Safety in Mzuzu, Malawi What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?
People’s Opinions
Our team felt very safe while in Mzuzu. We did not go out late at night but did not have any issues or concerns.
Ministry Summary
Ministry Summary in Mzuzu, Malawi Breakthroughs? Suggestions? Concerns? On a scale of 1-4 (1 being not at all, 4 being absolutely) how strongly would you recommend another World Race team go to this ministry location & why?
People’s Opinions
Ministry here is what you make of it. Most of your day will probably be a lot of hanging around the church until you evangelize in the evenings. So i would encourage you to either make your team a ministry and poor into each other with great one on ones or team times. You can also poor into Pastor Moses’s kids and family by spending time with them. The kids have seen every disney movie but love to watch movies. Also, getting to know people in town is a great ministry. You will hang out a lot with the people at the church. There is a weekly women’s ministry meeting and that will be what you make of it. There are also weekly home bible study groups with members of the church and are great for getting to know them better.
The ministry at Mzuzu Pentacostal Church can be very fun, if you allow it to be. You’ll most likely be spending most of your time with the “youth” of the church (which is mostly people aged 18-25) doing outreaches and door-to-door. If this makes you nervous, don’t let it. The people in Mzuzu are friendly, and most of the time, this sort of ministry consists of encouraging people with something from scripture and praying with them.You may have many afternoons off, and I’d recommend building relationships with the artists near Mzuzu Coffee Den. They are great guys, and (although they will try to make some money off you) are very willing to have a bible study with you, etc, and could really use continued encouragement. When we were there, one of the artists, George (a thin and outgoing guy with dreads), started coming to church, so I’d continue to encourage him to come if he isn’t attending church.
Lodging
Lodging in Mzuzu, Malawi Where did you stay? What were the accommodations (sleeping arrangements, toilets, showers, etc.)? Cost (per person per night in USD), Contact info.
People’s Opinions
We stayed up stairs in the church with our tents set up. It was quite spacious. The bathrooms are decent, shower is absolutley freezing.
Mzuzu Pentecostal Church has some empty rooms inside the church you can stay in. They have keys so you can lock the doors, and are fairly comfortable. There is also a bathroom for boys with one toilet and a (cold water) shower, and a bathrom for girls with two toilets and a (cold water) shower.It’s a nice area. I had no complaints for the month. Our agreement was $4 per person per night.
Food / Meals
Food / Meals in Mzuzu, Malawi What did you eat? Where did you get the food? Cost (per person per day in USD)? Contact info (if applicable).
People’s Opinions
You eat across the lawn at Pastor Moses house where everything is prepared for you. You usually eat some variation on rice, shame, meat. You also can go to the Mzuzu coffee den which is about a 20 min walk.
Moses of Mzuzu Pentecostal Church prepared meals for us for the month for $4 per person per day. The meals were very good, and he was also willing to take requests for food. It was typically rice with beans or meat and a side. The only tricky part was getting water. The local grocery stores only sell water in 5L increments, and Moses didn’t include water in his food budget. We just bought about 10 5L bottles of water at a time and made it fit our remaining supplies budget.
Transportation
Transportation in Mzuzu, Malawi What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.
People’s Opinions
Moses or one of the youth typically did any of the necessary driving. The agreement was $2 per person per day. One week we took a minibus taxi to Nkhata Bay. The expected price should be 1,000MK per person each way, so be willing to haggle the price. Otherwise, most places in town are in walking distance, but Moses may be willing to give you a ride (or if you’re lucky, borrow the car).
Medical
Medical in Mzuzu, Malawi Information on local hospitals / doctors / pharmacies. Where would someone go in a medical emergency? (addresses and contact info).
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Communication
Communication in Mzuzu, Malawi Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?
People’s Opinions
No wifi at the church. We went to mzuzu coffee den to get wifi but you pay for internet coupons per GB and it usually runs out before an hour is up. Some of us ended up buying SIM cards for our phones because it was cheeper in the long run and faster than multiple internet coupon buys at coffee den.
Financial
Financial in Mzuzu, Malawi Location of banks or ATMs, notes about transaction fees, best places to exchange money, and other money related advice.
People’s Opinions
There are several Standard Bank ATMs all over town. There are two “Peoples” grocery stores near Mzuzu Coffee Den, both of which have an ATM outside. There is also an ATM at the mall where Shoprite is. The max withdrawal we could find at any ATM is 40,000MK, so you have to make several withdrawals a week. Moses said there should be an ATM where you can take out 100,000MK at a time, but we couldn’t find it.
Translators
Translators in Mzuzu, Malawi List any local translators – name and contact information, languages spoken
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Off Days / Fun Activities
Off Days / Fun Activities in Mzuzu, Malawi What activities did your team experience? Recommendations? List locations/contact info. Any locations to be avoided? Any extra safety tips for off days?
People’s Opinions
Not much to do in Mzuzu except coffee den and chill at the church. However, we went to Nkhata bay every weekend. Moses dropped us off at the van station and we took a van for cheap all the way to Nkhata bay. (The first weekend we hired a private van bc our whole team went and it was cheaper). If you can, when you get to Nkhata Bay, get the driver to drive you to the top of the hill where the lodge is. It is a massive walk and worth the $1 more to get him to drive you to the top. We stayed at Village Mayoka which was right beside Butterfly space. Mayoka is a little nicer than Butterfly and has more food options. A team from our squad’s ministry site was butterfly space so it was also nice to have a little separation from their ministry so as not to interrupt (but also be able to visit). They have free paddle boards, innertubes, snorkel gear, etc here. Great place and great adventure days. Also the waffles are good.
There’s not a ton to do in Mzuzu that we found. It’s not much of a tourist spot. Mzuzu Coffee Den is definitely where we spent most of our time. The coffee is good (a large “plunger” coffee is 800MK, and is enough coffee for 2 or 3 people), but the internet is TERRIBLY slow (and not free). Skyband internet is a little more reliable, but also much more expensive.If you make your way to Nkhata Bay, Kaya Papaya is a great spot (also with shaky, but free, internet).
Some of us went to Nhkata bay were we slept at a place called “Butterflyes”. It is right at the lake were you can chill, swim, eat and relax. One night in a dorm is 2500MK and camping is 2000MK. You can borrow for free a snorkling set there and see the amazing underwater live.
While in Mzuzu there is not a ton of great adventure activities but you can spend the day at the coffee den on wifi talking to friends and family. It is cheap and easy to get to Nkahta Bay from Mzuzu. There is cheap lodging there and it is right on the water….just listen to the locals about the hippo sightings.
Other Important Contacts
Other Important Contacts in Mzuzu, Malawi Additional ministry opportunities, local pastors, etc. Relationship & follow up suggestions
People’s Opinions
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Tips
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Additional Info
Additional Info in Mzuzu, Malawi Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?