Love your Neighbor!

Every morning I wake up between 6 and 7am and usually walk outside to use the squatty potty. As I walk out of the brick 4×6 shack I am greeted from a distance with, “Hi Auntie” from a child and their family. In return I say, “Bo” or “good morning!”.

Soaking in the fresh morning air and getting these sweet greetings from our neighbors every morning make my days get off to a great start.

This week we went on our first home visit. Home visits are to check-in with the children who are part of the after school program with Rise Malawi. We check-in on how the student is doing at home as well as how their family dynamic is. Going to these rural villages and seeing where the students come from is something special because placing yourself in their villages and seeing their family’s gives you a bigger and better perspective of the students and community.

(The families we visited were both farmers and farming is a main source of income as well as food supply for the majority of families here. Both families we visited hoped to have enough money for a Christmas dinner, which commonly includes chicken and rice. The families were also worried about not having enough food to last them for the year. Sometimes it’s hard to hear these things, but these families are so content in what they have and smile with greatfullness.)

The next day our host asked, “how seeing these kids in poverty and where they come influence the way you see and interact with them now?”

After gathering my thoughts I said, “Going to their homes and seeing where they come from is definitely something special because even when I see them with their families and in their home I will still love them and I will still treat them the same. They shouldn’t feel ashamed or weird about where they live or come from. They are still beautiful and loved in my eyes. Going to the homes helps give me a deeper understanding of them as a child.”

I love these kids and they too have big hearts.

Keep Rise Malawi in your prayers and these beautiful kids. Also, pray that I get fully funded. I have until January 31st. (I would hate to go home early)

Thank you all and Merry Christmas!!!!