One of many World Raceisms that has been passed on to our squad is TIA, or This is Africa… a phrase that has several contexts but is mostly used when referring to plans changing or things taking longer than expected. It reminds us that we are no longer in the US and have given up our rights and expectations that have been formed by what has been familiar and comfortable our whole lives.
As you could imagine we were often reminding one another that TIA during our 30-40 hour bus trip that turned into a 4 day, 3 night luxury buscation (including 65 seats for 66 people, the coolings of an African breeze, and amenities such as the various squatty potties where ever we stopped along the way).
Needless to say choices were made to praise our God and say Blessed be the name of the Lord or sit in our flesh and frustration. And it was usually a minute by minute choice.
When we did arrive we saw the smiling face of a beautiful Malawian woman welcoming us, we were pleasantly surprised when she called out our names. She brought us to her home and provided us with showers beds, and fed us lemon cornbread muffins, and orange juice as we watched Hannah Montana on the couch with her 8 year old daughter.
With a mouth full of cornbread I looked at my teammate and asked with crumbs spraying… “TIA?”
pictures to come…
