So we’ve been in Africa for close to three months, and it hits me that I really haven’t given a whole lot of info on general life in this amazing continent. Fortunately, a cool friend of mine and squadmate Tiffany Berkowitz wrote a great blog in vivid detail of life here in Malawi through her eyes.
As usual, you know I only re-post blogs that are really worth a read or two, so sit back and come join us here in Malawi, Africa.
Pls feel free and I encourage you to check out her blogs as well, she’s got some good stuff on there…even if nothing more than just to throw some encouragement her way. Just click on her name above.
Cheers!!
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Africa is a place full of the most colorful culture that I have ever witnessed.
When I look out the door of m
y
tent, I see the silhouettes of deep purple mountains, vibrant colors of
exotic fruits that decorate the lush greenery completely surrounding
me, and the most crisp, clear blue sky imaginable… laced with white
clouds that illustrate ultimate purity, having never been touched by
the pollution of mans obsession to civilize.
ytent, I see the silhouettes of deep purple mountains, vibrant colors of
exotic fruits that decorate the lush greenery completely surrounding
me, and the most crisp, clear blue sky imaginable… laced with white
clouds that illustrate ultimate purity, having never been touched by
the pollution of mans obsession to civilize.
When I walk down the dirt path leading out to the main road, I can
see dozens of beautiful African women carrying buckets of water, bags
of rice, bundles of branches… all weighing about 20-40 pounds… on
their heads. At the same time, they have their children securely
fastened onto their backs, tied up with a piece of cloth- the same
cloth they use for clothing. They have more muscle than most American
guys I know. Their older children tag along close by, some carrying
smaller bags on their heads, while others hold out their hands and say
to me,
see dozens of beautiful African women carrying buckets of water, bags
of rice, bundles of branches… all weighing about 20-40 pounds… on
their heads. At the same time, they have their children securely
fastened onto their backs, tied up with a piece of cloth- the same
cloth they use for clothing. They have more muscle than most American
guys I know. Their older children tag along close by, some carrying
smaller bags on their heads, while others hold out their hands and say
to me,
“Give me money.” A line that has been very well rehearsed.
The lifestyle is really hard. We usually have no
running water and no electricity, which means no toilet or shower, and
that you are done with your day by the time the sun goes down around 6
or 7. We use a hole in the ground for our restroom and we shower in
water buckets (or Lake Malawi if you’re Hannah, Cori, and I!) We have
had a consistent diet– rice and beans. Sometimes chicken. Which is
luxurious compared to what the people here eat as a staple, which is
Ugali (basically cornmeal -shown on the right). It’s not my favorite,
but it is definitely filling.
running water and no electricity, which means no toilet or shower, and
that you are done with your day by the time the sun goes down around 6
or 7. We use a hole in the ground for our restroom and we shower in
water buckets (or Lake Malawi if you’re Hannah, Cori, and I!) We have
had a consistent diet– rice and beans. Sometimes chicken. Which is
luxurious compared to what the people here eat as a staple, which is
Ugali (basically cornmeal -shown on the right). It’s not my favorite,
but it is definitely filling.
I can hear children all over exclaiming over and over “Azungu! Azungu!”
which means “white person” in Chichewa, their tribal language. Sadly,
most of the children here in Malawi are uneducated, as education is not
free, and the only English they seem to know is “Give me money.”
which means “white person” in Chichewa, their tribal language. Sadly,
most of the children here in Malawi are uneducated, as education is not
free, and the only English they seem to know is “Give me money.”
When we go into town to do shopping, or to find a place where we
can charge our team phone, we meet some pretty interesting characters.
One day, team S’more and I went into town to get groceries and there
was a young man, no older than 18, dancing in the middle of the street.
Completely naked. We asked the pastor what was wrong with him, and if
we could buy him clothes, and we were told that he was mentally ill and
would reject the clothing. The team and I prayed for him. As I look
around, I see so many people simply trying to make a living. Selling
eggs, coke, ‘mandas’ (kind of like donuts), mangoes, and really
anything they can get their hands on to sell. The economy here is in
such a desperation.
can charge our team phone, we meet some pretty interesting characters.
One day, team S’more and I went into town to get groceries and there
was a young man, no older than 18, dancing in the middle of the street.
Completely naked. We asked the pastor what was wrong with him, and if
we could buy him clothes, and we were told that he was mentally ill and
would reject the clothing. The team and I prayed for him. As I look
around, I see so many people simply trying to make a living. Selling
eggs, coke, ‘mandas’ (kind of like donuts), mangoes, and really
anything they can get their hands on to sell. The economy here is in
such a desperation.
