Life updates.. wow readers, so sorry it has been awhile, a lot has been going on around here. So basically where did I leave off, hmm.. my health. Praise the Lord, the parasite is gone and I have not felt better. We left Zambia on the sixth of January. We got on a bus for 23 hours, yes.. 23 hours and finally made it to Malawi to begin a week of debrief. Who would have thought that there was one of the most beautiful looking paradises in Malawi hidden away. Lake Malawi is the only lake in the entire world to have a certain type of parasite, yup.. if anyone was wondering, we all have that parasite now. Oh well, the Lord is still good. Debrief was such a wonderful relaxing time full go boat rides into the sunset, arguing with locals to not get ripped off, listening to a local children’s band, and running along the beach. It was also a sweet week of alone time with my Jesus. oh yeah I almost forgot!! We had team changes, I am now on an all girls team of six, and I couldn’t be happier. i actually have some of the same teammates as before.
Meet my team:
Emily Turner- our new team leader, her and I lived together last month in Zambia, she is so full of wisdom and is wonderful with words.
Katie- my sister since day one of the race. She and I have actually been on a team together the first 4 months of the race and now the rest of it also. She is our prayer warrior, this chick uses prayer to connect with the Lord like no other.
Kendall- also lived with her in Zambia, Kendall is our guitar/musical/movie/all of the above knowledge holder of many things. She is a quiet sweet gal who brings amazing biblical wisdom to the whole team.
Carly- the nurse/mama of the group. She is one of those types of people you feel so much peace around. The lord has gifted her with a gentle touch to make everyone around her feel seen and loved.
Skyler- my hippie best friend! Skyler and I have been best friends on the race for a little while now and finally get to finish the rest out with each other. She is sweet, hilarious, and a health fanatic. She is good with connecting to people and just showing joy among everyone she comes in contact with.
We are actually living with another team the two months of Malawi, so that has also been exciting. There has been a lot of change going on around here. After the week of debrief was over we all headed our separate ways to our new houses and ministries. We live in a cute little house with a pastor, wife, and two daughters. Me and three others decided to tent outside for colder weather, the others are inside in their tents (bugs ya know). We started ministry after two days of rest. Wow these two months are going to be amazing. Malawi is know for being the warm heart of Africa, what a true statement that is. We have all felt such a homey peace about being here, very content. The people here are amazing! We went to a very African styled church, dancing, singing, loud preaching, what a place to call home for the next two months. Ministry Is so wonderful! On Mondays and Fridays we go to a widows ministry, woman young and old who have lost their husbands. We sing and dance and are going to help them make things to sell. The woman are so sweet and filled with so much joy even in their sufferings. On Tuesdays we go to a government building to a group of christians. It was quite a sight, we walked into this building down a hallway and end up in a salon with many chairs and people. I had the privilege to bring the word of the Lord Tuesday. afterwards they took an offering and handed me it and said this is for you for preaching, I was shocked and honestly did not know what to do, I have never gotten paid for preaching before and certainly did not want to, so we are putting the money to something else. Ends up I gave myself an offering, how strange right. On Wednesdays we go to a children’s club. It is made of about 600 orphans. They get food, and we sing and dance and play. I made two little friends, one is Steve and the other Peter, I think they will be my little buddies foe the time I have here. Last but not least, Thursday, we go and sit and hold little babies for hours, a dream come true amirite. Ministry is sweet and the lord is working in so many different ways. James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world”. The Lord has given us an amazing opportunity to live this verse out first hand. Here I am Jesus for the next two months, use me in crazy ways! Also, tomorrow marks the half way mark on the race, craziness!
Love from Malawi, Mara
