Praise Jesus for working wifi! I am so glad I can finally share this story!
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How nice it is to have a home base where I can sit outside and watch the sun set, muscles aching and heart happy. Most people, on hearing about this kind of mission trip, assume that I am going to bless the poor and unreached, but I have been equally – probably more – blessed by the people I have encountered thus far.
And nowhere is this more evident than here in Nkhotakota, Malawi.
Last Sunday, I went to my first Presbyterian service of the Race. There were differences, to be sure, but I felt so at home looking at the welcoming smiles of the congregation. It was also so comforting to know the hymns, the order of worship, the names of each prayer, the Apostle’s Creed (and to hear Whitney’s fantastic preaching!). And let me assure you that Presbyterians in Malawi seem to have committees just as much as us in the states!
On Wednesday, I got to go back for their mid-week prayer service, before and after which the pastor invited us into his home, served us Cokes, and played The 10 Commandments. We must have spent at least two hours sitting in the comfort of his home, and all the while, he was telling us “Feel free here. Thank you.” As we were leaving, he invited us to come back any time to finish watching the movie.
Then on Thursday and Friday, we did door-to-door evangelism in a nearby village with a high Muslim population. I have so much more to share about that in my next blog (and a song!), but one of the things that stuck out to me was how welcoming the people were. Driving up, all of us sitting in the back of a pickup truck, we were chased by a horde of children shouting “Azungu!” which means “White people!” And at each home, we were welcomed with smiles and thank yous as the homeowner rolled out a woven mat for us to sit on.
Welcome has truly been the ever-present theme of the past week and a half. Our hosts, this pastor, and the village – we have been welcomed with open arms by the Malawians. I have never heard the phrase “You are welcome” more than I have this month. And yet, they are the ones constantly telling us “Thank you!” The graciousness and respect that people have for each other in this country is a truly beautiful and God-given blessing.
Despite the trouble we have getting the Internet to work, we really could not have been placed in better hands for this month (or for the past two)!
