Denise carrying water in Kwamba Village
Ekwendeni Girls School
Robert Laws Secondary school (in Embagweni)
After a week, I’m finally over my jet-lag and have had the opportunity to tell my story several times. Looking back on the trip, there are more memories, stories, and lessons than could possibly fit on one page, so I’ll limit it to the most important few. By going to Malawi, I learned every possible situation for using Yewo, ate enough nsima to be sick of it, got reprimanded for not greeting properly, bought a coke for 33 cents, tied a chitenje, lived in a village, slaughtered a goat, walked around like a celebrity because of the color of my skin, and sang Amazing Grace every Sunday.
The biggest hurdle for me personally was accepting the mantra of TIA – This is Africa. Rides were late, things didn’t always proceed as expected, and as leader for the group, I let it stress me out. The worst was our travel up to Livingstonia at the beginning of the trip. I had misunderstood where we would be living, our bags hadn’t arrived yet, we didn’t know how we were getting food, and after the long, hot car ride everyone was tired and hungry. The group could tell you I was really stressed because I felt I had no control of the situation. However, God took care of it. He used the opportunity to force my trust onto Him and in doing so, strengthened my faith and relaxed my tension. As evidence, Clay asked me what the plan was in Liwonde at the end of the trip and I replied, “Clay, there is no plan – TIA!” My hope is that my reliance on God can continue back in the American culture of self-reliance.
Going to Africa as team leader, I anticipated struggling with the stress of leadership. I did not anticipate the signs God presented me about my future. The first clue was in Livingstonia. We were walking somewhere and the topic of career came up. Everyone in the group affirmed that I would be a good teacher. Then, in Embagweni, I was given the chance to teach. I mentioned after church on Sunday to several townsfolk that I was looking for something to do the next week, such as teaching math or physical sciences. The next morning the headmaster of Robert Laws Secondary School summoned me and I began teaching physics that afternoon. Watching the kids grasp the concepts because of my tutelage, I felt a sense of calm and “rightness”. I could feel God weighing on my heart a calling to teach, even if it’s several years down the road.
At the end of it all, we realized that Malawians might need our money and financial gifts, but they prefer our presence and spiritual gifts. Although we didn’t always feel productive during the trip, we still performed God’s work making friends and building relationships across cultural boundaries. After all, Jesus reached to the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-26), Philip taught the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40), and Peter visited a Roman centurion (Acts 10). Such cross-cultural biblical precedents encourage spreading the good news through building relationships. The trip was more an exchange than a gift and for that I am so grateful. And I can do nothing more than praise God for this amazing experience.
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever.” 1 Peter 4:8-11
In Him,
Denise
No comments:
Post a Comment