April 26 2026 - Walking Through Nkhoma Sunday Market & Town

Location: Malawi Summary: Today is April 26th, a Sunday, and I spent the day exploring Nakoma on foot. I forgot to mention that last night I had dinner at the Bella restaurant — just a quarter chicken, but it was really delicious. The night before, I had run into John and Beth Murphy from North Carolina, who are part of a church group visiting Nakoma for two weeks. Their Presbyterian church back home helps fund various projects here, and members visit once or twice a year to check on things. Some of them had been here before, and one had even worked at the Nakoma Hospital a few years ago. They were a truly inspiring group. They planned to attend church this Sunday morning, but I didn't pay close enough attention to the timing, so I missed it. Instead, I took a long walk through town. I passed by a gas station with very old pumps — they don't sell gas or diesel on Sundays but told me they'd have supplies the next day. Then I made my way to the market. When I entered, someone said something in the local language that I couldn't understand, but it got a big laugh from everyone within earshot. I'm sure it was about me showing up there, and honestly, if they got a good laugh at my expense, that's perfectly fine with me. The Sunday market was pretty quiet — just a few people selling basic vegetables like onions, potatoes, cassava, some greens, and aubergines. The ground is very uneven and a bit tricky to navigate if you're not steady on your feet, but there are plenty of stalls and signs of commerce. I never felt threatened; quite the opposite, I felt completely at ease. It was a great opportunity to see what daily life looks like in Nakoma. Afterward, I walked back through the hospital grounds to my accommodation. I've been finishing up the emergency food supplies I brought with me — the kind that just needs hot water added to a pouch or to be warmed up. Some came from the Netherlands and some from Norway, and it's been perfectly decent food. Putting it all to good use before it goes to waste.