Mr. Juma

Oh man, I cant believe February is over! My life is flying by which is good but sometimes I worry I am going to wake up one day when I am 30 and think oh god, where has my life gone. I am someone who likes action, though, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

For the past two months I have been focused on boreholes. Reading about them, talking about them, and looking at them in hopes that later this year, the small village of Masalema will have one drilled. At this point, a census of three villages has been conducted, borehole usage monitored, a water committee of ten community members formed, prices and options for this water source have been gathered and the committee has made some important decisions regarding finances and community contribution. All of this could not have been done without the help, influence, and direction of Mr. Juma Chilembwe, a respected member of the community who is genuinely committed to serving others.

When I first came to site I was introduced to Mr. Juma and would see him out and about occasionally but it wasn’t until January that he revealed himself as an significant relationship. He sits on a lot of committees in the area, is a member of the Malawi Cotton Growers Association, knows many people, is friends with many of the chiefs and even the Traditional Authority (sort of like the district government) has expressed her desire to see him head the Village Development Committee which is responsible for development on a county level (for lack of better comparison). His involvement on so many levels shows his commitment to service and understanding of the power structures and protocol. We have been spending a lot of time together, traveling to Balaka to meet with the waterboard, attending meetings and talking about our plans. He is volunteering his time, just as I am, and I am energized by his dedication. I think we make a good team and he even told me he is feeling “alive” working with me, which I took as a compliment. Not only is he smart and well respected, but he is helpful, respectful, and takes me seriously.

2010 was a hard year for Mr. Juma because both of his wives died within months and he was out of the village a lot, caring for each of them at the hospital. When they died pretty much back to back he was left him with who knows how many children and, since in the Yao culture, the man moves into the home of the woman when they are married, no home of his own. So now, Mr. Juma needs a house and someone to cook him nsima, wash his clothes, and carry his water. He has a piece of land in the neighboring village where he will build a house, but in the meantime he needs to move out of his deceased wife’s family’s house. I was honored when he shared his thoughts about women in the village in need of a husband and it was so enlightening to hear such a different way of thinking about marriage; one that doesn’t involve love.

It is refreshing to work with Mr. Juma after dealing with so many annoying Malawian men wherever I go. Malawi is a country full of young people but as a man in his mid 50’s, he represents a different generation of Malawian men whom I have not had much contact with prior to this. A group of men I can only describe at this point as soft spoken and very stylish. Mr. Juma wears baggy pants, flip flops, and loose oxford shirts in colors like coral, sunflower, and peacock purple; looking sort of professional and sort of gangster.

It is so mind boggling to think that my path has crossed with Mr. Juma and what I would have thought last year if I knew what I would be experiencing this year. Every day I am filled with wonderment about how lucky I am to be here and how amazing and crazy all the people I am meeting here are.

Sending my love, as usual, and hoping all is well in America.

Love, C