Fishing for Men in Malawi

March 10, 2013
 

 

Building. This was the key word in the setup sheet for our March ministry. We’re building a Bible School that will serve local pastors. We’re building a bathhouse that will serve future mission teams. We’re building rooms onto our host family’s home. We’re building tables and chairs to fill the dining hall and classrooms. We’re building muscles brick by brick and water jug by water jug. We’re building incredible tans thanks to countless hours in the African sun. We’re building personal appreciations for every aspect of life that has ever come easy to us, because trust me, not much is coming easy this month. Most importantly, though, we are building relationships.
 
Half of our ministry this month is spent doing construction. The second, and honestly more challenging half of this month’s ministry is evangelism. If you know me, you know this is where my heart lies. It’s literally why I came on The World Race. One of my earliest prayers on this journey was that nine million people would one day know the Lord, simply because I said yes to His call. It’s a big deal to me! That said, here in Malawi, we’re going about evangelizing in a far different method than I’ve ever known, and it’s definitely stretching me.

 
We are completely free, completely on our own, and completely God led. We’re told to step out into the local community – twelve surrounding Muslim villages – and get to know the people. Simply put: make friends. We don’t take Bibles with us. There are no ready-made tracks to hand out. There is no set agenda and no specific goal. Numbers don’t matter. This is definitely a quality over quantity effort. Okay, God. Lead!
 
On important thing to note: All last month in Tanzania, I prayed heavily for God to give Just Love a month of “beach ministry.” We originally thought we were going to Mozambique, and I’ve heard a few past World Racer’s stories of spending a month teaching surfing classes and “suffering for Jesus” on Mozambique’s awesome coastline. Do I surf? No, but I fully believe God can equip us to do anything when He is prepared to use us. Just saying. That said, plans changed and we are actually not in Mozambique, at all, but instead J Squad was rerouted to Malawi. Low and behold, God still answered my prayers and landed “Just Love” and “Dream Team” with Zehandi Missions, nestled atop a hill with a phenomenal view of Lake Malawi. A mere fifteen minute hike across African plain is all that separates me from a sandy beach and shimmery blue water (it’s actually only just now clearing up from some funky red color caused from pollution. Yay!)

 
In any case, I’ve spent plenty of time praying about what exactly “relationship building” is supposed to look like for me, and every time I ask, I seem to get the same response. “You prayed for beach ministry, didn’t you?”

 
And so today’s relationship building effort was decided. I’d walk to the nearby Lakeside Hotel, hang out on the beach and wait for people to pass by. God would appoint whomever I was supposed to talk to, get to know, tell about Him, etc. I’d let the game come to me, so to speak. Who says you can’t enjoy the ministry He calls you to, right?
 
My afternoon of evangelism looked something like this:
 
·      2:00 PM – Show up at Lakeside. Walk to beach overlook and take in the sights. There’s really no one around.
·      2:10 PM – Walk to snack shop and grab a bag of chips and a Fanta. Return to overlook, joining fellow World Racers. Climb onto railing of overlook – easier said than done in the skirt I’m wearing – and engage in conversations with friends about topics I don’t particularly remember.
·      2:11 PM – Realize I don’t exactly love the chips I bought. 
·      2:12 PM – Notice two little boys, around eight or nine years old, sitting at bottom of steps of overlook.
·      2:13 PM – Offer boys remaining two thirds of my bag of chips.
 
Going great so far, eh, God? Maybe these chips will fill their bellies and then I’ll get to talk to them!
 
·      2:20 PM – Boys finish chips and leave.
 
Well, God, that didn’t quite turn out like I planned.
 
·      2:25 PM – Man approaches the gaggle of white women he has clearly deemed great targets for the wares he’s peddling.
·      2:26 PM – I truthfully explain that I have absolutely no cash left, whatsoever, but that I absolutely love the straw hats and baskets he has made.
·      2:27 PM – I try to stimulate some conversation apart from the sale he’d hoped to make. I ask his name. He tells me his name is “Jumbo” and asks for mine. I tell him. He replies, “Ah, Ashlee. I sell you hat and basket very cheap!”
 
