After 24+ hours of flying and driving, me and the team finally arrived in Nkhata Bay, Malawi. It is probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. We are tenting at a hostel called Butterfly Space that is run by A.J. an English woman from the UK. Over the years she has started different volunteer programs which we are assisting in. A few of the programs we are helping with but not limited to are:
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Prison ministry
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Primary school
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Nursery
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Youth club
Me and my team mate Jess have been walking to the nursery every morning and hanging out with the kids. They range in ages of 2-6 and caught on very fast to the new songs and games we taught them. A normal day consists of song and games, break time with toys, porridge at 10:45, and then we walk home the ones who don’t get picked up, around 12:00.
This specific nursery is for the family’s that can’t afford much so there is no charge. The first day it was rainey so only 13 kids showed up. Most of them don’t have rain coats or umbrellas or the roads are just to muddy when it rains, so they stay at home. The other days have been dry so the small concrete room is packed with about 40-50 wild, little ones.
There is scheduled power outages all across Malawi due to there not being enough electricity to go around the whole country at one time. This is due to not enough water to run off of. It changes a lot but an example is 7 hours on, 24 hours off.
On that note, Wi-Fi is also difficult to come by. I really want to connect with all y’all back home but it will be super limited through out the next 3 months and short when I do have the ability to.
Even tho the power outages have it’s down falls, and not being able to contact the state’s on the reg kinda sucks, I kinda love it.
With no power, the stars are brighter and the sky is fuller. Y’all this African sky almost beats my Wyoming sky.
Not having Wi-Fi makes me feel more connected with this place and the people I’m meeting. I don’t have the distraction or comfort of checking in with home to see how it’s going and when I get homesick it makes me find new and better ways to deal with it.
With that being said, I have everything I need to survive plus some. Every month in a new country I have the same thought… “I don’t think I ever realized how blessed I am.”
Nkhata Bay is a tourist town but the poverty makes my stomach sink. I think being poor makes you appreciate the things that matter most. I have never felt more welcomed and the people here really value conversation, relationships, handshakes, and hugs.
Man, I have so much more I want to say but I’m already scared this blog will take a long time to upload. I’m in awe yall. Africa is a special, beautiful place.
Mom, Dad, siblings and friends, If you’re reading this but I haven’t contacted you, know that I love you, I miss you, and I probably think about you at least once a day. 🙂
With hugs from Africa…
