As I’m starting out my week of lasts here in Africa, I look back and remember all that has happened these past three months. I can vividly remember getting off our plane after we had landed in Malawi and it was pouring, we had to wait too fill out our papers to get our Visas, and I was terrified cause I didn’t know what the heck I was getting myself into. It feels like it was just yesterday. Okay, maybe not yesterday but you get the picture.
I remember the first time we got off our bus at our house and got swarmed by children. I remember getting lost with my squad leader for four hours without water, a phone, or anything else we should’ve had, on the third day I was in the country. I remember my first African church service and all the joy it brought me to see them dancing and worshipping freely. I remember the week where we didn’t have water (yep, went a solid five days without showering… don’t miss that part too much). I remember spending my first Christmas away from home. So much has happened in these past few months.
I think back to all that has happened. Christmas came and went. I spent New Year’s Eve with the whole squad. Jesus called me to be a team leader; I’ve done that for two months now. I got a new team. I was able to be a part of planting two churches. I’ve done door to door evangelism (something that freaked me out three months ago). I had my own room and shower for the first time in five months. My team and I got attacked by what we thought was a cute monkey in the middle of the woods. I turned 19. I’ve eaten an ungodly amount of starches. I pet a rabbit and then ate it for dinner the next day. I swam in Lake Malawi and am guaranteed to get the parasite that lives in there. I’ve faced many challenges and Jesus has taught me so much through them. I’ve learned a lot about what it looks like to find my confidence in the Lord and not in the world. The list goes on and on. And through all of these crazy things, Jesus has never left my side and He has remained faithful.
Before I left if you were ever around me when people talked about missions I would often times get annoyed because EVERY example they would use was always Africa. I didn’t have anything against Africa but I would always question why people immediately jumped to Africa when there are other places in the world that are unreached and are just as in need. It bothered me to some extent but not enough to really do anything about it. When I found out that Malawi, Africa was on my route I just had to chuckle a little. I think Jesus thought He was funny doing this. Let me tell you, He has quite the sense of humor.
And now, here I am. I’ve lived in Africa for three months. I will admit, there is something special about this place. First off, it’s beautiful. The people don’t have much by earthly standards but they have all they need in Jesus. They are filled with so much joy and they find things to thank Jesus for every day. They live so simply. Malawi is the country with the lowest income so the people here really don’t have much money. It’s heartbreaking to see them lining the streets hoping people will buy whatever they’re trying to sell just so they can feed themselves and their children that day. And through all of this, they continue to trust Jesus to provide for them, to bring rain for their crops, and to protect them each day. Their faith is incredible.
After living here for three months there are so many things that I will never take for granted again. Here’s just a few of those: a washer and dryer, hot water, electricity all the time, a bed, clean clothes, and so much more. These are all things that we have in America and we probably don’t think twice about the fact that we have them. This isn’t bad, it’s just all that we’re used to. But what I’ve learned is that when you are in a place where life is done without those things, you begin to realize how much you are blessed with.
The hardest thing I’ve heard while being here is the answer to the question, “what do you think when you see Americans?” The main answer we get to that is something along the lines of, “we see them as people that are more blessed and they are above us”. This answer breaks my heart. It’s so hard because yes, in America we do have more but we have more by earthly standards. To the Malawians here it looks like we have more but in reality, they have more of what’s truly important; they have Jesus and what He gives us is way better than anything the world offers. So my challenge to you through this is, find things in your everyday life that you take for granted and instead of just brushing past them, stop and thank God for blessing you with them. It’s not bad to have these things, I have them too. But what I want to do and what I challenge you to do is be better on thanking God for blessing me with the things I have rather than going through life thinking that I deserve them or that I’ve earned them.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not good at goodbyes. I wasn’t good at them in September when I left everyone and everything I knew. I wasn’t good at them leaving the orphanage and all the people in El Salvador. And I’m still not good at them here in Africa. I have a week of saying goodbye to the people at the City Center we visit each week, the guys on the soccer team we practice with each week, the babies we get to spend time with every Friday, the friends we’ve made at our church, the children that live on our road, and the widows. As hard as it is to have to say goodbye, I’m thankful for all the relationships I’ve been able to build. Jesus has placed so many incredible people in my life here in Africa and for that, I have so much to thank Him for.
Like I mentioned in my last blog, my heart has become so content with being here. Jesus has changed my outlook on being here in Africa and on the Race in general. Yeah, I still miss home and the people there but I am so grateful for this change of heart because it helps me stay present. My outlook has changed from counting down the days till I get home to wanting to be here, in Africa and on the Race. We serve a God that is more powerful than anything in this world. He took me, little old Julie McFarland who missed home and wanted nothing more to be there again, and changed my heart to wanting to be exactly where He has me. He has brought my heart so much peace and joy.
I’ve done 6 months on the Race and I only have 3 to go. That is insane for me to try and grasp. Jesus has done so much in my life and there have been challenges along the way but I am so thankful for Him taking me on this journey. As time continues to fly by, I’ve found a verse that I am choosing to hold close for the remainder of the Race is Romans 12:9-11 which says, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” As I’m going into the last three months of this journey it would be so easy for me to check out and wish for home. But, I am challenging myself to follow what this verse says and to not become lazy and not pretend to love others. I want to finish the Race well and continue to put this verse into practice even after I get home. I’m excited to see what God has for me as I leave my home in Africa and find my new home in the Philippines.
Oh and… I GET TO SEE MY PARENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 6 MONTHS IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS. I’m only a little excited for that if you couldn’t tell J
Prayer Requests:
pray for safe travels for my squad, my parents, and all the other parents that will be flying to the Philippines here in the next two weeks
pray for my team and me as we say our goodbyes to all the sweet people we’ve met this week
Praise:
Thank God for continuing to be faithful in my life, for changing my heart, and for bringing me so much peace about being here (in Africa and on the Race in general). He is so good!
