My first Christmas away from home. My first Christmas without a pajama party, without White Elephant, without stockings filled beyond the brim. My first Christmas without staying up with my family on Christmas Eve to open our presents at midnight. My first Christmas without visiting my grandma’s house to eat roast pig and hug all the relatives I haven’t seen for far too long.
But it was my first Christmas with banana pancakes and secret Santa skirts. My first Christmas slaughtering a goat and drinking orange squash. My first Christmas tenting in the living room with family who were strangers only a few months ago. It was my first Christmas serving children and young people who would not have had anything for Christmas. I missed my family, but I was able to love others like family that day. It was good to be taken out of my traditions and be reminded of the heart of Christmas.
—
Timeline made with my Team:
7:37AM: Makin’ Banana Pancakes
*Cue Jack Johnson*
It was somewhat like a zoo. Malawian children gathering at the mission’s house window oohing and ahhing at Team United eating banana pancakes while singing and dancing to Chris Brown’s, ‘This Christmas’.
8:30AM: Put on Christmas Zitenges
To clarify, zitenge is the Chichewa word for skirt. Each team member participated in a Secret Santa skirt exchange. While putting on zitenges and getting ready for the day, the team blasted the worship music as they were genuinely in awe that Jesus had come to earth on this day.
10:32AM: Goat Slaughter
We’ll save you the (very) bloody details. Let’s just say it was alive and then it wasn’t. Side note: to take a break from cleaning the goat’s intestines, Kelsey blew air through the goat’s lungs. Weird.
12:30PM: Prepare the Pavilion
Included Africa’s version of a Christmas tree, paper-chain strewn between brick pillars, and the creation of the scene of Jesus’ birth. Oh and it was all made possible by a crazy sketchy ladder made of basically really thick sticks.
1:26PM: Let the Festivities Begin
For the first time ever, a World Race team brought a party to Rise Malawi as a Christmas gift. Guests included 150 children, high schoolers, and adults. It was an hour and a half of children reciting verses from the Christmas story, acting in skits, singing, and dancing. We went out with a bang by performing the Little Drummer Boy led on guitar by Kelsey and drums played on water jugs per Ashlyn and 12 kids.
3:00PM: The Malawian Feast
Well Jesus fed the 150 that’s for sure! The lunch menu included extremely fresh, seasoned goat meat, rice, beans, and veggies. While partaking in the delicious meal, we were serenaded by Chels and her uke as entertainment.
4:17PM: Awkward Family Christmas Photo
Pictured were camp leaders, Rise Malawi staff, World Race team, and people we don’t know.
5:04PM: Back Porch Kickback
What better way to end a celebration than with a soda pop (“coke” if you’re Kristi) and goat intestines, am I right? Guest list: *copy and paste all members of the awkward family photo*
7:41PM: InTENTS Living Room Camp Out
To end the day, we rearranged our living room furniture to fit our tents for a sleepover and a movie full of the Whos. The Grinch may have stolen Christmas, but we certainly found it in Malawi.
