MFH: Missionalary From Home
I’ve been getting lots of questions about how I can WFH (work from home) when I’m a missionalary. Well, I’m a MFH (missionalary from home). Continue reading MFH: Missionalary From Home
Author: Blair D. Bertrand
A missional-ary currently serving in Blantyre (Malawi) with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), Theological Education by Extension Malawi (TEEM), and Zomba Theological College (Zomba, Malawi)
“I do!” – 25 Years of Marriage
25 years ago today, Vivian and I got married. We received a poem as a present, an epithalamium for those who care about the technical name, that spoke of joy, and love, and laughter, and tender moments. It hangs on our bedroom wall, framed along with the cover of our invitation (the picture above) reminding … Continue reading “I do!” – 25 Years of Marriage
The Party Has Landed
Word is getting out, so let’s make this official: the Party has landed in Ottawa. On July 31st we moved into our new home in Barrhaven. It was sad to leave the Crieff community behind. We arrived in March, travel weary and unsure of what the future held. We left in July, ready to live … Continue reading The Party Has Landed
The Party is Over
When we came to Malawi, we brought a lawn sign proclaiming in bold letters, “THE PARTY’S HERE.” The sign originated at a going away shindig in British Columbia, and we took it with us across Canada from BC to Ontario and then to Amsterdam before landing in Africa. All along the way we brought it … Continue reading The Party is Over
Corona Virus When There is No Health System
I’m struggling with social media right now. More than normal. My timeline is filled with North Americans and Europeans who can only think of one thing – Covid-19/corona virus. My Malawian feed is filled with the normal irrationality that is Malawian politics but that is rarely uplifting and often depressing. A former student asked why … Continue reading Corona Virus When There is No Health System
Longer Reads: Sex for Fish
In the economy of one of the poorest countries in the world it shouldn’t surprise us that women trade sex for other material goods. The pictures accompanying this article are amazing and the work that Julie Gunther did is well worth looking at. Sex For Fish Continue reading Longer Reads: Sex for Fish
Obadiah, Chichiri Prison and Theological Education
Obadiah: Prophet Against Edom Obadiah is a strange little book of the Bible, seldom referred to and almost never preached from. Given this, I was surprised when I arrived at Chichiri maximum security prison to discover about 30 prisoners had gathered to do a Bible study starting at Obadiah 1:1. One of the things that … Continue reading Obadiah, Chichiri Prison and Theological Education
Malawi Elections 2019
We still await the final results from Tuesday’s tripartite elections here in Malawi. It has been a fascinating time to be an observer. Here are 10 things I have learned during the Malawian elections: Voting in Malawi happens outside Like many things in Malawi, voting takes place outside. So much nicer than the cold rainy … Continue reading Malawi Elections 2019
Our Friends and Ancestors update
After posting yesterday, Dr. Kang sent me an additional note about Dr. Waetjen. I include it here in a slightly edited version: [Allow me to] add one more. Prof. Waetjen, during his tenure as the Robert Dollar Professor of NT at San Francisco Theological Seminary and Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, has spent most of … Continue reading Our Friends and Ancestors update
Our Friends and Ancestors Live in Books
One of the roles that I play at Zomba Theological College (ZTC) is the Director of Research and Educational Quality Assurance (DREQA). I’m a bit ambivalent about the role because I have been given the task of ensuring that our research and our teaching are up to standard. The question that causes my ambivalence is, … Continue reading Our Friends and Ancestors Live in Books
Missional-aries 