A Year in Africa!!!

Well, it’s only been weeks and weeks since I’ve written last, so I think it’s about time. I’ve been wanting to update for a long time now. I can tell I’m going to be much busier this year than last year.

Warning: This blog is full of random thoughts that might not flow very well. Hopefully you can follow.

I apologize if I’m repeating myself with some of the things I say. I could go back and read what I’ve already written, but it’s hard for me to do that. It’s hard for me to look at my pictures too.

I have come to the realization that part of my heart is still in Africa. I don’t know if it’ll ever leave, actually. And I don’t know if I want it to.

One of the missionaries wondered if Africa would just be a dream for me. I was surprised he would say that and hoped that it would never be. But in some ways it is. It is such a drastic change from life in America. Often there is no way to describe the difference. You can’t begin to put into words some of the things you’ve experienced. And even pictures can’t show what you’ve seen.

Does this make me better than anyone here? Of course not. In fact it probably just makes me super annoying to some people here. But do I wish that everyone could see Malawi? Yes, without a doubt.

Some things really bother me now that I’m back. I know that some of these things shouldn’t annoy me, but they do. Oh well. For example…

Don’t tell me that you know Africa and understand its people and culture because you went on a safari in South Africa. Even if I was there for 20 years I couldn’t say that. And please don’t tell me that you’ve seen “real” Africa on that safari either.

Don’t complain to me about how the high gas prices are making it really hard to get the boat out on the lake and making you second guess that third trip to Mexico this year. I heard all about that at a wedding a couple weeks ago. I had to excuse myself from the table and go cry in the bathroom.

Don’t make fun of Zimbabwean athletes in the Olympics.

Don’t make fun of how I can’t remember that a rubbish bin is actually called a garbage can in these parts.

Don’t say that Africa is a country. Continent, people. Continent. 

Wow, this makes me sound like an old bitter person. Hehe. I’m really not. I shouldn’t be upset at people for not knowing. Maybe it’s the not caring to know that bothers me most. Yes, that is definitely it.

There is definitely good and bad in every place. It’s how you react that makes the difference I guess.

The thing I miss most about Malawi is the people—the missionaries and their families, the friends I made, the kids at Grace, the choirs at the village churches, my kids at school. I spend the most time thinking about the kids at Grace. You just don’t know how they’re doing, what’s going to happen to them. They don’t have the resources (families, money, educational opportunities) that the kids at Sir Harry’s have. I know that all I can do for them now is pray. And talk about them. Show their pictures to everyone and let people all over the world fall in love with them just like I did.

Someone asked me if I saw anything while I was there- animals and such. While I did see some beautiful wildlife, that wasn’t why I was there. It’s the people I went for, and it’s the people that left the most impact on me.

I do also miss the beauty of Malawi’s land, the active lifestyle I had there, the delicious fruit, and the weather (I know I’ll miss that even more come December).

If I could show the world two things—

1.       Our village churches. Look at the humble altar and dirt benches. See the church bell, which is actually just a piece of scrap metal hanging from a tree.  Sit and listen to the choirs praising the Lord in the most unbelievable harmonies- sounds you have never heard before. It will make you cry.

2.       Grace. My kids there are the most beautiful kids in the world. Not because of their clothes and shoes (they have none), or because of their intelligence (varying abilities). Rub your hand on their head and see how incredibly dirty they are. Look into their eyes and realize that they’ve been through more hardships before the age of 10 than most of us will deal with in two lifetimes. But see the smiles on their faces. Hear the joy in their laughter. Hug them, hold their hand, play with them. Be changed forever.

Will I go back? YES. Most definitely. I pray the Lord takes me there soon. I dream of helping out with the mission there. But God knows where he wants me. He has me in a pretty incredible place now- being on the faculty and dorm staff at Luther Prep. Such a difference from last year, but another dream come true.  God is good.

I still have more Malawi pictures to put up, so wait for it. I’m having a hard time putting up pictures from my last time at Grace. Too much emotion involved…