In a lot of ways, somehow America has made poverty in Africa… almost glamorous.
You see the ads on T.V. and the movies about child soldiers. Poverty in
Africa has invaded Hollywood, and Hollywood has done with it what
they’re good at doing with anything… making it glamorous. It’s a new
trend, a new “fad” to be a part of being “aware”…But being here, I’m
seeing more and more everyday… this is real. This is raw. This is
life for these people. And let me tell you, there is NOTHING glamorous
about the life these people live. There is nothing glamorous about pooping in a hole that reeks of feces and urine and is infested with maggots and flies. There is nothing glamorous about malnutrition. There is nothing glamorous about bathing in and drinking water infested with parasites. And there is nothing glamorous about begging just to survive.
You see the ads on T.V. and the movies about child soldiers. Poverty in
Africa has invaded Hollywood, and Hollywood has done with it what
they’re good at doing with anything… making it glamorous. It’s a new
trend, a new “fad” to be a part of being “aware”…But being here, I’m
seeing more and more everyday… this is real. This is raw. This is
life for these people. And let me tell you, there is NOTHING glamorous
about the life these people live. There is nothing glamorous about pooping in a hole that reeks of feces and urine and is infested with maggots and flies. There is nothing glamorous about malnutrition. There is nothing glamorous about bathing in and drinking water infested with parasites. And there is nothing glamorous about begging just to survive.
This Christmas was one that I will never forget. 
God revealed to us in such a deep way that we have been previously
too distracted to really understand what it means for Christ to have
come into this world. As we sat in the dark room full of mosquitoes and
flies, eating our Christmas feast of rice and beans, we talked about
the lives that we have chosen for ourselves this year. We talked about
family Holiday traditions, the tasty treats we missed the most, and
how… in all of that… we had all missed the point. Big Time.
too distracted to really understand what it means for Christ to have
come into this world. As we sat in the dark room full of mosquitoes and
flies, eating our Christmas feast of rice and beans, we talked about
the lives that we have chosen for ourselves this year. We talked about
family Holiday traditions, the tasty treats we missed the most, and
how… in all of that… we had all missed the point. Big Time.
Every year, I “realize” that Christmas is all about Jesus.. not
about the other “stuff”. But I was still able to enjoy the luxuries of
home. Not only an actual toilet and shower, complete with a real BED,
and a roof over our heads that keep the mosquitoes OUT, but we enjoy
things like decorations, deserts, presents, music, lights, incredible
feasts, and… the list honestly goes on and on.
about the other “stuff”. But I was still able to enjoy the luxuries of
home. Not only an actual toilet and shower, complete with a real BED,
and a roof over our heads that keep the mosquitoes OUT, but we enjoy
things like decorations, deserts, presents, music, lights, incredible
feasts, and… the list honestly goes on and on.
This year was so different. SO different. And it
changed the way that I will celebrate Christmas FOREVER. Is it wrong to
enjoy the things that we are blessed with in America? No, not if we are
not excessive about it. But as I thought about what would honor God the
MOST on his birthday, all of those things suddenly seemed incredibly
undesirable. Jesus came and humbled himself. He sacrificed holiness in
heaven for the flesh. He came to rescue us from our wickedness. He came
to love the hard to love. He was born into rejection. For what? To LOVE
and to SERVE us. What would honor Christ the most on this day? (and
really every other day…) To love and serve Him right back. And what
does he say about that?
changed the way that I will celebrate Christmas FOREVER. Is it wrong to
enjoy the things that we are blessed with in America? No, not if we are
not excessive about it. But as I thought about what would honor God the
MOST on his birthday, all of those things suddenly seemed incredibly
undesirable. Jesus came and humbled himself. He sacrificed holiness in
heaven for the flesh. He came to rescue us from our wickedness. He came
to love the hard to love. He was born into rejection. For what? To LOVE
and to SERVE us. What would honor Christ the most on this day? (and
really every other day…) To love and serve Him right back. And what
does he say about that?
He says that when we feed, clothe, and care for “the least of these”, we’re doing that for Jesus.
“For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after
me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then
the
righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and
feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see
you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after
me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then
the
righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and
feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see
you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The
King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matt 25:35
King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matt 25:35
So, we love and serve each other.
Everything else… just doesn’t matter.
