I look to my right. Sitting on the seat beside me is a young, Malawian woman, probably about my age. She holds tightly to her 2 month old son as we get jostled down a dusty road. Her other child, a little girl no more than 4, sleeps soundly in my arms. In the seats around me, I spy 3 more babies being held, coddled, and fed by their moms. The bus is packed full, transporting far more humans than seats: old, young, short, tall, a diverse group of travelers, each with a story. In the middle of them all sits me, my fair skin and light hair contrasting everyone around me. The extra glances and double takes are my sources of extra smiles and Hello’s.

The bus comes to a stop in a small town along the way. Immediately, we are bombarded by street vendors selling us, the packed-in passengers, everything from sodas to cabbages to necklaces. I laugh at the chaos surrounding me. I try to translate this scene onto my life growing up in the States, but I quickly fail to find any common ground as a starting point. A smile appears on my face. In that moment, I find myself wondering, “What is fuller at this point: our bus or my heart?”

My time in Malawi is almost up. It’s been such a beautiful month with some incredibly beautiful people. I got to live the 3 weeks here in 3 different towns with 3 different teams of people working with 3 different ministries:

              Bangwe – Team Ezer – Pastor Phillip (Church)

              Baluti – Team Mighty Oaks – Life Child (Pre-school)

              Mpunga – Team Radiant Vibes – Bishop Gama (Church)

Each week was packed full of ministry, adventure, life, laughter, and love. I met countless beautiful souls. I felt like I was part of a family everywhere I went. The locals welcomed me with open arms. Throughout the month, I was given the titles of Mama, Daughter, Princess, Sister, Teacher, Preacher, Mentor, and The Boss.

I also learned a lot. I’m stronger than I think I am. I am more capable. I am more creative than I gave myself credit for. I’m a warrior; I can wage war and win battles. I love harder and faster than before. I find it easy to gather joy from the smiles around me. I have influence and wisdom. I don’t live in fear but walk in confidence and grace. I get things done. Something stirs inside me knowing that this life is just the beginning.

It’s surreal to live life this way, knowing that as I learn all these things about who I am and Whose I am, I am simultaneously leading 52 other people into learning the same things. I get to speak into their lives. As a squad leader, I’ve been given this platform to do that. My mentor has told me, “You can only take people as deep as you, yourself, have gone.” I see that daily. Lessons the Lord has taught me, places I’ve gone with Him, show up in my day-to-day life here. He uses my past experiences to encourage others in my present. It’s beautiful to watch Him work and a huge honor to be a small part of it.

“He said to me I was a tree in a story about a forest, and that it was arrogant of me to believe any differently. And he told me the story of the forest is better than the story of the tree.” -Donald Miller

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