God, really?
 
·      2:30 PM – Jumbo parks his mobile store on the stoop we’re already occupying and takes up talking with another Malawian man.
·      2:35 PM – Karen, Laura, Shelli and Kirby prepare to head out for their preferred form of relationship building – walking along the main road and meeting new people.
·      2:36 PM – I join them in praying over their endeavors, and while we’re praying, I notice a few people a short distance down the beach tugging on a rope attached to something apparently far out in the ocean. 
·      2:37 PM – We wrap up praying, and I announce that I’m going to haul in a fish net!
·      2:38 PM – I approach the crew of Malawians and ask if I can help. They gladly accept, I find a spot in their line and join the effort.
 
Cool, God! Finally something physical and tangible. Thanks!
 
·      2:45 PM – My arms are killing me. Several days of moving bricks and multiple trips hauling 20 liter water jugs have left me basically useless. But I’m stubborn and determined to impress my Malawian brothers and sisters.
·      2:46 PM – The rope breaks.
 
God is merciful!!!
 
·      3:00 PM – The owner of the boat, rope and fishing net returns from repairing the rope, and we recommence with tugging.
·      3:05 PM – I begin talking with the owner. His name is Omet and it is his family that I am helping – his friend, Felix, as well as his younger brothers and a sister are part of the crew, as well. Omet tells me that he wants to practice his English.
·      3:15 PM – The rope snaps again and Omet sets out in his canoe to repair the line. I stand on the shoreline, holding a rope that seems never-ending, drenched in sweat and wondering what on Earth I’ve gotten myself into.
·      3:16 PM – An elderly lady approaches me. I extend my hand to great her and she accepts the handshake. Then she makes the sign for “give me cash.” Again, I truthfully explain that I have absolutely no money on my person. I even point to the rope to demonstrate that I’m working, too.
·      3:17 PM – Felix steps over to translate, and helps me ask her name. Miriam. I tell her my name, that I’m from American and that I’m working with Zehandi Missions and the Bible School there. She smiles. Everyone knows the place. She half hugs me and continues along the beach.
·      3:25 PM – Omet repairs the rope and we start up again. I begin singing lyrics from a song by the Isaacs (note the beginning of this blog) and thinking that this must be a similar chore to what Jesus’ disciples often did. I wonder if they, too, sweated this much and if they had awesome muscles to show for the rigorous, physically demanding labor that this kind of fishing is proving to be!
·      3:45 PM – The net is finally in sight!!! Excitement rises up in me as I anticipate the catch! At last, some fruit for my labor!!!
·      3:50 PM – The net reaches the shoreline and I let the Malawians handle bringing it out of the water (it looks more complicated than what I’m prepared for on my first day on the job.)
·      3:51 PM – The net is completely empty.

God, you have got to be kidding me! I’ve spent my entire afternoon trying to listen to what you’ve told me to do. I’m here, on the beach, where you led me. I’ve sought out every opportunity I thought you were throwing at me and they’ve each come up empty, just like this net. I’ve stood here pulling my guts out for over an hour trying to help these people in Your Name, and it’s all for naught! What gives?
 
·      3:55 PM – Omet comes to me and shakes my hand. He explains that it is bad weather today for fishing and that he is going home for now. He asks where I am staying and if I will be around again. Yes, I tell him, I will be around for a few weeks and I would love the chance to help him catch fish again. We make a plan for me to meet him and his crew on the beach again soon for another go!
 
One of my favorite Bible passages tells of Simon Peter, James and John having been out fishing all night long and coming in empty handed. They were tired and probably feeling as if fishing might not be their calling, after all, when Jesus showed up and gave them a few instructions. With His guidance, they brought in the biggest haul of their lives! It was then that Jesus called each of them to give up fishing as their day job, and to instead take up the cross of following Him and leading others to do so, as well. Looks like He’s made me a fisher of men, as well.

 
Be Blessed,
Ashlee