Rev. Dr. John Gladstone, one of Canada's late princes of preachers, offers wise insight in a sermon-based on Luke 17:15, 18:11 and 22:17 – entitled Graduating In Gratitude which states there are three levels of thanksgiving. The first, most rudimentary, is basic, obvious thanksgiving for the grace of gifts and mercies experienced; the second, more problematic, is the kind of thanks which compares our fortunate condition to the less fortunate condition of others and the last, most mature thanks, is thanksgiving in the face of the world's or one's personal agonies and suffering.
In August, my wife Colleen and I went on a moderatorial trip to Africa – that continent of tears. People greeted us in Kenya and Malawi with kindness and, especially, in the latter country – the 10th poorest in the world – with great, unabashed and undeserved warmth and affection. I am truly grateful for the gift of Christian people who seem to be so genuinely grateful for the brief visit of even one of the leaders of one of their smallest partner churches.
In Kenya, Dr. Rick Allen, who's been working for 13 years training leaders of the Presbyterian Church in East Africa how to deal with the terrible scourge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic which has stricken so many, and his irrepressible side-kick, Rev. Joseph Mothaly, welcomed us at the airport. We stayed at the impressive Presbyterian Guest House in Nairobi. We visited the Presbyterian Theological College, about to receive university status, in the south west of the city. I preached and shared in the celebration of communion with Rev. Silas Mbabu and a full house at the large, youthful, suburban Kahawe Farmer's Church on the northeast side. We visited the powerful work of the Eastleigh Community Centre, which provides pre-school and primary education, as well as vocational training such as sewing, hairdressing, carpentry, auto-mechanics and pottery classes, in a slum neighbourhood that includes many Somalian refugees-all in the context of Christian witness. And, oh yes, we also saw some lovely long-necked giraffes and wicked-looking crocodiles.
In Malawi, some lively members of the Ladies Guild sang and danced to celebrate our arrival at the airport! Rev. Glenn and Linda Inglis, our Presbytery friends, recently re-appointed at the request of our partners in the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian to head up their Blantyre Synod Development Commission, were there as well to welcome us and show us around. We visited pre-school children at the Chilobwe community-based Orphan Care Centre, set in one of the poorer villages outside the city. They need help with their rainwater tank and deteriorating biffies! We saw the fine work being done at the Mulanje Mission hospital, church and schools, as well as at the newly renovated Likhubula Youth Centre on the forested slopes of the magnificent Mulanje Mountain. I addressed members of the Blantyre City Presbytery on Schwarz's principles of the health and well being of the local church; Colleen spoke to the St. James Women's Guild. I also preached and was privileged to celebrate baptism with the families of a11 babies in the first service of the St. Columba congregation, after which Glenn and Linda were inducted into their new position.
Just north of Blantyre, we visited the Chigodi women's Training Centre, and on the way to Zomba, a model farm at the Synod's Naming'azi Farm Training Centre; then it was on to Zomba Theological College. We also visited the Liwonde National Park and saw our share of gigantic hippos and elephants, as well as a number of other animals.
Throughout our trip we were struck by the faithful witness of servants of the church, among the Africans themselves, and from our own church in Canada, all serving for the sake of our Lord and his gospel. The needs are immense and seem insurmountable, given the social challenges and the political realities. Nevertheless, Colleen and I are very grateful to God and to our church for having sent us to Africa in order that we gain a greater insight into the enormity and the complexity of the challenges and the problems which Africans and those who stand by them and with them must face on a daily basis.
