Africa is a place full of the most colorful culture that I have ever witnessed. When I look out the door of my tent, I see the silhouettes of deep purple mountains, vibrant colors of exotic fruits that decorate the lush greenery completely surrounding me, and the most crisp, clear blue sky imaginable… laced with white clouds that illustrate ultimate purity, having never been touched by the pollution of mans obsession to civilize.When I walk down the dirt path leading out to the main road, I can see dozens of beautiful African women carrying buckets of water, bags of rice, bundles of branches… all weighing about 20-40 pounds… on their heads. At the same time, they have their children securely fastened onto their backs, tied up with a piece of cloth- the same cloth they use for clothing. They have more muscle than most American guys I know. Their older children tag along close by, some carrying smaller bags on their heads, while others hold out their hands and say to me, “Give me money.” A line that has been very well rehearsed.
The lifestyle is really hard. We usually have no running water and no electricity, which means no toilet or shower, and that 
you are done with your day by the time the sun goes down around 6 or 7. We use a hole in the ground for our restroom and we shower in water buckets (or Lake Malawi if you’re Hannah, Cori, and I!) We have had a consistent diet– rice and beans. Sometimes chicken. Which is luxurious compared to what the people here eat as a staple, which is Ugali (basically cornmeal -shown on the right). It’s not my favorite, but it is definitely filling.
you are done with your day by the time the sun goes down around 6 or 7. We use a hole in the ground for our restroom and we shower in water buckets (or Lake Malawi if you’re Hannah, Cori, and I!) We have had a consistent diet– rice and beans. Sometimes chicken. Which is luxurious compared to what the people here eat as a staple, which is Ugali (basically cornmeal -shown on the right). It’s not my favorite, but it is definitely filling. 
I can hear children all over exclaiming over and over “Azungu! Azungu!” which means “white person” in Chichewa, their tribal language. Sadly, most of the children here in Malawi are uneducated, as education is not free, and the only English they seem to know is “Give me money.” When we go into town to do shopping, or to find a place where we can charge our team phone, we meet some pretty interesting characters. One day, team S’more and I went into town to get groceries and there was a young man, no older than 18, dancing in the middle of the street. Completely naked. We asked the pastor what was wrong with him, and if we could buy him clothes, and we were told that he was mentally ill and would reject the clothing. The team and I prayed for him. As I look around, I see so many people simply trying to make a living. Selling eggs, coke, ‘mandas’ (kind of like donuts), mangoes, and really anything they can get their hands on to sell. The economy here is in such a desperation.
In a lot of ways, somehow America has made poverty in Africa… almost glamorous. You see the ads on T.V. and the movies about child soldiers. Poverty in Africa has invaded Hollywood, and Hollywood has done with it what they’re good at doing with anything… making it glamorous. It’s a new trend, a new “fad” to be a part of being “aware”…But being here, I’m seeing more and more everyday… this is real. This is raw. This is life for these people. And let me tell you, there is NOTHING glamorous about the life these people live. There is nothing glamorous about pooping in a hole that reeks of feces and urine and is infested with maggots and flies. There is nothing glamorous about malnutrition. There is nothing glamorous about bathing in and drinking water infested with parasites. And there is nothing glamorous about begging just to survive.
This Christmas was one that I will never forget.God revealed to us in such a deep way that we have been previously too distracted to really understand what it means for Christ to have come into this world. As we sat in the dark room full of
mosquitoes and flies, eating our Christmas feast of rice and beans, we talked about the lives that we have chosen for ourselves this year. We talked about family Holiday traditions, the tasty treats we missed the most, and how… in all of that… we had all missed the point. Big Time.
mosquitoes and flies, eating our Christmas feast of rice and beans, we talked about the lives that we have chosen for ourselves this year. We talked about family Holiday traditions, the tasty treats we missed the most, and how… in all of that… we had all missed the point. Big Time. Every year, I “realize” that Christmas is all about Jesus.. not about the other “stuff”. But I was still able to enjoy the luxuries of home. Not only an actual toilet and shower, complete with a real BED, and a roof over our heads that keep the mosquitoes OUT, but we enjoy things like decorations, deserts, presents, music, lights, incredible feasts, and… the list honestly goes on and on.
This year was so different. SO different. And it changed the way that I will celebrate Christmas FOREVER. Is it wrong to enjoy the things that we are blessed with in America? No, not if we are not excessive about it. But as I thought about what would honor God the MOST on his birthday, all of those things suddenly seemed incredibly undesirable. Jesus came and humbled himself. He sacrificed holiness in heaven for the flesh. He came to rescue us from our wickedness. He came to love the hard to love. He was born into rejection. For what? To LOVE and to SERVE us. What would honor Christ the most on this day? (and really every other day…) To love and serve Him right back. And what does he say about that?
He says that when we feed, clothe, and care for “the least of these”, we’re doing that for Jesus.
He says that when we feed, clothe, and care for “the least of these”, we’re doing that for Jesus.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matt 25:35
So, we love and serve each other.
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matt 25:35
So, we love and serve each other.
Everything else… just doesn’t matter.
