chisomo ~ grace

can you hear my voice?
it travels with the winds
blowing-
scattering infinite grains of sand across the sahara
whispering-
the secrets of my sisters
of untold abuse, exploitation, and oppression
roaring-
carrying with it my fierce spirit and brave heart
the heart of a warrior
heart of a woman

do you see me?
the burden i bear?
like so many lines of destiny etched into time
maps of trials and tribulation
tracing the palms

palms
raised to the sky
waiting for precious dew from heaven
to quench the thirst of parched land
palms
clasped
praying to heaven and earth
for strength, redemption

look at these hands of mine
they hold stories
of tenderness-
embracing loved ones
ushering new life to the world
of sacrifice-
tending to my duties as mother and wife
drawing water from the well
gathering firewood
toiling in the fields~ cultivating maize and cassava
of violation-
at the hands of wanton men lurking in the cassava fields
of injustice-
in the flailing fists of my husband
who wishes to break my spirit
who demands my hard earned money
from selling the fruits of my labor~ my blood, sweat, and tears
who wrecklessly spends it on booze and booty
leaving little for the needs of our family

my face
a mirror
do you see my beauty, my grace?
it is your beauty and grace
these rivulets of tears
they are your tears
can you see through windows beyond smiles
look within-
you will find an eternal life giving and sustaining well
one that gives of itself endlessly

will you not hear me?
will you not see?

though my hands chafe and wear with time
though my face weathers in the sun and wind
though my warrior heart breaks
my spirit endures
that is the heart and spirit of a woman
i am mother-daughter-sister-wife-and friend
i am grace

Returning Home

Two days after returning from Malawi I wake in the middle of the night, my brain flooded with images--sharing food and stories with my new Malawian sisters,at Mua Mission, the dancers of Mua and Tukumba Village, gorgeous colorful fabrics, the baobab trees and rolling hills, waves crashing on the shore of Lake Malawi, many many beautiful smiling children, welcoming handshakes and faces and so much more. I am here in my home in San Francisco, immensely grateful for safe apassage and for all I have experienced and witnessed over the past 2 1/2 weeks, but Africa is running through my veins and singing in my soul! I am overwhelmed with how to pass on all the stories I have captured in my heart's memory, and how to integrate my new eyes and consciusness into my present everyday life. So I read my journal entries, this blog, and look at photos, and then take a step at a time forward into work and family, trying to keep this connection with the women of Malawi and the women from this country going strong! I am dreaming and planning and I have been inspird by you ALL.
Judith

Life After Mua

Its not every day that one comes across an experience that totally rejuvenates you, and changes your whole being inside out. Its not every day that a person meets a total stranger and instantly clicks with them as would a magnet to a piece of metal. Its not every day that a person opens up like a flower and shares all that is inside them with people.

But with Mua all these things were possible. On August 9, 16 women drawn from North America and Malawi in Africa came together for the first time and shared their stories. So powerful were the stories that tears were shared with reckless abandon. Together we weaved the various shades of our stories into one beautiful cloth. And together we realised that we were connected by a common purpose - to use our womanhood to make a difference.

Now that Mua has inspired us, we agree that we must not let the flame die. I see a flame so bright shining ahead of me. I want more Malawian women to tell their stories and to see their name in print. I am inspired and want to inspire others. I care about the girl child and want her to have a good future. I am hoping that I can use what Mua gave me to help female students find their inner voice. I know all this is possible and the flame that was first lit at Mua will torch the hearts of many more women to come.

Deborah Nyangulu-Chipofya

A Blessing For Ina

I wrote this for a Ina when we were at Mua Mission but thought it was a good Blessing for all Women.

My Dear Soul Sister I say your name as a prayer to all women.

As I stood on the deep rich dark soil of Africa today God whispered in my ear. He told me dear one about His most precious baby girl, you. His words came to me through the beautiful eyes of the woman you have become.

God spoke to me dear sister about the day of your birth. He told me my sweet, strong sister of the blessings He bestowed on you before you left the warmth of His loving embrace to touch all of our lives. You see my sister, God blessed you the day He gifted us with you. He blessed you with troubles and so you are strong, compassionate and kind to all. He blessed you with heartbreak so now your heart has broken open and the brilliant light within now radiates to all. He blessed you with your past so you would be this present now.

God wanted me to tell you dear one, He has blessed you with His strength and presences and to tell you he holds you in each moment.
God has blessed you today. You have become the promise of all He hoped and dreamed. Today dear sister God has blessed you with all the courage to use for wings to soar. Your heart has been blessed on this day; your kindness will bless the world.

Through your words, through your eyes and heart and strength of character you will write the stories of others. You will be the voice that carries the message of the spirit of the people, like the wind that blows across this land to others. You dear sister will be the smile of joy and openness of heart that others will see and trust. You will hear their story with an open heart of compassion and you will see His love in the eyes of others. You sister, will be strong enough to bear their story as you learned to bear your own. You will teach others and like seeds the lessons will take root and grow.

God has heard and granted your prayers. His strength is your strength. His compassion and kindness is your compassion and kindness and His love beats deeply in your heart. From this day forward, to the next, to the next and next, you will always know that God blessed you today, holding you in his embrace – that you are God’s most precious child He has never left you and never will.
Today God has blessed your heart with wings my sister and you will forever fly.

Newness

I feel new, I feel so fresh. Eversince I came back from Mua, this feeling of newness has not left me. I feel like I have gone through some kind of rebirth.
Oh yes, the experience I had at Mua is indescribable.
This is why I am asking the women of Malawi who want to participate in the Lilongwe and Blantyre writing workshops next week not to miss the chance

moon glow

gazing upward…
mesmerized by the luminous orb
sailing
along endless blankets of clouds
drawn into the eye of…
magnetic moon beam
lunar radiance showering down
a golden cascade
saturating my being
I surrender to wholeness

~cynthia hsu

malawian feast

They don’t know how to cook. Zilani, one of our new Malawian friends, cringes after taking a bite of the lunch prepared by the kitchen staff. It’s because they’re men. Shall we cook a proper Malawian meal? Then and there the Malawian women agreed that it would be a shame if we left the warm heart of Africa without experiencing an authentic Malawian meal.

After a shopping trip to the local market, seven Malawian women filed into the kitchen adjacent to the dining hall, relegating two baffled male cooks to the outdoors. I snuck in with a video camera and beheld a most colorful sight. The buzz of merry chatter filled the room as women poured their hearts into preparing a feast fit for kings and queens. It was apparent to me that the women took the utmost pride in sharing of their culinary delights with their new American/Canadian compadres. The aroma of kuku ya stew (stewed chicken), chambo cho kazinga (fried tilapia), mbatata (potatoes), fried zucchini and eggplant, and punga wakare (curried rice) seeped out through the kitchen doors to the dining area teasing our taste buds.

Dinner was quieter than usual as we were all busy shoveling food into our mouths leaving little time to talk. A chorus of mmm could be heard all around the table as we contentedly filled our bellies with seconds and even thirds. To express our gratitude for this unexpected gift, we did a little song and dance for our lovely Malawian chefs, singing our hearts out in Chichewa…zikomo zikomo (thank you). The looks of surprise and delight on their faces spoke volumes to their receiving our gift. And to our surprise and delight, they then spontaneously gifted us with a song in return… taku landi lani zikomo (we have received you, thank you).

~cynthia hsu