LETTER FROM FR TAYLOR BACK IN MALAWI

ST Kizito Parish

27th Aug 2008.

Dear Friends of St Kizito,

I arrived back in Malawi in early August and was delighted to see the progress the Christians had made in Ntandire. They put in glass in all the windows, fixed most of the seats, built toilets for both men and women. They also managed to increase the size of the plot.
In their discussions they proposed the name of the church ‘Our Lady Help of Christians’.

Our hope is to invite the Bishop to bless the Church next year 2009. It would be after Easter sometime. We will also bless the new hall at St Kizito on 3rd June 2009 or nearest Sunday.

Thank you again for all your prayers and support.

God Bless.

Fr Francis Taylor.

INSIDE THE NEW CHURCH AT NTANDIRE

NTANDIRE OUTBULDINGS TAKE SHAPE

A toilet block has been completed and more land purchsed.

A HILARIOUS THEATRE NIGHT

The Malawi Support Group recently held a very successful fundraising theatre night to see the hilarious comedy written by Alan Ayckbourn entitled Absurd person singular.
The theatre was fully booked and we raised just under $1600 including proceeds from the raffle pictured above.

OVERSEAS STUDENTS ATTEND THEATRE NIGHT

In attendance at our Malawi Theatre night were students from La Trobe University who were all from the Ithaca campus of Cornell University in NY and are over here for a semester to study Australian history for a term under the guidance of parishier John, pictured with his wife above.
John lectures in the humanities faculty and decided it would be of benefit to them to experience some local culture and consequently they enjoyed the show and our hospitality afterwards.

CRAZY WHIST NIGHT

Last evening on the 15th March we conducted a Malawi Crazy Whist fundraiser card night which was enjoyed by everyone, including many who had not previously played and learnt to play for the first time. We had a practice session beforehand. We provided prizes for those with the highest points (although you play in pairs each person keeps a score sheet).In Crazy Whist winners after each hand is completed move to the nearest adjacent table whilst losers remain. However no one remains in the same position as you’re constantly playing against different partners. Losers will eventually be dealt an unbeatable hand and become winners; also pairing against other winners of varying abilities ensures it all evens itself out after several hands.We provided 7 prizes, for the best 5 scores and to add interest for the worst 2 for being such good sports.The night raised $700.

THE LATEST NEWS FROM MALAWI

Fr F Taylor has sent us a letter of thanks and informing us our last remittance was used to facilitate flooring and plastering. We were overjoyed to hear the christians were very happy in their new church. Work remaining is to paint the walls, install windows, seating and outside tiolets.
Dyson informs us the rainy season for Malawi has brought good falls and the crops are doing fine but in some cases the rains have washed away fertilizers and no yield is expected.
Above is a photo of his family taken during the Christmas Holiday when all of his four children were available. His wife is a primary school teacher currently heading a new school, just a kilometre from the Ntandire Church/Hall shown in the first 2 photos. This is a populous area and that is why one class can have over 100 pupils as you can see from the photo of the children.

INSIDE THE NEW CHURCH AT NTANDIRE

Here are photos taken mid January 2008 inside showing Christmas decorations.

FINAL YEAR FUNRAISER COURTESY OF "THE DEGENERATES"

We held our final Fundraiser last Saturday 8th December, when we sang Carols and were entertained and danced to the wonderful music of the "The Degenerates" who donated their services for the evening.
A total of $1,380 was raised in ticket sales and from the raffle. In November further funds of $170 were raised from an entertaining evening presented by the various musical groups in the parish.

NTANDIRE CHURCH OUTSTRUCTURE COMPLETE.

The above photos taken in November  2007, show progress of the new church with the outer structure complete inclusive of doors and windows.

NTANDIRE CHURCH ROOF TAKES SHAPE

The project is proceeding well with the roof near completion.

Sat 15th September 2007 Dyson took some photos of the Ntandire Church/Hall at the end of timber work for the roof which was the day iron sheets were being placed on the roof. Some photos show Sat Sacrament Classes ( Called Tili Tonse ) for the young ones who are to start receiving some some Sacrament.

More photos will posted once the roofing has finished.

IN READINESS FOR THE ROOF STRUCTURE

The roof is near completion.

Photos taken on Sat 15th September 2007 show the Ntandire Church/Hall at the end of timber work in preparation for the iron sheets on the roof. Sat Sacrament Classes ( Called Tili Tonse ) were held for the young ones who are to start receiving some some Sacrament.

A PLEA FOR MORE FUNDS

Malawi members Pat Croft-Theatre Ticket sales with Lindsay Byrnes.
We need to raise another $2000-$3000 for the roof and fittings of the church and hall at Ntandire and hence are looking for good support for the Eltham Little Theatre night on Friday 31st August and the Father’s Day raffle to complete this project.

To date we have only just covered costs, that is the initial payment to Eltham Little theatre so if you of haven't already either bought tickets or raffle tickets please take the opportunity next week

NTANDIRE CHURCH TAKES SHAPE

The first photo depicts Fr Frank Taylor with 2 seminarians. Below is Dyson Ntapara with Fr Frank and a seminarian taken just before the first mass celebration. Further photo is of the partially completed building.

NTANDIRE CHURCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION