blantyre.
He was very courteous, as high-ranking officers are, and
after very few words agreed to pass my letter to the Minister for Finance in
Capital City, Lilongwe for his decision. In essence, if I associated closely
with a denomination here, which would mean that I would have to give my time
100% to their churches, I could pay the lower rate of duty. But working
inter-denominationally I do not appear to qualify, although doing the same
things, but to my mind in a potentially more productive way.
We were not able to
go ahead with plans to go to Nsanje in the far south of the country for the
Easter Convention of the Independent Assemblies of God because of the state of
the roads after the rains. I also declined an invitation to go north-west to
Mwanza to speak at the Easter convention of the Elim Pentecostal Church,
because I feel it is still early days for me in Malawi.
But on Good Friday and Easter Saturday I went with Alan
Turnbull to Chingazi Evangelical Brethren Church, where there is also a health
centre, some distance to the south where Mr Monjeza, the pastor, was holding
meetings over the weekend.
The platform at the front had a 4'6" wooden rail all
the way round with five lecterns spaced around it, and a baptismal pool at one
end so I felt very cut off from the people.
We were welcomed very warmly by all, but the singing was a
bit laboured as though it was all a bit of a struggle.
On Easter Sunday we attended the opening of a new church building
at Goliati (the Malawian form of Goliath), not far from Chingazi and Alan spoke
very clearly and well at the meeting that followed. They had people present
from many places in Malawi, from the far north down to Mozambique, and the
singing was very lively.
Nedson Milanzi, the leader hopes that his facilities will
develop into a teaching centre for the area. I was invited to speak at the
afternoon meeting and found it very hard going. But about 10 people came
forward for salvation so perhaps God was able to apply what was said. I've
started to film some of the proceedings, and hope eventually to produce a video
for information.
The boys are on holiday from school, enjoying having free
time and riding round the garden on Tim's bike - we still have not found the
pump connector to pump up Ben's tyres!
Our dawg, Cara, has almost given up savaging the staff,
saving her fiercest attentions for unsuspecting visitors.
We're intending to go to Mount Mulanje (10,000 ft) tomorrow
to visit Likabula pools, where we can swim (if we dare) in the ice-cold streams
coming down from the mountain.
Miles and Liz Thomas have taken their family to Lake Malawi
for a few days break, but it’s generally a bit hot there and we're still
acclimatising.
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