Hey all!
I have been back in the states for about three weeks now, and now am entering the time of reflections and sorting through everything I just experienced. The transition home has been bittersweet as I’m sure it always is. I am back at Washington State University finishing up my last year, living in my sorority, and starting to think about the future..scary! I thought I would send a little recap with the highlights of my summer in hopes that you all will be able to get a glimpse of what this distant land in Africa is like.
My Ministry:
Every morning after breakfast we would head out for our ministry projects. Two other interns and I would grab our wooden boards (chalk boards) and head across the field to Mgwayi village. It was inevitable that a couple of the kids would see us coming so they would run to meet us to carry the boards to the spot where we taught. We would walk through the village to pick up the rest of the kids. This often took a while because we had to greet everyone we walked by with a full greeting. At school we taught 50 little wiggly kids the alphabet, numbers, colors and shapes. The kids knew the alphabet song but had no idea that the letters correlated with the song. We did a new letter everyday starting by drawing it in the air and then the kids would go and draw it in the dirt. After we were done with the plans for the day, the kids would sing a little and then we would play.
We would walk back across the field for lunch at the mission center where we usually had American food, but sometimes beans, rice and nsima (the staple food of Malawi). In the afternoon we would head out to evangelism. Evangelism was my favorite part of everyday. We would walk back to the village, or go to other villages that are supported by COTN. This time kids ran across the field to us not to carry the boards, but to chase each other for the soccer balls; Malawian kids LOVE soccer, or “futball”. Same as the morning we would walk through the villages surrounded by a pack of kids, greeting the elders and yelling “groundie-football”. The boys would all run out to the field and the girls would usually follow along side us singing songs and attempting to talk to us in Chichewa (the Malawian language). We would play circle games, soccer and netball then round them up for a Bible lesson. For my evangelism I told the story of Daniel and how God saved him when he was thrown into the lions den because he was always so faithful to God. After the Bible lesson we would sing songs and then say goodbye until tomorrow; “tienna mowa”.
It was the winter in Africa so the days were shorter. At night we would plan for the next day, go to a COTN kids home and do a devotion, mend clothes for the village kids, or just hang out. I loved mending clothes for the kids. Just being able to sit out under the gazebo stitching up seams, wondering which kid these clothes belong to and praying that they are safe and well-cared for, were some of my favorite times.
Living Conditions:
Surprisingly life for us was not too difficult for us. We lived in a mission center that had beds, running water (often warm), and usually American food. There weren’t any real mysterious creatures or animals..we did catch a hedge hog! The weather was mild, usually 70s-80s during the day. The nights were way cooler than what we had prepared for so many of us had to double up on blankets.
As nice as the living conditions were, I struggled with being in Malawi and trying to adapt to culture, yet still having my little America. It’s hard to play with kids all day who have one outfit and no shoes, then go lay on a nice comfy bed with my ipod in. I’m still trying to figure out how to link the two worlds together.
What I learned and experienced:
Living in Malawi this past summer was more than an experience. It’s like a life-changing moment that I re-live daily.
The most incredible thing I learned this summer is what it means to truly love. The love that I feel towards these kids, and how they felt toward me has helped me to figure out God’s love. These kids became enthralled with the smallest things, a hand jive, a fun noise, jumping up and down while saying “we are jumping, we are jumping” (even though they didn’t know English they still said it too). These kids made us feel as though we were the coolest people on the Earth, and the same time we thought they were the coolest kids on the Earth. They all wanted to play with us, sit on our laps, and hold our hands; I remember at one evangelism I fit three girls on my lap.
As much as these kids were completely captivated by us, it helped me to realize that is how God feels towards me. Who knew that what I should of learned in the years of Sunday school, I wouldn’t understand till I went to Africa in my last year of college...
I saw what it was like to have a joyful and passionate character. The Malawian interns that worked side-by-side with us have the most authentic faith. The Malawian people in general worship with so much energy; it’s like a big celebration. In church, especially a Wednesday night potluck dinner, we would sing and dance in circles. I have so many stories about church alone.. The Malawians have the ability to quote scripture off the top of their heads, pray with complete assurance that God is listening and going to answer prayers, and sing- they are the most incredible singers! The Malawian’s character with the kids joyful spirits was refreshing to experience. Many of these kids have faced larger mountains than I could ever imagine, and yet they still show joy in being able to play and be loved.
I learned a lot about spiritual warfare and how powerful it is. It was definitely something that I had not expected to encounter, but looking back it was inevitable. We learned about witch doctors and the spirits that the villages are involved with. We experienced first hand the strong-hold that is on so many villages, and what that does to the people and kids in the village.
The People and Culture Tid-bits:
Africa was not what I thought it would be. I imagined the commercials where kids are poor, crying and starving; my intention was to save the world. Of course the standard of living is very low, but it works for them. The people have their way of doing things and although it would be easier to use tools such as tractors, they don’t have them so they make do.
Most of the women marry young and have three to seven kids. All of the kids take care of each other. It is not unusual to see a six-year old with her baby sibling on the back. I rarely ever saw the men in the Mgwayi village; I’m guessing that they are usually at work or off trying to find work.
The kids are mal-nourished. It was shocking for me to see all the little belly buttons that are supposed to be innies that are now outies. Alcoholism is a huge problem in the Mgwayi village. When I was there it was the end of the harvest season, so it was time to celebrate. The alcohol problem leads to further mal-nourishment of the kids. The money that would support the family goes to alcohol, or the parents are too drunk to feed their kids.
As far as AIDS goes, I always wondered how many of the kids I interacted with day to day were HIV positive. Malawi is the orphan nation due to AIDS, but the kids were always too lively it was impossible to tell.
Malawian dress is usually a wrap called a chitinge with some sort of top. Girls always wear dresses or skirts, and for women knees must always be covered. The boys and men wear anything, usually shorts and a top. The kids clothes are so worn, they wear clothes until there is nothing left, and even a little bit longer. Most kids don’t have shoes. The ones who go to school do because they have to, but otherwise the kids run around barefoot everywhere.
Malawian people are very relationship-based people. The sense of time is not nearly as important as stopping to talk to someone. I always loved when the older men of the village would stop me as I’m walking through and asked to play a game with them, it was a generous offer but I had my agenda to get the kids to the grounds. Our driver, Wilson, would stop the coaster and talk to the gate guard for at least a minute or two before we could leave the mission center. Women of the village would walk up as we’re teaching and greet us. Mid-sentence I’d have to stop teaching to shake hands and do a full greeting. It still makes me laugh to think about it.
I could write and tell stories about Malawi all day long, but I feel as though this is getting quite long. This past summer was by far the most incredible summer of my life. I absolutely love Malawi and Africa as a whole. I am completely contempt with the understanding that the mission I was sent to do has been fulfilled. The kids may or may not know their ABC’s now, but I believe they know that God loves them and that even though life may be hard now, something bigger awaits for them. We spent time building relationships and planting the seed for God to build a garden. Whether this time was intended for me to learn, or for them to experience God, it was a win-win situation. I’m anxiously awaiting the next call to action whether it is my next trip to Africa, or organizing something to support my village. I am so blessed that I got to experience the place that I fell in love with so long ago. Thank you again for your support, whether it is through prayer or finance. These kids in Malawi got to experience God because of you, and for that I know they are blessed.
