Hans Kouwenberg, Abbotsford-based moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, offers an account of his recent trip to Africa.

AFRICA – that continent of tears – is far more vast when you fly over it, and far more touching when you visit it.  

In Kenya, my wife Colleen and I  stayed at the impressive Presbyterian Guest House in Nairobi. We visited the Presbyterian Theological College in nearby Thogoto.  

I preached and celebrated communion with the Rev. Silas Mbabu and a ‘full house’ at the large, youthful and suburban Kahawe Farmer’s Church in Nairobi.  

We visited community projects such as the Eastleigh Community Centre, which provides vocational training for young people – including many Somalian refugees – all in the context of a Christian witness.  

We also saw lovely, long-necked giraffes and wicked-looking crocodiles.

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In Malawi, some lively members of the Ladies Guild sang and danced to celebrate our arrival at the airport!  

We visited children at the Chilobwe orphan Care Centre, in one of the poorer villages. We saw fine work being done at the Mulanje Mission hospital, church and schools, and at the newly renovated Likhubula Youth Centre on the forested slopes of magnificent Mulanje Mountain.  

In Blantyre, I was privileged to celebrate the baptism of 11 babies at St. Columba. We visited the Chigodi women’s Training Centre; the Synod’s Naming’azi Farm Training Centre; and Zomba Theological College.

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.  The needs are immense and seem insurmountable, given the realities of AIDS and poverty.  

Nevertheless, Colleen and I are very grateful to God and to our church for having sent us to Africa, to gain greater insight into the enormity and the complexity of the challenges and the problems which Africans – and those who stand with them – must face on a daily basis. Thanks be to God!

October 2007