I don’t want to write this blog. This blog means that my time in Mzuzu is over and I don’t want it to be. I can’t capture adequately how amazing this month was but I’m going to try my best.
Mzuzu is a relatively small town by American standards. You can walk pretty much anywhere and be met with a smile and a “muli bwanji,” which is the Chichewa greeting. You also may be greeted with an occasional “Azungas!” The entire town and area around it is filled with green grass and trees and beautiful flowers. It has definitely been the lushest place I have been on the race.
While in Mzuzu we worked with Mzuzu Pentecostal Church. Our host was a hilarious pastor named Moses. His humor and love for the Lord filled out month with joy and laughter. His wife, Miss Susie cooked us all three meals a day the entire time we were there. They opened their home to us and let us invade their family space. Their son Joel was 10; a man of few words, his wide smile lit up the room every time he smiled. He made great friends with my teammate Jen, who we have dubbed the child whisperer. Their youngest daughter Watipaso was three and adorable. (See Prayers by Watipaso for more).
Our ministry in Mzuzu consisted of teaching school from 7:30am to noon, and then either doing door-to-door evangelism or visitation of church members in the afternoons. I dreaded evangelism and visitation our first two weeks. The second week changed my perspective and I grew to enjoy visitation. We visited Elijah’s mother, Rabson’s family, and were given so much delicious fruit along the way. But visitation went from seeming like an awkward chore to a time to get to know people and share in their lives.
Evangelism also changed for me. It’s less about the intimidating concept of going up to someone and asking them if they know Jesus (which I don’t know why it should be intimidating but it is) and instead sharing what God has done for me and for all of humanity. And as soon I spoke I would get super confident and bold. One thing I’m still wrestling with is that we often times focused on adults but Jesus also spoke to children. Often times we ignored them. God keeps showing me more and more, that although I often times have seemed not to have patience for children at home, here among the poor and the orphaned, I have an abundance of patience and love. I know it is because I rely on him for strength.
Malawi was beautiful and may be my favorite month as far as the weather goes. The people also were so hospitable, although sometimes a little too friendly. Someone tried to buy us on the bus from Lilongwe to Mzuzu. I almost got kissed by a crazy man in public. That same crazy man hit one of my teammates with his water bottle. He later came and took a sip from her coffee at our local hangout shop. Several of us received marriage proposals. And Mary got kissed on the elbow.
Some of my favorite moments from the month came with spending time with the youth boys, Elijah, Silent, Rabson, and Prayer. We played Uno, did ministry together, danced in the sanctuary, and hiked mountains together. It was a May I will never forget.
My Malawi moments were filled with love and laughter. I look forward to sharing more with everyone when I get home!
