Malawi’s country statement is The warm heart of Africa.
Team Eden spent the month of December in Nkhata Bay, Malawi at Butterfly Space. Butterfly Space is a hostel that serves as a backpacker’s lodge and offers many different service projects for volunteering while getting to know the community. Lake Malawi was beautiful and where we were located there are no dangerous animals to be wary of. As you can imagine there was much swimming after work and at night. What a change for this Florida girl to swim out in the open water at sunset and even late at night with no fear! It is a fresh water lake, crystal clear, it reminded me of the reefs in the Florida Keys- fish so brightly colored. Our team loved staying on beautiful Lake Malawi and serving in the community.
There were many projects to choose from and I served in the prison where we lead bible studies and in the support group for disabled people in the community. Our prison ministry was on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. On Monday mornings those with disabilities are welcomed to Butterfly space for tea and activities with children in the primary school. Some of the disabled people are picked up near their homes but others who are able, walk to this weekly event where they are treated with respect and care.
Many people in Africa see disability as a sign that their family is cursed or the member who is disabled has been bewitched. Life is tough for many families and children help as a matter of course, however when disability is present is presents a tremendous challenge for the family. The need for care-giving is not only felt but doubly so as their care takes away from other necessary daily tasks. Often, disabled people are left at home with little to no interaction. In Africa there are few, if any, schools or programs for them. There are many things that I do not pretend to understand about this. All I know is what I experienced and learned from other’s work with these people in the community of Nkhata Bay.
For many of these people their only means of communication is tears. It broke my heart to read the records of those who cannot speak, but only cry when they are hungry, need to be changed due to double incontinence, or feeling cold or sick; tears are all they have.
I got to work with a physical therapist who was also volunteering while at Butterfly, and I’m so grateful to have met her. She concentrated much of her work for a girl who has cerebral palsy. Under her direction, together, we massaged arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet and toes, manipulated joints to free her of the spasms that come and go without warning. She cannot feed herself, speak, use the bathroom or even move, aside from rolling on the ground, without assistance. She won my heart from the moment I held her. Never before have I had the opportunity to work with people with disabilities and am so enriched for it. I feel Jesus’ heart when I see their inability to help themselves. That is exactly how I am outside of God, helpless. It’s hard to believe that God loves us just because he made us, not for any other reason.
“God, by definition, is thinking of me.” -B. Manning, Ruthless Trust
This journey has privileges of course, but so many more are the moments of humility and awe. The month spent at Nkhata Bay being one of the greatest of these combinations. Thank you for reading my blog and sharing this journey with me.
Manda
Planning a trip to Africa? Check out the website at www.butterfly-space.com!
