by Joanna Morrison
When we first we moved to Malawi, I hand-washed our clothes for about a week. After that I quickly found someone to help me, but I continued to wash our underwear by hand. Now I can hear the hum of our washing machine as I write. It was too hard for me. Yet everyday, millions of women in Malawi wash all their clothes and their blankets and towels by hand. They also carry every drop of water they use from the village bore hole, and walk for miles to get to their fields. I would not last a week under this kind of physical strain.
Last month, we had our first ever Women’s Bible School. 30 women left their chores behind, and came to worship, pray, study, and grow. We spent the first three days getting to know one another, and preparing. It felt a bit like Esther’s preparation for King Xerxes. We went back to the garden of Eden to consider who God created us to be, and spent time exploring the consequences of the fall for us today. Worship brought us to the feet of Jesus, who touched us as he has touched countless women before us. And that was only the beginning.
It was wonderful to see these women shed their shame over the course of a month. Some who never raised their eyes began to look up and out. Others sank their roots deeper into the love of Christ, and were able to forgive. Others discovered that they could lead. The women were divided into small groups, and these became tools for going deeper. At times, after discussing a difficult cultural concept, I would leave the classroom to give room for discussion without my presence. I loved the willingness to engage in the hard questions.
Our topics of study included: Prayer, Ministry to and With Children, Christian Family, Tradition and Character, Gender, Healthy Living, and Business Practices. It was wonderful to see these women learn things for the first time. In my healthy living class, a balanced diet was a new concept. We looked at the various things we could buy at the market for 500 Kwacha, and discovered that our first choice (biscuits or orange squash) were the least healthy options. We talked about making promises to children to keep them quiet, never intending to fulfill them. How will our children trust us when they are teenagers if we have lied to them all along? We talked about what things our children need to know before they leave our homes. In a culture where sex is not openly talked about, we were able to dispel some myths and make some space.
As these wonderful women rested from their labour and had time to reflect, they were able to adjust some thought patterns and explore some new ways to be. It dawned on me that these women will have worked everyday since they were 9 or 10 years old with little or no recognition. We talked about the importance of affirmation, and affirmed one another in the process. Life in Malawi would grind to a halt without the tireless efforts of girls and women. It was a good time to say ‘thank you.’
Another highlight for the women was the treasure hunts. They spent time in prayer for Bangula, asking God for names or places or clues about someone he wanted to encourage. Even listening in this way was a new experience for some, and it took courage to share their clues with the other women. Kalina went out with a group of women. One of the older women had seen a woman with a purple skirt and a white top while she was praying. Right outside the gate, they found that woman. That was so encouraging, and the women proceeded with more faith. Next Kalina found her clue, and they were able to pray for a woman to be set free from sniffing drugs. Then Eliza found a teenaged girl with a blue skirt (her clue) and the girl wanted prayer because her father beats her. One by one, each of the women found the clues God had given them and were able to encourage many people. They came home rejoicing!
At the end of four weeks, a community had been built, and the women were often found singing or praying together. Rest had made way for renewal. We gathered for graduation. One of our Bible School teachers told the story of the woman at the well. He pointed out that when we meet Jesus he will challenge our traditions. Tradition determined that this Samaritan woman would not talk to a Jewish man, but Jesus spoke and asked for water. Henry also spoke about the water jug she carried with her to the well. She left it behind when she ran back to tell the whole village about the Messiah. He challenged us to consider whether we might be carrying a water jug which would inhibit our message. How can we tell someone, ‘God will heal your marriage,’ when we continue to fight with each other? How can we tell someone, ‘God will give you joy,’ when we are weary and sad all the time? Leave your water jug at the well, and share the good news.
This was our first Women’s Bible School but it will not be the last. This new thing is so good and so sweet. We have tasted God’s goodness, and seen his glory. Malawian women are the ones who pass on traditions, and they will be the ones to bring freedom. Pray for them, as they return to the daily grind, and fight to hold on to what they have found. Pray for them as they thank their daughters and husbands and give honour where it is due. Your Kingdom come, dear Father, your will be done.
