The Reverend Dr. D.M. Brown

Chapter 5 Lubwa (1932-1939)

This term of service is mainly covered by photographs. This time three children were left at home, only the youngest son (John, born in 1929) was with his parents. All those at home received a weekly letter, alternately from Mother or Father. White children were always greatly loved and admired by the Africans, whose affectionate name for Dr. Brown was Bashimele (Mary’s father) and for Mrs. Brown Banajohn (John’s mother).

Furlough in 1936 must have seemed a short reunion of all the members of the family. How could they know, as they said goodbye in 1937 that it would be ten years until parents would see children again, except for Nessie (aged 19 in 1937) who trained as a nurse and went out to the Copper Belt, visiting Lubwa on the way North. In ten years time David (15) had spent years as a RAF pilot and had completed his MA degree at Edinburgh. Mary (12) had got married and had a son; and their little John, aged 8, whom they had never left before and who so greatly admired his Dad and wished to be a doctor like him – what did ten years do to him? He now wanted to be an engineer and was learning the hard way, wearing greasy overalls in an engineering shop.

It was a tremendous price that missionaries paid in those days, giving up years of family life. We should be glad that modern communications mean that this need no longer happen nowadays. During the war years all home furlough was cancelled but two spells of holiday were taken in South Africa. Meanwhile the work was expanding and Lubwa’s complement of buildings was complete – church, hospital school, dormitories, and houses. Now more village work was possible once more.

Annandale Hospital: An extension was added after Dr Brown's death and called the Dr Brown Memorial

...or click here for close-up of the people only

On Ulendo.

Ulendo is derived from the local Chichewa & Naya word for "a journey" or "to travel"

Two ways of crossing a river:

Rest and refreshment on ulendo:

Two patients from the isolation wards - leprous but happy. There is very little leprosy in Lubwa district:

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