I’ve been here for about a week and a half now and I’ve already fallen completely in love with it. From the second that I stepped off the plane, I felt at home. I felt a complete sense of peace come over me as soon as I got here and it hasn’t left yet, nor do I think that it will.
It’s just like you would expect it to be here. People living in houses made of mud bricks with straw and tin roofs, red dirt roads, women wearing wrap skirts, and somehow, beyond my understanding, carrying massive loads of whatever it is that they need to carry by miraculously balancing it on their heads. (I swear I’m going to get that down before I leave Africa..)
What I didn’t expect though is the overwhelming kindness and joy that you get upon being here. They call Malawi the warm heart of Africa, and they definitely live up to that name. These people have so little yet they hold more joy in their little finger than 10 people who are consumed by the love of materials have. I knew that America is overcome with the love of money and possessions, but sadly, I didn’t realize just how much until I got here. Here, they know that real happiness doesn’t come from having a lot of money of having lots of things. It comes from rejoicing in the things that you do have and loving one another. They know that everything that they have is a gift from God and they are so incredibly grateful for it. I have learned more in the last week and a half of being here than I have on the last two months that I have been on the race.
One thing I have learned the true value of possessions. I didn’t think that I was going to feel at home until I returned next year. Until I was back in America surrounded by my own things. Surrounded by my friends and my family, and all of the things that I was used to. What I know now though is that home has nothing to do with things, it has to do with a feeling. It has to do with being surrounded by what makes you happy and embracing the things that God HAS given you. The best part is, that I still am surrounded by my family. Each and every person here is my brother and sister in Christ, and they do an amazing job of making sure that we feel that way.
When I was struggling last month, my Mom helped to remind me why I was doing this. She said that before I had signed up for race and was still deciding where to go, I was crying and told her “Even though I don’t have the best skills for preaching about the bible, I have the ability to give love. There are children in the world who don’t know what love feels like and at least I can hug them and let them feel love.” God has given me the opportunity to do just that this month, along with many other things. Everywhere we go, kids come running from their houses out to the streets yelling “Azungu Bo!” which means “Hello white person!”. It honestly cracks me up and it’s the cutest thing. I absolutely love it. Kids instantly want to play with you and it’s an amazing opportunity to show them the love of Jesus. There is a group of children in the neighborhood that we’re staying in that we get the chance to love on and play with often. It’s clear that some of them are dying for someone to love them and I can’t tell you how much joy it brings me to be able to hug them and show them love. God has fulfilled my desire for coming on the race this month for sure.
I also preached on Sunday for the first time. That’s right, preached. I clearly never thought that I would be able to, or that I would have to, but I did, and surprisingly didn’t die! It actually went pretty well and I’ll admit that I really did enjoy it. I loved having the opportunity to share with others about what God has done in my life and about the importance of having a relationship with Jesus. The other days, we have either led bible studies, preached, or just shared our testimonies with student pastors and some of the members of their congregations. We have sang, danced, and made fools of ourselves while trying to dance like the Africans here, but have loved every minute of it. I will tell you right now that there’s few things in the world as beautiful as seeing and hearing a group of Africans praise God. I honestly don’t think that there is such a thing as a tone deaf African…seriously.
This month has already been an incredible blessing and God is transforming me daily to become what He has called me to be. He is teaching me to walk in boldness and giving me courage to continue sharing the gospel and the love of God with the rest of the world.
