Blog: Malawi – The Warm Heart of Africa
From 19 to 28 October, Luiz H. Seidel, Dr. Mirjam Laaser and Tobias Schäfer-Sell from the Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Lower Saxony (ELM) will be travelling in Malawi.
Together with Finn Peters and Wiebke Zimmermann from the Committee for Mission and Ecumenism of the Regional Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, they are visiting our partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi (ELCM).
The focus of the ten-day trip is on encounters and shared discussions on the themes of youth and the future, displacement and migration, and sustainability.
In this travel diary, we’ll take you along to Malawi. We’ll share personal impressions, recount moving encounters and provide insights into the partnership between our churches – ten days full of dialogue, inspiration and new perspectives.
You can read the reports for each day here. The latest report will always appear at the top.
20 October 2026: With Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe
An initial exchange with the partner church
After a restful first night, our day began at 7.40 am with the daily morning prayer service in the church on the ELCM campus. The service was beautiful – hearing prayers and blessings in a different language and yet still feeling touched by the Holy Spirit.
Afterwards, we met with the bishop. We were welcomed with warm words and a beautiful song. Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe expressed his deep gratitude for our collaboration in the areas of youth, migration and agriculture.
“We live here in a very small country. For some people, it doesn’t matter, but we are here.”
This statement by Bishop Bvumbwe has stayed with me in particular. For over 40 years, he has been at the helm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi. He is now approaching retirement and is giving serious thought to what will remain of his life’s work and how he can hand it over into good hands.
As we spoke about the school and youth projects, Bishop Bvumbwe shared a moving thought with us: he reminded us that he himself had once attended one of these supported schools as a child – just like the children do today.
“When you visit the schools, remember: we were there once too.”
He also emphasised that young people are not just the future, but are already taking on responsibility and leadership within the Church today. This also gave Finn a boost:
“For me, an important message from the conversation with Bishop Bvumbwe was that he sees young people who are actively involved in the Church as a great opportunity. Their commitment and willingness to take on responsibility give him hope for the future – especially in a world that is currently facing major challenges. I take this hopeful outlook on the (Church’s) future away from our conversation.”
Of course, not every day runs smoothly. The Church in Malawi also faces challenges such as the current economic and currency crisis, as well as misleading theologies. In our discussion, we spoke about the current challenges facing our churches and ecumenism. Bishop Bvumbwe emphasised that “the churches should be strengthened as a united body; we should not divide ourselves”.
Particularly in times of change, it is important to remain connected with other Lutheran churches worldwide and to create opportunities for exchange. This exchange enables us to learn from one another, to discover different perspectives and to gain new inspiration for our own work. In this way, we can strengthen one another and discover just how diverse lived faith can be.
“What strikes me about this conversation is the connection between leadership and community. Walking alongside people – that sounds simple at first. Yet it requires attention, commitment and a willingness to engage with other perspectives. Perhaps that is precisely one of the key tasks in times of change: not to give hasty answers, but to seek ways forward together.”
19 October 2026: Arrival in the Warm Heart of Africa
After a long journey, we arrived in Malawi today. As soon as we crossed the border, we realised why the country is known as the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’.
The health check was followed by immigration control, where our e-visas were checked. Waiting, changing counters, waiting again – and finally, when it was her turn at the counter, Dr Mirjam Laaser recounts the official’s question: “What are you coming to Malawi for?”
“Oh dear,” I thought at first. But when I explained that I was here on official business, visiting the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi with a delegation, the young official looked up and beamed at me: “But that’s a blessing for us. A very warm welcome!’
I hadn’t expected that. I tell her that she is the first border official in the world to welcome me like this – and that this encounter is a blessing for me too. By the end, we’re both beaming. And ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ takes on a whole new meaning for me right from the moment I arrive.
The warm welcome continues afterwards too. The airport staff have already taken our luggage off the carousel and set it aside. Outside, John, the representative of our partner church, the ELCM, is waiting for us, together with the driver who will be accompanying us this week. Together, we set off for the church’s guest house in Lilongwe.
In the afternoon, we get to know the church compound and its surroundings during a walk and a short guided tour. It’s a first impression of the place where we’ll be spending the coming days. Afterwards, we go over our programme once more and round off the day with dinner together.
Tomorrow morning, we’ll take part in the daily morning devotions in the main church. We have a long day ahead of us – filled with encounters we’re really looking forward to.
