Mission Partner - Gary Brough Posted on 22 Feb 2021
Irene Anderson, member of the Presbytery’s World and Community Interests committee; is in regular contact with Gary Brough, Presbytery’s Mission Partner who returned to Malawi just after Christmas and wrote the following to Irene recently:
“Yes, it seems we returned as the second wave was taking hold here. Due to the South African variant it appears and amid people travelling for Christmas. Cases rose quickly across the country but particularly in the cities. Numbers appear to be going down according to official figures but it’s hard to believe they paint a complete picture when testing is hard to access and people are reluctant to test.
As cases rose, hospitals filled up and oxygen supplies have been a particular issue. Schools were closed for 5 weeks but are due to reopen on Monday. Eilidh is excited to get back. No word on Morven’s nursery yet. With the girls home (and having lost her driver’s license) Jacqueline has been home most of the time too. Her new license arrived yesterday so we’re looking forward to a new routine!
I work from home alternate weeks to reduce numbers in the office. Finding my feet again but an uphill battle ahead, COVID has had a big impact on activities and finance. Services are as needed as ever as school closures and economic pressure increase the risks of gender based violence or exploitation by employers.”