I spent my final month with Tribe of Judah in a rural village in the mountains of Malawi.
Each afternoon we would walk 1-2 miles to our ministry site for that day. We would tread carefully across the broken, orange, rocky paths. We traipsed through fields, betwixt mountains, and under the branches of many mango trees. Our bodies were grateful for the added exercise, and the mountainous views were sweet rewards for our physical labor.
That month we lived in our host’s home. Pastor Gama and his wife Rose welcomed us with open arms. They provided us with bedrooms, beds and meals. Pastor Gama was short in stature, but had a huge heart for others. He would chit chat with us, laugh at our silly jokes and sassy sarcasm, and he always made sure to pray over our meals with us.
Rose treated us as her own children; this was especially evident when she cried while saying goodbye to us at the end of the month. Her heart is so big! Each morning she would greet me with coffee and a smile. She cooked meals for my team and I three times a day, and she was always happy to reciprocate a hug from me. What a sweet woman!
Image: Myself with Rose and Pastor Gama
Language barriers were real in Zomba. We learned to show love and thankfulness through actions and expressions. It was beautiful. Looking back now, I am realizing how few times I was able to hold a conversation with anyone that month. Instead, everything I said was either clarified by pointing, gesturing, facial expressions or through the aid of an interpreter.
Our ministry was mainly pastoral care. We would go to local churches and pastors’ homes to encourage and edify the church in their ministry. Each day, one of us would preach, and the rest of us would share our testimonies. Our not musically gifted team would also struggle through an acapella version of This Little Light of Mine and I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, at the request of the locals. After which, we would laugh at how horrible and depressing we sounded in comparison to the musically gifted and upbeat Malawians. There was never a dull moment during ministry for our Tribe.
Image: Carley, Me, Brandi, Allison, Kacie and Elaina
Despite our inability to speak Chichewa, our lack of musical talent, and our newness to preaching, God still moved in our midst.
I will never forget the times when a teammate of mine or I would be preaching, and Pastor Gama would get super passionate and animated as he interpreted for us. In those moments, what would have been one sentence’s worth of interpretation would then turn into three or four sentences of impassioned speech. This was God’s way of confirming to me that we had heard from Him when choosing a topic, and that the words that were being said were truly from Him.
Image: Allison speaking and Pastor Gama interpreting
I will also never forget Pastor Gama and Rose’s grandkids. I treasure every interaction I had with Dan, Precious, Linda, Immanuel and Christoph. It was such a blessing to get to know each them. Even if most of my interactions with them were composed of just an excited “Hi” and a smile, God interceded even in those moments. I barely spoke with them, and yet my soul knows them and they know me.
Image: Precious playing with wooden dolls
Second Image: Christoph and Immanuel on a hike back from ministry
Image: Dan on his 11th birthday
Ministry isn’t always made up of words. It is made up of joy and kindness expressed through simple gestures. I would encourage you to smile at the person you pass in the crosswalk today. Wave to the kid who is staring at you in the line at Subway. Learn the name of the barista at Starbucks, and thank him/her for the cup of coffee they made for you. And as you live life, ask God how you can love on the people around you that day. I am sure He will have no shortage of suggestions, and I am also confident that your heart will be blessed in doing so.
I love you all. I am wishing you a belated Merry Christmas from Vietnam.
With His joy and peace,
Liesl
