Madzimoyo was only 11 kilometers away from our first ministry site but felt like a new country. Our living arrangements were an old run down brick building, a squatty potty and a straw hut for bucket baths. We were told beforehand that the snake ratio was inverse to that in the U.S. – 95% here are poisonous and we were to yell immediately if we spotted one. The first hour felt surreal. As beautiful village children happily grabbed our hands and gave us a tour of the surroundings my brain couldn’t accept what I was seeing as reality.
Kumba (pigs), goats, chickens and very malnourished dogs wandering wherever they pleased, and little mud huts with straw thatched roofs were these peoples’ homes. Yoked oxen and 10-11 year old boys guiding these incredibly strong creatures home. Towering mango trees and a hand pump well at the center of the village. Ridiculously beautiful scenery every direction you look. I felt like I was walking through the set of the Lion King.
Yet this was a hard transition for our team. We had become very close with our Chipata family in a short amount of time. We were also told last minute that we weren’t going to have the two extra days with them we had anticipated. We were all feeling quite discouraged after discovering our translator wouldn’t be there for a day or two, and eating only potatoes for dinner on top of everything else.
We cleaned up after dinner and I walked out to brush my teeth to discover an explosion of stars in the sky. I was speechless. I still don’t know how I was able to see that many vibrant stars without any magnification. My teammates and I were in awe and took turns praying aloud as we stood staring straight up, unable to take our eyes off of such a magnificent view. That moment was such a sweet reminder of our Father’s great love for us. The One who knows each star by name and how much more does He cherish and adore His children? I couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face and went to bed with the gentle reminder that He is our Creator and He poured so much into every aspect of His creation.
This was just the beginning of sweet gentle reminders throughout the month that He saw me. He knows me and He feels my sadness when I struggle. In response He left little “love notes” to remind me that I am His beloved daughter.
“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens; who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing”. Isaiah 40:26
Ps. As far as the bats go we had a few as roommates that would randomly fly by our faces at night. Hit up my girl Kim Thomas for her story of a more intimate bat encounter.
